8. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

H ow Ulises ended up at the clubhouse draped over Easton's mate's motorcycle was anyone's guess. All he knew was the pose was anything but comfortable and he’d been unaware Easton could be so bossy.

"You need a leather jacket." Jarrell snapped a picture with a digital camera. Not the camera on his phone. It made Ulises feel ridiculous and sort of like a sexy model all at the same time.

"An oversized one." Easton tapped his chin.

"Not hard to find in a club full of dragon shifter bikers, Easton." Jarrell rolled his eyes.

Easton turned and started toward the door of the club. "I'll get Gavin's."

"Daruss's is more badass. It's scuffed and stuff." Jarrell didn't stop taking pictures. They'd have hundreds by the time they were finished. And all for a dating app. It seemed like overkill, but whatever.

"No way am I talking to him. He's scary." Easton’s shoulders went to his ears.

"Says the guy mated to the most badass alpha in existence." Jarrell rolled his eyes.

Easton smiled. If they were cartoon characters, he'd have hearts for eyes. "True."

Ulises got off the bike. "I'll go in and ask him."

Of all the Dragon Skull guys, Daruss might’ve seemed like the scariest, but maybe he was only like that with certain people. He'd never hurt Ulises. Ulises was one of the boys. And boys were protected, particularly those who had been rescued from abusive and traumatic situations.

"What about Izzy? He's inside, Ulises." Easton pointed to Izzy's bike.

"I mean nothing to him. So he shouldn't mean anything to me either." Not to mention any tension that was between them would have to end. Daruss would make sure of it. A bunch of volatile dragon shifters didn't need an excuse to fight. Drama between members wasn’t tolerated while inside the club.

They followed him inside. It was the first time he'd entered the building since arriving. They'd stayed in the parking lot up to that point. He might be nervous about seeing Izzy, but he tried not to show it.

He pretended to let his eyes adjust to the lighting, but he needed to concentrate on calming his pounding heart because Izzy was at the bar, flirting with a half-dressed boy.

As soon as Izzy saw him, he said something to the guy, kissing his cheek, and then closed the distance between them. "Looking for me?"

Before Ulises could answer, Easton stepped in front of him. "No. He's not."

Oh gods. Ulises could feel the heat rise to his face. "It's all right. I've got this."

Easton moved to his side but kept his arm around Ulises' shoulders for support. "Am I not allowed in the club anymore?"

Izzy drew back in confusion. "Of course you're allowed here. Why wouldn't you be?"

Ulises shrugged. "Why else are you talking to me? I'm just the freak with the tumor you humored once upon a time. Remember?"

Ulises hadn’t felt like a freak since his tumor had shrunk. His confidence had grown. It changed his internal dialogue. Two words from Izzy had the power of reducing him right back to where he’d been before. And something about that was unforgiveable.

Izzy sighed. His shoulders sagged. "Shit."

"Is the freak allowed in or not?" He hated the place the one word took him to. It locked him in a dark box that light couldn’t penetrate.

"This is your home as much as mine. Family is family."

Izzy was a founding member. He was second in command under Daruss. He had the power to throw Ulises out if he wanted to. "Family is family, huh? So I guess it doesn't matter who you fuck. But it should."

Izzy eyes shifted to his dragon's and his fangs dropped. It was the first time he had ever shown aggression toward Ulises. He stepped toward Ulises, getting in his face, growling. “Are you trying to control me?”

Ulises had never been scared of any of the dragons until that moment. He shrank back, trying to make himself smaller. It deflated Ulises’ argumentativeness. He couldn't speak past the fear gripping his heart.

Easton sucked in a breath.

Jarrell yelled for his mate. His voice carried over the loud music and the louder voices.

MacIver was there within seconds and so was Gavin.

Izzy backed off. He seemed to come back to himself, as if he wasn't aware of the threat he posed to Ulises until the moment he wasn’t one anymore.

Daruss was a big presence no matter where he was, but he seemed to take up more space inside the club. His commanding tone brooked no arguments, not even for someone as volatile as Izzy.

"What the fuck is going on?" He directed the question at Izzy.

The muscles in Izzy’s jaw ticced. "Something pissed me off."

He meant someone. Ulises.

Daruss seemed confused as if something about Izzy's statement didn't make sense. "Since when do you get pissed at anything?"

Izzy just shook his head. "Since right now."

Daruss met Ulises' gaze and then turned back to Izzy. "He's white as a sheet. By the gods, Izzy."

Izzy’s expression was apologetic. Not that it would erase the last few minutes when Ulises’ life had flashed before his eyes.

"I'll go." Ulises turned toward the door.

"Tell me what's going on first, Ulises." Not even Daruss could stop him from running away.

But it wasn't Daruss who came after him. It was Izzy. "Ulises."

Ulises shook his head and quickened his steps. He'd parked his car at the back of the lot. The distance felt as though he were hiking the circumference of the Grand Canyon.

"Fuck. I'm sorry, boy."

Ulises started breathing again when he entered his car, locking the doors. His hands shook as he put his key into the ignition.

Izzy didn't chase him down or try to get into his car. But he did stand in the parking lot watching Ulises drive away. The next time he cursed, he yelled the word. Ulises heard It past the radio playing an Ed Sheeran song.