Page 3 of Pack Giroux

“Well, that’s a badass name,” she says with another bright smile. “Hit me up anytime, Marnie.”

“Thanks again,” I tell her before walking off.

I’ve been more nervous about being here than anything. Not just worry about being found, but about the people here. We’ve always been warned that people outside of our community were savages who were adulterers, murderers, rapists, and all around horrible. So far, I’ve yet to meet anyone who’s gone out of their way to be any of those things.

Stepping out into the daylight, I take in the warmth of the sun on my face and the sound of the town around the campus, in full swing even though the university isn’t yet. All of it, the feel of freedom.

Chapter Two

My first stop is food since my stomach has been growling for hours. I’ve just become accustomed to ignoring it, so it’s been easy enough to do until this point. The dining hall is amazing. There’s any and all kinds of food anyone could ever want, almost. I stack a tray full of a variety of things, and all I have to do to pay for it is scan the little square on my student ID at the register.

I try to pace myself when I sit down to eat, but I’m famished and possibly look like a pig gobbling it up. I manage to at least keep my face out of it like them. Luckily for me, there isn’t but one other person in here, and their face is buried in their phone.

Apparently, that’s going to be something I need to get so that I don’t seem like one of the weirdos that made it all the way to college with strict parentals still controlling me. As I finish, I take my trash to the designated place in the corner, stuffing the apple and banana in my bag so that it doesn’t get wasted.

Making it back outside, I debate in my head where I need to go first as I walk toward the front gate. The feeling of my naked skin under my borrowed clothes, mandates my first stop. I’d seen a store around the corner when I first got here, so that’s where I go.

The reason it’d caught my attention is because it advertises on signs in the window bargains for students. As soon as I walk in, the sweet scent of jasmine is like a blast to the senses. Not that it's a bad thing. It's actually quite pleasant and relaxing. The source of the smell makes itself known as a small woman walks through a curtain on the back wall and comes over to me. If her scent wasn't enough, the way she carries herself would be. I've had dealings with plenty of alphas at the compound. They don't seem to affect betas the way that they dous omegas. Then again, there weren't too many omegas there to compare notes with, either.

"Hello, hello. Welcome to Threads and More," she says. "How can I help you today?"

I must still be feeling the vibes from all of the friendly people I've met so far today, so that's why I tell her the truth. "I need a complete new wardrobe."

She nods in understanding with a quick lift of her eyebrows. "You've come to the right place. We've got plenty of choices to choose from."

We spend the next two hours going through her entire collection in her store. Even had an embarrassing situation where I had absolutely no idea what size I am, and we had to guess. I'd picked up a pair of panties and hid them under the stash growing on my arm. When I got into the dressing room, I'd torn the tag off and set it to the side to pay for them when I do the rest. That way I don't have to feel awkward explaining why I needed them now, and I definitely wasn't going to try on clothes wearing nothing.

She handed me outfit after outfit through the dressing room door until I had a growing stack in the corner that was my keep pile. At first she tried giving me super bright colors, but I didn't like the way that they made me stand out. After I handed the third or fourth set back, I told her no ‘attention’ colors. She didn't ask why, so I didn't have to explain my reasoning. That's when the pile really started growing.

I'd asked her if I could wear one of them out of the store, and she was excited that I'd asked. Even brought new pantie and bra sets for me. Said that I couldn't wear new clothes with old under things. Unbeknownst to her, I'd already put on the pair I'd be wearing out. The bra fit perfectly and had this delicate lace overlaying the padding on the cups. How she guessed my size on that, I'll never know. Maybe she's just done it long enough toknow, or maybe it was just a good assumption based on all of my other sizes.

I settled on a cute pair of black overalls that are baggy around my hips and legs with a small white shirt underneath. If I raise my hands above my head, a tiny sliver of skin shows between the two. It's risqué, and I love it. We would be severely punished for wearing something like this on the compound. Not only because I'm a girl wearing pants meant for boys, but the skin showing would've been the reason I'd have gotten the ax. I smile at my reflection, knowing that no one but me has the control over that anymore.

When I go to pay, I've got enough clothes to last for weeks, including under things and a couple sleep sets, plus a new pair of shoes, all for under three hundred dollars. I'm sure my eyes go wide at the total. "Are you sure you rang everything up right?"

She laughs, "I sure did. We did say the best bargains around for students. You guys get thirty percent off. Even on the already clearanced stuff."

"You don't need to see my student ID?" I ask curiously.

"Nope," she tells me, popping the p. "Normally I'd ask, but let's just say, you're not the first one to come through here trying to start over."

There's a sadness in her eyes that makes me want to hug her. For a moment, I consider asking her her story, but I'm not ready to share mine, so that wouldn't be fair. Besides, right after she comments, her expression switches back over to one of happy politeness.

I give her the best thing I can. My gratitude. "Thank you for taking the time to help me today. And...everything...else. I truly appreciate it."

"I know you do," she replies smiling. "You're most welcome and please come back to visit anytime."

"I will," I promise as she packs all of my new things into a few reusable tote bags and hands them over.

The next stop on my shopping list is the big department store further up the road. Of course, being new to everything in the outside world, I get distracted by something before I make it there.

I pass a cute, little storefront where girls are inside getting their hair cut and styled. It only takes seconds for me to make the decision. I'm inside and giving the girls my name before I even know what I'm doing.

A girl with brown hair cut all the way up to her chin calls me over to her chair, giving me direction on where to set my bags. As I take the seat she offers, I get a soft citrus scent from her, and I can tell instantly that she's a beta.

She introduces herself as she slings a cape around my body. "Hi, my name is Catherine. What are we wanting to get done today?"

I hadn't honestly given it any thought other than wanting...no, needing, a change. "I don't know, really. I just want to cut a lot of it off."

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