Chapter 5

Scott’s Point of View

“You have got to be kidding me.”

The words come out flat, tired, and I sigh, feeling absolutely done.

I swear everything that could have gone wrong have to today, and this is the last straw.

I stare at the truck, and the truck stares back at me, with smoke curling up from under the hood like it is mocking us.

Marcus, my beta, lets out a long sigh from where he is standing next to me and he runs a hand through his hair.

“Yeah. No. That’s not good.”

He murmurs and I snort.

“That’s one way to put it.”

I mutter, glaring at the truck. He moves closer again, and peers at the engine again, before he straightens.

“I can’t fix this.”

He repeats and I snort.

“You don’t say.”

zh

He narrows his eyes slightly at me, but ignores my jab.

““We’re not getting anywhere like this. We will have to head back to that town and find someone to tow it in.”

He says, rubbing the back of his neck.

I look back down the road we came from.

“That town barely counts as a town.”

“It has buildings. That counts a a town.”

Marcus says and I sigh again.

“Fantastic.”

I mutter.

We don’t argue, there is nothing to argue about, so we just start walking back to the town in silence. But the silence doesn’t last long.

“Are you trying to run?”

Marcus mutter after a few minutes, frowning at me.

“I’m walking normally.”

I say flatly and he arches a brow at me.

“You’re walking like you want to punch something.”

He says and I glance at him.

“Are you offering?”

I asks and he smirks.

“That sounds tempting. But no.”

"Then just shut up and walk."

"Yes, boss."

He smirks, and I shake my head without answering him and we continue the rest of the way in silence.

We reach the edge of town quicker than I expect us to. A couple of shops, a diner, a bar, and a mechanic with a flickering sign.

“There.”

Marcus says pointing at the mechanic at the same time I see him and we quickly make our way over.

The guy at the shop is middle aged human with grease-stained hands.

"What can I do for you men?"

He asks, wiping his hand on a cloth.

"Our truck broke down outside of town, we were wondering if you could tow it back in?"

Marcus asks and the man immediately nods his head.

"Sure."

He turns, calling to the back.

"Jimmy! Keep and eye on the shop. I need to go do a tow."

A young guy pokes his head out a door. He acknowledges us with a nod and throws the keys to the man.

He turns back to look at us.

"Let's go."

He says and we quickly follow him to his truck.

"So, you heading back home?"

He asks and Marcus nods his head.

"Yeah, we were at a meeting two towns over and we need to get home quickly, but one thing after another has happened today."

He mutters and the man laughs.

"It's almost like fate is trying to slow you down on purpose. Maybe you should listen."

He says and I fight myself not to snort.

It doesn't take long to get to the truck and he quickly heads over to it, popping the hood again.

"Do you think you can have it fixed today?"

I asks after a few minutes.

He straightens and glances at us, then back at the truck, before he shakes his head slowly.

“No. This will at least take a day. Maybe more if I have to order parts.”

He says and Marcus lets out a sharp breath.

“A day?”

He asks and the man nods his head.

“Minimum.”

He says and both he and Marcus looks back at me. I sight and fold my arms in front of my chest.

“We don’t really have a choice here, do we?”

I ask and the man shrugs.

“Not unless you plan on pushing it.”

He says.

Marcus mutters something under his breath that neither one of us can hear and the man looks at me expectantly and I nod my head.

“Fine. Tow it.”

I say and he nods his head.

An hour later, the truck is gone and so is my patience.

“Well, I guess we are staying over.”

Marcus says cheerfully, clapping his hands together lightly and I glare at him.

“This is your fault.”

“My fault?”

He laughs, shaking his head.

“Oh no my friend. You are the one who insisted that we drive instead of flying.”

He says and I frown.

“I said I didn’t want to deal with pack politics before the blood moon.”

“And now we’re dealing with human politics. Congratulations.”

He says shrugging at me.

We find the motel the mechanic told us about easily. And for a few seconds I stare at it. Same one-story building, dull lights, nothing special.

I sigh.

"Guess this will have to do."

I mutter before we make our way inside.

The woman behind the desk smiles up at us as soon as she hear us.

“Afternoon. Do you boys need a room?”

She asks, her voice warm and friendly.

Marcus smiles at her, nodding his head.

“Yes, please, mam. One room, with two beds.”

"Of course. Just for one night?"

She asks and he nods again.

"Yes mam. We will be heading out tomorrow."

He says smoothly and she nods her head before typing something on the computer.

A few minutes later sue hands us a key card and gives directions.

“Room 208. We don't serve breakfast, dinner or lunch. But there are menus in the room for takeaway. There is also a estaurant, a diner and bar down the road that you can walk to if you don't want food to be brought to your room.”

She says and Marcus smiles at her, nodding his head again.

“That is perfect. Thank you.”

He says. We quickly say goodbye before making our way outside m

The moment we are out of earshot, he looks at me.

“What is going on? Are you okay? You have been on edge all day.”

He asks and I frown, shaking my head.

“I have not.”

“You almost snapped at the mechanic.”

“He deserved it.”

“He literally did nothing.”

He says flatly, arching a brow at me. I stop walking and turn to look at him.

“What is wrong with you?”

I ask and he frowns at me in confusion.

“Excuse me? What is wrong with me?”

He asks, pointing at himself, but before I can answer he continues.

“Nothing is wrong with me, but you...”

Marcus says, pointing at me.

“.... You have been fidgety and irritated all day. You look like you want to crawl out of your own skin.”

He says, frowning at me and I sigh before raking a hand through my hair.

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit.”

He mutters, folding his arms in front of his chest as he stares at me. I hesitate for a second before I sigh once again.

“Maybe it’s beacuse everything has been going wrong the entire day. Maybe because the blood moon is tonight, and the fact that we won’t be at the pack.”

I say flatly and Marcus groans.

“Seriously? That’s it? That is why I have had to deal with you grumpy ass all day?”

He asks, slipping annoyed and I narrow my eyes at him.

“That is not nothing.”

I say and he sighs.

“No, but they will be fine without you for one night. As will you.”

He says matter of factly and I frown.

“I don’t like being away during the blood moon and you know it.”

I say and he sighs, nodding his head.

“Yeah, I know. You have mentioned it. Repeatedly.”

He mutters and pauses for a few seconds before he looks at me again.

“I can have George come pick us up.”

He suggests but I shake my head immediately.

“No.”

“Scott...”

He begins but I cut him off.

“No. It’s fine. Let’s just get settled. It’s getting late. We’ll grab dinner, maybe a drink, maybe that will help my calm down.”

I mutter. Marcus studies me for a few seconds before he nods his head.

“Alright. But if you snap at anyone else, I’m blaming the moon.”

He teases and I roll my eyes at him without saying anything.

We drop our bags in the room and we take turns showering.

I barely feel the water rushing over me.

My wolf is restless, pacing, and pushing inside of me.

Something is wrong... It feels off...

He mutters.

You are being dramatic. It's just because we are not on pack territory.

I say and he growl lowly

I know you feel it too.

He mutters.

I don’t answer him, beacuse I know it is true.

As soon as Marcus steps out of the bathroom we quickly make our way over to the bar.

At the bar, Marcus is instantly at ease. Too at ease...

He slides onto a stool, and grins at the waitress like he’s got nowhere else to be.

“What can I get you?”

She asks with a smile and he shrugs.

“Surprise me.”

Marcus says and she laughs.

“Those are dangerous words.”

She says and I roll my eyes.

I order a drink and down it before ordering another. I down the second one as well, hoping it would help, but it doesn’t.

I order another and decide to nurse this one. I don't try to initiate conversation while Marcus continues to talk and flirt with the girl behind the bar.

“You’re going to burn a hole into that wall with all the glaring.”

He says after a while, without even looking at me.

“I’m not.”

I mutter, taking a sip of my whiskey.

“You are.”

He says, taking a swig of his beer as he turns to look at me.

“I’m irritated.”

I mutter and he snorts.

“Yeah, that much is clear.”

He mutters and I sigh.

"Just ignore me"

I mutter and he shrugs, before turning back to the waitress.

After my sixth drink I realize the alcohol is not helping and the closer the blood moon gets, the worse it becomes. My skin feels tight. My wolf presses harder against me, pacing in sharp circles.

We shouldn’t be here.

We don’t have a choice.

We always have a choice.

He snaps at me but before I can respond Marcus nudges my arm.

“Are you okay? You're aura is swirling.”

He mutters in concern.

I quickly down the rest of my drink before nodding my head

“I'm fine. I just need some air.”

I say, standing. He nods his head, about to stand but I shake my head, stopping him.

"No, stay. I just need a few seconds alone."

"Are you sure?"

He asks, a frown on his face and I nod my head.

"Yeah, stay. I'll be fine.”

I say. I don’t wait for an answer before I turn and quickly make my way out of the bar.

I push the door open and the air outside feel heavier than in the bar. My suddenly surges forward the second I step out and the door shuts behind me.

That way.

I frown.

Why?

Just move human.

He snarls. I hesitate for a second, then I sigh.

Fine.

I say, quickly heading the direction he want us to.

Hurry.

He snarls again and my steps quicken without me meaning to.

Since when do you give orders?

Since now.

I am about to argue but I stop short when it hits me.

A delicious scent slams into my senses all at once.

And my wolf begins to howl.