CHAPTER FOUR

"Your father is on his way!"

That was enough to get Andrew flying through the window. He was almost out of the window when Nicole gripped his arm fiercely.

"This doesn't mean you should run away again, Andrew. Just lie low until your father's rage diffuses. You know how he is."

Andrew gulped.

"Right now, he cannot bear the amount of embarrassment and shame you've brought to this pack. I'm afraid that if he gets you, you might not survive it this time."

"Thank you." He muttered.

"Here are the keys to your old truck. Stay around town and come back by sundown. I'm sure Laura would have cooled him off by then." She said, thrusting the keys into his hand and letting him go.

Andrew tumbled downwards and landed on his feet, then looked up to see her shutting his window.

"And hey Andrew!" She called out. "Thank you is trash, you owe me one. Never forget." She finished, shutting his window.

He nodded then dashed into a thicket that led to his old garage, where the truck was parked.

Tremors ran through Andrew's body as he imagined the punishment that awaited him if his father caught him. There was no telling the amount of pain the old alpha was going to inflict on him. He gulped again, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

Andrew was filled with nostalgia as he pulled open the creaky doors of the garage. It had been his best hideout whenever he'd upset his father, Celeb or the pack. As quickly as he could, he set the doors wide open and cleared out his old tools that would obstruct the way, then he began to drag off the dusty car cover.

He had abandoned the garage and truck years ago when his father caught him trying to escape from the pack and threatened to burn it down. He narrowed his eyes at the truck, something about the truck looked different. He was sure it was pretty banged up when he abandoned it.

He simply shrugged, jumped in and started the truck. He was even more surprised to hear the sound of a new engine. He quickly reversed the car and sped through an old trail he'd used as his means of escape in the past.

Nicole. His wolf warned him, prancing restlessly in his subconscious. Something about her saving him made It uneasy. His wolf seemed to think that she had the whole thing planned out. If not, why did she have his keys? Why was his truck looking new and shiny? And who cleared the old trail?

Trap. It's a trap. His wolf sneered.

"Cut it out." Andrew muttered. "Nicole may have dubious intentions but she just saved me and right now I need to find Emily."

Emily. His wolf repeated excitedly.

He parked the truck within the forest at the edge of town and walked directly to the bar Emily had hidden him in. His wolf calmed down at the thought of her. Memories of her lips and smile ran through his mind. He needed to see her again. He took a good look at the bar. It was named 'Ben's Breakfast'. The name made his smirk as images of the owner came to mind. Andrew sniffed the air, trying to locate her scent. She wasn't there but he entered the bar anyway.

His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in two days. He ordered burgers and cola, nibbling them as he waited on Emily.

He waited for hours, eating burger after burger after burger. He had almost given up when she entered a few hours after noon, hugging the bar owner and the waitress that served him.

"Flapjacks and Mochaccino for our princess." The waitress, an elderly lady, said smiling.

"You know me too well Martha" Emily remarked gliding down the aisle and greeting other customers with a bright smile. As he watched her, his chest puffed with pride at her charisma. It was obvious that most of the other customers doted on her. The moment her eyes fell on Andrew she paused then marched towards him vindictively.

Andrew smirked lazily, bringing the cup of cola to his lips.

"Hi Emily…"He started to say,

"You!" She interrupted with a hard slap.

Andrew spluttered choking on his drink.

The bar was silent except for Andrew's coughing, everyone in the bar was staring at them.

"Whaaa?" Andrew tried to say.

"Zip it," she whispered menacingly.

Then loudly she said "There there, Mr, you're ok now" She soothingly rubbed his back. "Nothing to see here guys, I'm sure he was just stunned by my beauty."

Someone snickered and everyone went back to their meals. She immediately waggled her finger at him.

"You son of a… I didn't give you the permission to kiss me or run off like that," she whispered vehemently, plopping down opposite him.

"Excuse me?" Andrew asked incredulously. His brain was still woozy from the slap.

"I don't even know your name Mr and you dared to, are you crazy?" she whispered tight-lipped, glancing sideways.

Andrew rubbed his cheek.

"But.." He started.

"But nothing." She whispered again, hitting the table with her fists.

"Whoa whoa whoa, taper down tiger." Andrew said, regaining control of himself.

Just then the waitress Martha came by with Emily's food.

"Are you okay honey? Do you need Ben to come set this young man straight?" Martha asked as she set down Emily's food.

"Hey! She.."Andrew started,

"Nah Martha, we're good." Emily replied sweetly with her thumbs up.

"Okay honey." Martha replied, patting Emily's back. "And you," she said pointing at Andrew, who threw his hands up.

"I got my eyes on you and my husband, who is also the owner of this bar, will not hesitate to set you straight." She warned, walking away.

Andrew's eyes widened, his brows creased as he continued rubbing his cheek.

"Did I walk into a cult or something?" He muttered, placing his cold drink against his cheek.

Emily muffled her laughter. Then cleared her throat.

"So Mr, you.. "

"Andrew, the name's Andrew." Andrew interrupted.

"Hmmm, Andrew, Andrew, not common around here." She said, trying out the name.

"You just assaulted me" Andrew murdered sourly.

Emily grinned.

"That's for kissing me and running." She said eating her last morsel of pancake.

Andrew smirked.

"What if I didn't run?"

Emily sneered at him.

"You'd still be in trouble."

A smirk was still dancing on his lips as he put his arms forward and leaned towards her.

"Oh really?" He teased. "I remember promising that we'd finish from where we stopped yesterday. How much trouble would I get into if we kissed right now?"

His eyes dilated as he raked down her bodice.

Emily gasped. A hint of red decorated her cheeks. She quickly pushed her chair backwards and grabbed coffee.

"You wouldn't dare." She said meekly.

"Don't count on it." Andrew chuckled leaning back into his chair with a satisfied smirk.

"So how come you're still alive?" Emily asked, changing the subject.

Andrew's expression darkened and he sat up straight.

"It's best if you stay out of it. I don't want to put you in any danger." He whispered.

Emily glanced around furtively before speaking.

"Wow, sounds mysterious and deadly, I'm shaking with terror." She retorted sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "In case you're suffering from some kind of memory loss, let me remind you that I saved your ass yesterday, almost got myself into trouble with Ben and yeah almost got killed by whoever was chasing you. So, from the look of things I was already in danger. So spit it out, who'd you rile up?"

Andrew folded his arms and stared at her. He couldn't tell her that his werewolf brother hated his existence and wanted to become the Alpha by all means. Or that he purposely disrupted his engagement to the pack gamma's daughter Nicole, enraging his father and making him send his brother who wanted him dead after him. He sighed thinking of a way to twist the story.

"I deserve to know!" Emily huffed at his silence.

"Fine, fine, I'll tell you." He responded slowly.

"Where should I start from?" He wondered out loud.

"Wait, let's take a walk." Emily whispered, looking around.

Outside the bar, Emily led them towards a quiet street. When she was sure that they were alone, she secretly cast a spell in her head, that would ensure that no one eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Talk." She instructed, when she was done.

Andrew chuckled.

"What's with all the drama, why did you go all FBI inside the bar?" He asked as they walked side by side. His hands itched to grab hand and protect her from whatever was making uneasy.

"I'll tell you later, so spill." She instructed.

Andrew smirked, then inhaled deeply.

"My father badly wants me to take over his company and my elder brother hates me for it. I don't want it either but my father insists that I take over." Andrew stated solemnly.

"Yesterday was my engagement party to one of our major stakeholder's daughters. I was betrothed to her to consummate my stepping into my father's position but I disrupted it and ran away which angered my father and gave my brother the opportunity to come after me." He finished.

"Hmmm" Emily responded.

"It's just that, no one understands it. My family doesn't understand that I'm not like them, I strongly dislike everything about them. I just…" He ranted.

Emily suddenly stopped walking and engulfed him in a bear hug.

"It's alright," she murmured. "I'm sure you'll figure something out."

Andrew was immediately swooned by her scent. His wolf which had always been hyperactive calmed down immediately, the proding voices in his head were sealed shut. He buried his nose into her hair, inhaling her sweet scent. He couldn't seem to get enough of her.

"Mine" His wolf whispered relaxedly, Mine.