Loved By Danger

Chapter 4

    Aden's room was located near the very top of the community.  He preferred something secluded and out of reach where he could let loose a bit and take time out to be as close to the sky as he could.  Not too many people wanted to take the hike up to his room, mainly his mother whenever she really wanted to talk to him about something or Creed who was there almost every day.  This particular place had access to the roof.  The building was about twenty stories high.  The money to maintain this building has been passed down from generations and generations from his packs.  The money was just enough to take care of this building but his family was still considered to be on the bottom of the totem pole in the city.  If they wanted to flash the money they could but secrecy was everything within his family.

    Aden also chooses this spot because it was easier for him to take his secret runs without anyone spying on him or asking any questions.  He needed to run tonight, too much has happened today, and knowing that that woman was attacked on their running route the night before was not something to take lightly and he wasn't going to be told anything because his father still thought he had some growing to do.  The air was crisp and he could smell a light rain on its way as he looked across the skyline.  The city was still tonight because of the active curfew for all of the residence.  He wondered what kinds of investigations they would undergo to find out where that rogue wolf was.  

    There was a brief gust of wind and Aden allowed his animal spirit to take over his body, feeling his very genes morph within his body as skin turned to thick and soft fur, and his large hands turned into large paws.  He looked at himself in the glare of the window and stifled a howl.  Every bit of his animal instincts was telling him not to take this run because the alpha's word is the law.  But there was still a rebellious pup within Aden, a yearning to be free and feel the wind beneath his fur and feeling the hard earth with his paws as he got ready to spring across the building.  A hawk somewhere off gave a loud caw and he used this as his signal to run.    

    Leaping from building to building, Aden managed to make sure he stayed out of the ways of the many cameras that loomed around on some of the buildings.  The rain started to fall, making his fur soaked but still he didn't care.  The air circulated through his wolfly lungs allowing him to move twice as fast.  He was by far the fastest runner in the pack but he's not able to go full force because it's forbidden to pass the alpha.  When he was younger, that happened before and it was his mother who had to warn him not to do that again because it would show a hint of weakness about his father.  But on a run he takes alone, Aden is able to go as fast as he wanted.

    His route finally led him to the outskirts of the city, after the large cemented walls there was nothing but wilderness.  It was almost desert-like at how bare it was.  Not much foliage around but still the wildlife managed.  He remembers reading books on how there were cities at almost every which way a person turned and that there wasn't much grass or open space.  This was where he could run for hours if he so chooses.  He sniffed the air as he hid in the shadows making sure there weren't any checkpoint guards around this time.  They must've been on break or something because it was just as silent and still over here as it is deep in the city.  He also came here to see if he could find the scent of another wolf.  There are wolves around but nothing that could change into a human.  Just pure wolves that walk the night looking for food and shelter, but even tonight he hasn't sensed a wolf-like that.

    The rogues were created in a different way.  It's not just rebelliousness against the packs they create but their entire being was different.  They preferred the taste of human blood, not the small and large animals we bought from the market.  The packs don't even hunt anymore.  That's what they did back in the old days but for fear of being found out the hunters would go out and purchase the food.  The runs they do took place of the hunting parties, it's a way to still simulate the wolf genes in them.  Nobody ever went into detail about how a rogue wolf was created, only that they were ferocious beasts and that they kill whatever and whoever they come across.  When they transform they have no human intelligence left, only a wild beast that acted as if it had rabies.  They also had no control over when they can and can't change into a wolf.  There were books about one would change at the hint of stress, or randomly in a park and kill dozens of people.  Also, there isn't telling of when they can calm down and change back into a human.

    Aden shook those thoughts out of his head as he crept from a hidden bush and walked out into the open.  He was alone for now, other than a small fox that caught his attention far off.  Aden started towards the fox silently.  He watched as the small animal was walking around probably looking for food and when it picked its head up it noticed Aden.  It started running and Aden chased after it.  They both ran circles around the deserted area and it soon became a game of tag.  Both animals ran through the puddles letting one catch up and then taking full speed again.  Aden wasn't trying to kill the creature, only play with it, and the fox sensed that, which is why it entertained Aden.

    They were both all muddy and panting when the fox suddenly stopped lifting its nose up to the wind.  It smelled something or someone coming close.  Aden looked to where its nose was pointing and there climbing down one of the walls was the girl Jo from school.  The small fox darted out of the area and Aden stood there watching her as she watched him as she crept closer.  She didn't have any weapons in her hands and didn't look like she was carrying any other gear.  Aden watched as she got a little bit closer and then took a seat on a small patch of grass watching him and moving as slow as she could.  She just stared at him as he stared at her.  By the looks of how she was responding to his presence, she must've thought hi to be a regular wolf from the wild.  Aden decided to stay and he rested his body on the ground as well.    

    The rain started to stop and he looked up at the clear sky, tonight there was a full moon but he wished he could see those stars his father was going on about earlier.  The night was calm and Aden wanted to know what made her come out here as well.  Did she also feel trapped wherever she lived?  The hour ticked by and still, she sat there just as he did.  Aden could feel his body getting tired and he needed some rest.  Sometimes being in wolf form for a long time can tire the body out and he definitely was pushing his body to the limits.  He stood up and started off in a different direction.  He gave her one more look before disappearing into the shadows.

*

    Jo sat and waited until she was sure the large wolf wasn't going to come back.  Watching it play with the fox was definitely a treat for her to watch and she was glad she had the chance to witness the interaction.  She was reluctant at first to get close to them but once the large wolf lied down, she felt safer at that point.  It must've fed before she came out there.  She didn't want to take any chances of it coming back so she started her way home.  Just watching at how free the animal was made her a bit jealous, being able to come and go as it pleases and just enjoying the moment allowed her to hope for better days.  On her way back into the city she made sure to stay far away from the walking patrol.  Staying in the shadows listening and watching because being caught outside during curfew hours was just something else her parents can crackdown on her restrictions.

    Jo made it all the way to her balcony without anyone noticing she was gone.  The house looked quiet and that meant all of the workers were sleeping and her parents were probably still out entertaining themselves.  The rich and wealthy didn't think the curfew rules applied to them because they made enough money to walk out of anything.  Bribing some of the cops was an art and the mayor seemed to just turn a blind eye to it.  All seemed to be well as she made the climb to her room.  The lights were off in her room but soon she felt a presence as she looked in the corner of her room near her door at a black shadow.  She drew a knife that was hidden on her thigh as she held it up in front of her waiting to strike.

    The large shadow moved towards her at a fast pace, its right hand almost connecting to her face but she ducked in enough time and tried to return the blow with her left but they too dogged.  Jo made it to her light switch turning it on and there stood her older brother Derrick.  He had a large smile on his face.

    "Easy little sister...looks like your reflexes have gotten better since the last time we sparred."

    "What're you doing here?" she asked.  Jo's guard was not let down because in her mind she didn't trust her brother.  He had changed over the last few years, allowing the praises he receives from the family and the order to go to his head making him out to be the biggest asshole she knew.

    "Aww, come on.  That's not the way to greet me after I've been away for so long.  What's the big deal?"

    Jo placed the knife back in its spot as she stared at his every move, "I thought you weren't coming back for another week."

    "I decided to come back early.  I missed you guys."

    "Yeah right," she chuckled a sarcastic laugh, "You only came back to be nosy."

    "Not true, this is my last year of school so I don't want to spend most of it out.  I need a girlfriend and maybe even a life."  Jo starred at her brother who looked almost exactly like a younger version of their father.  His large brown eyes glistened with mischief as he took a look around her room, "Man, they always deck your room.  You see, looks like I'm not the favorite after all."

    "What do you want Derrick?  I would like to go to sleep.  I have school in the morning."

    "Like you really care little sister.  I see you're still doing your late-night creeping.  Do mom and dad know you had another secret rendezvous?"

    "Oh get off your high horse."

    "Seriously, you're gonna regret sneaking out one night.  Especially now that there was an attack.  I know you can handle your own but, you never know what might happen to you."

    "Like you care."

    "I'm not the monster you think I am all the time Jo Jo.  Anyway, I came to see you first.  Nobody has been home yet."

    "They're out drinking as usual and making connections.  We've only been here for a week."

    Jo watched as Derrick walked over to the drawing of the boy she painted earlier.  He looked deep into it and she thought she saw a hint of annoyance on his face, "Well, I'll keep your little outing a secret this one and only time.  This is a new city for you and I don't think our parents would be happy with you going outside without them knowing.  What did you do while you were out there anyway?  I hope not to visit a boy."

    "What?  No...I just went to get some fresh air.  Took a walk in the garden.  Jo didn't want to tell him about her perfect encounter.  He might get excited and want to go hunt the wolf and place it on his mantle in his room.  One thing about Derrick that Jo has learned throughout the years of this newfound person he was, is that he became far times worse than their father  Maybe he felt as though as the next head of the family he had to take on this huge personality and started to overcompensate.  Jo argued with him for a long time that he didn't have to do that, try to put fear in others.  But he always ignored her taking most of his frustrations out on her.  She learned to steer clear of him whenever she could because the last time they fought the house was torn apart from furniture being torn apart and their mother's precious china being destroyed.  Of course, Jo was the one to blame.

    "Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts.  Glad to know that you're not going to visit some boy.  I think I'm a little disappointed though.  I wouldn't mind giving him a beating.  Been stressed lately, I'm going to head down to the training room.  Sleep is not taking over me just yet.  We can head out in the morning for school."  Derrick left the room and Jo made sure to hear him leave the hallway completely before she locked her door.  He seemed different this time, more menacing than normal.  Maybe something happened during his time away.  Jo looked back at her bed and realized she was no longer tired.  She decided to sit next to the window and let her mind take her with her next drawing.  This time it was of the wolf she saw tonight.  She chooses to use the charcoal this time as she moved her fingers across the easel with ease.

    The form pictured in her mind was of the moment the wolf looked up to the moon.  Watching as it stretched its long body along the ground looking at ease with the night and her presence.  It knew she wasn't a threat that's why she was able to catch it off guard and that relaxed.  The way the wolf looked up to the moon as its silky black fur glistened in the rays she wondered if it thought about life at that moment.  She focused more on the eyes making them deep golden like the ones she saw.  But the more she gazed into its eyes the more those eyes looked familiar to her.  She picked up the picture of the boy she drew and saw that he had light hazel eyes.

    Over the next few weeks, she knew that things were not going to be as quiet as she would've hoped since that woman was attacked.  The order was here early that night, they took her father into the lower area of the basement.  They stayed down there for hours before coming up and he and her mother left for the night.  She wondered what they talked about down there.  There was going to be a full-scale investigation and that would mean strangers of all kinds were going to be in and out of the house over the next few weeks meaning Jo would have to find another safe haven to be at.  She finally laid in her bed hoping that sleep would just take over her body.  Before she knew it he was fast asleep thinking about both the boy from school and the wolf she saw, both in the moonlight and in this dream she was the moon.