Page 3 of Safe in His Arms

Getting this job had been a godsend. He’d been desperate, and out of money after getting this far. His plan had been to stay in town for a day, rest up, then continue on his way, somehow.

To be honest, when he’d left his home and his pack, Devon hadn’t really had a plan, but things seemed to have been working out for him—at least so far—especially if he stayed in human towns and away from his kind.

That was why he hadn’t been sure about staying here, but then thehelp wantedsign had been too good to pass up. Besides, he was almost halfway around the country, so he figured he would be safe for a little while.

Rex, the other owner of the bar, came in the back as he always did. The beta walked over to his omega Parker and placed a kiss on the smaller man’s lips. Parker sighed, leaning in to his mate for a second.

“How’s it going out there?” Devon heard Parker ask his mate.

Devon knew he shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but he couldn’t help himself. He was a little envious of their relationship. The two of them seemed happy together, happier than anyone in his former pack, that was for damn sure.

Then again, his pack alpha believed in growing the pack, which meant forced matings, forced relationships, sometimes simply being bred during heats. He didn’t believe in waiting for one’s fated mates, so well, bad things happened.

Devon was happier here than he could ever remember being. His bosses were nice, if a bit nosy. They asked him where he stayed a lot, and tried to get to know him since they knew he was new in town. So far he’d managed to sidestep most of their questions, but apart from their general nosiness, they were nice, and Devon hadn’t had a lot of that in his life.

Devon simply kept his head down and worked. It was easy work since most of the omegas in his old pack had to cook, so working in this kitchen was easy for Devon. The bar’s menu was great. They had some simple items that were standard bar food, and some stuff that Parker made kind of like specials, but generally customers could get burgers, chicken wings, cheese fries, and nachos with different toppings, just to name a few.

Devon had been brought on as general help for Parker, so he cooked, but also helped with the dishes too. Sometimes if they were super busy he would also go out and serve, but he didn’t like that. He preferred to be hidden in the back. Better not to draw attention to himself while on the run.

He knew some people might look at the little campsite he had pitched and feel sorry for him, but Devon wasn’t complaining. He could sleep as a wolf with the tent zipped up and if he needed to go at night, well, the wolf thing worked too.

In the daytime, he came in early to help set up and prep, so he usually got three meals at the bar, which was awesome for him, because he could save all the money he made.

Devon knew he could make more being out front from tips and stuff, but nope, he wasn’t even going to risk it.

Whenever he thought about moving on from this town, his wolf seemed to protest, and since he kind of felt safe here at the moment, he was willing to push his stay a little longer. He was far enough away—he hoped.

A part of Devon always wanted to run, because he was surrounded by wolves, but then it occurred to him, maybe he could blend in among the other wolves in the area. It seemed this town had both humans and wolves alike, and Rex, who was a bear, so maybe there were other shifters species too. Devon hadn’t exactly spent time exploring.

Either way, there were a bunch of states between him and Anton, so that was enough to make breathing easier, but at the back of his mind, Devon was terrified that there would never be enough space between him and that alpha.

Work was steady through the night, not that Devon was complaining, it kept his mind off things. At the end of the night when the kitchen was closing down, it was about time for Devon to take the trash out.

“I’m going to do the trash,” Devon told Parker.

The other omega glanced his way. Parker looked around the kitchen and sighed.

“Gosh, you’re truly a goddess-send. I feel like I’ve been standing for twenty-four hours,” Parker said.

Devon snorted, “You probably have.”

“So have you, since you’re usually waiting for me to open up, and seem to be going for as long as I am.” Parker pointed out. “But you never complain.”

“I’m just grateful for the job,” Devon replied, and that was the bother of all understatements.

“Well, Rex and I are lucky to have you,” Parker said, his voice sincere. “Don’t forget to grab some food before you leave.” The other omega reminded him.

Devon nodded, grateful. “I won’t, and thank you.”

Parker didn’t need to tell him twice. He made sure to eat at work, so he didn’t have to hunt as a wolf. Even though his wolf wouldn’t mind, Devon preferred eating in human form.

Devon carried the first two bags out, then came back in for the next two. He tossed them into the large dumpster. That was when he remembered it was trash pickup day in the morning.

Parker had told him he didn’t have to move the dumpster by himself when he first started work, but since Parker looked wiped and it only had to be moved a little way to the top of the alleyway at the side of the bar, Devon figured he could do it by himself.

Since he’d worn the heavy duty gloves they usually left at the side of the exit specifically for trash duty, Devon went over to the side of the dumpster. He tried pushing it with his upper body strength, but that didn’t work, so he turned and put his butt to the dumpster and used his weight to push, which got it moving. When he got it to the top of the alley, he turned it so it faced the street.

That was when he heard it—the sound behind him. Devon couldn’t smell anything over the stench of the five days of trash. That was his only excuse for not realizing he was alone.