Chapter 1 - Katelyn

How long have I been running?  I don’t remember.  However, I can’t stop now.  I have to keep going.  I have to get as far away from there as possible.

My paws pound on the forest floor as I dash around a tree and over a fallen log.  With each step, my legs cramp a little more, but I can’t pay attention to it now.  I have to get away. 

With sheer determination in my eyes, I focus my attention on the terrain ahead.  My escape almost came to a crashing halt a few minutes ago when I took my eyes off the path ahead and I almost slammed into a tree trunk.  Good thing my wolf has good reflexes. 

I still can’t believe that I could be this stupid.  What was I thinking? 

Oh, yeah.  I hoped when my mate turned 18 and could finally sense my presence that he would love me and claim me.  What a joke? 

I’ve known since my 18^th birthday, which has been two years now, that the one person I’ve hated for these last few years is my mate.  However, being the coward I am, I didn’t tell him.  Well, it didn’t help that he would continuously tease and belittle me. 

Plus, I didn’t have enough courage to walk up to the alpha’s son and announce he was my mate.  Everyone would have laughed at me, so I kept my mouth shut.

However, I never would have expected what happened a few days ago.  My heart aches just thinking about it.  No.  I have to forget.  I have to move on.

My wolf whines.  Even though my mate didn’t mark me, my wolf already knows who our true mate is and still wants him.  However, that will never happen now. 

Ugh…  I have to keep going.

As I dash over a crest of a hill, my eyes suddenly lock onto the glow through the trees on the horizon.  Yes.  I have finally made it to a big city.  They should have a bus station there and I can go as far as the bus will take me.  Now, I just have to blend in with the humans and not be discovered.  I can do this.

I suddenly have a spring in my step, and with a renewed energy, I bolt ahead.  I should be able to make it to town before morning.  All I need to do is to find something to eat and a place to clean up.  Then I will start my new life.

***

I settle down into the back seat on the bus.  For the first time in the last two years, I finally have hope.  My heart still aches, and my wolf still wants to go back to our pack, but I know that isn’t possible now.  However, I’m sure my father is looking for me, and that is why I have to get as far away from my pack as possible. 

I’m positive my father has tried to contact other packs, but I can’t have them find out my real name.  From now on, Katelyn is gone.  She died the moment I left my pack. 

The only person left is the new one that I have created.  Welcome to my new life, Brenda.

I sigh as I turn my head and look out the window.  There are so many uncertainties about the future, but I can’t let that control my life.  For once, I need to live for myself.  Not for my parents.  Not for my mate.  Not for the family name.  No.  I will only live for myself now. 

I hope the Moon Goddess is on my side now.  If she is, she will guide me to the place I need to be and to a place where I can heal.  Someday, I will be 100% again.  Only then I will be able to come out of hiding, but not before.

I don’t even know if there are werewolves where I’m going.  My father has never talked about this area before.  Well, it is rather far from my pack, but my pack has never dealt with any werewolf packs in this area.  So, I can only assume that there isn’t any out this direction, which is why I’m heading there.  From now on, I will live as a human.

I have gone to college for a couple of years.  However, now, I won’t be going back, which surprisingly, I’m fine with that.  Well, I’m sure the fact that my mate is starting there this next semester is helping with me not wanting to go there. 

Ugh…  I have to stop thinking about him.

As the bus begins to move and head down the road, I continue to watch the scenery as it slowly begins to blur past, and for the first time in my life, I think about what I want to do with my life.  I have nothing holding me back now. 

First thing is I have to get a job, and then I might think about going back to college.  Is there even a college around this area?  I’m sure there is.  I will look into it when I get there. 

As I continue to think about the possibilities, my eyelids slowly close and sleep quickly consumes me. 

***

“Hey.  Miss.  You need to wake up.  We are at the end of the line.”

What?  Someone nudges my shoulder as my eyes slowly flicker open.  Oh, my body is stiff.  How long have I been sleeping? 

SHIT!!  Did I miss my stop?

I whip my head up and look at the bus driver.  “Where are we?  I was supposed to get off….”

The older gentleman smiles and interrupts me.  “You looked so tired that I didn’t want to wake you.  Even now, I let you sleep on the bus for several hours, but it is time for me to go home.  You need to get off now.  I have gotten your bag out from the luggage compartment and put it next to the bus.”

Wait!  I missed my stop.  I don’t even know where I am.

I don’t know what to say.  However, my mind seems to suddenly begin working as I mumble, “Is there even any place to find a job around here or eat?  I don’t even know where I’m going to sleep tonight.”

The bus driver gently pats my shoulder as he softly replies, “Don’t worry about that.  You can come with me to the pack house, and we will figure things out.  I’ll talk to the alpha and see if he will let you stay with us.” 

Did he just say pack house and alpha? 

For the first time after waking up, I finally look at the bus driver’s face.  This is the first time in years that I’m actually met with a warm a smile.  The few gray hairs scattered around his dark brown hair seem to give him an air of experience, but also a sense of wisdom. 

As I continue to stare blankly at the bus driver and think about what I should do, he gently grabs my arm and chimes, “Let’s go.  It is about supper time and if we don’t get there on time, those rascals may eat everything.”

I still don’t know what is going on, but I don’t protest.  I let the older gentleman pull me out of my seat and guide me out of the bus. 

We grab my one bag, and he guides me to a car in the parking lot next to the bus station.  I still don’t know what is going on, but the thought of having a meal at a pack house warms my heart. 

An image of me when I was younger suddenly pops into my head.  I was only about 10 at the time and I had gone to another pack for several weeks to visit my aunt and uncle, along with my cousins.  I was so excited to finally be back home and with my parents that I went running into the pack house.  I didn’t care that it was mealtime. 

When I dashed through the doors and into the dining hall, I was met with my mother’s joyous smile and her open arms.  I ran across the room and threw myself into her arms.  Her soft voice happily hummed, “Welcome home, baby.  I’ve missed you so much.”

Within seconds, my father was also hugging me and my mother.  His warm voice whispering in my ear, “Welcome back, princess.”

My father was never a person for a lot of words, but I felt so loved at that moment.  I never wanted to leave that spot.

As I get into the vehicle, a lone tear slides down my face as the realization finally hits me.  I will never see my parents again. 

The older gentleman gets into the driver’s seat, and as he starts the vehicle, he softly chimes, “By the way, I’m Gus.  I don’t know what you have gone through, but clearly you are running from something or someone.  I hope you aren’t too mad at me, but that is why I let you sleep through the whole bus route.  You looked so tired, and I can only imagine that you have been running for a while.”

I slowly nod my head as I look down at my lap.  How can he figure that out?  Do I look that bad?

I softly reply, “I’m Brenda.”

The vehicle begins to move, and I shift my eyes to look out the window.

Gus continues, “I have already linked with the pack and asked for you to take shelter with us.  I just can’t let someone so innocent and pure suffer.  Plus, you are a rare omega, and it isn’t safe to have you roaming around without your pack.”

Shit.  I didn’t even think about that. 

Another lone tear slides down my cheek as I bite my lower lip and hum, “hmm.”

As we pull out of the parking lot and head down the road, Gus lightly pats my arm.  “Don’t worry.  Our alpha is a good guy.  His mate was killed in a fight a few years ago.  We have always been hiding, thus the reason why many of us have jobs in neighboring towns.  We have also learned how to hide our scent, so other werewolves can’t detect us.  They think we are just another human.”

Oh, so that is why I didn’t realize that he was a werewolf.

I continue to stare out the window as Gus continues.  “Our alpha, Wyatt, is excited to meet you.  You will be the first omega from the outside of the pack he has ever met.  Unlike most other packs whose Lunas are betas, our pack usually has an omega for our Luna.  However, Wyatt’s mate was a beta, which was a first for us.  However, she was killed in a fight a few years back.”

I nod my head.  Well, besides my best friend Bridget and her mother, who are also omegas, this is the first time I’m hearing of other omegas.  Can it really be true? 

However, I can’t focus on much else as my heart and body aches. 

Right now, I just want to eat, take a bath, and get some rest. 

As I watch the scenery whiz past, I can’t help but to wonder if they will let me stay.  I have nowhere else to go and Gus even said that the pack stays hidden.  Would they allow me to stay hidden there, too? 

Is this where the Moon Goddess wants me to be?