Dr. Rutherford drove up to the clubhouse. The last time he had been here Paul told him that he was no longer allowed to hang around the club. This time though they needed him and his help. They didn’t really need him since Shift had removed bullets from Justin before and stitched him up herself…but they wanted him to know they had him in their pocket.

He got out of his car with his medicine bag and made his way past the stop to the back where the clubhouse was. He knocked on the door to the clubhouse and stood back as he waited for it to open.

“Hey Doc, or should I call you LJ?” Trace asked with a smirk as he opened the door and let LJ in, “Come on in. Justin’s in the chapel. His fucking pussy ass got shot!” Trace told him with a laugh.

LJ had never understood Trace or his stupid sense of humor but he was Justin’s best friend and Kale’s Godfather. He hated the club and all it’s members. He hated being in their pocket and he hated that Shift looked so good to him as he followed Trace into the chapel and saw her.

She was straddling Justin’s lap as his head rested on her shoulder. LJ could tell he was in pain and had to smile at that. Shift was running her fingers through his hair as his left hand gripped a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Justin’s right hand was holding onto Shift’s ass keeping her on his lap.

“Where were you shot at?” Dr. Rutherford asked as he made his way over to Justin and Shift.

“In my fucking right arm! It hurts like a bitch!” Justin gritted out as Shift helped him take a swig of whiskey.

“Let’s get that bullet out.” Dr. Rutherford said as he grabbed a chair and pulled it beside Justin.

LJ started undoing the bandages that were wrapped around Justin’s bicep so he could take a look at the wound. He could tell Shift had patched him up because his wound was clean and was wrapped perfectly. He grabbed his tool and dug into Justin’s wound as Justin bit down into Shift’s shoulder.

“Fuck!” Justin hissed as Shift kissed the tattoo with her initials behind his ear to soothe him.

“Drink this baby.” Shift whispered to him as she handed him the open bottle of whiskey.

Justin took a swig of the whiskey, wincing as it burned it’s way down his throat. He gritted his teeth, panting in deep breaths as Dr. Rutherford pulled out the bullet and cleaned Justin’s wound.

“Shit!” Justin howled as his left hand let go of the whiskey bottle and grabbed the back of Shift’s head, pulling her into a kiss.

Shift pulled herself further up onto his lap as her hands hooked behind his head pulling him closer to her as their lips met again. Justin let out a growl, this time for pleasure not for pain, as his tongue entered Shift’s mouth and she let out a moan.

“Okay you’re all stitched up. Did you want a prescription for pain killers?” Dr. Rutherford asked as Justin and Shift pulled apart.

“No I’m good. Thanks Doc.” Justin said as Shift got off his lap and he stood up.

He slapped LJ on the back with his right hand before wincing again, “Fucking arm hurts like a bitch.” He muttered as Trace and Shift laughed.

“Thanks LJ, I know you didn’t really have a choice but still…thanks for coming.” Shift told him as she walked him to his car.

“Are you alright?” LJ asked her as Shift threw him a confused look.

“Of course I’m alright.” She told him with a nervous smile.

“No I mean…the Aiden I knew would never do what you did to Alyssa, to me. Doesn’t it scare you when shit like that happens? What about Kale, Shift? Does he know his daddy was shot?” LJ rushed out hoping to get through to her.

She was so caught up in loving Justin that she didn’t realize he was bringing her down with him. Just like he did Alyssa.

“Don’t do this…” She pleaded with him.

“Do what? You know, deep down you know Justin is no good.”

“You don’t know me as well as you claim too. Of course it scares me! I love the man! I don’t want him to get hurt! And don’t worry about Kale, Justin is his father…not you!” Shift told him standing beside her man and the club.

“Fine but when he gets caught you will too…and what will they do to Kale then?” LJ asked her before he got in his cage and drove away.

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Justin thought about following LJ and killing him right then and there. He followed Shift and the good doctor because he wasn’t stupid. No, he saw the way LJ looked at Shift when he walked into the clubhouse. He knew there was always going to be someone trying to get at Shift, she was fucking hot as hell, but he also knew when it came down to it Shift would choose him.

Shift saw him hiding in the doorway as she made her way back inside. Their relationship had always been like this, other people trying to tear them apart while they desperately clung onto each other. She pressed her small body against his, pinning him against the wall.

“You’re so nosey.” She whispered to him with a smile as he just smirked at her.

“Yeah well…the Doc’s going to pay for that.” He whispered as he leaned down and captured her lips in a warm, wet kiss, “I love you, more than I could ever tell or show you.”

“I love you too. Let’s go home JT.” Shift told him as he wrapped his arms around her.

“I should stay here. I got some things to take care of with Tripp and my dad.” Justin told her as she looked at him in disbelief.

“You’re not coming home? You got shot tonight! I’m not sleeping without you!” Shift told him as she pushed him away from her in anger.

“Woah baby. I’ll come home later tonight. Don’t worry you’re not going to have to sleep without me. Besides aren’t we going to The Green Frog for dinner? I love you.” Justin told her as he pulled her back into his arms and chuckled before kissing her forehead.

“I forgot about that. You better come home. Don’t make me hunt you down.” Shift mumbled against his chest as he chuckled and held her tighter.

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Justin shook his head in silent laughter as Shift tried to fuss over him and told him he should go home with her. She reminded him of his mother but secretly he liked it when she fussed over him. It showed that she cared even if she was trying to be a badass.

The pain in his arm was almost unbearable but he needed to talk to his dad before they left for the patch-over. He was scared, especially since being shot tonight. He wasn’t scared for his safety or even for Shift’s safety, he was scared about Kale.

His son was his everything and was the future of The Wolf Pack. He and Shift could protect themselves if something went down on the road but Kale couldn’t. He relied on his daddy and his mommy to protect him. He couldn’t help but have a bad feeling about Kale going along.

Maybe it was because that’s how Shift lost her parents. They were on a gun run together and had brought Shift along because she used to love ridin’ with her daddy. Then the shooting from the rival MC began and her parents were shot protecting her. She was only a year older than Kale and Paul had saved her. He didn’t want that to happen to Kale.

He didn’t want Kale growing up, feeling like it was his fault his parents were gone. Shift didn’t talk about it or mention it but he knew that was how she felt sometimes. Like they died protecting her just so she could fall into this life and fall in love with him, someone who loved her just as much if not more but belonged to the club.

Justin sighed as he walked into his dad’s office, he gave Paul a tired smile before he shut the door behind him and took a seat.

“What’s wrong? The wound hurt that bad?” Paul asked him concerned.

“Nah, it’s not about that…Dad, it’s Kale. I just want to be a good father and protect my son. I just…I just have this gut feeling that if he goes…something bad will happen to him. How did you do it dad? How did you balance the club and me?” Justin asked as he let out a frustrated sigh.

“I didn’t. Your mom did. I never took you on a run. And let’s be honest when Shift came to live with us you stopped wanting to hang out with your old man. I-I think you should go with your feelings. Shift will understand. She loves you and will respect your decision.” Paul told him as Justin looked at him.

“I just…I spent three fourths of his life locked up…I don’t want to spend any more time away from him. I just don’t know what to do.” Justin said as he confessed his fears to Paul.

“How about I take him when I go? He can stay here with me and his grandma and then I’ll drive him to Texas in the Cutless. That way you and Shift can go tomorrow and then he’ll join ya’ll later. Because I’m all for protecting my grandson.” Paul suggested as Justin mulled it over.

“That sounds good. Let me talk to Shift about it first. You know, what Mommy wants trumps what Daddy wants.” Justin told him as they both chuckled.

“Yeah, let’s go see Tripp and see if he’s happy with his untouched merchandise.” Paul said as they rose from their seats preparing for the drive to Tripp’s showroom and warehouse.

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Teak listened for sounds in the clubhouse before she snuck into what used to be Shift’s and Justin’s room. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for but she wanted something that would give her leverage over Justin or Shift. She smiled when she found a box labeled “Justin’s shit”, she tore off the lid, practically dying from excitement of what it might contain.

Justin had a lot of secrets that he kept from a lot of people and she wanted to know if Shift was one of those people. The box was filled with pictures of him and Shift. They spanned 18 years of their relationship. There were also pictures of him and Kale and Kale and Shift. The most treasured items though were a stack of letters.

Teak could tell Justin had read them over and over and she wondered if they had been sent to him while he was locked up. She put the lid back on the box and took it to her room, prepared to read the letters.

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Teak put the letter aside on her bed, wondering if she would ever find a love like that. Wondering if it was even possible to have a love that all consuming. She heard the creaking of wooden floorboards and stuck the letters back in the box and shoved it under her bed quickly.

“Hey Teak, I was wondering if you wanted to go out to dinner with the rest of us?” Trace asked as he hung on her doorway.

“Y-Yeah, where are we going?” Teak asked as she rose from her bed and followed Trace out into the hall.

“The Green Frog,” Trace told her as she scoffed, “Girl, don’t knock it! They have the best wings!”

“Okay…I’ll take your word for it!” Teak told him with a laugh.

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Trace laughed as he looked over at Teak, who looked scared as hell. He knew his driving was bad but it wasn’t that bad. He knew he was better ridin’ a hog than drivin’ a cage but she shouldn’t be that frighten.

“Don’t be so dramatic! Take a damn breath woman!” He said with a chuckle as Teak rolled her eyes at him.

She gripped onto the door handle as he whipped the cage into the parking space. He let out a howl as he got out of the cage and slammed his door shut.

“Get out of the cage woman!” Trace hollered at her as her door was opened for her.

Teak looked up to see Justin holding her door open as his other arm was around Shift’s shoulder.

“Don’t talk to her like that man! She’s still a fucking woman! Mind your manners!” Justin hollered at Trace with a smirk as Shift held onto his waist and giggled like a school girl.

“Fine! Damn you’re turnin’ into a damn girl!” Trace said with a laugh as Justin flipped him off.

Teak couldn’t help but smile at their banter. She wished she could join in but she didn’t want to lose herself in this club. It was easy to fall into their family talk and she had to remind herself all the time that this was an assignment. She was supposed to be bringing them down.

“Let’s go inside! This pack is fucking heavy!” Shift said as they all laughed and headed inside.

It was then that Teak noticed a pack hung over Shift’s shoulder. She wondered what was in it that made it so heavy. Surely she wouldn’t be packing guns if they were going to eat but then again it was Shift. She had a things for guns…maybe that was why The Wolf Pack was so good at gun-running.

They all four walked into The Green Frog and it was everything Teak thought it would be. It was a shit-hole. It was packed with bikers and girls in nothing but flimsy tank tops and tight leather. She rolled her eyes as a girl walked past them and Trace’s eyes followed her.

“Hey Timberwolf, table in the corner?” Some lady said to them.

Teak looked at the sixty year old lady who dressed like she was in her twenties. Her nametag said Betty but Teak doubted that was her real name. She walked them past all the drunk bikers and little sluts and sat them at a huge table in the corner. Some of the other Pack members were already seated when they got to the table.

Justin took a seat pulling Shift down onto his lap as Trace and Teak took their seats next to each other. After her talk with Shift she felt better about being around her. Sure Shift was tough but it’s tough being the only girl in an all boys MC. She made sure Teak knew that she was just making sure Teak was tough enough to hang.

“Hey,…Betty? Is it? We’re goin’ need lots of beers and lots of wings!” Trace told her as he made a circling motion with his finger.

“Will do.” She said before she walked away.

Teak looked around the room as everyone started to get lost in their little conversations with each other. She could see all the ladies in the bar eyeing their table. Damn Wolf-Eaters! They were all sluts looking to score with a Pack member. They gave girls everywhere a bad name.

Teak knew though all those Wolf-Eaters couldn’t handle her boys. No, her boys were wilder, tougher, meaner, and harder than any man she ever knew. She watched as Justin kissed Shift and she was proud. Proud of her boys because they knew they were better than Wolf-Eaters. Proud that she was at their table. Proud that they were her family.

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Shift passed Teak another beer as they whispered together. Shift wasn’t stupid she knew Teak was ATF but she also noticed that look when they sat down. That look would make or break the club. She could feel Teak crossing over, becoming family and that made her surprisingly happy.

That didn’t mean she didn’t have those thoughts and concerns. Feelings, that maybe she was forcing and wasn’t naturally happening. But when Teak laughed at something Trace said those uncertain feelings disappeared. She had done that, wondered if this lifestyle was right for her, she had thought about leaving Justin…that’s why she left to join the Marines but she realized life without the club and without Justin…wasn’t worth it.

That’s why she knew Teak wanted to be included in their family. She could see it on Teak’s face and hear it in her voice. Shift looked over at Justin and caught her gaze. He smiled at her and she knew that he could see the change too. Teak working for the ATF could work out for them. As long as she remembered who her family was.

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Justin watched as Shift got up from the table and headed to the bar to order more beer and wings for everyone. He had miss this, hanging out with his girl and his boys. Shift was great when it came to dealing with Teak. She was able to put her in her place but also gain her trust. Like it or not they needed Teak.

Besides Trace seemed to enjoy her company. Or so it seemed since they were sitting side by side, whispering and laughing with one another. His eyes traveled from Trace and Teak back to Shift. She was leaning against the bar waiting for their pitchers of beer to be poured. She absolutely took his breath away just standing there and he knew he had to marry her. He was tired of not being a family with her. She had his heart and she deserved his last name.

His cerulean eyes turned navy with anger as he noticed some college-aged guys making their way over to Shift. He could tell they weren’t fellow bikers because they would know better. In fact he bet they weren’t even from around here because no one around here would dare talk to his girl. He watched in silence as they offered to buy her drinks, smirking when she turned them down.

It wasn’t until the pitchers were ready and she was trying to walk away that one of the guys grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. He knew Shift could kill the guy with one blow but that wasn’t how their relationship worked. No, he protected her. He rose from the table, clinching his fists as he strode over to the bar.

He had heard the pushing of chairs and he knew his Pack was behind him. It wasn’t that he needed them it was more they were family and when you mess with on you mess with all.

“Let her go.” He growled and he had to stop from chuckling when most of them jumped at his tone.

“Sorry dude, we were talking to her first.” The guy that was holding onto Shift’s arm said.

“Baby, is he hurting you?” Justin asked as Shift nodded her head, “You see dude, she’s been mine for 18 years. So you’re going to let go of her arm, you’re going to turn around and you and your buddies are going to leave Millington.” Justin told him.

“You can’t tell us to leave. You don’t own Millington.” One of the guy’s buddies said.

Justin walked up to the guy still holding Shift’s arm and grabbed his wrist, causing him to let go of Shift’s arm. Once she was released Shift made her way behind Justin, perfectly content to let him protect her.

“You see, we do own Millington,” Justin said as he twisted the guy’s arm until he was screaming out in pain, “and you are going to leave,” he stated as he pulled the guy’s arm, causing his shoulder to dislocate.

The rest of the Pack pulled out their guns, forcing the college guys outside of the bar and back into their cage.

Justin pushed their wounded friend against the cage, “Take care of your friend and stay out of Millington.”

Shift laughed as she waved goodbye at the college guys as they peeled out of the parking lot and left Millington. She could have taken care of herself but she enjoyed Justin’s possessive side.

“Let’s give Teak her cut…”Shift whispered as she kissed Justin’s neck and ran her hand along his chest.

“Let’s go back inside.” Justin said as he threw his arm around Shift’s shoulder as they walked back inside.

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Teak watched as Shift rose from the table and placed her pack on the table.

“Okay, everyone…shut up!” Shift shouted as the guys laughed, “The reason we’re all her for this get together is because as you know Teak is an official prospect now,” Shift said as everyone hollered and raised their beer mugs in Teak’s direction, “So she gets a cut!” Shift shouted as everyone let out a wolf howl in celebration as Shift reached into her pack and pulled out Teak’s sleeveless cut, “Take good care of it,” Shift told Teak as she handed over the cut.

Teak took it in her hands loving the way the leather felt under her fingertips. Her small hands ran over the front patch on the right hand side that said prospect then over the patch on the left hand side that said Millington Original. She smiled as she saw her name Teak on the bottom left side of her cut.

“Turn it over and see your colors!” Trace hollered as Teak excitedly turned over the cut.

The top rocker said The Wolf Pack in Old English lettering and the bottom rocker said Tennessee for their state charter. In the middle though was a snarling Wolf that looked as badass as they were. She almost started crying as she slipped on the cut.

She knew she was beaming and as she looked around the table she could see the pride on their faces. They were proud that she was becoming one of them, becoming part of their family and part of their pack.

She couldn’t help but let out a howl and everyone else joined in as they toasted her and her cut. This was her family and she couldn’t see herself turning in the only people who had ever accepted her fully, no questions asked.