Page 8
“Or you can let me take care of her,” Cage said, “and anything else you’ve got on the books. You take the time you need to get your mate and new pup settled. If I run into any issues with the paperwork, I’ll text.”
“Or send it out with Charlie and Kale at the end of the day,” Rusty said. “I appreciate you, Brutha.”
“Anytime. Congratulations. And welcome to Comet Lake, Logan and Wren. We’ll have a proper celebration once you’ve had the chance to get settled,” Cage said before slinging an arm over Brooks’ shoulders. “Looks like it’s back to the council chambers for you, bro.”
“You sure you don’t have anything you need a hand with, since I’m already here?” Brooks asked, peering at him with a thirsty-ass expression that screamed of his need to bury his fingers in metal instead of paperwork.
“I’m sure I can find something,” Cage said, laughing at how fast Brooks rolled his sleeves up.
“Are they really brothers, or…?” Logan asked as the two wandered off across the machine bay.
“They are,” Rusty explained. “But everyone here is extended family, regardless if they’ve got blood ties or not. I’m glad you found us, Logan. Roark and I haven’t had our bondmarks for very long. They only came in after the pups were brought to our door. I’m thrilled to welcome another. I know he will be too.”
Logan’s head whipped around at the sound of squealing brakes. “Looks like we’re about to find out.”
Chapter Three
(Roark)
“I thought I told you not to come screeching in here like your tail was on fire!”
Roark heard Rusty before smacking into a wall of muscle as solid as he was. Because they were the same height, they cracked heads and ended up on the ground. Light blobs swam in front of Roark’s eyes as he shook his head and endured laughter from some of his nearby club brothers.
“You better watch out for these two,” Flame bellowed, “and have a first aid kit handy. Shit gets messy whenever they’re around, trust me on this.”
“Language!” Rusty snarled. “Or you will not be welcome around the pups.”
“Sorry, bro.”
“Unfortunately, my mama says we have to claim that one, though personally, I think the stork slammed him into a few limbs on the way down,” Rusty explained to the midnight-haired man who had to be their mate.
Scrambling to his feet, Roark dusted himself off and stuck his hands out. “Ignore him, I’m usually far more graceful when someone isn’t bellowing at me. I’m Roark.”
“Logan, and I feel like this whole meeting is going to make for one hell of a story the first time someone asks us about it. First I thought he’d burned himself. Then we thought we were under attack by a swarm of bugs, and then you two decide to go all Looney Tunes…”
“Wait…back it up a minute,” Rusty interrupted. “First, you trashed your engine, then we thought I’d singed myself…”
“Oh, ouch,” Logan groaned, pressing his hands over his heart.
“Too soon?” Rusty asked.
“Dude. You know it’s too soon. She’s still sitting over there with her hood up!”
“Fair point.”
“Sweet ride, what did you do to her?” Roark asked.
“Got blinded and nearly run off the road,” Logan replied. “Rusty isn’t sure what the damage is yet, but Cage said he’d take over for him so we can get settled in at your place. We don’t have much, just, um, that stuff over there.”
“Flame, grab Cormac and come help me get Logan’s things in the SUV,” Cage said.
“Hey Cor!” Flame bellowed, waving to him.
Rusty went with them, leaving Roark with Logan and the pup he’d yet to meet. “And who is this?”
“Wren,” the pup replied. “I’m eight, and I know what a mate is.”
“Really?” Roark replied.
