Free Dawn of the Alpha by A.J. Winter Page B

make it.”
    “You won’t have to care for them. You just have to help us get somewhere safer than this. You’re right; there will be gangs soon, whether they’re drug gangs or business tycoons, or a little bit of both. The city won’t be safe.”
    “I’ll take you to the first village, and then you deal with this yourself. I’m not interested in being a hero. I’m still leaving in the morning, so if they’re not ready they don’t get to come.”
    “Fine.” All signs of gratitude were gone and she stalked off.
    He smiled in spite of himself and went to find a sheltered spot to sleep.

V.
    They were waiting for him on the road, nearly three dozen people and less than a dozen looked like they could keep up any sort of decent pace. Before he could retreat the blonde strode over to him with three men and two women in tow.
    “We’re ready to go,” she said. “These are Ryan, Matt, and Sean. All three have experience with guns. They’ll be helping you protect the group.”
    “And these two?” Damian said.
    “Susan is in charge of the needs of the group. You won’t have to listen to any whining or complaining – she will. If anything needs my attention, or yours, she’ll let us know.”
    “They’re both Susan?” Damian said dryly.
    “No. The girl is Violet, she’s agreed to help Susan. You won’t need to talk to her at all, and frankly I’d prefer if you didn’t.”
    “You don’t trust me sweetheart?”
    “Only about as far as I can throw you. For the most part you deal with me, since I’m in charge.”
    “Like hell you are, Missy.”
    “Anne,” she said.
    “What?”
    “My name is not Missy, or any other pet name you care to come up with. My name is Roxanne, or just Anne. And yes, I am in charge. I’m the one that wanted to leave while all the other want-to-be leaders here want to stay. I’m the one taking responsibility for these people, and you made it very clear yesterday that you aren’t interested in heroics. I’m in charge, you’re the guide. Simple as that.”
    “No, Roxie , it’s even simpler. We walk when I say we walk. We go the way I say we go. We camp when I say it’s time to camp.” He walked over to the larger group. “Listen up people. We’re moving out. Keep up. We stop once at midday, otherwise we walk until it starts to get dark. If you don’t think you can handle it, stay here.” He turned his back on them and started walking west.

VI.
    Damian called a halt at midday when the sun became unbearably hot. There was no shade, they had agriculture and the highway department to thank for that, but at least they could rest for an hour and have something substantial to eat. He ate away from the rest of the group, his gaze constantly sweeping the horizons.
    He saw Roxanne picking her way between the people and mentally prepared himself for another battle. “How long do you think it will take to reach another town?” she asked, her voice gentler than he had been expecting.
    He shook his head. “Two or three days. I’m not from this part of the country, I know my way from city-to-city but the smaller towns …” He shook his head again.
    “So why are we trusting you to be our guide?” The anger and resentment were back.
    “Because I have military experience and a map. Are they keeping up?”
    She nodded. “We have wagons for the children. It was Susan’s idea.”
    “Give her a medal. We’ll need to get moving soon. Get them packed again.”
    Her eyes narrowed but she didn’t argue.
    The complaining started mid-afternoon. The elderly were tired and sore. By the time the sun had moved directly ahead of them in the sky even the middle-aged members of the group were starting to grumble.
    Shortly after that Damian realized that the group was lagging. He grabbed Ryan. “Stay here, keep an eye on these people. I’ll go see what the hold-up is.”
    He found Roxanne and Matt in front of a large group of people, arguing. The half dozen people behind Matt were