by Jenika Snow
Evernight Publishing ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Jenika Snow
ISBN: 978-1-77130-949-3
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
This story is for the readers that wanted more of The Grizzlies.
AN OUTLAW WEDDING
The Grizzly MC, 7
Jenika Snow
Copyright © 2014
Author’s Note
This novella is a look into the lives of The Grizzly MC after the epilogue in the sixth and final book of the series. It focuses on the children of the members of the club. Although it can be read as a standalone, it is highly suggested that you read the previous Grizzly MC books to better know the characters, their lives, and the world they live in.
Prologue
Family holidays were not something the members of The Grizzly MC had much experience with, at least not before they had found their old ladies, and had families with those incredible, strong women. Now, several years after each member of the MC had their women and had children, they celebrated religiously. But Jagger assumed it had a lot to do with the guys finally settling down. He wouldn’t use the word pussy-whipped, not anymore at least, but what he would use was the term “hopelessly devoted”.
He sat around the card table with Drevin, Dallas, and Diesel. He had a straight, but even a hand as good as that couldn’t draw his focus away from Sonya, his woman and the one person who could calm the wild ass grizzly he harbored inside. The animal was a possessive fucker when it came to her and his children, but even though Sonya was a human, and so much smaller than he was, she could put his stubborn ass in its place with just a look.
They were at the clubhouse, and although most people might not think that was the best place for babies, it was the safest bet all around, and the only place where Jagger felt comfortable having his woman and children when everyone got together. He knew his brothers felt the same way. He might be a protective motherfucker, but so was every other member crammed into the room right now.
Sonya was over by Darra, Hope, Maggie, and Lilly. Sonya was holding their newest son, Cain, while their twin boys, Lucas and Nico, were running around with Diesel’s sons, Jakob and Bodhi, and Court’s son, Mason. Dallas was the only Grizzly who didn’t have any sons yet, but he was content with his two little girls, and Jagger was pretty sure Hope was more than thrilled that she could doll them up. But their oldest daughter, Tarren, could play just as hard as the boys did. Jagger knew that little girl would grow up to be just as tough as her biker father. Jagger started laughing when he looked over at Brick holding his toddler daughter, Alexis, and looking down at his son, Odin, whom he held on his lap with his other arm. It was funny, but also fucking incredible to see a dark bastard like Brick look down upon his children with this gentle demeanor.
“Look at that,” Drevin said and pointed over to Nico. “Damn, dude, he sure as hell is your kid. Look at him trying to pick her up.”
Jagger sat up straighter and watched the other half of his two year old twins walk over to Brick’s little girl. Alexis was a few months older than Nico and Lucas, but his boys took after him in that they were big as fuck, and would be well over six feet tall when it was all said and done. But then again they were bear shifters—all of the children were in fact—and that meant they were not of average height or strength. And although the women of their kind couldn’t actually shift, they still had that wild animal DNA moving through them and could be just as stubborn as any of their male counterparts. Jagger had no doubt that these Grizzly girls would rip a man’s balls off and toss them over a cliff if they fucked with them. That thought and image had him grinning. Stinger was over by Molly and their new son, Ben. Their three year old daughter, Lina, ran around with Dakota, who was shaping up to be one big boy. His father, Malice, might be human, but he was a hulk.
Brick turned and watched Nico approach, and then Jagger saw when Brick noticed the toy truck Nico held out for Alexis. The little girl burrowed her head against Brick’s chest, and her short dark hair fanned over the Sergeant at Arms’s chest. Brick narrowed his eyes a bit, but Jagger could tell it was in that curious way a father would do to an approaching boy—even ones as young as their children were. Jagger couldn’t hear what his boy was saying, but Alexis’s face lit up, and her eyes, which were as dark as her father’s, widened. She reached out for the truck Nico handed out to her. They said a few things to each other, and Brick looked over at Jagger and narrowed his eyes further. His nostrils flared, and he shook his head as if annoyed. Nico walked away, but Jagger called him over. He picked up his son and set him on his lap.
“What was that about, buddy?” He brushed his son’s dark hair off of his forehead.
Nico looked over his shoulder and pointed at Alexis, who was watching them with a big smile on her face as she cradled the truck. When Nico looked back at Jagger he smiled wide. “I’m gonna marry her, Daddy.”
Well shit, his kid really was a chip off the old block. Jagger could see why Brick had glared at him, because hell, if a boy—child or not—had just declared that he was going to marry his daughter, he’d be taken aback, too.
“That so, son?”
Nico nodded. “Yup. When I’m big I am going to marry Alexis.”
Chapter One
Alexis and Nico, sixteen years old
Alexis sat on the old, scarred deck that was on the outskirts of Steel Corner. Her family had gathered for a cookout just on the other side of the lake, but it wasn’t just her mom, dad, and brother, but her extended family, too—The Grizzly MC. She had snuck away after everyone had finished eating and were sitting around talking. She loved her family and loved the MC, but sometimes it was nice just to get away from it all. The MC life was pretty hardcore, but it had been all she had known while growing up. Cookouts at the clubhouse, even a lockdown when there had been some issues with a bombing concerning one of the other MCs in the next town over years ago where what she had lived … all she knew. At only sixteen she knew all about the vulgar, dangerous, and illegal atmosphere exuded by her father, Brick, and all of the other Grizzlies, which were like her family. Of course her dad always tried to keep her out of the reality of the life they lived. All The Grizzly MC members did, but it still seeped through. She wasn’t this powder puff little girl that was blind to how her father and the club made money, or that their paths had been vile and volatile—probably still were in fact. She might not be an “adult” in the legal sense, but she also wasn’t a child anymore either. But her dad and all of the other bikers treated her, their children, and old ladies like gold, and didn’t thrust them into that violent part of their lives. They provided for them, made sure they were happy, and sheltered them from their lifestyle and all that it entailed. They were also protective to the border of being crazy with the need to keep them safe.
She dangled her feet off the deck and stared off at the lake. It was pretty quiet for the most part, but not a lot of people liked to hang out in the same place when there was a Grizzly gathering. How sad that even after all of these years, and well before Alexis was even in the picture, or so she had heard, the majority of the residents in Steel Corner were still so … fucked up? They would never realize all the shit th
e club did to protect them and make sure their pathetic little lives didn’t end up six feet under by people that wanted to control this town and them, too. If not for her father and the members that she considered her family, this town would be filled with prostitutes on every corner, drugs being sold to children, and violence erupting all around then. The Grizzlies might carry around their own thundercloud at times, but in the end they did more good than harm.
The cool water lapped at her toes, and she closed her eyes and just listened to the water moving along the shore. Sometimes she imagined herself in another world, one where she wasn’t the daughter of the Sergeant at Arms of a feared biker club, and where her dad wouldn’t snap a guy’s head off if he even looked at her the wrong way. She supposed that was why she was still a virgin, and had never even been kissed. But even though that part sucked big time, she couldn’t lie and say she didn’t love her life. She may only be sixteen, but she was far behind the other girls she went to school with when it came to sexually experience. Her mom was the gentle loving kind that still checked on Alexis and her brother even though they weren’t babies anymore. And her dad was big and strong and could have a grown man cower before him with a look alone. He might be scarred, but she loved that mark on him. She had traced it many times over while growing up, and when she had looked at his face she hadn’t been afraid, but had only felt the love he had for her. That scar was something that she always knew made him real, and that just because someone on the outside might not be perfect to others, they were still whole and living the way they wanted. Her father was invincible in her eyes, and her role model. That was why she didn’t butt heads with him when he harped about the dangers of boys and “all they want from a pretty girl”. Even now she laughed because she could hear his voice in her head saying that as he stared down at her.
“You look like you’re thinking hard, Alexis.”
She looked over at Nico, who had his hand in the front pocket of his plaid shorts, and was making his way toward her. She smiled instantly. Nico was the twin of Lucas, and son of Tallin “Jagger” Landon. He was the same age as she was, and they had been through everything together, but their closeness wasn’t just about that. She felt connected with him, more so than to any of the other Grizzly MC kids. Even now she still thought about the first time he had approached her and said he was going to marry her. They had been two, and he had given her his favorite tow truck to “cement the deal”. It still made her smile to this day when she thought about that.
Nico moved onto the deck and sat beside her. He dangled his feet, too, and she stared at how much bigger he was compared to her. He may be her age, but the scent that surrounded him was on the verge of animalistic. He would soon be going through the change where he could shift into his grizzly bear. It something a boy bear shifter didn’t do until they were entering adulthood. It was strange to think of Nico, her childhood friend, and the boy she had crushed on her whole life, as becoming a “man” in the shifter world.
“I’m thinking too hard.” She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes again and just absorbing the heat and scent of him. She may be a bear shifter, but she would never be able to shift. Instead she felt this animal inside of her, always prepared, but never able to escape.
“What were you thinking about?” Nico said in his deep voice.
She kept her eyes closed and smiled. “You, my dad and family, the MC … everything I guess.”
He reached out and took her hand with his, speared his fingers between hers, and rested both of them on his thigh. “Me, huh?” There was amusement in his voice.
“I was thinking about your prized truck you gave me when we were little.” She pulled back and looked up at him.
“I can’t believe you remember that,” Nico said, but when he smiled she knew that he was only teasing.
She nudged him in the arm. “Don’t act like you don’t.” She grinned, and he did the same. “I was also thinking about how I can smell your bear coming closer to the surface.” She stared at him, and he stared back at her. “You’ll be able to shift soon. Does that scare you?”
He faced the lake once more and didn’t speak for several seconds. He finally exhaled roughly and looked at her again. “Honestly?”
She nodded. Suddenly the conversation took on this very serious note. “Always, Nico.”
He stared into her eyes for a long second. “Fuck no.” He burst out laughing, and she narrowed her eyes.
“You’re such an asshole,” she said but grinned.
“Maybe, but you love me regardless.” He was still grinning at her, but she felt her heart rate increase.
If he truly knew how she felt he probably wouldn’t come within a ten-mile radius of her. It wasn’t like they sat around reminiscing about what had happened years ago, but she sure did think about it ... about him. It was just a boy that had shared his toy, just a boy that hung out with her, talked to her, and was always there. As she stared at him, looked into his bright blue eyes, and saw the way his black hair was short, but still long enough to sweep across his forehead, she wanted desperately to kiss him. It was unheard of, even in the small town of Steel Corner, to be sixteen and not even have kissed a boy yet. But most girls didn’t have a dad like Brick.
The longer they stared at each other, the harder and faster her heart pounded. Could he hear the physical response he caused within her? As it was it felt like her heart was about two seconds from bursting right through her chest. But they were friends, only friends, and she would be crossing a major line by being so forward. But she had seen the way Nico looked at her sometimes. At least she thought she had seen him look at her as maybe more than a friend. It was the kind of look that had her heating in a lot of places, places that she was embarrassed to even think about. She would have assumed that living around a bunch of hardened bikers would desensitize her in the sexual and bold aspect of life, but again, the members of The Grizzlies were a protective bunch when it came to all the women. And even though she wanted Nico as more than just a friend, and perhaps he felt the same way, too, they could never really be together. Her father, his dad, and the rest of the MC didn’t believe in mixing business with pleasure. And despite the fact they had grown up and knew everything about each other, the drama that being with Nico would cause could put a lot of strain on the MC and everyone’s relationship within it.
“Alexis,” Nico said low and deep.
This shiver worked through her, and she found herself moving closer to him. Her lips felt so swollen, and they tingled fiercely. All she could think about was his mouth on hers, of his hands on her and of him holding her tightly. She could imagine nothing stopping them from doing what she had wanted to do with him for a long time.
“Someone could walk back here any minute,” he said, but was looking at her lips.
No, she was definitely not imagining the sexual chemistry that was bouncing between them right now. Her inner bear felt his need for her, felt his rising animal try to claw out, as if needing to escape. Alexis even watched as his pupils dilated because of his bear, because he was so close to being able to shift.
He brushed his thumb back and forth along her hand, and her belly clenched painfully. “They would see us, and I know how your dad feels about guys.” He slowly leaned forward an inch, so close that their breath mingled together.
“They would see us doing what?” she said breathlessly.
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Me kissing you, Alexis.” He said it softly, slowly, but with so much heat she felt it in her core.
“Yeah, there would most definitely be consequences.” She lowered her gaze to his mouth.
“But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t give a fuck about the consequences if Brick caught me kissing his daughter.”
Her heart stopped in her chest, and she swore she couldn’t breathe. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me for my entire life, Nico.” She was being bolder than she ever had. They were staring right into each other’s eyes, and s
he could feel the electricity bouncing between them.
“He’d kick my ass before he killed me,” he said the words almost distantly, as if it was an afterthought. “It would be so worth it, Alexis.”
She was done fantasizing about him, done thinking about what would happen if she just said screw it and what everyone else thought. She gripped the back of his head and pressed her mouth to his. She tangled her fingers around the short strands and tugged gently when he slipped his tongue along her bottom lip.
“You taste so good, Alexis,” he murmured against her lips, and then took her mouth harder, more demandingly. They kissed for long, drugging seconds, and she felt herself getting lost in the feel, smell, and taste of him.
Her heart was beating so fast she swore it would burst right through her chest. And then when he groaned she swore she felt the tingling inside of her body intensify. The sound of twigs snapping had her pulling away quickly and moving to the side. She didn’t know who was coming over, but if it was one of the little kids they had mouths bigger than the Grand Canyon and would take pleasure in running and telling the adults. Right now she didn’t want or need any drama concerning this. She glanced to the side and saw Lucas, Odin, and Tarren making their way toward them. Lucas held a small cooler, and when all three of them stepped on the deck they stopped right before them. The other two seemed oblivious to the way she was fidgeting, but Lucas had this smirk on his face as he looked between her and Nico. Maybe it was because Lucas was Nico’s identical twin and they had some kind of twin superpower? Maybe he could feel his brother’s emotions? She laughed internally at that thought. It seemed silly to even think about it, but she had seen them finish each other’s sentences back in the day, and several times when one of them would get hurt the other acted as if he were in pain.
