1. Oliver

Chapter 1

Oliver

I stifle a yawn as I reach for the door of my beat-up little car. I got it for a good deal from a junkyard not long after I left home. It runs, gets decent mileage, and it doesn't stand out too much. Perfect for someone who's just trying to get from place to place.

The hair on the back of my neck prickles slightly, and I stop just short of opening the door. My gaze darts around the rest stop in search of whatever put me on edge. There are plenty of people around, all humans from what I can tell, but they're all minding their own business. Families having lunch at the picnic benches, truckers stopping to relieve themselves or catch a few Zs during a long haul, and there's a couple arguing over a map spread across the hood of their car.

But nothing that immediately stands out to me.

I'm about to get in the car when I spot him.

He's leaning against a light pole at the edge of the rest area, smoking a cigarette. I've seen him before. At the last rest stop, I'm certain of it.

I slide into the driver's seat, keeping an eye on the man as he watches me. His eyes narrow, and I quickly turn the key in the ignition. The car splutters a few times, then roars to life.

His movements are unhurried. He drops his cigarette and stamps it out on the pavement as he pulls out a cellphone and starts to dial a number. He's still watching me as I quickly back out of the parking spot and return to the highway.

"Shit..." I swear under my breath as I merge into the fast-moving traffic and start putting miles between me and the man that's been stalking me. One of four men, actually. I've seen them together only once, that was at a minimart almost a week ago. Ever since then I've seen them alone or in pairs. I don't know who they are, or what they want, I've never gotten close enough to ask.

Every time I see them, my instincts go into overdrive and my wolf gets agitated. I'm a lone omega just trying to survive out here. When it comes to the choice between fight or flight, it's going to be flight every time.

I'd planned on trying to nap in my car for a bit at the rest stop back there, but that guy put that to a stop. I'm exhausted, but my nerves are shot, and I'm not sure I can risk stopping anywhere. I don't know how these guys keep finding me, and honestly, it's starting to drive me a little insane.

A couple days ago I even thought about going home...but even if that was an option, that's hundreds of miles away by now. No. It's better if I stop thinking about my old pack as home. I burned that bridge and left willingly. I made my choice, so now I've got to survive out here.

I've got no choice but to try and lose these guys.

I stay on the highway for another hour, not seeing a single sign of the guys from the rest stop, until I come to an exit. I've been driving nonstop, and I'm not sure how far behind they are, but I don't want to risk missing an opportunity to try and shake them.

I take the exit, drive through the town, then back onto the highway heading in the opposite direction. I do that several more times down various streets and highways, before I find a little motel and finally check in. I don't think anyone's following me, but I can't be sure.

I lock myself in my room, then double-check the locks and windows. I don't feel safe, not at all. But if I don't get some rest soon, then it's not going to matter either way.

I strip down to my boxers then curl up in the middle of the bed, my body exhausted but my mind running a mile a minute.

I've been on my own for months, surviving on my own, and never have I been this nervous. I've felt scared, anxious, and depressed. I've felt alone. But never nervous. Never hunted.

And it's starting to get to me.

I've barely given any thought to where I'm going or why. I've just been driving, endlessly. Day and night. Stopping only for food, gas, or sleep. I have no plans for the future, no purpose other than survival. Is this really how I want to live the rest of my life? Just...roaming?

I have no friends, no family. No home.