Chapter Seventeen
Josie
As the night wore on, the temperature dropped, and it became a little too cool to be comfortable in a T-shirt and jeans.
I should have grabbed a hoodie. Maybe a jacket.
A sleeping bag, if I’d had one, would have also been nice.
But why not wish for the moon? I could go outside the park and find a hot drink, but that seemed like a great way to get caught.
There was plenty of fresh cold water in a spring nearby, so I wouldn’t be thirsty, at least. And if I got hungry enough, my wolf could hunt, although I had never loved that part of being a shifter.
For tonight, I squatted by the stream and drank water from my cupped hand. If there were any parasites or other evil and unwelcome things in the fluid, a quick shift would clear them out of my system. But that didn’t help me to figure out how to keep warm.
And then…my frightened brain cleared enough for me to recognize the obvious.
My human was covered by skin and a little fabric.
Lucky my alter ego bore a thick, two-layer fur coat.
Still a little rattled, I started to shift then stopped.
I had only the clothes on my back and no extras.
Leaving the stream behind, I found a copse of trees with low bushes underneath.
I should be hidden from anyone on the path, and the plants would keep the dew off me as well.
Undressing, I folded my clothes neatly and set them on a low branch before shifting into my wolf and using my forepaws to dig out a bowl-shaped depression and curled up to spend a lonely night.
I’d figure out what to do after I woke up.
At least there would be no reason for my old pack to harass either the females at the motel or my mates.
My wolf was positive we were mates, and as I lay there, I had to acknowledge that she was right.
Sure, I’d wanted the females at the motel to be okay, but the ones my prior pack were going to go after were the alphas who’d sheltered me.
The others would regard that as a betrayal, feeling that males should all stand together and, if anyone disagreed, they would fight to the death.
With me out of the picture, there would be no need for fighting or arguing or anything else.
Poof, no female to fight over. And the very idea that anyone would lose their life to protect me would weigh heavy on my soul.
I might be their mate, but they were brothers in so many senses and belonged together. They’d be fine without me.
I’d never figured out how to cry as my wolf, but inside, I wept bitter tears for the life we could have had together if only I’d recognized it sooner. And, of course, if I weren’t being pursued by males who thought they owned me.
My wolf was prepared to tear any who approached, limb from limb, but we’d need an element of surprise because the alphas, even those in my pack, were much larger than me.
I lay awake for a long time, but finally the coziness of our nest lulled me into a fitful sleep that lasted until the sun came up.
When pale golden rays filtered through the brush, I woke and crept out on my stomach.
I’d figured out at some point in the night that I could wrap my clothes around my shoes, and my belt around the whole thing, leaving a loop.
I could then carry in my mouth. Avoiding the city entirely, I could travel at night in my fur and, when I reached somewhere safe, or that appeared safe, shift and dress. Then make a new life.
Again.
Without the people who had been so kind to me. It sounded just awful.
But I had nothing to do now but wait for darkness, and the day stretched ahead of me long and sad.
Avoiding the trail, I shifted and dressed then wandered around some, enjoying the beauty of the forest as best I could.
How much better would it be if I could have Carver and Aries and Diesel here with me to explore?
Clamping down on the whole idea, I reminded myself that was over. I’d left for their good and mine. Decision made. Action taken. I wouldn’t be seeing any of them again. Ever.
Why did that make me hurt so badly? I knew why, but that didn’t make it feel any better. It was for the best. Repeat that over and over until I could believe my lies.
A crunch announced a footfall nearby, and I pushed into the brush, watching legs and boots go by. Those boots looked a lot like…
Sliding back farther into the bushes, I heard the snap of a stick and the boots stopped moving. A face appeared. A beta from my old pack. “She’s over here!” he shouted. “I’ll grab her.”
“Over my dead body!” I surged forward, pushing him back and tearing around him. “Leave me alone!”