25. DJ

Chapter 25

DJ

I 'm still trying to wrap my head around all this information when we walk out into the main room. It's my job to make sure everyone is ready for church, to get everybody organized, seated, and ready to shut the fuck up and listen. So, I reluctantly leave my mate's side.

"Alright, fuckers, listen up! Sweetbutts, clear the room, but don't leave. Everyone else, in Church. Prospects, too," I announce.

Every eye in the fucking room widens when I demand the prospects join us. It's never happened before. Prospects aren't part of the club until they earn the patch. Which means they're never invited to church. Doing so now goes against everything we stand for. But they have the right to know what we're up against and why.

Chatter erupts as they slowly edge toward the meeting hall where we have church. Bikers are a bunch of gossipy bitches.

"Get movin'! We don't have all day," I bark.

They pick up speed and I scowl as I walk past. I step up to our normal spot and call the meeting to order. "Listen up fuckheads, this is gonna be quick and dirty. You'll keep your mouth shut until the end. We will ask if you have questions then. Until then, no one says a fucking word. Am I understood!?"

"Yes, VP." Echoes throughout the room and I nod to King.

"Ok, good work today," he starts. "Even though we were set up." Growls and grumbles fill the room. "Unfortunately, we had some losses. Kreg, Lee, Rex, and Zek. Their service to this club will never be forgotten and we will honor their memory. Funeral arrangements will be made as soon as this mess is over. Until then, if you know of any immediate needs any of their family members have, please see Beck or Cree and they'll take care of it."

They were good men. Loved and respected by everyone in the club. The fact they died fighting our battle, not even knowing what that battle was, is why we're having this meeting.

"You'll never know how much I appreciate each of your willingness to go into battle no questions asked. But this one is too big and dangerous to ask that of you. You deserve to know what we're fighting and why. Ivy, come here, please."

I look around the room for our mate, having lost sight of her in the shuffle. I knew one of my brothers would stay by her, so I wasn't worried. Not that she couldn't protect herself. I just like knowing where she is. I finally find her in a corner with Neo. And she doesn't look too happy about being called out.

Glaring at King, she steps around Neo and maneuvers through the crowd, careful not to touch anyone. Which isn't difficult since everyone steps back and stares as a woman walks through Church. When she stops in front of him, he grabs her by the waist, pulls her against his chest, and kisses her like his life depends on it. Then he spins her around, and wraps his arm around her, intentionally leaving his fresh bite mark revealed.

I didn't think I'd ever see Ivy so stunned. That kiss must have fried her brain. King points to the bite mark on his chest and slaps the one on Jax's chest, which he's still showing off with great pride.

Damn, I want one.

"This is Ivy. Our mate. All the officers' mate to be exact. Disrespecting her is to disrespect us. Am I clear?" The boom in his voice has every member nodding their heads followed by dropping them in respect. I've heard him use what some call an alpha bark before. I don't think deathstalkers have alphas, but if we did, King would be one. Hell, maybe he is. It's not like I know everything about our species.

"Not to mention, a death sentence if Ivy finds out," Neo mutters.

Normally, I'd smack him for any smartass comment, but he has a point. I'm fairly certain these guys should fear our mate more than they do us.

"Good. Now, Beck photo up, please."

Somehow Beck knows what photo he's talking about, because the screen we rarely use, shows a picture of Stanley fucking Shiftlan. "This fucker is going to be hunting for us. He's the one that killed our brothers. He's the one that has tried to wipe out an entire race. Our race." He points to me and my brothers, still holding Ivy close with one arm.

"He won't rest until we're all dead. And now after this colossal fuck up today, he knows about her. If he finds her, our race will go extinct. She is our last hope. She is our life. As a mate should be."

He kisses the side of her neck and she stomps on his foot. The entire club erupts in laughter. Our girl doesn't like being the center of attention, noted.

He goes on to explain some things I never thought he would do. He tells them why the club is named The Deathstalkers. We did a good job convincing everyone we're just regular scorpion shifters. He warns them to whisper a word of it outside this clubhouse will be a death sentence to everyone in the club.

"Shiftlan is responsible for countless deaths, including all of our parents. He will pay for his crimes. And we'll be the judge, jury, and executioner. Spread the word. There is a million dollar price tag on his head. But we want him alive ."

Excited chatter fills the air as members turn to their neighbor. Comments about Stanley, and the bombshell King just dropped on everyone spread across the room.

"Didn't I make myself fucking clear? Shut the fuck up!" An instant hush falls over the crowd again. I love it when I can be all growly and mean. I don't get to do it very often.

Once everyone settles down, he tells them to stand if they have a question, and he will answer them one by one. By the time everyone's questions are answered, I'm ready to crash. It's been a long ass day.

As all the prospects file out, a few of the older members come up and pat King on the shoulder saying they're glad he's back on his feet, and congratulate us all on finding our mate. We leave church behind the other members and I see her coming too late.

Vixen.

Oh bloody hell .

She marches up in her little shorts and halter top with her tits half hanging out, stopping right in front of Ivy, who straightens to her full height in King's arms.

"What makes her so special? Sluts aren't allowed in Church ," she sneers. "She doesn't smell shifter and she doesn't smell like you. Well of your cum, but-"

Before King can stop her, Ivy is out of his grip and has Vixen up in the air by the throat. "I warned you once bitch. They are mine. "

Beck runs and grabs a bottle of booze from the bar. Not caring what type.

"Don't kill her, baby," King whispers in her ear, running his hand up her back.

"She's a jealous slut, but she doesn't deserve to die. Not yet at least," Jax adds a little unhelpfully. "She'll learn her place. We're yours and only yours."

When she turns her head and looks at them, her eyes are glowing the most amazing colors I've ever seen. It's every color of our scorpions. They swirl through her eyes in a way that our scaly skin does, if we're out in the sunlight. There's no denying she's a deathstalker.

She growls, but sets Vixen back on her feet. Beck throws a bottle of booze at Sasha, who steps up next to Vixen the minute she hits the ground. "Don't touch your skin where Ivy did. There's epi in the med kit, someone get it, and if you believe in the gods, say a fucking prayer. Hopefully she didn't get any venom on her or she's a dead bitch."

The look of shock and horror on both Vixen, and Sasha's face is priceless, but they were warned. I turn around to see absolute pride on King's face. Jax on the other hand has a fucking smile. I didn't know the man could do it. I don't think I've seen him smile since he bought his first hog.

I walk up to Ivy, who is still fuming and pour everything I have into a kiss. "Damn, you're sexy when you're angry." The moment I pull my lips off of hers Cree takes my place.

DJ comes up behind our mate planting little kisses on her neck. "Way to stake your claim, beautiful. No one's gonna fuck with you anymore."

She melts back into him and her whole demeanor softens. "I don't like that bitch. But thank you for stopping me from killing her."

Jax snorts. "You're an assassin, but you didn't want to kill a bitch that got in your face? Explain that to me, please. Because I was two seconds away from breaking her fucking neck just for looking at you wrong. And I've known her for five years."

Ivy does this cute little shrug. "I only kill those who deserve to die. Sick fuckers like Stanley."

Cree burst out laughing. "You're responsible for that fuckhead's death I read about what the fuck was his name… Donovan Declan…" He's usually very good at names so it's comical to see him trying to remember one.

"Devlin. He was a good fuc..." She doesn't finish what she was about to say, because all six of us growl and turn and stare at her.

King gets up in her face. I see the veins on the side of his neck pulsing. "You will not fuck anyone ever again besides one of us. You. Are. Ours. You will not mention your conquests again, because I will find a way to raise them from the dead and kill them again with my bare fucking hands. Am I clear?" His voice is so full of gravel. You can tell his scorpion is pissed.

Oh, the little minx. Ivy taps her chin and says, "Hum… then I guess you better keep me well satisfied. Because I've got an appetite and I'm hungry."

King blinks once, then twice. Neo, ever the smart ass picks this moment to open his mouth. "I've got something to feed you,"

"No time, Lover Boy. But you're on my schedule." She winks at him.

How the fuck do I get on this schedule?