Lyra's Pack: A Werewolf MC Romance

Chapter 5 Lyra

“Where are we going?” Lyra felt like she was asking about her whereabouts nonstop, but she couldn’t help it. She knew she should trust the man who saved her, but there was no denying that men in general still made her feel cagey.

“There’s a little diner up the road some ways,” he answered, his voice rough, but hushed, like he knew she was still kind of afraid of him and he didn’t want to startle her. She appreciated the effort so much. “I’ve never been inside, but I figure you might want to be in public rather than my house.”

He did see then. The fact that he was so considerate eased something in her. Maybe not enough to fully trust him, but there was a tug in her gut that said that he was different than the other men she’d dealt with. “I appreciate it.”

He only nodded as they approached his motorcycle. It threw her at first. “I’ve, uh, never ridden before.” One more experience she had never had because someone was controlling her throughout her life. First her overbearing father, then Hal.

“We can go slow,” he told her and she was relieved there was no judgement in his voice. He swung his leg over the bike, then thinking on it, slid forward to make room for her. He wasn’t used to having someone behind him, then, she guessed. “You just, you know, climb on.” Right. He definitely hadn’t had many people riding along with him.

Lyra settled her hands on either of his shoulders, feeling his shoulders tense though she kept her fingers light. She settled in behind him, her inner thighs along his outer.

“You’ll want to get closer,” he said, just loud enough for her to hear. “You have to hang on tightly.”

Lyra scooted forward a couple inches, her stomach now flat against his back. “Is this okay?”

His voice was gravelly as he answered, “That’s good. Now put her arms around my waist. Like I said, you’ll have to hold on tight so you don’t go backward, especially when we take off. There’s be a … a bit of a jerk when we start.”

Lyra wasn’t as uncomfortable being as close to him as she would have thought she’d been. Her arms fit nicely around her waist as she clasped her hands in front of him, just beneath his torso. “I think I’m ready.”

He didn’t speak this time, merely nodded as he started the engine. The smooth purr vibrated up her, sending an unexpected, but not unpleasant, jolt up her core. She couldn’t stop the “Jesus” that escaped her. If Max had heard her, he didn’t let on.

She was glad he’d told her to move up and hold on tight even though she expected that he had taken off more gently than he usually would. It wasn’t long before they were on a main road and she could trace her way back to town. The wind was gentle in her hair and Lyra found herself closing her eyes and enjoying the sensation. Max had picked up speed but nothing she couldn’t handle as a beginner. Besides, if this was going to be the only motorcycle ride she ever took she was going to enjoy it as much as she could.

Before she knew it, they were pulling into Dyna’s Diner. She had half expected him to take her to Maggie’s before she remembered that they had been closed for a couple hours. Luckily it was summer so the sun was not fully set until almost nine and DD’s was open all night.

“I’ve never been here either,” she told him as she used his shoulder as leverage to get off his bike. She hadn't meant to notice how broad and firm his shoulders were but it was impossible not to. Lyra wished she could remember being carried by him. How it felt to be taken care of by a man for once.

“I've heard it's good. I think Maggie's is closed, and we don't have any other options nearby.”

“Yeah, Maggie's is closed. Just finished my shift before I started walking home.” She was surprised when he opened the floor for her, even though he had yet to give her a reason to doubt his manners. “Thank you.”

Max nodded. She noticed that he didn't like to use more words than necessary. “You work there?”

She answered as they found seats. “I do. My first job since I moved to town. It's great and the owner, Maggie, she's very sweet. Hired me right there on the spot. She must have smelled the desperation on me.” Lyra said it as a joke, but considered how true it probably was. She had looked a mess, wearing the wrinkled clothes she had escaped Hal in the day before. Eager for any form of income so she could get a place to stay.

“Why were you so desperate? Were you in some sort of trouble?” He asked while he scanned the menu. Lyra could tell cared more than he was trying to show.

“I was in some trouble when I arrived. Clear of it now, thank God.” At least, she hoped she was, but there was no point in dumping her whole history on Max now. More than likely they wouldn't be seeing much of each other after this anyway.

“That's good,” he said. “The clear part, I mean, not the trouble.”

Was the big guy blushing? Lyra smiled at him, a full one, something she hadn't given anyone in a long time. For some reason, this man's comfort meant a lot to her.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Lyra really considered it. Her gut told her that she could be honest with this man and have no fear of judgement, but she hesitated. “Not right now. Let’s enjoy our food without a sob story.” He watched her a beat longer as if he was reluctant to let it go.

“Alright, let’s order,” he said, gazing back down at his menu.

It occurred to Lyra then that she had no money. “I think I’ll just get a water. I’m not hungry.”

He watched her again wordlessly then nodded. When the waitress came back, and eyed Max longer than Lyra found appropriate, he ordered two of everything. “Just in case,” was all he said. When the food arrived, Lyra shyly took the plate offered to her and much as she tried to eat slowly, she was starving and gave up all pretense of manners. Expecting to see judgement, she was surprised to see how amused Max was.

“Nothing wrong with having a healthy appetite, Lyra. You look like you have a couple meals to catch up on,” he said, then looked pained. “Not that there’s anything wrong with the way you look. You’re perfect.” Now he looked pained in another way.

“Thank you, Max. And for the meal.”

“Did you have plans after this?” he asked, trying for nonchalance, but failing. He glass of water paused midway to his mouth as if he didn’t want even a small distraction while she spoke.

“I hadn’t really planned this, but it’s where the night brought me. I should get home.” She didn’t really want to go. In fact, she would have loved to stay in that little diner with Max the rest of the night, but she knew that wasn’t possible.

“Is it safe?” he asked as he finished his burger.

Lyra thought before answering. She didn’t think Hal knew where she lived but then she was found easily enough on her way home. Of course, it didn’t matter. Where else could she go? “Safe enough.”

“ ‘Safe enough’ isn’t safe enough for my liking.” He stopped as if weighing his next words. “Look, I’m not trying to be forward. How about if I stay with you there tonight just to be sure. If it’s clear, I’ll leave in the morning.”

“And if it’s not?” Lyra asked. “Clear, I mean?”

“Then it looks like you are staying with the Pack.” He stood, pulling his chained wallet out of his back pocket. “Let’s go see where the night takes us, Lyra.”