Chapter 5 Welcome to Nowhere

Maya

The bus window was filthy. I mean properly disgusting, like nobody had cleaned it since 2015. But I kept staring through it anyway, watching trees and run-down buildings blur past.

Welcome to Northern Pack territory.

If Southern Pack was a polished magazine cover, then Northern Pack was like the crumpled newspaper you found in a gas station bathroom. More trees than houses. The houses that did exist looked like they'd been through a war and lost.

I felt like I'd time-traveled to 2003. It felt like, someone was going to offer me a flip phone any second now.

The bus wheezed to a stop at the terminal. I grabbed my luggage and climbed off with the other passengers, most of whom looked like they'd just finished twelve-hour shifts at jobs they hated. The exhaustion was practically radiating off them.

I stood there for a minute, taking it all in.

The buses were either covered in dirt or had paint so faded you couldn't tell what color they used to be. The walls of the terminal were crumbling, covered in peeling posters and graffiti. A group of kids were skateboarding through a hole someone had smashed in one of the concrete walls, laughing like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Excuse me?" I turned to a man who'd just walked up beside me. He was clearly waiting for the next bus. "Do you know how to get into town from here? I'm new and kind of lost."

He looked me up and down like I'd just asked him to donate a kidney.

Then he turned away without saying a word. I waited a full minute,hoping he'd change his mind and respond but I got nothing.

"Okay then," I muttered. "Great start, Maya. Really nailing the whole 'fresh start' thing."

I grabbed my luggage and followed the flow of people heading in one general direction, figuring they probably knew where they were going better than I did.

When I finally emerged onto an actual street, the sun hit me like a slap.

Goddess, it was bright here. And hot. My skin immediately started burning.

Small houses lined the street, nothing taller than two stories. A few shops were scattered around, most of them looking like they might close down any day now. Everything felt old and tired and forgotten.

A wave of doubt crashed over me.

"Maybe this was a mistake," I whispered.

"No." I shook my head firmly. "You made the right choice. You had to leave."

And I did have to leave. Staying in Southern Pack meant watching Mason and Seraphina play happy family. It meant everyone whispering about the pathetic ex-Luna who got replaced. It meant my baby growing up in the shadow of Seraphina's son.

No. Leaving was the only option.

My dad was the only one who knew where I'd gone. He'd been worried, obviously, but he understood. Sometimes you have to run to save yourself.

I spotted a fruit stand up ahead and headed toward it, my stomach growling. The old lady behind it smiled when she saw me, which was honestly the friendliest thing that had happened since I arrived.

I grabbed some plums and grapes. She bagged them up and I paid, then looked around for somewhere to sit and eat.

That's when I saw the mini mart.

Perfect. I needed to stock up on a few things anyway.

I wheeled my luggage inside and started browsing the aisles, trying to stick to a strict budget. I had a few thousand dollars to my name and no idea how long it would have to last.

Then I smelled it. Something baking. Bread, maybe, or pastries.

My stomach basically screamed at me.

I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then stuck my hand in the fruit bag and pulled out a plum.

The first bite was heaven. Juicy and sweet and I demolished it in about thirty seconds flat before grabbing another one.

"You know, you can eat without making yourself uncomfortable, dear."

I froze mid-chew and turned around.

An old woman stood in the aisle behind me, looking at my stomach with a knowing smile.

"Uh." I swallowed the massive chunk of plum in my mouth. "Okay?"

"I know what it's like, being pregnant and hungry." Her voice was kind. "It's all-consuming. Like your brain shuts off and you just have to eat. But slow down, honey. The food isn't going anywhere. You'll get full either way, and you'll avoid constipation."

"Thanks," I said, my face burning with embarrassment.

She didn't seem like she was trying to embarrass me, though. She actually seemed nice, which was such a relief after everyone else I'd encountered today.

I finished grabbing what I needed, then called after her before she could leave.

"Excuse me? Are there any rooms for rent around here? I just moved to the area and I need somewhere to stay."

Her face lit up. "Oh yes! I have rooms available, actually. Right above the restaurant I own. It's just a block from here." She gestured down the street. "You can even get a meal if you're hungry."

I could have cried with relief. "That would be amazing. Thank you so much."

"Come on, follow me."

We paid for our things and walked out of the mart. True to her word, the restaurant was literally right around the corner. A small deli with a hand-painted sign that read "Brown's."

She pushed open the glass door and ushered me inside. It was cute. Cozy. The kind of place that probably made amazing comfort food.

One of her employees took my luggage behind the counter while she gestured to a table.

"Sit, sit. Order whatever you want. We'll look at the room once you've eaten."

The souffle was incredible. I'd picked it as my side dish instead of the salad, and honestly, it was the best decision I'd made all day. Okay, it tasted a little stale, but the owner had been so nice to me that I wasn't about to complain.

"How's the food?" The old woman slid into the seat across from me. "Everything okay?"

"It's great," I said honestly. "I love the souffle. I'm not really a salad person."

"You should eat it anyway. Not for you, for the baby. Growing babies need all the nutrients they can get." She smiled warmly. "What's your name, honey?"

"Maya."

"Beautiful name. I'm Brown. That's what everyone calls me, anyway."

She leaned forward, studying my face. "So what brings you all the way to Northern Pack? I can tell you're from Southern Pack territory."

"Yeah, I am." I pushed the salad around my plate. "I just needed a change, you know? Sometimes when you need to heal, the best thing you can do is leave your comfort zone and start fresh somewhere new."

Brown laughed. "Honey, if Southern Pack was my comfort zone, I'd never leave. That place is paradise compared to here. This place is practically a ghost town."

I couldn't help but laugh with her. "I like how quiet it is. Feels like I could live a simple life here."

"Simple, sure. But limiting." She pushed to her feet. "Come on, let's go look at the room. Terra! Bring out the luggage!"

She led me through a door at the back of the restaurant. The door looked like it was being held together by sheer willpower, termites having eaten through most of the wood.

We climbed a narrow staircase that was way dustier than the restaurant. Clearly, not many people came up here.

Finally, we reached a door. Brown pushed it open and stepped inside, immediately going to the window to throw open the drapes.

Sunlight flooded the small room.

And I mean small. It was a single bedroom, barely big enough for the bed, a tiny kitchenette, and what looked like a closet-sized bathroom.

"So?" Brown turned to me with a hopeful smile. "What do you think? There's running water, a kitchen for home-cooked meals, even a little balcony where you can sit and enjoy the view. If you like it, it's yours."

I wanted to be picky. I wanted to say it was too small, too run-down, too depressing.

But I was in survival mode. I needed a roof over my head more than I needed comfort.

"I like it," I said.

Brown clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! I knew you would!"

"How much is the rent?"

"Three hundred dollars for six months. We charge twice a year, so that'll cover you through the first half."

Three hundred dollars. I only had a few thousand to my name, and I had no idea how long I'd need to make it last. But I needed this room, and I needed to find a job as soon as possible.

"Okay," I said. "Where do I pay?"

"Cash is fine. I'll get you a receipt within the hour."

I counted out the money and handed it over. Brown looked thrilled, which seemed like a weird reaction, but whatever. Maybe she didn't get renters very often.

"I'll leave you to get settled!" she said cheerfully, then disappeared down the stairs.

I turned and looked at the room again. Really looked at it.

Cobwebs in the corners. Dust on every surface. The walls were stained and the floor was uneven.

"Starting small," I muttered. "This is fine. You'll stay here until the baby comes, then you can find something better."

I spent the next few hours cleaning. Scrubbing floors. Washing bathroom tiles. Wiping down windows. By the time I finished, I was completely wiped out.

I collapsed onto the bed without even changing clothes, my eyes closing the second my head hit the pillow.

Until-

BANG! BANG! BANG!

I jolted awake, my heart racing.

Someone was pounding on the door. No, not pounding. Trying to break it down.

Oh God. Mason. Mason found me.

Panic flooded my system. I jumped off the bed and looked around wildly, searching for somewhere to hide.

The pounding got louder.

Then the door exploded inward.

Two massive men stormed into the room and grabbed me before I could even scream.