#Chapter 78 On the Road

Rachel POV

On the Road 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Bella made breakfast sandwiches for the road. She made enough for me, Nathan, and even Art. I wasn’t sure what to expect for a trip with two Alphas though I was certainly grateful for the food to keep everyone busy in the beginning of the trip.

We got off to a rocky start since Art insisted Nathan drive and I sit in the backseat. He pointed out it was safer for me to be in the back which settled Nate down. I was still surprised he had refused to drive. Who knew an Alpha Inspector would admit to not being able to do anything at all better than everyone else? Art was a strange one.

Interstate traffic dropped off dramatically as we left the city. I lost track of time as the car sped up from a crawl to a steady cruising speed. I was happy to find out I had no motion sickness on the road. I hadn’t been sure how pregnancy would affect me on a long trip.

"We have to stop for fuel in another few exits. Do you want anything when we get off the road? Space to stretch your legs? Good bathroom? Fancy coffee?"

"What are you? A tour guide?" Nathan grouched as he checked the rearview mirror then both side mirrors again for what seemed to be the thousandth time.

I had no idea how long it had been since Nate drove anywhere, but I could tell he wasn’t comfortable behind the wheel. I had never been fond of driving myself so I couldn’t offer to help even if I wanted to and Art had made it clear he wasn’t going to drive anywhere for any length of time period.

"I’m closer to being a tour guide than you are to being a chauffeur. Who taught you how to drive? Your grandma?"

"I can pull over to let you take the wheel any time. You just say the word."

Art snorted loudly, twisting around to ask me, "Is he always bitchy when he doesn’t get his way or am I getting to see this side of him because I’m special?"

I couldn’t help laughing. We should have had plenty of space in the car with only the three of us, but the two Alphas took up the entire front seat to the point I had to lean into the center of the vehicle to see between them.

"I don’t think we can blame him for being sore. I can’t drive and you won’t so he got the job by default. That isn’t very fair, now is it?"

"Gee, Mom, life isn’t fair? What do you mean? I won’t get everything I want just because I want it? What if I really, really want it?"

I punched him in the shoulder, laughing, "You jerk. Stop it. No wonder you have three ex-wives."

"You have three ex-wives?" Nate asked, surprised enough to look away from the road to catch a glimpse of Art’s face before resuming his grim death stare down the highway.

"I do not have three ex-wives," Art said, rolling his eyes at me in the mirror, "I have three former female bedmates who gave me children. I didn’t marry any of them. I don’t plan on marrying anyone ever, thanks so much for asking."

"What about your fated mate? You wouldn’t marry her?"

"You met your fated mate and not only did you not marry him? You rejected him."

"I had mitigating circumstances."

"Mitigating circumstances?" Art and Nate said in unison.

We all cracked up laughing at my attempt to explain my life. I’d had no idea it was possible to enjoy the company of two Alphas at the same time.

For that matter, I hadn’t known I could enjoy the company of an Alpha at all until recently. My experience with them had been negative with the exception of knowing Nathan as a teenager.

"Not to be a spoilsport, but I will vote for the next exit. I need to visit a fire hydrant and this rental didn’t come with a full tank."

Nathan obediently took the next exit showing gas stations available. I was sure we’d find a decent bathroom at one of the truck stops. My family had taken very few vacations growing up, but Bella and Nathan had taken me along for theirs so I knew truckers were given better consideration than a regular Ma and Pa fueling station.

"Fill ’er up, Ace."

Art flicked a credit card at Nate before strolling into the station to presumably look for a restroom. I considered whether I should go myself before dismissing the idea. I was fine and I wanted a moment to speak to Nate alone.

"Are you doing okay? No regrets about taking this trip with me?"

"I could have hired a driver if I had known our Alpha Inspector was opposed to driving himself, but otherwise? I’m good. Do you want to tell me how you’re feeling so far?"

I shook my head. I didn’t know how I felt so far.

Leaning on the side of the car, I crossed my arms over the roof and let my weight press into the vehicle. I watched people pulling in and out of the station, wondering where they were going or if they were heading anywhere in particular. The traffic sounds aside, I couldn’t get over how quiet it was already.

How was I going to handle being away from the sounds of the city completely? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d tried to sleep in silence. I would probably wind up begging for a set of headphones just to have some noise at night.

Art came out of the station as Nate finished filling the tank. He strolled toward us with his hands in his pockets, seeming completely at his ease. I was struck anew by how absolutely huge he was as he dwarfed everyone around him. People backed away either consciously or unconsciously to give him room to walk.

I couldn’t tell he was an Alpha wolf from looking at him alone, but I would have known he was something other than human from a first glance just based on his size. His good looks were a little too good as he ambled over to the car. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was about Art which seemed ’off’ to me. All I knew for certain was he didn’t seem to have a single feature which was ordinary.

"Keep in mind he has three baby mommas already."

"What?"

"You’re ogling," Nate pointed out and I let myself think he did sound a little bitchy just out of spite.

"I am not ogling. He’s just a very eye-catching person. There’s something odd about him. I can’t figure out what, can you?"

"I think there’s a lot odd about him. I can’t say all my thoughts on the matter because I think you’ll hit me if I do."

"Or you think he’ll hit you if he overhears you which he will," Art supplied in a helpful tone as he let himself back into the passenger side of the car, "Just so you know? There’s more than one odd thing about me. Lewis is right about that. I’m also not inclined to give either of you two a pass off the Odd Train. You’re two of the weirdest wolves I’ve ever met."

We loaded back into the car with a shared shrug.

I didn’t mind being caught discussing Art. He had an attitude about him which implied he was used to being the topic of conversation; as an Alpha Inspector, I was sure he was accustomed to being a source of mystery for others.

Part of being an Inspector was the whole mystery of the position. He had to know people would speculate whenever he started a case. I didn’t even know what sort of rules or abilities applied to his role.

Nathan coaxed the car back onto the highway and we drove in silence for a few miles. I was starting to feel sleepy when Art spoke up.

"Not to be a bearer of bad tidings, but we’re being followed."

I sat up straight in my seat, suddenly completely awake and alert.

"Where? Who? How can you tell?"

Art sighed, "I don’t know who or I would have led with their names. It’s two men in a black compact car. Left lane, two cars back. They keep speeding up enough to catch us only to slow down again when they’re sure we’re still just ahead. I’ve been doing this a long time. Trust me: they’re following us."

Nathan and I shared a look in the rearview mirror; I wasn’t comforted by the fact he looked as worried as I felt. I hoped Art had an idea of how to handle the current situation because I had no idea what to do when being followed by strangers.

The whole situation seemed like something out of a story rather than real life.

"What do we do?" Nate asked, shifting his gaze to Art.

"Keep driving."

"Until?" Nate prodded.

"I tell you to stop," Art responded, letting his head lean against the window as he turned his attention back to the mirror to keep an eye on the people pursuing us.