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22
“Lola, it’s time to go.”
My eyes fluttered open to see Alec standing over me. My heart started racing and I was excited to see him. Then I remembered why he was here and all of yesterday came crashing in around me.
“Shh, Sheila’s still sleeping,” he warned.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept or what time it was, but this trip down memory lane wasn’t going to be any easier no matter when I went or how rested I was.
Tossing the sleeping bag aside, I sat and tugged on my boots. Then I followed Alec to the front of the tent. I paused at the door, glancing behind me at Sheila. My stomach tightened and I suddenly wished I’d said goodbye last night, just in case.
For some reason, I had a sinking feeling I might not be returning here. I wasn’t as set on running anymore, but I knew I couldn’t put Sheila, Mario, Megan, and all the others I’d met at risk. If it was too dangerous for me to return, I’d find somewhere else to go.
With lingering sadness, I exited the tent. Hopefully, we’d cross paths again if I wasn’t able to return. I tried not to focus on the what-ifs, or even the aftermath of my actions. To do this, I needed a clear head and focus. As Greta pointed out, I had to try to live in the present and follow my feelings and intentions.
The wolf part of me was pure instinct. She’d saved me when I was on death’s door. I was going to need her today more than ever.
“You ready?” Alec asked.
He was wearing jeans, a black tee, and black combat boots. He’d fit right in with the Wolf Creek crowd.
“I thought you might want this.” He held out a baseball cap. “Your hair is pretty distinctive.”
“Thanks.” I accepted the hat and pulled it on. It didn’t cover the long hair that hung down my back, but I could tuck it into the cap when we arrived.
“Mario is lending us his car,” he said. “I think you made quite the impression on him. He never lets anyone borrow it.”
“Well, not to brag, I did help rebuild the transmission.”
“If we break down, you’re going to have to fix it. You definitely know more about cars than I do,” he said.
“How about we plan not to break down?” I suggested.
“Even better.” He started walking toward Mario’s tent and I followed him.
Mario and Paula weren’t around. In fact, we were the only people walking around the camp. It was a little after sunrise, early, but not early enough that I thought we’d be alone. It didn’t matter. It was probably easier this way. Saying goodbye would make it harder for me to stay away if things went south.
Soon, we were on a dirt road, driving through the trees. “I didn’t know this was here.”
“The road isn’t on any maps,” Alec said. “It’s also the only way in or out of our camp.”
“So, is this officially feral land? Or are you all a bunch of squatters?” I asked.
“Greta actually owns it all. Five-hundred acres. We’re bordered by the High Key Pack and the National Forest. Then, it’s the Wolf Creek Pack on the other side.”
“Wait, so this is Greta’s land but she gave you the cabin?” I was surprised she wouldn’t take it for herself.
“She likes her tent. I tried to object, but it sat empty for a few years so I finally caved and moved in.”
“Where exactly are we?” I felt foolish asking. Especially because I should have been more concerned sooner. “Geographically, I mean.”
“We’re on the border between Washington and Oregon. Where our tents are set up is technically Oregon, I think. But I’ve never cared much about human borders. The shifter borders are more relevant to us.”
“So this whole time, Wolf Creek has been a short drive away.” I knew I couldn’t have gotten far after I fled, but it made my skin crawl thinking about how close they’d been this whole time.
“About a hundred miles. Easy enough by car, not as easy by foot, wolf or human,” he said.
“Lots of pack members in Wolf Creek have cars. They came and went as they pleased. But not me. Not anyone under nineteen. We were trapped.” As I said the words, I realized there was already a major flaw in our plan.
