My eyes well with those ridiculous tears again. “I need to try to eat…do you think?”
She smiles and then kisses my forehead. “There’s a plate on the table for you. Go fuel up; you’re going to need it.”
I pause with my hand on the door frame. “Do you think I’ll forget?”
“Bonnie, if there is anywhere in the world you could go to forget, these mountains are it. I will show you how. I will teach you how to survive in this world.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, and then I walk down to the kitchen that no longer holds the same shine that it used to, and I eat so I can run away.
Bonnie
10 Years Later
Iscrape my hair into a ponytail and put my hair tie on before running my hands down the front of my khaki shirt. The omega in the mirror holds nothing in common with the brokenhearted girl I once was. In fact, my ability to look in the mirror again is a source of great pride. The pain is still there, a huge, gaping hole in my chest, but no one can see it now, and I’ve buried it under a mountain of purpose.
Besides, it’s been ten years since I saw them on that red carpet. I’m not eighteen anymore. Dad helped mold me into someone who can survive. No alpha will ever crush me again.
I turn away, picking up my phone and grabbing my keys. Everything else I need is in the pack on my porch, ready to go.
Every time I get ready to lead a new group up into the park, I find myself feeling this rush of adrenaline. I like to chase it, the highs, the lows, the almost falls, the danger. It’s become a bit of an addiction now that I carefully monitor.
I slide my sunglasses onto my face and step out, looking over the people gathering in front of me.
“Welcome to your three-week guide into the magical Locklier Park. My name is Bonnie, and I’m part of Sanderson Adventure Tours and your guide. First things first. I am in charge. If you have a problem with that, don’t set out on this adventure. There is always one yahoo who thinks he can do a better job, but despite how beautiful this place is, it is wild, and it is dangerous. I’m trained, and I know this place better than the back of my hand. I will keep you safe.”
Ten people, a mix of alphas and betas, smile with a complete lack of comprehension of what they’ve signed up for.
But wait, there should be twenty.
I huff, annoyed. In the emails, I made it clear that everyone needs to be here exactly on time. Sometimes, everything runs smoothly, and I look out over this clearing, and the car park is full of empty cars, but my adventurers are all lined up ready to go. It’s a perfect day, the car park is full, but we are most certainly not ready to go.
I sigh in annoyance.
Two limos appear almost before I can finish that thought. I fold my arms over my chest, my lips twisting in irritation as I watch them pull into the car park, leaving a trail of dust behind them. This is a first; I’ve never seen limos here before. The people I’m waiting on are already on thin ice; being rich and arrogant isn’t going to make me make it easy for them.
The forest is calling me. I want to get moving. I check my watch, and we’re now officially five minutes behind schedule. I’ve discovered that the start matters to how the trip will go. If it’s bad, it has a tendency to stay bad. Accidents, bad weather, bad luck. The sky is a nice clear blue, though, so I’m not giving up hope yet, but I mentally prepare myself for three weeks of hell.
It takes forever, but they climb out of the limos, grabbing backpacks, laughing and joking as they wander over to me. I look at my watch, tapping my foot and feeling like a powder keg about to blow.
I’m controlling myself, just, when, out of the corner of my eye, I spot him.
HIM.
Rage sizzles in my blood, and, in slow motion, I turn and find all four of them standing there. Laughing and smiling, but those happy expressions slowly slide off their faces as they take me in and realise exactly who I am. They are surprisedto see me; I can see it in the way Rory clenches his hands around his bag strap. Cyn does a double take, while Vale’s lips thin. The only one who doesn’t have a visible reaction is Dakota.
If I weren’t looking for their reactions, I would have missed it. At least we’re all on the same page now.
I look them up and down, taking in their expensive clothes. Everything is the right brand and is new. They look like the poster children for wildly inexperienced hikers. Great, this is just great.
A tiny voice inside pipes up with an opinion I wish I didn’t hear.They look even better than they did when they were younger.Maturity has given them a dangerous edge. Playboy alphas with reputations for fucking anything and everything that moves, while somehow still being revolutionary leaders in their company.
Yes, my stalking of them over the years has been a sick character weakness, but know thy enemy, right?
I force a smile and shift my gaze away from them, though it is hard, and when I do, I feel vulnerable in a way I haven’t in years.
My tongue feels thick in my mouth, and words are hard to grasp, but I force myself to start my reel again.
“My name is Bonnie Sanderson, and I will be leading this tour. It’s my job to keep you safe. There are many dangers that can harm you out here. So, I need you to trust me and listen to everything I say. I promise I’m not doing it for fun, that last bit is a lie. I do this exclusively for fun and because I love it.”
