I just hadn’t been lucky enough to have that yet.
Nik was my only ally in this life. Even at school the two of us stuck together, defending each other anytime other students were stupid enough to start something… which wasn’t often.
He taught me to fight early on in our friendship, along with how to block the worst blows from my mom. If the world wouldn’t save us, he’d say, then we’d save ourselves.
Nikolai and I had plans to escape. I hoped like hell he had something in mind now.
I couldn’t go back. It might cost me my life.
Nik’s fingers took stock of all the bruising along my arms and drifted over my abdomen where he knew he’d find more. At this point in our friendship he knew exactly where my mom liked to cause the most damage.
“We leave tonight,” he said, his voice hard. “I’m going to need a few hours to get things together.”
He glanced back at his trailer and then back at me with a frown. “I’d say you could wait here, but I’m pretty sure she’d hand you right back to the wolves.”
“I have to work,” I croaked. “I can hide there for now.”
“Maybe that’s the best place for you. I’ll pick you up after work.”
“Okay,” I managed to say as I collapsed into his arms, wishing like hell he didn’t have to let me go.
Nikolai presented as an alpha a month ago. Our birthdays were close together. He’d been my protector our whole lives, I had no doubt that would be his designation.
“Just sit with me for now, please,” I said.
He nodded, pulling me to my feet and intertwining his fingers with mine before leading me to the woods behind our neighborhood.
There was a small creek running through it with several large rocks on the bank. It was our spot, the one we’d escaped to as much as we could get away with.
Instead of letting me sit next to him, he pulled me into his lap. I turned around and straddled his waist, clinging to him like a little koala, needing the closeness.
I hated that I always put the burden of keeping me safe on him… though, he’d put it on himself just as much.
“You smell so good,” he said as he ran his nose along my hair, breathing in deep. “Aries.”
Aries. She felt like a different person. The girl I wished I was. It was the name he’d given me, a play on my given name, the one I wished didn’t even exist anymore.
Just like my mother wished I didn’t exist.
I was tired of living where I was hated. This wasn’t a life I’d wish on anyone.
“It’s stronger today, since I designated,” I admitted. “My mom freaked out the moment it hit.”
My voice sounded so defeated that I ended up burying my face deeper into his shirt, breathing in the scent that I was quickly growing addicted to. I couldn’t say whether we were scent matches. My omega was new to me, and everything seemed overwhelming today.
“This is the last time she ever gets to lay her hands on you,” he said fiercely. “Last timeanyonedoes. No matter where you are, I’ll find you. I’ll keep you safe.”
We both knew that it was not a promise he could keep, but I let myself dream anyway.
In just a few short days we’d be settled somewhere else. He’d been working every odd job he could, saving up, and so had I. Maybe it would be enough now. I’d worked in the diner long enough, surely someone would be willing to hire me.
“What’s the first thing we should do when we’re away from all of this?” he asked gently, his hands soothing over my battered body.
I considered what he said, letting myself dream, even if only for a moment.
“Find a bakery,” I said.
He let out a chuckle. “You and your sweet tooth. I’m kind of surprised you haven’t lost your job for stealing all his leftover pies.”
