Run with me

The meeting

Austin POV

Everyone has been bothering me more than usual. With our upcoming 'mate finding' festival everyone has been excited and even more busy than normal to prepare for our guests. Ofcourse as the alpha I also want our pack to look at its best. But I need a break. 

"Don't forget to get white paint. The tables the guys made have to be repainted." I have started to feel unusual annoyed by Noah. As if our mate bond has been slowly disappearing. We havent talked about it, but he must feel the sparks between our touches weaken. I am pretty sure of it. 

"Are you sure you won't send any of the boys instead to do these errands? There is still so much to be done, how can the alpha and organizer leave just before the event!" The nagging starts. 

Picking up my car keys I give Noah one more glance with a reassuring smile. 

"I have to check on Gale anyway and probably pick Conan up from whatever ditch he might be lingering in. But mainly I am just running away from all the chores you might possibly give me." 

With light steps he makes his way to me. Placing the palm of his hand on my chest. Standing on his toes he swiftly plants a kiss on my lips. And... nothing. It could have been literally anyones lips, the spark is gone. Maybe this is what happens when time goes by. 

My stomach turns in different ways than it did some days ago. 

 "I might get jealous of all those other men in your life. Also I can think of a couple of 'chores' that you would enjoy." Noah put a seductive emphasis on chores. 

"Unfortunately that will have to wait for when I get back." 

'Such a bad liar' My inner wolf Gilroy shivers while scolding me.  'At least I am trying. It is your fault for fooling me by becoming all excited thinking he is our mate!' I felt Gilroy softly scowling. Did my inner wolf and I really get that seduced by him? Before meeting him I never imagined I would fall in love with a guy. But Noah is gorgeous, a black haired man with a slender figure. Definitely not a bad catch and he is fulfilling his luna responsibilities well in secret. But for some reason, every recent touch makes me frown and feel disgusted with myself. Not because of him, but because of me as I feel like I am playing along. Using his feelings and trying to avoid confrontation in any way.

"See you soon, babe" Not even responding to what Noah was implicating, I walk out the door towards my truck.

Lena POV

Driving for hours, not to even mention that I feel like we are driving in circles made me more irritable. "So Mr. Stranger, do you really know the way or are you just leading us in circles deciding on where to kill me?"

Slightly annoyed as I keep calling him a stranger, Conan replies "Its Conan for you cupcake. And yes, for your information I am leading you to my hometown so, Ofcourse I know the way. Also I havent decided yet on whether to keep you alive or not. If I can't even find my own hometown you may kill me instead though." 

I could feel him smiling again from my side. His lightens the mood with just one sentence. 

Just then the road leads us to a tunnel within a mountain. The perfect spot to get rid of someone and drive off. Everything turned dark and yellow from the lights within the tunnel. I did not expect it to be lighted with this amount of traffic on the road. Barely any car passed us. 

After having watched a movie about someone stuck in a collapsed tunnel I have never enjoyed driving through tunnels. My over exploring mind always starts to think of worse case scenarios. Driving with Conan, made me feel a bit more at ease. Not that I trust this skinny dude to be of much use if this tunnel really collaps. 

"Are you normally away from home?" Just when I finished my question, natural sun light touches my car and our skin. Two quick blinks and we are welcomed by the paved road, surrounded by pine trees as far as my eyesight reaches. At least this was new. We are actually getting somewhere. 

I was shook out of my daze by Conan. "I have a lot of responsibilities back at home and people are counting on me. I normally don't travel far from home. But I am also a human and need time to process stuff as well." His words made me feel small as I have put my responsibilities on hold. 

"So cupcake what made you run from home"

Out of shock I gave Conan a quick glance. "I did not run. It was more of a walk with a hop from now on then." 

With both grins on our faces we further introduce ourselves more deeply for another hour. Apparently Conan is his towns doctor and even though still young has a daughter called Olivia. He didn't mention his wife, so I assume the worst. Every moment she might be mentioned his expression becomes long and dark. As if he is mentally falling away into some dark pit. 

"Cupcake, soon on our right you will see a big wooden cabin, pull over there. There is someone I would like you to meet." He jumps out of his dark gaze. 

After driving with Conan, I don't mind being called cupcake as much as I did before. He started to slowly feel like a family member, even though it has only been a couple of hours. Like a brother trying to joke around and test my boundaries. Which made me trust him enough to not question his request and pull over. 

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Stepping out of the truck feels like a liberation. Still I can not wait till actually sitting down and let my right foot rest. I have had it non stop on the gas pedal. 

In front of us stands a 2 story house made out of wood with big windows and a heightened porch. Two neon signs on the side of the building state 'Bar' and 'Motel'. One hand on the door, Conan pushes the door open. Standing in the doorway he signs for me to get in. Normally seeing the letter M of Motel already would make me turn around and run. He is still a stranger, and a man. Who does he want me to meet? As a woman we always have to be extra careful. But maybe this is normal here? I also stayed last night at a motel, they are everywhere next to the road. 

Though I can not drink as I still have to drive, my feet would definitely appreciate one of those high wine red leather bar chairs that I could see through the door opening. Without wasting any more time I walk straight towards the bar and sit at the closest chair. I will just have to deal with the consequences with rested feet. Trusting myself I can easily take Conan on if anything happens. 

"What can I get you?" the husky voice belongs to a black haired man. Wearing tight black pants and a fitted black shirt, it was clear he works out so now and then. I am not sure I can overpower him. "Nice tattoo, I will just have some water."  Maybe I shouldn't have said that, what if he says he can show me more...

Part of a tattoo sleeve could be seen where the barman's shirt ended. It looked like a wolf in the woods was leaping out of his skin. "You do know you are at a bar?" When Conan came into the man's vision they greeted each other with an eyebrow nod of recognition. Placing his eyes on me again. 

Conan places his heavy hand on my shoulder for a second or two. "She is my driver." 

"In that case you definitely deserve more than just a glass of water." The barman's corner of his mouth rose. 

"Thanks Gale, but I am great company to beautiful women. Just give us two beers"  

"Whenever he bothers you too much, just give me a nod." Giving me a wink Gale bows down taking two beer glasses in his hand, putting one after the other under the tap. 

"Lena, its fine. We are almost there and we deserve a rest. You have been basically driving non stop for 20 hours! Gale has a lot of guest rooms up stairs that you can use by yourself. Enjoy your first night in our district and we can leave in the morning if you are oke" Having followed Conan up till here. I might as well be even more spontaneous and stay for the night. Hearing him say 'by yourself' was the only confirmation I needed to hear.

Raising one of the beers that Gale just put in front of us. I smiled accepting the fact that I won't be driving anymore tonight. "oke" 

The sun has set before I was able to finish my beer. Some more people have come to the bar for a drink. But most of the time Gale joins us and jokes around with Conan. Just when I start to feel drowsy enough, having finished my beer, the door to the bar swung open. 

The movement of the door causes a breeze to make way to my face. Not only did the fresh cold air sober me up a bit, it was filled with a smell warming me up from inside. A mix of almonds, trees and amber. Instantly my whole body relaxes taking in the breeze. Turning my head to the door I could see a tall man, he resembled Gale but more sturdier. When his eyes lock with mine I swear I saw him say something. Or more of a mumble. Short like "M....."