Raindrops pattered down three miles from town.
On he traveled, sheltering in a burrow through the worst of the rain. Once the rain calmed, he set out again. Soon he’d reach the highway he’d have to cross.
Wait a minute! What was that sound? Was it…?
Noah charged toward the highway.
Chapter Forty-One
Sladebegantofeelbetter about fifteen miles after leaving the pack. Physically, anyway. Heavy weights dragged on his heart. Each mile put him farther away from Noah.
Let Noah eventually get over Slade, find someone to settle down with, have the antique-filled house he wanted. Each image of a happy Noah lifted Slade’s spirits, just for them to crash down when he imagined Noah’s smile turned on someone else.
After all he’d been through, Noah deserved happiness.
Like Slade deserved his punishment. A life sentence, though? He’d not killed anyone. He’d merely been selfish.
“You son of a bitch,” he railed at the sky. “I’m sure you’re happy as hell with your twink, haven’t thought about me in years. Well, I’m sorry. Are you happy? I’m fucking sorry. I understand now.” Slade blinked back tears. He’d kill or die to keep Noah safe.
Not only must Slade leave Noah, but he’d also lost Dad and couldn’t return home to see Chuck. The courts moved Dalton to another prison. Maybe the time had come to go for a visit.
Or continue to wander, see where the next road took him.
Storm clouds gathered overhead. With luck, he’d reach his motel before the bottom dropped out. He studied his hand on the steering wheel. That ugly-as-fuck mark still lingered.
Checking in to the seen-better-days motel reminded him of weeks spent with Noah. Alone, he hauled a few personal belongings into his room. Nothing said he couldn’t stay in the area for a few days, right?
Not a moment too soon. The heavens opened.
So much for ordering food. Lying on the bed, Slade took out his phone, thumbing through his calendar, checking email. Finally, he accessed recent photos.
A beautiful gray wolf with blue eyes, the same image he’d painted for Noah. Noah. Slade’s heart squeezed. He’d loved. He’d lost.
The curse remained.
Did the curse even matter anymore? The one man he’d ever cared about now sat in a werewolf enclave. What would he do? Noah knew so little of the world, having been sheltered. Would others laugh because he didn’t know how to use a computer? Would living a solitary life now make Noah feel out of place in the presence of other wolves? No, the wolves said that their kind needed other wolves to survive.
Noah managed ten years, one-third of his life, on his own.
Until Slade came along. Slade had been alone too, before Noah. Surrounded by people, yet still alone. Oh, the irony!
What good was an unhappy life?
No harm in calling, but Noah didn’t have a phone. Didn’t know how to use one very well. Slade had meant to buy Noah a cellphone. A fat lot of good it’d do without cell service in the enclave.
Fuuuccckkk! Slade had the pack house number. Maybe he’d call.
No. This meeting needed to happen face-to-face. Noah’s face appeared in Slade’s mind, all bright blue eyes and brilliant smile.
Something moved in his jeans pocket. Slade reached inside and pulled out Noah’s pendant. Slade had held this when Noah shifted. The moon with a woman’s face meant something to Noah.
He’d slipped his only legacy from his parents into Slade’s pocket.
Slade sent a text to Chuck:Yes, it’s serious.
Chuck replied with a smiley face, all the encouragement Slade needed.
The moment the rain slowed to a fine mist, he removed his bike from the trailer. Even though the night would soon fall, he couldn’t wait another day, hell, another ten minutes, to see his lover.