Third, I have to find a job. While I hate the idea of working while I’m pregnant, and then taking care of a newborn, my savings aren’t going to last that long. It seems like Stelline City has a lot of amenities to help the poor, but I want to be able to support myself.
There’s an internet cafe on the first floor of the hostel, so after I take a couple hours to nap, bathe, and refresh myself, I head downstairs. It’ll also be helpful for me to get an actual computer, though my phone and the internet cafe will suffice for now.
I first start looking for apartment listings, and I send out inquiries for them. I spend another twenty minutes finding a doctor’s office close by. I remember Carson mentioned that I could get free healthcare once I had an address in the city, or something like that, so I might as well look for a doctor now, in case I find an apartment this week.
Satisfied with my research, I head back up to my room, wondering what to do next. Now that I’ve arrived at this stage in my journey, I have no idea what to do. This was the goal for so long, and now I reached it, so I have to form a new goal.
A good first step would be to get out into the city, pick up some basic groceries, and get to know the place. One of my favorite things about traveling is getting a feel for the vibes of different places. I wasn’t able to travel much after my ex and I got together… but that was before I learned that abusive partners try to isolate you and prevent you from leaving the house.
Now I’m free. I’m free to step outside and do whatever I want.
I grab my phone and wallet and head out. I can’t help but look at my shimmering SSA card and ID. In just a few hours, I became a newly minted citizen of one of the best territories on the continent. How can they even afford to support everyone? My mind boggles. Back in the town I came from, it seemed like it was every person for themselves.
I have good feelings about coming here.
The receptionist smiles at me as I step out onto the street and into the burgeoning twilight of Stelline City, or Stell, I should call it, if I want to blend in. Driverless cars silently zoom by, while drivers weave their way around them. I can hear the occasional honk along with the thick whirring sound of the cars, and the beeps of the streetlights as they change color. All kinds of people pass by on the sidewalk: men with briefcases, colorful characters wearing strange fashions, people in strange black suits that cling to their bodies, elderly people gliding by on mobility devices, families with toddlers in tow, peering around like they’re tourists…
I know Hunter and I can find a place here. Anyone can, it seems like. Everyone is welcome in Stell.
I decide to pick a random direction just to see what I’ll find. The skyscrapers rise tall around me, and I have to stop to take a moment to look at them. I’ve never seen a skyscraper before in my life. I can’t believe that it’s even possible to construct a building so large. And in the distance, I can see massive bridges crossing the river. It’s incredible.
Part of me finds it intimidating, knowing that I’m anonymous here. No one, except Carson and the hostel desk clerk, knows who I am. But on the other hand, that’s complete freedom. It isn’t like Spruce Springs, where everyone knows each other’s business. That was part of the reason why I found it so difficult to get away from my ex. He projected a façade of kindness to everyone else, so no one believed me when I said he was abusing me. And even the people who did believe me said that that kind of thing was normal in a relationship, which only made me worry for them.
I try to think of something else. If I really want a fresh start, I have to put all that behind me. It’s hard to, when Hunter is 50% his, and I know this baby will never have the experience of being raised by two parents. Maybe that can change, though.
I think back to Carson’s face, so kind and strong-looking. That’s what a man should be like, someone willing to help others. That was the only way I could trust him. People can say anything they want, but when it comes down to it, I only judge them on their actions. The fact that he clearly went out of his way to help me means he’s a good guy.
Maybe there will be other good guys here. I scan the crowd, people watching. There are some good-looking people here. They look much more fashionable than the folks in Spruce Springs, but not because their clothing looks expensive. It’s more like they have an eye for what goes together, and they take risks. Maybe one day I can be like them. I didn’t have much of a chance to think about myself over the past year.
But even though people are good-looking, I feel like Carson was the best-looking person I saw all day. Maybe my impression of him is colored by the fact that he pretty much saved me, but still. There’s something special about him, some kind of animal magnetism that makes my brain conjure his image over and over.
I take out my phone, wondering if I should text him. To ask what, though? Such an important, wealthy man surely doesn’t need a new friend. He probably has tons of friends. And I don’t need any help now, nor do I really want to depend on him further.
I sigh and put my phone back in my pocket. Nah, I’m not going to think about him anymore today.
As I wander the streets, I find a grocery store. My stomach rumbles as I walk in, and I know Hunter will be hungry too. A pang of guilt flickers through me as I realize I should’ve gone to get food earlier, but I try to ignore it. I’m doing the best I can for Hunter. I can’t beat myself up over what I couldn’t do.
I grab a basket and start winding my way through the aisles, picking out some basic foods that I can prepare with just a microwave. This is easily one of the nicest grocery stores I’ve ever been to in my life, and I eagerly pick out yummy dishes I haven’t eaten in what feels like months. I had some cravings a couple months back, but thankfully, they aren’t so bad now.
I head back to the cashier before I can overload myself. It’s such a relief to be able to pay for my own food; it occurs to me that I should pay Carson back at some point—I completely forgot because my brain wasn’t even working earlier.
When I leave the store, I decide to keep exploring, while I have my energy. There’ll be plenty of time to rest tonight. After a couple of blocks, I find a clothing store that looks like it has reasonable prices, so I go inside and pick up some basics: underwear, undershirts, sweatshirts, to help cover my belly, and maternity pants, which are basically just sweatpants that look a little more professional.
As I walk back to the hostel, I find that I have a lot to think about. People here are reasonably friendly, but they’re reserved in a way small town folk aren’t. They’re polite, but they don’t want to stop and chat. That’s understandable. You can’t very well chat with every person you see when you live in a city.
I get to the hostel doors and try pulling them open while balancing the weight of my shopping bags, but it’s difficult. An arm reaches out from behind me and pulls the door open, and I turn to thank the person who helped me.
“It’s not a problem,” he says, walking ahead to get the second door for me.
“Thanks,” I say. “It’s a huge help.”
“Anything to help a pregnant omega,” he says, smiling.
There’s that word again—omega. Maybe I should take the time to look up some Stell slang, because it looks like there’s a lot to learn.
We both head to the elevator. He punches the button to go up and we wait. “You new here?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m a new citizen of Stell, apparently,” I say. “Came here to seek a better life and all that. The typical story.”
“Gotcha. I’m not new here, but I’m staying with some family that’s visiting from out of town. They wanted me right here with them, not on the other side of town in my own neighborhood.” He chuckles.
I can imagine Stell would be intimidating if you weren’t used to it. Hell, I’m intimidated. “That’s really sweet of you. What do you do here in Stell?”
“I’m just a shop clerk,” he says, smiling mischievously. “Hey, the name’s Morty.”
“Morty,” I repeat. “Nice to meet
you. I’m Harley.”
“You must be looking for a job, right? We have an opening at my company,” says Morty as we both step onto the elevator. The fluorescent light hurts my eyes a bit, so I look down, and I see some golden fur on Morty’s black pants. Seems like the guy has a pet of some kind.
“Yeah, I’ve been looking for leads. I’ve never worked in a shop before, though,” I say.
“You don’t need experience,” says Morty. We step out of the elevator and pause. “We actually need people to do admin stuff, and our last guy just quit, so…”
“I’ll do it,” I say. I’ve been looking for a job and this one just fell in my lap.
“Awesome.” Morty grins. “Let’s exchange phone numbers, and I’ll be in touch. When are you expecting?”
“Um…” I have to tilt my head a bit to think—it wasn’t easy to keep track of dates when I was running for my life, but I can remember this. “About three weeks.”
“That’s close,” says Morty. “But the work I have in mind isn’t really that difficult.”
“Great,” I say. It feels like a weight’s been lifted from my chest. This is an incredible coincidence, and I feel even more certain I made the right choice in moving here. Even if this lead doesn’t work out, the fact that it happened at all makes me feel better about my chances.
We exchange phone numbers and walk away, down opposite ends of the hall. I’m glad to get back to my room; being outside took more of a toll on me than I expected. Now that I have a potential job, I feel more confident about setting up a doctor’s appointment, so I send in an email inquiry. A few people replied while I was out about apartments that are available, so I send messages to schedule viewings for later this week.
Everything seems to be going my way, for the first time in my life.
4
Lars
I can’t help but get jealous. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. I’m an alpha—possessiveness is part of our nature, even if most of us try to quash it.
Carson has a soft spot for pregnant omegas. I know it’s because he’s overall a caring person, but I can’t help but think that it’s because he finds me lacking. I’m an alpha, so I can’t get pregnant. And I have a very different type of masculinity from an omega. When it comes to sex, we take turns being the top. It’s a little tricky for both of us, but we make it work.
I always worry he’ll leave me for an omega. Even though it doesn’t work that way—when wolves mate, they’re committed—it isn’t out of the realm of possibility. So it isn’t surprising that my jealousy was piqued when I heard Carson going gaga over an omega, one with a baby, no less.
I can’t give him a baby, but an omega can.
This isn’t new, though. He’s always trying to help pregnant omegas. It’s kind of what our pack does—we’re like philanthropists, in a way, in addition to a de facto police force for shifters. But few do it with as much sincerity and care as Carson. The fact that he took time out of his day to help the omega get an SSA and set up in a safe place is admirable.
I try to shake the thoughts out of my mind. I have a job to do. I’m one of the leaders in the pack, and I have to focus on this new gang that popped up. They’re some kind of shifter, but no one knows what, exactly. We have a lot of research to do, but in the meantime, they’re targeting low income folks for scams and roping them into sketchy shit.
That’s not going to happen on my watch. My blood boils when I think of all the people who came forward about their savings being stolen or their homes being burgled. These people don’t have much to begin with, and this gang’s still taking from them. Lowest of the low. Sure, I don’t want anyone stealing from me, but $200 isn’t a life or death issue for me, either.
Every time we find a new gang, I’m imbued with energy. I love tackling new projects and challenges. I get the sense that Carson is a little quieter and less ready to jump into the action, which makes sense. Even though he does fight when he has to, he’s happier hanging back and providing support. We get along perfectly, complementing each other.
I walk into the door of headquarters, which is a couple floors below us. The bottom half of the building is where we conduct all our pack business, and the top half is where we all live. It’s essentially an office and apartment building rolled into one. Very convenient.
And very luxurious. Anyone walking in would think they’re entering the grounds of some kind of huge corporation. We are a powerful organization of a different kind.
As I enter the corridor which leads to the conference rooms, I hear footsteps coming around the corner. One of the other alphas in the pack, Robert, sees me, his eyes narrowed.
“Hey, dude,” I say, trying to be my usually friendly, nonchalant self. “”What’s the matter?”
“It’s… it’s a development in the case. You’re right in time. Come with me.”
My interest is piqued, and I’m on alert now. Robert is one of the main people dealing with this gang, and he knows what’s up. I follow behind his heavy footsteps—he clearly is on a mission.
We walk into one of the many conference rooms, where a few other wolves are waiting, seated. Robert and I walk in and he shuts the door behind us, striding up to the front of the room to take his place.
“So, I’m glad we were set to meet now because there’s a development in the case,” he says, not even bothering to start off with a proper greeting.
But that doesn’t matter. All the alphas and betas in the room are on alert now. We know that this shit is serious.
Robert pulls a paper out of the file he’s been carrying. “We have a name. Any of you guys recognize this logo?”
“We take a look at it. It has an outline of the face of some kind of canine that isn’t a wolf—a fox or coyote, maybe. Around the face are rays, like the face is the sun. Underneath are the words “Blacktail K9s.”
“I think I recognize the logo,” says one of the alphas, speaking up. “I saw it spraypainted on one of the buildings in the Paisley.”
“That’s right,” says Robert. “They’re primarily operating out of the Paisley. And I saw the logo spraypainted near the sisters’ home. This is a major piece of evidence. Before, we weren’t sure if the Blacktails were involved, but now we know they are.”
“I thought we already knew that the guys who attacked the sisters were affiliated with the Blacktails, though,” says someone else.
“We thought they might be, but this is confirmation. There were several articles of clothing with the logo at the perp’s house, and one of them had it tattooed on his chest.”
There’s silence as we all process this information. I think everyone was hoping that we’d be dealing with some low level gang, but it turns out we’re dealing with one of the more frightening gangs in the city.
Still, it’s nothing our pack hasn’t seen before. We’re some of the strongest alphas and best fighters in the city. If anyone can take down the Blacktails and protect the people of the Paisley, it’s us.
“Looks like we need to rethink our strategy,” continues Robert. “Now that we know the people we’re up against are more organized.”
“But we have a dossier on the Blacktails already, right?” asks someone else. “So we have more background information to go off of.”
“That’s right,” says Robert, and I can see a smile break out on his face for the first time since we got in here. “I think this might be our opportunity to take them down once and for all.”
My heart thuds with excitement. I love action. I know Carson would rather avoid it, but I live for it. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be one of the alphas who went on missions like this to take down bad guys. I get excited whenever there’s the promise of action and justice to be served.
“Alright, we’re going to have to pick someone to go on a recon mission. We’ve found that the Blacktails are operating a business as a front, so we need someone to get in there and see what the deal is.”
“I’ll go,” I say, instantly r
aising my hand. I’m itching to get out there and start working. I’m not really happy unless I’m out in the field—or curled up in bed with Carson.
“Great, anyone else?” asks Robert, looking around the room.
A couple other people raise their hands, and the others are dismissed. Robert and my new teammates work out the logistics for this new mission, and I’m able to walk back to my apartment with a spring in my step. We’re supposed to get ready and meet back here in an hour.
As I walk into my closet and look around for a shiftsuit that isn’t completely covered in fur, a thread of worry finally worms its way down my spine. How exactly are we going to take down the Blacktails, if we haven’t already? We’ve been fighting them for years. Just because we have a new lead doesn’t mean we can get them. In fact, the new lead is just a sign they’re robust and continuing to do their dirty work. It’s like our previous fights haven’t hindered them one bit.
I shake my head and try to center myself. There’s no point in dwelling on our failures of the past. If I do, then I’m never going to be able to help defeat them. I have to think positive. There’s gotta be a way. There always is.
When I have my shiftsuit on, regular clothes on top, and some supplies in my pockets, I head back down, thankful for the millionth time that I live in the building in which I work. We’re back in the conference room, and Robert is already discussing logistics with one of the alphas.
We’re simply supposed to visit this business as if we’re normal customers and see if we can case the joint, meet people, and gather any other pertinent information.
Another one of my teammates walks in, an alpha named Chaz. He and Morton, the guy sitting at the table with Robert, are decent guys. Solid. Maybe not the brightest bulbs in the box, but I’m happy enough to work with them.
Runaway Omega_Harley Page 3
