Chapter 43
“This is the last town for a while. I’m going to go to the grocery store and pick up some food for the road. I’d recommend at least getting out and walking around, stretching your legs.” Frode told us as he pulled into a shopping plaza.
We all unbuckled and climbed out of the SUV. The plaza was busy, the sounds of people talking, and vehicles being used filled the air. It was almost overwhelming after spending so much time in the Asketill Territory, where it was much quieter.
I focused for a moment trying to remember what day of the week it was. Saturday, today was Saturday, and it was still early in the morning. I imagine this was one of the busier times of the week for the small town.
Erik grabbed my hand and squeezed. The action pulled my gaze to his. He gave me a small smile and pulled me towards the sidewalk. I’d never been to this town before, but Erik seemed to know where he was going so, I followed him.
We weaved in and out of the people, until we reached a small café. Erik smiled and pulled the door open allowing me to walk inside before following. We walked to the counter with his hand on the small of my back.
“Get what you want. I guarantee Frode is getting healthy, nutritious filled foods, so I’d recommend a pastry or something sweet.” He murmured, his warm breath tickling my ear.
I glanced at the menu, smiling when I saw cheese danishes. I pointed them out to Erik, who grinned and ordered a dozen of them along with coffees for everyone. Voices talking to my left pulled my attention.
A bookstore.
“Want to go check it out?” Erik whispered in my ear, noticing my excitement.
I nodded.
We walked over while the barista fixed our order. Reading had always been a favorite past time for me, and lately I didn’t get nearly enough time to do it. I took a breath and closed my eyes, enjoying the smell of new books and paper.
Opening my eyes, I found my attention was drawn to a circular table in the middle of the store. My favorite author had a new release, and it filled the table. I thumbed through the pages, watching the words blur as the pages flew by. I’d been waiting for this book for almost a year. It was the final in the series. I’d owned all the others, but they were left in my apartment.
The barista called our number and I smiled at Erik before walking over to the counter to collect our order. I balanced the coffees in a holder on the flimsy box of pastries and glanced around for Erik. I thought he’d been right behind me. Moving to set the precariously balanced tray of coffees and pastries down, I bumped into someone.
“Careful, kitten.” Erik grunted as his arms caught me and the food. “Let me take the drinks for you.”
“Where were you? I thought you were right behind me.” I frowned at him as we walked back.
His large hand was balancing the drink holder with ease.
“I was right behind you.” He smiled at me as we drew near the SUV.
“I didn’t see you.” I frowned.
He shrugged and opened the door taking the box of pastries so I could climb in. Rune and Sten were still in the car, looking like they didn’t leave.
“Didn’t want to stretch your legs?” I poked Sten in the side.
He glared at me briefly before smiling.
“We stretched, but we’re used to long drives.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me to his side.
“Do I smell food?” Rune asked, perking up from the front seat.
“Yep. Bought some for all of us. Figured Frode was going to get only the healthiest foods he could find, and I wanted something sweet and flaky.” Erik growled as he pulled a pastry from the box.
I smiled as he handed it to me, and I took a bite. The flakey pastry fell apart in my mouth and the mixture of cheese, lemon, sugar, and vanilla met my tongue. I closed my eyes and groaned at the burst of sweetness with the hint of tart from the lemon. I loved cheese pastries. A chuckle from Erik made my face heat, as I realized the sound I’d just made.
“Sorry.” I mumbled and finished eating my pastry.
“Don’t apologize for the delicious sounds you make, princess.” Sten whispered in my ear.
Something heavy was placed in my lap and I looked down to see what it was. The colorful cover of the book I’d been looking at in the store was sitting there. My eyes flew up to stare at Erik.
“You got this for me?” I asked.
“Yep.” He shrugged.
I squealed and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“If I’d known you would be this excited, I’d bought more.” He chuckled.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!” I said, settling back into my seat and opening the book to the first page.
We sat in silence as I read, and my mates relaxed and waited for Frode. Once he returned with a few bags of groceries and loaded them in the back we hit the road again. We’d drove a few hours when I started to feel the familiar pull to follow to find the vision.
“Turn left, Frode.” I closed my book after memorizing the page number I was on.
“We’re close to the Grime settlement.” Frode muttered under his breath as he turned on the next road to our left.
I gave him directions to the area and found that we wouldn’t be able to make it there with the car. We all got out and started walking to the clearing. It wasn’t long before the scent of wolves started creep into our noses. Then the sounds of fighting.
Frode held up his hand and signaled us to stop. The fighting stopped and power rippled through the air. Erik looked confused and glanced at Frode who signaled to proceed forward.
We walked in silence, and it didn’t take long before the clearing I’d seen in my vision was in front of us. But there were many more wolves than had originally been in my vision. The group turned to face us as we approached, one of them stepping forward to meet Frode as we broke through the trees.
“You’re a long way from home.” Their leader spat.
“And you’re as blunt as the last time we saw each other.” Frode crossed his arms over his body.
Looking around I noticed no one was posed to attack, but no one was relaxed either. I took a step back, putting my back against Sten’s front. His hand rubbed up and down my back in a soothing manner, which I leaned into. There was no sense of harm or danger in the clearing, but everyone was on edge.
“It’s been a long time Frode.” Their leader smiled and held out his hand.
“Nice to see you, Alek.” Frode grasped his hand.
Most of the tension that had been in the clearing faded away as the two shook hands. But a small amount still lingered, leaving me feeling unsettled.
“What draws your pack out this way?” Alek crossed his arms.
“Our mate has a gift, visions. She saw one here and we hoped to help.” Frode smiled and turned to face me with his arm outstretched.
I returned the smile and took his hand, allowing him to pull me to him. He wrapped an arm around me in a protective manner and looked back to Alek.
“Astrid, meet Aleksander Grime. Aleksander, our mate, Astrid.” Frode proudly introduced us to each other.
“Astrid?” Alek’s eyes moved slowly over me.
A hint of recognition flared behind them, but he quickly covered it. I couldn’t read any of his other feelings, but he felt safe and somehow familiar. Ignoring the confusing feelings that his recognition had aroused, I focused back to the conversation at hand.
“A pleasure to meet the one who captured the hearts of these four. Please, call me Alek. Let’s go back to our home and we can discuss this vision you had and how you can help.” Alek smiled and turned.
“Rune, go grab the SUV, we’ll walk with Alek.” Frode tossed Rune the keys who nodded and jogged back to where we’d parked.
We followed Alek and the other wolves back through the woods in the opposite direction we’d approached from. Curiosity and unease flared in my stomach, but Frode’s reassuring touch and familiarity with these wolves and their leader helped settle it some.
A realization came bursting through my mind as we walked-we’d made it before the vision happened. Hope and excitement battled the lingering unease as I realized that we had a chance of stopping the vision or altering its course. We could succeed this time.