CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER FIVE

We’d stopped for gas at least twice before reaching the outskirts of Crest Falls in the early morning hours. From what I’d gathered, Hunter wasn’t much of a talker. Whether it was due to paranoia or just a deeply ingrained habit, I couldn’t be sure.

“Fancy a cup of coffee, Maddison?” he asked, pulling into the parking lot of a small, almost deserted diner. Just as quickly, his expression shifted. His face paled as he mumbled, “Unless... pregnant women shouldn’t drink coffee. I don’t know jack about the do’s and don’ts of pregnancy.”

The panicked look on his face was enough to make me crack a small smile as I pulled off my helmet.

“I don’t mind a cup,” I replied, leading the way inside.

The place had a quiet, sleepy atmosphere, like it was caught in a time warp. A middle-aged couple worked behind the counter, chatting in low voices. There were only two other customers: a young woman, probably in her early twenties, with her nose buried in a stack of textbooks, and a scruffy man who looked like he hadn’t seen a barber—or a shower—in weeks. They all turned to look at us, except the woman with the books, too absorbed in her reading. Their eyes lingered a little too long, curiosity flickering in their expressions.

The woman behind the counter narrowed her eyes, squinting as if trying to place Hunter. Then, recognition dawned on her face. “What kind of trouble did you get into this time, kiddo?” she asked, her tone more amused than concerned, but her gaze shifted to me—pregnant, disheveled, and obviously on the run.

I could feel my heart race, paranoia sinking its claws in deeper. I needed my wolf now more than ever. The fear of Rowan finding me, of someone recognizing me and tipping him off, surged through me. I glanced around the diner, scanning for any hint of danger, my nerves prickling with anxiety.

"No trouble," Hunter shrugged casually, though I could sense the tension in his voice. He gave a nod toward the man beside the woman. "Dean."

I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at me. Were they werewolves, vampires, or maybe hybrids like Hunter? The thought dug at me, more than it should’ve. I tried reading them, the way I used to with my wolf senses, but without my wolf, it was like trying to see through fog. So fucking useless.

Dean crossed his arms and shot Hunter a knowing glance. “I don’t know what mess you’ve dragged in this time, but we want no part of it,” he muttered, his voice low. His gaze flickered to me briefly before he continued, “Tensions are high around here. Word is, some Alpha’s mate took off, and now he’s got scouts swarming the area, searching. Rumor has it, some of them are already in town.”

A cold knot twisted tight in my chest. Rowan. I knew he’d be fast, relentless even—but I hadn’t expected him to close in this quickly. Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm, even though every fiber of my being screamed to run. I had to get out of here, and fast, before anyone else got caught in Rowan’s web. Too many people had already paid the price for being around me, for standing in the way of that cruel bastard.

I swallowed hard, glancing at Hunter. He had to understand what this meant. Every second we lingered put us in more danger. I couldn’t afford to lose anyone else. "We should go," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

Hunter's eyes flickered with something—concern, maybe? Or urgency. Either way, I knew he understood the gravity of the situation. He straightened up, his muscles tensing as if readying for a fight.

The middle-aged couple exchanged a wary glance but said nothing more, as if they, too, sensed the storm brewing just outside their quiet little world. Dean leaned in closer to Hunter. “Watch yourself, kid. If that Alpha’s close, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”

I didn’t need any more warnings. Rowan was close. Too close. And if he found me, this whole town could be swallowed by the chaos I was desperately trying to outrun. 

“How about she has some coffee while I take a look around?” Hunter asked, his voice steady, but there was an underlying edge of concern.

The woman, Claire, looked me over with a wary expression before shifting her gaze back to Hunter, her stern demeanor not budging. “Twenty minutes is the most I can keep her here,” she said firmly.

“Thanks, Claire,” Hunter nodded, a fleeting smile tugging at the corner of his lips before disappearing just as quickly. He turned back to me, his face settling into the grim expression I’d grown familiar with. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes, alright? Just stay put.”

I glanced at the couple, unsure if I could trust them or even myself to respond properly. The weight of everything—the danger, the secrecy—pressed down on me. I nodded stiffly, words failing me, as Hunter pulled on his helmet and strode out. The roar of his bike echoed through the quiet parking lot, and I watched him go, a creeping sense of unease settling into my bones.

It was strange. I’d only known him for less than two days, but the moment he left, a hollow feeling gnawed at me. Being alone—even in a room full of people—made the fear close in tighter, suffocating. The small sense of security Hunter brought with him vanished the moment his bike disappeared into the distance.

“Coffee?” Dean’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to find him watching me.

“Yes, please,” I managed to say, my voice quieter than I intended. I glanced at the menu on the wall, trying to focus on something simple. “I’ll have a decaf, thanks.”

Dean nodded, moving behind the counter to prepare it. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, but it did little to soothe the unease bubbling beneath my skin. I could feel Claire’s eyes on me, studying me, maybe even trying to piece together what I was doing in her small diner in the middle of nowhere, pregnant and on the run.

The thought that Rowan's scouts could already be here, hiding in plain sight, waiting to pounce, made my skin crawl. I kept glancing at the door, my fingers twitching against the countertop. Each passing second felt too long, too exposed.

Dean placed the coffee in front of me with a quiet clink. “You alright, miss?” he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.

“Yeah,” I lied, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. The heat seeped into my palms, but it didn’t do much to steady my nerves. “Just tired.”

“Trouble’s brewing,” Dean said quietly, leaning in slightly. “Folks like you don’t pass through this town unless they’re running from something—or someone. And if what I’ve heard is true, you’ve got some dangerous company trailing you.”

I swallowed hard, not sure how to respond. Every instinct screamed to keep quiet, not to trust anyone. But there was something in Dean’s eyes—something almost knowing, like he understood more than he let on. I didn’t want to think about what that could mean.

“Like I said, we don’t want any part of it,” Dean added, standing up straight again. “But if you need a few minutes to catch your breath, Claire and I will give you that. After that, you’re on your own.”

The weight of his words settled heavily in the air between us. They were giving me time—twenty minutes, to be exact—but that was it. And after that, I’d have to keep running. Keep hiding. Rowan would find me eventually. It was just a matter of when.