Chapter 80

Nathan POV

On the Road

"Cursed? You're cursed?"

I had no idea what Art was talking about where telekinesis was concerned. I knew I'd never heard of wolves who could move things with their minds the way characters did in comic books. I also knew magic was something people might mention in passing, but no one really did it.

"Can we get a little more explanation on that, please?"

Art snorted again -I was really starting to hate that sound- and shook his head, "No. Not a chance. Can't you crazy kids just keep yourselves busy for the rest of the trip? Daddy needs to take a nap."

Faint lines of tension accentuated his eyes and mouth in a way I'd not seen before. I had a feeling he really did need a little bit to rest even if I had no idea how he'd mentally muscled those goons around in the parking lot.

"Sure, Dad. Can we play Twenty Questions?"

"How about the Quiet Game? Daddy has a headache."

Rachel suddenly giggled and her amusement was enough to have me smiling, too.

I loved the sound of her laughter. I loved seeing her smile. If I could keep her happy, I'd trade comments with Windsor throughout the whole trip.

"What would you like to play, Rach?"

"How about we skip the game for now? I think I'd just like a few minutes to rest up myself."

Trust Rachel to put the needs of others before herself. She gave a meaningful nod to the Alpha Inspector and I saw he had his eyes closed and his head resting against the glass of the side window. He appeared genuinely tired. I wondered how much his so-called 'telekinesis' took out of him.

I suppressed a shiver at the thought of his abilities by sheer force of will.

Art had literally dragged a car for several dozen yards right in front of us. He hadn't even broken a sweat. I had no idea how much effort he'd used up to do as much as he did, but I knew I couldn't move an automobile around as if it were a Tonka toy.

Rachel settled into the seat behind me, letting her head rest on the back of her seat. Sunlight caught in her dark hair giving it an auburn tint. I breathed in deeply to try to get a hint of her scent.

Last night had nearly killed me.

I'd spent the whole night in the bed she slept in, surrounded by her scent, and it had taken every ounce of willpower I possessed to keep from stroking myself off in the dark while her whispers floated through the air around me.

She had been the main star of my fantasies for so long I couldn't conjure up any other dream when the urge struck me. I would have felt bad about it except she had once confessed to thinking about me, too.

Goddess knew I had spoiled many sets of sheets thinking about her thinking about me. The passion in her was so enticing all other women paled in comparison. I had no idea why Art wasn't able to see how special she was though I was glad he couldn't since Rachel seemed more than a little interested in the strange Alpha Inspector.

"Can you tell me how far we've got left to go?"

I'd been so wrapped up in thoughts of Rachel I was surprised by her voice. I jerked the wheel slightly causing Art's head to knock into the window on accident. He shot me a look which would have killed if, well, looks could kill.

"Sorry."

"Did you really just wake me up to ask 'Are we there yet?' because if so? I think this is some kind of Hell dimension and I want to get off at the next exit."

"There's no such thing as---"

"If you finish that sentence with 'Hell dimensions', I'll send you to one. Got that, Lewis?"

I nodded, "I got it. Sure."

I wasn't going to press my luck when he sounded twice as bitchy as he'd accused me of being earlier. I could tell he clearly needed his beauty sleep if we were going to be able to tolerate him for the rest of the ride. I didn't know how far we were from Moonglow Pack though so I dared to press him on the distance.

"Do you know how far off we are? I haven't been here in years and I've never driven myself."

I could practically hear his eyes roll.

"Of course you haven't. It's about another hour. Just keep going straight. Moonglow is off the exit with the signs for the national reserve."

I remembered the exit as soon as he mentioned it. They were isolated because the region was protected by the government. No one wanted to say the national forests were being used by the government as safe spaces to stash werewolf packs, but they were and they were good locations, too.

Wolves had a natural desire to run free and we were territorial as any predator alive. I knew my father was the most laidback Alpha I had ever met and even he would fight tooth and nail if anyone got too close to our running grounds during a full moon.

We had stuck close together during the runs on Moonglow Pack territory. They raced through the trees with the speed of demons and all the sound of ghosts. I remembered being terrified during my first run with those wild wolves when I was a boy.

Art had a look to him as if he wouldn't be surprised by anything ever. I found myself comforted by his presence even as my beast got his hackles up at the thought of relying on another Alpha to protect our female.

"Stop thinking so hard, Lewis. You're making my headache worse."

I grinned at his grumping; Rachel traded smiles with me when I caught her eyes in the rearview mirror. They were both happy enough riding in silence. I let the end of the trip pass with no more sounds than that of the tires rolling down the highway.

Taking the exit for the reserve, I let my memories guide me to the edges of Moonglow Pack. I pulled over before we were in range of the view of their scouts. I knew they had a guarded entrance for automobile traffic entering their packland.

"Do you want me to keep going or do you want to---"

"To what, Lewis? We're literally here just to visit their territory. There's no reason to delay unless you've suddenly developed a reason for concern?"

I had let my voice trail off because the words to express what I wanted wouldn't come to me. Trust Art to cut straight to the most insulting question possible. I had a feeling he made most of his enemies based on his questionable interrogation technique.

"No. I don't have any new concerns. I do think we should keep the old concerns in mind. Is that okay with you?"

"Fine, yes, great. We won't leave little Rachel alone with the scary wild wolves. We won't trust them or let our guard down around them. We're here for answers!"

Art shook a massive fist as if he was emphasizing his point. I was the one to roll my eyes this time. The guy was too much, but I could see how he might have made himself an enticing option for females who enjoyed men who were over-the-top.

"I think 'little Rachel' can be trusted on her own," Rachel protested, annoyance coloring her tone more than amusement, "I know I've got to have a big strong Alpha to escort me places. Surely they aren't ridiculous enough to insist a man stay with me everywhere?"

I hated she had to phrase it as a question, but she wasn't wrong to because Moonglow was a whole new animal compared to the urban packs we were used to in the city.

"They won't make you have a man with you all the time. I do feel as if it's a bad idea for you to be on your own though."

Art nodded, "I agree with Lewis. If you're on your own? You're a much more vulnerable target."

"Am I going to be a target?"

Rachel looked startled at the prospect; I loved her all the more for her naivete.

If she was the actual daughter of their Alpha House, Rachel could have a claim on their Alpha seat. She could be an actual threat to their line of ascendency. I knew how big a deal her situation could be even if she didn't.

"It's not going to be anything we can't handle. We will take care of you. I think they'll be more welcoming if we explain you aren't interested in staying in their territory."

Rachel gave a slow nod as she processed my suggestion. I wasn't sure what else we could do at this point.

I steered the car back onto the road and drove us straight to the guard shack where I prepared to flash my best boy-next-door smile.

"Goddess bless you. I'm Tyler Lewis from Full Moon Pack and I've brought Rachel Flores with me as well as Alpha Inspector Art Windsor here to visit. We should be confirmed on your list?"

The guard wished us blessings and a pleasant visit to their packlands before waving us forward.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends," I muttered, feeling as if I was driving us into the mouth of some unknown monster.