Chapter 6

Bianca’s Point of View

Morning comes too fast.

I sit up abruptly, my heart already racing, my wolf restless beneath my skin.

We didn’t sleep enough.

She mutters.

“No, but we don’t have the luxury of sleeping any longer.”

I whisper, rubbing my face.

I glance at the clock, then swing my legs over the bed.

My body aches, exhaustion clinging to me like a second skin, but stopping isn’t an option.

Not now. Not when Damon could be anywhere.

Or his men .

My wolf adds darkly.

"Exactly."

I murmur as I grab my bag. I double-check that everything is still in there before heading out.

The motel is quiet, and I don’t slow until I am a few streets away.

The bus station is small, too small and I hate it immediately. If someone comes asking questions they will immediately recognize me.

I hesitate for a second, contemplating what to do.

We don't really have any other choice. This is the only way out of here.

My wolf says quietly and I sigh, nodding my head.

Yeah... I know...

I take a deep breath before pushing open the door and stepping inside.

I walk up to the counter and give the woman behind it a tight smile.

“Hi. I need a ticket.”

I say softly She looks up at me and nods her head with a smile.

“Sure. Where to?”

She asks. I name the town I decided on last night.

If is far enough away that Damon won't come looking, but close enough to disappear to quickly.

She nods her head.

"Sure. Just give me a minute. "

She says and and I nod my head.

She types for a moment, then frowns.

“The next bus going that way leaves tomorrow morning.”

She says, looking back at me and I close my eyes briefly.

“Tomorrow?”

I ask slowly, opening my eyes again and she nods her head.

“Yes. The first one is at seven.”

She says and I sigh.

“Ard you sure there is nothing today?”

I asks but she shakes her head.

“No, I'm sorry.”

She says with an apologetic smile and I swallow hard as panic begins to claw at me.

My wolf shifts uneasily.

That's too long. He could find us.

I murmur.

What other choice do we have?

She repeats and I sigh.

I know...

“I’ll take it. One ticket please.”

I aay and she nods her head.

"That will be R400."

She says and I quickly nod before pulling the money out and handing it to her.

She prints the ticker and slides it across the counter towards me.

“There you go. Keep this safe.”

She says and I nod my head.

“I will.”

I promise, tucking it into my bag.

When I step back outside, my shoulders slump slightly and I try to breath normally.

Just one more night, then I am free.

I encourage myself before heading straight back to the motel.

The woman at the desk recognizes me immediately.

“Back so soon?”

She asks with a smile and I nod my head.

“Yeah, I need to extend my stay. Just one more night please.”

I say and she smiles at me, nodding her head.

“Of course, that won't be a problem.”

She says and I give her a small smile before I pay quickly. I accept the new key card, and hesitate for a second.

“Is there somewhere nearby to eat breakfast?”

I ask and she nods her head.

“There is a little diner just down the block. You can’t miss it.”

She says, still smiling at me and I nod my head, returning her smile.

“Thank you.”

I say before quickly stepping back outside. For a second I wonder if I should take my things to my room, but I decide against it and instead I make my way straight to the diner.

It’s quiet when I get there. There are few people scattered around, but no one seems to be paying me any attention and I feel my shoulders slightly relax. I slide into a booth and stare at the menu without really seeing it.

“What can I get you, honey?”

Someone asks next to me and I quickly look up to see an older waitress smiling at me.

“Uh, some eggs, back and toast. And coffee. Please.”

I say quickly and she nods her head, smiling at me.

“You got it, honey. Coming right up.”

She says and I give her a small smile before she walks away.

The second she turns away, my wolf growls lowly inside of me.

Something’s wrong.

You have been saying that since last night.

I say an she shakes her head.

This is different.

She murmurs and my heart begins to race.

I grip the edge of the table.

Is it Damon?

No. It's something... else.

She says immediately.

His men?

I ask and she hesitates for a second before she answers.

No…I don't think so, but I don’t know.

She says hesitantly and my chest tightens.

You don’t know? That's not exactly comforting.

I mutter.

I don’t recognize the feeling....

She admits after a few seconds.

It’s… close. Heavy. But I don't feel amy danger. We’re safe here. We’re in a human town.

She says and I swallow hard.

That doesn’t mean anything.

I say, pressing my lips together and forcing myself to breathe.

The food arrives, and I focus on it. I eat mechanically, barely tasting anything.

You are still shaking.

My wolf says after a few minutes.

I know. We shouldn’t stay.

I say quietly.

We don’t have a choice. The bus isn’t until tomorrow.

She says and I sigh.

I know.

We need to be ready.

I am ready.

I say quietly and she goes silent, but I can feel her tension still coiling tighter.

I quickly finish my food an pay for it before making my way back to the motel.

Back in my room, I lock the door and drop onto the bed. I pull out the notebook Emily gave me and flip it open.

“Okay... Let’s go over this again.”

I murmur.

I read through my notes slowly.

Where I’m going.

Where I’ll stay.

What I’ll do for work.

What I’ll do if Damon finds me.

I pause on that last one.

“Run... Always run.”

I whisper.

Or fight.

My wolf adds but I shake my head.

No, no fighting. Not unless we absolutely have to.

I say firmly. I flip the page and start rewriting parts of the plan, adjusting routes, crossing things out, adding alternatives.

You are overthinking this.

I can’t afford not to.

At some point, I turn the TV on just for the noise.

Human voices fill the room, dull and meaningless, but grounding.

I don’t remember falling asleep.

I just know I wake up to darkness.

My stomach growls loudly, making me flinch.

“Great... Perfect timing.”

I mutter as I sit up, before checking the clock.

Great. I missed the cut off for ordering take away... Now what?

The bar, that woman said it had food.

My wolf says and I nod my head.

“Great. Let's get this over with quickly.”

I mutters as I pull on my jacket and head out.

The street is quiet.

Stay alert.

My wolf warns and I nod my head.

I am.

She doesn't say anything else and I quickly make my way to the bar. The bar is just ahead when the door suddenly opens and I stop dead when a large man steps outside.

He quickly begins to move, heading my way and then....

Then, the scent slams into me.

My heart stutters violently in my chest and my breath catches.

My wolf begins to howl inside of my head, loud and frantic.

It's HIM.

I stagger back half a step, as a storm of emotions flood my veins as the pull hits me full force.