Howling Heart

Chapter 10 - Brewing Trouble

The ride back down into town was relaxing. We seemed to glide down the hills while the fresh air surrounded us. The buildings grew as we came closer, and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around Mae. If this moment was my last, I would have died happy.

She slammed on the breaks so hard that we skidded on the pavement. We weren't even going that fast. I pulled myself away from her back to see what happened.

In front of us, at the intersection was a large red beat-up pickup truck. Rust was eating away at the bottom. It rumbled as it sat there. The two guys that were in the cab looked at us on the bike. I mean, it was a stunning bike, but it wasn't that kind of look.

They leered at us sideways while they blocked the entire intersection. That's why Mae stopped. I could hear her heart pounding as my own shook my ribcage. The wolf in me growled.

Finally, a car honked behind them, urging them to clear the way, and the truck rumbled on. Both of us were silent until we reached the garage again.

"Are you okay?" I asked Mae as we got off the motorcycle.

She nodded. "I think so. Do you think we are safe?" Normally, when she wasn't in her wolf form, she was confident. In this moment, her human seemed to melt away, and all I could see was the omega in her eyes. She was scared from the encounter.

I was too a little bit. Something about their gaze. "Yeah, I think we are fine. Lucky for us, we were already back in town when they caught us. They might speculate something odd with two girls on a bike," I blushed as I said it. "But I don't think they made us as pack members."

Mae seemed to snap out of her weakness. "Well, they can't be making you as a pack member at all. If they really are hunters, I'd hate to see what they would do to you as the alpha's daughter."

Her concern reached the bottom of my cold heart. It was like a hug but better, and I shook the feeling of being scared. I had to protect her, not the other way around. "I'll be sure to mention it to Father later. Either way, at least we were careful."

"Yeah." I mulled over the thought of being careful.

Mae interrupted my thoughts, "Worse case is, maybe they'll just think we were lesbians?" She laughed

I couldn't help but fake a laugh at her comment. It made my stomach churn. I still didn't know what anyone would think of me once they found out I was a lesbian. That's really why I never said anything. Aside from being the alpha's daughter and all. It wasn't something I was ready to face just yet.

Mae put the bike away and pulled down the garage door before locking it with a padlock. She dusted off her hands on a rag and walked over to where I was still sitting. The weather was nice and I really had nothing more to do today.

"I'm dying for some coffee. Do you want to go with me? It's just a short walk up to Granny's, and you can leave your car here." Mae watched my face as she waited for an answer. Her eyes were brilliant in the setting light, and I felt lost.

Mae cocked an eyebrow, and I figured that I should answer. "Actually, yeah, coffee sounds great." I turned on my heel and found my pace next to Mae. Her boots seemed to strike the pavement in rhythm with my heart. I wanted to say more to her, I wanted to ask her about dating, who she liked, and deep down, I craved to know everything about her. I let my mind wander back to how she felt with my arms around her during our ride.

The string of bells on the diner's front door pulled me from my thoughts. That was a quick walk. I thought to myself as I stepped in.

"Well, fancy seeing you lovely ladies here."

My heart skipped a beat, and my brain, for whatever reason, lept to the men in the pickup. Were they here? Did they follow us? What if they were watching? But as a strong hand fell upon my shoulder, I knew exactly who had spoken.

"Damn it, Ronan, you almost gave me a heart attack." I playfully squeezed him a tad too tight as I hugged him. "Ass."

"Mind if I join, or is this a private event?" He raised an eyebrow playfully at me as he dug his elbow into my side.

Before I answered, I glanced over at Mae, I could see a soft blush on her face. Could it be that I wasn't crazy, that she did have some deep feelings for me? I got ahead of myself, and she answered Ronan.

"Of course, you may join us."

And my heart sunk with my dreams.

It's not that I didn't want him to be there, I just craved more time with Mae. But I was also being spoiled, and he should also know what happened with the truck. We all sat down in the normal booth. Sometimes, I would crack the joke that it must be reserved for us at all times.

"Man, I gotta tell you something. Just don't tell my dad before I do, deal?" I hunkered down on the table, putting myself closer to Ronan.

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow and scooted in. "Do tell."

His voice was deep and smooth like it always was, but I almost wanted to see the shock on his face when I told him the story.

"So be sure while you're out to keep an eye out for that truck. I'm not saying that they will cause trouble, but be cautious."

He sat there for a moment, still halfway across the table, his mouth slightly open, and his brow was furrowed. He mindlessly moved when our food arrived, but he never took the worry off his face.

Mae sat next to me, silent as ever. It seemed that when she was around other wolves, she reverted to her omega mindset. I didn't like it. My heart ached for the carefree person who walked up a mountain with me.

The room seemed to freeze as the door to the diner closed. The bells on the handle jingled away, echoing off the booths. "Ah, Ava, there you are." My father's voice boomed. I swiveled in my seat to look at him. "When you are done eating, could you please meet me at home?"

It was still the voice of the alpha, but there was a slight shake deep in his words. I didn't know what was going on, but something had disturbed his unnaturally calm demeanor.

"Of course, father. We are almost done, and I needed to speak with you as well. I didn't want to trouble you at work." I smiled and hid my own fear.

His strength always uplifted those around him. "I look forward to our chat then, my daughter." He kissed my head and, without another word, took his order and left Granny's.

This isn't going to be good...