Forever Fated Mates: A Shifter Romance Collection

by Meg Ripley

  He marked it with a red X. “Anything else?”

  I gave him a cautious look. Was he really asking my opinion? “Well, right here it’s a little tight. If more than one biker were riding, it could cause a problem.”

  “Do bikers usually ride together?”

  “Yes.” I looked him over. Again today, his uniform was stiff with sharp lines and edges. “You’ve really never been on a motorcycle, have you?”

  “No,” he admitted. “Anything else?”

  “Well, it’s not very interesting. All the places where there are cool rock formations, you have so many bends, no one would get to enjoy the sights much. And then here, there’s a nice long stretch with absolutely nothing to look at.”

  “There’s never nothing to look at.”

  “You know what I mean. People like their landmarks.”

  “Fine.” He marked the bendy area and the straight areas I’d pointed out.

  “So, does that mean you’ll change them?”

  “That means I’ll look into and decide what’s best for the park.”

  “Do you care about people at all? God, you must be one lonely, miserable guy.”

  He looked at me for a long while, his jaw twitching. But I didn’t think it was anger. Something reflected deep in his eyes, and I found myself wanting to lean in closer to see better. But I caught myself before I lost my focus.

  “Do you have a clan?” I asked to break whatever spell threatened to come over me. What a shame for someone so good looking to be such a boring jerk.

  “Of course I have a clan,” he snapped.

  “Have you been in it long?”

  “Four years. Why?”

  “Just wondering if they found a way to put up with you. Who’s your Alpha? I might have to get some tips or something.”

  He growled under his breath. “Okay, look. We have to work together on this and neither of us likes it. But we don’t have to be fighting with each other all the time. Can we just agree to keep our opinions to ourselves and get this done as quickly as possible so we never have to see each other again?”

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “You know, I think that’s the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

  “Good.” He turned and my hand fell away.

  By the time my day ended, my nerves were fried. I’d taken all I could of Alex, and was ready to get far away from him and Big Bend and let loose for a while.

  I drove straight to a bar I’d only been to once before. It was outside of town, a little bit of a drive, but worth it. I wanted to go where I wouldn’t run into my clan or anyone I knew, needing to get away from everyone and everything for a while.

  I was halfway there when I remembered the clan meeting scheduled for that night—and that I’d told Toby I would be there. I checked my dash. If I turn around right now, I could make it in time. I thought of sitting there—completely sober—listening to Toby drone on, followed by anyone else who felt the need to say something. I’d sit there bored for two hours, being asked a ton of questions I didn’t want to answer.

  Or I could keep going and forget the damn meeting.

  I pressed harder on the gas and sped toward the bar, already tasting the crisp, hoppy, cold beer on my tongue.

  Pulling up, I added my bike to the collection of hogs that dominated the parking lot. Only a few cars and trucks were scattered about, and that’s why I chose it.

  That night, I was on a mission.

  4

  Roxy

  I sat down and ordered a beer, taking inventory of the people around me. A few scantily-clad women, a few tourists. But mostly men with weathered faces and long hair, wearing leather jackets and vests with patches, and that’s what I was there for. If I could find a gang of fellow bikers, I wouldn’t need a clan. Biker shifters would be ideal, but I wouldn’t be picky. Any gang who wouldn’t get on my case and would be cool, I’d join.

  I inspected several patches, matching up the symbols to see which men belonged to the same crews, and singled out at least three different gangs. One patch in particular caught my eye, stitched with an image of a wolf with a blade between its teeth. I wondered if they might be wolf shifters.

  One of the men looked over at me and nodded to his other friend. When they both looked and grinned at me, I turned away. If I looked too long, they’d get the wrong idea. And I most definitely wasn’t there for a hook up.

  Too late. One of the men stood and walked over to my table.

  “Mind if I sit?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Depends on what you want.”

  “I saw you checking me out.”

  “Yeah?” I raised an eyebrow at him. Young enough guy. Not too bad looking, though his beard was a little long for my taste. Still, I wasn’t interested. My heart didn’t react to anyone anymore.

  When I had that thought, one name came to mind. Alex. My heart had reacted to him, strangely enough. Why? I hadn’t stopped to think about it, but it made no sense for my heart to pound and my palms to sweat when I was near Alex, yet I could feel the reaction happening just thinking about him.

  I leaned forward. “Can I ask you something?”

  He gave a smile. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”

  “Your gang.”

  He glanced at his patch, then back to me. “What about it?”

  “How can I join?”

  “Well, it’s real simple, actually.” He scooted his chair closer to me. “You become my old lady and you’re a part of the gang through me.”

  “No, no.” I shook my head. “I’m not interested in any sort of relationship. Too complicated. How can I join on my own?”

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “You’re serious?”

  “Yes.” I felt my eye twitch when he broke into laughter.

  “Oh, honey.” He put his hand on his stomach and tried to stop laughing. “Wait until I tell the boys this one.”

  “I’m just as tough as any one of you.”

  “I don’t doubt that. But see, this club?” He tapped his patch. “No chicks allowed.”

  “That’s stupid; it’s not 1950 anymore. Tell your club to lighten up and get with the fucking times. Whatever, man. I’m sure plenty of gangs would love to have a hardcore bitch like me join up.”

  He shook his head and stood. “Not likely.” He stuck out his hand and I shook it. “I wish you…the best of luck.” He laughed again as he turned away.

  A minute after he got back to his table, the other man he was sitting with burst into laughter and looked over at me.

  My face burned, but I played it off with a long gulp of beer. I sat there long enough to drink another and decide what to do. After a while, I went out to get some air and smoke. I leaned against the building, several feet from the closest person.

  A woman in a leather vest walked over. “Got a light?”

  Without uttering a word, I flicked my lighter at the end of her Marlboro before stuffing it back in my pocket.

  “Thanks,” she said, her cigarette bouncing as she spoke.

  She leaned against the wall right beside me. I felt the annoyance prickle up my neck, and I pushed off the wall to walk away.

  “Where you goin’?” she asked.

  “Just wanted to be alone.”

  “That so?” She took a long drag of her cigarette. “Then why are you looking to join a club?”

  “I guess I’d rather be with my own people when I have to be around people.”

  She nodded slowly. “Then why the hell would you try to join a man’s MC?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not. I’m just trying to join any gang that’s down.”

  “You haven’t been around here much.”

  “No,” I admitted. “I’m from Big Bend, but I like this bar.”

  “My point is, you don’t know a thing about these clubs. None of them let females in. None.”

  “I’m sure there are plenty who will. In this day and age, ‘No women allowed’ is still a thing?”

  “What you need i
s a women’s gang. No guys allowed.”

  “Okay…” I nodded, letting the idea sink in.

  “Any chick with the balls I saw on you will fit right in.”

  I chuckled. “I just don’t like to get pushed around.”

  “Good, because those men’s clubs try to push us around constantly. It’d be good to have some new blood to stand up to them.”

  I liked the idea of it. A clan of women, all like-minded, standing together for the same purpose. “How’s it work?”

  “We have a ride tonight. Come with us. You can meet the ladies and see what you think. Meet out back in an hour.” She stuck her hand out. “I go by Velvet.”

  “Roxy.” I shook her hand. “See you then.”

  I watched from across the bar when Velvet headed back in. She joined a table with several other ladies, all wearing the same patch: a red devil with large breasts holding a knife, dripping with blood. It looked gruesome, which was perfect. If a gang looked wimpy, what was the point of joining?

  When the women got up to head out back, I followed. Velvet nodded to me and I joined her and another woman.

  “Hellcat, this is Roxy, who I told you about.”

  Hellcat nodded at me. “You up for a ride?”

  “Always,” I said.

  “Let’s see if you can hang.” Hellcat slid onto her bike and the engine roared to life.

  I got on my own bike and revved the engine with the other ladies. We formed a loose pack and Hellcat waited at the front.

  “Who’s up for a little fun in the park?” she asked.

  Did she mean Big Bend? I swallowed hard. At that moment, there were very few places motorcycles could ride. Many bikes came through where they shouldn’t, of course, and that was the reason for the new trail: to keep the bike traffic out of the dangerous spots.

  As I got in line, I felt the thrill of joining a ride, and my worry left me. Who was I? Alex? I wasn’t the one who was a stickler for rules. One little ride wouldn’t disturb anything too much. It was the repeated noise and vibration disturbances that caused the problems.

  When we got to the park and I recognized the trail that Hellcat chose, I felt relieved. It was one that ran around the outside of the park, which wouldn’t get in the way of much. We’d still be breaking the sound ordinances, but that was minor. Certainly nothing worth looking like a goody-goody for pointing out. I needed these ladies to be impressed by me, or to at least not be bothered by me. Being the one to ruin the ride by bringing up the rules would earn me no friends among these women.

  I thought of Alex and how miserable he was. He needs to lighten up and have some fun; to stop making everything so serious all the time. He must have no real friends. He probably sits at home all night playing Solitaire and petting his cat. Oh no, that’s right: too messy. What kind of a person doesn’t even like cuddly animals?

  We got up to full speed, and I focused on the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair. I loved the feeling of the ride and let myself go, enjoying the sight of the park at night as we sped by the scenery.

  But, before long, I heard the familiar whoop of the police Ranger cruiser. The lights flashed red and blue up ahead. Our path was blocked.

  The women stopped and a Ranger approached the group. One shined a flashlight over us. “Do you ladies have idea what time it is?”

  “Aw, officer, is it late?” Hellcat asked, trying to sound cute. “I had no idea.”

  “We have both a curfew and a sound ordinance in the park,” he said.

  “We’re so sorry, officer,” Velvet said. “Is there anything we can do to make it up to you?”

  “We’re going to have to fine you and ask you ladies to leave and not bring your bikes back.”

  The women groaned, but I had an idea. I spoke up. “Hi there, Officer…Montgomery. You can’t really blame these ladies. It’s my fault. I work out of station 28, and I asked my friends to join me in scouting out locations for the new motorcycle trail that will run through the park. I thought, who better to ask than actual bikers, right?” I shrugged and chuckled.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “Roxy Quintero. Talk to Toby. He’s my boss.”

  “Roxy? Are you the one working with Alex?”

  “Yes, do you know him?” Be very careful, I told myself. He might actually like Alex.

  “He’s in my work group.”

  I nodded at the code word. When we were in the presence of non-shifters, the Rangers used the code word “work group” to mean shifter clans. Anyone who wasn’t a shifter or in on the secret thought it just meant a team who worked together. Which was essentially what a clan was, anyway.

  “I’ll tell you what,” he said, leaning in closer and dropping his voice. “If you can promise me that you’ll escort your friends out of the park, I’ll skip the tickets as a favor to Alex.”

  So knowing Alex was saving us? What were the odds of that? I’d have to thank him. He’d be so mad. I almost a laughed but shook his hand instead. “Thank you, Officer Montgomery.”

  “Just Wyatt is fine. If you’re going to work with Alex, I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

  “Well, thanks, Wyatt.”

  The ladies behind me thanked him and waved.

  He drove off and Hellcat slapped my shoulder. “Hey, you’re all right. Thanks for getting us out of that.”

  “No problem. It’s all in who you know.”

  She laughed. “I guess we ought to call it a night before Officer Cutie Pants changes his mind. I’ll see you tomorrow night?”

  I nodded. “Absolutely.”

  5

  Alex

  I ran through the trees and over large rocks, my heavy bear feet thumping the ground rhythmically. I was joined by Sawyer, Wyatt, and Elijah.

  You’ll never believe who I got to meet tonight, Wyatt said. When no one answered, he added, Oh, come on. No guesses?

  Someone famous? I offered.

  Well. Maybe to you.

  I tried to think of who I would consider famous that Wyatt wouldn’t.

  It’s much more obvious than you think, he went on. I met your girl, Roxy!

  I huffed. She is not my girl. Where did you meet her?

  On the trail that circles the park. On her motorcycle.

  I rolled my eyes. Probably trying to make sure that my plans are interesting enough for all her biker friends.

  Interestingly enough, she was with a group of friends and that’s exactly what they claimed to be doing.

  I hope you ticketed them all. They need to know that the motorcycle trail isn’t ready yet.

  Aw, I let them go. As a favor to you.

  It’s no favor to me. I can’t stand her.

  Keep telling yourself that. Maybe you’ll eventually believe it.

  I felt frustration at his insistence, but there was little I could do about it. Wyatt and the rest of my clan could feel my attraction to Roxy, no matter how I’d tried to hide it.

  Tell him the rest, Sawyer encouraged.

  Oh, Wyatt said. Well, her friends… They all had She Devil patches on.

  Did Roxy? I asked.

  No, Wyatt assured me. But I wonder if she knows what she’s getting into with them. Seems like a bad crowd to run with. Maybe you should talk to her.

  She’s not my responsibility. If she wants to go around breaking laws, that’s on her. I have to work with her, but that’s as much interaction as I want with that crazy woman.

  As soon as the thought left me and went to the clan, I felt bad. Whatever I thought about her, I shouldn’t be calling her names like that. I didn’t really know her that well, anyway.

  When I thought of her with the She Devils, for some reason, my protective instincts flared. I wanted to get her away from those women, to save her from being hurt or arrested. I wanted to get her out of that lifestyle.

  Maybe I could talk to her about it; let her know they were bad news in case she didn’t realize it. If she decided to keep hanging with them, then at least I had done
my part.

  I’ll talk to her tomorrow, I finally said.

  Good plan, Wyatt said.

  You should bring her around the station, Elijah added. I want to meet this mystery woman.

  We’ve been working out of our station, so I’m sure you’ll run into her eventually, I told him.

  The next day, I felt nervous about talking to Roxy. She already thought I was a dork. And I didn’t really care that much, but I didn’t want to do something to make it even worse. I’d decided that if we could get along—at least a little—it would make the project go much more smoothly.

  The next day when she came in, after she took her time getting coffee and talking to the other bear in the station, she wandered over to my work area.

  “You come up with a new plan yet?” She perched on the edge of my desk.

  That would be as good of an in as any. “No, I figured I’d wait to hear from you about what your friends said last night.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, I met your buddy, Wyatt. Cool guy.”

  “Did your stunt actually bring in any good information?”

  “Tons.”

  “Like?”

  She shrugged. “Like… groups like to ride together. We need to remember that. And we should make a trail that doesn’t have any curfew.”

  “The entire park has a curfew.”

  “Duh. But that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.”

  I shook my head. Why had I thought I could reason with her about anything? “You know, for a Ranger, you sure care more about motorcycles than the park.”

  “And you care more about the park than people.”

  “No. I care about the people who want to ride through the park. I just care more about preserving endangered species and not sending others into near extinction than I do about the level of joy someone might have from riding their loud chopper through the park.”

  She burst out laughing. “Wait. Say that again.”

  I glared at her.

  She held her stomach and tried to talk through her laughter. “Someone like you using the word ‘chopper.’ Too much.”

  “Someone like me… Yeah, I guess I’m nothing like your She Devils, and I have to say, I’m glad for that.”