The All Consuming: A Shifter MC Novel (Pureblood Predator MC Book 4) by May Ellis Daniels Page A

Pureblood crowd, searching for Nash. Let loverboy go chasing after his girl. I’ve had enough of Trish’s fretting for one night.

    ***

      I find the Pureblood MC’s inner circle crouched around a small fire a few hundred yards away from the main party. Aaron’s face is scrunched up in anger. Nash looks pissed as well. Blue’s gesturing with his massive arms, like he’s trying to convince Aaron of something. Tate just looks stoned.
    I’m out of earshot, but a few words and phrases drift on the wind.
    Can’t trust.
    Get rid of.
    Make the call.  
    Fucked up before.
    I take a few more steps toward the men, straining to hear. I shouldn’t be eavesdropping on club business. But I have a suspicion this is my business as well—
    “She fucking lost it, Prez,” Blue is saying.
    Aaron tosses a beer bottle in the fire and says nothing.
    “Imagine a war,” Nash says. “Stricken swarming everywhere. A fucking bloodbath. No way Lily’s gunna be strong enough to keep her animal locked up—”
    “You saw us,” Aaron growls. “She submitted. I’m her alpha. She’ll obey. Even her animal will obey.”
    “Maybe,” Blue says doubtfully. “Maybe not. It’s a fucking risk , Prez.”
    “You sound like a bitch,” Aaron says. “Life is risk. Or it isn’t worth living.”
    Nash and Blue share a look.
    “A risk we can’t afford,” Nash says, picking up where Blue left off. “We’re stronger than ever, yeah. More Purebloods keep scenting us out. Joining the ranks. But we got the fucking Fallen to deal with, not to mention Shiori and that motherfucker Rodas and…”
    Nash’s voice trails off.
    “Her son,” Aaron finishes.
    “Yeah,” Blue says, real quiet. “Lachlan. I scented those vulture’s back at the mental hospital, Prez. The Carrion Cloud. The boy’s taken after his father—”
    Tate passes Aaron a joint, then looks out into the desert. I slip behind a manzanita bush and fully commit to being a slimeball and eavesdropping.
    Aaron takes a long drag, blows a swirling cloud of blue smoke into the fire that rises with the heat, then says, “You know I love you guys. And you’re my crew. My inner circle. I know this can’t be easy for you. Talking about this shit. Truth is it’s not easy for me either. So I want you to know you can say anything. Speak your mind. Here and now. Got it? For the good of the pack. That’s what matters. Pack survival above all.”
    Pack survival above all.
    The words pound through my head.
    The fucker’s playing both sides. And I hate that there’s even two sides. I’d hoped submitting to the Prez would make it clear we’re all on the same side.
    My lips curl in derision.  
    You silly, naive little girl , I scold myself. You blind, too trusting fool .
    I’m a Risen. I’ll always be a Risen. An outsider.  
    The MC will never let me in.
    I’ll never be one of them.
    Sure, they’ll tolerate me. At least as long as Aaron forces them to.  
    I bite my lips to stifle my anger and disappointment and even…fear. Cradle my arm around my belly. He wouldn’t dare—
    “So,” Aaron says, tipping a bottle to his lips. “Nash. As VP, you speak first. What should I do?”
    …about the Lily problem?  
    He didn’t say it. Didn’t have to. It was right there, hanging in the air for everyone to see. The backstabbing bastard—
    Nash flicks another glance into the desert.  
    Fucker’s nervous.  
    About me .  
    That’s the poison I bring to this pack. Fucking shitballs why didn’t I see it before? I was too busy fighting my animal. Trying to make sense of things. Running around putting out fires. I should have got out in front of this long ago.  
    What a fucking jerkoff I’ve been.  
    Now shit gets real.
    I’ve been leaning on Aaron and praying it was all gunna work out. Suddenly the pressure my being here puts on Aaron hits home and knocks the wind from my lungs. How he has to act as a go-between, caught in the middle of his pack and his bloodmate.  
    No wonder