11. Aiden
AIDEN
We followed Milo out into the crisp night air.
Silence surrounded us as we searched for any werewolves that may be lingering nearby.
I stepped in front and opened my senses to search for any auras that may be pulsing nearby.
We moved forward slowly, making our way to the parking lot.
To the right, two pulsing blue auras surrounded a male and female werewolf at the edge of the parking lot.
I motioned for Milo and the Senketsu to crouch down by the bushes with me.
“Two over at the edge of the lot,” I whispered to Milo.
He nodded in understanding as I leaned around him to look at the Senketsu.
Each time I took in his features, something else stood out and made him look so unique.
His eyes were cat-like but warm. It was a contrast I had never seen before.
I noticed his aura pulsed a rainbow of colors.
He was not sure what to feel about anything right now.
I didn’t really blame him. “Are you okay?” He never looked away from my eyes and nodded.
“Stay here, out of sight.” I placed my hand on his knee for reassurance and began walking off silently with Milo.
The werewolves stood talking quietly as they monitored this side of the parking lot. I didn’t pay attention to what they were saying as we got closer, but it was clear that it was related to the job they were doing.
Milo and I had been working together on jobs like this for years for Vea.
Our routine was down to a science. Milo nodded, his silver hair falling into his face slightly, and we split, each coming up on either side of the werewolves.
Milo took the male down in a headlock, preferring hand-to-hand combat, while I had my blade at the female’s neck just as quickly.
“You’re making some really fucking stupid decisions,” the female said as I pushed the blade against her neck.
She growled low as I squeezed tighter, making sure she knew my threat was serious.
“Oh, you two work for Vea. Interesting. Myq will love to know you’re out here threatening us for no reason.
” When I squeezed her again, she huffed out a breath, turned her head slightly, and chuckled.
An instant later her eyes went wide, and she stopped fighting my grip.
Leaning into my neck, she licked me and hummed in satisfaction.
I shoved her off of me and to the ground. Milo had continued his fight with the male and had nearly taken him out. Stepping on the female’s neck, she smiled wide and looked up at me. “Perfection. Truly.” Frantically nodding her head, she reached for my pant leg, and I kicked her off.
She stood quickly, facing me, and walked slowly toward me.
“You don’t know,” she said with a crazed look in her eyes.
“Even better.” When she began charging toward me, I pulled the blade from out of my pocket and hit her in the stomach.
She dropped to her knees, clutching the wound.
Moving to stand behind her, I gripped her long, thick auburn braid and pulled her head back.
“Please go tell Myq.” When I ended my sentence, I slit her throat.
Blood spewed across the white gravel parking lot.
When I turned around, Milo and the Senketsu stood at the bushes waiting for me to give them the signal. I waved them over, and we moved behind and between cars until we reached Milo’s SUV.
The Senketsu sat in the middle of the backseat.
Once we all buckled in, I turned around and looked at the stunning being while Milo sent a text to Mitz that he could boot the system back up.
“Are you able to lie down back there? Just in case.” He nodded and lay down on his side while we drove out of the lot and down the road outside of downtown Noirhaven.
Traffic on the road back to the city wasn’t too bad.
We had made good time, and so far it seemed like we weren’t being followed.
The Senketsu lay silent and still in the back seat.
He was tall, but lean. He made the back seat look so small.
I tried to recall what Vea had told me she could remember about her son.
Blonde hair and sweet brown eyes. That description matched this being.
But where were his wings? I had no doubt in my mind this was the Senketsu she was looking for, but something was off.
The Senketsu shifted and looked up at me.
Averting my eyes quickly, I focused on the road in front of us.
Milo’s phone started ringing over the car speakers, and Des’s name with a red heart next to it popped up on the screen. I gave Milo a sideways glare. “Oh, shut the fuck up.” He slapped my shoulder before answering the call.
“I’m assuming you’re out since you answered. Why haven’t you called?” Des sounded pissed, but she had a point. We should have called.
“Sorry, Des. We are out.” I saw Milo turn to look at me, but my gaze had shifted back to the Senketsu in the back seat. Milo slapped my shoulder again and directed his eyes to the screen, encouraging me to talk to her.
“Yeah, sorry. We are on the way back. We have him.” Turning around on the last word, I looked at the blonde in the backseat who had fully directed his attention to me, and a wave of fear washed over his face.
Trying my best to reassure him that he was safe, my lips lifted into a small smile.
While it seemed to kind of help, it wasn’t until I saw his shoulders settle a bit that I knew he had actually relaxed.
“I have a safe house ready. It’s the Pulse Den.” Jerking my head to Milo, I saw his eyes were wide. “I know you’re both thinking I’m crazy, but you haven’t been there in months. Just trust me.”
Des filled us in with what we needed to do regarding switching cars and getting the rest of the supplies. Each time I turned around, the Senketsu looked more relaxed until he eventually closed his eyes. I knew he wasn’t sleeping, but I was glad to see he was comfortable.