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should have scared her shitless. By all rights, she should stand up, run to her car, and never look back. So why wasn’t she fleeing? Because she was intrigued, dammit.
    “What are you?” she asked.
    “Grizzly.”
    “Shouldn’t you wait for your mate? Isn’t that how it works?”
    It was his turn to shrug. “I always thought that the destined mates thing was
    how it worked, but I’m damn near forty years old. At this point in my life, it seems more like a fairytale than anything else. Truth is that I’m ready to settle down and start a family. Your falling into my lap tonight seems like fate.”
    “And if I say no?”
    “Then I’ll still help you, as much as I can, but I’ll have to do it alone, which could damn well get us both killed.”
    She knew he spoke the truth, and yet she still hesitated. It wasn’t a small thing he was asking of her. It would change her entire life, starting with this very moment. She would be property, have no rights, and be expected to follow orders. She’d always sworn she’d never become an old lady, that she wanted more respect than that. But…
    “You’re asking a lot of me. I left that life behind for a reason. I know being your old lady is an honor, but I also know it’s a title and nothing more. It won’t stop you from fucking around behind my back.”
    His eyes flashed. “Shifters don’t stray.”
    Well, that was good to know.
    “It’s a lot to take in, Blaze. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. What if we don’t suit? We could be lousy in bed. We could hate each other in a few weeks.” She dropped her gaze to the cup of coffee in front of her. “You could hate me for bringing trouble to your door.”
    He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Trouble comes knocking
    all the time, sweetheart. It’s how you handle it that matters, and my brothers and I are experts on the subject. As long as I’m by your side, nothing will harm you.”
    “What if you’re the one to hurt me?” she asked softly, her gaze lifting to his.
    “I don’t know what your life was like with the Desert Dogs, but let me tell you right now that the Steel Riders won’t stand for domestic abuse of any kind. If I so much as speak a harsh word to you and you rat me out to the brotherhood, they’ll be all over my ass. Now I don’t know if you have a low opinion of bikers, shifters, or just me, but I will do everything within my power to keep you safe.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.” She squeezed his hand. “Maybe you
    should tell me what being your old lady entails. They don’t know me. Are they really just going to let you ride up, tell them you’ve found someone and immediately accept me into the fold?”
    “Not quite as easy as that, I’m afraid.”
    She nodded, having expected as much. “So, what do I have to do?”
    She hoped like hell they weren’t anything like the Desert Dogs. Those sadistic bastards had made their old lady wannabes crawl across the clubhouse floor to them, in front of everyone. And she’d heard that the Black Daggers had an initiation, where all members fucked the woman wanting to be an old lady. The thought soured her
    stomach.
    “First, you need to go to the clubhouse with me to meet the crew.”
    “And then?”
    “One step at a time, sweetheart. Do you work at the library tomorrow?”
    She nodded.
    “Wear something that will allow you to ride on the back of a bike. I’ll swing by at closing to pick you up. Maybe you can meet the guys before things get too crazy.”
    Crazy? What had she gotten herself into? She’d left the life of the M.C. years ago, and here she was about to jump back in with both feet. Luna had to admit, though, she felt better knowing that Blaze was standing in her corner. Her brother would be stupid to go up against the grizzly shifter, but she also knew Ricardo wouldn’t play fair. He wouldn’t hit the big guy head on, he’d sneak up behind him and plunge a dagger into his back,