Omega Lost

**Elena**

I manage to make a fort of sorts out of several boxes tacked together and set up in a circle with the fabric over it. It's hidden behind the garbage bin so no one will see it from the street. Let's just hope whoever picks up this trash won't be coming for at least a couple of days. That will give me some time to figure out where to go next.

“Alright, see I knew I could figure this out. Huh? What do you think?" I ask the pup when he comes over to inspect my creation.

He sniffs around and glances up at me with a look that is far too judgmental for a little thing who lived in a lab his whole life. I mean what was he expecting, a castle? Kids...

The sound of someone getting too close has me moving further behind the garbage to stay hidden. Although I'm not a big person thanks to the rigorous workout routine and special diet we were forced to adhere to, I'm still bigger in this form. I don't have time to shift so I crouch as best as I can behind my small box fort. I planned on being shifted when we use it so it's only hiding half of me at best.

Someone gasps. "Oh my!"

My head snaps up and I see an older woman looking at me. Her hair is a little messy and her clothes look old like she's been wearing them for a really long time. She also has a shopping cart full of stuff next to her. "Oh my...are you okay dear?" She asks shuffling over to stand in front of me. "You don't have a stick of clothes on you. How did that happen?"

I'm not sure what to say. How do I explain to someone like her that I was a wolf a few minutes ago? She smells...human. Although humans know about us I'm not sure they know the details of shifting. I doubt this woman has ever seen it, and I'm in no position for a demonstration.

"I...I..." I'm at a loss for words but the woman is quick to cut me off.

"Now now dear, something very bad must have happened to you for you to run off without a stitch on. Here take this." She pulls off one of the many coats she's wearing. "It's not much but it will keep you warm for now. I can show you where the shelter is too. They usually have some simple things to wear, but it's better than being in the outfit the lord gave you isn't it."

She chuckles and trudges over to me wrapping the coat around me.

"T-thank you," I mutter feeling a flush of embarrassment wash over me.

"It's no trouble. I have more than enough as you can see. I just like being prepared. The weather here is a fickle thing, you never know when the clouds will open and drop weeks' worth of rain on you."

A small bark catches her attention making her smile widen. "Well look here. What a cute little thing. Come here little one I have a treat for you."

She pulls some sort of food from her pocket and holds it out to the pup. It smells fine but I can't really make out what it is...a piece of bread maybe. The pup accepts it and starts feeding on it like he hasn't eaten in weeks. I guess a growing pup needs more than one meal. Shoot! I will have might have to go to this shelter. How else will I get food tonight?

"Does the shelter allow...pets?" I ask the lady feeling really guilty for calling the pup a pet.

He's a person under that fur, but again I can't make him shift so she probably won't understand.

"Of course! A lot of us have a friend. As long as they behave themselves they're welcome. I can show you over there now if you'd like." She offers.

My instinct is to jump to my feet and follow her but then I remember the pain that I've been feeling. Being here is the only time when it's been the most bearable since it started.

"Uh, I can't," I murmur.

"Why ever not?" She cocks her head at me while I scramble for a reason.

"S-someone is after me," I admit.

Her mouth opens to an 'o'. "I see. Can't say I'm surprised. Too many young girls end up on the street trying to get away from an abusive man."

Really? That's horrible. I keep to myself that the person who will be looking for me isn't a man but someone way worse. People who experiment on young women, and are willing to let people die for whatever they're trying to accomplish. "Right." That is all I can think to say.

I'll let her think what she wants if it means I don't have to tell her the truth. She isn't the one I need to tell.

"Don't you worry dear. I'll head there and get some stuff for you. Everything will be alright." She pats me on the shoulder and gives me a kind smile before shuffling away.

I feel a little guilty letting her bring me anything when she looks as if she isn't well but I need the help. One day I'll pay her back someday...I hope.

The pup nuzzles my leg looking up at me with questioning eyes. "Don't worry, whatever she gives us you can have. I'll find us something more as soon as I learn the area better." I promise him.

About an hour later the kind woman is back with several random bits of clothing, a jug of water, some scraps of food, and a pair of sneakers.

"Foot care is very important." She tells me.

"Thank you so much. I'm sorry to have troubled you. I would pay you back but..."

She waves me off. "Don't worry dear. I can't see a pretty young thing like you suffer on your own. Maybe one day you'll be able to get more help than what little I can offer. Until then I'm glad I could help you. Sorry I can't stick around but I have my little schedule to keep to. As much as I would like to say I hope to see you again, I hope I don't. I hope you find a new life far better than this one. Stay safe dear."

My eyes burn with her sweet words and the way she cups my cheek. It's such a soft and caring touch...one I've never felt before and it feels too big. No one has shown kindness like this to me before. Someone who has nothing more than the smallest things has helped me without asking for anything in return. She turns and heads back to the street with her cart behind her. I jump to my feet and chase after her grabbing her arm to stop her. She turns and I pull her into a hug. "Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me...I'm sorry I didn't get your name."

She pats me on the back and smiles when we break away from the hug. "Grace. And your name?"

I hesitate but I'm sure there are other people in this world with the same name, so I tell her the truth. "Elena."

"Good to meet you, Elena. Take good care of yourself."

"You too." I wave to her and too soon she disappears around the corner.

I stand in place unsure what to do now. The world is too big and my knowledge of it is too small.

Still, I turn to the pup and smile. "Well it isn't much but it will do for now, right?"

He yips and I pick him up so that we can huddle behind our little fortress. I'm not sure how long we'll be here but that's tomorrow's worries. Today we're okay, and that will have to be enough. **Sebastian**

"Well I'm sorry to say but it's a mystery," Aria says after she gives me a quick check-up.

I told her what happened but besides a furrowed brow she hadn't given anything way until now.

"What? You don't even have a guess?" I ask, my words more clipped than I mean them to be.

She raises an unimpressed brow at me. "I don't guess. Guessing leads to misdiagnosis and I won't be that incompetent. When did you feel this exactly? You said near the Omega School but did something happen in that exact moment before you felt the pain?"

I'd been so blindsided that I hadn't thought about it. So I think back and try to remember what happened just before the pain started. A pair of eyes flash into my mind.

"I saw a female wolf running in the field next to the road. She had a pup in her mouth. She saw me and then ran off." I tell her.

Her eyes widen.

"What?" I ask.

"I-I'm not sure, but if it's what I think it is then it might be more serious than I thought." She says.

Great. Just great.