Rejected by One Loved by the Other

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Just as she was finishing up Charley stirs in the back. "Good morning, little one."

"Good morning, Charley. I have gotten you some breakfast and coffee. I didn't know what you liked so I got you a little of everything they had."

"Well, that was nice of you, thanks."

"You're welcome. My way of saying thank you." Melody is all happy and eager to get started on her new life, not knowing where it is going to take her. She keeps looking back over her shoulder now and then. We should be far enough away they shouldn't find me.

"That was a good start for my day, all my favorites." Charley says. "Time we get back on the road." The further Melody gets from California and the Boulder Creek community the happier she is. "You like music?"

"I adore music, any kind of music."

"Would you mind if I put some country music on? Your choice, it is either country or Jazz."

"Oh, either one would be nice." The ride goes back to being quiet just the sound of the radio in the air around them.

"Little one, we have left California and are now in New Mexico." Charley's voice booms out of nowhere. He notices Melody's face, the look of relief that comes across her features and her eyes seem to relax. "We have about five more hours before we get to Socorro. That's where my next delivery is." Then Charley hands her a bottle of spray.

"What is this for?" Melody looks at it cautiously. What he says next almost knocks her out.

"It's spray to kill your wolf smell. We might have to stop at some of the gas stations on other packs land. They don't always like us on their land. This is just a precaution."

"You knew, I mean know what I am?"

"You don't have a strong smell, but it is still there."

"Why are you helping me?" The words come out in a whisper. Now she is afraid he will send her back.

"You looked so scared and so beat up. How couldn't I help you? I'd like to hear your story sometime. When you feel like talking about it."

Looking at her hands in her lap, she glances up at him. "Are you going to let them know where I am if I tell you?"

"Not unless you tell me you want them to know."

"Even if you think it's a bad idea that I left and that I should go back?" Melody is now twisting her fingers together, trying to stay calm.

"Look, you can do what you want. I have no right to make your decision for you. I might try to give you some advice, but the choice is yours."

"Ok, I will tell you, not right now when we get a little further away."

Charley gets a smirk on his face, "Why don't I tell you a little about me?"

"I'd like that, you must have some great stories being on the road and all."

"Where to start?" He laughs, "I was born," both of them giggle. "I am the second born to the Alpha of our pack. I mean the old Alpha. My brother is the Alpha now. He is a good Alpha, and we get along. Well, he hates that I am a trucker."

"Why you seem so happy?"

"He thinks that I should stay with the pack and help lead. He wanted me to be the beta and I told him no way. I like to travel and see the country. The pack was feeling overwhelming and crowded when I started driving."

"It seems like a great life to me, no one bossing you around and you're free. I like the idea of being free."

"I wasn't always a driver; you see my mate died having my baby girl and the baby didn't make it either. Staying there without them was too hard so I started driving and have been driving for almost eighteen years now."

"I'm sorry about your wife and child. It must have been hard to keep going without your mate."

"It was a long time ago; I still miss them but I have gotten over the hard part. My brother asked me to come home, I think I can do it now, it has been long enough. This is my last run, I am taking a long trip all around the outside of the country, taking my time enjoying the view."

"That sounds so nice. I have never been anywhere before; all I know is the pack and the basement."

"Basement?" Charley asks as if he heard her wrong.

Realizing what she said and the mistake she nodded, "Yeah. They said I was lucky to have that, I had to stay in the storage area. My old pack didn't like me much."

"I'm sorry to hear that, you seem to be a good kid. Packs can be hard on their own sometimes. It shouldn't be that way, but it is and it makes no sense we are all werewolves. You can trust me, you know? I won't hurt you, if I can help I will."

"I don't know why, but I think I can trust you. I felt that when I saw you at the truck stop. I just knew you were safe to ride with."

"We are almost at our next stop. How about let's unload, get a real meal at a nice place, and a room for the night? We will talk then. Sound good to you?"

"That sounds good to me. Charley, I know I said this before, but thanks for taking me along." He gives her a warm smile.

"This is Socorro, New Mexico, we have to drop off a load of wood." The lumber yard was hectic. It takes almost three hours to get unloaded.

"Watch me, I'll show you how to undo the straps and take off the tarps." Melody's, on the shorter side, that did not help her at all, she can't reach a thing without climbing.

"This is harder than I thought. She is making faces as she pulls the end of the strap to loosen it."

"Be careful." Melody is climbing on the back of the truck, she miss steps and lands on her butt with a thud. "I told you to be careful." Melody makes the silliest face, Charley is laughing uncontrollably, he laughed so hard he ended up rolling on the ground.

"It is not nice to laugh at people." She rubbed her butt as she got up. Determined, she started to climb again and made it on the second try. The two of them seemed to get along with each other with familiarity, like they had known each other forever.

Charley hollers over the noise, "Let's get a room and a shower. Then we can go get some dinner."

They go into the truck, get their stuff and walk to the motel that was just down the road. Charley pays for the two rooms that are side by side. As Melody finishes getting dressed there is a knock on the door. "Little one, you ready?"

"One minute, I'm coming." When she opens the door and walks out, she sees a bright and happy Charley. "Why do you call me little one?"

"I am six foot four, you are what five foot nothing. You are little to be honest."

"I am five foot three, I can't help that you are a giant." She then pouts. "We can't all be that lucky."

Laughing he says, "Let's eat. What do you want to eat?"

"Anything you want, I'm not fussy."

"Italian it is. I love pasta anyway I can get it. Oh, those damn meatballs and the sausage are so good." He looks like he is drooling. "Let's get moving I am so hungry and just mentioning them has made me hungrier."

Melody follows him to a little quiet restaurant. It has red and white checkerboard tablecloths and wine bottles with candles in them with wax melted down the sides. The lights are low, and the music reminds you of Italy.

The waiter comes over with the menus then asks, "What can I get you to drink?" He sounds like he is from a western area, the place lost it's whole Italian charm.

Charley says, "I'll have a large coffee."

"Pepsi please." Charley ordered two servings of spaghetti with double meatballs and sausage. Melody had ziti with a clam sauce.