Page 15 of Alpha Awakening
After paying for the snacks, Niev found a restroom while he stretched out his legs by walking around the parking lot. They were about halfway to the address Ann had given him where they would meet Kareem. If Niev could drive even just an hour he would get enough rest to get them there without having to take another break.
“Are you ready?” her sweet voice asked from behind.
He turned around and smiled. “Yes.”
Sitting in the driver's seat, she adjusted it to be able to reach the pedals. With a grin she lifted her hands and looked down at her bump. “See it doesn’t touch.”
He couldn’t help but laugh amused. “We’re all set then.”
As she drove onto the highway, he laid his hand on her thigh and gently rubbed it. With the GPS telling her where to go he closed his eyes and dozed off to her humming to the music.
“Blake?” Niev’s voice drifted into his dreams.
Slowly opening his eyes, he yawned. “Mhm?”
“I need to pee, so I’ll pull over at the next diner.”
“Okay,” he said looking around trying to orientate. The GPS said they were about two and a half hours away from their destination. “I slept for three and a half hours?”
“Yes. I didn’t mean to wake you, but I can’t hold it in anymore. I’m sorry.”
“Oh Niev, I’m not upset with you. It’s me. I didn’t mean to make you drive that long.”
“I enjoyed it.”
As soon as she parked, she rushed into the diner and disappeared into the restroom. He stayed outside and messaged Ann to tell her that they would be there soon.
After a few moments, Niev’s arm wrapped around his waist. “Everything good?”
Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. “Yes, I just let Ann know we’re close.”
“Do you want me to drive again?”
“You don’t have to, I got some good rest.”
“Okay then I’ll try and get some reading in.”
“Or some sleep.”
“Maybe,” she said amused as he helped her into the truck.
Driving off, he watched as she buried her nose into a book that Christa had lent her. He couldn’t help but feel proud of the woman she was becoming. She’d blossomed so much in just this short time, that her potential for the future seemed endless. She must have felt his thoughts and looked up, an unspoken question on her lips.
“I just couldn’t help but feel proud of you. You’ve won over the hearts of the pack and earned their respect. I know you’ve always been a strong woman, but you’ve grown so much over the past few months that I can’t help but be amazed.”
She leaned closer and kissed his cheek. “I’m very proud of you too. Just look at how far you’ve come! You’re closer than ever to your family and your brother is no longer a thorn in your heart. I can’t wait to see what good Aruna and Emlyn will bring out in you.”
Her words meant the world to him, and he would keep them in his heart for years to come.
With his hand on her thigh, and her nose deep in her book, they kept driving until the sun started rising in the east. The landscape was much different from what he was used to, with less trees and more mountains.
They passed through a larger city before pulling into a parking lot on its southeastern border, located by the foot of a large mountain.
Climbing out of the truck Niev looked around. “Are they hidden in there somewhere?”
“I assume so.” Blake walked to the back of the truck and opened the cargo bed. “How about we eat while we wait?”
Niev sat down while he grabbed the food package his mother had prepared. As he sat down next to her, he texted Ann.