Escaping Dominance (Heart of a Wolf Series - Trina's Tale)

by MaryLynn Bast

  “Baby, hold on and keep your head down, okay?” Trina twisted around in the seat and tried to help him adjust.

  “You might want to turn around in case he hits us, don’t want you going through the window.” Amber’s voice was urgent. She kept leaning forward, looking to the side and behind them, moving her body around so she could keep her eye on where the truck was while staying in her lane.

  Trina plopped back down in her seat and quickly refastened her seat belt.

  Luck on their side, there was actually traffic on the highway. A car moved in behind theirs. When Dean began moving alongside trying to pass, Amber timed it just right and stomped on the gas, whipping the wheel to the right. Hitting the exit, their tires throwing rocks in the air, they shot up the off ramp.

  Trina yipped worriedly when the white and red truck swerved towards the exit. He nearly clipped the front end of the car that had been following Amber on the highway. The truck fishtailed, causing him to miss the exit completely. Trina moved around in the seat; looking nervously out the windshield, and side and rear windows, trying to see where they were going.

  The road ran alongside the highway. The embankment too steep for the truck to climb and follow, Amber turned off on some side roads, driving like a mad woman.

  Trina stared at her wide eyed when she pulled to a stop at the police station. “What are you doing?”

  “Last place you expect me to go, right?”

  Trina nodded, her lips pressed together, she still didn’t understand what Amber was doing.

  “We’re leaving the car. Get your things and come on.” Amber didn’t give her time to ask questions. Shoving the door open, she jumped out of the car and ran to the rear. Her palm smacked the trunk and it popped open. Grabbing her green backpack, she slung it over her shoulder, and then hefted a strap onto her other shoulder of what looked like a computer bag. Snatching up another smaller backpack, she waited impatiently.

  Trina slung their packs over her shoulders, grabbed Toby and followed her down the street, hurrying to catch up. “Mind telling me where we are going?”

  “Map at the truck stop shows a motel up the road about two miles.”

  Realization dawned on Trina. If Dean came back and saw the car at the police station, he would more than likely park up the road and wait endlessly for them to come back out when the police couldn’t help them. A sinister smile curled her lip. She was going to have to get smarter to stay on the run like this. “There aren’t many trees in the area so we need to really watch for traffic and stay hidden when possible. Can’t he track our scent with us being on foot?”

  Amber didn’t respond immediately. She took off down the back streets heading towards the highway. Watching for his truck, they rushed towards the motel. “I’m counting on him thinking we are in the police station and not getting out of the truck. That’s why we need to hurry and get going.”

  Trina tried carrying Toby like she did the night she made her first escape. But he had grown and they had more stuff so she started falling behind.

  Seeing that she couldn’t keep up, Amber twirled around and held her hand out. “Set him down. Give me your backpack. We can’t stay out in the open any longer, we need to move!”

  131

  ESCAPING DOMINANCE

  CHAPTER seven

  The motel only had one room left. Trina peeked at Amber and was glad to see that she only frowned slightly over the news, not making a big deal out of it. Luckily it had two double beds.

  Once in the room, even though he had slept in the car, Toby curled up on the bed and watched television, his eyes drooping.

  Once they were settled in, Amber shoved a card key in her back pocket, grabbed her backpack and slipped quietly out the door.

  Trina figured she was used to being alone. If it weren’t for her leaving her computer and the small black pack, she would have thought Amber was leaving them. With a little peace of mind that she had no intentions of abandoning her, she laid on the bed by the wall. Positioning Toby in front of her, she could lie on her side and watch the door. Her fingers absently sifted through his fine hair while he watched cartoons. Glancing at the clock, she found that it was only ten. Wide awake, she lay there wondering what to do with her life.

  Late into the night she was startled awake when the door opened. Her hand covered her mouth to keep from screaming. When she realized Amber came through the door, not Dean, Trina dropped her hand, breathing deeply she closed her eyes in relief. “You scared the shit out of me,” she whispered loudly, her heart still pounding in her chest.

  Amber grinned and tossed the green backpack onto the floor next to the computer and sat down on the edge of her bed. “I scoped out the area. There’s a lot up the road where I can get another car in the morning.” At the suspicious look on Trina’s face Amber actually laughed. “I’m not going to steal if it that’s what you are worried about.”

  “Sor...” She clamped her mouth shut when one of Amber’s eyebrows rose slightly. Trina realized she did say sorry an awful lot. Years of being dominated and abused most of her life, always apologizing, had become engrained in her behavior. There were things she had to fix about herself. She just wasn’t sure how to go about making those changes. Shrugging, she got up from the bed and glanced out the window. “Can you tell me anything about this shelter you are taking us to?”

  “I don’t know specifics, just where it’s at.”

  “So I’m not going to say I’m sorry, but I hate that you have to get another car.”

  Amber shrugged again. “On the run, you learn to not get attached to things or people.” She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes.

  “With how you kicked the shit out of Dean, I take it you know how to take care of yourself.” Trina looked at the floor, then back up and was startled when Amber jumped from the bed and stood staring down at her.

  “Surprise is your best defense. If I’m right, Dean won’t expect you to fight back.” She raised her brow in question.

  Trina nodded, staring at her.

  “I told you to stop saying sorry because some things are just out of your control and not your fault.”

  “It’s habit.” Her lips pressed together, the corners turned down, fighting the tears that seemed to always be just under the surface. With a slight frown she nodded again, looking down at the floor.

  Ignoring her obvious emotions, Amber continued. “Know your surroundings and your best escape route. But first,” she lifted her hand quickly.

  Trina flinched, a slight whimpering sound escaped.

  Amber stepped back, giving her breathing room. “keep your head up, that will help you stop jumping at every sound or movement because you’ll see what is going on around you. I know you are taught to lower your head to your dominant. Don’t lower your head to me; I am not your dominant. I know he hit you all the time and it’s a reflex to try to dodge, but seriously, it shows people you’re scared and intimidate easily. If you want, I can show you a few defensive moves.”

  Trina looked at her with a hopeful nod. “Yes, please.”

  “Okay, remember, he is coming after you to hurt you. So don’t be afraid to injure or maim him first, strike fast and strike hard. Then run like hell. If he keeps coming after you, Trina, you may have to kill him.”

  Her eyes widened. She didn’t want to kill anyone. “Have you?” Staring at her, she waited for Amber to respond.

  “No, but there is one person I thought I was going to have to, but like I said, run like hell. That worked for me.”

  The two women stayed up most of the night. Amber showed Trina how to defend herself from several different types of attacks. Not getting into anything too drastic, just simple techniques to help her get away if Dean, or any other man, were to get his hands on her.

  “You must be getting tired.” Trina yawned and giggled when Amber yawned too.

  “Yeah, another long day ahead of us, I need to grab a couple hours.” Amber picked up the green backpack and took it into the bathro
om with her and closed the door.

  Trina’s brows drew together. She wondered what was so important about the pack that she never let it out of her sight. When Amber crawled into bed, she noticed the bag was right next to her side of the bed, close to the door. The woman seemed to always be ready for a quick escape.

  ****

  Two hours later, she woke to find the other bed empty. Trina jumped up and looked around the room, peering in the bathroom, nothing. Amber’s things were all gone. Plopping down in the chair, her back hit the hard cushion with a thump. She ran her hands through her hair, the palm of her hand against her forehead, she leaned forward, placing her elbow on her knee. Closing her eyes to fight the frustration she wondered what the hell she was going to do now. She sucked in a deep breath, released it on a sigh, straightened and started to get up when she heard a quick honk. Sneaking a peek through a crack in the curtain, a wave of relief washed over her.

  Amber jumped out of her new black jeep, new to her anyway, and headed towards the room with a satisfied grin on her face. The older model wrangler looked to be in good condition.

  Trina opened the door and walked outside. “Nice ride.”

  Amber bobbed her head, walking towards Trina with a grin her face. “Good deal, too. They’re picking up the car tomorrow so I don’t have to worry about it. You ready to head out?”

  Trina nodded, went back in and quickly woke Toby, rushing him through dressing and brushing his teeth. They followed Amber outside, loading their bags into the small cargo area in the back.

  With the top off, Amber sat in the driver’s seat, her dark hair pulled back into a braid, a grin on her face. Trina couldn’t help but think, for someone who doesn’t get attached to things, she sure seemed to be happy about her new acquisition.

  After securing Toby in the back seat, she had to lift her foot high to the frame and pull herself up into the tall four by four. Settling into the black leather seat, she pulled the seatbelt across her lap, snapping it into place. Her hair wasn’t long enough to braid, but she did pull it back into a ponytail at the base of her skull so the wind wouldn’t whip it around. The welcoming warmth of the sun shone down on them in the early morning hours. She’d been stuck indoors cleaning rooms and teaching Toby whenever possible, so she hadn’tt spent as much time as he had outside and she needed it. The rays felt good on her skin. A smile on her face, she nodded when Amber started the jeep and turned the radio up. Pulling out of the parking lot, they took off towards the highway and headed to Las Vegas.

  A couple hours into the drive, she could tell Amber was tired. “If you want to teach me to drive, I can relieve you. It doesn’t look too difficult.”

  Amber cut her eyes over at her, weighing the thought, then shook her head. “Not a good idea to have you behind the wheel if Dean shows up. Learning to drive a stick is easy, but not when you’re trying to avoid someone. But thanks for the offer.”

  Trina nodded, disappointed, but understanding her reasoning. She sunk back into the seat. The thought of learning to drive was exciting, but she hadn’t considered what would happen if Dean had shown up. She would probably freak, run off the road and kill them all. She had once considered asking Mable to teach her to drive, but she had done so much for her that she didn’t want to keep asking for things. Then Trina noticed Amber watching the mirrors constantly. She looked over her shoulder. “Is he following us?”

  Amber shook her head. “Not that I can see anyway.”

  After a few moments of silence, other than the radio, Trina glanced at Toby in the back. “Can we stop at the next gas station so I can get him something to eat?”

  “Of course. I’m used to being alone, so you will have to speak up if you two need anything.”

  Trina nodded and smiled over her shoulder at Toby, who grinned back at her. Her heart swelled with pride and amazement every time she looked at him. Even though getting pregnant with him had changed her life completely, she loved him dearly. She didn’t understand how some people could take their anger out on a child. They didn’t ask to be brought into the world. On the long drive, Trina had a lot of time to think.

  Wind whipping through the jeep, it was hard to hold a conversation. Not that Amber was inclined to anyway. At the next small town they approached, she began to slow down. “There’s a store instead of a gas station if you prefer to stock up on a few things. We still have a ways to go.”

  “Sounds good.” Trina mentally checked to make sure she had everything with her. She had repeatedly checked her back pocket when leaving the motel, ensuring the money was still there. The pay wasn’t great, but Mable had taken care of their needs, making sure they were fed and had a place to live. She was able to save a small sum of money. It would hopefully be enough to tide them over until she could get a real job and take care of her son the way she really wanted to.

  ****

  After driving for hours, Amber exited the highway and pulled into a deserted rest area, stopping by the curb. The intense heat of the sun was beating down on them so Trina helped put the soft top on the jeep and fasten it down.

  Amber rubbed her hand across her face. “I need to rest my eyes for a few minutes.” She yawned, her hand covering her mouth; stretching in the seat, she turned and hopped out.

  “I was wondering if you were going to get tired or not. You didn’t sleep much last night.”

  Amber’s shoulder lifted slightly. “I usually survive on a couple hours at a time.” Lifting her arms above her head, she did a few stretching exercises to get the blood flowing again. Without another word she turned and headed towards the building with the restroom.

  Trina shook her head and smiled. The woman really didn’t like to interact much with people. She wasn’t rude. Well, kind of, but she was there under her reluctant protection, for lack of better words. Turning to Toby, he had already taken off his seat belt and jumped from the jeep. She realized that Amber had actually left her bag in the back instead of taking it with her. Hmmm, maybe she was beginning to trust her? She turned to Toby. “You need to go to the bathroom?”

  “Yep.” He skipped out in front of her, heading towards the building and held his hand up for a high five when he passed Amber on her way out.

  A grin crossed her face. Amber lightly slapped his hand, meeting Trina’s eyes and inclined her chin slightly before continuing towards the jeep.

  Trina returned her smile, half expecting her to ignore his hand up in the air. She definitely couldn’t predict anything about the woman.

  Amber moved the jeep, backing it in to the spot under the tree, the ideal location. All she had to do was lift her head slightly from her reclining position and see both entrances into the rest area.

  Trina took note of Amber’s actions. She was either very paranoid or overly cautious. Always prepared for a quick escape, something Trina knew she needed to start preparing for. Leaving the security of the pack, if it could be called that, she had exposed her son to more dangers in the world and wondered if maybe she had made a mistake by taking him away. She hugged Toby to her.

  “Mommy?”

  She stroked his head absentmindedly.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, baby, why?” Leaning back, she held his shoulders and looked down into his tanned face, staring into the bright blues that matched her own.

  “You were squeezing me too tight.” He peered up at her, his face looked so innocent.

  “I’m sorry. I was just thinking of what we need to do when we get to our new home.”

  “Is it scary? Will Daddy be able to find us there?”

  “I hope not, baby, I hope not,” she murmured softly. Hearing him talk about Dean made her heart clench and brought tears to her eyes at the word daddy. She knew there was no turning back now, but she did wonder if she was cut out for a life on the run.

  While Amber rested in the jeep, Trina played with Toby out in the picnic area. Occasionally she would see Amber’s head pop up when a car could be heard heading in their direction on th
e highway. Other than that, she appeared to be resting okay. Trina knew how to keep Toby busy and out of the way. She had learned this at an early age from when Dean and his friends snapped and snarled about him being too loud or underfoot. Remembering all the bad stuff helped remind Trina that she was doing the right thing by taking her son away from his father and the lifestyle he was set on living.

  The weather was nice. There was a very small patch of grass maintained at the rest area. She had noticed since being in the desert, they tended to hardscape most areas due to lack of water. Playing under the small acacias trees bunched around the covered tables provided protection from the direct midday sun and Toby was able to burn off some of his energy.

  Trina was happy to see him running around because she was worried about him sleeping so much since escaping from Dean at the motel. Watching him play, she hoped the sudden changes in his life were not affecting him too severely. He seemed okay though. Digging in his backpack, she pulled out the small rubber ball and they were tossing it back and forth when she heard the sound of a vehicle approaching.

  Amber’s head popped up, and then back down quickly when a department of public safety vehicle pulled into the parking lot.

  Trina could only imagine the panic Amber probably felt because the same surge of adrenaline rushed through her veins. It was a possibility the officer pulling through the lot could be a member of the local wolf population. With the packs living among humans they blended by working the same jobs. In fact, Trina noticed they held a lot of government positions. If the officer was a pack member then she was on the verge of getting caught and dragging Amber down with her.

  He would recognize that she was from another pack and enter her name into their police data base. She was sure Dean had reported her as a runaway to the council the moment she left pack land and got him in trouble with the police. If the officer ran her name, the council would be alerted to her whereabouts. She had to think of something, and fast. Sniffing the air confirmed he was human.