My Big Bad Alpha Biker

I hate nature 17

Chapter 17

Randy POV

I hated Gatlinburg. I hated everything about coming here. There were animals all over the sides of the roads, birds flying around like they were just waiting for the perfect moment to s**t on my car, and trees everywhere I looked. I hated it. But Alice knew that. And something in my gut kept telling me she was here. I had a feeling I was getting close, and I wasn't leaving until I found her. If she wasn't here, then we were pretty much s**t out of luck. We had been driving around for what felt like forever when I noticed a small path leading through the woods. I looked at Franky.

"Go this way. I have a feeling if we go through here, it'll be faster."

He looked at me like I'd completely lost my mind. "Dude, you realize I could scratch my car to hell and back, right? You're giving me a new paint job. And if that doesn't work, I want a f*****g new car. I mean, come on. If we haven't found Alice by now, I don't think we're ever going to."

I stared at him like he had just grown three heads. "Don't make me kick your ass. Just drive through it. I'll get you another f*****g car."

That changed his attitude immediately. "Now that's what I'm talking about."

He hit the gas, and the car sped down the narrow trail. Branches scraped against the sides of the vehicle, leaves slapped against the windows, and every few seconds, I heard Franky cursing under his breath. I couldn't help laughing.

"You better slow down before you wreck your precious car."

"Shut the hell up, Randy! You're the one who told me to drive through here!"

We continued deeper into the woods. For almost an hour, we drove without seeing another person or vehicle. Eventually, even I started wondering if we'd made a huge mistake. "Stop."

Franky slammed on the brakes. "What?"

I stared through the windshield. At the end of the trail was a large motorcycle garage. We had found something. I climbed out of the car, and Franky followed. The rest of the guys parked behind us, and soon we were all standing around watching the building. We waited. People came and went. Motorcycles pulled in and out.

But there was no sign of Alice. I didn't like it. Not one bit.

There was something strange about this place. I couldn't explain it, but I had the unmistakable feeling that we were being watched.

Then we heard it. A howl. I froze. It sounded like a wolf. "What the f**k was that?"

Franky looked at me. "I don't know."

Another howl echoed through the woods. This one sounded closer.

Then another answered it. My stomach tightened.

"She's not here, dude," Franky said. "Let's get a hotel. I need a f*****g shower and a bed. I'm sick of sleeping in the car. You snore, and I'd rather not be sleeping beside you anymore."

I burst out laughing. "Man, you snore like a hog waiting for someone to throw food in front of it."

"f**k you."

"I'll get two rooms. The rest of the guys can get rooms too. A peaceful night's sleep without you snoring beside me sounds like a dream come true."

We laughed, but then another howl came from the woods. The laughter died instantly. The hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. That one had sounded way too close. I looked toward the trees.

"Franky..."

"I know."

"Step on it, man. Those wolves are getting closer."

Franky didn't argue. He jumped into the car, slammed it into gear, and sped away from the garage. As soon as we hit the pavement, I looked back toward the woods. There was nothing there. Just trees.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something had been watching us. I hated being scared. I never showed fear. Because in my world, if someone saw you were scared, they would use it against you. Get in front of me, and I'll smash you. But whatever had been in those woods? I wasn't sure I wanted to find out what it was.

Angelo POV

My shift had finally ended, but something was bothering me. I couldn't stop smelling her. My mate. I still didn't know who she was, but her scent had been driving me crazy all night. There were so many females around the garage that figuring it out should have been impossible. But her scent was different. Lemon and apple.

Sweet, fresh, and impossible to ignore. I followed it upstairs, my wolf practically pulling me down the hallway.

Then I stopped. I knew this room. I knew exactly whose room it belonged to. My heart sank. "No."

Claw stirred inside me. She's our mate.

I shook my head. "You're wrong."

“I'm not.”

"There is no way."

But deep down, I already knew. I stood outside her door, staring at it. My hand almost reached for the knob, but I stopped myself. I couldn't do this. Not here. Not with her. Claw growled inside my head.

“I don't like it either, but she is our mate. Either we knock on that door and claim her, or we pretend we don't know and let her come to us.”

I closed my eyes. He was right. But there was something else. She was with our Alpha. She was f*****g our Alpha. My jaw clenched.

If she was really our mate, then she had to know. Didn't she?

Surely she could feel the bond too. Maybe she already knew exactly what was happening and had chosen him anyway. That thought hurt more than I wanted to admit. I could knock.I could tell her.

I could demand answers. But I wouldn't. If she wanted me, she'd come to me. And if she wanted to reject me? Then she'd have to do that herself. I took one last look at the door before turning around.

"No."

Claw growled. You're really walking away?

"Yeah."

I headed back downstairs toward the garage. "I've got work to do, and I don't have time for this."

Even though my heart felt like it was being ripped apart, I forced myself to keep walking. If she was truly my mate, eventually she would have to make a choice. And when that time came, I would be waiting. But I wasn't going to chase her. Not while she was choosing someone else.