Page 2 of And Omega Makes Four: A Wolf Shifter Reverse Harem MMMM Romance (Alphas Plus One Book 1)

I’ve been running all night. My legs are tired. I’m cold because the wet dew has soaked through my shoes, and I can’t feel my toes. When I snuck out of the house, I decided not to use my wolf. I could cover more ground on four legs, but then I would’ve had to leave my backpack behind. And eventually, I’d have to shift back.

Wandering around naked as a human doesn’t usually go over well.

No, this was the right call, even if I am dead on my feet.

I only have a short window of time before they notice I’m gone, so I need to put as much distance between me and them as possible. The chair I used to brace the bedroom door will only hold them back for so long. Once they realize I’m not there, they’ll be out searching for me.

And they will be using their wolves.

Getting to the road and finding someone to hitchhike with is my only chance at escape. It’s a long shot, but it’s all I’ve got. If I don’t…

I shake away thoughts of doubt as I stumble through the underbrush and scramble up the embankment toward the old highway that snakes through the back country. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this far from the compound, but roads don’t change much. The scent of asphalt and engines is both strange and welcome.

I eagerly reach the roadside, desperate to be free of the clinging blackberry vines that have been tearing at me the entire way. I’m muddy, damp, covered in thorns, pine needles, pitch, and who knows what else, but I’ve finally hit the first milestone of my escape plan.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I turn to look at the way I came, taking several steps backward so I can fully appreciate the enormity of the task. I did it. I actually did it. After weeks of planning and preparing and working up the courage, I’ve escaped.

Now, I just need to make sure I don’t get caught.

The sound of an engine draws my attention. I glance casually to my right and freeze at the sight of a car barreling toward me. The driver is screaming something unintelligible, but I can’t hear a word of it.

My heart stops dead in my chest as every neuron in my brain is telling me it’s over. This is where I die. My life is done. There’s nowhere to run, no time to flee.

At least...I’m free.

I close my eyes and wait for the impact.

But it never comes.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing!?” A deep voice snaps me back to reality.

I look up to see the car stopped a few feet away as the driver climbs out with a look of fury in his eyes.

His shining, sparkling, blue eyes…

I frown, immediately on my guard. He’s an alpha. And a wolf. But I don’t recognize him or his scent. He’s not from around here. Which could be very good...or very bad.

His nostrils flare as he catches my scent, and his eyes narrow as he kicks his car door shut and marches toward me. I’m vaguely aware of two others climbing out of the car behind him, but I can’t look away from those fiery blue eyes. “You could’ve been killed.” He stalks toward me, pissed off and demanding answers. “Why didn’t you move?”

“I...I...” I shake my head, suddenly unable to conjure any of the words I once possessed. I must look like a complete idiot.

“Kyle, calm down,” one of his companions is saying. “You’re scaring the poor thing.”

“Fuck calm,” the one called Kyle snaps and looks back at me. “I don’t like how close I came to killing someone just now. Do you understand?”

“I’m sorry.” It takes a minute for my brain to start working again, but it finally does. “I didn’t mean... Um, it was...an accident.”

“Sure, sure.” Kyle waves his hand dismissively.

“Kyle, stop.” A much calmer alpha with a warm voice puts a hand on his companion’s arm and gently tugs him away. “Go back to the car and calm down. Everything’s okay. Everyone’s safe. Take a breath, okay?”

“Frankie...”

“Go on.”

Kyle glances at me once more, and then returns to the car.

“Are you okay?” Frankie looks me over as if checking for injuries. “You look like you’ve gotten a little banged up.”

“I, um...I’m fine.” I clear my throat and try to sound stronger than I feel. “I’ve just been hiking, and I got turned around.” It doesn’t matter how friendly he may seem, I can’t afford to tell anyone the real reason I’m out in the woods in the middle of the night. There’s no telling how they might react.

Three alphas traveling alone? They’d probably leap at the chance to return me to my pack and put themselves in their good graces. That would secure them just about any favor they’d want.

“Mhmm...” Frankie doesn’t look convinced, but he’s not pushing the topic either. “Well, if you’re just out for a hike, I don’t suppose you would be interested in catching a ride with us.” He throws his thumb over his shoulder and glances back toward the car.

“I didn’t say that,” I blurt a little too quickly. “I mean, I’d be really grateful for a ride, actually.”

Frankie cocks his head to the side, more concern shining through. “You don’t even know where we’re going.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I admit. “As long as it’s far away from here.”

“I see...” Frankie crosses his arms over his chest and nods. “Well, at the very least, lets get out of the road before another car comes along.” He gestures for me to follow him back to the car.

“Devon, make room in the back for our hitchhiker, will you?” Frankie instructs the third alpha as he approaches the vehicle. “Looks like we’re gonna have a passenger for a little while.”

“Oh?” Devon looks at me appraisingly. He’s younger than the other two and has a slimmer build. If it wasn’t for his scent, I’d almost mistake him for an omega based on his physique. However, there’s definitely something very “alpha” about his movements.

“Frankie, are you sure about this?” Kyle says as Frankie opens up the door to the backseat and begins tossing stuff into the trunk. “We don’t even know this kid.”

“I’m not a kid,” I protest. “And my name is River.”

“Yes, I’m sure you’re very mature, River.” Kyle rolls his eyes at me. “Wandering out into the middle of the road and freezing like a deer in headlights screams good decision-making skills.”

“I-I was just surprised.” My lower lip juts out, but I do my best to hide my hurt over his insult. In a quiet voice, I whisper, “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”

“Kyle, enough.” Frankie stops him from continuing his lecture. “It’s not like it costs us anything to give him a ride, right? We’ll drop him off when we get to town. Then, he can go his way, and we’ll go ours.”

I nod in agreement. “That’s perfect. I promise I won’t be any more trouble.”

“You’re not any trouble, River.” Frankie pats my shoulder warmly as he steps back from the car and gestures to the newly cleared seat. “Make yourself comfortable. We’ve got a long ride ahead.”

As I climb into the back seat, I can’t help but feel a little bit like a lamb surrounded by three hungry wolves. I’m just one omega, and any one of them could easily overpower me.

But my options are limited, and I’ve got no choice but to trust them. For now.