Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 117 - Rideshare Reluctance

Chapter 117: Chapter 117 - Rideshare Reluctance

I gave it the address I’d carefully selected after plenty of research - a small coffee shop with a ridiculous name near a major trailhead. One that led toward the wilderness area where the hunter’s hideout waited. Close enough to my destination to help minimize travel time on foot.

"Common enough of a destination to not raise suspicion as to why I wanted to be left there. Especially in the getup I’ll be wearing. I hope."

A minute later, an alert came through the device: [Driver On Route: ETA... 15min]. The app showed my driver’s face, name, and vehicle details... along with a little dot that moved slowly through the city streets towards my location on the map.

I spent the time getting dressed before having nothing left to do but pace uncomfortably, stare at the wall, or silently bicker with Vrika about things it isn’t asking me.

> It’s not like I’ve never experienced moving vehicles... I’ve ridden in carriages. And boats. This is just... faster. And louder. And made of metal. And Helene knew some vague things about ’statistics’ that I really should not have looked up this morning. <

My wolf sent back impressions of calm. The creature’s confidence in my ability to handle this world’s methods of conveyance... is far greater than my own belief. Which somehow manages to be both reassuring and vexing.

"Worst case, I’ll probably survive an average car crash. You can help me recover from that."

A notification chirp from the phone alerted me that my ride would arrive soon. I shouldered my backpack full of dry foods and a filled water bottle before giving the motel room one last sweeping glance. Feeling just a little like I’m saying goodbye to a new place again, already.

"Paying for a week might not have been the smartest, now that I think about it."

I’d returned the key after vaguely explaining my travel plans. The motel manager did not offer reimbursement, but I did not expect her to either. Neither did I completely expect her to promise to keep it waiting for when I came back... but she did.

Outside, the near noon air still carried the scents from the overnight rain. Slightly overcast, but the sun had popped out of the clouds a few times. A blueish vehicle pulled up to the curb just as I emerged into the parking lot and stopped in front of the motel office lobby.

The driver was supposed to be a middle-aged woman named Brandi with short, curly blonde hair and modern looking glasses perched on her nose. It appeared to be the same woman as in the picture, but she lacked the glasses.

> Humans can wear ’contacts’ I suppose. I can’t imagine willingly sticking something directly onto my own eye. <

She popped the trunk open as I approached, hardly looking up from her own phone. Whether that is common behavior in this day and age or not, I find it a little rude. So I just stand there until she looks up.

"You’re my passenger Citra?"

"Yes."

"Heading out to One Howl Of A Cup?"

"That’s right."

She nodded while accepting my terse answers without further comment. Which I appreciated... as people who don’t pry are a rare treasure. As someone whose curiosity often gets the better of them, I can recognize that.

I settled my backpack into the trunk, closed it as her memories tell me I should, and climbed into the back seat. I’m immediately assaulted by the smell of artificial pine - judging by the little tree air freshener on her rearview mirror - and stale coffee... judging by the thermos cup in her holder.

"Long hike planned?"

As we pulled away from the motel, the motion slightly disorienting, this Brandi glanced at me in the rearview mirror and asked. So much for not prying... she just waited to do it until I couldn’t walk away! I decided how much to share before opening my mouth.

"I’m new to Vossden, so just exploring the area a little. Thought I’d get a drink and look around for the day."

"Picked a... nice day for it. Rain will make the trails a little unpleasant. But you also might see some more wildlife than normal."

The car accelerated onto a larger road, and I gripped the seat belt over my chest tightly. I truly have no problem with running fast, but riding like this... gives up too much control for my taste. Perhaps it would be better if I was the one at the wheel, but for now...

> Not. Helping. <

Vrika, annoyingly, seemed to enjoy the sensation. It wanted me to look out the window more, especially. But with everything rushing by, that just made my stomach feel unpleasant. Proof that we are quite distinct entities even if we share some opinions.

We traveled in relative silence after that short attempt at conversation, the hum of the engine and occasional ping from Brandi’s phone the only real sounds. Stopping and starting at traffic lights and stop signs made the ride take longer than I thought it would in the city itself.

> Maybe next time, if I need to do this, it would be a better idea to just walk towards the city edge and be picked up there... <

For a while I stared at my own phone... wondering if I should be doing something with it. Playing a few rounds of Fox Run to pass the time... or perhaps composing a text of some sort.

But the thought of opening that message box of trouble with the Alpha when I’m trying to ignore what happened this morning just makes me sigh and shut my eyes. I don’t even know what I’d want to say to her in the first place.

> Another thank you wouldn’t be too much, but it also would be... in a way. <

When I opened them, I let Vrika gaze out the window after giving it the reins to Helene’s body - just a little. Watching uncomfortably from a slightly disassociated part of my mindscape as the city gradually thinned.

First into the suburbs, then some of the same scattered houses I’d been by before, and finally the dense woods that existed on this side of Vossden. This part of the trip was faster than on foot by far.

We’d hiked this whole road on foot about a week ago, it’s funny to think. During that rush to the city everything felt so easy. I just had the one real goal, to make it there.

> Everything got so complicated so fast. No... it was always complicated. Transmigrating, pregnant, system... <

It’s not like I thought this world was a real ’vacation’, with everything in Helene’s memories - and the circumstances I was put into upon my arrival. But slowly, relentlessly... it’s feeling like I ran out of the black cage being placed around me.

The one placed around the original body.

For through its many large holes, I could see and fit through clearer than her.

Only to find a shiny warm white one seeming like it waited just for me.

With no holes at all, but an open glowing orange door and clean inviting scent.

The protection it offers paired with the sense of not seeing anything else outside of it once I’m inside.

"...How am I not supposed to be terrified of that?"

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