“It is my problem because even though we’ve only just met and it’s probably not in either of our best interests to get mixed up with a shifter of a different species, I care about you. I’m not leaving you to deal with this on your own.”
Autumn wanted to tell him it was okay, just to go and let her do the best she could, but the truth was that she didn’t want him to go. She wanted him around as much as he seemed to want her. Perhaps it was ill-fated from the beginning, but she felt a sense of happiness and relief wash over her. Instead of further objections, she found herself just nodding in agreement.
“Okay, then. Listen, I don’t know how far they are behind us. Is there anything you are wearing that might be familiar to any of them?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. This jacket, I guess. I’ve worn it a lot around home.”
“Alright, take it off and shove it in your duffle bag. Pull your hair up under the helmet and keep the visor on it pulled down when we get back on the road so no one can see your face.”
Autumn did what he said while he pulled an old army-style jacket from his pack and handed it to her to put on. She pulled it over her t-shirt and buttoned it down the front.
“Where will we go?”
“Home. My home, sort of. I called my uncle and told him I needed to disappear for a bit with no questions asked. He isn’t the sort to ask anyway when you tell him something like that. He’s going to leave me the keys to his old fishing cabin down by the river. It’s about a two-hour drive from my pack, and no one knows about it but him and me.”
“In America?”
“Yes. Montana, to be exact.”
“I guess we better put some asphalt behind us then.”
“Yep. The sooner, the better. You ready?”
“I’m ready.”
Malcolm kissed her again before pulling away to put his helmet on. She did the same, climbing on the back of the bike after he was seated and wrapping her arms tightly around him. They pulled out from behind the building and eased back onto the highway, quickly roaring toward the American border and whatever this new plan held in store for the both of them.
She was still frightened, but this time, it was more of an excitement about the unknown rather than fear of harm. It could all go sideways if the Black Bears MC caught up with her, but hopefully, they’d still be prowling around town for a bit before heading any further south, or maybe they’d go in the wrong direction. Whatever happened, she’d vanish by the time they got any inkling about where she had gone, and with him keeping her out of sight at a private cabin, there was little chance of them finding her.
It wasn’t a forever solution. She couldn’t hide forever, but she finally felt like she’d be safe for a while, until they gave up looking for her and she could start over with her life in a new place, whether that be with Malcolm or somewhere else along the way. A part of her had hopes that it might be with Malcolm, but she had to acknowledge that they were from two different worlds. Mating could pose a whole new set of problems for both of them.CHAPTER SEVENTEENMalcolm-7
By nightfall, they were rounding the Flathead River, heading toward the old cabin his father had kept as a hideaway since Malcolm was a boy. When he had died, he had left it to his only brother, knowing he would keep it up until Malcolm was old enough to have it handed over to him. Though that time had long past, Malcolm saw no reason to take it over, letting his uncle keep it as his own until he passed, and it would automatically deed over to him.
The main highway veered off to the right, and Malcolm followed it instinctively. He hadn’t been there for years but still knew his way. As the small towns and houses disappeared from view, they entered a dense overhang of trees that created a cool tunnel for the better part of a half-mile. Just past the end of it was a narrow dirt road, not much more than a walking path to the naked eye. He turned slowly onto it, careful to ease down it carefully in case there were any errant tree limbs along the way.
It curved and wound through the woods and ended behind a rustic log cabin that faced a small lake. Malcolm parked and waited for Autumn to step off the bike behind him, watching her stretch as he swung his leg over the side and stood beside her. It felt good to get the circulation moving again. They had only stopped briefly a couple of times to refuel or rest, using the facilities and grabbing a snack while they were there.