Dr. Rutherford walked into Alyssa’s room before his last round was through. He knew about Alyssa’s drug and drinking problem but he also knew she wouldn’t do this to herself. The painkillers and whiskey were her M.O. but the morphine wasn’t a drug she used.

Besides Shift had a motive to get rid of Alyssa. Everyone in town knew Shift was Justin’s old lady. He had tried to save Alyssa from The Wolf Pack but she had been a Sweetbutt and belonged to the club. Besides she wouldn’t leave The Wolf Pack until Justin was hers.

He hated growing up in this town and around Justin and Shift. He hadn’t always hated Millington or The Wolf Pack. No at one point he wanted to be a hang-around and then a prospect until hopefully he became a full member. What changed that? One person…Justin.

Him and Shift were both sixteen at the time and were attending Millington High. He had always had a crush on Shift and she didn’t seem to mind him being around all the time. Justin was nineteen though and out of school and didn’t like LJ, his nickname back then for Lyle Jr., around Shift or the club.

Justin had always made sure LJ knew that he only put up with him because of Shift and Paul. Paul had wanted to recruit him into the club but Justin wanted him as far away from the club as possible and definitely away from Shift.

He had known that Justin and Shift were hooking up. The whole school had known that Shift belonged to Justin and that they shared the same bed.

But one day he stumbled upon a crying Shift. She had found out that Justin had slept with one of the club’s Mamas. He had taken her into his arms and held her as she cried her heart out until she had no more tears to cry. He had caressed her face and ran his fingers through her soft brown hair until he was certain she was soothed.

He had told her what an idiot Justin was for hurting her like that. He had told her if she was his old lady he never would have done that to her. He had told her that she deserved to be loved by a better man than Justin…by him. He had confessed his love for her and she…she had kissed him.

She had pulled him to her by his t-shirt as his hands rested on her hips. He had wanted that kiss forever and wanted Shift to be his but Justin had found them.

Justin had been looking for Shift all over town. And he had found her in LJ’s arms. Justin had wanted LJ’s beating heart in his hand and he let LJ know that too. He had been pulled away from Shift and thrown against the school’s brick wall. Justin had wailed on him for 20 minutes straight.

If Shift hadn’t pulled Justin off of him, he would have died. Justin would have put him in his grave and not have cared one bit. He had walked away from his encounter with Justin with three broken ribs, a broken nose, a broken jaw and a dislocated shoulder…oh and let’s not forget the two black eyes and busted lip.

Needless to say he never went close to Shift again and he never became a prospect for The Wolf Pack. He never knew what went down between Shift and Justin after that but they were still together and Justin never bothered with any other girls after that even when Shift left for the military.

He had wanted out of Millington after that and so did his family. Then he met Alyssa, who of course wanted Justin, and things changed for him. Alyssa was easier to talk too and she wasn’t followed by Justin’s predatory gaze. She made him forget about Shift, Justin and The Wolf Pack…at least until she became a Wolf-Eater then he had to let her go too.

Maybe he should have held on tighter to her and then she wouldn’t be laying in this hospital bed. He should have fought harder for Alyssa and for himself. He was tired of respecting The Wolf Pack and their rules. It was about time he helped put them away.

“L-Lyle…I-is Justin here?” Alyssa choked out as she woke up from her coma.

“No, he just left…I’ll call him. He’s been worried about you.” Dr. Rutherford told her.

It wasn’t true but she had been through so much already. She didn’t need to know that Justin didn’t care.

“Really?” Alyssa asked him and his heart broke at the happiness in her voice, “Please call him as soon as possible. I need him here.”

“Anything for you Alyssa.” Dr. Rutherford told her as he left her hospital room a little more pissed off at Justin and The Wolf Pack.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Did you talk to Shift about…?” Lynn asked Paul as she walked into his office and closed the door behind her.

“Yes I did. Shift’s going to keep her eyes and ears open. We’re going to need to do a run soon. Got too many things cluttering up the warehouse.” Paul told her as she met his gaze.

“Justin goin’?” Lynn asked with concern.

“Him and Shift…and other members. Don’t worry Mother…he’ll be fine. He was born for this.” Paul said as he tried to reassure her.

“I know but I’m his mama and I worry about him. Plus he just got out. Him and Shift deserve some time together with Kale.” Lynn told Paul with a sigh and he could see the worry on her face.

“There’s going to be a patch-over in Texas. Maybe they can take Kale and have a mini-family vacation?” Paul suggested as his wife nodded her head at him.

Lynn threw him a smile before replying, “That sounds perfect.”

Teak listened at the door of the office careful to not be caught by the other prospects or members lurking around the shop. She wondered if she would be included in the run…it almost gave her a thrill to think she could be invited.

Teak wanted to be included in the run and the garage fest before the run. This was when important information was passed between members and when bonding happened in the club. She needed their trust and their loyalty in order to do her job.