Runaway
Davina (POV)
“Hey, you need to move your ass faster customers are complaining about the food getting to them cold , ” Harry yells.
I look at his short, bald , big belly ass, and think of all the ways I could rip him apart. Then I remember the last city, I almost gave my old boss a heart attack, with my roar and eye color changing.
“I’m moving as fast as I can, besides you shouldn’t have fired Page,” I yell back. Then pick up one of my table orders and deliver it to the impatient humans.
As much as I hate how selfish humans can be, I wish that I was one. Instead , I’m a shifter, lioness to be exact. That would be exceptional if I had someone who loved me, but I don’t. My parents abandoned me when I was very young because they thought I wouldn’t survive the transformation. I’m fuzzy on the details because I was young, but I was left in an alley with a book bag on my back. A cop found me wondering the street and tried to locate my parents. They put me on the news hoping my parents would surface and claim me.
Everyone thought I was lost and my parents would be worried. They were all wrong, my parents did not miss me the fuckers abandoned me. After months of searching the cop and his wife took me in as their own. I was always sneaking out to run. It’s the only time I felt free. When I hit the age of 12, I knew my body was about to go through a change, but I remembered my mother saying I’ll never survive it. So, I packed a bag and left. After my transformation was a success , I felt amazing, but then realized I would never belong. My birth parents left me , and I left my adopted parents because they wouldn’t accept a lioness in their home I’m sure.
Now, surviving is my only goal. I work in places that pay under the table and don’t ask questions. I hear the door open and smell cologne of a man along with another scent, one that I haven’t come across in years. Quickly I turn and see the man in the suit and get a look at him.
Once I’m in the back with Harry. I can feel my heart racing. Why would this guy be on this road in this type of diner?
It’s full of truck drivers and trash, this guy should not be here, more importantly, he’s a lion.
“Davina, get out there we have a new customer.” Harry barks.
I look over at Heather who is chewing her gum.
“I’m doing my share Davina, he’s sitting in your section.” She arches a brow and walks away.
Bitch. Soon as I get close to him he’ll know who I am. What the hell can I say? He will have questions, and I don’t have answers. I walk over to the pan with leftovers from the plates and start stuffing my mouth and chew as fast as possible hoping to cover my smell.
I walk out from the back with my pad to take his order. The closer I get to the lion the more anxious he seems; I can see him lift his nose in the air smelling. I swallow hard and come up to his table. He looks up at me, and his eyes are dark amber.
My mouth goes dry, and I forget that I should be trying to hide that I am a lioness, not gazing upon this fine man or shifter.
“You, who are you?” His voice is deep and smooth like silk covering my body.
“I’m the waitress, you want the special?” I ask, not looking in his eyes.
“Look at me.” He commands.
“Sir, what would you like to have, I don’t have time for these games.” I snap.
I can feel my anger getting out of control. I shouldn’t be afraid of him he’s not my pride leader, in fact, I belong to no one.
“You are like me.” He whispers. “Yet, you know I’m a lion, and you still do not obey. Why are you working here? Who is your leader?”
His questions don’t stop, and I can’t take it anymore. I walk toward the back, but I can hear him walking behind me, I take a look over my should and see him gaining on me.
I run past Harry and Heather moving faster than they have ever seen before. Pushing through the back door, I run until I’m able to change into my lioness. Once I’m not in human form I run as fast as I can hoping I’ve lost the lion.
I run into the bushes looking and listening for any sign of the mystery lion. Once I know he’s gone, I change back into human form and put on some clothes I had stashed in the woods. I take a deep breath and go to walk away from the bushes, when the mystery lion stands before me, looking angry.
“You ran from me, and I don’t like that.” He says, gripping his big hands around my arms.
“Let go of me.” I squirm.
“What’s your name? and do not lie, my patience is running thin with your disrespect.”
I roll my eyes and then take a deep breath allowing it to leave my mouth slowly.
“Davina, Davina Golden is my name.”
“Landon King, king of Northern Pride. So, tell me , Davina , what pride do you belong to?”
Narrowing my eyes, I raise my chin up at Landon King.
“I’m not with a pride, I run alone, and I take care of myself without a pride.”
He looks at me and moves his head from side to side then gets close to my face.
“Davina, as leader of the Northern pride I can’t leave you on your own. You will come with me to my home.”
“I will do no such thing; I don’t care if you’re the leader of all the fucking lands.”
He leans down and takes a deep breath smelling my neck and. I want to say stop, but I don’t for some reason, and I allow Landon to smell me.
“Now, I have your scent, I need to do a few more things, I’m getting a room down the road at the Inn. You go back to where you stay and get what’s important and come there, and Davina Golden you’ve been marked. I know your scent, and I’m good at hunting I will find you. Be there within the hour we have a long journey ahead.”
My eyes widen, and the realization sinks in that he’s serious. I can’t run or hide, and from what I’ve read Lion leaders do not accept no for an answer, and they have excellent hunting skills.
“What are you going to do to me?”
“You can’t be running around without protection; I’ll make you a member of my pride Davina.”
He releases me and then turns and walks away. I stand there frozen to that spot in the grass. If I was human I could report him to the police for attempted kidnapping, but I’m not, and he’s made it clear he would track me down. I gaze up into the sky and wonder how I could get away from this Landon King. I’m not going to be a part of his pride or anyone else’s pride!
I look toward the diner and realize I can’t go back. I need to pack my stuff and hit the road.
I arrive at the house of the little old lady that I’m renting a room from. I unlock the door and find her sitting in her chair sleeping with the tv on.
I tip toe towards my room, but she always hears me.
“Davina, I was wondering if you were going to stay out. Glad your home baby.” Her voice is fragile and low.
“I’m home Mrs. Ritter,” I say.
Soon as I’m in my room, I pull out my duffle and bag pack and start stuffing clothes, pictures, and anything I want to take. Moving quickly around the room, I notice my animal senses have kicked in full gear. Even though Landon is gorgeous and sexy, it doesn’t make me forget that the only person I ever could depend on was myself.
As I’m picking up my makeup, I feel his presence near me. I look around the room and see no one, but I’m sure he’s near I can smell the sexy beast.
I put the bag pack on my back, throw the duffle over my shoulder and look around one last time. I enjoyed staying here , and Mrs. Ritter is going to miss me and I her.
I pull open the door slowly and bump right into Landon King.
“What the hell are you doing here?”