“Sorry,” I apologize in stumbling tones. “I’ve never… I’m not sure…”
The woman sighs, taking pity on me. “I’m Seek.”
“Seek?”
“Aye. Because I find things.” She wiggles long, thin fingers at me. “Things that don’t want to be found.”
My eyes slip to an abandoned stash of wallets on the ground, and Seek tosses a blanket over them.
“First rule of bein’ here.” She takes a step closer to me, her voice dropping with a warning note. “Keep your nose to yourself. Got that?”
When I nod furiously, her shoulders relax.
“Here.” She throws me a wool blanket before she disappears into her tent and comes back out, a yellowed sheet in her hands. She hands it over.
“Use that to set up,” she points at the sheet. “I ain’t got a sleeping bag, but I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
“Thank you. I probably won’t be here long, though—”
Seek throws her head back in a loud cackle. “Like I haven’t heard that before. Welcome to the dungeon, omega. Watch yourself. There are alphas around.”
My flinch doesn’t go unnoticed, and she sniffs.
“If I can see it so clearly, they will, too. Most of ‘em keep to themselves, so stay outta the way and you should be fine.”
Seek vanishes behind her tent, and I wait for a few moments before realizing I've been summarily dismissed. Calling out a weak thank you, I look around, finding a small empty space with an above section of twine.
It takes me a few minutes to throw the sheet over, the cold numbing my fingers and making me fumble. When it’s finally up, I spread the blanket over the hard packed dirt underneath and crawl in.
It’s freezing, but at least there’s some shelter from the wind. Tugging the hood of Axel’s sweatshirt over my head, I lie back with my head on my duffle and bury my hands in the pockets, grateful for the length as I suck in another hit of his scent.
The noise of the camp ebbs and flows around me. Hunger claws at my stomach, but I ignore it, shifting onto my side.
My eyes start to flutter, and I stop fighting it.
Please let tomorrow be better.
ChapterTwelve
Gabrielle
“Get outta here.”
I slump as the bar door swings shut, jumping back to avoid getting hit in the face.
Sixfuckingdays.
Six days of walking every street in the city. Six days of politely asking for work, wheedling, even downright begging.
I don’t think there’s a single place left to try.
My heart thuds dully in my chest as I turn away, the pulsing music blaring from the bar pounding at my already savage headache.
“Hey, omega.”
My shoulders tense as I swing around, arms raised.
The beta takes a step back, hands raised. “Steady. Name’s Elliot.”
