“Like...” I grinned as I stared out the window. “We’ll find a town, get a motel room. Then shift and go hunting for the coven we’re looking for. You don’t expect to just drive up to their front gates, do you? They’re not gonna have a big sign saying, ‘Northern Coven. We hexed you. Come get us.’”
Xander threw a dirty look my way that I caught from the corner of my eye. I deliberately continued to stare out the window. There was something I had to say, and it was best to just come out with it.
“Maybe we should have waited for the Alpha to return.”
Xander growled. “No. I cannot live in that pack any longer. It is fucking depressing, and if I have to wait another day, let alone another two weeks to get some answers, I’m gonna explode, Kyle.”
I tried not to laugh. He’d always been as impatient as fuck.
“Fair enough,” I said.
We kept driving, and I let myself doze off.
I woke as we pulled into a truck stop.
“Just gonna fill up the tank,” Xander said. “You want to grab something to eat?”
I nodded and stumbled out of the cabin. When I glanced at my cell, I realized we’d been traveling over three hours, and I needed a comfort break.
I used the foul-smelling human restroom and then headed to the counter to order some burgers.
The guy behind the cash register wasn’t human. He was shifter, too. Another wolf. As we took each other in, my wolf flared to life inside of me.
“What are you doing here?” the guy asked with a scowl.
I ran a hand through my hair, pushing the too-long strands off my face. “Just passing through.”
“You can’t do that.”
I gave the idiot a once-over, holding back my automatic,hell yes, we can. He was about two hundred and fifty pounds and looked as strong as a fridge. But that didn’t mean he was smart.
I leaned forward, deciding to try and get him on our side. “We’re hunting down a witch coven, actually. Got told there was one a few hours north of here. Do you know anything about them?”
“Coven?” The guy’s eyes widened, and then his jaw set. I wasn’t sure if he was about to help me, or punch me in the face.
Then he pushed a menu at me across the counter. “Order something and I’ll get it for you to go.”
I couldn’t read his sub-text, which he was clearly trying to communicate. So, I just put in the order, threw him some cash, and walked back to the seated area to wait for the burgers. If he had anything else for me, I’d find out soon enough.
Five minutes later, the fridge-sized shifter swaggered over to me with our meals in his hands.
“Thanks,” I said, taking the greasy bags from him just as Xander marched in. “If you haven’t got any tips for us, we’ll get going.”
The big guy grunted and turned to Xander. He took in the size of Xander’s stature in a single glance, no doubt sensing the Alpha in my friend. I mean, Xander was even bigger than me, with his six-foot-four-inch frame. He could take on a rugby team and likely come out on top.
Fridge-guy backed up a step. “I do have a tip,” he said suddenly.
“You have what?” Xander asked, coming in late to the conversation but working out immediately it meant something important. His blue eyes gleamed brightly. “A tip? Spill it.”
“The witches you’re looking for,” the guy said, licking his lips in obvious nervousness. “You won’t find them easily.”
“How come?” I asked.
“Their place is hidden. No roads. You’ve gotta drive to Eagle Point, and then shift and run the rest of the way.”
I stuck out my hand because I’d been taught manners. “Thanks, man. That’s good to know.”
The guy didn’t shake my hand. He just grunted and trudged back behind the counter, but we’d gotten what we came for: food and, as a bonus, information.
“You wanna eat here?” Xander asked.
I shook my head and headed out the door. “Nope. Don’t think we’re too welcome here. Let’s get going.”
When we got back to the truck, I was filled with hope for once. Our lackluster plan had just gotten a shot in the arm.
“I’ll drive,” I said, tossing the burgers toward Xander. He tossed me the keys in return.
It was time to find Eagle Point—and the witch coven.