Free Live It Up by Emma Hillman Page A

wouldn’t have had a future together, he knew that.
    After all, his Pride didn’t like strangers and they liked humans even less. She’d have had a challenge just trying to fit in, and being with the Enforcer didn’t always mean doors opened for him. Most people feared him, and they were right to.
    He rubbed a palm over his tired face. He’d spent all night sitting in the car, staring at the motel room where she slept. He hadn’t wanted to leave, too aware of her frailty and the bruises still covering her body. He’d missed her too, missed feeling her close, hearing the little snores she made when she was deeply asleep.
    “Can you pull over at the next station?”
    Her question brought him back to the present. He turned toward her and frowned. “We’re close.”
    “I know, but I’m thirsty. It won’t take long.”
    “Fine.” He didn’t want to prolong the inevitable, but he’d stop if she wanted to. The faster they were in Lincolnstown however, the faster he’d peel out of there. He couldn’t take being in the same car than her and not being able to touch her. It was driving him and his lion crazy, and he was tired of fighting himself.
    Ten minutes later, he parked the car in front of the small shop that stood empty in the middle of the parking lot. He stretched out his arms above his head as soon as he was out of the car. He didn’t mind driving, but his body didn’t particularly like being cooped up for so long.
    His lion paced inside him. He sniffed the air and relaxed when he decided everything smelled all right.
    He turned around just in time to see Sunny walk into the shop. She stopped for a second then strode toward the back. Deciding he had enough time to stroll around a little, Andy closed his car door and sauntered toward a nearby patch of trees.
    Once he was amidst nature, he felt himself unwind. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, listening to the usual noise of small animals die down at his approach. He was the predator, the one they feared.
    It was only when he heard the telltale sound of a car engine sputtering to life that he opened his eyes again. He frowned. Something felt wrong. He ran to the edge of the woods and swore. His SUV!
    That was his car accelerating as it bumped onto the open road.
    “Sunny!” he called out, reaching the shop. He opened the door and called out her name a second time. He couldn’t believe he’d left the keys in the ignition!
    Fuck, there hadn’t been another car in the lot, but he should have been more careful. He’d been so eager to put some distance between them, he’d forgotten about anything else.
    “She left.”
    “What?” He came to a stop in front of the antiquated till. “What do you mean?”
    “She drove away, bro. Guess you must have really pissed her off or something.”
    He blinked. “She’s the one driving my car? The woman who was with me?”
    “Sure thing. You better apologize, dude, or you’ll be stuck here all night.” The boy, who couldn’t have been more than sixteen, chuckled as if this was the most entertainment he’d seen all day. And it probably was.
    “Fuck!” Sunny had left…in his own car. He’d known she wasn’t happy, but why had she done that? They were so close to her hometown, too. That didn’t make any sense!
    He slammed the door on his way out, but it swung aimlessly.
    “Fuck!” he repeated, his gaze on the empty road. That’s when he realized something else. She’d gone in the opposite direction to Lincolnstown.
    She was going back to the Pride. He wasn’t sure how he knew that but he didn’t need any more convincing. He hurried to the woods and shifted as soon as he was hidden by shrubs. If he ran all night, he should get there before her.
    He prayed he did. If she turned up back there without him and no good explanation about his absence, his father would go nuts.
    * * * *
    Sunny had driven all night, and she was so tired she could barely function. Only one thing kept her awake, and that was