Page 4 of The Omega

Don’t get me wrong, most of the locals were decent folk just trying to live their lives without the government breathing down their necks, but a certain type of lawlessness was drawn to the shelter of these hills. And my wolf was small. Skittish. An Omega not biologically designed to be alone out here by herself. Hence the Alpha’s markings.

But the scent was fading, so he’d be back soon.

I wanted to be gone before then.

I was only okay going to town because I thought there’d be a Hallmark movie chance we’d meet a new baker with his team of hot pastry chefs who’d never heard of us before when we went to town last time.

I stopped dead in my tracks. You do know that wouldn’t happen in real life.

Well, it could.

I had to get us out of here. She was losing her mind—more than usual. The romantic notions were getting stronger and she paced more restlessly within. Mating season was drawing on us, heightening my already heightened senses and desires.

Frost nipped my fingers and nose as I hurried across the yard to where the tarp covered the old Chevy truck.

You’re not seriously going to do this, she whined.

I have to. It’s not like I wanted to do it either.

But I needed to make the phone call.

I hated driving in the dark. It was either go now or wait until midday tomorrow because of the time difference. And I didn’t know how much time I had until the show sent for me.

Okay. New plan. We can stay home and our mates will come find us instead. Maybe a snowstorm will bring them in.

I kept an eye over my shoulder as I folded the tarp in a hurry. No more smut novels for you.

You wouldn’t. She gasped.

Maybe I would. Truth be told, I was getting tired of waiting and hoping for an Omega love story that probably couldn’t happen for me. With my luck, I’d end up like her.

Don’t say that.

Sorry. I climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut, adjusting the dusty pillow under my butt so I could see over the steering wheel.

My wolf harrumphed as she rested her snout onto her dainty paws, going along for the ride. We’ll find our mates. We have to. Or they’ll find us.

I was glad she still had hope despite, well, everything. But one of us had to be sensible.

“Come on, old girl. Time to get it together.” I turned the key in the ignition, praying the rust bucket would start.

After a few misfires, she finally warmed up. I drove down the dirt driveway, following the tracks the show camera crew left behind.

One hand stayed on the wheel as I used the other to check my phone. I normally didn’t get service until I got closer to town, but I was an expert at false hope.

Nothing yet.

I dropped the phone and cried out as I slammed on the brakes.

A dark, grizzly wolf stood on the road.

Glowing bright blue eyes stared at me through the windshield as his voice filled my head. “Pull over, Opal.”

My wolf whined, baring her neck. Alpha.

He didn’t have to tell me twice. Not that I would’ve disobeyed him anyway, even if I wasn’t a good little Omega.

Alpha Journey Morganton wasn’t the kind of male you’d say no to. He was big and old and weatherbeaten. The tip of one ear was missing and so was a tuft of hair across his scarred shoulder that never grew in right. Wolfsbane and magic had accompanied half the challengers he’d faced in his long years as Alpha; cheap shots he’d thwarted, but they still stopped him from healing right.