Forced To Love You

Sounds Like Hell To Me

The next town over was bigger than Twisp, by far. There were several fast-food restaurants along one strip. There wasn't anything fancy but it was better than nothing. I was dying for something that reminded me of home since I couldn't be there.

Christian didn't bother parking and walking in and it wasn't until he opened his window to order our food that I understood why he didn't. It was freezing outside, enough that I felt it in my bones under my sweater and the jacket I was wearing. I was deeply unprepared for the cold weather.

I gave Christian my order and promptly ignored him when he made a face at my choice of chicken nuggets. I couldn't help that I liked what I liked.

He ordered two burger meals with fries and drinks for both orders and pulled his wallet from his jacket.

"I'd pay but I don't have any money." I offered. As much as he said it was fine, I didn't like not having any money to support myself. I wasn't helpless. I didn't need a man to take care of me.

He shook his head as he pulled up to the window and handed over his card. "I told you, it's fine."

I rolled my eyes. He was never going to listen to me.

He took two of the drinks from the young girl at the window and set them in the cup holders that sat between us on the middle console. I almost hated that there was a barrier between us but I knew it was probably best that there was. My possibly-slightly drunk self might have tried something and it was clear what his feelings were.

He grabbed the bag of food and handed it over my way. I barely set it down in my lap before I reached inside and took a small handful of fries out and shoved them in my face, glad he wasn't looking to watch me do it.

I hadn't eaten much the entire day and it was starting to wear on me. I was sure it wouldn't take me long to eat my food.

Christian laughed as he pulled out of the drive-thru and got back on the road. "Hungry?"

"I could say the same to you."

"A man's gotta eat."

"Two full meals? At this hour?"

He rolled his eyes. "The more I shift, the hungrier I get. I burn a lot of calories when I go for my runs."

"I guess that makes sense." It didn't really make much sense to me but he'd been a werewolf far longer than I had been. He knew the ins and outs more than I did.

I stared out the window as he took a dirt road that seemed to wind up a mountain. I had no idea where he was taking us. He knew Washington like the back of his hand.

The lights from the town slowly faded away as we climbed the mountain. We reached a clearing near a cliff and Christian stopped the truck.

He opened the door and I backed up against mine. "Christian, are you insane? It's freezing. Get in here and shut the door."

He nodded his head in the direction of the bed of the truck before he shut the door.

My eyes widened and I turned toward my door as he approached. I grabbed the inside handle as he tried opening the door. "No. I'm not going out there."

He rolled his eyes and overpowered me with one yank. He opened the door and stood in the space. "I brought a blanket. And besides, you're a werewolf. You shouldn't be very cold to begin with."

I gave him a shove in the chest. He barely moved at my touch. "I'm not like you, Christian. I'm cold. I don't know how to not be cold."

He took the bag of food from me. "Once you shift for the first time the effects will take over. You'll be stronger, less prone to the elements, and your senses will improve."