Crashing into Fate (Maple Grove #25) - Lynn Hagen Page 0,12

Arlan’s back.

Without answering the guy, Arlan picked up his pace even more. For one, the stranger was big as hell, tall, too. And the guy wasn’t alone. There was no way Arlan would be able to fight off either man.

Arlan should have taken his chances with Lewis. Now he wished he hadn’t sent Lewis away.

“I just want to talk.”

Arlan shouted and spun when the stranger’s voice was right behind him. He hadn’t seen the guy move. Yet there he was, staring right into Arlan’s eyes.

“I don’t need a ride, and I don’t want any conversations,” Arlan said. “I’m tired and just want to get home. Go harass someone else.”

Whether he liked it or not, the motel was Arlan’s home. For now, at least.

“That wasn’t very polite.” The man stepped closer.

Arlan was so over everything. “After the night I had, I honestly don’t give a shit.”

Sleep deprivation and a solid headache made Arlan braver than he truly was. His instincts still said the guy was bad news, and Arlan just wanted to get away from him.

“You should care.”

Arlan took off, knees to chest as he tried to get away. Running down the road was a foolish decision considering the stranger had a car.

So Arlan shot to the field, heading toward the woods. When he looked over his shoulder, the car was hot on his trail, driving through the grass and bearing down on him.

He had no clue what these guys wanted, but Arlan doubted they wanted a friendly conversation.

Had the word gone completely insane? It sure as hell felt like it.

Arlan changed course and raced for safety, though he seriously doubted he would find any. He had to think of a way out of this. He was being chased by a car in the middle of a field. He was pretty sure there wasn’t a handbook for this sort of situation and hoped like hell he wasn’t about to be killed.

Chapter Four

Lewis couldn’t leave his mate on the dark road. He slammed his palm against the steering wheel, cursed, and turned his truck around. Although he wanted to give Arlan the space he clearly needed, Lewis was worried about his mate’s safety.

He didn’t care if he had to slow roll next to Arlan the entire way. he wasn't letting his mate out of his sight until he knew who the killer was and why that dark sedan had been sitting on the road by the motel last night.

Did he blame Arlan for his hesitation? After going through what Arlan had gone through, no, Lewis didn’t blame him one bit. They didn’t know each other, and his mate was probably scared out of his mind.

Lewis slammed on the brakes when he saw his mate running through a field, a dark sedan barreling after him. If Arlan hadn’t been constantly changing direction while he ran, he was pretty sure the car would’ve caught him by now.

What in the fuck was happening?

Nothing seemed right about this situation, and Lewis didn’t like the fact that Arlan was a part of it.

Lewis had not expected to find his mate running for his life.

He gunned his motor as he drove off the road, heading right for the chase. He cut the sedan off, separating it from Arlan. The sedan tried to go around the truck, but Lewis went after it, this time ramming into the ass end and making the car spin in a half-circle before it came to a stop.

“What the hell is going on?” Lewis asked as he climbed out of the cab and slammed his truck door closed. His canines were already showing, and his claws were emerging as he walked around the front of his truck.

Two guys jumped out of the car, and Lewis instantly smelled vampire. “Arlan, get into my truck, now!”

Thankfully his mate didn’t argue. Arlan practically jumped inside as Lewis snarled at the two men. “Someone better explain to me what is going on.”

Neither man answered him, though their eyes gave off an eerie red glow, telling Lewis what he already knew.

That he was dealing with vampires. They were known for their inhuman speed, so why had they been chasing Arlan with their car? Some sick game? Had they been taunting him before they killed him?

With a deep growl, Lewis shifted into his Bengal tiger form, ready to rip the bastards apart. He hadn’t wanted Arlan to find out this way, but Lewis had been left with no choice.

He’d deal with Arlan’s meltdown later.

Even so, taking on two vampires was