3. Locke

Chapter three

Locke

I didn’t sleep much. That’s a lie. I didn’t sleep at all. Most of the night was spent trying not to look at her, not to stare at her. Fear, paranoia, and a yearning chased themselves around my head all night. The bus traveled endlessly onwards, taking me away from the danger that stalks me. Away from the reality of my existence, but leaving me haunted by memories.

It was a cop car parked on the side of the road that had me backtracking. A miracle? A helping hand thrown by fate? I found the bus terminal by pure chance. I had just enough cash to pay for my ticket and slink on board. I’ve never not had money before. I’m more scared of that than being found right now. But anything is better than going back, even poverty.

Jason Wood, my manager, is going to kill me if he finds me. He’s a high-strung furious little man, whose attention to detail keeps our lives revolving like clock work. The band, Emma, Wiley, Paige, and Delilah, will be even worse.

I shudder, thinking about the venom they will spew at me when I’m caught. No, if I’m caught.

I look down at the rings on my fingers. I slide the one on my index finger off and then put it on again. My father left it to me when he died. I miss him so much. I miss all my dads, but Lane and I were closer. Cassidy is the one who left me the guitar. I don’t have anything from Lloyd. My mother purged all their belongings from our existence. Lia kept these safe for me until I was old enough to come get them. I can never thank her enough for that.

I close my eyes. Lia and Ryn are going to kick my ass for not going home to them. Guilt chases the fear and is swallowed by exhaustion.

Lia, Ryn, and I are the only children of three sisters who were pop royalty in their day. Our mothers are close, almost raising us together. Well, that’s not true, the nanny’s did most of the work, but we were often dumped at the Raines mansion, which is where Lia lives. I was brought up in a pack until I was five. My mother Cara is an omega and was deeply loved by her alphas, though I can’t understand why. She’s a cruel and bitter woman. Ryn’s mother married a man who hates her, and Lia never knew her father.

Our uncle is a freaking legend, and he’s one of Kelly, Raider and Bethany’s fathers. We don’t see much of him. The sisters dislike him because he calls them on their crap.

I shift in the seat, trying to push the uncomfortable memories aside. Still they persist, dragging me back.

When my fathers died, my mother, Cara, became obsessed with making me a star. She flew me all over the country to auditions, schools, and shows. My mother destroyed any feelings of love and family and when I joined Derision as my act of rebellion; she cut me off. That was six years ago now. She hasn’t spoken a single word to me.

For a moment, I think about calling mum, she’d answer. She’d tell me she told me so. She’d say that Cara Raines pulled herself out of the gutter and became a star, and my ungrateful ass can sort my problems out myself.

The feeling of having walls close in without the actual walls is startling. The scent of mocha twists around me, calming me, a balm to my soul. But I can’t completely erase that wild panic.

I shift my weight again and turn my head to stare at the woman beside me. She is nothing like anyone I’ve ever seen. Not only is she built with soft curves that I itch to trace, but she’s got intelligence in her eyes, wit in her voice, and power oozing out of every pore. She’s not like the skinny girls that throw themselves at me.

An alpha with curves, a handful, a thick woman that is all woman and is confident of her sexuality and who she actually is. She’s fresh air.

My mouth waters, and I lean forward, breathing in her scent, my lip just slightly touching hers. I pull back, but I feel drunk. I feel this incessant need to straddle her and kiss her until she takes me.

I reach up and touch her dark brown hair. In the light before it had faded, I’d noticed that the colour changes to light brown when it gets to the tips. It’s layered in a fascinating fall that draws my eye. Her lips are plump and stained a red colour that reminds me of cherries. But it’s her eyes that captured me.

Her eyes are brown, an intense and cold colour that seemed to rip straight into me and pull out my secrets. I want to see her eyes again, make sure I didn’t imagine their power, but the sun is rising, and the people behind us are awakening.

The bus pulls over in a small town. It’s barely dawn, and no one’s awake yet. Everyone but us gets off the bus in a yawning shuffle. I almost wake her to find out if she wants to stretch her legs.

But she was so tired. I just want to let her sleep.

What is this? I don’t care about people. Not strangers, anyway. That’s a dangerous pastime for a man like me. Trust is a silent killer. It’s a trap.

She fed me.

Her head shifts to fall on my shoulder, and I close my eyes to fend off the urge to reach out and touch her. As it is, when her hand clutches mine, I simply allow her to hold it. No part of me can push her away.

The bus driver gets on the bus, looks at us, and smiles slightly. I nod in his direction. He tips his hat to me and sits down. The doors close a moment later, and we’re off, rolling along the road to this Twin Rivers mystery and its population 320.

I close my eyes.

I wake up with a start, my heart pounding. Almost immediately, I’m aware that the bus has stopped moving. For a second, I smell smoke and the bright light looks like fire. And then I remember where I am. It’s like a double memory superimposed over the other. Like I’m in two places at once. My stomach jolts, and I put a hand to it, to hopefully curb the urge to vomit.

Erin slowly stretches, yawning and making tired little sounds that are adorable. They tear me from my mind and mesmerize me.

Get a grip, Locke.

I peek out through the window and feel my jaw drop. We’re in a town. A quaint little town with lots of people wandering around. The roads are cobbled, and there appears to be some sort of celebration going on. Am I dreaming? I mean, there’s no way our conversation came true.

Hero gets on the bus. “Oh, you’re awake!”

“What is this place?” I ask dully.

“It’s Twin Rivers.” Hero shakes his head and gestures to the door. “Come have a look. I need to get this bus off the street.”

I grab my bag and guitar and wait for Erin. She’s alert and watchful, taking in all the people walking along the sidewalk. It’s smaller than I would have expected. If there was ever a postcard for adorable small towns, the picture should be this town.

“Is something going on?” Erin asks, her smokey voice sends a line of arousal straight to my cock. Oh, yeah, now I’m awake.

I mentally berate myself and shuffle towards the exit.

“Oh, yeah, it’s the River Festival,” Hero says happily and slaps his thigh hard enough that I wince. He lets out a weird call, which is thrown back by strangers around the bus.

What the fuck?

“River Festival?” Erin asks while I’m still glaring out of the windows.

“Yeah, a week-long festival where we, the folks of Twin Rivers and surrounding counties, come and celebrate the spring melts. There are games, stalls, markets, music, laughter, food, competitions, it’s fantastic. It’s a great time to be coming to Twin Rivers. You two got really lucky.”

I step off the bus and look around, and the sky does seem brighter here, the colours richer. It even smells fresher. Erin steps down and rests a hand on my forearm. I force myself not to react, even though my entire focus is on where we are connected. The town of Twin Rivers can go to hell. All I can see is the woman beside me.

“Do you know where we can find a room?”

Hero frowns but whips his head around, dreads flying out to wave at a kid that skips past. “No rooms in town. Everything’s booked up.”

“What?” Erin says in dismay. “How can everything be booked?”

“River Festival,” Hero says and steps around the front of the bus, spreading his arms wide and breathing deeply. He says it like it should explain everything!

She scowls, and Hero hesitates, waiting for our excitement that doesn’t come. He sighs, disappointed in our lack of enthusiasm.

“Try Finnegan Clearway, he runs a very expensive hotel, and he’s incredibly selective about who he lets in. He might have a room for you.”

“Thanks!” Erin says, but Hero has already turned and is jogging up the street.

“Where do we find this, Finnegan?” I mutter with a glare at a man who stumbles and giggles like a schoolgirl. He waves at us and then happily sidles into the throng of people and vanishes.

“Let's start with over there.” Erin points to a stage.

I’m distracted by Erin. She’s standing up, and I’m finally getting a real view of her. Erin’s dress is black and clings to the curves of her breasts, plump belly, and hips before flowing around her legs. It’s sexy but casual. I’ve never noticed a woman’s dress before. Her hips are wide, and her ass makes me bite the inside of my cheek just so I keep the noises I want to make inside. Her breasts aren’t huge, but I’d give anything to see her naked. She’s a venus.

I remember what she said and force my eyes away from her. There’s a stage, a crowd, and some weird small town ritual is about to begin. Six people are sitting in chairs with a table and a white tablecloth in front of them. Perhaps this is some sort of sacrifice.

Erin leads, and I follow. I rapidly look around, trying to work out what else this could be. It’s becoming clearer that it’s not a sacrifice, but I think, I mean, if I’m right, how damn delightful…but surely not?

As we cross towards them and join the crowd catcalling and shouting, plates of hot dogs are lowered to each person by a woman in a tiny little crop top and short jeans. She smiles and hoots at the crowd, stirring them up. She turns and smacks her ass, making it jiggle, while the crowd roars their approval.

“All right everyone. We've got our volunteers. Let’s see if we can find the Twin Rivers champion hot dog eating machine!” She screams into a microphone that has seen better decades.

I glance at Erin to see what she thinks of this because I’m having trouble hiding my mirth. Her eyes are shuttered, but she’s taking everything in, an impersonal mask plastered across her face. After a moment, she stills, alerting me to her alarm. I follow her gaze and find her staring at a hunk of a man leaning against a brick wall. I find I’m struck staring, too. Dark and broody just got a model.

I glance back at the table as the woman screams ‘go’ and watch six people shovel hot dogs into their mouths in a way that makes me feel ill.

Any thoughts of food vanish quickly.

Enough of that.

I trail after Erin as she meanders over and stops before the guy. The closer we get, the more I want to hide. He’s big, with huge muscles, a tight black t-shirt, jeans, and boots. His dark brown hair is long and thick, stopping around his jaw. He looks dangerous, but I’m not hiding because I’m scared. I’m hiding because my reaction to him is immediate. He is everything I know I’m attracted to. Everything I lust over.

He glances at Erin, and his eyes just stay on her, despite me being right here.

I let out a low growl, and those eyes switch to me, pinning me. I’m stuck, I’m frozen, there’s no way out. Light brown, almost gold, eyes pin me to the spot, reaching inside of me. His gaze is a caress, and this urge to press myself against him is so strong my knees almost buckle.

This is weird. I felt this when I first spotted Erin, too. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt it. And now I’ve felt it with two people?

“We’re looking for Finnegan?” Erin says and lifts her chin defiantly.

“Finn’s not here.” His deep, dark voice smiles at us mockingly. How can a voice smile? “But I am,” he says to me with a slow look down my body and back up.

He pushes off the wall, and holy hell, he’s tall. I’m breathless, completely and utterly without words. Erin tilts her head back and makes a deep sound that almost sounds like a suppressed growl.

This huge man glances back at her and smiles. “I can take care of anything you need.”

I don’t think the promises in his words are inflated ego, I think it’s the truth, but still, I want to both shove him away and throw myself into his arms.

What is wrong with me?

I roll my eyes. But there’s something like jealousy fluttering inside. “Sure, you can, big boy!” I snap.

He laughs, and the deep chuckle melts my insides. He bypasses Erin and steps into my space, holding my eyes until he drops them to dip down my body and back up.

My body heats and turns molten. I lift my chin and taste his air. He smells like mint. It’s delicious.

“Oh, yeah, I know how to take care of all the things you could ever dream. Say yes!” he whispers with a grin that makes me want to throw everything and take this chance.

I’m so tempted. The word is there on my lips, but Erin elbows her way in between us and pushes him back.

He allows her to and glances down at her with an amused smirk.

“Who are you?” Erin barks out.

His grin widens. “Brayson Langley, resident bad boy, terrible influence, and good fucking time. Who are you, beautiful?”

“Erin Bradley, alpha, lawyer, and a woman who is not going to be your good time fuck.”

He grins wider. “Shame. What about him? Can I be his good time fuck?”

Erin bristles, and I love it as much as I love that he wants me.

“Locke Raines. Not interested.” I kinda am, a lot. I’ve never been more interested.

Brayson raises an eyebrow like he doesn’t believe me, and why would he? I don’t even believe it.

“No, you can’t be his good time fuck, either. Now, where is Finn?”

“Finn is…right behind you.” And to my shock, he moves in, grabs Erin’s jaw, and kisses her hard.

I’m a thousand shades of jealous and completely in awe of his audacity.

“For fuck’s sake, Brayson, will you stop being a dick!” A voice barks out behind us.

I barely get out a snarl, but Brayson is already walking away, one hand held up in goodbye, the other in his pocket. I don’t know whether the rush I’m feeling is heat or fury.

“Try to ignore Brayson. We do,” a man says with a pained tone. “He’s a rogue element in town. Does what he wants. Irresponsible.”

I turn around, and to my utter shock, it does it again. Finnegan Clearway has almost white blond hair, cut neatly, pale blue eyes, and a build that is solid and compact. He exudes trust and calm the way Bray exudes danger and chaos.

“I heard you were looking for me?”

Erin nods. “We’re trying to find a room for a few nights.”

Finn purses his lips, and why do I want to kiss him so hard? This is a stranger. Another one. I’m three for three. His eyes are the most pure of blue, and his skin is golden. Beta.

I feel off kilter and unsettled. Maybe the smoke did something to my head.

He smiles, and I don’t think I could speak if someone paid me. He’s gorgeous in a homey, guy-next-door kind of way.

“I’ve got one room left, but,” he glances at Erin and rubs the back of his head, “there’s a problem.”

I narrow my eyes as he takes me in in one quick, impersonal glance. I’m almost offended. No one looks at Locke Raines and dismisses me!

“What’s the problem?” I snap out.

He crooks his finger and gestures to us to follow him. Finn lifts his arm and waves at five people in the space it takes to walk twenty steps. He’s obviously well-respected and well-known. “The cabin is close to Shane’s.”

“What is Shane’s?” Erin asks.

“Shane is a who, not a what, and he scares most people. So, I rarely use that cabin as it’s on his hiking trail. He’s a great guy, but he’s big and grumpy as all getup.”

“I’m not scared of a mountain man,” Erin says firmly. There is so much confidence in her voice.

I raise a brow as Finn looks at me again. Yup, we aren’t scared of your mountain man!

“Great! The cabin is yours. There’s a nice queen-sized bed for you to share, a fridge, fireplace. It’s got the best views.”

I pause and glance at Erin. She cocks her head at me and grins. It’s sultry, sexy, and full of hidden messages I receive loud and clear.

“We shared a seat, I’m sure we can share a bed,” she teases.

I exhale roughly in relief. “Yeah, we can do that. Perhaps, this time, I can sleep on your,” I bite my lower lip and look her up and down, “anywhere.”

Finn glances between us. “Sounds like a story.”

“We met on the bus, no story,” Erin says, effectively ending any line of questioning. I brush my shoulder against hers. Solidarity. “Tell us about Twin Rivers.”

“Ah, well, my town is really big on celebrating. Any excuse to get together, really. Each year, the mountain snows melt, and the rivers fill. It’s during this time that we have this celebration, one of five annual celebrations, mind you.”

Finn walks us past the people and banners, the stalls and signs, and points up. My mouth opens wide, my eyes grow large.

The view is spectacular, it’s inspiring, my brain’s already searching for the right words to describe it. I drum my fingers against my leg.

“It's beautiful,” Erin whispers.

“Yes, it is. Not many people know just how perfect it is up here. But we do.” Finn glances back with a reassuring smile. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride out to the cabin and show you around. This will all be here tomorrow or tonight.”

He walks to an old truck and opens the door. Erin glances at me and shrugs. She gets in the truck.

Where she goes, I have to follow. There’s not even a question about it. I would follow this alpha into hell.

And that scares the shit out of me.

But I still follow.

I slide into the truck and sit quietly as Finn starts the truck and drives us towards those mountains and that bright blue sky.