I wasn't pretty certain that he was kidding, so I pointed at Gabriel dramatically, "He started it!"
"I was just sitting here!"
"But you're supposed to be sitting over there!" I angrily pointed out to him.
"You two are worse than four year olds." Nathan growled.
"It's your fault, when you think about it." I whined, "You're the one who sat us together. You should have known he'd get like this!"
Michael growled from his seat and I inwardly backed off.
"Elaine, you're up front." If I hadn't been so upset I would have congratulated Michael. He knew the only way to get me and Gabriel to behave. The only way to keep us from tearing at each other's throats was to separate us.
By the time I unlatched my seatbelt Michael was already out of his seat and opening the door for me. I wasn't sure if it was because of his superhuman speed or the fact that Gabriel was sitting on my seatbelt and I had to push him off (not a fun task, by the way).
I slipped out of the seat. I brushed against him unintentionally as he opened the door wider, "Good luck." I took a millisecond to let the tension fall away from my muscles.
I turned around, before Michael got in, and stuck my tongue out at the black haired Durand.
Gabriel growled viciously and I jumped out of the way before he had a chance to lunge at me. I laughed as I turned to the front passenger's door.
Mom gave me a look from on the porch. That only made me laugh harder.
"It wasn't my fault, I swear!" I took a second to let my laughter die down before getting into my seat.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Gabriel and Michael going at it; unfortunately they were speaking so low that I could hear them.
Nathan shot me a look before turning on the ignition, "Can't you go two minutes without saying a joke?"
"It wasn't my fault though!" I exclaimed before turning my attention to the window. I waved to mom once more, before Nathan pulled us out of the driveway.
The sun wasn't warm yet. It was like the earth had been cloaked in a damp layer of cold water, even though August was supposedly supposed to be the hottest month of the year.
"The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in." I sang lightly as I tried to force back a wild grin that was tugging at my mouth.
"Engine's stop running and the wheat is growing thin." Nathan said under his breath.
Michael gave a snort from the seat behind me, but sang the next line anyway, "A nuclear error, but I have no fear."
I waited expectantly, but Gabriel didn't finish the chorus of London Calling. I turned around in my seat and frowned at the black haired Durand. "Do you always have to ruin my fun?"
"Yep." Gabriel snapped, though I thought I saw a light grin tugging at the corners of his lips. I couldn't bet on it though. Shadows had settled over his face and his scowl was back before I could be sure.
"London is drowning –" I sang as I turned back around in my seat.
"and I live by the river." Nathan finished for me.
After that I didn't try to start a conversation, or another song. Instead I turned out the window and watched the colors of nature past me by in a blur.
CL
I peeled my eyes open when the SUV came to a halt. Since we had just stopped about an hour ago to get food I didn't think we were going through the drive through again. I swore, we got enough food last time to feet an entire football team!
My assumption had been right, and I found myself staring up at Nathan's apartment.
"Thank god." I was the first out of the car. I stretched my arms over my head and took a minute to unwind from the drive. Gabriel and I hadn't fought… much. But it hadn't been my fault! I only mentioned that his taste in music sucked and that I'd prefer to listen to Alex's classical music over his country radio station. It was Gabriel's fault that he raised to the bait.
Suddenly the atmosphere changed.
Behind me I heard someone slam their door and I swung around. Nathan was in front of me before I could blink and Michael wasn't too far behind.
"Did you call them?" Michael asked.
I didn't bother to ask who they were, because I knew he'd just ignore me. So I waited for Nathan to answer.
"Alex did." Nathan replied as he scanned the street. I followed his gaze, but didn't see anything, so I started up the stairs. "Elaine," Nathan's voice stopped me before I opened the door, "Put this on."
I turned around, ready to scoff, but sucked back my comment as a heavy material made contact with my stomach. I grabbed it and saw that it was Pavel's motorcycle jacket.
"It's like 90 degrees out here!" I complained melodramatically as I stared at the thick leather.
Nathan ignored me.
"I don't understand you." I grumbled as I pulled on the damn coat. I was already sweating by the time the guys made it up to the door.
"You will." Nathan promised from behind me.
I rolled my eyes and walked ahead of them. When we reached the top floor Nathan moved ahead of me, so that Gabriel had my back, and Michael walked along side me.
I wasn't thrilled about any of that and frowned at the Beta, "What are you doing?"
He didn't even grin. Sometime during the walk up here Michael had slipped into his military mode. I rolled my eyes again.
Then, when I walked into Nathan's apartment, I understood why they were all acting so weird.
"Hey Tom, what's up Gage?" I asked as soon as I saw Leo's two bodyguards standing in Nathan's living room. It didn't surprise me that they were there. In fact, I should have been expecting them. After all, the Beta from our pack was here. That didn't happen every week, even though it was beginning to seem like I came here every week.
"Elaine." All I got was a nod from each of them as a greeting.
That was fine. Their standoffishness didn't bother me. They were like Michael; all military all the time. So I didn't expect that much emotion out of them.
"When should Leo expect us?" Michael hadn't moved from my side. In fact it seemed that he had gotten closer to me. I could feel his body heat as his shoulder brushed against mine and I got the same nervous feeling I had when Gabriel had pulled his stunt that morning.
I went to move away, but thought better of it when Nathan shot me a look.
I swore he was becoming more and more like Alex every time I saw him. Soon he'll be reading my mind just like my Alpha.
"Leonard will see you tomorrow at the Calling." Tom answered easily.
"During off hours." Gage added.
I felt trapped in a cage of testosterone. I swore every male in that room was giving off violent waves of energy. Even Michael was tense and ready for a fight; I didn't miss the muscles along his shoulders twitch from the pressure he was putting on his neck.
One of these days, they were all going to have strokes.
I was surprised they'd gone as long as they had without bursting because of their blood pressure. It was a medical marvel.
"If there's nothing else…" Nathan trailed off and gestured to the door.
As soon as Tom and Gage took their leave, I did too. I slipped up the stairs and went into my room; my only safe haven in all of London. I pushed off the heavy leather and tossed it on the couch. The reason I was forced to wear it was simple and easy to understand now. Pavel's scent, and therefore Durand scent, was coming off it in spades.
I rolled my eyes at werewolf mannerisms and fell on my bed in a huff. I let exhaustion take over and I quickly fell asleep.
CL
My eyes hurt. That's how awake I was.
I tried to fall back asleep, but it was no use. My body was sick of sleep. I wanted, no I needed, to run. My room was a black slate. My curtains kept the night lights of London at bay, and no light seemed to be coming from underneath my door. I was the only one up.
Or so it had seemed.
As I tiptoed down the hallway I heard the faint buzz of a television. I peered around the stairs railing and saw Gabriel lounging on the couch. The light from th
e flat screen made him look ghostly and oddly pale, and I actually smiled at the fact that this was the first time in a while I hadn't seem him completely cloaked in shadows.
"Can't sleep?" Gabriel's voice made me jump, but I recovered quickly and went down the stairs.
"I went to sleep too early." I explained. I was tempted to sit next to him, but thought better of it. I'd wait to see what kind of mood he was in.
"I told Nathan that we should have woken you up." He grinned deviously.
I rolled my eyes at him, "Want something to eat?" I walked around the couch and headed into the kitchen.
Gabriel moved behind me, but I didn't pay much attention to him. Once I got to the kitchen I opened the fridge and stuck my head inside. Nathan was a huge fan of meat, and I wasn't craving anything that he had in the kitchen.
"Yeah, lets go."
I spun around to face him; shutting the fridge behind me. "What?"
"There's nothing to eat here. Plus," That wicked grin returned to his features, "Pavel's bike is still here."
I could only stare at him. What he was saying blew my mind. "You want to steal Pavel's bike?"
"Just take it for a spin." I could tell that Gabriel was going to do this with or without me. He leaned the majority of his weight on the island and set his intense gaze on me. A deep smirk was etched in his face, "You know you want to."
I turned away from him and frowned at the island. On one hand: Nathan would kill me. But on the other: I did want to get out of here. Plus, I was starving.
"Come on," I jumped slightly as Gabriel's breath hit my neck. I hadn't even noticed him walking over to me; let alone lean over me the way he was. He definitely knew how to intimidate a person. "Take this risk with me."
Something in my expression must have told him that I agreed because his eyes lit up until they were practically on fire.
"Go put a pair of jeans on and grab Pavel's jacket." He ordered me.
I didn't dare to think about what I was doing. I knew if I over thought it, I'd never do it. So I did what he told me to do and a few minutes later Gabriel was leading me around the building to the parking lot with his arm slung loosely around my neck.
"Hold on." Gabriel told me over his shoulder. I pulled on the helmet and wrapped my arms lightly around his abs. He revved the engine once before taking off. My grip on him immediately tightened as we hugged the curve around the parking lot and went out on the main street.
His chest rumbled with laughter, but I barely noticed.
I couldn't control the crazy wide grin that had taken over my features, and I didn't want to. I had forgotten how much I loved riding a bike, and how much I loved riding with Gabriel.
The wind crashed into my face and I was even more awake than before.
I felt like I was flying. There were no limits, no boundaries. At that moment I felt like I could do anything. We drove through the city in a blur, and I wished the ride would never end.
CL
"A pancake house?" I asked in disbelief as Gabriel pulled the bike up to a diner. It wasn't the type of place that would be illustrated in a travel guide. It was small and partly run down because of the aged bricks, but it looked like a nice family run business.
"I thought you were hungry?" Gabriel glanced back at me as I pulled off my helmet. I nodded.
"Yeah, but I didn't think you were listening." I commented truthfully. Gabriel was like his eldest brother. He and Nathan weren't known for their attentive listening skills.
He get shook his head and followed me as I got off the bike. We walked inside and I was instantly greeted with the smell most diner's have. It's a mix between onion fries and beacon.
"Sit anywhere." A guy, who I swore popped out of no where, called to us from behind the counter.
Gabriel wrapped his arm possessively around my shoulders and pulled me halfway against him as we walked towards the booths that aligned the far wall.
"What's with you today?" I asked while laughing nervously, "You're all touchy feely."
Gabriel scoffed and a low growl rumbled in his chest, "I've always been like this."
I scoffed so hard my throat was sore, "Yeah right. The last time you hugged me was when… I don't know, I think it was just after you almost ran into me on your motorcycle."
His growl became more violent after that, "I did not almost run into you."
"I had to jump out of the way!" I protested dramatically. A huge grin spread over my lips. Arguing with Gabriel like this was one of my favorite things to do. It gave me a rush. I mean, how could it not? Gabriel could literally tear me apart if he wanted to, and I was messing with him!
Gabriel glared down at me and then pushed me into a booth. Thankfully he went over and sat across from me.
"I wouldn't have hit you." He told me seriously.
"Yeah well, tell that to your bike." I crossed my arms over my chest, still grinning, and basked in my glory. I had won!
The guy came over and took our orders. We sat in silence while we waited for our food, but I could feel Gabriel's eyes on me the whole time. It was like he was trying to look right into me, or something. His gaze burned against my skin and made me feel small.
"Enjoy," Two steaming plates FULL of pancakes were set on the table. "And call if you need anything else."
I thanked the guy and then scanned the restaurant. One poster in particular caught my attention.
"There's a bad moon on the rise." I read it aloud; more to myself.
"Caleb owns this place." Gabriel answered my unasked question, "It's mainly for werewolves."
"Which explains why it's open at three in the morning." I nodded to myself understandingly.
"Yeah, hungry werewolves never make for happy neighbors. Caleb set this place up years ago…"
"Decades ago?" I interjected.
"No, just years." Gabriel's lips twitched up in a light grin as he stuck a large forkful of butter soaked pancakes into his mouth.
After we were done Gabriel paid and I walked out to the bike. The night was cool and I felt the energy of the moon, even though I couldn't see her. I closed my eyes and welcomed the hidden rays of the moon.
Gabriel came out a second later and we got back on the bike. I pulled on my helmet and fastened it.
"Hold on." Gabriel's tone sent a shiver up my spine. I did as he said and with only one rev of warning, we flew. I laughed whole heartedly and clung to Gabriel as he pushed the bike as fast as it would go through the almost vacant back streets of London.
CL
Something was wrong.
I knew it as soon as Gabriel parked the bike in the lot beside Nathan's apartment. I didn't say anything, because he didn't seem to notice. So I assumed I was just being paranoid. But, nonetheless, I stayed close to Gabriel as we walked.
The street light was a small comfort as we got to the sidewalk, but the shadows it created made me rigid with anticipation. Half of me was expecting some wild half changed wolf to lunge at us from one of the alleys.
But I knew that was silly. If there was something like that about here, Gabriel would sense it.
"Shit."
I grabbed Gabriel's arm and scanned the street. "What?" I was in a light fighting stance; waiting for something to move.
"I'm in trouble."
I frowned. He sounded more amused than anything else. I let go of his arm and followed his gaze to the top of the apartment. Nathan's living room light was on. I could see a shadow moving across the curtains.
Then I heard something.
I glanced back. My heart was beating a mile a minute. Then my breath caught in my throat.
My first reaction was to run to him, but he held out his hand as a warning. He obviously didn't want anyone else to know he was there. So, while biting down on my tongue, I continued up to the apartment door.
"You okay?" Gabriel's voice made me glance at him. He was watching me with narrowed eyes.
"Yeah."
Gabriel's eyes lingered on mine for a few seconds, before
he wrapped his arm back around my shoulders and led us up the apartment steps.
I glanced back over my shoulder, but Sebastian wasn't there.
I sighed and then Gabriel and I went up to Nathan's. I almost felt like asking Gabriel to forget about being responsible, and take me on another ride. But I didn't. That would only make it worse in the long run.
Gabriel opened the door and walked in ahead of me, but stopped when he was barely two feet inside.
I followed him in cautiously, and immediately knew why he'd stopped.
Michael's muscular form was half hidden in the shadows of the kitchen. The lamp from the living room showed enough of him for me to make out the anger in his eyes and the rage in his body language. I was surprised his shirt hadn't torn off; his muscles had grown twice their normal size.
"Do either of you know why we came to London?" His voice remained steady; deadly, as he tantalizingly approached us.
I closed the door behind me, with the heel of my sneaker, and turned the dead bolt without taking my eyes off his.
"We came to speak with Leo, sir." I answered bravely.
If it were possible, Michael's muscles seemed to grow even more. I wasn't sure if it was because he was changing, or if he was just pissed. Michael was hard for me to read.
"Then please explain to me why you two went out tonight."
"We just went for a ride." Gabriel explained gruffly. I closed my eyes and waited for Michael to explode, but it never happened. I slowly opened my eyes and saw the two brothers staring each other down.
Gabriel and Michael normally got along fairly well, but there had always been a tension between them. It had always been like that between them. They were always pleasant and polite, or as polite as Gabriel got, but they were never close… not like how Michael and Nathan were.
I always thought it had something to do with the age gap. I wasn't sure how big it was, but Gabriel was a lot younger than his brothers, while Nate and Michael weren't that far apart.
"You might have ruined this entire mission, do you realize that?" Michael seethed at his brother. "We came into another pack's territory to ask for Leo's assistance, not joy ride through his city."
Howl (Howl Book 1) Page 19