24, Before church

Tite

I felt a little lost the next day. I would need to wait for my aunt to get back to me before I could follow the witch lead. I could try to get to the root with why the club was such a mess. It just seemed like no one else understood how big of a mess it had become and was utterly uninterested in doing anything about it. I took my sketchbook out into the backyard, found a spot in the shade, and opened a blank page. I did my best thinking when my hands were occupied.

“What’re you doing?” Shadow asked as he walked over to me.

“Thinking,” I said.

“With a notepad?”

“A sketchbook. It makes thinking easier,” I corrected him.

“I have to try it sometimes. Can I have a look?” I handed him my book and he flipped through it, studying some pages longer than others. “These are amazing, a couple looks like tattoo designs,” he told me. I smiled.

“Thank you. They are. Back in the pack, I do a lot of tattoos. Gus, my mentor, takes on a lot of outside customers, but that has never been my thing. The rest of the sketches are doodlings or designs for tank art,” I said.

“You tattoo?” Shadow asked.

“I do.”

“Okay, this is the best news ever. I've been thinking of adding a new one to my ribs. Now I need you to design and tattoo it. Just name your price,” he told me, sounding excited. I laughed.

“Tell me what design you had in mind and I will sketch something and we can go from there.”

“I don’t know, something in grayscale, no cartoons or things like that, it should be fierce, just like me,” he told me. I laughed.

“Give me a couple of days and I will have something you can look at. Where do you want it?” I asked. Shadow lifted his black t-shirt and showed me his ripped torso. On his right side there was a blank space not covered with tattoos. “The whole thing?” I asked.

“Go big or go home,” he said.

“You think you can handle it? The ribs are sensitive, especially when you have a body like yours. I have seen big, tough, werewolves break down and cry like schoolgirls,” I told him. He chuckled.

“What the fuck are you doing in the middle of the backyard?” We both turned and looked as Nash stood and glared at us.

“Shadow was just showing me his chest,” I said, trying to sound like it wasn’t a big thing.

“I can fucking see that,” Nash told me. Before I could snap back, asking him why he had needed to ask if he knew it, Shadow spoke up.

“Chill. Tite just needed to see where my next tattoo will go,” Shadow explained.

“And why did she need to know that?”

“Because she is the one placing it there. Didn’t you know she’s a tattoo artist? She does amazing work,” Shadow told him.

“You haven't actually seen any of my work,” I pointed out.

“I saw your sketchpad,” he insisted.

“It’s a different thing to work on skin. As far as you know I might not even be able to draw a stick figure. But you have now ordered a complete rib piece from me,” I said and used my most wicked grin. Shadow paled a little and Nash actually laughed. I giggled and took out my phone and pulled up my work portfolio and handed it to Shadow. He visibly relaxed as he scrolled through it.

“I knew you would be amazing,” he said as he handed it back. I just shook my head.

“If the two of you are done. I came to ask if you wanted to speak with some more of the members. We have church later today, so a lot of the members are gathering in the clubhouse. I thought I could introduce you around. Maybe the lack of beer can keep things cool,” Nash said.

“Sure, sounds like a good plan. I’ll just go and put my things away,” I told him. “I’ll see you later, Shadow,” I added.

“See you around, Tite. Oh, I forgot to ask. Did you follow up on the thing from yesterday?” he asked. I knew he meant the hex bag.

“Yeah. My aunt is making some calls to a local group. I’m planning to head over there in a couple of days,” I told him.

“Cool. Tell me when and I will keep you company,” Shadow said and I nodded.

“What was that all about?” Nash asked as we walked inside.

“Nothing. My aunt knows some people living nearby and she wanted me to stop by,” I told him and the lies burnt on my tongue.

“And Shadow will go with you?” he asked.

“Apparently,” I said with a shrug.

“Why? Does he think it will be dangerous?” Probably, I thought.

“No, I don’t think so. It’s a hippie community,”I said.

“Hippie?” he asked doubtfully.

“Yeah, you know; flower power, world peace and shit like that,” I told him.

“And Shadow is volunteering to go with you to this place? I don’t think so. Something is off.” I put my things in my room as Nash watched me.

“I don’t know what to say. He offered, and I might accept.”

“I don’t buy it. There is something else going on here that the two of you are not telling me. I’m responsible for you when you are here. Both to make sure you don’t do stupid shit and to make sure no one does stupid shit to you,” Nash told me. He was blocking the door.

“You believe what you believe. Can we just not have every conversation ending up in an argument?” I asked. He looked a little taken aback. Then he shut down and opened the door for me.

“Fine, I’ll drop it for now,” he said.

“Thank you.” We walked down stairs and Nash had been right, most of the club was there even though it would only be the leadership who would attend church. Nash took me to the group with Chief, Bones, Doc and a couple of others. He introduced me to the ones I hadn’t met. Some had questions for me, and I answered as best I could. I could feel Chief’s eyes on me. I guessed he had a stick up his ass from what happened last night. I knew better than to confront him about it. There was a lull in the conversation and he spoke up.

“I didn’t allow you to stay here to cause trouble. That shit last night better not happen again,” he told me and glared. He was the Alpha of this pack, so my wolf wanted to submit to his wishes. At the same time, both my wolf and my witch had a hard time respecting him as they saw him as weak. My witch was already scheming on how we could dispose of him and take the power for ourselves.

“I’m sorry that I caused a scene last night. But the sweet butt needed to be put in place, she was going after an old lady,” I told him.

“Sometimes you need to learn to fucking leave it for the sake of peace and quiet,” he said. I saw how the other men looked at him. I had been around enough of human MC clubs to know the men saw their old ladies almost the same way as we saw our mates. They were loyal to them and the looks they were giving their prez told me they didn’t agree.

“The statute clearly states old ladies come before sweet butts,” Bones said.

“They do,” Nash agreed. The air was thick with tension, it would have been a relief to go out in the hot desert rather than sitting at this table.