The ill fated lovers (the Alpha king and his Queen luna)

XI

"So tell me once again, why are we going there?" Austin asked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he rifled through his bag, searching for something important.

"I'm in the mood to make some bad life choices," I replied, my tone casual yet laced with an undercurrent of defiance.

Austin's eyes flicked up from his search, catching my tone with a hint of worry. "Don't sound so excited about it. Your tone is giving me chills," he said, pulling out a worn book and tucking it into his bag with a resigned sigh.

For a moment, the car was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional rustle of Austin shifting his belongings.

"You know, you're the least subtle person I know. Your 'I have a secret' vibe is literally visible from the moon," Austin quipped, breaking the silence and shaking his head in disbelief.

I couldn't help but smirk at his observation. "Ever thought maybe I just wanted to make it visible?" I retorted, my eyes still fixed on the road ahead. I had been driving for seven grueling hours, my focus narrowing as I steered us closer to our destination.

"Are you decent?" I asked, glancing over at Austin with a raised eyebrow.

"Not morally," he shot back with a smirk, "but I am wearing pants, if that's what you were asking!" His grin widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I raised an eyebrow at his irreverent answer. "I meant, do you have ID?" I clarified, my tone a touch more serious as I scanned his face for any signs of preparation.

He nodded, the playful smirk fading as he pulled out his identification, holding it up for my inspection. "Good. Now behave," I said firmly, exiting the car with a sense of determination.

We finally arrived, the familiar small town coming into view as I pulled the car to a stop. The milestone nearby read, "Welcome to Windsor. Silvermoon Pack is 6 km away from here."

"It's just been three months. Obviously, it will be the same," my wolf, Daeliah, commented, her voice a steady presence in my mind.

I smiled at her comment, her calm reassurance a small comfort amidst the growing tension. As we gathered our bags and made our way towards the guesthouse, memories of my last visit flashed through my mind. I had been covered in blood, exhausted from a desperate flight. The kindness of the couple who ran the guesthouse had been a beacon of hope in a dark time.

Opening the gate, I was greeted by a familiar voice. "Olla!"

"Max, you are getting older day by day," I said, a genuine smile stretching across my face as I embraced him. He had aged gracefully, his once youthful features now marked by time, but his warmth and kindness remained unchanged.

"Of course. It's because I'm a human, you little rascal. Where were you? You left without a word?" Max asked, his voice filled with a mix of concern and teasing.

Austin stood by, watching the exchange with a mix of surprise and curiosity. The fact that I had connections outside of him seemed to baffle him.

"I'm sorry I left that day," I said, my voice softening with regret. "Happy 69th birthday, old man.why are you alone here ?" I handed him the cake we had brought, the rich chocolate aroma mingling with the air.

"How did you know? ... Uhm, you know... she and her garden. She must be in the garden gardening. You wanna come? I can take you there!" Max offered, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"That's a secret. I'm here for a few days. We'll meet eventually. For now, please give us a two-bedroom suite," I requested, my tone firm yet friendly.

Austin cleared his throat, drawing Max's attention. "Oh, yeah. Max, this is Austin. He's a friendly vampire. You can ignore him," I added with a playful grin.