Chapter 9
The train pulled into my stop two hours later; by then I was pent up from being hungry and trapped in the passenger cart. Echo was getting more grouchy, so I know that I wasn't the only one feeling it.
I exited the train, stretching my stiff muscles and groaning. Ever since I was a baby, I've lived at the pack house, never venturing off to the nearby town, let alone a city. I suppose this was still in the downtown area, but tall buildings rose up around me, the streets clogged with late afternoon traffic. The sidewalks were crowded as well, and soon I was so overwhelmed by the sudden increase of people that I took refuge under what I assumed to be a bus stop, sitting down on the bench and taking out the address.
She huffed.
I made a hesitant glance at the woman. Her caramel blonde hair was streaked with light pink, and her eyes were fixated on her phone. She looked to be around her late twenties, just a few years older than myself. I bounced my leg, cleared my throat, and turned to the woman.
"Umm, excuse me. . ."
She looked up and smiled. "Yes?"
"Can you give me directions to this address?" I asked nicely as possible, handing her the slip of paper when she held out her hand. There was a short pause as she read it, then look of surprise flitted across her face.
"This is my apartment!" She exclaimed, her smile widening. "We've been told to look out for someone who comes through asking for us. What a coincidence," she laughed. "I'm Ramona."
A coincidence, indeed. I was shocked at how easy that was, and from the prideful sniff from Echo told me that she would hold this above me for a while.
"Augustus," I answered stiffly.
"I was just heading home; this is the bus I take. I'll have to buy you a ticket, unless. . ." she rummaged through her purse and pulled out two cards. "I just so happen to have my wife's bus pass! You can use it for now." She handed me a plastic card and pointed down the road. "Look, the bus is coming."
I followed Ramona as she got up, her long sheet of hair swaying as she made her way to the curb. I made sure to stick close to her side, not wanting to be swept away by the people rushing past us. She showed me how to scan my bus pass, waiting patiently for me before finding a pair of empty seats. I listened to her talk about the city, her wife, and her favorite nearby restaurants.
"We're both werewolves, of course," she was saying, "so there's no need to keep that a secret, as you're one, too."
I paused, fiddling with the strap of my backpack, having mixed feelings about them being werewolves. Did that mean they expected e to do the same things as Damon expected? I couldn't even tell what type Ramona's wolf was; I barely even sensed her wolf. It would be rude to ask about it, especially to someone I just met. But before that thought had even fully formed, Ramona was telling me her whole life story.
"I'm a submissive omega, and Naja, my wife, is a dominant alpha. She runs a boxing studio, but don't worry! Naja is fair and just, she wouldn't abandon you," she added, seeing my expression as she said dominant alpha.
"Good to know," I managed to get out turning to look out the window, watching as buildings and cars and people flitted past. Sure, Ramona talked a lot, but at least she was nowhere near anything like Damon and Axel. Her being an omega reassured me a bit, even if she was submissive.
"Ah, this is our stop."
She tugged my sleeve, leading me off the bus and down the sidewalk. A short walk later and we were standing in front of a tall brick building with a lot of windows. We walked up the small set of stairs and into an elevator in the main part. Ramona reached over to push the fifth floor button, telling me the room number even though I've already memorized the address from how many times I've read it on the paper. We soon arrived at her apartment, Ramona sliding the key into the lock and pushing the door open, gesturing for me too follow.
The first room was a small but organized kitchen with a table for four and decorated with various paintings. Past that was a living room with a television, love seat, a rocking chair, and a beanbag. The walls there were also adorned with paintings. To my left was a door, which I assumed was a coat closet, and a hallway with more doors. The space was worn and well-lived; I could tell Ramona and her wife have been here for a while.
"Welcome back," a female voice said, rushing out of one of the rooms. She was tall, taller than me, with beautiful dark skin and hair in a bun. Her shoulders were wide and muscles could be seen though her dark red workout tank top. She stared at me with dark eyes; an Alpha's eyes, I realized.
Ramona's wife was an Alpha, leader of a pack.
Ramona slipped off her shoes, leaving them on a mat, and went to give the Alpha a sweet peck on the cheek. "You wouldn't believe who I found today!" she said.
Naja returned the kiss. "I'm guessing it has something to do with that boy who looks lost?"
Ramona laughed, gesturing me to step out of the safety of the foyer. I carefully slipped my boots off and placed them on the mat. "Nice to meet you," I mumbled, nodding my head a bit to reveal a sliver of my neck in submission. I've never submitted to Damon nor Axel, so I didn't know why I felt the need to show my neck to Naja. It left me confused, but I was too hungry to ponder about it too much.
The Alpha retuned the head nod, her face impassive but a warm twinkle in her eyes. "Welcome to our humble abode."