Claimed By the Bad Boy

Chapter 3: Into the Fold

Emma awoke to the sound of muffled voices drifting through the thin walls of the small room she had been given for the night. Her body ached from the fight, and her side still throbbed with a dull pain, but she was grateful for the rest. She blinked against the dim morning light filtering through the narrow window, taking a moment to remember where she was—the Steel Wolves’ clubhouse, a place she never thought she’d find herself.

Sitting up slowly, she glanced around the room. It was basic—a single bed with a thin mattress, a small wooden chair, and a dresser that looked like it had seen better days. On top of the dresser was a neatly folded set of clothes. Emma recognized the leather jacket draped over the back of the chair as Jax’s, the emblem of the Steel Wolves standing out against the worn leather.

She slipped her feet to the floor and gingerly stood, making her way to the chair. Her own clothes were still damp from the previous night, stained with dirt and blood. She decided to take the flannel shirt and jeans left for her, pulling them on carefully to avoid aggravating her injuries. They were a bit big, but they were clean and warm, and right now, that was enough.

Taking a deep breath, Emma opened the door and stepped into the hallway. The smell of bacon and coffee filled the air, mingling with the scent of smoke and motor oil. She followed the sounds of laughter and conversation down the hall, her steps slow and cautious. She wasn’t sure what kind of reception she’d get, but she needed to eat, and she needed to figure out what came next.

As she entered the main room, she felt the weight of several gazes turn her way. The clubhouse was a hive of activity. Men sat around the large table in the center, eating breakfast and talking in low voices. A few played pool, while others lounged on the leather couches that lined the walls. The bar was bustling with a couple of women serving drinks, and she recognized Cherry from the night before, her bright red lipstick standing out like a beacon.

Emma felt a flush of embarrassment rise in her cheeks. She was acutely aware of her outsider status, her presence a stark contrast to the easy camaraderie and rough confidence of the people around her. She caught a few of the men glancing at her, curiosity in their eyes, but they quickly turned back to their conversations, seemingly uninterested in making her feel uncomfortable.

As she hesitated in the doorway, unsure of where to go or what to do, a large man with a thick beard and a friendly smile waved her over from the bar. He had an apron tied around his waist and was busy flipping pancakes on a griddle.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he called out, his voice a deep, rumbling baritone. “Hungry?”

Emma nodded, grateful for the warmth in his voice. “Yeah, I could eat,” she replied, making her way over to him.

“Name’s Bear,” he said, handing her a plate and gesturing to the spread of food on the counter. “You must be the girl Jax brought in last night.”

“I’m Emma,” she said softly, taking the plate. “And yeah, that’s me.”

Bear gave her a nod, his expression kind. “Well, don’t be shy. Dig in. You’re safe here.”

Emma offered a small smile and helped herself to some scrambled eggs and bacon, her stomach growling in anticipation. She hadn’t realized just how hungry she was until now. She found a spot at a small table near the back of the room, trying to keep to herself as she ate. But her eyes kept drifting back to the activity around her, taking in the different faces, the various patches on their vests that seemed to signify their ranks or roles within the club.

The door to the clubhouse swung open, and she looked up to see Jax walk in. He was talking to a tall man with a shaved head and a grim expression, but his eyes immediately found hers across the room. He gave her a nod, his face unreadable, before turning back to his conversation.

Emma felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety at the sight of him. There was something about Jax that unsettled her, a mix of danger and safety that she didn’t quite know how to process. He had saved her, helped her, but he was also part of this world—a world that was so foreign to her, filled with violence and uncertainty.

She took another bite of her food, trying to focus on eating rather than the butterflies that seemed to flutter in her stomach every time she looked at him.

As she ate, a woman slid into the seat across from her. Emma looked up to see Cherry, her red lips curled into a sly smile. Up close, Cherry was even more striking, with dark hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief.

“So, you’re the one Jax dragged in, huh?” Cherry said, her tone light but her eyes sharp as they scanned Emma from head to toe.

Emma swallowed her bite, feeling a bit uneasy under Cherry’s gaze. “Yeah,” she replied cautiously. “I guess I am.”

Cherry leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. “Well, you must have made quite an impression,” she said with a smirk. “Jax doesn’t usually bring strays home.”

Emma bristled at the term “stray,” but she tried to keep her expression neutral. “I didn’t ask for his help,” she said quietly. “He just… offered.”

“Oh, I’m sure he did,” Cherry said, her smile widening. “Jax is a bit of a white knight, even if he doesn’t like to admit it. But don’t get any ideas, honey. This place… it isn’t for everyone.”

Emma nodded, unsure of what else to say. She wasn’t sure what Cherry’s angle was—if she was trying to warn her, intimidate her, or simply amuse herself. But she wasn’t about to let herself be bullied.

“I’m just trying to get by,” she said softly, her eyes meeting Cherry’s with quiet determination. “I don’t want any trouble.”

Cherry seemed to consider this for a moment, then shrugged. “Fair enough,” she said, standing up. “But just so you know… Jax might have brought you in, but that doesn’t mean you’re one of us. Not yet, anyway.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her hips swaying as she headed back to the bar. Emma watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and irritation. She hadn’t asked to be here, but now that she was, she was determined not to be pushed around.

She finished her breakfast in silence, her mind racing with thoughts of what to do next. She needed a plan, a way to figure out what her next steps were. But first, she needed to talk to Jax. She needed to understand why he had brought her here and what he expected of her.

As if sensing her thoughts, Jax appeared at her side. “Mind if I sit?” he asked, his voice low and his expression unreadable.

Emma nodded, gesturing to the seat across from her. “Go ahead,” she said quietly.

Jax sat down, his eyes studying her for a moment before he spoke. “How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Better,” Emma replied. “Still sore, but… better.”

He nodded, his gaze flicking over to where Cherry was now leaning against the bar, laughing at something one of the men had said. “I see you met Cherry,” he said, his tone neutral.

“Yeah,” Emma said. “She was… interesting.”

Jax chuckled, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “That’s one way to put it,” he said. “She’s been around the club for a long time. Knows her way around things.”

Emma hesitated, then asked the question that had been on her mind since the moment she arrived. “Why did you bring me here, Jax?” she asked softly. “Why help me at all?”

Jax was silent for a moment, his eyes searching hers. “I don’t know,” he admitted finally. “I saw you in that alley, and I just… I couldn’t leave you there. It didn’t feel right.”

Emma nodded, absorbing his words. There was something genuine in his voice, a sincerity that she hadn’t expected. But she still didn’t fully understand his motives, or what he expected from her now that she was here.

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Jax leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “That’s up to you,” he said. “You’re welcome to stay until you figure things out. Or, if you want to leave, I won’t stop you. But if you do stay… you’ll need to understand that this life… it’s not easy. And it’s not always pretty.”

Emma considered his words carefully. She knew she couldn’t go back to the life she had before, not after what had happened. And there was something about Jax, about this place, that intrigued her—something that made her want to know more, to understand what it was that drew people like Cherry to this world.

“I think I’ll stay,” she said quietly, surprising herself with the conviction in her voice. “At least for a little while. I want to understand… what this place is, what you are.”

Jax nodded, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. “Alright,” he said softly. “But just know… once you’re in, you’re in. There’s no turning back.”

Emma met his gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. “I understand,” she said. “I’m willing to take that chance.”

For a moment, they just sat there, the weight of their words hanging in the air between them. And in that moment, Emma realized that she had just crossed a line—one that she couldn’t uncross, no matter how hard she tried. She was stepping into a world she didn’t fully understand, with a man who was both a mystery and a promise.