Not My Alpha

Chapter 13 ‘Mousy Brown’

Keira’s POV

I take off running away from the lands of Pale Moon Pack. When I reach the mouth of a river I stop to take a break. It’s still dark outside, and I put another couple of miles in between me and our borders. I’m exhausted and starving. Macie packed me some snacks for the way. I unwrap a protein bar and take a huge bite out of it. Macie said her head omega passes these out when the omegas need a boost of energy in between meals. It has a soft and gritty texture, and it doesn’t taste very good. I check the wrapper. Chocolate chip peanut butter. It has a slight peanut taste but absolutely no chocolate chips at all. Still I’m so hungry I finish it in two bites and pull out another one. Apple cinnamon flavor. This one tastes slightly better, and isn’t as gritty as the chocolate chip. I eat this one just as quick and then I wash down my dinner with a few good gulps from my water bottle. Then I take out the piece of paper Macie gave me. It’s a map of the area, and some directions to Samara’s place. I see Pale Moon’s Pack land borders and find the river I’m currently stopped at. Geez, it looks like I’ve barely moved. Then I locate Samara’s house. It’s further than I expected, I’m not gonna be able to make it there on foot. I’m going to have to get transportation. I check the map for the closest city. I need to find a bus that can take me where I want to go. I find a city about 10 miles from my current location. That’ll work. I fold the map back up and make my way. It’s still so dark and I need to keep an eye out for rogues. I move as quickly as I can through the forest. I take a few more breaks before I finally make it. I find the bus station and the next bus leaves in 30 minutes for where I’m going. I get a ticket and make my way out to the bus. Let’s see bus numbers 345. I look around and finally find it. I get on and take a seat. The air in the bus is stale, and not many people are on it, though it is still pretty early. It’s probably the first bus of the day. I sit closest to the window and look out. While I wait for the bus to start I fall asleep. I’m startled awake to the sound of the engine turning. It’s still dark out. It was a short nap. The driver says we’re heading out in 5 minutes. I wait keeping my head down. Dawson might already be looking for me. He could’ve figured out that I headed to a nearby city. He could have his warriors checking the buses. My heart starts pumping at the thought that at any moment my chance at escape could come to an end. Finally after the longest 5 minutes of my life. The bus driver closes the doors and heads out away from my old pack, and away from any chance of Dawson finding me. This is the beginning of my new life. I’m an omega now. I pull out the piece of paper and check the map. It looks like Samara lives on the border of two packs. I lean my head against the window and fall fast asleep. The bus ride isn’t a long one, and I arrive by the time the sun is rising. I get off the bus and head back into the forest. I’m in another pack’s territory right now, and if the patrols find me that won’t be good. But just as I’m thinking that, I hear a branch c***k behind me. I turn around and see a woman standing there.

“Stop! Who are you?” She asks. I look around for an escape, but if these are her lands, she’ll have the upper hand.

“My name is.. Lily. I’m looking for Samara.” I say. The woman walks over to me. She’s tall, taller than me. She lifts my head up. I still have all the bruises and a cut on my face. And the bandage peeking out from under my shirt where Dawson tried to mark me. I wonder if I’ll be left with scars. The woman sighs.

“Her house is a mile that way. Don’t let anyone else see you. Go!” The woman points down the hill and I head that direction. I move quickly, but I don’t run, my energy is all but gone. After a bit of walking I come across a house. It’s not really what I thought it would be, but then again, I’m not sure what I expected. I walk up to it and knock on the door. The door swings open to a short middle aged woman with long grey and black hair.

“Yes?”

“Are you Sarama?” I ask.

“Who’s asking?” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a pair of glasses.

“My name is.. Lily. I’m an omega from Pale Moon Pack. My friend Macie said you can help me.” She puts on her glasses and takes a look at me.

“Come in child.” She takes a step back. I step inside and she closes the door. Her house is small and cozy. It looks so comforting.

“Have a seat. How are your wounds?” She asks. She walks to a cabinet and starts taking things out.

“The one on my shoulder hurts. But I’ll be alright.” I tell her. She grunts.

“Take your shirt off.” She instructs me. I pull it up over my head. She comes over and unwraps my bandages.

“Hmm.” She says as she glances over my bruises.

“Is something wrong?” I ask her.

“No, no, I’m just wondering why an Alpha is sitting in front of me telling me that she’s an omega.

“How did-“

“I’m old, not senile. What happened to you?” She asks. I wonder if I can trust her. But before I can decide I break down in tears and spill my guts. It feels so good to talk about what’s been going on. I tell Samara everything that’s happened to me. From the beginning right up till my escape. She listens and nods as she cleans my wounds and bandages me back up.

“I see. I want to help you, but I can only place omegas. I don’t have the power to place higher ranks.”

“I don’t want a higher rank. I will take the rank of an omega.” I tell her. She looks thoughtful.

“First things first. We need to change your appearance.”

“Yeah, How did you know I wasn’t an omega?” I ask her.

“The way you carry yourself was a dead giveaway. Omegas don’t take their eyes off the ground. Especially the ones that are coming to see me. Plus you have such beautiful blonde hair, it reads high rank. We’re going to need to change that. What color would you like instead. Brown? Black? It needs to be unmemorable.” She says. I went brown once when I was a teenager.

“Brown I guess.” She goes into another cabinet and pulls out a box dye.

“Here you go. Just follow the instructions. I’ll make us something to eat. Bathroom is down the hall.” I get up and head to the bathroom. I read the directions and dye my hair. After I’m done I come out of the bathroom drying my fresh dark colored hair.

“Let’s have a look.” Samara says from the kitchen. I walk in to show her.

“My, to think you look more beautiful with dark hair.” She tells me.

“Should I cut it do you think?” I ask.

“We can decide when it’s dry for now let’s eat.” I take a seat at the table.

“So if you know Macie, does that mean she came to you for help?” I ask.

“I don’t like to share the details of the people who pass through my door, but yes. Macie did come to me for help. I sent her to Pale Moon pack a few years ago. She was such a scared little thing. But I see she grew stronger, thanks to you.”

“Me? I don’t see how. I was pathetic back there. I allowed him to hurt me like this. Like I’m some weakling.”

“It’s hard to fight your mate. Weak or strong. The fated mate bond is a difficult thing to go against. I don’t think you’re weak. But you have a lot to overcome. Mentally.” Mentally? We finish lunch and I help her clean up.

“I think we should cut it. It’s too styled.”

“Okay what ever you think is best.” I reply. I sit in a chair and she pulls out some fabric scissors. She gets to work chopping my hair off.

“I think I know of a pack that would be ideal for your situation.” She says while still cutting.

“Really? Where?”

“It’s called Cedar Creek Pack. It’s on the smaller side, and not a lot of people pay it much attention. But I know the head Omega there, and they have a shop in town that needs to be run. Let me contact her and see if it still needs some work.” That sounds like it could be ideal. She finishes my hair and tells me to go get cleaned up in the bathroom while she makes the phone call. I take a look at my hair in the mirror. It dried a mousy brown, not too dark sort of ashy colored. My hair is a straight cut about and inch below my shoulders. I grab a comb and part my hair down the middle. I look very different, but my eyebrows don’t match. I grab the dye bottle out of the trash can and find some q-tips. I squeeze what little dye is left onto the cotton and dab it along my brows. After 10 minutes I wipe it off and take another look in the mirror. Perfect. I head back out to see Samara finishing up her phone call.

“Well you are one lucky girl. It’s still available. You’d live in town and run the store, so you’ll have limited interaction with the pack itself, what do you say?” She asks me.

“Ok, I’ll do it.”