Chapter 57


    We arrive at the car.


    T’ll mind-link Alpha Ryker and let them know we have Nina and that we are safe.’


    I open the back passenger door. Gianna steps in, then Nina. May sits in the front. My heart rate


    increases as I get to sit next to Nina. I unzip the bag at my feet and pass out a bottle of water to


    everyone. Nina and Gianna scull the water down before I hand them snacks. They moan as they eat


    the food, especially Gianna. She ends up eating a packet of chips, a muesli bar and three chocte


    bars.


    This is so good; I’ve never had food like this before, not even when I was at the orphanage.’ She says


    with her mouth full of food.


    We will get you a proper meal when we reach the next town.’ Leon says to her while adjusting the rear-


    view mirror.


    As we reach the town, we park outside the diner. We raced inside, causing a lot of attention from the


    diners and staff. We sit at the nearest table and wave the waitress over. She takes the pen from behind


    her ear and the notepad from her pocket.


    What would you like to order, please?’ she smiles.


    T’ll have pancakes with syrup and ice cream on top, a cherry pie, fries, bacon, and eggs on toast, and


    a milkshake.’ Nina blurts out.


    This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    We all look at her, then at the waitress and all say at once.


    T’ll have the same.’


    Very well then.’ The waitress says.


    We eat as if it’s ourst supper and waddle back to the car.


    ‘We can get a motel in this town or if we get back on the road, we can reach the next town by nightfall?’


    ‘I think the sooner we get back home, the better, so let’s get back on the road and get to the next town.’


    As long as I get a bath today, then I don’t care.’ Nina says looking down at her dirty arms and legs.


    We reach the next town just on nightfall and enter the motel. I pay for two rooms next to each other.


    They both have a single bed and a double in each room, with a bathroom attached to each room.


    “May, are you able to go see if you can find some clean clothes for Nina and Gianna while they freshen


    up?’


    Tll see what I can do.’ She says and leaves the motel room.


    “You girls can take this room and Leon and I will be in the room next door. Nina, while Gianna baths in


    here, you cane and use the bath in my bathroom?’


    Sure, that would be great’


    Gianna walks into the bathroom and locks the door behind her, while Nina and I walk into my room. I


    open the bathroom door and close A behind her.


    Im going to get us some takeaway food from up the road. I’ll be back soon.’ Leon says.


    The sound of water fdle up the tub while Iy on my bed in silence


    Magnus? Nina calle


    “Yeah? | stand up and walk to the bathroom door ‘ls everything okay?


    “Yeah, um, I juet want to make sure I wasn’t alone


    “You’re not alone, and you’ll never be alone again 1 say, with my head leaning against the bathroom


    door


    Do you promise the anks after a moment of silence


    I open the door and out new to the tub, on the floor


    The bubbles are up to her neck. She most likely poured an entire bottle into the bath. I smile to myself,


    thinking of the washing machine incident


    We turn our heads facing each other.


    I’m scared, Magnus. Moss’s mum is going toe after us. I just know it.’


    I won’t let her harm you.’


    ‘But what if she finds a way?’


    ‘Mark my word, Nina, I will kill her before she everys a finger on you again.’


    I wish if it was something else you could mark.’ She whispers and stares sadly into my eyes.


    Just like I have powerful feelings for Nina, she has practically just confessed her feelings to me. Our


    faces lean in slowly, our lips brush as we are about to kiss. Then she quickly sits back, taking in a deep


    breath.


    ‘Magnus, we can’t do this. We aren’t mates. It would be wrong of us. It’s forbidden for us to even


    consider being together.’ She


    sobs.


    I want to hold her; I want to kiss her and make love to her and never let her go. Seeing her so sad like


    this is breaking my heart.


    I reach my hand out to caress her cheek.


    Magnus, please, don’t. I need you to stop. I need you to go.’


    ‘But…’


    ‘Go!’


    | stand up and immediately leave the bathroom. As soon as I shut the door, I hear Nina burst into tears.


    I’m overwhelmed and confused; I need some air. Leaving the room, I bump into May, causing her to


    drop the clothes she carries. I don’t stop to help pick up the clothes, instead; I speed walk out of the


    motel altogether as she yells after me.


    Magnus, is everything ok?’ I ignore her.


    Running up a hill, I sit on top and stare up at the moon.


    What’s wrong with me? Why do I have feelings for Nina when she isn’t my mate? Why does it have to


    be forbidden to have a chosen mate instead of a fated mate?’ I cry into my hands and remain there for


    hours.


    I return to the motel to find a frantic Leon.


    Where have you been?’ he says and takes in my morbid-looking face.


    ‘What happened Magnus? You look worse than Nina does.’ He frowns.


    I don’t answer and walk into our room, kicking my shoes off and pulling my shirt over my head, and


    tossing it aside. I climb into the closest bed and cover myself, including my face with the covers, and


    sleep.


    Leon wakes me up


    I know you have had intle sleep, Magnus, but we need to go so we can get through a few towns.’


    Leon pabbes me my shint i take a quick shower and get dressed, and walk straight to the car. May is


    already in the front passenger


    stat, which I was hoping to take Gianna is in the back seat and Leon is in the driver’s seat I notice Nina


    isn’t in the car yet. I open the back passenger door and on beside Gianna, and we wait for Nina


    As everyoung okay Magnus? You seemed a bit upsetst night I noticed Nina was upset, too. Did you


    two have a nght of


    arvething? May asks


    1 utrug my shouldeis und ex back Nina exits the motel wearing clean track pants and a in shin


    The fole da


    luoi and foundpartment which had lots of clothes the manager told me to help myself. May


    exins.


    Les go. She mummur


    After a few hours of dawng, we stop for a toilet break and to some kich


    Sitting at the table eating, everyone speaks, except for Nina and me. We sit as far away from each


    other as possible. It was obvious to everyone something was up, but they also knew not to get involved


    and say anything.


    “How much longer until we get to Shadow Crest?’ Gianna asks,


    At this rate, two more nights. Which would be the night before Nina’s wolf ceremony, which the Alpha


    and Luna are already organising.’ Leon says.


    Nina looks even sadder now that Leon mentioned her wolf ceremony. She abruptly stands up and


    walks away from the table and to the car.


    “I guess that’s our cue to get back on the road then.’ May says.


    The silent drive is almost deafening. I can tell May is struggling to not say anything.


    It’s nightfall and we arrive at a motel. They only have one room avable with two double beds.


    “Who is going to sleep on the floor?’ May asks.


    T’ll sleep in the car. You all go in.’ I say


    ‘Are you sure?


    No, I’m not alright. I want to be by Nina’s side, even if it means sleeping on the floor. I’m upset Nina


    rejected me and that it’s forbidden for us to be together, but I don’t tell May that.


    “Yes, I’m sure’ I grizzle and walk back to the car.


    No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t stop thinking about Nina. I felt like it was


    almost killing me. The thought of never being with Nina was almost too much to bear