Runaway To Me

Chapter 3

I've never been hospitalized. Ever. So waking up in the hospital was strange. Even more strange? Waking up anywhere other than my pack lands. Scratch that. Former pack lands.

The knowledge that I could never go back, never hug my mom, never train with my dad, never bug my big brother again was weighing heavily on my mind. In less than twenty-four hours, my life had been flipped upside down. If I started crying, I knew I may never stop. My family wouldn't want that for me. It's hard to say what they would want, but I know they'd want me to live.

Even when dying felt like a better option.

I was alone for the first time ever.

I hated it.

What had I done to anger the Gods and Goddesses like this? There was no way one person had enough bad luck to watch a trusted 'uncle' murder their family, hunt them out of the pack lands, and land themselves squarely into hostile territory.

Sorry, I should say presumed hostile enemy territory.
Of course, Theo had been our history teacher of sorts. Educating Jaxon and I about the history of the Green River pack as far back as our great-great-great grandfather. I now knew that anything Theo had taught us had to be taken with a grain of salt. Which side of history had he wanted to preach? I had no clue how long he had been planning this atrocity, so it was impossible to tell where the truth ended and the lies began.

One hell of a headache was pounding in the right side of my head. My broken arm had a dull throbbing and the already healing cuts and scrapes itched. I probably looked worse than I felt. A quick finger comb through my hair told me enough about my appearance. The skin I could see without undressing looked red and irritated.

At least I knew I'd be healed quickly. I didn't need constant visual reminders of the hell I'd experienced last night.

"Hey there, darling. I'm your nurse, Danielle. How ya feeling?"

Danielle was a sweet, older lady. Probably in her late-fifties, early-sixties at most. Her smile lit up the room the moment she walked in. I knew that regardless of what possible horrors this territory contained, Danielle was a trustworthy person. Gut instinct was all I had to work with.

It had to be enough for now. Being suspicious of every single person was going to get extremely exhausting really quickly.

"You're healing well. Alpha Ty will be here shortly to pick you up. We can get you all set to check out of here."

"The Alpha? Where is he taking me?"

"That I do not know. But if you need me, for any reason, use this address." She slipped me a piece of paper with an address scrawled on it. "I was new here once too. I was a rogue once upon a time, so I understand some of what you're experiencing. Don't be afraid to get to know the folks here in this pack. Our stories may surprise you with how similar they feel."

I clutched the paper with Danielle's address to my chest. "I promise to try."

Danielle helped me ditch the hospital gown and pull one of the two clean sets of clothing I had from my go bag. I'd never thought I would need to use the go bag, so pickings were slim. But now more than ever I was grateful to at least have something of my own with me.

I carefully dressed in the leggings and oversized sweater that had once been my dad's favorite college sweater. It smelled like home and reminded me of how proud my dad had been to give it to me when I got accepted to his alma mater.

I'd always have that shared memory at least.

"For those that want it, this place can be a refuge." Danielle broke me from my musings, handing me my toiletries. "But you have to want it and work for it. It may not seem like it, but your place here must be earned. Everyone here has proven their commitment to the pack and the community as a whole."