The Wolves Are Everywhere

by Janie Marie

  The moan from Janie was loud, and Ryder’s low laugh was the kind that girl’s dreamed about.

  Time to make like a tree . . . and get the fuck out of there.

  She almost laughed aloud at the totally wrong saying that she’d heard on the movie Boondock Saints, but somehow stayed quiet and made it to a table near the exit of the room. Just a little more.

  Big black boots in her face had her stopping before she was home free.

  She craned her head up, wincing at the sight of Sin. He stared down at her, his dark eyes twinkling with glee as he shifted his attention between all of them.

  Janie moaned again.

  Sin winked at Kylie as he moved back so she could escape.

  For some stupid reason, she peeked over her shoulder. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head because things had gone well past cute kisses.

  The bad boy was all in, shoving Janie’s shirt over her breasts. Thankfully, Janie still wore a bra, but Ryder was about to fix that. He had already slipped a hand between her legs, all while Janie frantically tugged at his gray sweatpants.

  Kylie’s mind went fuzzy: gray sweats . . . dick print.

  Oh, Jesus, I’m sorry. She crawled as fast as she could, rounding the corner like a snake smothered in baby oil as Sin held his stomach, laughing silently.

  “That made my entire life here,” Sin whispered, guiding her down the hall as Janie’s cries filled the room. “Yeah, she’s loud. Unless he’s fucking her in front of everyone.” He laughed again. “He thinks he’s real slick because he’s taught her to be quiet when he wants her to be, but that girl’s eyes roll to the back of her head when he’s hittin’ it.”

  “I can’t believe you just said that.” Kylie hid her face in her hands, trying hard not to laugh. “I can’t believe that even happened.”

  “And I can’t believe you didn’t see Archer watching the whole thing.” He laughed loudly when her eyes flew up to him. “He’s a sick little fuck.”

  “Oh, my gosh. Did Ryder know?”

  Sin bobbed his head as he dragged a hand over his beard. “He’ll beat his ass for watching.”

  “But they’re all out in the open,” Kylie whispered. “It’s not Archer’s fault.”

  “Ryder’s head of their home,” he said casually. “It’s just common knowledge for us to be discreet and to give them privacy.”

  Kylie covered her ears, walking faster because the sounds coming from the game room intensified. “Hurry,” she hissed at Sin.

  He produced an apple from his pocket, not making any sign he was going to speed up. “But I don’t get to watch porn here.”

  She tripped, and he snickered, grabbing her forearm when she started down the wrong hall. “Don’t you tell anyone about this.”

  He held a hand over his heart. “My irresistible lips are sealed. But he knew you were there.”

  “What?” She saw white for a moment. “I think I’m going to pass out. Are you serious?”

  “Deadly.” He chuckled. “He’d already started on her, though. That boy doesn’t let his woman go without finishing her a few times.”

  “Please stop talking,” she said, walking faster, only to come to a screeching halt at the sight of Logan and his brother at the staircase she needed to take.

  Like deers caught in headlights, they both stared and remained still.

  Janie shouted curses and rhythmic moans made Kylie wish she could fall right through the floor.

  Lykos shook his head, an amused quirk to his lips as Sin laughed.

  “Little Hood here army crawled her skinny ass out of the room before they got this far,” he told them, chuckling. “Best night in a long time.”

  Kylie couldn’t tear her eyes from Logan, and it was a complete and utter surprise to see he wasn’t reacting negatively to Janie getting fucked down the hall. “I didn’t want to go to the room yet,” was all she could think to say. “I didn’t notice she was in there.”

  Logan smiled. “You have to be careful which room you’re in. If she’s in it alone, he’ll find her and this”—he gestured to the hall as Janie’s cries reached porn-worthy heights— “happens.”

  “Good to know.”

  Lykos cast a glance at her before tapping Logan’s shoulder. “I’m gonna find Dad.”

  Logan nodded to him, then grinned at her when Janie’s cries didn’t let up. Ryder hadn’t lied about Janie being a screamer, obviously, and it embarrassed Kylie to realize she was curious about Ryder’s stamina.

  Sin tapped her on the shoulder; he was such a touchy guy, but his touch never felt unnerving. “You wanna hang out with him? I’m gonna go see if I can remove Archer so they can have this.”

  “Fucking pest,” Logan said, chuckling as he watched her face burn because Ryder wasn’t holding back.

  Sin laughed, glancing around as Lance and Lykos came around a corner. “He’s gonna make you a god-grandpa.”

  Lance shook his head. “I hear nothing.”

  Logan gave her a little head tilt, an invitation to slip away.

  Kylie nodded back.

  “I’m gonna take Kylie somewhere,” Logan told his father and brother. “I’ll find you in a bit.”

  Sin winked at her and headed back toward the game room.

  “I can’t believe this,” she whispered, watching Sin and the Grimms disappear.

  Logan chuckled as he gestured toward a hall she hadn’t been taken down yet. “You get used to it.”

  “You have?” She peeked up at him, swallowing at the somber look he tried to hide. “Sorry.”

  He smiled, shaking his head. “It’s nice to watch how much that asshole loves her. I love that she’s getting her fairy tale with him. It’s even good to know Ryder has her this way. I actually root for the fucker to marry her one day.”

  Kylie’s mouth popped open. She hadn’t expected Logan to be this content about Janie and Ryder, not after he declared he was in love with the girl.

  His eyes shown with mischief as Janie let out a few curse words as well as Ryder’s yell for Archer to get the fuck out. “Ryder’s gonna beat his ass later.”

  “I hope he doesn’t beat me.” She covered her hot cheeks. “I saw the start of it.”

  He laughed, taking her out a door. It opened to a gorgeous solarium. The moon was almost full, bathing the entire room as the millions of stars twinkled like pretty jewels.

  “Wow,” she whispered, staring at the whole sight. “This is beautiful.”

  Logan looked up, smiling at the moon. “We’ve had a few sleepovers in here. When it’s a first quarter and when it’s full.”

  “You have slumber parties?”

  He chuckled, guiding her to a sitting area. “I guess it counts. Janie loves playing games. Archer and her brothers are cute with her. They keep her distracted while we discuss business. Last time they built a huge mattress fort, attacking Ryder every time he tried to steal her. She even got Damon in and made him guard her like a dragon.”

  Kylie laughed loudly, surprising herself that she was so into hearing what Logan had been up to with his ex. “Damon pretended to be a dragon for her?”

  Logan nodded, his smile so carefree that she stared at him in awe. He looked younger finally, like her man-boy who was closer to boy than man. “He even pulled out a mini flame thrower to be a fire-breathing one.”

  “Oh, gosh.” She chuckled, staring up at the stars. It was so peaceful. “I didn’t get to see the stars at the center.”

  Logan looked up too. “You can come down her as often as you want.”

  They sat in silence, and she smiled to herself because she wasn’t thinking about him in the way she had been. It was like they were just friends all of a sudden.

  Logan pointed at the stars. “That really bright one . . . I talked to it the way Janie does to those she’s lost. But I talked to you.” Kylie’s breath hitched, and he chuckled. “I missed you and some nights I wanted to talk to you. I said I was sorry a lot.” He laughed a little harder and turned his head, smiling.
“Then Ryder caught me, and he called me a dumbass because it’s not even a star. It’s Venus. He laughed and told me I was talking to the Morning Star . . . Luc.”

  Kylie couldn’t help it, she laughed. “Logan, that’s hilarious.”

  “Yeah, the fucker told on me. Everyone teased me. But Janie dragged me out that night, and she pointed to another star.” He smiled. “She said with complete certainty that it was you.”

  Kylie stopped smiling and stared into his eyes. “Which one?”

  He leaned close to her and pointed at what she knew was the Big Dipper. “This whole constellation is Ursa Major—you can see it all year round, so she said I’d always be able to find you. You see the Big Dipper, and the handle there?” She nodded, and he went on. “The star before the end of the handle. The bright one in the middle?”

  “I’m that pretty star?” she whispered, feeling his stare now.

  “No. There’s a faint star right by it. It’s called Alcor. You can barely see it.”

  She frowned as she faintly picked up the least impressive star in the night sky, and she couldn’t hide her disappointment. “She said I’m the dull star by the bright one? Is she the bright one or something?”

  “No, she’s not a star—she’s the moon. That faint one, Alcor, is you. She told me it’s sometimes called the Forgotten One or the Neglected One.” Her eyes watered, and he continued in that soothing tone of his. “She said that’s you.”

  “Great,” she said, covering her heart as felt like it had just been shot.

  “The bright one next to it is Mizar,” he said, even softer. “She said that one is me.”

  Kylie sucked in a breath and turned to look at him.

  His gaze was tender as he caressed her cheek; she was crying. He didn’t wipe away her tears, just traced them with his fingertips. “All the pretty stars in the sky and the moon always glowing so pretty in whatever phase she’s in, and my eyes have found that faint star each night since then. She’s beautiful. Just like my Little Hood.”

  “Logan,” she whispered, searching his eyes. He’d never looked at her this way before. It was like seeing him for the first time, like he was seeing her for the first time.

  He smiled but leaned away. “I just wanted you to know. I’ll never forget you. I’ll always see you. And if you ever need me, I’m here. Just like our stars.”

  She didn’t have any words. She was entirely choked up with an emotion she didn’t know existed.

  “Sin’s here,” he murmured. “Good night, Kylie.”

  “Good night, Logan,” she said as he stood and walked away. Her body felt numb almost immediately, but she welcomed the calm. She wasn’t ready for anything he’d just said to her, and she didn’t know how to process it. Janie had put them together, recognized her belief she’d been forgotten and neglected, and gave her Logan. He’d found her despite all the other stars and the moon. It was just like Ryder told her so long ago.

  “Fuck, did that asshole make you cry?” Sin plopped down beside her.

  She let out a sad laugh and wiped her tears. “He didn’t mean to.”

  He huffed, stretching out as he gazed up at the stars. “Look at all those pretty ladies. I can’t even pick a favorite.”

  Her heart warmed, and she stared up at them again. “Figures you’d call them all girls.”

  “Not all. But the ones that twinkle are.” He turned his head to face her. “You’re not twinkling at me.”

  “No, I’m not.” She smiled at the two stars Logan had shown her.

  “He spouted some sweet shit, didn’t he?”

  “I’m not telling you.” She couldn’t relax her face.

  He sighed loudly. “Be careful with your heart around him.”

  It was the reality, the bitter truth she needed to hear. “Yeah, I know he’s not mine.”

  “That’s not how he was looking at you,” he said, bumping her shoulder as her heart fluttered. “Just keep your focus on what’s important to you now. You’re doing great. Not once have you made the ugly face you made that day in the elevator.”

  She frowned, but remembered he had been there that day so long ago. “Did you just call me ugly?”

  “You were hideous,” he said with a chuckle. “But I see a pretty girl now.” He bumped her shoulder again with his. “You okay?”

  Her head bobbed, and she wiped her face again. “I am. Thank you.”

  “You got it, pretty.”

  ✦✦✦

  Logan looked up as he entered the house, stopping when he saw his dad and Lykos waiting for him. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You spied on me?”

  His dad grinned. “Have to make sure you don’t do something stupid, son.”

  “That was stupid,” Lykos said with a frown. “You know who she is, brother.”

  “I know who she was,” he corrected, shutting the door when he heard Kylie laugh with Sin. “That’s all you know too.”

  Lance gave him a tight smile. “I won’t let you hurt that girl again.”

  A wave of dark energy he’d gotten used to in his dad’s presence since he’d met Lorelei washed over him. “I know, Dad. I wasn’t trying to hurt her.”

  Lykos sighed, annoyed. “She’s going to think you’re still in love with her, idiot. Let the girl work on things without you fucking it up.”

  He looked down, knowing Lykos was right; he’d ruin the progress Kylie had made. She really had come a long way. “I just wanted her to know that I never forgot her and I’m here.”

  Lykos shook his head and turned away, leaving.

  His father chuckled quietly and nodded. “You didn’t hurt her. It’s a beautiful way to see a girl, especially when that boy already has the moon glowing for him. I think there’s a reason the Forgotten One is where Janie found your star, son.”

  “What reason?”

  Lance inclined his head for him to follow. “Because we all forgot where the Forgotten One came from and who was there all along, at her side. Even when he failed the one who lit up the dark.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  His dad patted him on the back as they walked side by side. “You will. I see it, and it’s beautiful. Jane wasn’t the only one who was clever. God had already provided the most clever truths for her. I think she figured it out.”

  Eighteen

  HERO

  Kylie swallowed hard as she leaned against the gym wall. Maura stood to her right, and Janie was next to Maura. Her former enemy had been quiet all day. It was strange, as it was April Fools’ Day. She’d expected prank after prank from Janie, but the girl seemed sad, and Ryder was always hugging or kissing her. Before Kylie would’ve rolled her eyes at the pampering, but now she knew something must be wrong with the holiday. She hoped it wasn’t the anniversary of something tragic, but she had a feeling it was. And Ryder’s attention had been split because he was watching over them instead of just Janie.

  He and his brothers were busy keeping students distant. It was funny how Kylie always desired the attention Janie got from the brothers, yet now she was eager to tell them to leave her to the wolves and run away with Janie.

  Maura shot Kylie a worried look. This was the longest they’d been without the Godsons because the boys were changing in the locker room.

  “Aw, looks like the three little cunts weren’t invited to service the football team.” Melody and her little posse came to a stop in front of them.

  Kylie expected Janie to say something, but she didn’t—and Maura looked on the verge of tears. That’s it.

  She moved, shielding Maura, and smiled at Melody. “Yep, you kinda put the rest of us out of business. What ever will we do now?”

  Melody’s face reddened when some football players got closer. Their Health class was combined with the off-season football team, and the cheerleaders, and they were being forced to dress out for the sports portion of it.

  “I don’t know—abort more babies,” Melody finally bit out, darting her eyes to Maura. “Baby killer.”<
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  Maura stiffened at her side, her breath hitching.

  Before the cruel smile could finish forming on Melody’s lips, she paled.

  “Bitch, move along,” came Ryder’s voice.

  Kylie breathed a sigh of relief, seeing him stroll over.

  He used his massive body to block all three of them from curious stares. “Did I stutter?”

  The football players scattered along with Melody’s group.

  Yet, Melody stood her ground, a twisted sneer on her face as she met Ryder’s glare. “Everyone knows.”

  “That you’re a cunt who wishes she were one of these girls?” He chuckled. “I know.”

  “I’d never wish to be them,” Melody seethed.

  Ryder bent down to get in her face. “Then stop running your fucking mouth about them. It’s beyond obsessive and downright crazy now.”

  It was like déjà vu for Kylie. And it was oddly refreshing to realize Ryder really had treated her like he would treat any ugly-hearted girl.

  “I’m only telling the truth,” Melody seethed.

  “The truth is, you’re a jealous bitch who can’t stand she’s not wanted by me, Logan, or even Trevor’s psychopathic ass.” He gave her a deadly smile. “Now move before I decide that hair on your upper lip makes you a man worth knocking out.”

  Melody stumbled back and started walking away, but she turned before entering the gym. “Doesn’t change the fact they’re baby killers. And everyone knows!”

  “Whatever, hoe. Keep spreading lies. Karma will knock you on your flat ass soon.” Ryder reached for Janie’s hand and pulled her to his side. “Let’s go, babe.”

  Kylie wrapped her arm around Maura’s trembling frame as Melody quickly stomped off.

  Ryder kept them shielded, but he peered over his shoulder. “Breathe, Maura. It’ll pass.”

  “How does she know?” Maura whimpered.

  “She doesn’t,” he said gently. “She’s saying Trevor knocked you up, and that you aborted it to protect your lie about him hurting you.”

  If Kylie had superpowers, she’d make Melody suffer until the end of time.

  “Just breathe,” Ryder continued. “She did the same shit to Janie.” He said nothing else and led Janie away.