The Hidden

Running

Dyann sat in a small diner amazed she made it so far. She had been gone for 14 hours. She wished Jenna would respond to her text so she had some idea of what was happening. There was a possibility the “family” would not care that she was gone and would not look for her. There was a possibility that Meagan had convinced the 3 brothers that she was really Cora. There was a possibility that Dyann had no place to go, no one looking for her, and her whole life in front of her. But, what if?  She believed she could trust Jenna, but what if?  So she walked from the bus station, called a taxi and went to the nearest airport. She got on the first plane she could and flew hours in the wrong direction. Now she was a thousand miles away, sitting alone in a strange town.  She felt great. Free.  She had never been really alone before. She was going out of her way to stay off the beaten path. Small towns, small airports.  The waitress snapped her out of her own thoughts. She ordered food and started thinking about where to stay the night. This whole town smelled weird to her and she sensed that she did not want to stay here long. Rose had other ideas. She was going crazy and kept repeating, “He’s close. Stay here.”  She wouldn’t tell Dyann who he was. A group of men walked into the diner. They were greeted by name and Dyann assumes they were locals and regulars. They were all in their late 20’s, maybe early 30’s. They were unbelievably good looking. “At least the scenery here is good.” She told Rose. Rose responded, “it’s him. He’s the one.”  Dyann still did not know what she meant. One of the men got up and walked very slowly through the diner on the way to the bathroom. He seemed to be pausing at every table with a female he did not recognize. As he walked by her table, he stopped and stared at her. She was mesmerized by his eyes and the smell was incredible. There was a hint of maple leaves and deep forest with something spicy. It smelled like autumn in the woods with a mug of spiced rum. Amazing. She thought it was something coming from the kitchen. As the stranger moved on though, the scent faded. She felt empty once he was out of site. Rose was going crazy. Dyann’s food came out and she started eating. When the stranger walked by again, the smell hit her again. Was it him?  Was he the heavenly scent?  He walked by her but stopped and came back. He slid into the booth opposite of her and smiled a million dollar smile. 

“Hello. I’m Eric.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Dyann.”

“I apologize for interrupting your meal, but I... I wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I’ve never seen you around here and I know everyone in this territo....town.”

Did he almost say territory?  Was he a werewolf?  Oh god that is why this town smelled so strange to her. She was smelling other wolves.  Did he know she was one of them?  Could he tell?  

“Well, I am just passing through. You know how some women take those ‘finding myself trips’. I will not be around for more than a day or two.”

This seemed to make him unhappy. His forehead creased and his eyes got dark. Rose was howling and crying out that they had to stay longer. 

“Do you have a place to stay?  We rent cabins out on our land. We could set you up for a few days or longer.”

“Thank you. I don’t normally accept accommodations from random strangers though.” Rose was screaming. ‘Go with him. Mate. He’s ours.’  Dyann was ignoring her. ‘Um no Rose. He could be dangerous.’ Rose was determined to plead her case, ‘He is safe. He is home. He has been looking for us.’  

Dyann thought Rose was being ridiculous and what the hell dis she mean by ‘mate’?

“Well, there aren’t any accommodations until the next city which is 2 hours away. Unfortunately the last bus out of here is not showing up until morning. So, you really should take me up on my offer. It is clean and safe. I can promise no harm will come to you.”

He was so sincere. He radiates strength and honesty. Dyann could not help but feel this odd pull towards him. 

“So Dyann. Where are from.”  

“Idaho”

“What brings you all the way to Texas?”

“Like I said, just traveling. Taking a me trip.”

He felt the lie. She felt nervous and scared. Had someone hurt her? Was she running?  His wolf was pacing, howling and screaming at him to touch her. He knew she was a werewolf. He knew she was the mate he had been waiting for since he turned 21. He could also sense her hesitation and confusion. It was like she did not know she was a were wolf or did not understand what that meant. Her wolf was going nuts too but Dyann did not seem to comprehend what it all meant. He decided to go for broke, “You were not raised in a proper pck were you?  Are you a rogue?” 

Dyann spit her food out and almost choked. She looked around nervously. Did anyone else hear him?

Eric chuckled, “it’s ok. Everyone here knows. There are 2 humans in here but they are married into the pack. Everyone else is a werewolf too. This is the Southwest territory. It is rather large. This town and the last small town you came through are part of the territory. You have been surrounded by werewolves for hours in every direction.”

Dyann sat with her eyes wide. She could not wrap her brain around it. Was it safe to tell him the truth. Rose believed it was but Rose had only been part of her life for a week. She did not know what to do. So she took a deep breath and a leap of faith, “ I was not raised in a pack. I didn’t know anything about werewolves and territories and packs until about a week ago. I have been raised by people who I believed were my grandparents, uncle, aunt and cousin. It turns out they were just my kidnappers. They have drugged me to keep my wolf asleep since I was about 4 years old.”

Eric felt rage building up inside. They drugged his mate to keep her away. What else did they do to her?  He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself, “Well you probably do not have a high opinions of wolves. I promise you not all of our kind are harsh and cruel. We are protectors. Not just of each other but of humans too. We are made to fight the battles they can not. We are pack creatures. We are stronger in a pack. Especially once we find our other half.  All werewolves have a partner. The perfect compliment to them and their wolf. When you do not find your other half, your wolf can weaken and die. These people have hurt you in more ways than you know and they have hurt your wolf.  I can help you both. Please let me.”

Dyann did not understand why she felt so calmed by him. Why did she feel like she could trust this stranger?  She thought deeply about her choices. When she finished eating he laid $10 on the table, stood and held out his hand to her. She stared at the hand for what felt like an eternity. She grabbed her bags in on hand and reached for the stranger with the other. When their skin touched it felt like a thousand fireworks going off all over her body. She jerked her hand back and looked at it bewildered. Then she reached out again realizing she liked those sparks. She took his hand and felt warmth spread all over. She did not understand what was happening but she knew she had decided to follow this man.