Chapter 5 Trip

**Fenrir**

I wake up the next day with my head hurting, as if Koda wanted to tear through my skull and get out. It was driving me crazy. I throw the covers aside and get up with a heavy sigh. I head to the bathroom and take a long shower, allowing the hot water to relax my tense body. I get ready quickly, put on jeans and sneakers, grab a shirt and my jacket, and go downstairs. It was no surprise to find Ethan waiting for me in the kitchen.

"Who bit you?" he asks, laughing, as he finishes making coffee.

"I don't have the patience for your jokes today," I say, serving myself as soon as he's done.

"Wow! I feel sorry for whoever's sharing the car with you today," he says. I turn and look at him, raising an eyebrow.

"No!"

"Yes," I say, smiling at him. "We need to discuss some things, so you're coming with me."

"You're trying to get back at me, aren't you? What a great friend I have," he says, grabbing a piece of cake from the fridge.

"Interpret it however you like, I don't care," I say, shrugging.

After finishing my coffee, I go upstairs and pack a small bag, or rather, I throw some things into it. Nothing could explain my distaste for that trip. With everything ready, I head downstairs and find Ethan outside, waiting with the others.

"Good morning, Alpha," says Sam, one of my warriors and a friend.

"Good morning, Sam. How's Any?" I ask, and I see a smile spread across his face at the mention of his mate.

"She's great. She asked me to find out when you're coming over for coffee," he says. Any was a very perceptive wolf, one of the reasons I avoided going to Sam's house. She always saw right through me, and that wasn't the kind of conversation I wanted to have with my friend's mate.

"Someday," I tell him, and I see him shake his head. I notice everything was already packed. We were taking three cars: two with warriors and mine. I could tell Ethan was serious about the protection plan.

The first few kilometers were peaceful. I took the opportunity to get some things in order since the journey would be long. We had at least a full day of travel ahead before reaching the Eclipse pack, and I certainly didn't want to spend the night there.

At lunchtime, we stopped at a roadside restaurant. With the hunger I had, anything would be welcome. As soon as we walked in, I could see the frightened looks from the people who saw us. It was no wonder; we were all trained warriors, huge, and it would be hard for us to go unnoticed. We grabbed a table in the back so we could talk more freely. When we were around humans, extra caution was always necessary.

A woman approached, we placed our order, and she left, but I noticed the way she looked at us, which filled me with disgust. I wasn't a saint, but in recent days, the thought of anyone touching my body seemed inconceivable, both for me and for Koda. When our food arrived, we ate in silence, enjoying the meal. The road to the hotel was still long, and I didn't want to stop again.

"Did you see the way the waitress looked at you?" Ethan asks, smiling. I turn and look at him with a stern face. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know, but it made me nauseous," I say, continuing to walk, but I notice the look he exchanged with Sam.

"We're going to have to run some tests on you, I'm sure you're not feeling well," he says as he gets into the car.

"It's nothing, I just don't want anyone touching me," I say, and I see Sam turn to face me from the driver's seat.

"Why? You didn't seem to worry about that before," he says seriously.

"I don't know, but just thinking about her touching me makes my stomach churn," I say, shaking my head to dispel the image.

"Do you know why this is happening?" Sam asks, starting the car.

"I wish I knew, but I don't," I reply, frustrated.

"And Koda?" he insists.

"Don't even mention him. My head feels like it's going to explode from him trying to get out," I say, rubbing my eyes.

"Oh, that's not good," Sam says.

"I agree. Koda is a very focused wolf to be losing control like this," Ethan says.

"I know that, but he doesn't know what's bothering him either. He's just agitated," I say, shrugging.

"When we get back, we should see the pack's healer. She might know something that can help you," Ethan says, thoughtfully.

"I think he's just a bit stressed, and he doesn't like James. This trip will be hard on him."

"Why doesn't he like James?" Sam asks.

"I don't know, but the last time I saw the man, I had to hold myself back from letting Koda jump at his throat." Remembering that day only made me feel Koda scratching at my mind. I didn't like Alpha James either, but the hatred Koda felt for him was on another level.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to meet him when your wolf wants to kill him?" Sam asks, and I see his worried face in the rearview mirror.

"Of course, it's a terrible idea," I say, sighing. "I've said many times that I don't want to see him, but it seems like he doesn't care if I kill him in the process."

"That's strange. Why is he so insistent on talking to you?" Ethan asks, beside me.

"I have no idea, but that's why you're here: to stop me from killing him," I say, already feeling the fatigue taking over me.

"Don't worry about that," Sam says.

"I can't be left alone with him, so you'll have to take turns. In the state Koda is in, I don't know if I could control him."

Silence fills the car. Beside me, I see Ethan mentally communicating with the other warriors, probably giving new instructions. I didn't know what might happen, but something inside me told me that I wouldn't be the same after this trip.