My Alpha's Mark

56 Follow me

Kacie

As I got closer, I blinked against the bright light and squinted against the blinding intensity. When my eyes adjusted and I could see clearer, I didn’t see any recognizable faces. There was a man filling his gas on pump 5 and a young teen in a truck on a diesel pump. Needing to be sure, I inhaled and didn’t smell anything familiar, everyone smelled human.

Feeling safe, I made my way towards the front door. I press my hand against the door handle and my fingers curl around the odd shape before I threw open the door.

I was hot but my sweat had dried while I ran. I took a step forward, tilting my head as the fire seemed to whisper to me, promising and begging. My hands were twitching and I fought the need to release the flames.

Flashbacks of Clara killing Ken and what I’d done afterward sit at the forefront of my mind vividly. I inhaled again and confirmed that the clerk was human. The music sounded amplified and the gas station clerk watched me as I rushed up to the counter. The clerk looks like he belongs on a beach with a surfboard. Long blonde hair hangs just above his eyes, ocean blue eyes, and tan skin.

His gaze looks behind me and returns to me. The clerk’s eyes widen and squint suspiciously when I reach the counter. He doesn’t move or react to me. He doesn’t ask me anything, his head slightly turns silently assessing me.

“Please,” I plead hoarsely, “Where am I?”

The clerk’s eyes trail down my body before coming back up to my eyes. He doesn’t more to respond and remains silent as he stares back at me.

I try to swallow but the lump gets stuck in my throat. My throat is dry and I need… The clerk lowers himself and leans in.

“Where am I? What city?” I ask.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he says as confliction flits across his face.

“What-,” I start. My forehead creased and my eyebrows pinch together in confusion.

His eyes dart to the left to look at something behind me. Flipping around, my breath catches when my eyes lock on what he’s looking at.

Out from the woods emerges Beta Rich followed by the guards from the house and a handful of men I knew to be Alpha Ken’s men. I dive for the nearest aisle and hide my body behind one of the shelves of cookies and sweet doughnuts. My chest is beating in and out and I wonder if the clerk can hear it. His eyes dart from Beta Rich to me, contemplating for a second more before letting out a sigh of acceptance.

“Follow me,” he said.

He turns and walks out from behind the counter.

Yes, Kacie, why don’t you follow the stranger you’ve only just met? I don’t have any choice, he stops and checks to make sure I’m following him. Noticing I’m still hiding by the sweet treats he turns to face me.

“Do you want him to catch you or not?” He asks, reaching up to ruffle his hair.

I shake my head and follow him keeping my head ducked down. I don’t know why he’s helping me but I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I followed the store clerk into what looked like a supply closet. He walked over to a fridge in the back corner I noted the lock on the fridge door. I watched as he pulled out a key and unlocked the door before opening it and moving it out of the way.

“You think I’m going to hide in a fridge?” I ask and walk towards the open door. When I get to the fridge my mouth forms an o shape. A tunnel leading into darkness is inside the fridge.

“My family has been in service to the nearby Wolf Pack, my father put in this escape route in case my mother and I ever needed to get away,” he said. “If you follow the tunnel, you will eventually make it out into the forest. It’ll be close to the men following you but it will give you a chance nonetheless.”

“If you’re in service to them why are you helping me? I don’t even know your name,” I said.

“If I was going to turn you in, I wouldn’t bother trying to help you escape and it’s Aiden. Now please, go.”

I stare at Aiden and when I don’t move he sighs.

“They killed my parents when they tried to leave with me. You could say I’m not serving them by choice,” Aiden said with a small smile.

“That’s horrific…,” I start and a thought comes to mind. “You could come with me,” I told him. “We could leave through this tunnel and escape together. We’re a community of wolves but my mate would grant you entrance for helping me. You’d be safe with us.”

Aiden shook his head.

“That’s sweet of you wolf, but it doesn’t matter if I’m on this territory or on your territory. The cage would be prettier but it would still be a cage. I would only be switching from one prison to another,” he said. “I refuse to do that.”

“We’re nothing like them. We don’t run things the same way Alpha Ken and his men do,” I insist, “Not all of us are the same. I can guarantee your safety.”

“You can’t guarantee your own safety little wolf,” he says smiling slightly. “After their death, I have no wish to run but I can’t ignore someone in need. I can’t do much for you but I can help you escape.”

Sighing in defeat, I accept his choice.

“You are in Poulsbo,” he says, ignoring my pleas and answering my earlier question. “Best of luck, I hope you return home safely.”

I reach out and squeeze his arm. “Thank you for your help, Aiden,” I whisper, meaning it as I turn around and step into the fridge. Aiden closes the door behind me with a click, locking the fridge door.