Claimed By the Bad Boy

Chapter 4: Deeper Into the Fold

The days passed in a blur of new experiences for Emma. Every morning, she woke up in the small room at the clubhouse, feeling more like an outsider trying to understand a world she had never been a part of. The Steel Wolves MC was unlike anything she had ever known—loud, chaotic, but also strangely close-knit. There was an undeniable sense of loyalty among the members, a bond forged in shared experiences and a code of unspoken rules.

Emma spent most of her time observing, learning, trying to figure out where she fit in. She was still unsure of her place in this world, still trying to navigate the rough edges and the unspoken rules that seemed to govern every interaction. The men were tough, but they treated each other like family, and there was a respect there that she found herself admiring. The women, like Cherry, were more complex—confident, bold, and seemingly comfortable with the role they played within the club.

And then there was Jax.

Emma couldn’t quite figure him out. He was quiet, reserved, always watching but never saying much. He had a commanding presence, a quiet authority that seemed to demand respect from everyone around him. He was kind to her, in his own way—checking on her injuries, making sure she had what she needed—but he kept his distance, and she found herself wanting to know more about him, to understand the man who had saved her life and brought her into this world.

One evening, after the sun had dipped below the horizon and the clubhouse was beginning to come alive with the usual mix of laughter, music, and the low hum of conversations, Emma found herself in the kitchen, helping Bear with dinner. She had offered to lend a hand earlier in the day, wanting to feel useful, to contribute something to the place that had taken her in.

“You’re a quick learner,” Bear said with a grin as he watched her slice vegetables for the stew. “Most of the guys around here can’t even boil water without burning it.”

Emma laughed, the sound surprising even to her. “I guess I had to learn fast,” she replied. “Growing up in foster care, you don’t always get a choice.”

Bear nodded, his expression softening. “I get that,” he said quietly. “Club’s kinda like that too. You learn to fend for yourself, but you also learn to look out for your own.”

Emma glanced at him, curious. “How long have you been with the Steel Wolves?” she asked.

“Long enough,” Bear replied with a chuckle. “Long enough to see a lot of things change, and some things stay the same.”

Emma nodded, not pressing for more. She had learned quickly that in this world, everyone had a story, but not everyone was willing to share it. Respecting boundaries was important, and she didn’t want to overstep.

As they worked, she noticed Jax sitting at the bar, talking to a few of the men. He looked different tonight—more relaxed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. She watched as Cherry approached him, her hand casually resting on his shoulder as she leaned in to whisper something in his ear.

Emma felt a strange pang in her chest, a mix of jealousy and frustration that she didn’t quite understand. She had no claim on Jax—he was just the man who had saved her, nothing more. And yet, seeing Cherry so close to him, so familiar, made her feel… something.

She turned her attention back to her work, trying to ignore the flutter in her stomach. She had no right to feel this way, no reason to care what Jax did or who he did it with. But she couldn’t deny the growing attraction she felt, the pull toward him that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.

As the evening wore on, the clubhouse grew louder, the atmosphere more charged. The women—Cherry and a few others—flitted around the room, laughing and flirting with the men, their touches lingering, their smiles suggestive. Emma watched, trying to understand the dynamic, the unspoken agreements that seemed to govern these interactions.

She couldn’t help but notice the way the men’s eyes followed Cherry and the other women, the way their hands drifted to hips and thighs, their smiles turning darker, more heated. There was an undercurrent of desire in the air, a raw, primal energy that made Emma’s skin tingle.

She had never been in a place like this, never seen anything like it. It was both fascinating and intimidating, a world where boundaries seemed fluid, where rules were made to be bent or broken. She wasn’t sure where she fit into this picture—if she fit in at all.

As she finished up in the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, she felt someone approach from behind. She turned to see Jax standing there, his expression unreadable.

“Hey,” he said softly, his eyes searching hers. “You doing okay?”

Emma nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. “Yeah,” she replied. “Just… taking it all in.”

Jax’s gaze flicked to the main room, where the party was in full swing. “It can be a lot,” he admitted. “This life… it’s not for everyone.”

Emma hesitated, then asked, “Is that why you brought me here? To see if I could handle it?”

Jax’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of something—concern, maybe, or doubt. “I brought you here because you needed help,” he said quietly. “But yeah… I guess I wanted to see if you’d stick around. Most people don’t.”

Emma felt a flutter in her chest at his words. There was something almost vulnerable in the way he said it, something that made her want to reach out, to bridge the gap between them.

“I’m not like most people,” she said softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Jax nodded, his expression softening slightly. “No,” he agreed. “You’re not.”

They stood there for a moment, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. Emma could feel her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through her veins. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, but she knew she didn’t want this moment to end.

Before she could say anything else, a loud cheer erupted from the main room, breaking the tension. Emma turned to see Cherry on one of the tables, her hips swaying to the beat of the music, her hands trailing up her sides in a slow, seductive motion. The men hooted and hollered, their eyes glued to her every move.

Emma felt her cheeks flush, a mix of embarrassment and something else she couldn’t quite name. She wasn’t used to seeing such open displays of sexuality, such unabashed confidence. It was both thrilling and overwhelming, and she wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

Jax seemed to sense her discomfort. “You don’t have to stay out here,” he said quietly. “There’s a room down the hall where you can have some privacy.”

Emma nodded, grateful for the offer. “Thanks,” she said softly. “But… I think I’ll stay. I want to see… I want to understand.”

Jax studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded. “Alright,” he said. “Just… don’t let them get to you.”

Emma wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but she nodded anyway. She watched as he turned and headed back toward the bar, his broad shoulders cutting through the crowd with ease.

She stayed where she was, leaning against the kitchen counter, watching as the party continued. She saw the way the men watched Cherry, their eyes dark and hungry, their hands reaching out to touch her as she danced. She saw the way the women moved, confident and unapologetic, their bodies on display for all to see.

And then she saw Jax.

He was leaning against the bar, a drink in hand, his eyes fixed on her. There was a heat in his gaze, a raw intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. He wasn’t like the others—he didn’t leer or ogle. But there was something in the way he looked at her, something that made her pulse quicken and her breath catch in her throat.

Emma felt a surge of desire, a need to understand what it was that drew her to him, what it was that made her want to be close to him, to feel his hands on her, his lips against hers. She had never felt anything like this before—this raw, unbridled attraction, this pull that seemed to defy reason.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She wasn’t sure what she was getting into, wasn’t sure if she was ready for what this world, what Jax, could offer. But she knew one thing—she wasn’t ready to walk away.

Not yet.