Eli shivered. No use scaring himself now. He couldn’t back out from his decision. Not now. He was done taking orders from Steve and his family. He washed his plate and cup. Eli took a shower. The water helped cool his head.
He didn’t linger in the bathroom. He toweled himself off and quickly dressed. He grabbed his luggage and breezed out of the front doors. Eli didn’t bother locking up. Steve and he lived in a rich neighborhood.
Crime rates were extremely low in Dahlia Avenue. A petty part of Eli wished that some opportunist, some thief would rob the house while he was gone.
Eli took the black Ford pick-up. Steve liked cars and owned several luxurious rides but this truck was his. Eli used it to get to town and do his errands.
He dumped his luggage in the back and slid into the driver’s seat. Eli’s hands were still shaking as he gripped the wheel. He took several deep breaths. A second emotion bloomed inside him. Excitement joined palpitating fear.
“I can do this. I will do this,” he whispered.
Eli started the engine. For a few seconds, the truck wouldn’t start. Sweat dripped down his brow. This couldn’t be happening. He began to panic a little but he tried again and the engine purred.
He was on his way. He didn’t bother with air-conditioning. All the windows in the truck were down. Wind whipped at his face. Eli drove out of Dahlia Avenue and out of the city.
Half an hour later, he cruised the highways that would lead to parts unknown, to destinations he’d never been to, but longed to see.
Laughter bubbled out from his lips. He whooped and cheered. No one reprimanded him or gave him a warning pinch to the arm the way Steve would always do when they were attending a function. No one ever wanted to hear what Eli’s opinions or what he wanted to say.
Eli couldn’t stop himself. He laughed until his stomach hurt. He’d been taught that Omegas were supposed to be seen not heard. Having tasted freedom for the first time, Eli realized he never wanted to be a prisoner again.
2
Eli
“Excuse me, ma'am. I was wondering if you could help me. I’m a little lost,” Eli said, stopping his car.
He entered the town of South Pine ten minutes ago, extremely pleased with himself. He’d followed directions on his GPS app faithfully. Eli had made a few wrong turns during his drive but so far so good.
Eli only stopped on the side of the road to unload his bladder. Eli avoided making other unnecessary stops.The little town looked charming. The particular road he entered was lined with antique shops, a cafe, and a children’s bookstore.
The elderly woman shifted her glasses up her nose and looked at him. She smelled human. Safe.
Eli read on the internet that both paranormals and humans lived in this town. It was better to err on the side of caution and avoid paranormals, especially shifters.
“Let me, guess. From the city, dearie?” She asked.
Eli nodded. “It’s my first time here.”
“Where did you want to go?”
“Grizzly Mountain Lodge.”
She gasped, although Eli wasn’t sure why. “Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”
Eli frowned. “I have a booking there.”
“A nice young man like you is better off staying at the Lemon Drops Inn. It’s run by my friend Agatha and her husband George. It’s just a short drive from here.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have a lot of cash with me. My phone says I should take this road to South Pine Mountain.”
Eli wasn’t lying. He didn’t exactly have plenty of spare cash lying around. Eli took out his phone. She peered at his screen.
“Am I going the right direction?” He asked.
“Turn right down Haven Street and follow the road. That will take you right to the lodge.” She shivered for no explainable reason. “You sure you’re determined to stay there?”
Eli was tempted to ask what was wrong with the lodge but decided he’d just find out for himself. He was feeling adventurous after all.
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Well, good luck, dearie. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Good luck? That sure sounded ominous. Eli wasn’t deterred by her strange behavior. He could ask someone else for directions but the gathering rain clouds bothered him.
He followed her directions and found himself leaving the main town area There weren’t any shops or houses anymore, just a road that took him uphill.
Eli didn’t pay much attention when it started to drizzle. A couple of minutes into his drive, it started raining cats and dogs. He squinted at the muddy road ahead of him and wondered if he should turn around.
The old woman’s words came back to him. She seemed determined to steer him away from the lodge, but why?
It didn’t help that the sun was beginning to set. He kept on driving. His car wipers didn’t help much. Rain blurred everything out—including the bumpy forest road Eli was driving through.
Ancient and towering ash trees bordered either side of the road. The forest made Eli wonder if he was stuck in some kind of dark fairy tale. His phone let out a series of beeps, warning him his battery was going to die out on him soon. Eli resolved to reach his destination no matter what.
Sure, Eli could head back to town and check himself in a hotel there, but he picked Grizzly Mountain Lodge for a reason.
Privacy. It would be hard for Steve to track him down here, in the middle of nowhere. Ideally, Steve would come home drunk and incoherent tonight. Steve would pass out on the bed and only notice Eli’s disappearance the next day.
Eli soldiered through. He thought he finally saw lights up ahead of the road. Relief filled him as the lodge came into his line of sight.
From the outside, it looked exactly like the photos from the internet. The two-story western-style lodge looked rustic and homey. It only had ten rooms and
