Chloe had always been a confident person, at least on the outside. But as she walked through the door of the clubhouse, she could feel the weight of the day's emotions pressing down on her. It was a Thursday afternoon, and she had made her way over to meet Jax and the rest of the club. She'd been around long enough now to understand the rhythm of SAMCRO, to know the looks and the subtleties of how things operated. But today, something was different.

Chloe was getting more comfortable in this world, but not everyone was ready to accept her just yet. Tara was one of them.

She had always been polite to Chloe, but there was an edge to her interactions. Chloe could see it now, lurking beneath the surface, and the more time they spent together, the more the tension grew. Tara had always been friendly, but lately, there was something colder in her demeanor—something that Chloe couldn't quite explain. And the truth was, Chloe wasn't entirely sure if it was because of her relationship with Jax or because of something deeper.

Today, as she walked through the clubhouse doors, she spotted Tara in the corner of the room. Tara was dressed in her usual professional attire, having come by to check on someone in the club who had been injured. As a doctor, she had a legitimate reason to be there, but Chloe couldn't shake the feeling that Tara was eyeing her like a hawk, watching every move she made.

Chloe took a deep breath, steeling herself. She wasn't about to let anyone, especially Tara, make her feel out of place. This was her life now, and she had every right to be here just like anyone else.

"Hey, Tara," Chloe said, her tone casual, though she couldn't help the tension that laced her words. She wasn't sure what was going on with Tara, but she wasn't about to tiptoe around it.

Tara barely looked up from her phone, her eyes scanning something before she finally met Chloe's gaze. There was something sharp in her expression, like she was measuring Chloe up, sizing her up in a way that felt... hostile.

"Hey, Chloe," Tara replied, her voice cool, almost disinterested. "I just came by to check on a patient. Nothing personal."

Chloe nodded, though her stomach twisted. The words were cordial enough, but the underlying tone was unmistakable. She knew Tara didn't want her here. She had seen the way Tara's eyes lingered on Jax whenever they were together, the subtle jealousy that bubbled to the surface when she wasn't looking.

The tension between them was becoming impossible to ignore.

As Chloe made her way toward the bar, she could feel Tara's gaze on her, like a weight that pressed against her back. It wasn't just the usual curiosity—no, this was something more. Something was simmering under the surface, and Chloe could feel the heat of it.

Jax had been in the chapel with the rest of the guys, deep in conversation, and Chloe knew he would be coming out soon. She had always enjoyed the energy of the clubhouse, the way the members could come together and get things done. But today, she wasn't just here to be with Jax. No, today she was stepping into the ring.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to the chapel opened, and Jax walked out, his eyes immediately locking with hers. He gave her a smile, but Chloe couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. As he approached her, Tara stepped in, her voice sharp enough to cut through the air.

"Chloe," Tara said, her tone dripping with something between resentment and disdain. "I didn't realize you were trying to fit in here. You're a little out of your league, don't you think?"

Chloe blinked, surprised by the venom in Tara's voice. She had expected tension, but this? This was something different.

"I don't need to fit in, Tara," Chloe shot back, her own voice calm but firm. "I'm here for Jax. And that's all that matters."

Tara's eyes narrowed, and her lips curled into a mocking smile. "Of course. Little Miss Perfect is here to save the day. Tell me, Chloe, how do you do it? Be the perfect daughter, the perfect sister, the perfect little princess?"

Chloe's stomach clenched at the words. "I don't need your approval, Tara. I'm not here to be perfect for anyone."

"Oh, really?" Tara laughed bitterly, stepping closer. "Because it sure seems like you're trying to make a life in a world you don't belong in. You don't get to just waltz in here and pretend like you're one of us."

Chloe stood her ground, her eyes flashing with something far sharper than Tara had anticipated. "I'm not pretending, Tara. I'm not here to take over anyone's place. I'm here because Jax and I have something real. And I'm not going anywhere."

Tara's expression soured, and before Chloe could react, Tara's voice grew louder. "Real?" Tara scoffed. "You think what you have is real? This isn't some fairytale, Chloe. This is real life. And you don't belong here. You never will."

Chloe's hands clenched into fists, and she took a step toward Tara, her voice ice cold. "You don't get to tell me where I belong, Tara. You don't get to dictate my life."

The club had gone silent at this point, everyone in the chapel having taken notice of the confrontation. Chloe could feel the eyes of the club members on them, but she didn't care. She wasn't going to back down. Not now.

Tara took a step forward, her face flushed with anger. "You think you're so special, don't you? Little Miss Perfect. You come in here with your flawless looks and your perfect little life, and you think you can just walk in and take whatever you want. Well, guess what? You don't get to have him. Not like this."

The insult hit Chloe harder than she expected, and for a moment, she felt the familiar sting of her father's expectations, of her brother's warnings. But she wasn't going to let Tara get to her. Not now.

Her response was quick, fiery, and full of confidence. "I don't need your permission to be here, Tara. And I don't need to be your idea of perfect. I'm here because Jax chose me. And if you've got a problem with that, maybe you should take it up with him."

Tara's face twisted in rage, and without warning, she shoved Chloe in the chest. Chloe stumbled back but caught herself before she hit the ground. The room went dead silent, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

Before anyone could react, Jax was there, his hand on Tara's shoulder, pulling her back. "Enough," he growled, his voice sharp. "Tara, you're done. You've crossed the line."

Tara's chest heaved with fury, but she didn't resist. "She's not one of us, Jax. You're making a mistake," she spat, her eyes flashing with jealousy and rage.

Chloe stood tall, her chest rising and falling with the weight of the confrontation. She wasn't afraid. She was done being the person who kept her mouth shut, who let others dictate her worth. She wasn't going to let Tara, or anyone, put her in a corner anymore.

"I'm done here," Tara said coldly, brushing past Jax. "But don't think this is over. It's just beginning."

Chloe's heart was still pounding in her chest, but she didn't let it show. She turned to Jax, her voice low but steady. "I'm not going anywhere, Jax. I'm not running from this. Not anymore."

Jax looked at her, his eyes softening. "I know, baby," he said quietly, taking her hand in his. "And I'm proud of you. You handled that better than anyone else could've."

Chloe squeezed his hand, feeling a rush of relief. This was her life now. And she wasn't going to let anyone—especially Tara—make her feel like she didn't belong.