Page 31 of Pit Stop

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

SKYE

This heat happened sooner than expected, but it doesn’t last as long as the others. It’s two whole days of frantic fucking and whispers in the dark. I learn so much about Maverick and his past, about how he became who he is.

He’s had a rough life, struggled so much, learned the hard way how to take care of himself, but here he is. Better for it.

A good man, despite it all.

When I come out of the heat, my body sore and satiated, I’m met with news I don’t really want.

Sage has gotten the invite to the pack up north, and the shaman is waiting for us to arrive. He has an opening in his schedule, but we need to arrive as quickly as possible. They said to prepare to stay for two days.

I don’t even have time to really come to terms with what this all means before I’m packing and being shoved into a van with my dad, Sage, and Forest. Of course, Maverick is by my side the entire time, his fingers restless on his lap as my dad navigates the highways.

It’s going to be a long drive, at least ten hours before we arrive.

My ass is sore, and I find it hard to get comfortable.

I’m snappy with everyone, but as the hours drag on, I realize that it’s because I’m sad. Upset that this is the beginning of the end.

I don’t want it to be over.

And yet it has to be. Right?

My head lands on Maverick’s shoulder as the voices of my siblings and my dad echo around me. I can feel Maverick’s hand tighten on mine, and I nuzzle in closer, unable to pull myself away. I get two more days with him before this is broken, before we go our separate ways.

The summer is almost over anyway. I need to head back to school, and Maverick has a life to live as well. This was never meant to be. Not long-term anyway.

“An hour more. Wanna stop and eat?” Forest asks, looking over his shoulder from the passenger seat, eyeing me and Sage.

“Sure, but please stop somewhere I can actually eat, and don’t be an asshole about it. I’m not eating meat,” Sage replies.

Forest scoffs and plugs a destination into his phone. It appears on the GPS, and my stomach sours.

I don’t want to eat. I feel like I’m going to throw up.

Gods, why do I feel so terrible?

Because the bond knows. It has to. It’s the only explanation. It’s a living, breathing thing tying Maverick and me together, and it knows it’s about to be ripped apart. It’s about to die.

I feel like I’m suffocating and it hasn’t even happened yet.

“Breathe,” Maverick says, his hand cupping my face. It’s gentle, his fingers brushing over my skin. “You’re okay. Breathe.”

I manage to take in long, gulping breaths, doing as he commands, and finally, after what feels like years, my lungs expand and I’m able to take in air. It feels good to breathe.

To live.

Maverick’s nose nuzzles into my neck, and he nips lightly at my skin, making me shiver.

I’m going to miss this , I think as his lips drag down my cheek to meet my lips. It’s a slow kiss, one everyone pretends to ignore. They are blessedly quiet as I let him hold me, kissing me as often as he can until we stop for food.

I barely eat, worried I may vomit if I do, so I just drink some water, and then we get back on the road.

Forest and Sage talk endlessly through the rest of the drive, my dad looking back at me in the rearview mirror, worry in his gaze. I get it. He’s never seen me so distraught.

But this is nothing compared to what’s ahead.

The bond breaking won’t settle well with me. I don’t know how I’ll survive it.

“Shit, this place is run-down,” Forest says, looking out at the rickety wooden gates with the pack name carved on a sign hammered into the side.

Crimson Howlers.

How creative , I think as a man appears from the shadows. He has a rifle slung over his shoulder and walks up to my dad’s window, pointing for him to lower it.

My dad does, and the man gruffly asks why we’re here.

“To see the shaman. Got the invite today.” He holds out his phone, and the man reads the email. Slowly, deliberately, before finally giving a curt nod.

“Go on through. Pack house is to the left. Gen is waiting for you.”

My dad nods and moves through the gates, the gravel crunching beneath the tires as we roll over it. It’s dark out here, kind of like The Den, but here, there are no lanterns lighting the way, just the headlights from the vehicle guiding us to our destination.

When we approach the first building, my dad brakes. He isn’t sure if this is the pack house because no one is around.

“This better not be a trap,” Forest says, and Sage sighs nervously. “This forest is creepy.”

“There is no way it is. It’s just…a little bit redneck is all,” Sage replies.

I eye Maverick and see a flare of protectiveness light up his eyes. There’s no way he’s going to let any harm come to me. I’m safe here.

Nothing bad will happen.

My dad rolls forward and parks the van, keeping the lights on as he opens the door. And as he does, a figure moves off the porch of one of the houses and stalks toward us. His eyes glow in the dark, red and orange, like a flame.

This must be Gen , I think as he comes to a stop in front of my dad. He’s broad-shouldered, thick and muscular. He looks like Red, like he could shift and become the wolf I know lurks beneath that skin.

The ancestors we no longer resemble.

“You must be Ash.”

My dad nods. “Yeah, and you’re Gen?”

“Mhm, that’s right. Was expecting you. Red told us you were coming. Welcome.”

My dad looks around, and Gen grins wickedly. He whistles, and I shudder when I see a group of large wolves approach. Fuck, are we in danger?

We can’t be, right? We had an invitation.

“Don’t worry. They’re just making sure you’re not here to do us harm. Because if you are, I’ll make sure you won’t survive.”

The wolves snap their teeth in agreement, and my dad’s hand tightens on the door of the van.

“We’re just here to see the shaman. We were told to arrive as soon as possible.”

“All right. But like I said, you’re welcome here. Just know your place.”

“We do.”

“Good, now let me show you where you’ll stay.”

Gen whistles again, and the wolves disappear back into the forest, but I can still feel their eyes on me.

Oh my gods, I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe I dragged my family into this mess. Into danger. I should have just stayed mated to Maverick. But it’s too late. My dad is driving the van forward, following behind Gen, who is walking briskly.

A minute later, we pull up beside a large building, and Gen points to the side of it, gesturing for us to park. Gen eyes us as we all clamber out, his gaze landing on Forest and Maverick for a little too long. But he says nothing, just watches.

“You’ll stay here. This is Red’s den. He said he’d loan it out for your stay.”

My dad nods, and Sage offers Gen a small smile. “Thank you.”

But he goes ignored. Gen’s eyes swivel around the four of us, finally landing on me. He cocks his head and those eyes flare.

“Hm. I see. Let me know if you need anything. And remember, we’re watching you.”

And with that, he disappears into the shadows, leaving us standing there in the darkness, unsure of what to do now.

“Shit,” Forest says, and Sage lets out a nervous laugh.

“This is wild.”

“Why did Red send us here again?” Sage asks.

“For selfish reasons, I bet,” Forest says. “It’s always something with those shifters.”

As those words leave his lips, the door to the house creaks open and a woman appears.

“Get in here. Before they decide to make you dinner.”

We grab our bags and make our way inside the house. It’s just as rickety and old as the gates leading into the property, but it’s historic. A lot of stories were made here. Tales. Legends.

“Name is Bet. Your rooms are up on the second floor. Breakfast at 6 a.m. You miss it, your fault. The wolves around here wait for no one.”

We all nod, and she points to the stairs. “Better get some rest. Let waits for no one.”

“Let? Do these people only have one-syllable names?” Sage whispers to me, and I suppress a giggle. Maybe they do. Maybe that’s their trademark. Although their name should have been the Red Howlers then. Would have made for a little better marketing.

We trudge up the stairs and see two rooms open and aired out. My dad looks at Maverick and me, then points to one.

“You two go in there. We’ll sleep here.”

“You sure?” Maverick asks.

“Positive. Get some sleep. We have a busy two days ahead of us.”

Maverick takes our bags and we move into the room, the smell slightly musty despite the open window.

My eyes swivel to the bed as he closes the door and locks it.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” I finally whisper. “I thought we’d have a little more time.”

“Me too,” he says and then moves toward me, pulling me into a tight hug. “But it’s for the best. This is what you want.”

“And you want it too, right?” I ask, feeling something tug on my heart. It’s insistent and almost painful, but I have to ignore it.

He swallows and blinks, taking far too long to answer. “Yeah. I want what you want, Skye.”

I’m not sure I like that answer, but I let it go.

“We should get some sleep,” Maverick says, scenting me gently. His pheromones cloud around me, and I grow drunk on them. It’s different tonight. Lust is there, need, but also desperation with a tinge of sadness.

I feel it too.

But that’s normal with a mate about to break a bond.

I’ll feel better once it’s over, right?

I have to believe it or I won’t make it.

Maverick and I sleep tucked against each other all night. He wakes several times to scent me, rubbing his face against my neck, my stomach, and my groin.

It’s heavenly. I don’t want him to stop, but I do need sleep. We have such a busy next few days.

When we’re woken at six the next morning by my dad, we stumble down the stairs to the kitchen where several alphas are already wolfing down plates of eggs, bacon, and sausages.

“We have pancakes on the grill, too. You’ll need to wait for those, seeing as you’re late,” Bet says roughly.