Claimed by the Club

Irina's pov The bell rang like a gong, reminding me my day was nowhere near over. Slowly, I gathered my books and carefully placed them into my bag. Students I wasn't close with stood, talked, and laughed as they filtered out of the classroom. Some of them were likely going home to loving and caring homes. Some were probably going to their cheerleading or football practices. Some to clubs or libraries to hang out with their friends. But me? I had things I needed to do to survive. I burst out of the double doors, blinking rapidly against the harsh sunlight. I looked down at my watch as I made my way down the steps, counting down the minutes. Numbers were the one thing that made sense to me. Numbers were the only thing in this world I could trust. I had twenty eight minutes to get to work, and it took me twenty two to get there if I left now and made no other stops. I frowned when a shadow fell over my figure and halted when a pair of shoes fell into my field of vision before swallowing roughly. I knew those shoes… hesitantly, I looked up and met the eyes of several people I absolutely didn't want to be dealing with right now. "Look who it is, guys! It’s the freak!" Shelby squeaked. Her lackeys chuckled behind her, and the guys at their sides hopped and hollered. "Listen here, Ironica…" "It’s Irina…" I bit out, knowing it was pointless. She knew my name. We were technically sisters after all. While she never had to work a day in her life, cherished by her parents, my adoptive ones, I was forced to work both for money and at home. Shelby was nothing but a bully. She tucked a strand of her bright red hair behind her ears before clicking her tongue. She reached out and grabbed a strand of my pale blonde hair that had escaped its tie and twirled it around her fingers. "Look, I need a favor,” she asked. Her voice had turned sweet and saccharine. “I have a paper due tonight by midnight, and I just don't have the time to write it." "I don't either." "See, I don't think you understand. I wasn't asking. I was telling you. You’re going to write my paper for me. And in return, well… You’re just going to do it because you have nothing better to do with your time. Isn’t that right? Oh wait… don't you have to work?" She poked her lip out as if pointing out the fact that I had a job and income while still in highschool was something to be ashamed of. The timer on my watch started beeping, reminding me that if I didn't leave now, I would be late. My heart raced at the thought of the consequences I would have to face, and I swallowed toughly and gripped the strap of my backpack. Her friends - my usual tormentors joked around in the background. I paid them no mind. Feeding into it only prolonged the torment. "I have to go…" I said softly while looking down at the ground. I moved to step around her. "I can't help you…" "f*****g b***h!" She growled before yanking my backpack and tearing it from my grasp. I felt a pair of hands grip my shoulders before I was violently shoved, and my knees hit the ground. I held my hands out in front of me, hoping to catch myself from the fall. The sharp pain from the gravel bit into the palms of my hands and my knees. Blood welled on the edges of my skin as I bit my lip and whimpered at the sting. "I said I wasn't asking!" She shrieked. I moved to scramble back when her leg struck out to kick me, and I pushed it away. I had never done that before. I had never fought back, but I needed to go! Otherwise, I'd lose my job. "Oh, the nerd does have some fight in her!" One of the guys hollered. I dusted my knees off and stood on shaky legs. My jeans had ripped on one of my knees, and I could still feel the stinging in my legs. Shelby moved toward me again, shoving me, but I grabbed her hands, refusing to be her punching bag today. I looked at my bag lying on the ground, its contents spilled out over the gravel parking lot. I was tired. I was so tired of being their pawn and their source of entertainment. I didn't understand what I had done to make them hate me so much. I didn't know why they always seemed to thrive on my pain. With a huff, I shoved Shelby to the ground, and she landed on her ass with a shriek. "That’s it!" One of the guys who seemed to be Shelby's flame of the week yelled as he stormed toward me with his fist raised. I braced myself for the impact. I was outnumbered. No one here would help me. Other students walked by or stood and watched like it was just any other Tuesday. I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard a shout from behind me. "What the f**k is going on here?" A deep rumbling voice echoed from behind me. The strike I was waiting to land never touched me. I opened my eyes, blinked, and found the guy staring wide eyed at something behind me, his fist still raised in the air like he was frozen in place. It's Jaxon. He was so close I could smell the cologne wafting off of him, and it had a flush coating my cheeks. "N…nothing… nothing's happening." "I suggest… if you want to keep that hand, you lower it and get the f**k out of here." Dante's voice was like a blade slicing through sinew. It sounded dangerous and yet sent a thrill through my spine. "Oh, please hit her. I would love any excuse to brawl today!" A third voice, just as deep but somehow almost jovial about the prospect of fighting, echoed. "I have been itching for some fun, and this would be the perfect excuse to let out all of my frustration." I instantly recognized Caleb, and I couldn't contain the smile anymore. They showed up just when I needed them, as they have been since the beginning of the year. It was an odd friendship, the three of us. Me, the nerdy outcast, and the dangerous trio known as the devils of Ransom. I became friends with the three boys everyone feared because I found Jaxon’s jacket at the beginning of the year and returned it to them. Even after I tried to push them away, they still wouldn't. Whenever Shelby and her cronies bullied me, they always showed up just in time to help me. They'll walk me home together when I get off work late at night. When my adoptive parents took all my pay and I couldn't afford lunch, they would always find me with food. Once again. I had to admit, they were growing on me. The guy threatening me lowered his hand and swallowed roughly. His friends backed away slowly, tugging on the edge of his letterman jacket. Shelby stood and stalked over to him while keeping her eyes on the three figures behind me. Without saying another word, they turned and ran. I knew I would incur Shelby's wrath when I got home, but seeing the fear in Shelby's eyes for once was worth it. Without looking behind me, I knelt down and started gathering all of my things. Jaxon knelt beside me and helped me gather my things. Every time our hands brushed a thrill shot up my spine. His blue eyes were shining with mischief. "T...thanks…" I stuttered. He smiled, and it was truly unfair how good looking it made him look. My eyes landed on the dimple in his cheeks, and his icy eyes crinkled with a flirtatious glint as he smirked at my obvious gawking. "One of these days, you're going to stop wanting to come to my rescue…" He scoffed as if it was impossible. Everyone knew Jaxon Hayes. You’d have to be living under a rock not to. Half the girls in school wanted him. The other half claimed they’d already had him. And most of the guys knew better than to start something with him. I looked at my watch as I stood and cursed. "I have to go… Thank you." Dante and Caleb chuckled at the sound coming out of my mouth. They liked to think I was so innocent. I looked up at them, knowing what I would find. The pure unfairness of it all. The blessings of every single fate gracing these three boys with looks that put most actors to shame. "We're throwing a party tonight. You should come…" Caleb hesitated. He had been trying to get me to come for months now. Every time I turned them down. "I can't," I whispered back, but I looked at my watch, then at my bike, then off into the distance before frowning. "I have to work. I'm going to be so late. I'll be lucky if my manager doesn’t have my job for this." "I have called your restaurant and spoken to your manager. I explained what was happening. He said to take the night off because they were slow tonight anyway." I froze. He called my job? And they just willingly gave me the night off? It still astounded me how much power and pull these three have around here. "Now you're free." Jaxon smiled. "You should come." "Say yes, Irina," Jaxson echoed. His voice had gone low and sultry as he leaned closer to me. I had to admit, I liked the sound of my name on his lips. "Okay…" The word party isn't what I would use to describe where they brought me. Motorcycles were parked outside in a row, like a showcase of power and pride. I had never been to the clubhouse before. Too afraid, too different. Loud music poured out of the building, and people stood around with beers in hand, scantily dressed women draped over their arms. The guys nodded at everyone we passed, and I watched as eyes landed on me and fought the urge to shrink away from their gaze. These were bikers. Not just any bikers, but dangerous ones. What the hell had I signed up for? This wasn't me… I didn't party. I didn’t stay out late… "Come on, let's get you a drink," Caleb said. "Welcome to Iron Testament!" Caleb is Jaxson's younger brother and one of the school's heartthrobs. Handsome in ways that Jaxson was dangerous. He was extremely similar to him though. Almost to the point where I thought they could be twins. He seemed wilder… more uncontained than Jaxson. He ran his fingers through his black hair as his gaze met mine. His blue eyes, not as light as Jaxson's, shone with mischief. "Dante, wanna grab our pretty lady a drink?" He nodded at Caleb's question, and he stalked off. Dante was the quiet one of the trio. He didn't talk much, and when he did, you couldn't help but listen to him. He stalked away like a panther and returned with a beer in his hand. I had never drunk before, but I took it from his grasp, our fingers grazing each other as he handed me the bottle. A shock ran up my arm, and I gasped. His eyes flared and darkened at the touch and sound. Before I knew it, the guys led me inside and surrounded me in a semicircle. Hands grazed over my body as we started to move to the music. This was so different than all of our other interactions. More intimate, just… more. Others here were dancing, but none of them mattered. The only thing that I could focus on was the all encompassing guys right next to me. Their hands on me felt right. Their bodies against mine felt normal… felt real. We drank, and we danced for most of the night. And I had to admit, it felt nice to let go. We ignored everyone else around us. It felt powerful having their attention on me…being the center of their obsession, even if it was only for tonight. Even if tomorrow morning, I would go back to being their friend and only that. It felt good feeling their lips against my skin. Tongues and teeth, hands and hot breath. All of it was intoxicating to the point where I couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or them making me feel this way. "Let’s go upstairs," Jaxson whispered against the shell of my ear, and breathlessly I nodded in agreement. Even though I knew this night would change absolutely everything. I followed them through the crowd, passing doors and rooms left and right until we stumbled into a room that smelled of sage and tobacco. They surrounded me like wolves stalking prey before Jaxon lunged and sealed his lips over mine. Hands roamed my body, pulling my clothes away and leaving my skin bare. My hands grappled with theirs, stripping them until I was satisfied. I had never done this before. Never even so much as kissed a guy, and here I was standing naked in a room with three of them. The sounds that echoed in the room were lewd and new. We lay together in a tangled heap, breathless and covered in sweat. The feelings… the touches… the pleasure… it was intoxicating and addictive.