Gypsy Moon

Chapter Fifty-four: Aiden

. . . . . . (early November)

I blinked at the gargantuan man standing behind my best friend. Bryce was blushing and Sinah was squealing, Kyle and Lilian were staring speechless at his massive frame. Gyam looked as if he couldn't quite process as the goliath tenderly stroked Bryce's braided mohawk. The giant in question just grinned, obviously used to this type of reaction.

Gyam sniffed curiously around the couple.

"What ARE you?" Samuel's deep chuckle vibrated the floor.

"I'm a Werebear. Marcel and I are Kodiak." Gyam blinked slowly as he considered the already enormous man's shifted form's size and nodded.

"I like him." Samuel chuckled again and I grinned at him.

"I feel like making the standard big brother threats would just be ridiculous." I chuckled and held out my hand. He grinned and gripped my hand firmly.

"You will be wasting your breath; I plan to worship my Treasure, as he justly deserves." I nodded as Bryce tried to hide his blazing cheeks.

"Damn straight. Welcome to the family. We'll add you officially after his heat ends." I grinned at Bryce; little involuntary purrs kept escaping from him. "You are just f*****g adorable right now, you know that, right?" He giggled as Samuel growled possessively and I lifted my hands.

"Down boy, he's all yours, with my blessing." Bryce moved towards me and gently butted his forehead against mine, making me smile and I growled happily. "Congratulations, brother."

"Thank you." We both grinned as Samuel pulled him close.

"I understand." I winked at the couple as Sinah and Lilian giggled impishly. "Well, I'm pretty sure the girls are going to be lost in their imaginations all afternoon now, I think it may be prudent for us to call an early day and retire for the evening?" Bryce returned my wink and led Samuel to the room they would be sharing now. Gyam snorted in disbelief and watched them disappear behind the door.

"I think calling Operation: Get Bryce Laid a success would be an understatement." I chuckled.

"Overwhelmingly so." He agreed. Sinah failed to stop herself from clapping cheerfully, squealing slightly.

"I'm so happy for him!"

"Who'd have thought Bryce would be a size queen?" Kyle chuckled wickedly. Lilian and Sinah gasped and gave him matching shocked glares. Gyam and I fought to keep straight faces and failed.

And that's how we got thrown out of the packhouse for the night.

Gyam shifted to his wolf the moment he was outside and got his clothes off. He sighed and rolled on the ground, covering himself in a fine coating of dust, which he shook off in a huge cloud over me and Kyle.

"Hey!" Kyle laughed and brushed himself off. "I didn't expect Sinah to throw you out as well! I figured you at least would get to stay." Gyam growled softly and lay down, pointedly sulking at Kyle, who chuckled at him. "It's not my fault you are too big to be a wolf inside now." Gyam shifted his glare towards me, but he was grinning at the same time.

"I am NOT apologizing for getting my mate pregnant." I pulled my shirt over my head and folded it. Gyam huffed a laugh and picked his clothing up carefully in his teeth and dropped them on a bench near the packhouse door. Kyle sighed.

"Going for a run?" I nodded.

"Since I've been banished, I figured I could run the border and work on marking it for a while." I grinned at his expression and had an idea occur to me and I pulled my shirt back on. "No, new plan, we are heading to an ATV shop I saw yesterday, I need to order a custom job for you." Kyle raised his eyebrow and Gyam snorted.

"Getting me an ATV?" I grinned.

"CUSTOM. You should be able to go on runs with us, and you'll need to be able to cover ground quickly if we are attacked." I shrugged and looked at Gyam. "You are in charge here while we are gone since Bryce is indisposed for the evening, okay?" He tilted his head skeptically and I laughed.

"If the pack has a problem with their Gamma being sixteen, they are welcome to challenge you for the title." He snorted derisively, making Kyle chuckle.

"Hey man, at least you are a wolf, they look at me like I'm insane for standing in for you." Gyam huffed his laughter and crossed his paws in front of him, waving his head for us to just go already.

-----

The kid working at the ATV store looked like he might cream himself when I listed off the features I was looking for. The store manager almost fainted when I said I wanted half a dozen. Kyle looked at me sideways.

"What? You KNOW we are going to wreck at least one." I snapped my fingers. "Oh, on that note, does this facility also perform repair work?" The manager nodded faintly; he looked a little pale as his brain processed the implication that I would be a very regular customer. Kyle shook his head and laughed.

"We should get a few dirt bikes, too. Some of our trails are fairly narrow, better for bikes." I hummed and looked at the store employee.

"I need these to run as quietly as possible. Could your shop modify the dirt bikes to run quiet?" The kid nodded.

"We have a couple of electric models that might work. Fast, lightweight, and quiet." The manager nodded and scurried away to find a display model to show us. The teen turned back to us and studied us suspiciously for a moment. "I have a friend that can modify all of the vehicles with holsters." I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Why do you think we would be interested in that?" The teen grinned at me.

"You guys have matching scars, though his is smaller, so I'm guessing you are the top dog." He pointed at the pack mark behind Kyle's ear and on my shoulder. Kyle had a perfect poker face going. "I mean, most gangs don't use a brand, that is pretty badass. I don't recognize your gang symbol; I don't want to, either. My buddy has a family and you got money to burn." He shrugged. "Just business, yeah?" I considered him quietly, Kyle slipped away to deflect the manager.

]"Your assumptions are dangerous, you are aware?"[ I pitched my voice lower, letting Rhys's voice mix with my own. The kid's eyes grew huge, and he paled considerably. ]"You would do well keeping them to yourself, agreed?"[ The kid was shaking like a leaf as I reached into my pocket and pulled a card out of my wallet. I let my voice return to normal and handed the card to him.

"However, you are correct. I do have money to burn, and his skills may yet prove useful to me." I glanced at Kyle, and he turned towards us, the manager following eagerly. I gave the manager a million-dollar smile and he practically melted.

"I feel like this is a good start." I pulled my bank card out and handed it to the manager. "Please charge this account, and have your employee please deliver the vehicles to the address I have given him when they are ready." I glanced at the kid and smiled.

"Do mind the construction. Kyle, do you want to grab a floor model for today? We can get it modified later." Kyle looked like he was trying not to start laughing at the store manager and glanced around.

"Yeah, sure." He pointed at a nearby ATV and looked at the flabbergasted teenager. "That one run pretty good? Gas it up for me." The kid nodded numbly and left to obey. The manager was swooning as Kyle led him to the register to start the purchase process. The teen returned with the fueled-up ATV and handed me the keys nervously. I looked at him calmly as he fidgeted.

"Yes?" He swallowed hard.

"Um... Won't you need another today? This only sits one rider." He was being very careful to speak directly to his shoelaces. I smirked and waited an unnecessary length of time before answering.

"One will be fine." The kid nodded jerkily, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. "I mean, someone has to drive the SUV home, right?" The teen blushed furiously and looked like he might die of embarrassment. Perfect. Scared enough to keep quiet, but confronted with such a basic facet of reality, to make him doubt his imagination. Kyle jogged over and caught the keys I tossed him.

"Thanks, I just signed for this one, told him to send the rest of the paperwork to Lilian at the house tomorrow." He grinned and swung his leg over the ATV's seat. "I really want to put some miles on this tonight." His eyes clouded abruptly, and I felt Lilian touch my mind.

/:Dei's got rogues and needs help.:/ Gyam's voice followed almost immediately.

/:I am on my way with six wolves, you are closer still.:/ I frowned as Kyle turned the ATV on and revved it a couple times. I threw my wallet to him, and he nodded, steering the ATV out of the shop and driving into the radiant sunset. I looked at the kid, the manager was in his office working on paperwork. I handed him my car keys.

"Drop my SUV off at the address on the card. Ask for Ms. Roth." I turned and walked out of the shop, fully aware the kid was following me. I opened the driver's door to the SUV and the kid looked at me confused, since he had the keys. I shot him a glare that froze him in place and pulled my shirt and jeans off and tossed them into the passenger seat. I jerked my thumb at the driver's seat, and he scurried over.

"If you ever breathe a word of what you are about to see, it will not end well for you, understand?" My voice was a dark growl and I wondered briefly if he would faint. No time to worry about that though, I turned my back on the teen and faced the brilliantly painted desert to the north. I shifted as I ran and heard the kid gasp faintly. Whether he saw me shift or it was just from my speed, I didn't particularly care.

I could hear Dei screaming from here.

. . . . . .