Page 8 of Shifting Years (Whispering Hills #5)

My cock was hard, but it was best we kept our pants on. The aura shifted, and if I could see it, his would have been pitch-black as we walked to his car. The man's hot and a great kisser, but the person inside? I couldn't be with someone who set up busts.

"Go on and say it," he said.

"You were looking for people to harass and arrest. That's so uncool."

"That's what police officers do. You investigate, and if it's illegal, you take the next step. That's the law."

"So were separate drinking fountains. Would you jail someone for that?"

I waited for an argument, and he blinked before answering slowly. "No."

I got into his white convertible and waved to the group. The skunk-weed scent carried over, and if his sense of smell were as good as mine, he'd notice. He goes undercover to gay bars for arrests, so my new pot-smoking friends were another easy bust.

Instead of heading back, he drove off with me at his side. We debated politics and found no common ground. He didn't read my type of books and only saw one episode of Star Trek. I thought it was something special, but he insisted nobody would remember it in ten years.

"You're so different," we said in unison before staring.

I shrugged. "Guess being gay doesn't mean you get along."

"I'm not gay," he said. "Well, not really."

I pulled my t-shirt down, showing off my hickey. In the mirror, it had already turned purple-red. A small part of me wished he suck-kissed higher.

"I shouldn't have done that," he muttered.

"Why? Because it's proof?"

I wasn't looking for another argument, but he didn't take the bait. "Drive me to the bus station. I'll get out of your life, and you can go find people to arrest after they suck your cock."

"Not staying with your flower power friends?"

"I learned everything I needed from them and they're camping here for a day. It's time to find a new experience. So, the quicker you get me there, the faster I'm gone."

"Don't be like that. I have a girl, okay?"

"You can't."

"I absolutely do, and I'll marry her."

My nose wrinkled at the smell of garbage. It must have been the wind sending over trash someone dumped along the road. His thin eyes suggested some truth. "Wait! You do have a girlfriend, no, fiancée! That's awful. She's living a lie and doesn't know it, like you."

Most guys would have punched me for saying that, but the experience in the woods said he wasn't like other men.

"I'll give you money for a bus ticket."

"Don't bother. I can work for it, or hitchhike."

"People get murdered while hitchhiking, you know."

I gestured to his car, and he rolled his eyes. "What about you? You never take a chance?"

"Not when I can help it. I have a life planned out for me."

"Where are the surprises and discoveries if you follow a plan?"

"I'd rather have security."

Security was staying with my new friends. Nothing happened yet, but the town's vibe said to get out soon. Going with him was a discovery , but I think I wanted some time with him. After thinking about Todd so much , I couldn't leave, even if he didn't measure up.

He could have driven off without me, so does he want to be around me too?

We drove in silence down the two-lane highway, with thick forest on both sides. The road ahead forked, and he edged to the left.

"Go right," I insisted, feeling a pull toward the other direction.

"What? No. Absolutely not."

"Does it go into town?"

"Well, eventually."

I yanked the steering wheel to the right. The car skittered along the road's shoulder as gravel crunched under the wheels. He was strong and pushed me back, glaring with anger as we shot down the new direction.

"The Road Not Taken," I said. "It's a famous poem about how taking other paths makes all the difference." He stared ahead blankly so I continued. "There's something there. I feel an ESP tingle."

"So you do believe in that crap."

"There's smart people who do."

"Then why haven't I heard about them?"

"Maybe it wasn't in your plan?"

He would have said something if the car hadn't jerked down to the right and slowed to a stop. The spinning whir sound and not moving said we were stuck in the mud. His curses confirmed it. "You and your stupid ESP, which doesn't exist."

We got out in unison, checking tires, and shoving rocks and branches under them. As expected, we argued on the placement. Once done, we shifted into neutral and shoved. Every time we rocked forward, it rolled back.

"Sisyphus," I said. "He's—"

"—the Greek guy who pushed a rock up a hill, before it rolled back." He glared back. "I'm not an idiot."

I swallowed as he threw his top in the back seat. I might have done the same if it weren't for my fresh hickey. With every push, his developed and slick biceps flexed as did my lower muscle. He noticed my stares. "You're strong," I said, my voice quieter than normal.

"Not enough. We aren't getting out with just us pushing. The car needs direction. Get behind the wheel and floor it when I give it my all. It'll grab the more solid ground."

"Uh, I don't drive. My friend Bobby used to take me around LA."

He spoke slowly. "Turn the key, slam the gas, then let off. That's it."

"This is your car. I can get behind."

"You're not as strong and I should push."

I'm not a big guy and yes, he was right, but there was something tingly that made me want to listen. It's not that I wanted to be dominated, but his commanding voice was so damn masculine.

I did as suggested, if not commanded. My dad let me drive once, but that was years ago before he passed. With single-parent funds, a car was out of the question. So it was buses or hitchhiking when Bobby wasn't available.

Okay. I can do this. Step on the gas and aim the wheels. Jed Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies drives. So why not me?

With a glance at the rearview mirror, and Todd's impressive muscles, I turned the key. Muddy tires spun, catching on rocks for the barest of seconds before sliding back. Back and forth, I rocked in the driver's seat, and it was too easy to imagine him slamming into me.

Would we have gone further in the bar if he hadn't left?

Passing trees and a deep scream broke my visual. Oh hell!

My brain knew there were two or was it three pedals on a car?

"Stop the car, you idiot!"

I slammed the brakes or thought I did. It was a strange moment where I gawked, frozen at the tree coming toward me. All I had to do was turn the wheel or hit another pedal. Instead, I blinked like a deer in the headlights, before smashing into a tree at over twenty miles per hour.

I coughed, moaning with the steering wheel pressed into my stomach. Ahead was a slightly smashed-in hood. Oh hell, he's going to kill me.

He ran down the slope and gently touched me in various spots. Intelligent green eyes suggested the soon-to-be police officer had medical training.

"You hurt?"

"No, I don't think so."

"You sure?"

I shimmied, figuring a broken bone or internal injury would tell me.

He stared, red-faced. "Positive? Are you okay? I need you to be sure."

"Yeah."

"Good." He breathed in deeply. "You idiot! Why didn't you lay off the gas, hit the brake, or turn? Anything?" He gestured to an area mostly free from trees. "You high?"

"No. The joint and acid tab are still in my backpack. Look, I didn't mean for it to happen."

I expected him to call me a liar. I could have turned or slammed every pedal, but I froze and damaged his beautiful car. Instead, he glared.

"No, you didn't mean it." He had no smile. "I'm driving."

I kept quiet and didn't mention how I wanted him to drive in the first place. A long metallic screech greeted the key turn. Again, he breathed out slowly. "Of course. Let's go, hitchhiker."

We climbed up the slope and trudged along the empty asphalt road. Something was off but what? It might have been Todd since I wrecked his car and had no money to pay for repairs. Although, I could stay in town and do odd jobs.

It sounded logical, but so did returning his wallet and look how that turned out.

"Okay, what's wrong?" he asked.

"I didn't say anything."

"I can feel you moping."

"I'm not moping , but there's something off. Maybe the road?"

"Well, there's no white convertible driving along it."

"Man! I'm sorry, okay? I really am, and I tried to tell you, but you insisted I get behind the wheel."

"You hitchhike across the country, go to those bars, and live by your own rules, doing exactly what you want. Now, I'm supposed to believe you ignore the world but only listen to me? Really?"

There was something to that, but he told me to drive. I didn't have to obey, but it felt like something I should do.

"There's nobody on this road, Todd. Isn't it weird?"

"Hardly anyone drives it, but you wanted to take the 'Road Not Taken,' so congratulations! We're on a road nobody takes."

I sniffed. "There's no recent exhaust fumes." I pointed ahead and behind. "It's a long straightaway in both directions, and there's nobody!"

He didn't argue, but his soft murmur said I was right.

After ten minutes of silent walking, we discovered why. The old wooden bridge had partially collapsed, curving down. Carefully looking down the ravine revealed a splintered tree that must have fallen on it before sliding off. Any car driving by would have finished the bridge's destruction and died.

Todd's face lost all color as he glanced at the highway. "Grab big branches, anything leafy and visible."

I did as suggested. Anyone coming this way would slow down once they noticed the natural blockade. I hung some high, so drivers approaching from the other side would see.

"We would have crashed into the ravine," said Todd.

We headed down into the ravine. He seemed as agile as me, not needing the vines and branches for support. On the other side was an official 'Bridge out' sign. There must have been a mate and maybe the wind blew it away.

He was beyond frustrating and so wrong about nearly everything, but there was a caring soul before me.

"Your first thought when I crashed was to see if I were hurt. And you were worried about people you didn't know, so you put the branches to make sure they'd be okay."

His face softened. "Thank you."

"Your father must be proud of you."

The smile instantly disappeared. "Let's go." We hurried along the highway for a few minutes. "It curves away from town and wouldn't be an issue in a car, but we'll get there late." He pointed to the forest.

"Are you saying we need to take 'The Road Not Taken?'"

"Oh, my God," he whispered.

We left the asphalt behind us and ventured deeper into the woods. My plan when hitchhiking across America was to see all the amazing cities like San Francisco, New York, and Miami.

I didn't think much about nature, but it felt like I should have, since The Movement stressed living in harmony with our natural surroundings. The colorful birds overhead sang and chirped before flying away. Squirrels chittered and scurried away, mistaking us for predators.

Whatever stressed them didn't affect Todd. I didn't need an excuse to study his muscles, but they relaxed. "It's peaceful," he said.

I hurried next to him. "You ever been out here before?"

"No, too busy."

I smiled to take away the upcoming sting. "Life is what happens when you're busy making plans—John Lennon."

"And what have you seen?"

"LA, New Orleans, Dallas, and Albuquerque, but it's not the places but people." I swallowed hard. "I met a really nice, uh, gay couple. They were older and had been in a relationship for a while."

I almost wish I hadn't said anything. It was obvious he and I wouldn't work out, but it was a blatant hint. If he picked up on anything, he gave no sign before stopping instantly.

Goosebumps soon followed on my skin, and we stared at each other. The forest's energy changed like it was on fire. Todd didn't appreciate my ESP mention earlier, but his slow swallow showed he noticed the change.

We didn't have to wonder for long. Two black wolves, one bigger than the other, but both larger than normally seen stepped into view and blocked our path. Twigs and leaves crunched under their immense weight as the bigger one bared its sharp, white teeth.

"Get back," screamed Todd.

***

"Shifters?" asked Kim.

"Yes," I said.

"We never saw them shift," said Todd.

"One was smaller and the other large. They each acted like an Alpha and Omega."

"There's no pack in the area, and there never was."

Kim's confused expression urged me to explain further. "We went back in the late seventies to give our thanks, but nobody had heard of a pack there. Usually, they stake out a claim, but they may have been hitchhiking wolves like Todd and myself."

"But if they didn't shift, how did you know about this town? You didn't know you were shifters."

"Wolves did tell me about Whispering Hills, but not them," I said. "I wouldn't meet two special ladies for years."

"The male wolves did help us," said Todd.

"So what happened?" asked Kim.

My Alpha sighed with shame. "I grabbed a branch and stepped forward to bash their brains in."

***