Loved By Danger

Chapter 16

     Tonight Aden wasn't going to go hang out with Jo, and he wanted to stay with Creed just to see where his mind was at and why he was acting so weird at lunch.  But when the bell rang for the end of the school day, Creed was nowhere in sight for the both of them to walk home together.  Aden thought that they hashed things out that morning, but this sudden disappearance might be because he was way too uncomfortable at the lunch table with them being there.  Not too many of the pack members would find themselves interacting with humans.  They always did the bare minimum, most of the time, the kids would be homeschooled, but Aden, who was a free spirit, begged and pleaded with his parents for him to go to an actual school.  Creed came along because whatever Aden did, he wanted to do so that he and Aden wouldn't separate them.  Before heading home, Aden decided to take a detour to Ricky's place.  Today was Wednesday, and he was closed for the day early.

    His house was quiet as usual, aside from the low old school jazz music he could hear when he walked up.  Ricky must've seen him on the monitor because he opened the door right as Aden took a step on his steps, "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

    "A lot...we need to talk."

    "The last time someone said to me they needed to talk was my wife, and she handed me divorce papers."

    "It's not like that," said Aden walking into the house.  he knew he could talk freely here because Ricky was privy to the city government, liking to take a peek into the homes of its residents.  Ricky told him that he combed through his entire home one time, making sure there wasn't anything there to listen in or watch whatever went on in his home.  A lot of times, Aden's father would ask Ricky if they could hold important meetings there from time to time, depending on the seriousness.  Ricky's house was bland, not family portraits of kids or grandkids, just his collection of old-school music and paintings he hunted down over the years.

    "So, what brings you to my humble abode?" Ricky opened a can of beer.  He looked so red he might've had a number of them over the years.  Wednesdays were an odd day for him to close down his bar but, he did nonetheless.  Wednesdays were a heavy day for him because that was also the only day of the week he drank himself to s stupor.  One night Aden remembered having to carry him home from one of the bars because he was beyond drunk, and that night was a Wednesday night.

    "I want to know everything you know about the Terrell's...what have you heard and don't give me none of that? I'll have it for you next time, crap."

    "What has your panties in a bunch?"

    Aden didn't realize just how aggressive he sounded, "Sorry...it's just that a lot has happened, and now Creed is acting weird.  I thought he would be here with me but, I don't know what's going on with him."

    "Creed, huh?  Well, you know he's against the fact that young lady made her way into your little crew.  Oh yeah, he told me all about it.  Said that you like her."

    "He talks about us?"   

    "Yeah, I couldn't shut him up about it the last time he worked.  Said that you were a traitor and all of that.  What is it with the Terrell girl anyway?"

    "Her name is Jo...and I don't know what's going on right now.  I do know that I can trust her."

    "How so?  As far as I'm concerned, she's just as evil as her kin."

    "No...she's not like them...far from it, actually.  I think she would rather she wasn't born a Terrell.  And besides, she saw me turn."

    "What do you mean?"

    "She knows I'm a shifter.  She hasn't said anything to anyone."

    "Are you bat s**t crazy?  You got to be kidding me.  I have been aligned with your family for years, and I still haven't seen it happen, and this girl comes out of nowhere, and she gets to see it.  I can honestly say that I am jealous," Aden could tell he was joking but half-serious.  Shifting in front of a human was against the rules no matter if they're loyal to the pack or not.  Pack law stated that they didn't want to shift in front of a human for fear that once they turned back human, they would alert the hunters and point out the wolf.  So precautions were taken, "So, I'm sure you had a reason for shifting in front of the girl."

    "Yeah, the Lycan tried to attack us when we were alone last night.  It was large Ricky...I didn't think we would make it out alive, honestly.  It came out of nowhere, and the smell of it smelled like it was really unnatural...like it wasn't part of this world.  Not human or werewolf.  It smelled like it had a bunch of chemicals in its blood."

    "Well," Ricky looked out the window looking to be lost in his thoughts, "I wonder if the rumors are true."

    "What rumors?"

    "Well," he finished his beer, wiping the sides of his mouth, "Your father and I had known they were coming to the city long before anyone else knew.  And that's because he had traveled for a council meeting to the town they were in before they came here.  You know the government likes to keep things low on the radar so that people wouldn't know what was happening in each town or city.  When the Terrell's were in the last town, there were attacks there about seventeen years back.  It was nasty, and sometimes there was an attack there every night almost.  But your father came to the thought that Mr. Terrell was messing with science.  Like he was making these monsters.  I told him it was a load of s**t, and why would the Terrell's be making the very thing they were trained to kill?  I mean all of the money that would have to go into it.  The number of people they would have to convince to even make something like that was unbelievable.  But listening to you here and now...might make it sound somewhat true."

    "But why would they do something like that?"

    "The same reason why the government wants us to think we need them for protection.  That everything they do is to keep us safe.  But not really. They want us to think they need us, so they cram all this stuff down his throat.  They need to feel needed; you know this."

    "But at the cost of the lives of innocent people?"

    "Money controls everything in this world.  In the before the world and the after."  Aden knew that Ricky wasn't talking out of his behind. His father always told him what was what in this world, "So now that miss girly knows who and what you are...what do you plan to do?"

    "Well, for one, we think this is all bigger than what's going on.  I won't give you all of the details right now, but once we find something out, you would be the first to know.  Preferably when you're not drunk."

    "Me being drunk has nothing to do with anything.  They say drunks, children, and fools speak the truth in this world.  I am two of those."  Aden watched as he started to pop another beer and knew that was his queue to take his leave.  He wasn't going to really get anything more out of him while he was in this state.  Maybe he can talk to him on his next work shift.  But now, his concern was Creed and what's been making him so nervous.  

    "I'm supposed to be going to the Terrell house this weekend. Some kind of party going on.  Maybe I can take the time to get some intel."

    "I would be careful if you do that.  No telling what kind of schemes they have up their sleeves.  That place may not look like it's properly guarded but I would be on my guard."  Aden nodded remembering the security system he ran into the last time.  He would have to be in his human form the entire time.  He was hoping they didn't have some type of detection in the doorway.  He thinks that Jo would've said something about that if there were.  But for now, this was going to be the plan.  Get in there and find out as much as he could.  It should be packed that night with teens being out of their minds because anyone who is anyone should be there.  The fact that Jo's brother invited him gave him some suspicion anyway.  Either he does have some elaborate plan or he really is just a grandstander. 

    Aden watched as Ricky kept knocking back beer after beer and he knew it was almost time for him to take his leave before the words Ricky started to speak would be useless.  He had always hated when Ricky got like this, there were a bunch of demons he was trying to fight on a day to day basis.  At least he wasn't like some of the people in the slums where they killed their liver everyday, "Well, I will leave you with this," he said as he slumped down into his favorite chair, "You should always be careful how you go about this plan of yours. I'm not saying that you shouldn't do it...hell you're a smart guy I'm sure you know what you're doing but don't go at this alone. If you need anything let me know.  This goes far deeper than you know but I will only dish out the information if you come to me with the right questions.  I know so much I'm surprised I'm even alive meaning there is a plan for me in all of this as well."

    Aden nodded his head and headed towards the door.  His head was swimming with information as he stepped out into the crisp and chilly fall air. He needed someone else to help him with all of this, and he's not sure if Creed would be up for doing anything involving teaming up with Jo. He had an idea that he didn't like her for some reason but he also had this feeling that the dislike was not just about who she was, almost like there was hate there and Creed wasn't that type of person, hate was not something he put into the world. So Aden would have to put his big boy pants on and bite the bullet.

    Once Aden finally reached home, it didn't take him log to find the person he was looking for.  As always Baxter was busy reaching out to the pack.  Going around seeing if anyone needed anything especially in the nursery. He gave everyone this large smile and they returned the gesture. Most of the time when people would look at Aden it was almost like they didn't know what to say or how to react to him; maybe it was because of who he was and that instinct within them that he was something or someone to h=fear and respect. Or maybe it was because Aden has always isolated himself from the pack because this was not the confined life he wanted to live.

    Aden gave Baxter a look and he returned the look and started to walk away from the crowd, even then people still tried to get his attention and it made Aden a bit envious which brought on an obvious irritation, "I don't know what your problem is but it's not with me," said Baxter as he looked Aden square in the eyes. He was much larger than any of the wolves in the pack including his father.  Aden could see why people wanted him to be the next alpha, he was likeable and strong, "Before you have to say anything to me little pup, I want to know what is your beef with me, and not to mention what is you beef with the pack? I don't know if you think any of this is a game or not but this isn't about just you and your raging teenage hormones'."

    "Don't talk to me like you know me"

    "The thing about is I do. I may have came into this pack when you were still gnawing on chew toys, but I still care about the wellbeing of everyone...including your uptight ass.  It grinds my gears to see what the future holds for this pack with you as the alpha. You don't do any training and you never come to the fireside meetings to see how you could help.  You might be pampered by your parents and everyone else here but you won't get the same treatment from me."

    "The future of the pack," Aden could feel his blood boiling while standing there face to face with Baxter.  he had always knew what to say to get underneath his skin, "Let me guess you want the position then?  Is that what this is all about? You want my father's title?  You want the entire pack under your control. I wonder if that's what happened to your last pack. They banished you because you tried take the job and you figured you would come here and steal it as well."

    Baxter stepped close enough that Aden could smell what he had for lunch, "You watch your mouth boy. I don't want the position. Never wanted it. So you need to watch what you say out that mouth of yours or you'll be picking your teeth up from the ground. You can't ask me a damn thing until you come to training.  I don't know what you have going on, but in order to get my help you need to prove yourself...not to me but to you.  Tonight when everyone is asleep meet me at the top of the roof and then we will begin." Baxter didn't stick around for Aden to give him another reason to punch him and Aden was sorry to him him go because he definitely had a witty remark to back him up.

    "I see you teo are getting along," Aden turned to see his mother walking over to her thinking spot.  She looked tired and worn out, "I knew he was going to get you to train one of these days. I think it's a good idea. Your father would be proud knowing you're finally taking things serious."

    "Mom...you don't think Baxter might want him to go sooner? I think he wants to be alpha."

    "Yeah well, you and everyone else who's afraid of him say that to."

    "I'm not afraid of him."

    Serene just looked at him and smiled, "You might can play coy with everyone else but not with me pup. But you know what I think...I think your father trusts Baxter with his life and the lives of his pack, but not as a pack leader...as a protector.  We all have roles in this life not just within the pack.  Baxter was born to protect, not to lead."

    "And you both suppose I am?"

    "You know leaders aren't born...they're created with the experiences they go through in life. The people they influence along the way." She starred out of the window into the cold night, Aden could start to see little droplets forming the windows, "So who is she?"

    "She?"

    "You know who I'm talking about...and I have a feeling she's not part of this pack.  I have never seen you give any other girls here a second look." His mother could read him as always, but how much did she exactly know? He felt as though who she was should stay under wraps.

    "She's a friend...I don't know maybe something more but I can't read her at times.  I don't know what's she thinking."

    "Sounds like she's a stubborn one.  I think you need a sassy girl.  She can bring out the playful nature in you, maybe help you calm down a bit. Your father might be the alpha and the traditions of the pack is still ancient to where the women of the pack have no say.  But when it's us he always value my thoughts and opinions. The world didn't matter to him when it came to me...and maybe one day you will find a girl like that.  And I think she will love you fiercely, and she will awaken something within you that you didn't know you had. That's love pup.  I won't let you tell me anymore but I do want you to know that you will always have someone by your side."