Five

Tomatin was definitely small but it had a bed and breakfast and that meant Eva had somewhere safe to lock herself away for a few days until her heat passed. 

So far she hadn't sensed any werewolves but that didn't mean they weren't around. Luckily humans didn't react to a werewolf in heat so it wasn't like Eva would have to avoid all contact, definitely a relief given that Eva didn't think she could stay locked up in a room for three days straight. 

Dumping her bag on the small lumpy bed, Eva decided a shower was in order and then something to eat. She had spotted a cafe down the road and the thought of hot food instead of packaged sandwiches or rabbits she caught when in wolf form was too inviting to miss out on. 

Clean and dressed in fresh clothing, Eva grabbed her room key and headed out to find the cafe.

15 minutes down the road she found the white cottage with a pavement sign by the gate announcing to the deserted road that they were open and offering free tea and coffee with any full breakfasts ordered. There was something quaint about the place as Eva stepped in, the scent of food and coffee meeting her as she looked around the near empty cafe. It was cosy, maybe a little dark thanks to the dark wood furniture but for Eva it meant she could keep a low profile more easily. 

Eva took a table away from the two couples already seated and eating. Eva felt her tummy grumble at the sight of the roast beef, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy one of the couple's was enjoying. 

Sighing tiredly, Eva sank into a seat and picked up the menu a waitress had left with a smile.

Running was probably the dumbest move Eva could have pulled but she didn't care. She had made it three weeks so far. 

She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep going but every time she stumbled across the scent of another wolf, Eva remembered why she was doing this. So far she was certain she has avoided any run-ins with werewolves, especially any that were from a certain Motorcycle club styled pack.

The food was good and her body hummed with satisfaction as the food warmed Eva's belly and the coffee she was sipping was a pleasant change from watery concoctions from vending machines. Eva could feel her tired muscles relaxing, looking forward to some sleep on something that wasn't the ground or a coach seat.

The sound of the bell above the door tinkling as it opened had Eva freezing. The cold damp air from outside pushed into the warmth of the cafe and sent a wave of werewolf pheromones Eva's way.

She had known the man stepping into the small cafe was a Hellhound before she even dared to glance at him. She had only been in town for a day and hadn't planned to stay long but this sighting had put a spanner in the works and now all Eva could think about was getting the hell out of the cafe quickly and without being noticed so she could get the hell away. So much locking herself in a hotel room to ride out her heat.

'At least it's not him'. she thought dismally as she watched from behind the menu in her hands as the man made his way to the other end of the cafe, taking a seat so his back was to Eva and thankfully the door. 

Her mind wandered for a moment as she thought of her mate. Daniel Wolfe, Alpha of the Hellhound pack. He was everything the rumors said about him and worse. It didn't matter that his pack were close allies of the pack Eva had grown up in though, the moment Eva realised Daniel was her mate, she ran, leaving everything behind. 

She had sworn long before Daniel turned up that she wouldn't give her heart to another ever again. Not that she had a heart to give. It had been smashed to pieces just one year before Daniel walked into her life. 

So what if Noah hadn't been her destined mate? Eva had still loved him. They had flirted and dated and eventually fallen in love. They had moved in together and two years into the relationship, Eva learned she was pregnant. 

But that was all gone now and now Eva was left to pick up the pieces. She simply had nothing to give that any person wanted in a significant other.

This was why she wouldn't accept Daniel Wolfe as her mate. That and he had a reputation of being a heartless asshole. 

Placing a couple of notes on the table, Eva pulled the hood of her coat over her head and tucked the locks of auburn hair into her hood to hide it. Sure it was just hair but she couldn't be too careful. Any wolf wanting to stay on the good side of the Hellhounds would jump at the chance to hand her in like some prize.

It was a small amount of good luck that it was raining outside so it wouldn't appear weird to see someone walking around with their hood up. Head down, it took all of Eva's willpower not to bolt the moment she was out the door but instead walked as calmly as she could until she was out of sight of the cafe before running. 

The small bed and breakfast she had checked into was just a fifteen minute walk from the cafe. Eva reckoned she could make it in five if she ran and be packed on the road again within an hour if she was smart. Hopefully the biker was completely oblivious to her being in town and better yet, probably not there to look for her. 

Bursting through the door, the young brunette ignored the curious glances of some of the other guests as she took the stairs two at a time and fumbled with the key to her room. By now her heart was hammering and not just because she had ran all the way. Fear had her so rattled that it took a moment to acknowledge the tall tattooed man sitting on the small couch in the room, steel grey eyes trained right on her as she burst in. 

"Hey kiddo, long time no see." 

Eva's heart dropped, her hazel eyes widening in shock as she stared at Daniel's beta, Kade. 

As he stood, Eva spun to leave the room, practically running straight into the one person that Eva hoped never to see again. 

Dark blue eyes bore into Eva as the Alpha glared down at her, his hands resting on the frame of the door to trap Eva in. Even with the sense of dread and panic rushing over Eva she still felt the pull of the mating bond, her wolf crying out for her mate. The bond threatened to wrap around her and pull her under its waves but Eva resisted like she always did.

Instinctively Eva took a step back, trembling hands coming up as if to protect herself. She was a fighter but right now she felt like she wouldn't know how to throw a punch if she tried.

Pushing away from the door frame, Daniel stepped into the room slowly, almost as if he was a predator stalking his prey. His eyes never left the woman in front of him, the woman who had run away from him. 

 "Hello, love." His smooth deep voice broke the silence once the door was shut leaving Eva with no escape. "Did you miss me?"

Eva opened her mouth but no sound came out, her throat betraying her. Closing her mouth again, she swallowed hard, frozen to the spot as Daniel approached her, only stopping when there was barely an inch between them. His eyes never left her, anger and possessiveness roiling in his blue orbs like the North sea in a storm. The silence was thick with emotion as Daniel's anger radiated from him and Eva's dread pulsed through her. She felt herself shrinking under his gaze, her pulse jumping in her throat nearly knocking the air out of her. 

Suddenly Daniel's eyes snapped to Kade. "Grab her bag. I want to be back at the packhouse before nightfall." 

Eva hissed when Daniel's hand grabbed her by her upper right arm roughly and pulled her towards the door. 

"No!" Eva gasped and tried to struggle free. 

A growl filled the room. Eva yelped when she suddenly found her back slammed into a wall and Daniel towering over her, his teeth bared as his eyes flashed amber. 

"You are coming with me. If you try to run again I will make you regret it." Daniel bit out in a voice so calm and cold Eva swore she felt every syllable slicing into her like a knife. 

Again she found herself speechless, unable to react as she was pulled from the wall and practically dragged from the bed and breakfast to a truck waiting in the small drive. The man from the cafe was waiting for them, an amused smirk on his face as he saw the murderous look on his Alpha's face as he pulled the Auburn haired girl along behind him like a naughty child. 

"Get in." Daniel bit out once one of the back doors to the truck was open. 

Eva hesitated but not out of fear. She knew the moment she got into the truck, Daniel had won. Her stubborn streak bloomed then, her teeth clenching together as she felt her obstinance glue her feet to the ground like they were in concrete blocks. She didn't like that she was being told what to do. She didn't like that Daniel thought he had won and that she would just obey him.

But, she knew she was shit out of luck in that moment and she had lost this battle. 

Swallowing her pride like a bitter pill, she climbed into the truck, pretending not to notice the violent slam of the door when Daniel shoved it closed behind her. She could practically taste the rage radiating from him as he climbed into the driver's seat, his beta taking the front passenger seat leaving Eva alone in the back to wallow in her defeat. 

By now the rain was coming down in heavy sheets, pushed along by a squally wind. The droplets hit the windows like tiny needles; hard, cold and biting. It did nothing for the silence in the cab of the truck though. That was still thick with unspoken emotions and thoughts. 

Eva had no intentions of breaking the silence and she sure as hell wasn't going to apologise to Daniel. Instead she thought about her parents and friends and how she was going to face them. She could only hope they would understand. It wasn't that she had wanted to hurt them or make them worry, she just couldn't face being bonded to another, especially an alpha. 

At some point Eva must have fallen asleep because she was jolted back to reality by the slamming of one of the car doors. 

Looking around, Eva could make out her home despite it being dark. Neither Daniel nor Kade were in the car. A moment later the passenger door opened and Daniel glared down at Eva, the wind tussling his hair. His gaze was dark and his jaw set making him look like an angry god… a very angry sexy god. 

"Get out." He ordered. 

Eva didn't need telling twice. She grabbed her backpack and scrambled out of the truck, huffing when Daniel slammed the door again before grabbing her arm and pulling towards her parents who were waiting at the door of the cottage. 

"My baby," Nora sighed as she pulled Eva into a tight hug. "I was so worried." 

"Sorry." Eva whispered as her breath hitched, trying not to cry. 

The slam of a car door (again) had Eva looking behind her in time to see Daniel backing the truck away and disappearing towards the pack house. Eva briefly wondered how the windows in the truck hadn't shattered by now with the way Daniel was slamming those doors. Then again, at least he was taking his temper out on the truck and not on Eva but she suspected it wouldn't be long before she was in the line of fire. She just hoped she was ready for it. 

"I know I just got back but would it be okay if I went to see Maria and Duncan?" Eva asked. 

"Of course." Nora smiled sadly. "But tomorrow we need to talk." 

"I know…" Eva nodded. 

With that, Eva hugged her parents and promised to be back in the morning. 

Maria and Duncan only lived a few minutes away and hopefully the majority of the pack were still at the pack house or in their homes so she could slip through the darkness unnoticed.

The bubbly blonde was waiting for Eva at the door, leaning against the frame and drowning in a giant knitted jumper. 

"Come here." Maria's soft voice greeted Eva, pulling her into a hug. "Duncan's gone to help with patrol so it's just us two." 

"Is it bad that I'd rather be on patrol too?" Eva asked as they stepped into the warmth of Maria's cottage. 

"Well I did think about asking Duncan to take you but your mum is going to kill me for hiding you away. Don't need to give her more ammo."

"Well that makes two of us she is going to kill." Eva sighed heavily and collapsed onto the old couch, staring up at the ceiling. 

"What happened?" Maria asked as she settled more gracefully next to Eva, curling her legs under herself. 

"It was exactly how you described it." Eva murmured, remembering when Maria gushed about the mate bond forming between her and Duncan. "His scent, my heart racing, that feeling like something woke up inside of me when he looked at me. For a moment I felt so whole and then I felt so angry and guilty. Ouma said I was a gift from the goddess for this guy I had never met and it made me feel like my love for Noah was meaningless, that him dying was convenient. I felt like none of it mattered to anyone but me." 

"That's not the case at all. Everyone misses Noah. No one has forgotten him." Maria smiled sadly.

Silence settled between the two women, both of them thinking of the man who was no longer there to share memories with. They had grown up together, gone through all the trials of being a child and then a teenager together. They trained together and hunted together but now there were just memories. Noah was gone and while it had been a year, the pain was still fresh and raw. The sudden arrival of Daniel Wolfe did not help matters especially when Eva just wanted to be left alone. Now she not only had grief to battle with but guilt and something much more complicated...desire.

Eva groaned and closed her eyes. "He's a fucking Hellhound!" 

"Well it could be worse. He could be old." Maria shrugged trying to lighten the mood.

Eva groaned again and threw a cushion at Maria. "Not helping!"