Crossing Paths With The White Wolf

Natalia PoV

Eun-Kyung is supposed to be 2 hours north of us. Sebastian was driving with Theo in the front. Gonzalo was in the back with the girls watching some sort of movie. Helios was staring out the window the entire ride, lost in his own thoughts. I couldn't help but to sneak glances at him. I didn't know what to do with myself. I tried making some conversation with Theo and Sebastian but they were in their own little world. It was confusing. At any given point, they acted like they had been together for a long time and at others, it felt like they were in a new relationship.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

We should talk to Helios. Make sure mate is OK. - Hestia

If he wanted to talk about it, he would. He said he was OK - I told her. I feel like we have been constantly disagreeing since he came into our life.

I snuck a look over at Helios again. He was looking down at his hands now. My heart clenched. He looked so vulnerable. Every atom in me was asking me to comfort him. Hestia was howling at the sight.

"We're stopping for gas so if anyone needs to use the restroom, now's the time. The stupid rental place didn't have a car with a full tank of gas, I guess." Sebastian said.

We stopped at a quick gas and I took the girls to the bathroom.

"Here, I would say grab whatever you want but no one likes feeling like they are dependent on another," Helios said, handing me a wallet. I took it and opened it to find a stack of bills in it.

"Thank you, that's really sweet," I managed. He gave me a fake salute and walked towards the drinks section. Something felt off. I didn't know him, but the mate bond was strong enough already to let me know there was something wrong with my mate. Before I could think about it longer, Dan-Bi came up to me.

"Can we have some snacks?" She asked.

I nodded at them, "Grab some for later too, OK? For the time at the hotel." On a quick thought, I checked the wallet to see how much was in there, but I gave up counting after $600. Even if these girls were talented shoppers, there was no way to spend all of this here, so I didn't have to tell them to hold back. The village in South Korea was small, so this was a full culture shock for them. I started looking around and found some spicy chips and bean dip and then grabbed a strawberry ice-cream and waited for the girls to be done. They were chatting animatedly with Helios in Korean as they asked to know what they were holding.

Mate is good with kids - Hestia purred and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I pretended like I didn't feel my own ovaries twitch at her words. I saw Sebastian come inside.

"Gotta pee, then we're ready to go." He told me.

"So how are we doing this?" I asked as we ate dinner later on.

"We'll go get some pictures and videos of the layout and let you know what we find," Helios said. We looked at the two girls playing on the arcade machine at the little diner. The waitress had been nice enough to get us some change.

"What do you mean, you'll let me know what you find? There's no f*****g way you're leaving me behind while you go off to find my friend," I yelled and he flinched at my tone. He looked at Gonzalo for a moment and they exchanged a look before he looked down at his hands. Now I felt like s**t, but whatever, there was no way I was staying behind.

"Someone has to stay behind with the kids. I don't want them near the danger," he said quietly before he lifted his head to look me in the eye. His face was blank right now. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. "They trust you, and we don't," he said calmly, as if what he was saying was common knowledge.

"Beg your pardon?" I growled.

"You're too invested, too volatile. We can't trust you not to dash in there, claws a-blazing and trying to fight your way out of there. We're doing this our way," he was still speaking calmly, but I could see the vein at his temple bulging. "The f**k you are," I yelled.

"Whoa," Sebastian said, trying to hold his coke upright as my legs hit the table on my way up.

"We've been doing this a lot longer than you have. Just trust us and stay with the girls." He said, his jaw tight.

"What makes you think we're going to be there when you come back? I looked at the map enough that I could direct a cab to where I needed to go."

"Guys," Theo tried to interject.

"Then you are sending the girls to die, along with yourself and along with your friend. You can't do this on your own." He stood and I felt his aura spreading outward, making everyone look our way.

"Helios, we can just take turns watching the girls and we'll partner up. This way we all get some rest tonight." Gonzalo said, "We can't expect her to sit behind."

Helios' veins were popping as he sat and looked me in the eye, "We do this our way. You won't disobey u-"

"Disobey? Where am I, the 1800s, where I have to ask permission to do something?"

"Do you have to counter everything I say?" He said and I saw a strange emotion cross his face for the smallest instant before it went back to blank.

Gonzalo sighed. "He's using the wrong words, but he's not wrong, Natalia. We need to be able to trust that you won't put any of us or the girl at risk. You have to admit that you've threatened to leave on your own three times in the past couple of days. We understand that she's in danger, but this is something we've done before, we know what we're doing."

He's got a point. - Hestia said.

You're supposed to be on my side. - I growled back at her.

I want Eun-Kyung back and we haven't dealt with half of the technology we saw online. We've been out of the modern world too long - She huffed.

I could feel my teeth grinding on each other. "Fine, I won't go rogue," I said, and then added when I saw Gonzalo let out a breath. "AS LONG as Eun-Kyung isn't in danger of death."

"Done." He said and looked at Helios who was looking at me, zero emotion on his face now.

"Fine, but if something happens to her, it's on you." He managed to spit out before standing up. "I'll go check the equipment. I need some air. We leave at 8," and left the diner.

"What the f**k is his deal? Is he really that chauvinistic?" I asked the rest. Anger flashed in their eyes at my words and I realized they were probably very loyal to him.

No one said anything for a moment before Theo spoke carefully, "We've done this a lot. We've seen a lot of people get hurt. He is just trying to protect everyone."

"I never asked to be protected. I just want to get my friend and take her home. We've been gone for over 2 months. Her parents are probably going crazy, not to mention theirs," I pointed to the girls who'd gone back to their arcade game. "Why haven't you called them?" Sebastian asked.

"They live in a small village. There's no phones that I know of," I answered him.

"Ah. That's a good point," he said.

"Alright, I'll go get us another rental and then we'll set up the shifts for tonight. The rental place is just down a couple of blocks. That's why I chose this hotel," Gonzalo said.

"Can I come with you?" I looked at the girls and then at Theo.

"Yea, we'll watch them. Don't worry," he said.

"Great, let's go," I said before I gave Gonzalo the chance to turn me down. We started walking down the road in silence before I started the conversation, "So...what's up with Helios?" "You should ask him, Natalia," he sighed.

"I tried. This morning. Then all of the sudden he's pissy or pouting," I growled.

"I can't speak for him. When he wants you to know, he will tell you." He took a deep breath. "But I will tell you that Helios' life changed drastically a year ago and ever since, he's been feeling...less and over protective of the few people he has left in his life," he said. "I can't speak for him. When he wants you to know, he will tell you." He took a deep breath. "But I will tell you that Helios' life changed drastically a year ago and ever since, he's been feeling...less and over protective of the few people he has left in his life," he said. I thought about his words as we continued to walk towards the rental place. 'Feeling less and over protective of the few people he has left in his life. Those words resonated deep inside me. That's the reason why I'm here. I hadn't gotten close to anyone for a long time and then I'd met Eun-Kyung's parents and developed a friendship that had led me here. "OK, I get that. Thank you," I said.

"I know he may be saying the wrong things right now, but he's a good man. Just...give him a chance," he said.

"I...will try. My social skills are a bit rust- OMG is that a GranCabrio Maserati???" I shrieked as I ran into the parking lot. I put my hands around my face to try to look inside.

"You like cars?" I can hear the amused tinge to his voice.

"Just because I don't own one right now, doesn't mean I can't appreciate a masterpiece," I say as I caress the shiny black paint on the hood lovingly.

"Well, I'll give you two a moment and go rent our car. Try not to drool on the paint. If we are charged for damages, I'm leaving you as insurance." I waved him off with my hand as I go look through the windshield and into the interior. I don't know how long I'm there before he comes back.

"Alright Cinderella, I got us two cars for the night. Can you drive the other to the hotel?" he asked. I gave the car a final small hug good bye.

"Sure, which one am I driving?" I asked as I walked away from the Maserati.

"That small, inconspicuous black car behind you," he smirks while throwing me the car keys. I'd like to say that I caught them in one hand like in the movies, but I was so shocked by what he said that the keys hit my face and scratched my eyeball on the way down. My hands quickly go to my face and I double over as I feel my eyes start stinging. I could feel the warm blood trickling down from where the tip of the key cut my eyelid.

"s**t, I'm sorry! I thought you'd be more coordinated," he said, running to me.

"You just told me I'd get to drive a Mase-fricken-rati and you expected me to be able to move my hands?" I yelled at him. Really? He was blaming me?

"Let me see. s**t, Helios is going to kill me," he says when he sees the blood dripping down my hands. He pulled my hands away from my face and I pushed it forward and yelled, "Boo!" and laughed until I cried, reveling in my revenge.

"You should have seen your face," I laughed, "I'm a wolf. I already heal fast, but I'm also a white wolf. I was healed by the time you got to me. It was just a guzzler."

"Not funny, but at least now I don't have to feel bad telling you that you'll probably only get to drive it the few blocks down to the hotel. Helios is going to want to drive it. He enjoys a well-made car," he smirks at me.

I groan. "That's not faairr," I grab the keys to the car and carefully open the door.

I heard Gonzalo chuckle, "I'll follow you." And he turned to the other car. I got into the Maserati and stroked the leather like I would a lover.

I'm cooing at the car all the way to the entrance of the hotel. I could see Helios standing outside his door. He notices the car and I see him squint, trying to see if it was me. I make a split-second decision as I feel the engine purr under me. I lowered my window and waved my fingers at him. His eyes went wide and I stepped on the accelerator. This baby can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. I smirked at the surprised face of Gonzalo through the rear-view mirrors. These guys are too easy.