Running From An Alpha by Rachel Starkie

 

Chapter 3

Zoya was out of the cave just as dawn kissed the distant mountains. Letting the cool air fill her lungs, she slung her pack over her back to make the hike through the forest toward the main road. She still wasn’t sure where she was off to next but knew it had to be far from the solace of her caves, trees, and of course, Sean. He would begin the hunt again. No doubt he was already closing in, doing as always, just what his Alpha wanted.

It took her about an hour to make it to the edge of the road. She would use it as a guide but stay in the shadow of the evergreens for safety. A car would have done her far better, but with how easily they could be tracked nowadays, the shoe leather express was best.

Her wolf once again pined for her mate, but Zoya just walked on. If he did not want her, then she would not force him. She stopped to check if her phone was charged. The solar banks were a godsend, that is for sure. Though she had left one phone behind, she always had another. Zoya knew they could track her with these too, but there wasn’t much choice in a digital world but to use one sparingly.

Getting the phone running, she pulled up the geo tracker and looked for the nearest town. Just a few miles north was a twenty-four-hour diner. Her stomach growled and churned at the very notion of something besides an emergency stash bar. Noting the location, she pulled the battery from the phone and walked on. Cars zipped by, and the thought to stick out her thumb was tempting, especially to her aching tummy, but safety was more important. The tree line may take longer, but it was a pleasant walk to enjoy.

Looking up at the clear blue sky, she smiled. She might be running, but she loved being free. Being able to go where she wanted, when she wanted, and not having to worry about displeasing anyone but herself was the very definition of freedom. Though it had a drawback. Loneliness. Especially during a full moon. While it didn’t dictate her turns, pack tradition called for wild runs at the full gibbous. Something she and her wolf sorely missed. She wished to run with others, but that was not safe.

Her first moon after her escape found her in the company of unknown wolves. They seemed kind, ready to help, only to turn on her as soon as they heard Morgan had put a bounty on her head for her return. Now she trusted no one, not even the council. Besides,, who was going to listen to some little female Omega runaway?

It was this betrayal that made her seek solitude and refuge with the humans. While the shifters stayed in their territories and ran things as they saw fit, the Fey loved people. Not in that let's hug and sing kumbaya way, more in the a sucker was born every moment type of way. They were not bad, just smart enough to know when to take advantage and expend the least energy to reap the most significant rewards. Frankly, they were rather brilliant.

Zoya wiped her brow, thinking about the wards and spells. Every time she had moved, she contacted a Fey for a new spell. Having to go to the underground to ensure she couldn’t be tracked, she might have swapped her incantations.

That’s it, I must have missed something, She scolded herself. Even if the Fey were a tad shady, they were honest by omission, as they called it. She had, however, been clear in her intent and knew she got what she paid for.

The sun beat down on her as she entered the limits of the countryside town. Finding a diner wasn’t hard. She just had to follow her nose.

Meat. If heaven were on earth, it would smell of cheeseburgers. She smiled as the little string of bells on the door announced her arrival.

Sitting, she placed her order. Tea and, of course, a cheeseburger with all the goodies, including fries. The tea came first, letting it rest a moment, she pulled a book from her bag and settled in. When two shadows appeared over her little booth, she froze. Her eyes lifted slowly. Seeing them, she now glared, having to hide her fear, especially in such a public place. She didn’t want anyone hurt.

How the fuck did they find me already?

Helplessly she watched as they sat opposite her with shit-eating grins, Sean far more confidant and cocky than her lost friend Dale. She was tense but stayed calm. She knew they could not make a scene.

They kept staring, not speaking, making her crazy, trying to anticipate their next move. “What?” She finally snapped.

Sean smirked, “No need to be rude, we only came in for food, and low and behold, our prey is—Ouch!” Sean growled as Zoya kicked him hard in the shin from beneath the table.“Are you sure you are a damn Omega?” Rubbing the sore spot, he hissed.

Zoya’s brow quirked as she smirked, and Dale held a snicker. “Papa always said your rank does not say anything about who you are, but your actions speak a helluva lot more to it.”

“Are you ok, miss?” The server asked, placing plates, as the three seemed to be having something of a staredown.

Zoya smiled softly, “I am—just annoying people from my past being a pain. No worries,”

The woman nodded but gave the two men a pointed look, making Dale’s lip upturn slightly.

“Nice way to make sure people are watching us,” he deadpanned.

“A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do,” She sipped her tea with an indifferent shrug, then took a monstrous bite of the cheeseburger, letting out a happy moan.

“Fucking hell,” Sean griped at the sound, but she gave him little notice. She had always loved food, and since they could not really mess with her, she was going to enjoy every last bite from her plate.

“So, are you going to give in and come home?” Sean asked.

Zoya looked thoughtful from behind her dwindling cheeseburger. “Let me think about that. Hmm, nope.” Calm as a cucumber, she popped a fry into her mouth.

Sean glared, but Dale rested his hand on his brother's shoulder, “Zoya, are you doing okay?” His question made her put the juicy cheeseburger down.

“What do you care? Dale, you are just as bad as your brother. All I see are Alpha ass kissers who do not care about who gets hurt. Don’t try being nice now. You turned your back on me too. Remember?” Her hiss was so full of anger it made him shrink backward. While Sean had rejected her as a mate, Dale’s betrayal cut deeper. He had been her confidant, the one person, short of her father, that would never hurt her.

She might have felt sorry for him, but when she needed him, he turned on her. Instead of helping, he went to Sean, who, of course, went to Morgan. Gaining her a severe beating because her accusations against Morgan for her father's death would never be tolerated. No, she could not feel sorry for him, and she would never again trust him.

Here sat two males too scared to do the right thing and too frightened to do the wrong as well. If they had any balls, she wouldn’t be stuffing her face. She would be hogtied in the back of a truck halfway back to the pack.

Sopping the last of the catsup up with her fry, she stood. “Don't follow me. Don’t come near me. I don’t want to go home with you. I am free, and that is how I will stay,” she snapped, tossed a fifty on the table, adjusted her pack, and stormed away.

Since they already knew where she was, she turned her phone on, then dashed down the filthiest back alleys. There was no way she would make it easy for them. A few clicks of her finger, and she found a place to get a car for cash. A few fake details and she was on the road to somewhere.

Anywhere but here. She thought as the car picked up speed. It would take them a little time to figure out how she got out of town, but by then, she could be so deep in the mountains they’d never find her. She thought back to her father. He was a strong Alpha that taught her many things, the least being that just because she was an Omega did not mean she had to be weak. It meant she had to work harder and be stronger than any. Even her Alpha. It was how she could stay protected, stay alive and keep her freedom. These were the lessons she held to her heart.