Chapter 12: The Great Escape

I tried my best to stay home the rest of the weekend. Joan came over to hang out, and luckily, no alpha’s or beta’s came knocking at my door for a repeat of the night before. 

“So you’re telling me you want to get out of this mate pairing? A pairing that will make you one of the most powerful and influential Luna’s of our time? And you would be rich? And you want to do this WHY?” Joan asked me in my bedroom as we laid around talking. I was finishing the last of my study reviews for my finals I had the next day while Joan flipped through a fashion magazine. 

“He’s forceful…rude…harsh, rough, crass…UGH!” 

Joan popped the bubble she made with her gum, “You mean a dominant and possessive alpha male?” 

She openly laughs at me as if I’m saying the stupidest thing she’s ever heard. 

“SHUT UP!” I laugh with her, “He scares me okay? I don’t know why but he does. Not to mention, Bree won’t talk to me. Not since…” I hesitate and stop talking, looking away from Joan to try and hide the pain of that memory.

“Not since what Celeste?”

How do I explain the events of that night? How do I explain this fucked up relationship Callen and I have? Did he take me or was I asking him to with how much flirting I did, not to mention what I did and what I wore that night? The way my body responded to him each time? How I feel violated and completely worshiped and sated all at the same time?

“Celeste…WHAT?” Joan snapped her fingers in my face and shouted sounding concerned.

“Uh…it…it’s nothing. Just she hasn’t spoken or come out since I met Callen pretty much.”

“Damn…she’s giving you the silent treatment huh?”

I nodded as I closed my laptop and put it away, “I’ve tried talking to her, but it’s like she’s barely even there. I can barely feel her.”

“Whoa…okay, I guess I can get why you would want to get away from that if that sends your wolf packing!” Joan chuckled trying to lighten the mood. 

I fumble with my hands as I think about telling Joan what I am planning, or thinking of doing anyway. In the end, she’s my best friend. We share everything with each other! 

“If I tell you something…promise you won’t say anything?” I ask her. I know her answer but I still need to hear it.

She nods and holds up her pinky to do a pinky swear before I begin, “I’m going to run away.”

Joan’s eyes look like they are going to pop right out of her head and her jaw drops before she sputters, “W…when? How?”

“Tomorrow after my last final. I’m packing what I can fit in my car and driving to college! I’ll find a place to stay in the area, get a summer job to live until school starts. Then I’ll go to school!” I started to explain to Joan proudly.

“What about when Alpha Callen finds you? Won’t he just make you transfer to UCLA or unenroll completely and drag you back to his pack?” Joan reasoned.

“By then, Surely Callen will have grown bored of trying to find me and found someone else to be his incubator and toy. This will all blow over and I’ll have my life back! Alpha Xander may banish me, but I’ll be living among the Lone Star pack unofficially.”

“Yeah…unofficially, meaning they will smell your rogue status a mile away!”

“Well, if I can avoid getting banished until the end of the summer…my Pack Residential Education Permit (PREP) will be valid at the beginning of August, so no one will notice my rogue status until I graduate from school since I’ll be in the pack on a PREP!” I really did think of everything! I was proud of myself for thinking this up over the past few nights. 

“Wow,” Joan was stunned at my explanation, “That might actually work!” She theorized, agreeing with me.

“I know! I got this! I just need you to stall a little for me whenever anyone asks if you’ve seen me. Don’t tip them off that I left you know? Cover for me. I tell my parents I’m spending the night at your house, you tell them I told you I was staying at Emi’s house, have Emi tell them I told her I was staying at Terry…”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah…I get the picture! I actually have an idea too!” Joan pipped up pretty quick. 

“Okay, what?”

“You know my cousins live in the Lone Star pack right? I can let them know you’re coming and they will give you a place to crash until you get on your feet! They’re totally cool guys! I know they won’t mind at all!”

I jump across the bed and hug Joan, “Thank you, Joan! I love you so much!” She’s like a sister to me! 

“But, PROMISE ME you will text me and call to check in with me so I know you’re okay!” She orders.

I nod, “PROMISE!” And we pinky swear on it for good measure.

“I still think you are crazy stupid to pass on this kind of deal…but your life…your choices…love ya girl!” Joan chuckles as she gets her things to leave.

“Hush you!” I laugh.

The evening passed and I quietly began to pack and walk things out to my car, trying to avoid my parent’s and brother’s prying eyes to avoid suspicion. When I got as much packed as I could without raising suspicion, I told my parents good night for the last time. I hugged each of them, telling them I loved them. I even hugged my brother before I went to bed, ready to face the next day. 

The following day passed without any major issues. I took all my finals, said goodbye to friends and teachers, and prepared to begin the rest of my life. I couldn’t risk telling Emi and Terry what I was doing yet, so I just acted casual around them like I would see them tomorrow. I hate myself for that. 

Joan caught me in the parking lot as I was meters from freedom, “CELESTE! WAIT!”

I turned and waited for Joan to reach me, “What’s up?”

“My cousin’s address! Here!” She handed me a piece of paper with the address and a phone number, I assume to reach one of her cousins.

“Call them when you get in town and they said they would come to meet you and guide you back to the house. Text me when you get there so I don’t freak!” 

I nodded and gave her a huge hug, “Thank you!”

“Thank me later! I sure hope this works girl!” And with that, I jumped in my car and took off. 

Two Weeks Later

I settled into life in the south. Joan’s cousins, Charley and Frank, have been super helpful! They even helped me get a job on the down-low while I’m technically a ‘Missing Person’. It is a LOT hotter here than in my pack! I don’t see the point in putting on many clothes when I walk outside and immediately begin to sweat everywhere! Unfortunately, the little job I was able to get paid so little, I could barely afford to eat. Charley and Frank were willing to support me, but I insisted. I needed to be able to take care of myself. I told them I would eventually pay rent and they argued that they wouldn’t accept my money. 

Regardless of all of that, I needed more money to live on. I already blew through what little I was able to save before I ran off. I knew I would need clothes and school supplies soon that student loans wouldn’t cover. 

So, I found a job where they don’t ask questions when you look good in a thong. That’s right…I started stripping at a bar on the outskirts of town, and it paid BIG TIME! I was a little nervous at first, hell, ashamed really, but I needed money. I couldn’t risk putting my name out there legally while I am not supposed to be here, not to mention the shit storm back home that probably just started, I noted as I realized that Callen was set to return back to take me around this time. I relished the thought of imagining his face when he realized I ran away! 

‘Eat that bastard! Try to find me now!’ I thought to myself.

‘Yeah!’ I heard back at me. My heart quickened when I heard her! It was Bree! She must be happy that I ran away! Maybe if I just give her a little more time, she will come back fully. 

It was a Friday night at the club, and that meant, one of the best nights to work and make a ton of money! I usually kept to the corners of the club, walking around and offering lap dances, or dancing on side stages. I didn’t want to bring too much attention to myself. After working for a few days, I realized this wasn’t any different than when I got up on stage at a strip club when it was for a competition. After I realized that, I relaxed and became a lot more comfortable, and dare I say…liberated and freed? 

That is until HE requested a lap dance from me.