Stronger

“I have to pee,” I stated. I was firm with my voice so there was no room for question.

“Fine,” Grayson nodded to Brian in the front seat.

We pulled over to some random truck stop about five miles later and I’m finally able to pee and stretch my legs.

Grayson apparently never drank or ate or peed like a normal wolf but I did. I know he’s desperate to get back to his land so the scent will be on me. The scent of my lands was fading from me quickly and anyb*dy would see me as a rogue and could try and take me. Unmarked and unscented I was vulnerable and his worry was sweet. Still his pace was relentless.

I walked out of the car and started heading for the building to relive myself.

“Wait,” Grayson grabbed me by hand this time.

“What now!” I huffed I was about to burst.

He gave me a stern look I swore only parents could give. “Ella is going with you since Brian can’t, you have to wait for her,”

“I think I’ll be alright going to the bathroom, Grayson. I know I’m vulnerable but let me pee!” I begged. I could not wait for Matt and Ella.

“Annette please,”

“Grayson I would wait if I could but I have to go I’m not gonna be able to hold it,”

“Fine,” he let go.

And that was when I realized how wonderful it was to hold his hand. He could walk to the restroom if he was so worried. He could protect me.

“Let’s go,” he handed his phone to Brian.

I gladly gave him a bright beaming face. He was coming. I mean yes he was coming to the bathroom. But he was coming himself. He wasn’t pushing me onto someone else.

We started walking and his hand found my back again. I stepped more into his arm feeling his warmth spread through my b*dy.

My back was tingling by the time I got out and went to get something from the vending machine. I grabbed a bunch of snacks for everyone humming to myself ecstatic at his attention.

I walked back out and he put his hand back where it belonged.

“You’re hungry,” he commented.

“I got this for everyone,” I laughed.

“Thank you,” he seemed genuinely surprised I had done that.

*Did he question me that much? Was he so worried about me that the small act of getting snacks shocked him? Why didn’t he trust the bond we’ve had since creation as I did? *

We got to the car and I handed two bags of chips and some chocolate bars to Ella.

“Thanks, hon,” she smiled and matt grabbed the Doritos and Twix instantly getting a whine from his counterpart.

“Brian,” I offered a choice to him and he took only one granola bar.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

The entire time Grayson kept his hand on me. I savored this tiny bit of progress. We turned to get in the car and he opened the door for me. Then he took his hand away and walked off.

The car ride went on in silence. We passed through Minnesota. I was shocked at the number of lakes we saw. This was the land of what was like 1,000 lakes or something.

“Where are we stopping tonight?”

“North Dakota,”

The silence continued but I suffered through it reading my book. At least I could read right now. The Hawthorne legacy had just come out and I’ve been desperate for it so I was accepting silence for now.

When I looked up again it was dark out.

“Were stopping soon,”

“Mmkay,” and I went back down to finish my story.

This time however I noticed his eyes on me. I barely got through my book because he just kept staring. I did everything I could to make it seem like I hadn’t noticed. I tried to breathe evenly and focus on my story and seem not bothered.

How are you supposed to not be bothered when your soulmate says nothing to you but stares at you for an hour straight while you’re trying to read!

Finally, I finished my book and I looked up to see we were in another city. I put my book into my bag and sighed looking out the window again. This one was much quieter and smaller.

“Are we eating out tonight?”

“No room service there isn’t a restaurant close enough to this hotel,” Brian answered me.

I humpfed and pouted to myself that Grayson wasn’t the one to answer.

We pulled in and went up to another suite that was also magnificent. It was brown and beige and antique furniture and four–poster beds, a lot more old glamour than the last place.

My bed was a four–poster bed with a knit beige blanket at the bottom of a fluffy white bedspread and a mountain of crisp white pillows.

I jumped and flopped down into it. Then sat up immediately to growl at the couch in our room’s den. No doubt the sleeping place of my mate.

Sleep in the bed with me.

I was hopeless to be tangled in him and hold him near, resting my head on his chest. Feeling his breathing and listening to his heartbeat. Gathering his scent in every breath.

We ordered room service and Ella and I selected a movie to put on.

Okay, I selected the movie but these guys had never seen the terminator. With Grayson’s demeanor, that was a major shock. He practically was Schwarzenegger.

I gladly watched the movie as I ate into my burger that was amazing. The best part of ordering a burger though. It always came with pickles on the side and I ask for extra every time.

I smiled to myself as I ate my food and leaned into the couch, my eyes fluttered for a second I felt sleep tugging at me.. but this was a good movie. I resisted as best I could.

I woke up in bed. The light streaming and blinding in the white room.

*How did I get in bed? *

I got out of bed slowly, still a little groggy. Part of me wanted to crawl back in knowing I had to stay in the silent car all day.

I stretched my limbs and grabbed my bag heading for the bathroom.

1 preferred a scalding shower. I rejoiced as the water splashed around. This was one of the greatest feelings.

I washed my hair and raised got out and covered myself in a large and oh so fluffy towel.

*Can we steal these? I have never felt a towel this soft! *

I brushed my hair and teeth and put my hair up in a bun. I went to grab my clothes and decide what to wear for the day but the bathroom door clicked.

I

spun

around my arms above my chest even though the towel was still there. I hoped it was Ella but at the same time I really really hoped it wasn’t.

He walked in sleep clouding his eyes. He stopped and blinked at me when he realized I was there.

I saw his jaw set and a fire light behind his eyes. His breath picked up pace and his fists clenched.

I stepped once closer knowing it could scare him off but praying he would lose control and come closer.

We stood there voiceless but screaming. I needed him to grab me. I was hungry for this.

*Come on,

come on.

**

He was a statue rampaging around me with his motionlessness. Dragging my heart in every direction making me miserable he wasn’t touching me.

“Gray-”

My voice broke the camel’s back and he swept me into his arms. Tracing his fingers up my arms and overly shoulder blades and upper back. Lacing and turning in my hair. His rough hands enchanted my smooth surface.

Tantalizing grazes and tormenting touches aroused my skin into a frenzy of goosebumps and electricity. He grabbed the towel and backed me up to the counter, our foreheads pressing against one another.

His hands brutally left me, breaking my haze of bliss. He gripped the counter so much it creaked and his growl–like breaths kept me wanting the feeling he kept caged up.

With one large grunt, he pushed himself away from me and slammed the door shut causing me to flinch.