Chapter 161

Michael POV

We make it to Nashville and check into our hotel. Shawna looks like she's going to have one of those days where she hardly feels like eating because her stomach isn't feeling up to par. It's been a long day, where she nibbled and drank water, but didn't eat much. "You okay baby?" I say, brushing her hair back from her face.

"I'm fine, just worried. I haven't heard from Lynn all day. I called her twice and sent her three text messages. Still nothing," she says as she bites her bottom lip. "You think they are okay?"

I shrug, "Why wouldn't they be?" I pull her over to the sofa against the wall and sit, pulling her onto my lap. "Clint told me they'd be packing all day when we spoke early this morning. They are very excited about coming out to Georgia."

"It's just unlike my sister to not even respond to the messages. She was way to happy about getting away from the pack," she chews her bottom lip in thought. "What if the Alpha found out that she was pregnant and trying to leave the territory? He doesn't take to kindly to his pack members not notifying him when they are planning to join another pack."

"You didn't call him when you pledged to the pack in Idaho, and you won't call the new Alpha up there either," I remind her.

"That was different. I had been gone a very long time, and the council informed him of my whereabouts. It's not like he could pitch a fit with the council," she states. That's a fair obersvation but I'm thinking Shawna might be paranoid after everything she's been through. This pregnancy hasn't helped much, with her hormones raging. And, I think, this is just the beginning.

"You think I'm over thinking this?" she asks sheepishly.

"I think you're cautious," I tell her, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "How about we get some dinner and if we still haven't heard anything, we give them a call." She nods. "Do you want to stick around Nashville a day or two? See some sights?"

"Sure, why not," she says. "Let's go get some dinner, something light."

"I'm starving," I tell her. "We can find a place that has steak for me, and you can order something light off the menu if you're feeling it. How does that sound?"

"That's fine," she says, still lost in her head. I can literally see the gears turning in her head. I sigh and lift her from my lap so I can stand, then pull her with me.

We walk from the hotel entrance, down the busy main street that it faces. I put us right in the middle of the action, so my girl can experience Nashville. She loves country music and she previously told me she has always wanted to come here. Her pregnancy sickness is having an effect on her though, along with the worries about her sister. I make a mental note to bring her back one day, when she's under less stress. A couple blocks down, we find a restaurant called "The Roadhouse", so we go inside to see what it looks like. It's rustic, with wood floors, sawdust on them. It has a huge dancefloor off to the left of the main door and then the dining around is to the right. There's a live band playing, some up and coming group that is trying to make a name for themselves.

"Can I help you?" the hostess bats her eyes at me and smiles.

"Table for two," I say. "Away from the loud music."

"Sure, follow me." She leads us to a very back corner table for two. "The special tonight is a barbeque platter, with three different meats, a side of fries, corn on the cob and apple cobbler. Your waiter is John and he will be right over," she says as she sets the menus on the table. She touches my arm as she turns and walks away. Shawna's eyes go wide and I see her wolf push forward.

"That little bitch," Shawna snarls, as the hostess walks away. She shakes her head as if to clear it and then turns back towards me. I give her a smile and pull out her chair for her.

"Babe, she's nobody. Let's eat. That special sounded like a good idea for a hungry guy like me," I help her to scoot her chair forward before sitting in the chair opposite her, facing the door. I like to see who or what is coming and going. It's just a force of habit, having been not just a Guardian but also being an Alpha. I need to know threats before they are a threat. Now I have my mate and our unborn child to protect as well.

Shawna scrunches up her face at the menu, brushing off my comment about the hostess. "Nobody," she grumbles under breath. She sets her menu down. "What the heck is wrong with me? Good Goddess, I'm a mess." Shawna laughs quietly and our waiter walks up.

"Welcome to the Roadhouse, I'm John. Did Shelly tell you our specials?"

"Assuming Shelly is the hostess, then yes," I answer. "I will have that. What are the meats?"

"Your choice sir. There are three styles of ribs available, there is shredded pork or chicken, sausage and ham hocks." He gives me the run down of the variety of meats and my mouth is watering just listening to the lengthy options. I go with a full slab of baby back ribs, the shredded pork and three honey hot sausage links. To my surprise, Shawna orders a full rack of ribs as well, with a few sides.

"Change your mind?" I ask as I sip my glass of water. "About being hungry?" I ask when she looks perplexed.

"I decided it sounded to good not to actually eat it," she says with a smile. "Plus we are in Nashville and I need to get out of my own head," she practically glows with excitement, a smile stretching across her face. "Will you take me to the Grand Ol' Oprey?" she asks.

"If you want to go there, then yes babe. Whatever you want. I can see about getting us tickets for tomorrow," I tell her, as I pull out my phone to do a quick search.

We are discussing the options of what we can do for the next two days when our food arrives. It smells and tastes as good as it sounded when our waiter described it. I'm practicaly moaning with delight at the explosion of flavors that are on my tongue. We are about finsihed, licking up the last bits from our fingers when Shawna's phone rings. She looks down to see it's her sister.

"Lynn," she answers quickly. "I've been calling you and texting you. Are you okay?"

I watch Shawna's face, unable to hear the other end of the call because of the music. Her face pales. "No," she whispers. She looks up to me and covers the mouth piece. "The Alpha found out that Lynn is pregnant. He showed up at the house today."