Maxine

Chapter Seven

I drove through the night and into the day as I finally reached the 'Welcome to Ohio' sign. It would take a while longer to reach Cleveland so I decided it was time for a stop. I wasn't sure what town I was in, but at least this territory is unclaimed. In fact all of Ohio is unclaimed.

I pulled into a diner parking lot and checked my surroundings before getting out of the car. Everything was quiet, this is a small town, but it's lunchtime... I thought there would be more people. I decided to get out of the car and go in. 

There was a young guy at the hostess station, he couldn't have been more than seventeen. He gave me a bright smile, "Will you be dining in?" I nodded and he led me to a table in front of the window, "Actually, can you sit me in the back?"

He raised an eyebrow but smirked, "Of course." He took me to the back corner and put out a menu and utensils. "What can I get you to drink?" I quickly responded, "Dr. Pepper is fine, can you point me to the restroom?" He stuck his thumb behind him, "Right over there Miss." He walked away as I rushed to the bathroom.

The mirror caught my eye. The circles under my eyes were darker, but at least I looked decent. I took care of business and made my way back to my seat. There were only a couple of people in the diner with me. A middle aged woman in a pants suit and an elderly couple.  I took a deep breath.

Humans, no werewolves. Good, very good. Another young guy came over, if it wasn't for the different clothes I would have thought it was the host. He gave me a lazy smile, "Are you ready to order?" I looked down at the menu and picked the first thing I saw, "A rodeo burger please." He jotted it down on his note pad. "It'll be out in just a minute, is there anything I can get you while you wait?"

I shook my head and handed him the menu. He took it and gave me another smile before walking away. I closed my eyes and rested my elbows on the table. Rubbing my temples I thought about the past few days and how hectic they have been.

I sighed, what am I doing? Running Maxine, that's what you're doing. You couldn't stay there, not with a mate that you didn't want, a crazy ex, and a pack that wanted to make you their own. I slowly opened my eyes.

Why did they want me so badly? They were willing to rush a ceremony so I could be one of them. I was a rogue for goodness sake, I'm not important. Unless they know something I don't know. I ran my hand down my face as the waiter approached with my food and drink.

"You looked a little stressed, want to talk about it?" I looked up at the guy and felt a pang of sadness. He reminded me of a boy from my old pack, actually him and his brother both. If you could hodge podge them together they would be an exact replica of a kid named Toby. He would have been their age about now. "Umm, no it's alright. Thank you though."

He smiled at me before leaving me with my thoughts. My mind was jumping around from memories to conspiracies to who knows what. I felt as if I had taken some sort of drug and a haze was polluting my brain. I took a bite of my food, not tasting it, but eating it to silence the beast in my belly. 

"Maxine?" I froze, I know that voice, but where? I looked up to the solace black eyes of an old pack member, "You." I spit it out with so much hate and venom. His smirk disgusted me, "Now is that how you treat an Alpha?" I rolled my eyes, "You aren't my Alpha Parker, and thank the Moon Goddess for that." He was a vile creature. He was the reason I was kicked out of my pack, because he wanted something he couldn't have. Because he couldn't keep his dirty paws to himself I was punished.

He sat down across from me and I let out a low growl, "You may be an Alpha, but you mean nothing to me. Learn to know when you're not wanted." He laughed, "You always were so charming Max." My eyes met his, "Do not call me Max. You are the reason I'm a rogue-" He cut me off,

"Actually that was your fault. You lost control, so my father had no option. Honestly I don't know why you fought me. All of the girls back home would have loved to be in your position." I let out another low growl, "Then you should have chose one of them. You should have known I wouldn't let you have me. You weren't special enough for me to even look at."

I knew that would hurt his ego and I could see anger fill his expression, "You're one to talk, look at you. On the run as nothing more than a rogue. You're weak and pathetic." I smirked, "That's funny because if I'm so weak then what does that say about you? I specifically recall kicking your ass."

His nostrils flared and I held back a laugh. I stood up and put some money on the table, more than enough to pay for my meal. "It seems to me Parker, you're the one who happens to be weak. You should really stay in your own territory." I left him there but I heard him say you'll regret this as I walked out the door.

Only if he knew I regret nothing. Silly boy. I got in my car and started back on my journey. 

I finally reached Cleveland. I had filled up my tank some time ago. This car really was good on gas. I pulled into an apartment complex that said 'Apartments Available Now!' I found the main office and walked in. A young guy looked up at me with his bland brown eyes, "Can I help you?" I looked at him for a moment, "I need an apartment. Are there any single bedrooms available?"

He closed his magazine and signed "Let me go get the manager." He walked to the back and I could barely hear him, "Some crazy wants to do business at this hour." The clack of heels made their way to the front until a fiery red head came walking up. Her green eyes glowed when they landed on me.

"What's a beautiful little flower like yourself doing out this late? Perhaps we can get you settled in tonight? You know... to get you off these miserable streets. Wouldn't want you getting hurt." I raised an eyebrow, "Any single room apartments?" 

Her eyes seemed to light up more, "You're by yourself? No boyfriend? Girlfriend?" I squinted my eyes at her, "Listen, if you can't help me then I'm going somewhere else." She blinked, "No of course we'll get a lease for you right away." Shit I forgot "I need something month by month, something loose." She smiled, "You don't have a friend you can stay with?" She was purring and it made me nervous.

"I don't have friends." I took a deep breath and the air was off. I straightened up, "I think I'll find somewhere else." I turned to go but she grabbed my arm and dug her nails in, "You can stay here my little flower." Her pupils turned to slits, a shifter. Fuck. 

I gave a warning growl, "Don't push me pest." She laughed with amusement displaying cat-like fangs, "I like you, you can be my little flower." My wolf was coming forward, she didn't like the idea of being owned. She let go of my arm, "Get her." I felt a sting in my neck and reached up to touch it.

There was a dart. Oh shit. I made a run for the door but tripped on my feet as the drugs started to take effect. No, no no, no. Fuck. My vision became splotchy as I lay on the floor. I began to lose feeling and soon my sight was gone and I blacked out.

********

My body was cold as I opened my eyes. Everything was blurry and dark. My senses were dulled, but soon my vision focused on my surroundings. I was in a cage, and by cage I mean a dog crate. The kid from the office sat in a chair across the room from me. He stood up and walked out into the hall, "She's awake." The redhead came in and flipped on the lights. 

I squeezed my eyes shut from the sudden onslaught to my senses. Her laugh was bell like and high pitched. It was like nails on a chalk board to my ears. "Finally we can play my little flower. What should we do with you first?"

I peeled my eyes open, "You can start with letting me go." She clapped her hands together, "That's not going to happen. How about we get you dressed for a show? You'll sell quickly." My eyes widened in shock, "What the hell do you mean I'll 'sell quickly'?" She laughed again, "Well I have to make money some way and I don't make enough through the apartment business. I specialize in the sale of exotic pets. Werewolves and the like."

I felt sick. There was no way that I was going to let her sell me in some freak auction. Not without a fight. She whispered to she guy, "Sedate her." His grin was disgusting as he pulled out a dart gun. There was nowhere for me to go. With the pull of his finger it was lights out for me.