1. Devon

I shiver slightly from the cold as I lean against the old station wagon. The meter on the gas pump slowly ticks upward as I try to ignore the stench of fuel in the air. At least I’m out of the car for a while, even if it is just to fill up at this dilapidated gas station in the middle of nowhere.

Yawning, I stretch my arms over my head and roll my neck to work out my stiff muscles. I’m so sore, and I’m ready to stop all this traveling and stay somewhere for a while. Somewhere long enough to get a good run in and let my wolf out for a few hours. I can’t remember how long it’s been since we shifted and hunted as a pack.

“Yo, Dev.”

I look up at Kyle as he exits the mini-mart with a couple plastic grocery bags slung over his arms. He’s taller than I am, broad-shouldered, with the shadow of a beard growing across his chin. His eyes are keen, shining like sapphires as he meets my gaze.

A light shiver passes through me as he approaches. Sure, we’re both alphas, but...well, we’ve been on the road for a long time and things happen.

“I found those gummy worms you like.” Kyle fishes around in one of the bags and pulls out a familiar-looking package.

“Awesome.” Grinning, I nod in thanks. “I hope you got more than just candy, though. Frankie’s gonna have a fit if we don’t have a proper breakfast.”

“Don’t worry.” Kyle chuckles, moving to the back of the station wagon and opening the trunk. “They didn’t have a ton of options, but I found some stuff to keep Frankie happy.”

I watch closely as Kyle begins unloading the groceries into several boxes and coolers that serve as our pantry. Sometimes, I’m a little surprised by how normal this type of life has become for us. It really wasn’t very long ago when we were part of a normal pack.

We had roots and routine. We weren’t a band of roaming nomads who didn’t belong anywhere.

The gas pump makes a loud “thunk” as it shuts off, and I glance at the total cost of fuel with an involuntary grimace. “We’re gonna have to stop somewhere soon and top up the bank account again.” I return the nozzle to its pump and close up the gas tank. “If I remember right, we’re not gonna be able to afford another tank at this rate.”

Kyle looks up at me with a grim expression as he finishes unloading the groceries. “I know,” he admits with a sigh. “Frankie and I were talking about it earlier when you were asleep. He thinks the town we’re heading to might be a good place to stop for a while. We saw a few ads for seasonal help at some of the local shops.”

“Springtime?” I furrow my brow as I look over at him.

Kyle shrugs. “I don’t know. I just know there were quite a few help wanted ads online.”

He closes up the trunk and looks toward the bathroom where Frankie is finally emerging. The third member of our little trio. Also an alpha, but where Kyle is broad-shouldered and oozing alpha energy, Frankie is a little bit on the softer side. He’s got kind eyes and gives the best bear hugs.

Among other things…

“Are we ready to hit the road again?” Frankie asks as he approaches us. He glances at the meter on the gas pump and winces slightly at the total. But the expression is quickly replaced by his usual warm, cheery smile.

“As ready as ever.” I sigh and reluctantly reach for the door to the backseat of the car. “Please tell me this town we’re heading to isn’t too far from here.”

“Eh...it’s a few hours.” Frankie looks at me through the rearview mirror. “But I’ve already lined up a job interview at a diner for myself. So, at the very least, we should be able to eat well while we’re in town.”

The three of us settle into the station wagon that has become like home after so much time. It’s loaded down with all our worldly possessions, which, granted, isn’t actually all that much.

Kyle is behind the wheel, Frankie’s riding shotgun, and I’m in the back seat. It’s normal now. No one even questions the seating arrangements anymore. But there are times when I find myself reliving everything that brought us to this point.

Three alphas, traveling as brothers, running from a past we can’t escape.

I chuckle at that thought. Sounds like the blurb for a trashy novel. And yet, that’s our reality.

The car groans to life, and not for the first time, I question how much longer it’s gonna keep running for us. Kyle’s managed to keep it on the road so far, but I’m pretty sure it’s only a matter of time before something really complicated and expensive breaks. Then where will we be?

Frankie would tell me not to worry so much. That we shouldn’t waste energy worrying about things that might or might not happen. I honestly wish I had his ability to stay calm. It would make things so much easier.

But as we pull out onto the road, I do my best to push my anxiety to the back of my mind. We all have our part to play in this little trio, and mine is the lighthearted, cheery soul of the group.

“Alright, so this town we’re going to…” I quickly pick up a topic that will hopefully get the two of them talking. “I’m willing to bet Kyle gets laid by some cute omega in less than a day.”

“We’re not going there to shop for ass.” Kyle rolls his eyes, but he flashes a slight smile in the mirror.

Frankie chuckles. “Mmm, I’d give it two days tops. Though, the last time we stopped anywhere, you hooked up with someone the first night we were in town.”

“I did not.” Kyle snorts with feigned indignation.

“Don’t even try to deny that, bud. That omega, the cashier at the grocery store, asked for your number within two seconds, remember? Frankie and I were at the hotel alone watching Hallmark movies all night waiting for you to come back.”

Kyle falls silent for a moment, and then he chuckles quietly. “Oh...right… I guess it slipped my mind.”

“Ouch.” I laugh and turn to look out the window. “That poor omega.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Kyle says absentmindedly. “It was just a quickie. I told him we were leaving town the next day, and it wasn’t gonna be anything else. He understood.”

“Anyway.” Frankie quickly attempts to divert the subject before things get dicey. He’s always the peacekeeper. “It’s been a while since I’ve worked in a kitchen. Hoping I haven’t lost my touch.”

“You’ll be fine,” I assure him. “Out of the three of us, you’re the only one who actually has any training in any skill.”

“Sure, bu?—”

“HOLD ON!” Kyle yells at us and slams on the brakes.

The seat belt digs into my shoulder as the G-forces slam me forward. The car is sliding, and someone is screaming. I think it might be me.

Confusion.

Then…

Silence.