Silver James

Another Wednesday, another word theme. It’s springtime so there should be lots of flower power going on. I hope doesn’t take a lot of will power to read today’s snippet. Yup, today’s #1lineWed power word is…POWER! Do y’all remember Lucky from REMEMBER THE NIGHT? He’s the president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Nightriders. He has a member named Cowboy and Cowboy got sucked into a power struggle and came out the worse for the wear. Now it’s up to Lucky to reach deep for his own magical power and do what an Alpha Wolf does…
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Lucky
I slouched against the door jamb, watching. “How’s he doin’, Dancer?”

“Hangin’ in, Lucky. Fuckers ripped him up bad.”

Hooking my thumbs in my front pockets pulled my jeans low on my hips. It was that or give in to my wolf, claws out. “He knew the risk when he accepted the full patch. We all do. Where’s his girl?”

“The old ladies have her.”

That was Dancer’s way of saying he wanted nothing to do with that situation. The man in the bed groaned. I stepped into the room and closed the door so no one else could hear.

“Be easy, Cowboy.” Dancer touched the injured Nightrider’s shoulder.

“Emily?” Cowboy’s voice was a tortured whisper but he fought to sit up.

“Lay still, man, else you’ll tear the fuckin’ stitches.” Dancer forced the other Wolf back onto the pillows.

I was beside the bed a step later to help hold him down. “She’s fine, Cowboy. Gemma’s takin’ care of her.”

Cowboy breathed easier. “The fuckers didn’t get her.”

“No, they didn’t get her. You did your job.”

I winced as Cowboy’s deep, racking cough brought up blood. I grabbed a towel, wiped his mouth.

Dancer fixed me with a hard stare. “You know what you have to do.”

“I wish the Russian was here.”

“Cowboy’ll be dead before he could cross the state line. You’re Alpha for a reason, Luc. He’ll heal faster in wolf form. Ya’ll have to rip out his beast.”

“I can’t.”

My second in command glanced up, eyes glinting feral red in the low light. “He’s in bad shape.” Teeth bared, he growled, “This feckin’ world will lay your bones bare. And shred your soul in the process. Ya gotta do somethin’!”

Dancer wasn’t talking about life in the club, and I knew it. No, he was talking life as a Wolf.

“Damn ya, Luc. Ya fought t’be feckin’ President, t’be the top Wolf. Ya have the power. Ya can’t walk away from this now. ’Tis yer duty.”

When Dancer’s Irish accent came out thick and heavy I knew I was in fuckin’ trouble. My skin itched, my wolf wanting out in the worst way. Was I strong enough? Ripping out a man’s beast was dangerous. I could kill Cowboy as easy as heal him. But Dance was right. I had no choice.

Reaching deep, I pulled on my Alpha power, directed it toward Cowboy. He writhed, but I couldn’t think about making his injuries worse. I found his wolf and yanked. His transformation started. Sweat rolled down my spine. I fought our animals even as someone screamed. Couldn’t think about who or why. Had to hold Cowboy. Had to control the beast—his and mine.

Spots formed before my eyes. My vision blacked out. Dancer had me, held me up. My claws shredded the mattress. A woman sobbed. Emily. I recognized her scent. Then arms circled my waist, a cheek pressed against my back. The aroma of orange and ginger. Gemma.

“It’s done, love. Come back to me. Come home, Luc.”

My vision cleared. Cowboy, in wolf form, was curled up on the bed, asleep. Healing. I let go. My wolf receded. I came home to Gemma.
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This is a scene from one of those books where the hero walked up and thunked me on the head. Often, when this happens, they give me a scene or three and expect me to write the whole dang book. 🙄 But I collect the scenes and tuck them back and eventually, a book will emerge. Until it does, I hope y’all enjoy this brief peek back at Lucky. Authors, any power worsd you want to share? Readers, what super power would you want?