Leila

The Stop

Alpha Tancred kept his eyes on the men as they gathered their orders, paid and quickly left the diner. Cameron pretended to follow them outside to ensure they left without trouble. Still, he just wanted to give his Alfa some privacy. Leila couldn't move. She didn't understand what was going on. Was it a coincidence?

'Where are you going?'

' What?'

'Where are you heading to?' he repeated.

'To a small town north of Roadshaw, called Tinguanni.'

'We will drop you there.'

' No, I took the bus, in fact I had to go. My bus is leaving in a few minutes.'

' It left 10 minutes ago.'

' No!, it will leave at 09h45', Leila whispered, the man was making her nervous.

She got up to check, and the bus wasn't there. Frantically grabbing her things, she ran out the door only to bump into the rock-solid chest of Cameron making his way in.

'Sorry', Leila was terrified. Cameron was the person that slammed her against a wall. She squeezed her eyes shut and stood frozen on the spot. Suddenly, she felt someone brushing her cheeks. When she peered through one eye, she looked at the darkest pair of eyes she had ever seen.

'Are you OK?'

' No, you are hurting me', Leila squeaked.

' Oh sorry', Tancred released his grip on her arm. ' Come with us, we will take you to Tinguanni.'

Leilani was scared out of her mind, but she could not stay at the Stop. At night the place is frequented by working girls, truckers and junkies. And the next bus would be the following morning. But she cannot hop into a car with strangers, especially when they are the reason she spent a night in jail and almost lost her job. Mr Hughes would not have left me behind intentionally.

' No I am fine, I will just wait here for the next bus' she decided it was better.

' Suit yourself', Tancred exited and headed for his car.

James could not believe what was happening. He has never seen his Alpha give up this easily. ' What? Are you just going to leave her there? After coming all this way?'

'Didn't you see her shaking? She's terrified of us, thanks to Cameron', Tancred retorted.

Leilani watched helplessly as the parking lot slowly cleared out. By mid-afternoon, she was alone in the diner except for the two young ladies in short mini-skirts and high-high heels leaning against the jukebox next to the entrance. The waitresses were on their break, and the cook was out front smoking. Nonna will be worried about me.

'Turn around!' Tancred ordered his driver. I cannot leave my mate out there.

The car did a U-turn and headed back towards the Stop.

' You are coming with us!' Tancred announced as soon as he entered the diner.

Leila couldn't believe what was happening. Not them again!

'Come on!' Tancred insisted while Leila looked around helplessly.

She reluctantly got up, collected her belongings and followed James outside towards the car.

'Promise you will not hurt me or kill me?' a pair of pleading green eyes looking at James.

'We promise,' Tancred replied, a bit jealous that Leila addressed James, not him.

'Why are you going to Tinguanni'?

'To see my Nonna, Helseda.'

Tancred froze. The last time he heard that name was when the pack rose against their former Alpha.