I own nothing except some original characters I sometimes bring in. Kelley Armstrong owns The Otherworld and all the wonderful information there.
Ch. 3 A Different kind of Life
"Max," I suddenly heard directly beside me. I jumped a bit but again managed to repress my attack urge and turned to look at Nick waiting for instructions for the next activity. This had been my life for years, everything had a schedule, everything had a purpose and nothing you did was meant for leisure or anything close to what my father hated, entertainment. I saw it was different here; everyone strived to entertain the kids and let them play and be kids. I was glad every werewolf child did not have to grow up being a soldier.
"We don't have anything planned for the evening but I'm on watching you duty, so, come on," he said. He gestured for me to go ahead of him out of the kitchen; he gave directions to the room he wanted me to go to. I was nervous with him at my back but I knew he wouldn't let me walk behind him. That was just good werewolf sense; don't let an un-trusted party walk behind you no matter how many allies you have around you. I wondered what Nick did in his spare time as we walked and for that matter what all of them did for fun.
"I'm just planning on getting some work done tonight," he told me as we walked. I nodded to this because it seemed like a good idea, doing work was far more constructive then going to a bar or other entertainments pursued by people his age.
"Did I hear you say work?" An Australian accent sliced through the air. We turned the corner to what I assumed was a breakfast nook or sun room. Nick or someone seemed to have set up his lap top and some papers as well as coffee. I quickly did a side step to be out of the way of Reese since I wasn't sure where he was or what he was planning on doing.
"Yes, work, I do work you know," Nick growled. He reached over and grabbed Reese putting him into a headlock and giving him a noggie. Reese struggled but to no avail. This was odd werewolf behaviour but given what I had observed already I was not surprised. The pack seemed to defy normal werewolf behaviour and I wondered if that was normal for other packs in other countries or just for this one. They seemed to do things for fun and not just for training for a specific purpose which was odd for me.
"Ok, ok," Reese laughed and tried to pull away. Nick let him go with a kick in the ass and he jumped forward growling and laughing at the same time. I stuck tight to the wall which covered my back and far away from them with covered the seven foot radius that I liked to keep clear in front of me of all strangers and unwanted parties.
"You do work sometimes I guess," he chuckled. Nick scoffed and pushed Reese from the room gesturing for me to follow him to the small table with his computer. First, I half turned to make sure Reese wasn't sneaking up on me from behind. I saw only his back as he made his way down the hallway. I sighed with relief and turned back to Nick, doing as he asked.
He sat down at the head of the table where his stuff was and pulled out the next chair down from his gesturing for me to sit. I obeyed and folded my hands in my lap. I was nervous about being so close to him but I knew he wouldn't harm me unless ordered to or I was attacking him somehow.
The room itself was an open space with large windows overlooking the backyard and forested area of the property. The table here was only set up for six and so I assumed the whole pack did not stay here all the time. I looked back and noticed a sliding glass door leading to the area we had come from as well as a large painting of a wolves playing on the wall and some plants in the corner. The wolves seemed appropriate and I vaguely wondered who painted them before swinging my attention back to Nick in case I was wrong and did need to prepare for an attack. He started typing and bringing up web pages but I could only see half the computer so I concentrated on the lawn and woods watching and being quiet and still.
This was a lesson I knew well, my father hated loud, boisterous and generally annoying children and so he made me sit for hours on end still and quiet so I wouldn't bother him. I got lost in my thoughts as I usually did when I needed to be quiet and so I wasn't paying attention to Nick beyond making sure he was not moving until I felt a touch on my arm. I jumped and instantly grabbed the offending party twisting on contact without thinking, it was instinct to me now. Surprised at first Nick was caught off guard but was quickly on his feet. Grabbing my arm he twisted it behind my back to almost the breaking point making me let go just as quickly and cry out in pain.
"Sorry," I gasped as he twisted. He let go as soon as he knew it had been a mistake. He regarded me before sitting down again and motioning for me to do the same, my gut twisted as I sat and I avoided his gaze glaring at the table top and rubbing my sore arm. For all my training I had learned to survive and fight but when it came to having a friend or even mutual acquaintance I had no idea how to act. I banished the water from my eyes the instant it came. If he was going to get back at me, tears would be more incentive to do it. He would think I was weak. I wouldn't let him.
"I startled you," Nick said. I nodded staring at the oak table top and concentrating on the wood pattern. I calmed myself down and tried desperately not to give into the fight response my body was sure was the right reaction but my brain knew it wasn't.
"Look at me for a minute," Nick ordered next. I immediately obeyed meeting his brown eyes. I heard soft footsteps directly behind me at the same time and calculated the person was five steps back and two steps to the right. I resisted the impulse to look though and cover all my bases so I wouldn't be disobeying Nick's orders. It physically hurt not to do it, I felt I was shaking a bit and I had to suppress my growl.
"I'm sorry, that was my fault," he began. I wanted to shake my head but I was taught never to interrupt someone because it often earned you a dust buster. I felt the power he had and so I knew any smack from him would send me reeling.
"I'll try not to startle you again," he added and I nodded at this giving him the benefit of the doubt. He might try but I would most definitely be startled again sometime by someone being so tense and jumpy around them all the time. "Is your arm ok? Do you want Jeremy to look at it?" he asked. He reached for me at the same time but I pushed back shaking my head. No, I would never willingly have someone look at an injury. I would rather tough it out. He stopped reaching for me when he saw I was backing away from him.
I leaned forward again when he pulled back with a frown. "I'm sorry, I didn't intend to attack a pack member," I told him. I wanted to make it clear my intention was not to have Clay kill me slowly for such an offense. Nick shrugged then and looked beyond me to the patio door way and again I resisted the urge to look behind me. I settled for balling my hands into fist to release some tension.
"Everything ok," I heard Antonio's voice now. He walked further in and I tracked his footsteps to behind my chair, exactly one foot behind if I was tracking correctly. I noticed Nick exchanging a look with his father and as extremely nervous as I was about having a stranger behind me I knew the best tactical manoeuvre was to sit and wait this out. The only sign I gave of agitation was my clenched fist. After a minute of near silent communication Antonio left and I relaxed. Nick turned back to me and managed a weary and possibly unsure smile. It was awkward and neither of us knew how to act in this situation.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to help me," he said next trying to break some of the tension. I nodded willing to do whatever any of them wanted of me just like Jeremy had ordered. He turned his laptop around so I could see the screen. At first I saw a mishmash of colours and then a design came into focus. Confused I looked back at him not understanding what he wanted from me or of what benefit this could be to either of us.
"I do graphic design for my dad's company, well it's the family company," he shrugged. I understood immediately, obligation and working in the family business. This was usual with werewolf families because pack ties and family ties were very important. If a family had a family business they expected their son's to go into the business no questions asked or complaints given. My father expected me to go into his business which wasn't really a business just a lot of stealing and some vandalising. That was the plan until he left. I am not sure what the plan was now or if there was a plan now.
"I was just going to get your opinion," he told me seeing that I was confused. He looking back at the screen again now mulling over the design I supposed.
"I don't know anything about graphic design or computers," I told him. He shrugged to this. I had never used a computer in my life. My father never had one and he didn't see the sense in them so neither did I. Plus; they seemed a bit overwhelming to me, all that information just out there. It was odd. I knew to get by I would need to use one someday but now was not that day.
"Just tell me what you think," he encouraged. Again I heard someone come up behind me and had to fight with myself to relax and to combat the feeling of a threat. This was made a bit harder by the laughing and shrieking children in the background; their loud noises instantly distracted me and put me on edge. I forced myself to look back at the screen and concentrate on Nick's order. I made a judgement call about the best way to get out of this situation where I was uncomfortable giving my opinion to a high ranking pack member.
"It looks good. Nice," I shrugged. He nodded at this but seemed to be waiting for more. I honestly had no idea what to say to him or how to go about saying it for that matter.
"What about the colour? Too light, too dark?" he asked next. He shifted his attention back to me encouraging me to speak to him or ordering me maybe? I wasn't sure I knew the difference honestly.
"Um, maybe a bit too dark," I shrugged. I tried to come up with something insightful to say that didn't make me look like a complete moron. Looking like a moron should have been my last concern here but being a teenage boy it was near the top of my priority list. "Maybe...," I started to say but stopped. Opinions were never encouraged when I was growing up so I reframed actually surprised I even had the courage to try. Opinions in my home were met with snide remarks, putdowns or the famous smack to the back of the head, dust busters as I called them.
"Go on," he encouraged. This surprised me and after realizing it showed in my expression I took a breath and tried to concentrate of keeping my reactions hidden. To survive anywhere one must keep their reactions hidden and their emotions to themselves thereby keeping their thoughts to them self and having the advantage in an attack. I shook myself mentally trying to get out of the war mode I had been in for most of my life.
"I...well maybe if you made the logo a bit darker but the background a bit lighter it would be a bit more...eye catching I guess," I shrugged. I hoped this was what he wanted. I had spent a lot of time on my own and on the run and therefore I studied a lot of signs and advertisements so maybe my acceptable answer came from there.
Nick pulled the laptop back from me and for a second I was afraid I had offended him and was about to start apologizing but then he smiled. Confused I looked at him wondering what was going on. "Bingo, you have a good eye kid," he told me now and smiled over at me. I sat for a few moments and thought about this, this was what I had come to believe was called a compliment. Something that made you feel slightly warmer inside. It felt odd but good. Odd because Nick was a stranger to me and good because I felt as if I had done something right and this was always a good feeling.
"Thanks," I finally said remembering the proper protocol. He nodded and went back to typing now. I suddenly remembered the person behind me and went rigid again wondering if I should look or not.
"Max," I heard now. I jumped slightly but kept my reaction under control by clenching my fist and swallowing my expression. He had moved a foot while I had been concentrating on Nick. I would need to remember to split my attention when two or more people were in the room to cover all my bases.
"Yes," I answered. I turned slightly so I could see the speaker. I tried not to be as rude as I wanted to be to the speaker for making me jump yet again but honestly this was my fault and not his.
"We got a movie on Netflix, do you want to watch?" Noah asked. I looked at Nick who was deep into his work not paying attention to us and waited for an answer from him. Maybe he wanted me to stay or maybe he thought Noah couldn't handle me or some kind of logic like this. When Nick didn't speak I decided to speak up to end the stretching silence.
"If it's ok with Nick," I told Noah now. Noah seemed nice enough but I wasn't used to being around boys my own age. I had grown up in an adult world and didn't even meet another kid my age until I was twelve and that kid incidentally was my father's enemy's son. I had liked him but he hadn't lasted long no matter how much I protested to my father.
"Oh, yeah go ahead," Nick said absentmindedly waving his hand. I got up from the table and proceeded to follow him through the house and the hallway towards the living room. This was nothing more than a distraction. I couldn't get attached to this boy, even if I found I could like him or even Reese.
"You guys going to bed?" Noah asked as we passed Elena and Clay with their children in pyjamas. I began to feel sorry for them but as grumpy as the two kids looked, both under Clay's arms; they seemed safe enough. Kate kicked to no avail and Logan was still but had his arms crossed looking mutinous. I constantly had nightmares as a kid and now and although I had learned to bite the pillow instead of making too much noise they still haunted me most nights. I was suddenly scared of what might happen tonight but whatever would happen I couldn't do anything about it.
"Sleeping is essential for function…," Logan answered still not looking happy about it.
"But it still sucks," Kate hollered and redoubled her efforts to get away. Noah chuckled and bid them goodnight before we moved on. To me they did not seem like little kids, there was something much different about them.
I followed Noah into the TV room and sat close to Reese on the sleek black leather couch when he gestured. I observed, as Noah got up to fiddle with the laptop and bring up the Netflix thing he talked about, that it was just the three of us watching. That made me a bit more comfortable as I would only have to watch for two people and not more. This pack was big and there were so many people around.
"I'm leaving in 30 minutes to go to go finish some homework," Reese told Noah. Noah nodded on his way back to his seat, an arm chair close to the couch but blocking the door. I looked around me and noticed Reese was placed on the other end blocking the other exit. It was strategic and it didn't surprise me one bit. The two laughed and teased one another like they had been brothers for a life time though I wasn't sure I understood half of what they said. No matter, I could not let myself get close to them. This was temporary and I would be on my own soon enough. I just hoped I didn't get used to the comforts here before that happened.
The movie was something about aliens. I didn't pay much attention my eyes kept darting to the windows, the doorways and around looking for the exits and calculating. I had never been able to enjoy anything without a complete sweep of the exits and strategies to get to them. I wasn't planning on escaping but it was always good to figure out and plan these things, plus it's automatic now. I often have a clean sweep of each room before I even realize what I am doing. On the other hand, maybe I should just run away from them? But would that make me look even guiltier? It didn't matter. I needed to try I felt. I should find a way out.
"Did you like it?" Noah finally asked startling me when it was over. I jumped a bit and looked towards the screen only now noticing the movie was done and the credits were rolling. Reese had left over an hour ago and I saw Nick had followed him down the hall.
"Yeah, it was ok," I answered him. I struggled to remember the plots, characters or anything. Noah chuckled and shut off the TV shaking his head at me.
"Well I'm heading to bed," Noah told me. I assume this meant I was to follow him and so I did. Unlike Nick, Noah didn't seem to mind having me at his back but maybe he wasn't trained as well yet. I saw I had an ideal opportunity to escape now but I didn't. I knew Noah would alert everyone and I would be caught and maybe killed right away. I would instead wait for my opportunity to run. The perfect time. It would happen eventually.
I followed him upstairs and watched him turning off lights as we went since almost everyone else seemed to be in bed. We walked to one of the last rooms down the hall as Noah pointed out where everyone was sleeping. I am assuming to give me a bit of a warning about trying anything but maybe I was seeing too much into it. First came the room Elena and Clay were in and I guess Nick bunked with them when he was here. Next was Jeremy and Jaime's room and then Logan's room right beside Kate's and lastly he guided me into the last room. We entered and I saw Antonio was sitting up in bed reading. He smiled as we came in and setting down the book he gave us his full attention.
"Good movie, boys?" he asked. Noah shrugged and went to a bag grabbing some clothing and riffling through the items. I stood there awkwardly waiting for instruction and trying to figure out what to do.
"Max, I put a toothbrush on the sink for you and some fresh clothes as well," Antonio informed me. This told me I was to go to the washroom and brush my teeth, change and get back out here.
"Thank you, but may I take a shower as well?" I asked. I hadn't showered since yesterday and really wanted one.
"Of course, just don't be too long," he said. I nodded and stepping across the floor and into the bathroom closing the door lightly behind me. The bathroom was medium sized with a small diagonal window only the twins could fit through. I dismissed this as an escape route immediately. I showered in minutes and changed into the provided clothes, a too big t-shirt and pair of boxers. I brushed my teeth finishing just as I heard Antonio hiss something to Noah but I didn't catch the conversation and they had stopped talking by the time I came out. I had folded my old clothes neatly and carried them with me looking for a place to put them.
"Just set them on the dresser Max," Antonio told me sensing what I needed. I nodded and set them where he told me and then proceeded to look around the room to figure out the sleeping arrangements. I saw an air mattress on the floor and the queen sized bed Antonio was laying in but nothing else. I assumed I would be sleeping on the air mattress or the floor. I was a mutt after all and the pack would get the better things.
"Over here," Antonio said. He patted the mattress beside him. I looked over at him now questioningly. "Noah and Reese are sharing the air mattress tonight," he informed. I nodded not quite understanding but accepting nonetheless.
I looked around the room as I walked over; it was a normal guest room with dressers on one wall and two big windows looking over the front yard. I crawled onto the bed and got under the covers on the left side squirming to the edge of the bed and laying back looking at the ceiling.
"I don't bite you know, well, not all that often," Antonio said startling me. I looked over seeing lots of room between us and blushed, moving over a bit. He chuckled and held up his book again, reading it and waiting for Noah to get settled. I once again studied the room judging that the bed was twenty feet from the door and the air mattress was strategically place only ten feet from the door but right at the edge of the bottom of the bed going to the far wall so the only way to leave was to climb over Antonio or the guys. Again, I was not planning on escaping but this was an automatic response. Finally Noah was done in the washroom and Antonio turned off the lights setting aside his book.
"Max," he suddenly said through the semi darkness. I turned to look at him giving him my full attention. He had turned on his side facing me, I just now noticed he had no shirt and also realized why he was put in charge of me. He had a lot more muscle then I had guessed upon first seeing him and lots of battle scars which meant he was not one to reckon with.
"If you need to get up in the night for anything wake me up," he ordered and I nodded. I knew I was perfectly capable of doing things without adult supervision but I also knew around here I might not be allowed to do anything without some kind of supervision.
"Ok," I answered. I turned my back towards him so I was facing the window. I tried to calm down enough to sleep but I hated having a stranger at my back. I desperately wanted to turn around to see if Antonio was watching me and waiting for me to fall asleep before he did, it certainly felt like he was. Finally I got the tension out of my body and was able to relax enough to sleep a bit a few hours later.
I fell into blackness and hit the bottom hard. I looked around and was confused at where I was. Suddenly I saw a shadow towering over me and laughing. I scrambled back looking around for exits, weapons anything. Nothing was in sight, the laughing became clearer and I gasped as my father's voice boomed over the darkness. I scrambled back and hit the wall as my father's fist swung. Suddenly I was falling confused and in the middle of the forest. I started running my paws thumping the ground as I ran, yips and howling sounded behind me. Abruptly my father in wolf form swung in front of me and as I slid into him he bit my neck ripping flesh and bones. I howled that turned into a scream I muffled into my pillow sweating and fearful. I breathed hard trying to calm myself before anyone heard or saw and felt a movement beside me. Antonio stirred. I froze trying to calm myself and get rid of the scent of fear I knew was wafting off my body.
I was just slipping into sleep again when suddenly in the dark something touched me, I heard my name and the fear clenched my stomach. This was it. The moment I had been dreading. I sat bolt upright looking at Antonio who had a gentle hand on my arm. It triggered every alarm inside me and I yelped and moved back falling off the bed and hitting the floor hard with a groan.
Unexpectedly the room light switched on and I blinked, squinting, still looking at the bottom of the bed and mattress. "Max," Antonio said again. I sat up and squinted, looking over and saw he was on the other side of the room. He seemed confused and angry, had I made him mad? The thought terrified me all over again and I had to breathe in and out again to get a hold of myself.
"I'm sorry," I said again, trembling. What would happen now? I saw his nostrils flare as he sniffed, giving me a look. He pulled in the fear wafting off me from the lingering nightmare and I am sure throughout the room. I stiffened. What would he do? Would this be the moment where he showed his wolf side?
"Come here," he said lowly. I gulped. I heard the air mattress squeak then, looking over I saw Reese, back from wherever he was blinking at us with a confused expression on his face from his own bed. Noah was still fast asleep and mumbling something about pizza, that's a werewolf for you, hungry awake and asleep.
I looked back down to the sheets on the bed to avoid Antonio's gaze and saw the sheets and blankets on Antonio's side were perfectly neat while mine were twisted, half off and damp indicating I had been having a rough night. I cursed in my head but said nothing out loud.
"Now," Antonio whispered, referring to his last order as he turned to the door. I slowly stood, crawled across the bed and got off on his side so I wouldn't disturb Noah. I resisting the urge to lie back down on Antonio's side and go back to sleep. I assumed since Antonio was out of bed he wouldn't be letting me lay back down anytime soon though.
"Tonio," Reese asked, sitting up further now and rubbing his eyes. He looked around, trying for alert but only managing confused and weary. The circles under his eyes told me he hadn't been asleep for very long.
"Go back to sleep," Tonio whispered close to his ear. Reese looked around confused at finding Antonio's face and then seemed to be even more confused as to how it got there. It was quite funny, but I didn't dare laugh. "Everything is fine," he assured. He patted Reese on the shoulder before turning to me again. Reese nodded at this and laid back down anyway watching us go and having complete trust in Antonio.
I stepped onto the blue carpet following Antonio and felt it squish into my toes as I walked from the room. I crossed the threshold into the hall and he shut the door behind me gesturing for me to go ahead of him, I did albeit slowly. When I heard him stop I looked back and noticed he stood outside Jeremy's door briefly but then shook his head and continued on. I walked silently down the stairs. "Kitchen," he said. I nodded without turning. Once we were in Antonio flicked on the overhead light and I stood rigidly by the island counter waiting for my next order. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if he ordered me to drop and give him ten.
"Come here," he said. His voice was a bit louder now that we weren't near any sleeping quarters. I came closer but stopped a few feet from him looking at the floor and studying the beautiful blue marble tiles refusing to meet his demanding gaze. To be honest this man scared the crap out of me. Most men did but he was so strong and experienced it terrified me.
"No one here ever hurt you and no one will ever touch you without your consent or demand you do anything you're not comfortable with, got it?" he finally asked after a stretch of silence. I stiffened automatically at hearing his voice, I tried to un-tense before he realized but couldn't quite manage the action. I am sure he noticed and catalogued my body language as he studied me. "Answer me, kid" he told me.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize. I was confused and I thought…," I answered and trailed off. I kept my gaze focused on the blue cerulean coloured tiles, at least I thought that was the shade but I wasn't sure. I had never been good with different colours and art but preferred to stick to its blue or green or red.
Antonio's face paled and he shook his head. "Never kid, never," he said when he comprehended. When I looked into his eyes they filled with turmoil and I knew he felt sorry for me. That was ok. We stood facing one another for a few more moments before he told me to sit down.
We sat in silence once he told me to sit. Antonio made tea and told me it would help me sleep. I sipped wincing when it burned my tongue and went slower. When I was half done I noticed how sleepy I had become and tried to stiffen but I was too relaxed.
Antonio came at me slowly now and took my arm helping me from the room and up the stairs. My legs started to turn too led as we walked up the stairs and I stumbled a bit. Antonio seemed ever patient and helped me along until we got to our room not pushing me or throwing me against walls like I assumed he would. He let me crawl into bed first; I barely got the covers over me before I fell asleep again more relaxed then I had been in a very long time.
