“Hold on to your britches, Hank, I’m coming.” She scowled at James as if this was somehow his fault before she grabbed the coffeepot and left her spot behind the counter.
James breathed a sigh of relief when the cook, a big, burly man with tattoos running up and down his arms, brought his order out from the kitchen. “Anything else?”
“No.” Grabbing his coffee and his meal, he left the diner behind him. James could feel the woman’s eyes burning into his back as he strode back to his car. Opening the door, he stashed his meal on the floor on the passenger side. He’d eat somewhere less visible.
Starting the engine, he grinned as lady luck smiled at him. A large transport truck slowed and began to pull into the parking lot. James used the bulk of the vehicle to shield him as he put his car in drive and turned out of the lot. Even if someone had been watching, they’d have no way of knowing which direction he’d taken.
Whistling under his breath, James drove down the road searching for a place to pull off so he could eat his breakfast before continuing on to Wolf Creek. It wouldn’t be long until he was with Alex again. His fingers flexed hard around the steering wheel as he wondered where she was.
Chapter Fifteen
Alex was enthralled by the countryside as it passed by her window. The truck cruised along, Joshua pushing way above the speed limit whenever he could. She knew he was in a hurry to get home.
They’d been on the road all day, stopping only long enough to relieve themselves at a gas station and even once in the bushes before moving on once again. She knew they were on a deadline and they were being chased by bounty hunters and other werewolves, but right now she was doing her best just to enjoy the moment. The countryside seemed so vast and empty compared to the cramped quarters of the city. They’d driven through parts of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee already today, and had passed a sign that had announced they were now in North Carolina.
The paper bag beside her crinkled as she groped for it. One thing about traveling, there wasn’t much else to do but watch the scenery and eat. Thankfully, Joshua had bought sandwiches, chips, drinks and chocolate bars at the diner early today.
“I think it’s empty.” He glanced at her as she opened the bag and peered inside, finding only wrappers.
Unfortunately, Joshua was right. She folded the bag down and shoved it away from her.
“Are you hungry?” She could hear the concern in his voice and it warmed her. Only her father had ever worried about her.
“No, I’m not hungry.” She ran her finger over the material of her jeans, tracing the outer seam. “Just anxious, I guess. I mean I don’t really know what to expect when we get wherever it is we’re going to. Yes, I know we’re going to Wolf Creek, but I really don’t know where that is, what it looks like, what will happen, who I’ll meet…” She trailed off when she realized she was babbling. Great, that was sure to make her appear strong and self-assured.
Joshua took one hand off the steering wheel and held it out to her. She gripped it like a lifeline, holding it harder than she wanted to. The further from the city they went, the more nervous she became. Her world was far behind her. This was his world now and she didn’t know if she’d find a place within it.
“We’re almost there. The hills of North Carolina are home to Wolf Creek and some of the most spectacular countryside around. It’s wild and untamed and incredibly beautiful.” He glanced over at her and the look in his dark eyes had her squirming on her seat. “Much like you,” he whispered as he turned his attention back to the road. His low tones stroked over her skin, making her burn with sudden desire.
She swallowed hard. “Tell me more about it.”
“The Wolf Creek pack land covers literally thousands of acres of land. Much of what we don’t own in the area is parkland. We’ve had to adapt to the changing world just like everyone else has. Our people are artisans and farmers.”
“I’m sure they’re all as meek as lambs,” she snorted. The men who’d broken into the garage had been more like thugs then farmers.
Joshua shot her a quick grin. “We’re all werewolves underneath our skin, Alex. We cannot change our nature. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t be more than that.”
He stroked his thumb across the top of her hand, reminding her that she was still clutching his hand a tad too tightly. She loosened her grip, but she didn’t let go. She liked the feel of their hands joined together. He shifted his grip and threaded their fingers together so that their palms were touching. “Artisans and farmers,” she prompted.
Even though his eyes were busy watching the road and the woods that ran alongside, he seemed more relaxed than she’d ever seen him. Maybe it was because he was heading home.
“Many of the men and women farm the land, growing as many of the vegetables and fruits as they can. What we can’t grow ourselves, we buy or barter for. Meat is no problem, as all of us are skilled hunters and the woods are teeming with game.”
He tensed as a convoy of several large trucks came toward them, but he relaxed again when they passed by in a flurry of wind and dust. Maybe they were heading to Chicago, she thought wistfully. For a brief moment, Alex wished she was going with them. She turned her head and watched them until they disappeared into the distance, sighing when they vanished from sight.
Joshua gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze. “We also have skilled artisans—potters, carvers, woodworkers, sculptors, jewelry-makers and others. Our goods are sold in stores all across the country.”
“Really.” In spite of her melancholy, Alex found herself very interested. “I’ve always been curious about wood carving and pottery making.”
“The others will teach you anything you wish to learn.”
“They will?”
“Of course they will.” She could hear the surprise in his voice. “It is our way, Alex. We are a pack and all members work together to ensure the pack’s survival. Many of them would be honored to teach James LeVeau’s daughter.”
Alex absorbed what he’d said, mulling it over in her mind. Maybe her new life wouldn’t be so bad if she had the opportunity to learn some things that she’d always wanted to. Then she remembered something else her father had mentioned. “Won’t some of them dislike me because of my mixed blood?” She didn’t want to use the words half-breed or tainted.
Joshua growled. It started low in his chest and grew until it practically filled the cab of the truck. When he glanced over at her, she could swear his eyes were glowing. “Anyone who treats you with anything but the utmost respect will answer to me.”
She nodded her head, feeling a trickle of sweat rolling down her back. Fury rolled off him in waves and she had to fight her impulse to pull away from him. Then her sense of humor came to her rescue. “Does that include you too?”
He appeared startled and then the corners of his mouth kicked up and the heat in his eyes switched from anger to passion in a blink. “I’m excluded from that because I’ll always treat you with respect. Whatever I do is for your safety and well-being. You won’t always like it.”
Alex glared at him, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t think for one minute I’m going to allow you or anyone else to dictate my life.” There was no time like the present to get that idea right out of his head. She was her own boss. Just because she was attracted to him didn’t mean she’d let him take over her entire life.
His fingers squeezed hers and then they were gone. Joshua swore as he grasped the wheel with both hands and jammed his foot down on the gas pedal. Instinctively, she knew he wasn’t angry at what she’d said. He wasn’t the type of man who would let a little thing like her disavowal get in his way. No, he’d just go ahead and do whatever he felt was right and let the chips fall where they may. She was going to have her hands full with him.
He swore again. The low, even tone of his voice was more frightening than if he’d been yelling.
“What is it?”
“Behind us.”
She swiveled around and found a d
ark green truck gaining on them. “Maybe they’re just in a hurry.” She didn’t believe that any more than Joshua did.
“Open the glove box, Alex. There should be some sort of weapon there.”
Ignoring the request, she took the time to check her knives and gun before she opened the glove box. It was empty except for a large handgun. She removed it, taking the time to make certain it was loaded before handing it to him. He shook his head as he laid the weapon on the seat beside him.
“Put your head in your lap and stay down.”
“I can shoot.”
“Damn it, Alex. I can’t do this if I have to worry about you.” His yell startled her. A vein throbbed on the side of his head and she could see a small tic just beneath his eye.
“All right. All right,” she groused as she lowered her head, placing it on her lap. She kept her grip firm around the butt of her gun. “I’m doing this under protest.”
“Duly noted.” His voice was grim, but she thought she detected a note of pride in his voice. She couldn’t be sure though. The only view she had at the moment was of what was left of the stained and ripped black carpet that covered the floor.
“I could shoot while you drive,” she muttered, still not happy with this arrangement. If she thought she could help, then she’d damn well sit up and take her chances. She felt like an idiot, cowering while he continued to drive. Even worse, she hated not knowing what was going on. “Where are they?”
“Almost alongside us. Their vehicle’s got more power than ours. We can’t outrun them. This wouldn’t have happened if we’d gotten the car yesterday.”
She could hear the disgust in his voice and knew that, once again, he was blaming himself for this. Really, the man took way too much on himself. “It’s not your fault, Joshua. You’re not responsible for everything or everyone around you. You can’t know everything.”
His lips pursed into a grim line. “Don’t tell anyone else that.”
“Joshua—”
“Hold on.” He cut her off.
She could hear the roar of a powerful engine moving up alongside them. Joshua slammed on the brakes and the truck went into a skid. Tires squealed. Rubber burned. Alex’s entire body jerked and she tried to brace herself. The muscles in both Joshua’s arms strained as he struggled to keep them on the road. When he had the truck back under control, he pressed down on the gas pedal once again. Now they were behind the other vehicle. Holding the steering wheel with his right hand, he grasped the handgun with his left and held it out the window, firing off a series of quick shots.
Alex peeked over the dashboard, her fingers digging into the seat to help her keep her balance. She was just in time to see the dark green truck go into a skid and roll into the ditch, finally landing upright at the bottom.
They didn’t slow down.
As they passed, a man was already dragging himself out of the front seat. Blood was dripping from his forehead, but his hands were steady as he fired off several shots with the rifle he held.
“Get down,” Joshua roared. This time, she didn’t think, just ducked. The window behind her shattered and shards of glass exploded into the air around her. She covered her head with her hands, protecting herself as best as she could.
Two more shots echoed. Alex knew that the rifle had a much farther range than either of their guns. A tire exploded and the truck lurched. “Hang on,” Joshua shouted.
Alex braced one hand on the dashboard. The other still had a death grip on her gun. The truck pulled to one side as Joshua wrestled to keep it under control. It skidded off onto the soft dirt shoulder and the world tilted around Alex. Her stomach lurched as the vehicle rolled. Alex was jerked forward, then back, smashing her head against the side window. The seatbelt bit into her shoulder and chest, keeping her from flying through the windshield as the truck flipped over again. They weren’t as lucky as the men in the other truck had been. When they finally came to a halt, Alex was hanging upside down.
Shocked, she hung there, trying to get her bearings. Her mouth was dry. She opened her mouth to speak, swallowed and then tried again. “Joshua?” she croaked.
She turned her head slowly, biting her lip to keep from crying out when she caught sight of him. He was hanging upside down like she was, blood dripping down the side of his face. His eyes popped open as she watched him. He blinked twice, then immediately turned to face her. “Are you all right?” His voice was little more than a rough rasp.
She nodded and then groaned and grabbed her head. She groaned again when she accidentally struck her temple with the gun that was still grasped securely in her hand. Through it all, she hadn’t let go of it.
She heard a click and then Joshua half fell, half lowered himself until he was on the roof of the truck, which was really the floor now that they were upside down. Alex wondered about her own state of mind that her last thought had made perfect sense to her. As she watched, he levered himself out of the driver’s side window, which had been smashed out during the crash. He’d made it look easy.
She fumbled with the buckle on her seatbelt and it came unsnapped just as Joshua appeared on her side of the truck. She barely had time to register his grim expression before she fell. With all the strength leached from her arms, she was unable to support herself as he had. Instead of lowering herself out of the seat, she ended up in a crumpled heap. She’d be sporting a few extra bruises after that, but she was free.
Joshua was swearing as he all but ripped the door off its hinges and knelt beside the opening, carefully helping her out of the tangled mass of metal and alloy that had been their truck. Where Joshua had levered himself out of the truck almost effortlessly, she had to be practically dragged from the wreckage. His strong arms gently eased her toward him.
She closed her eyes and leaned against Joshua, trying to absorb some of his strength as she sucked in a deep breath. She was glad to be sitting on the ground, even though it was hard and rocky. Anything was better than being tumbled around in the truck. Her head was pounding and her stomach was none too steady, but she knew they couldn’t stay here. The men from the other vehicle wouldn’t be far behind them. Although she wanted to bury her face against his chest and rest there, she knew there was no time. It wasn’t easy, but she forced herself to push away from him. “We have to get going.”
She opened her eyes and got her first really good look at him as he stood. She’d thought he’d appeared dark and dangerous before, but she’d been mistaken. The man before her was almost a stranger. There wasn’t an ounce of softness anywhere in him. His rough-hewn features and the blank stare on his face reminded her of a picture of a barbarian warlord she’d seen in a history book once. This was a man who would have no trouble killing his enemies. In fact, he appeared as if he’d enjoy doing so. He looked ruthless, powerful and deadly.
She was damn glad that he was on her side.
Joshua felt all his emotions turn cold as he watched Alex gather herself. Tiny cuts dotted her arms and there were several other nicks on her face. A huge bruise was forming on the right side of her face and he wouldn’t be surprised if she had a mild concussion.
The hot fury churning within him had quickly solidified into molten ice. They had hurt his woman. His! They would pay for that mistake. Watching her as she rolled over onto her hands and knees and struggled to stand made him want to howl with rage. But rage would work against them. He needed to be clear-headed and detached if they were going to survive.
His job was to protect her and he had failed her. Kneeling in the dirt with her face and arms bloody, her shirt ripped and her jeans torn, she glanced up at him and gifted him with a wan smile. “I could use some help here.”
Shaking himself from his grim thoughts, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to her feet, not releasing her until she was steady. “We have to move.” He hated to have to rush her, but they had no choice. Thankfully, their seatbelts had kept both of them from serious injury. Otherwise they’d be sitting ducks.
“I
know,” she reminded him. “I was the one who told you that. Remember?” She reached out and placed her hand on his cheek. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
He thought his heart would surely burst it seemed to swell so large in his chest. This woman in front of him was everything. There was nothing he would not do to protect her and to keep her. If he’d ever had any doubts about that, they were gone. He was in awe of her courage. Any other woman would be crying or screaming at him for getting her into this mess. Instead, Alex was worried about him. “I’m fine.”
He ignored her concerned gaze as he stepped away and returned to the truck long enough to grab her jacket and a lightweight windbreaker he’d found stashed behind the driver’s seat this morning. The nights would be cold and right now he had no idea how long they would be out here.
Yanking his cell phone out of his back pocket, he flipped it open. No service. He wasn’t surprised. Cell phone service was spotty at best in the mountains. There was also the possibility it had been damaged in the crash. Closing it, he jammed it back into his pocket.
Alex was still standing in the same spot waiting for him and he took her hand in his and started to pull her toward the trees. They would be safer there than they would be on the road. The woods were his domain.
He moved as quickly as he could. Alex did her best to keep up, but she was still shaky. Still, she kept moving and didn’t complain. She knew the score as well as he did. “Do you think they were alone?” Her question didn’t surprise him. She had a quick, intelligent mind.
“No. I’m sure they’ve probably already contacted others spread out along the route. Most likely all of them are converging on this area.”
“Did you recognize the men in the truck?”
He’d gotten a good look at them when they’d come up alongside the truck. “Yeah. One of them was the bounty hunter I saw yesterday. I’m assuming his buddy is one too.” She stumbled over a downed tree and he caught her, holding her for a brief moment. He could hear her heavy breathing and knew she was struggling to keep up with him. It worried him. “How bad is your head?”
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