Page 87 of Pack Rivals: Part Two
“You’re serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
He tosses me the car keys and I catch them in my hand. Then he slides into the passenger seat, leaving me no choice but to climb into the driver’s. It takes me a few minutes to pull the seat right up close to the steering wheel so I can reach the pedals, and adjust all the mirrors, triple checking them to ensure I can see anything hurtling towards us. Then I start the car and gingerly press my foot to the gas.
The car creeps forward and I immediately slam my foot on the brake. We both jerk forward.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I say.
“Why not?” Axel asks.
“Because this car is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and if I crash it, or scratch it, or dent it …”
“You won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do.”
I shake my head at him.
“I have confidence in you, Bea,” he says. “You won’t hurt my car.” I start to argue with him and he interrupts. “And anyway, even if you did, so what?”
“So what? Hundreds of thousands of dollars that’s what.”
“It’s just a car.”
“A very expensive car.”
“If it makes you happy, I would like you to drive it. A car has its price limit. Your happiness is priceless.” He chuckles. “Shit, that sounded cheesier than I intended. Look, Bea, if you’d rather not–”
I stare down at my hands gripping the steering wheel. Am I going to let my fear hold me back? Or am I going to persevere and endure?
I hit the gas and we fly out of the rest stop, hitting a bump in the road and both bouncing high in our seats.
“Sorry,” I cry, but I don’t stop.
I keep my eyes locked on the road, and the further we zoom down that empty road the more I love it. Adrenaline pumps through my veins. I’m controlling this powerful machine in my hands. It obeys my commands. The buzz is electrifying. Especially when it’s accompanied by that scent of spring rain and the alpha’s dazzling smile.
“You’re a good driver, sweetheart,” Axel says, although I’m not blind to the way he’s clinging to the handle above the door.
“I’m an awful driver but thank you for being sweet.” I flick my eyes from the windscreen towards that pair of silver eyes. “So what was all that about Axel Stormgate?”
“I’m taking back my surname. So is Angel.”
My foot eases on the gas. “Wh-why?”
“It’s part of our efforts to reconcile. No more Pack York, no more Pack Boston.”
My foot falls off the gas completely and the car drifts towards the edge of the road.
“Woah, there sweetheart,” Axel says, grabbing the steering wheel and guiding the car back to the center of the road.
I shake myself out of my thoughts. “Sorry.” I press my foot down again. I chew on my lip. “You’re reconciling?”
“Yes, we are.”
“After all this time?”
