ZOLA'S P.O.V
When I finally left, it was Sunday, around 6 in the morning. I knew that I wouldn't reach my destination until roughly 6 PM that day. Where I was heading was roughly a 12-hour drive from Colorado. Truth be told, I hadn't put much thought into my plan. I had money, that wasn't an issue. I at least had half a brain to take out a significant amount to get me by. The last thing I wanted was to be found so soon by them tracking my card usage. Hopefully, I won't need more money before I am done with this journey. I guess you could call it a healing journey. But there was more to it than that. I had unanswered questions only he could answer for me. Which meant that I had to get as far away from here as I could. Especially if I don't want to be found. I may have this pendant blocking anyone from locating me, but it doesn't block my scent. Which meant that I had to go pretty far to allow my scent to completely dissipate.
Once I finally passed the state border of where I was heading, I pulled into a small run-down motel. By then I was beyond ready for sleep. I still hadn't slept since being out all night with Elias. I knew it was time to call it when the lines on the road began to double and my head bobbed so hard I almost hit the steering wheel. Thank the high heavens that I wasn't in the middle of nowhere and was able to locate a motel fairly quickly.
My car would only get me so far on my journey. But I was able to find a company that stores vehicles. I could do that while I was out of the country. I planned on paying for at least 6 months of storage. If I needed more time, then I would just have to figure it out. I was currently heading the opposite way from where I was actually going. I guess I lied before. I did have a semi-plan. It was put together at the last minute, so it wasn't well-thought-out. Which probably made it even more perfect than a thought-out plan.
"Hi, welcome to Montana. How may I help you?"
I looked down at her name tag before replying.
"Hello, Jane, I need a room, please."
"Traveling alone?"
A weird feeling hit me out of nowhere when I watched her eyes scan our surroundings after a glazed look took over her features. Something I'd seen many times before. She was a wolf. I turned to look behind me, only nobody was there. But I could feel their eyes watching me.
LIE
My inner voice was speaking for the first time in a while.
"Oh heavens no. It's our weekend getaway. He planned it all. From the hotel, to the dinners, to the Yellowstone sighting, and even going to the shooting range. It's so romantic, isn't it?"
"Oh, where is your hus-"
"Boyfriend. Not a husband. At least not yet. Hopefully, he will be my fiancé after this week though."
"Right. Where exactly is this boyfriend of yours?"
"Right, that was what you were going to ask. Not my insane brain about possibly getting engaged. He ran to the store to get us a late night snack. I'm sorry, why the questions?"
"Just trying to see if you need a single or a double bed."
"Right. Duh. A single bed, of course. And ugh, a queen-sized bed?"
"Are you asking me if that is what you need?"
"No, I'm requesting it."
Don't slip character.
I was playing my part well. I just couldn't break character. I had to get out of here.
"Sure. I'll need some ID."
I stuck my hand in my hoodie pocket before patting my pants pockets while 'suddenly remembering' "Shit, I left my wallet in the car. I'll be right back, okay?"
"I'll be here. Waiting." She replied with an irritated tone as she took a seat at the desk.
When I got to my car, I closed the door after getting in. I quickly locked it and started the engine. I stepped on the pedal, reversing to get out of there. Once I was out of the graveled parking lot, I looked in my rearview mirror where I saw a man's face looking out of the hotel's glass door. The same feeling as before set into the pit of my stomach when I looked into his eyes. I wasn't sure what it was that I was feeling, but safe was not it. I'd rather drive further into Montana, to get as far away from here as possible. Actually, I needed to get out of this state. I just had to get a little rest beforehand.
I drove an additional hour, the adrenaline keeping me awake. At least until it was beginning to wear off. I kept on driving until I was to the point that I couldn't fight sleep anymore. I felt like I was far enough that I could stop now. I had driven past several motels before the adrenaline had finally worn off.
I pulled into the next motel in sight. Parking in a space, before getting out of the car. My eyes were feeling heavier than before. I drug myself to the door and went to the counter.
"Oh dear, you look tired." A soft feminine voice pointed out.
"I hadn't slept in-" I looked at the clock on my phone. "Um, since Saturday around 9:40."
"Hopefully not AM."
I shook my head, trying not to laugh. "I wished I had those additional 12 hours right about now."
"You poor thing. Let me get you to a room. My name is Narissa, by the way."
"I'm Zola." I responded politely.
"Is a queen bed alright? Unfortunately, that's all we have open at the moment." She then asked.
"It's perfect." I then pulled a wad of cash out of my pocket to pay for the night. Except she shook her head, refusing it. "This is your business, let me pay you." I then tried suggesting. But once again, she shook her head, refusing my payment.
"You're running from something. I won't ask what, or why, but I've been there myself. I will always lend a helping hand to women in need. Always."
I couldn't imagine what she had been through to have a heart like that. She genuinely wanted to help someone that she didn't even know. It was the kindest thing I'd witnessed in a very long time. If I wasn't on a mission to go completely off the grid, I'd stick around just to get to know her story. Hell, maybe when I return home, I'll do just that.
I followed her up the stairs and down the hall until she stopped in front of a door, putting the key in the hole and opening it wide for me to enter.
"Sleep well." She said softly with a smile before turning away to leave.
I looked over at the bed and let out a sigh of exhaustion. I pulled my hoodie off and tossed it on a nearby chair before collapsing on the bed, letting out another sigh. But this time it was a sigh of content. I needed a shower so badly, but that will be a problem for tomorrow because right now, all I craved was sleep.
I woke to a sudden screech which made me shoot up in bed. I looked at the nightstand, the clock read 4:45am. I quickly scanned the room, getting that unsettling feeling once again.
"Nobody is here. You're just in your head, Zo." I whispered to myself.
I settled back in bed, pulling the covers up to my chin when a sudden breeze lightly fanned across my cheeks. I sat back up quickly, scanning the room for the source. The window was wide open and the curtains were blowing with the breeze. Was the window already open when I got here? I was so tired that I couldn't really recall anything before I passed out.
I got up and walked over to close the window. The sudden urge to look into the darkness overtook my senses. That was when the eyes of a wolf met mine. He was lurking in the shadows on the borderline, where land meets the forest treeline.
Did the man from the first motel track me down? If so, why was he following me? Better yet, who was he and what did he want?