Loved By Danger

Chapter 15

    Aden walked closer to her, and he could feel Creed giving them both some distance.  He went ahead inside, and both Jo and Aden were left outside alone.  She looked to be okay, there weren't any visible wounds, and she seemed to have made it home safely.  They both stared at each other, seeing who would talk first.  They didn't know what to say.  They bother just happy that the other was safe.  Aden looked around to make sure that nobody was busy looking at them.  They both heard the bell ring, but they didn't move, "I'm sorry for what happened to you last night.  I didn't want you to find out like that," said Aden with a pleading face on.  He didn't want to sever the connections they had built.

    "Were you ever going to tell me?"

    "How could I?  I mean, you're who you are and your--"

    "Don't bring my family into this.  I want you to know for me.  I don't want to hear any excuses about them.  Were you ever going to tell me?"

    Aden rubbed his hand through his hair, "I would've eventually when I knew I could trust you.  And that you could trust me.  What was I supposed to say?"

    "The truth...so that I could decide for myself if I wanted to be around you anymore."

    "And do you?"

    "No," Aden's face went almost ashen when he heard her say that, "But I can't stay away from you," she continued.  He looked at her eyes, and they looked sincere, "So why me, Aden?  Why pick me?"

    "I don't know...and I don't want to come up with some cheesy ass line either.  I wanted to know what pulled me to you."  Aden could have sworn he saw a hint of a smile on her face as she turned her head.  A teacher was coming their way, probably to reprimand them.

    "Fine, I'll take that answer for right now.  But what I will say to you is...if you ever cross me, I'll kill you, Aden...no hesitation.  Not your pack...not your best friend...I'll kill just you."

    "I hope I never give you a reason to think that you had to.  But we have to talk some more."

    "Yeah, we do.  I can help you and your family with what's going on around here.  I found out some things.  I can't tell you here fo course, but we will talk."  Aden was both excited and also terrified of what she was going to tell him.  He wanted to be around her because he needed to find out some information on maybe what they had any knowledge about the Lycan that's loose in the city.  But he was also sure that talking to her was not going to be an easy thing considering how many people she has around her at all times.  Whenever her brother Derrick decided to show up for school, he was always hovering around her, making sure to be a pest.  Talking in the classes they shared was also a no-go because too many people listened to their conversation.

    Soon the harvest festival was coming, and that was the night the council was going to come.  It was time for Aden to put his big boy pants on and put his childish complaints aside.  The day was carrying on slowly, and finally, they met up together at lunch.  Creed decided to sit with them this time, and he gave Jo an awkward smile.  Aden didn't know how to respond to her now that she knew what they were, and the fact that she was still willing to talk to him lets him know that weird was something she could be used to.  It also let him know that she was not an enemy.

    The lunchroom was loud enough for them to talk about small things, but nothing extreme because Jo knew that her brother was close at hand and he could read lips.  If anything, they would have to find a way to meet up during the day because sneaking out at night all the time will eventually cause come suspicion from everyone on both sides.  But what was it that she needed to tell him so bad that she couldn't wait?  Jo looked around quickly, seeing if her brother was hovering anywhere close.  The lunchroom was large and overcrowded, but hopefully, the noise will drown out the conversation. 

    "So, what did you hear?" Aden asked. He could tell she was a bit uncomfortable with Creed being there.  But she would have to know that Aden trusted him with his life.

    "Well, I found out that your family," Jo was making sure she didn't say anything to offend him.  Especially not to use terms she had overheard her father saying, "Might have someone on the inside helping you guys with some information.  It's like they are excellent friends with your dad or something like that."

    "Oh yeah, you must mean Ricky.  Yeah, he's the guy we work for from time to time. He's pretty chill, and he hasn't given us any reason not to trust him.  But he also gets information from someone on your side, as I take it."

    "Right, but they're not really comfortable saying who they are just yet.  But I will say that both of them have some idea in mind about all of these attacks.  I mean, there has to be a link somewhere.  I heard about your dad getting hurt."

    "Yeah, they think it was an inside job because the Lycan seemed to be working for the hunters and not against.  Almost like they were controlling it."

    "Yeah, that's what I heard too.  But if the hunters can control something like that, what else are they up to?"

    Aden thought back to last night how the blood from the Lycan seemed unnatural, "Is there a way to get to one of your family's headquarters?"

    "I mean, there is a way, but I doubt we would make it there in little time.  The closest association is like four towns over."

    "What about your mansion?  I mean, come on.  Don't you think there has to be something there?  I tracked the smell of that thing, and it came from that direction.  When my father was attacked, it was near there."

    Jo looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention to us.  Some of the girls looked at her with the normal scowls, but nothing triggered her instincts, "I don't know.  I could look around there for you."

    "I don't want you trying to do this alone, and I think I should go with you."

    "What?  Are you serious?  How are we going to pull that off?  I can't bring you, and everyone is on edge right now.  I will take a look around one of these days soon and see what I can find."

    It made Aden feel uneasy for her to be snooping by herself.  But he also has to understand that Jo could take care of herself.  He could clearly see that last night when she was defending herself against that beast.  The conversation was cut short because once again, Derrick popped up at the lunch table with another one of his creepy smiles on his face, "Hey, little sister.  I see the company you're keeping is getting weirder and weirder.  He looked at Creed saying this.  He had a weird expression on his face.  Creed looked beyond uncomfortable looking down at the table.  Aden had almost forgotten that he was there.

    "What do you want Derrick," Jo was never shy to show his annoyance whenever he came around.  It was obvious that their sibling relationship was strained a bit, "I don't like how you keep coming over to bother my friends."

    "Well, I was only coming over to invite them to the party I'm having this weekend.  Friday night, to be exact.  It's my mischief night bash.  Since you're going to be there, I figured I would invite your creepy friends."

    "Don't you think that's kind of a risk considering what's been going on," asked Aden.  He didn't mind showing his dislike for Derrick either.  It has almost become a game between them that Jo wished she wasn't a part of.  They would hit each other with insults and see who would bow out first.

    "Live a little," joked Derrick, "I think the beast would think twice about trying to attack the Terrell house.  Maybe it's so on edge because it needs to have a little fun now and again."

    "It amazes me how much you think this is normal funny."

    "No, not funny, but definitely intriguing.  I can't wait for the day I can put a bullet into that monster's skull...or any skull."

    Aden shook his head and gave a sly smile, "And I can't wait for the day you realize just how much of a d**k you really are."

    "Been there, done that weirdo.  But anyway, as always, this is fun.  I look forward to seeing you two at the party."  Derrick tapped on the table and gave one last look at Creed, who stood up to take his untouched lunch tray to the front.  Aden couldn't tell what was happening, but there was something not right about any of this, and Jo felt it too.  She gave him one last look, and they both knew that the party was going to be the first attempt to do some snooping around.  But it was also Aden's first time being invited to a party by anyone.

    "This will be your first time?" she asked, almost reading his mind, "You will be okay, I promise.  It's my brother's last year in school, so he's trying to live it up as much as possible."

    "Yeah, I have never been invited to anything.  I mean we have some parties at home but...it's not really fun.  Most of the time, I'm in the corner to myself, making sure nobody comes up to me.  My dad is a real stickler on having fun.  He thinks that it would let our guard down too much.  My mom, on the other hand, is really down to earth whenever she can.  She's like a light on the pack.  She's been going through a tough time lately because of my dad."

    "She sounds like a strong woman from the way you talk about her."

    "She is, but you are too.  I saw the way you handled yourself last night, remember?  I would've never thought you could handle yourself like that."

    "Yeah, well, my dad was very strict about making sure both of his kids were trained.  I may have the same experience as my brother, but he has surpassed me in almost everything."

    "Well, what're you better at than him."

    "Being nice to people," she laughed.  It was the first laugh he has ever heard her do.  It came from her stomach, probably because of how true the statement was.  Aden could listen to her laugh all day.  The bell rang, and he reached over and lightly touched her hand.  Jo could feel the blood rush to her cheeks.  Jo remembered the rest of the words Amy said to her about her wolf lover.

    "He was the love of my life...so when he died, everything that was good in me died with him."  Jo pulled her hand away.  She made a promise to herself that she wouldn't;t go further with him emotionally than she already was at this moment.  The stability she made for herself, the armor she has made for herself throughout the years, could come crashing down in just a few moments because of him.  Her life could come to an end if she went down this road.  It was hard for Amy, she could tell.  It's not that she didn't want him. It was the fact that what would it do to her if anything were to ever happen to him.  She was not someone who had any attachment.  Lesson 101 in the hunter's association, having loved ones was a weakness.