The Axelridge Series Book 4 Griff's Red Card
Chapter 31

(Chapter song ‘Beautiful Day' by U2)

GRIFFIN

“You have three pack houses?”

I pass a minivan as I glance over to my love in the passenger seat. She has her bare feet on my dash and I reach over to caress her soft calf.

“Aye. Axelridge, Michigan and Dublin. We keep things small over here and spread out for exactly this reason. We can come together if need be, but if we broke up, the pack still has safe homes to go to. As long as me Dad keeps in touch, no one takes issue.” I say as I jump in the fast lane and hit the gas to pass traffic.

The wind flips her hair all over and she adjusts her dark sunglasses. “That makes sense if you’re new to a country and don’t know who to trust, but why not come together now? Your whole pack.”

I chuckle. “I doubt the blokes in Capitol would let 20, 000 Irish wolves on their soil.” I smile as I lean to her.

She looks at me and lowers her glasses. “20, 000?”

“Aye, love. And if me cards are right, you'll be Luna over all of them.” I smirk.

“Luna…That’s a lot of wolves.” She blows out a breath.

“I’m sure you'll be fine. I'll help ya, don’t worry about that.” I signal back to the middle lane.

“But there’s only 20 here.” She states.

“Aye. Save a few visitors. They took a risk, they did. It’s why I’m so protective of them. When I took the team to the nationals, we weren’t sure if Axelridge would turn on us. I made sure we held our independence in the city. Me dad makes sure the rest are protected in Michigan. Just because we’re a wee pack, doesn’t mean we need to belly up for the biggies.” I watch the road and pass a few more cars.

“Does Finn know how big your pack really is?” She asks.

“He does. I think that’s one of the reasons he doesn’t try any shady tricks. He may be having more fighters, but he’s never seen a pack of Irish wolves on a rager. He's smart to not poke.” I grin.

“Huh…You’re just full of surprises.” She smiles.

“Lassie. Ya ain’t seen nothing yet.” I grin as I take the off ramp that will lead us to my pack house in Michigan.

My parents live here along with 7 other pack members. My team lives with me in Axelridge. It does us well. Though, we best get a pitch up soon or our minds will crack. Until then, they be camping on my parents property.

It's a huge place. It’s was a milk farm before we took it over. Lots of fields and grass. Me lads love it for practice. Me Mum loves having them too. They aren’t lazy men. They help her with all the stuff me dad can’t do.

The house itself is a huge red brick. 15 rooms to rest yer head, a large common room and kitchen. We hold a very traditional life. There’s no servants like Finn, Jax and Marcus had.

Me dad even has a generous garden patch. He grows a lot of our own food when the weather is good. My parents brought that from Ireland and I’m so glad they did.

To me, the roots they create are the most precious things on the planet. Most don’t understand it. It’s what pisses me off about the world. No one has roots anymore.

In some ways, I agree with Genesis.

I see the imperfections of these people walking around. No faith. No family. No roots. Just out for themselves, for the most part.

I can do without the lot of them, but…

The sliver of hope does shine. I see that now.

As I side eye Ivy, I realize, everyone has a story as to why they are. It’s all different. It’s all good and bad.

We start out fresh in the world and trust the people around us to mold us into people who can benefit this planet. Unfortunately, as the chips fall, souls get soiled. They can be broken easily with the right push.

Yes, everyone is responsible for how they turn out, I’ll grant ya that, but when it comes to a God wanting to end ya for it, that no longer sits right.

Hell, my perfectionism is an imperfection in itself, but I see now, how wrong my mindset is. If I stuck to my guns, my Ivy wouldn’t be sitting beside me looking beautiful and shining in the sun the gods graced us with.

But Genesis would destroy that. She sees us as broken even though we fight on the side of good. I can’t have that.

The point is, I’m learning and changing. Thousands of others do the same every day. She needs to see that.

I turn down the two lane highway and pull into the long driveway covered in a canopy of trees.

Ivy sits up and pulls her sunglasses off. “Griffin. It’s beautiful.” She breathes as the property comes into view.

“Aye. Ya make it more so.” I grin as I get to the main driveway and look for a spot among all the cars.

A grin spreads as I park. “The lads are here. Should be a cracking time now.”

“Another soccer game?” She smiles.

“Several.” I grab her head and kiss her hair as she giggles.

As we get out and stroll to the farm house, the front door bursts open.

“Brace yourself.” I grin to her and she looks at me wide eyed as my mother tears out the door, arms up, screaming like she just seen a movie star.

“GRIFFFYYY!!” She yells as I laugh and walk briskly to her.

“Howya, mum.” I smile as I wrap my arms around her and she squeezes the life out of my head, rocking back and forth.

Ivy tries to stifle her laugh as I roll my eyes.

My mother is about a hand shorter than me. She’s where I get my blonde, curly hair and blue eyes from. My structure comes from me dad. She’s a stout woman. Not unpleasant, but she’s a bull when she needs to be. Best not be crossing the Irish mum. You’ll never hear the end of it. The most terrible cross, for my mum anyway, is telling her not to dote on her only son. She’d send ya packing to hell just from the look after that.

My mother pushes me back. “Let's get a gander in.” She holds my cheeks and fixes my hair as she inspects my health. I just take a deep breath and let her. It's what she does.

She cinches her brow. “Ya look absolutely knackered, ya do! Not getting enough kips in?” She steps back, takes my hands and holds my arms out. “Look at the state of ya! Yer skin and bone! The devil eating ya. When the last time ya had some food, boy!”

“Um…lunch?” I glance at Ivy then back at her.

She wags her finger at me. “It’s that city food, it is. Trash! Garbage! A growing boy needs his mother’s cooking. None like it.” She taps my chest as Ivy tries to see what she’s seeing.

“I’m not growing anymore, auld mum.” I chuckle.

“I can see that! A travesty, it is. C'mon on then.” She turns and waves us to the house without giving Ivy a second look.

I shake my head and turn to Ivy. “She thinks I’ll grow to a monster, the more food she puts in.” Ivy chuckles. “Mum! This is Ivy.” I stop her, she turns and sees Ivy.

She places her hand on her forehead. “Ah! See, I lost me head!” She wags a finger at me. “Ya stay away too long and I go away with the fairies when I sees ya. It’s yer fault I don’t see the lass on yer arm.” She scolds.

“Of course, it is.” I shake my head and huff a chuckle.

“Now, ye be with me lad, yeah?” My mum places her hands on her hips as she looks Ivy over.

“Yes, ma'am.” Ivy responds sweetly and glances at me as I nod to her with a smile.

My mother places her fingers under Ivy's chin and inspects her. “My, you are a fine lass, aren’t ya?” She drops her hands and looks to me with an arched brow. “She has eyes for you, does she?”

“Aye, she does.” I hold my chin up.

She leans to Ivy. “Not to worry, darling. I’ll show ya how to teach ‘em. Them lads be running out like hooligans without a good woman on their arses.” She chuckles as she elbows Ivy.

“Oi!” I scowl. “That’s nice!”

“I’m just cogging ya! C'mon.” She laughs and turns to the house.

I grumble in Gaelic as I lead Ivy to the house.

“Griffin Ford. That’s your mother!” Ivy scolds.

I tilt my head to her, arch a brow and point to her nose. “Don’t start.”

She laughs and shakes her head as we enter the very loud common room.

“Listen here, ya mangy git. For starters, I’ll have ya know, in my day, we weren’t too good to get down in the muck. You boys today are soft, ya are.”

I smile as I take Ivy's things as me Dad yells across the room from his favorite chair.

“Up at the crack, we be. There were no belly aching or else ya saw the backside of your Da's hand. Turn yer cheeks red, he would! Naw, lad. Ya up, dressed, helped the mum with whatever she ask and out the door with ya! Today? Ach! Ya boys are too worried about that…that…social malarkey! All about images, nowadays! Yer lost yer heads and now the whole place has gone to shite!”

He wags his finger at all my lads sitting and standing around the couches. All of them sporting cocky, smart smirks. A few of my cousins snicker off in the corner.

“C'mon, Angus. Don’t blame the youth for yer troubles, now. Just cuz ya can't make 10 feet without breaking the auld backside, doesn’t mean it’s their fault.” My older cousin Wally stands tall.

“Aye, I can, mate. When the squeaky wheels be burning my ears. Aye, they got it too good. We never had a car growing up. These boys have 10…Each! They're effin’ and blindin’ about the bleeding cost of petrol?!” My dad tosses his hands around.

“We don’t have 10 cars, ya eejit.” Avery laughs.

“Watch yer tone to yer Alpha.” My dad points to him.

“I will when the Alpha quits acting the maggot!” Avery laughs more.

He leans forward and looks my boys over with an arched brow.

“Ya think yer something now because ya can kick a football. Lad, when ya get my age, that means nothing. This room is what I busted me balls for. All you boys. Me men. Able bodied and true of heart. Don’t get caught up in that celebrity garbage. It ain’t worth a damn in the grand design. Family…Aye, that’s the real rich man’s gold. Best be sure of that.”

He continues to go off and I can’t help but snicker myself. Ivy stands wide eyed as she stares at me dad.

“Quit yer belly aching, ya sour goat!” My mother enters the room with a big serving plate of finger foods. “Ya grew up in the suburbs of Dublin and went to a soft, private school.” She places the dish down and my lads attack it like they hadn’t eaten in a week.

My cousins snicker more as my mum calls him out.

She slams her hands on her hips and faces her mate. “If weren’t for me and my Pa's farm, you'd still be in the pubs, throwing yer trousers at loose floozies and spinning tales like ya is now!” She shakes her head.

“Lord knows, I love ya, Maggie, but don’t be talking about things ya knows nothing about.” He grumbles.

She leans to him. “I know one thing, Angus Ford. Ya don’t stop running yer yap and upsetting the lot, you'll be alone under the sheets…with the sheep.” She pops the ‘p' to add emphasis to her threat.

She ticks her head and he stares into her eyes. He knows he’s lost. “Alright, fine. But only cuz I’m tired of talking.” He grins.

She grabs his chin, shakes it a wee bit then kisses him before running off to the kitchen.

“She still gotcha on the peg, auld man!” I yell across the room.

“GRIFF!” He pulls himself out of his chair and I meet him half way. “Griff, me boy! What's the story, lad?!” He hugs me with a couple of back slaps.

“I'm grand, dad. Not much in way of new ya don’t already know.” I push back and turn to Ivy with an arm out. “This is Ivy.” I present.

Ivy shyly steps forward. “Nice to meet you, sir.”

“Ooo…My boy. What's this now?” He flips his head between us.

“Well, Ivy and I…we're together.” I smile at her and she smiles back.

“See here! Me Griffin done right! He knows.” He turns to the boys.