Page 13 of Broken Bonds

But I’m free.

Right?

In a perfect world I’d meet and marry a handsome, rich Alpha who’d kick Dad’s ass, send my brothers packing with their tails between their legs, and let me bring Mom home to finally give her a calm and peaceful life.

Maybe even have pups, I don’t know. I’m not an expert. Once my father realized I was an omega, he told me in no uncertain terms the topic was off-limits, and I was not to talk to anyone about it. I do know that, in the past, male omegas who caught literally hid out while a female, usually human, was bribed, paid, or otherwise compelled to pretend she was pregnant. Then, voila, baby arrived, the woman scampered off to wherever she came from, and the Alpha and his mate raised the baby using whatever excuses were viable.

Sometimes the female, if she was a shifter or a human who knew the score, lived with them and pretended to be the wife of one or the other of the men. I’m not judgy.

Then again, that’s how it works for wolves and other canine shifters. Not sure if that applies to other species.

Dad’s whole “purity” bullshit. Hell, he rarely tolerated human mates, unless they were non-shifters from shifter families. And even then usually wealthy families. If they were from a tornado-ravaged trailer park, forget it.

I awaken the fourth morning before dawn and listen to the quiet around me. It’s peaceful, but I can’t stay here forever.

On the other hand, at least I know it’s a great hiding place. Part of my explorations involved checking out roads running through the area, other campsites, trails, local stores, and restaurants scattered around the extremely rural area.

If I am careful, and if I hunt at night while shifted, I could easily hide out here for several months without spending any money. There are houses around here where the residents leave their doors unlocked. I’m small enough shifted I look more like a ridiculously large German shepherd than a wolf, and I could pinch food here and there that likely wouldn’t be missed.

If I’m desperate, I could pretend to be a dog, show up limping, get myself “adopted” by the family, and suck down dog food. That’s a backup plan.

Finally, I pack and head west, making it to Brooksville later that afternoon.

In the library I go straight to the computers, search for news…

And find nothing. Only information about Dad running for office.

Nothing about me.

Sitting back, I stare at the monitor and refuse to let hope take root inside me.

I got careless once already and this is where it got me. I won’t make that mistake twice.

While I’m there I search for information about Bushville City. I find ads for local businesses, classified ads for things like used furniture and baby chicks, and not much else.

I’m ready to leave when I scent something that stops me in my tracks?—

In the faint air currents stirred by the building’s AC, I smell…something.

Stepping backward between two rows of shelves I close my eyes and inhale.

Yep. Definitely a shifter, but not a species I’ve smelled before. Not a canine or feline.

And warmly fresh, not even minutes old, meaning they’re in the building.

A plan forms in my mind to track them down until another thought hits me: If I can scent them they can probably scent me, too.

And I might not want them to scent me.

That’s enough to get me moving. I hurry outside, grab my bike, and I’m about to jump on it when I smell the scent again. I follow it through the parking lot and realize it’s coming from an older pickup truck, looks like a work truck, with Bushville City Dairy & Creamery painted on the doors.

With an address, phone number, and website.

I snap a picture with the newest burner phone and then beat feet, cutting across several streets and over five blocks, zipping through a small city park, down through a wet swale, and along a busy road before disappearing into a wooded property with a for sale sign tacked on a pine tree.

Only once I’m far enough off the road does my pulse start to slow. I pull out the burner phone and look up the place.

It’s about a mile past the intersection where I’d hoped to start my search…