Forget about me

Chapter three

Shade

"Will you shut up if we come?" Hunter snaps at Dylan who keeps prattling on about a "guys night". The man's as loyal as they get and a hell of a sharpshooter but he talks non-stop. He's been trying to get us to come with him to the Black peony for years.

"Sure dude." Dylan answers distracted by something on his phone. "Tonight's the perfect night." He exclaims face lighting up. "They just posted that a new dancer's on stage tonight. Let's go check her out." He bounces in place like an excited over grown puppy. 

Jeremy shrugs not against going. He's the more social of us and can stand Dylan's incessant chatter. I'll go if the others do, I don't really care either way.

Hunter makes a show of looking pissed, which he does most of the time. He rarely smiles anymore. He mostly works and keeps to himself.

Ryder looks to me and I give him a shrug that says it's up to the others. He's the unannounced leader of our group. Though we try to be a democracy, Ryder's the one who makes the split decisions if there's no time to discuss. I can see the thoughts churning in his head, always calculating. He's probably thinking that going with some of the younger wolves, and one or two of the pups, to the strip club will strengthen our bonds with them and strengthen the pack.

"Alright, let's go." Ryder nods to the parking lot and Dylan squeals jogging to Jeremy's truck.

I make a mental note to check up on Allison while we're there as I throw a leg over my bike and start it up. Ryder's bike is parked next to mine and he nods before disappearing down the road. I follow behind Jem's truck before gliding up next to the passenger seat where Hunter sits looking glum. Breezing past them I ride next to Ryder brining his competitive side into light. Our motorcycles pick up speed as we compete to reach the clubs parking lot first. I beat him by a corner. Ryder glares at me as he turns his bike off and grumbles something about it needing an upgrade.

"Don't blame the bike, you're only as good as you drive." I tease as Jem parks next to us. Ryder lunges for me wrestling my head under his arm and ruffling up my dark hair. Shoving out of his grip I stumble away chuckling.

The lights are dimmed and it takes a while for the guard keeping the crowd at bay to recognise us. His back immediately straightens and head dips in respect as he lets us pass. We're led by a waitress in high heels and a short black dress to one of the tables that sit front and middle. Two pups and five of the other wolves our age sit there, drinks in hand. They make room for us and people rush away to get our order.

Closer by Nine Inch Nails blasts through the speakers as a girl in a red lace set moves around the pole. I sink into my seat, eyes locked on her as she dances. She's absolutely stunning. The way she hits every beat and comes alive to the rhythm. As if they're one and the same. It doesn't hurt that her ass is fucking perfect. I'm not normally a fan of places like this but I'd come here every night just to see her.

Anger rises unbidden as I notice every other guy in this place watching her every move. Hunter's glower is gone replaced by absolute awe. Jem's drooling and Ryder's leaning back, his thumb resting against his lower lip.

Dylan stops one of the waitresses carrying our drinks and asks "who is she?"

The waitress looks up at the stage and smiles wide. "She's made quite the entrance, hasn't she?" she muses as she appreciates her new colleagues moves. "Lexie. Her name's Lexie." She adds before walking away.

Lexie. I nicknamed a friend that once. 

Alexandra. 

Her name strikes a chord in my chest which echoes through my head. I try not to think about her, but sometimes the sky reminds me of her eyes or I imagine I hear her laugh in a crowd and I can't help but remember. Then there's the songs that none of us can listen to anymore. They come on the radio and Ryder changes the channel. Sometimes, when I'm alone, I torture myself by playing them over and over again. I have a feeling Hunter and Jem do the same. She broke something vital in all four of us the day she took her fathers diary and skipped town without even leaving so much as a note. Hunter became obsessed with finding her and I don't think he ever stopped searching. Not even when Ryder ordered us to stop. I don't think Ry could take coming up empty again.