Chapter 8: Legacy
About a month after the pack's intervention in Beacon Hills, California, she was back home. Everyone was busy, but something was coming. Living in cities so far apart began to weigh heavily on everyone. Even though they have known each other for less than a year, very strong ties have developed between them and this separation is becoming unbearable. So, a search for a new territory was launched. Then, Kurt and Aria had an idea that allows them to avoid intense and long searches. They will build their territory on a custom. Of course, they know it's going to be very expensive.
It turns out that Kurt and Aria recently received a $2 billion inheritance, or $1 billion each. This sum comes from a joint account of the original pack, kept in an Oregon bank. No one knows where that money really came from, just that it was kept especially for them. The money was locked in an account until Kurt and Aria reached their majority. Once this was done, the money was released, separated fairly and transferred to their personal accounts.
Of course, Kurt and Aria did some research on where that money came from, and what they found is quite surprising. There's still $3 billion sitting on another account. They don't know the condition for releasing that money and just think it's a procedural error. In any case, the two billion already present will be used for the pack. With this money, they will be able to build their territory, buy new vehicles, because their vehicles are aging, and they will be able to lead comfortable lives. In addition, this $3 billion can be a guarantee, in case they have real money problems one day.
Once the funding issue had been resolved, Kurt and Aria had convened everyone to show them the basic plan for their future territory. They also explained to them that everyone can make each house as he wants. The only limit there is is their imagination. There are also common areas, such as one or two swimming pools, a large jacuzzi, gyms and other such things. Enough to be almost completely independent.
Now, the last thing you need to find before you start construction is where they're going to set up. Overall, the votes seem to go for Pennsylvania, Ohio being left out. At the same time, it's pretty understandable. Everyone who lived in Ohio was in a hurry to leave him. So, after a final vote, Pennsylvania won. That's where the territory will be built, not far from the town of Rosewood. Some people still want to keep their roots and don't want to get too far away from their hometown.
The construction company having already been chosen, the designs having been completed, it remains only to convince their respective families to move with them. Humans are as much a part of the pack as werewolves. That is one of their most important values and they want it to be respected. Luckily, their families accepted the move, although some sought excuses to refuse. But, who can say no to a werewolf when this one makes you soft eyes? No one has been able to.
After all these decisions were made, everyone got their little life back. Construction is going to take some time, so there's no point in waiting until it's finished before you start living again. Blaine had returned to Lima, the holidays being over. As the regionals approached, he wanted to review the set-list he had found. He also wants to rehearse the Glee club, finding them rather soft and slow. The choreography he has chosen is not too dynamic, but it is not slow either.
As he walked down the halls, Blaine shook someone up. He began to apologize when he recognized the person's voice. He raised his head, suddenly feeling in danger. He restrained himself from growling, as it might aggravate the situation.
Sebastian stood in front of him with the same arrogant smile. Blaine didn't understand what he was doing at McKinley. At the moment, he should be rehearsing for the regionals, not busy with his competitors. Blaine let his eyes take their golden color, characteristic of the Beta, and pulled out his fangs. He wanted to look menacing, wanting to scare Sebastian away. He didn't like his presence here and wanted to make him understand. Sebastian just laughed, not being afraid at all.
"You got the fangs out? It's cute. Have you ever been told you have beautiful eyes? This golden color...it's beautiful. I could get lost in it. More seriously, I'm here for a special reason, as you might expect. I would like your full cooperation, otherwise it could be complicated".
"My full cooperation for what? You think you scare me? You seem to be ignoring something important. I'm a werewolf Beta from a pack of about 20 werewolves. I think it's safe to say you're playing with your life".
"I play with my life? Who doesn't play with their life? We all do dangerous things in their lives. Sometimes it works and sometimes it fails, that's how it is. Second, I am fully aware of the pack you belong to and how many members it is. I would never have come to you without researching. I'm not unconscious. But, back to your question, I need you for regionals. In fact, I need your set-list and you are the one who is best able to provide it to me".
"Are you kidding, I hope?! Why would I give it to you? Are you so stupid that you can't do it alone? Or should you always steal someone else's? Leave me alone, it's better".
Sebastian was looking at Blaine with a mixture of anger and envy. He's had a crush on him since he met him. He does not manage to silence this desire and he knows that this is the perfect opportunity to satisfy it. He took a syringe out of his pocket and dumped Blaine against the lockers. Before Blaine could do anything, Sebastian put the needle in his thigh, then released it, waiting for the product to work. Blaine wavered, feeling weak.
"What...is that? You injected me what!".
"It's no big deal. Just a mixture of aconitine, ketamine, mistletoe, and morphine. I carefully tracked the doses on the internet, creating the perfect tranquilizer for werewolves. Normally, this kind of product is used to counter the powers of a werewolf before they appear. But it turns out it's also effective for a werewolf with his powers. Especially because it blocks his immunity and his healing ability. Basically, I can hurt you all I want, you won't heal. At least, as long as it works. Once the effect is gone, it will take some time before you regain all your immunity and healing ability".
"I...why? What do you want?".
« I told you, I want your set-list. You refused to give it to me, which is your right, so I have to compel you. It is also my right and I allow myself to exercise it. Believe me, I have the means to make even the most ferocious werewolf speak. Then you won't be able to resist me".
Blaine grumbled powerfully with the little energy he had left. This tranquilizer is effective, he feels he is busy falling asleep. He hopes the grumbling he's pushed will be enough to alert the Omega's present at McKinley. If that is the case, they should arrive in a short time. But, the grunt was perhaps too weak to be heard. After all, he will soon lose consciousness. He is weakened, he cannot utter such powerful screams or grunts.
Sebastian understood that he tried to alert part of his pack. He looked around, listened to the noises around him. He heard nothing suspicious, so he took Blaine, now completely unconscious, on his shoulder. He walked towards the entrance, hoping that no one would notice him on the way. As he walked, he took the keys out of his van. He invested in a Fiat Ducato especially for this occasion. He knows it's big to carry one person, but it's a vehicle he likes.
He got to his van and put Blaine in it. He went straight to the driver's seat, wasting no time starting and leaving the parking lot. Even though Blaine's growl was weak, there's still a chance someone heard it and decided to come and see what was wrong. Sebastian does not want to be seen. He knows that Blaine's pack will know what happened and that they will come to save him. But he should have time to do everything he's planning to do.
Meanwhile, Finn was shaking on his chair. He looked at the choreography that Blaine had proposed, wondering how he could find it. It's a chain of complicated movements that require a lot of training. At one point, he felt as if he had heard Blaine growl. It was as if he had launched a pack call, even though he was weak. Hearing only his instincts, Finn went in the direction of noise, wanting to know what was going on.
When he got to Blaine's locker, Finn found a brown leather bag on the floor. It's Blaine's bag. He was knocked over, a sign that there had been a possible struggle. There was also a syringe next to the bag. Finn grumbled slightly and took his phone out of his pocket. He called Kurt directly, wanting to warn him that Blaine had been kidnapped. He doesn't know by whom, but he has his own idea. Kurt said he would notify Aria and they would arrive in Lima within the hour.
An hour later, Finn had already gathered all the Lima Omega ahead of McKinley. They saw several large wolves arriving, some already taking back their human form. Finn took the opportunity to observe the wolves of others, not having paid too much attention to this during their training. He noticed that Spencer's legs had darker tips than the rest of his fur. He also noticed the blue and silver reflections on Aria's fur, where the other black werewolves have reddish brown reflections. Finally, he realized that Kurt looked like a giant white and brown husky.
Kurt pulled Finn out of his thoughts with a snap of his fingers. Finn handed him Blaine's bag, telling him where he found it. Kurt took it and started asking him various questions, wanting the answers. Finn put his hands on his shoulders to calm him down. He waited a few seconds and began his explanation.
"I told you, I found his bag in front of his locker. It was on the floor. I was busy reviewing the choreography for regionals when I got the impression he made a pack call. It was very weak, as if he were weakened. And I wouldn't be surprised if he really was. I found this syringe next to his bag. I don't know what was in it, or what dose, for that matter. It was removed, I'm sure, and I have a pretty good idea who did it. It's almost regionals...".
"Sebastian! He's the one who did this! He's always looked for any excuse to hit on Blaine. Then I wouldn't be surprised if he took it away to satisfy his own selfish pleasure. He must have used a mixture that weakened him, which also prevents him from healing. What he wants is to hurt him, to make him suffer. And, if he gets the list of planned songs, he'll be even happier. This guy is a psychopath capable of anything to get what he wants. But what he doesn't know, or doesn't care, is that we'll find him and make him pay."
All nodded in accordance with what Kurt had just said. The only perceptible emotion was anger. In fact, it's more than anger. It's rage. Pure, bubbling rage lurking in the bottom of every Omega present. Only Emma didn't know what to do. Of course, she feels this rage, but she doesn't know what to do. She accompanied the pack to Beacon Hills, but remained hidden behind everyone. She does not appreciate having to fight, especially against a teenager. She's stronger than him, that's for sure, but she's not comfortable with that idea.
Kurt noticed that Emma looked uncomfortable and smiled kindly at her. He took her aside and reassured her. She doesn't have to come with them if she doesn't feel comfortable doing so. She's already confessed to him that for everything combat and aggression, she's not good at it. She hates it and wants to avoid it as much as possible. Kurt agreed, not wanting to force her to do something that makes her uncomfortable. However, they agreed that she will always know what is going on in the pack. She is always helpful. Every member has a purpose, she must remember it.
Once this settled, the pack went looking for Blaine. Unfortunately, it's very wet and there are lots of different smells. It is very difficult to spot the smell of Blaine or Sebastian. It seems that he has chosen his day to do his trick. Kurt uttered a powerful grunt of frustration, not discouraging.
Blaine woke up, tied to a chair. He looked around and saw that he was in a wooden cabin, probably lost in the middle of the forest. Bad luck for Sebastian, Kurt knows this forest like the back of his hand. After a few minutes, Blaine heard a creaking door behind him, a sign that Sebastian was entering the room.
"Well, I see you're awake. We can start having fun together. You see everything in front of you? A beautiful and long whip, knives and other objects of the same kind. We call them objects of torture...but I'm going astray. Let's get down to business. For starters, these clothes, although pretty, are bothering me. I therefore have to take them off"
"You know, by now, Kurt must already know I'm missing. He must be looking for me, like the whole pack. When they find you, I won't give much of your skin. If you're lucky, they'll let you live. But, maybe they will decide otherwise. The more you hurt me, the more you reduce your chances of survival".
"You come from a pack whose golden rule is never to kill. So I don't worry about my survival. I can do whatever I want to you, they'll still leave me alive. Of course, their instincts come into play, but I think they know how to control them. So, now, you only speak to answer my questions. You have a very pretty voice, I love to hear it, but only that I decided".
"You think I'm going to obey you? What do you think? I'm a little puppy you can train? You don't know how dangerous I am. It's not these bonds that will stop me from turning if I want to".
'I am fully aware of this, but you will not. Anyway, thanks to what I injected you earlier, you're not healing, at least for now. So, transforming yourself will do absolutely nothing. The blows you take will have the same impact, whether you take your wolf form or not. So do it, if you like it, but it won't change your situation".
Blaine growled, intensifying this growl into a loud howl. A real pack call that must have resounded throughout the forest. Sebastian silenced him with a big punch. He had aimed at the brow arch, almost wanting to knock it out. Blaine scolded him while giving him a black look. Sebastian shrugged his shoulders while continuing to tear his clothes. He left him only his boxer, thinking that he could withdraw it later. For now, he only wants the set-list. He will satisfy his desires later.
Sebastian took the whip and began to turn around Blaine. He stood behind him and gave the first whip without warning. Blaine refrained from screaming in pain, then did so, remembering that his cries would guide the pack. Sebastian continued his beating, stopped, realizing that it did not have the desired effect.
"Shit, your screams are even more enjoyable than I thought. If you keep on like that, I don't think I could hold on for long. Anyway, let's move on. That scar, that you have on your lower abdomen and that goes up between your abs, where does it come from? Did someone hurt you before me? Who had the honour?"
"I was attacked a few years ago, and that scar stayed when I became a werewolf. I knew that before I accepted the bite, but that's okay. It's...it's part of me, even if I don't like to talk about it and even less to show it. Now shut up and let me go".
"Have you been attacked? I think I know why. There have always been ignorant people who think that the blows will give them what they want. These are people who are addicted to violence".
"Yeah, I have a great example in front of me".
Sebastian took the knife and passed the tip along Blaine's scar. His intention is very clear. He's planning on reopening that scar, just to make him suffer. And, maybe, have the answers to his questions, but it seems to have taken a back seat. All he wants to do right now is hurt him and hear him scream.
Meanwhile, the whole pack had sunk into the forest. Aria suddenly stopped, hearing a huge cry of pain. Everyone heard it and the rage just went up. Ezra was the one who seemed the most enraged, except for Kurt who did his best to control himself. Aria went to calm Ezra before he rushed straight in front of him and shredded the one who dared to make Blaine scream like that. The other members of the pack, on the other hand, seemed quite in control of themselves. The veins of some of them were visible, a sign of their rage, but they managed to control themselves.
Kurt took a deep breath and followed the screams he heard. It's Blaine, there's no doubt. By concentrating, Kurt was able to distinguish another voice, that of Sebastian. They couldn't be far away. He continued to advance, but nevertheless indicated where they were in relation to their destination.
"We're further away. If we concentrate well, we can hear another voice than Blaine's. It's Sebastian's. In fact, I know we all want to kill him, but we'll avoid it. He knows we don't kill, so he thinks he's safe. You can hurt him, but you can't kill him. So if you want to hurt him, do it while he's alive. Then we give it to the police".
All nodded and continued their way. The leaves cracked under their feet, which might alert Sebastian to their presence. But they don't care. A human is no faster than a werewolf, so he can't run away from them.
In the cabin, Sebastian had just finished the gash he made to Blaine. The blood was flowing slowly, so there was no risk of dying from bleeding. He placed the bloody knife on the table near him when he heard a suspicious noise. He heard leaves cracking, which is not normal. He is far from the hiking trails, there is no one passing through here. He heard Blaine laughing and then uttering a loud howl, indicating his position.
"Damn it, shit. It's not possible. How did they find us? And, how did they go so fast?".
"I remind you that they are werewolves, just like me. They heard me screaming in pain. They heard you bragging about what you were doing. And also, they followed me by the smell. You said they don't kill. It's true, they won't kill you. However, they will hurt you, because you hurt me".
"Do you think that scares me? They won't hurt me! They'll just see how weak you are. You're a fucking werewolf and you don't know how to defend yourself? They're gonna kick you out of the pack, I'm sure. Why would they want a werewolf unable to defend himself".
As Sebastian was finishing his sentence, Kurt entered the cabin. He had broken down the door and looked at Sebastian with the desire to tear him to pieces. However, he abstained and entered the cabin. As Blaine sensed, Kurt had heard all their talk, and he had something to add.
'We will never exclude him, because we have no reason to. The reason for his weakness is the poison you injected into him. Do you really think you're going to get away with this? What's more, get away with nothing? This is a very gross mistake and I think you know it. You see all the people behind me? They're all ready to gut you, make you suffer as much as you did."
Sebastian is fading at the sight of 20 angry werewolves. He didn't plan this. He suspected that Kurt would have gone after him and found him, but he had no doubt that he would have brought the whole pack. Blaine laughed slightly. The effect of the poison began to disappear, although it did not prevent it from transforming. Blaine just wanted to wait until he realized his pack would be there to help him.
"Well, I...you can't hurt me. I'll go and file a complaint and you'll be imprisoned. You know you don't have the right to hurt a human, much less the right to kill him. So I'm safe".
'Of course we have the right to hurt you. We have our own laws, very different from those of humans. We are not accountable for laws and human rights when our pack is attacked. You're a danger to us, and we can kill you without any consequences. But killing you is against the ethics of our pack, which is why we will not do it. However, we can hurt you. And that's what's going to happen. We have a sense of revenge. So run, if you want a chance to escape. But you better run fast".
Sebastian did not wait for the end of Kurt's sentence. He fled. After a few seconds, he heard loud cries and saw large wolves chasing him. He did not know who he was, he could not identify them. Besides, he doesn't know most of the members of this pack. Sebastian runs as fast as he can, but it's no use. Just a few seconds later, a huge dark grey wolf jumps on him and turns him on his back. The same wolf, having the same golden eyes as Blaine, began to grunt loudly, right next to his ear. He also snapped his jaw several times, showing very clearly his intention. A wolf, brown this time, came behind Sebastian and took him by the collar of his shirt. He pulled him up to the cabin.
Kurt had watched them pursue Sebastian, but he quickly turned his attention to Blaine, who was still tied to a chair. He hurried to untie him and held his weight when he helped him get up. Aria went to the other side of Blaine to help him walk. Although the poison is dissipating, it is still very weak. His legs seem to have been spared, but it is not certain. He may well have a broken leg and not know it.
Once Blaine was detached from that chair and secured, Aria called back those who had gone to look after Sebastian. They all returned after giving him one last blow. Sebastian was covered with light bruises and small traces of claws, showing that they had been able to control themselves and avoid inflicting very serious injuries. Aria looked at Sebastian and then looked at Blaine and realized that what he had done to him was horrible.
Blaine is covered with whip marks, cuts visibly made with a knife, and bruises that appear to have touched the intramuscular tissue. The punishment Sebastian received in return is derisory compared to what he did to Blaine. His clothes had been ripped off and torn, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence of rape. Kurt was reassured by that, because if he had done that, he would have killed him without hesitation.
The Alphas are very protective of their Betas. Anyone who harms them will pay the price. It is, therefore, not advisable to attack a Beta, or even an Omega. In fact, it is best to avoid attacking any member of a pack. It will defend itself and make the assailant understand its error.
Sebastian made a very big mistake in attacking this pack because he underestimated their abilities and desire for revenge. And now he's hurt, although it's pretty light. They could very well have hurt him worse than they did, because they noticed that he tortured Blaine. But they were merciful. They hurt him, took Blaine, and left. They must be on their way to the nearest hospital, as Blaine's injuries require appropriate medical attention.
About an hour later, the whole pack arrived at the hospital in Lima. They burst into the emergency room, Kurt and Aria wearing a weakened Blaine. The chief of emergency came to meet them, not very accustomed to seeing a whole pack of werewolves landing in his department. He hurried through the formalities, having understood that one of them is wounded and that he must be examined very quickly. He had a stretcher and a doctor brought in, transferred Blaine to the exam room. He asked Kurt, as well as all the others, to wait in the waiting room. Access to the exam room is strictly forbidden. Once Blaine is transferred to a room, they'll be allowed to see him.
Kurt reluctantly agreed and let the doctor do his job. Of course, it hurts him to know that Blaine is suffering and that he's not there to reassure him. Aria felt his pain, because she has exactly the same look as Kurt. The emotions that Kurt feels pass to Aria who passes them, involuntarily, to the rest of the pack. The members of the same pack are emotionally connected, which makes them feel when one of them goes wrong. When this is the case, they will always try to raise the person's morale, so that these negative emotions stop.
Two hours later, the doctor who took care of Blaine returned to the waiting room. Kurt apprehended what he was going to say. There's still a chance that Blaine succumbed to his injuries, because of the poison Sebastian injected.
'Don't worry, he's fine, after all. I found three fractures in his right arm. One on the wrist and two on the radius-ulna. We had to operate on it to put the bones back in place. In his right leg, there is only one sprain in his ankle. It will be back in a week or two. Now he has various cuts, mostly made with a knife, but some of them were caused by a whip. One of the knife cuts was made on an old scar. It was reopened, but we were able to close it. There will be no problem. What he needs now is rest. We'll keep him under observation for about a week."
A sense of relief passed through the whole pack. Kurt breathed a sigh of relief and shook the doctor's hand, thanking him for all he had done. He doesn't seem to be an expert on werewolves, but he managed to cure him. The doctor understood directly what Kurt was thinking and rushed to reassure him.
'It is true that I am not an expert on werewolves, but I do have some knowledge on the subject. You have the same morphology as a human, it's just your healing abilities that differ from humans. When I did a blood test, I noticed that he was poisoned with a mixture used to counteract werewolf healing. This poison does not last long. In fact, it has already dissipated, but its blood keeps traces of it. If you want to see him, he's in room 245".
"Yes, it's better if he stays in the hospital, the time he recovers. I would never thank you enough for what you did".
Kurt again shook the doctor's hand and took the direction of room 245. Aria stayed a while, to get more information from the doctor. Once that's done, she joins Kurt, and the rest of the pack, in the room where Blaine was. He was on an IV and also had an oxygen cannula. He had his right arm in plaster and bandages all over his body. He laughed, seemingly in a good mood. However, his good mood disappeared when he realized that the doctor must have talked about the scar he has on his stomach. He only told Kurt, not feeling comfortable explaining it to other people. They're just bad memories he doesn't want to think about. But someone, Rachel, picked up the question and he felt compelled to answer.
"The doctor said there was a scar that was reopened. But what scar is he talking about? You don't have one, right?".
"Yes, I do, but I don't like to talk about it. Every time, it brings back very bad memories that haunt me. Every night since it happened, I have nightmares. But since you're so curious, I'll tell you. A few years ago, I was attacked. Some guys, armed with knives, came and beat me. One of them stuck his knife in the bottom of my stomach and went up to the middle of my chest. He almost gutted me. I was very fortunate to get out of it alive, given the severity of the injury. Besides, my parents didn't really want me to be seen by a specialist surgeon. They didn't care at all, as long as they didn't waste their money treating me. Because of this assault, I have this scar and other weaknesses that haven't gone away. Kurt warned me, this kind of injury doesn't go away, even as a werewolf. I accepted the bite knowing all that. I didn't care if it removed the scar or not".
"Oh, I...I didn't know all that. I'm really sorry. Were the people who did this to you arrested?".
"No, and to be honest, I don't care. My parents managed to block the police in their investigation. In fact, they said that I deserved it and that there was no point in looking for the culprits. They said it was a waste of time and money and that the police had much better things to do. I'm sure they've been warned I'm in the hospital, but they don't care. For them, paying my medical bills would waste their money unnecessarily".
Rachel nodded, feeling ashamed to have revived such painful memories. Kurt had given her a black look when she had approached the subject, and this look had only intensified during their little conversation. Rachel immediately began to apologize, feeling really bad about her indiscretion. She's always been like this, very curious about other people's lives. She doesn't hesitate to complain if someone has hidden information from her that she feels she should know first. And then, knowing that Blaine's been hiding that scar for so long pissed her off.
A week later, Blaine was out of the hospital, but he still could not resume all his previous activity. His immunity and healing ability have not yet fully recovered. It would be dangerous for him to resume his previous activities without being sure he can. He still has two weeks of rest at home and then an appointment with the doctor to see his condition. Logically, after this appointment, he should be able to resume a normal lifestyle for a werewolf, especially with this move coming up.
Some of the money Kurt and Aria inherited was used to pay Blaine's medical bills, but that's just a detail. While Blaine rested, the pack watched over him. Every day, a new person came to see if he was okay and if he needed something. Some didn't even ask him, they just brought food, drink or something to keep them busy. You get bored when you spend your days locked up at home. Blaine had a little fun seeing how the pack looked after him. His sociable side allowed him to create ties with just about everyone, but he did not expect that. He did not expect them to show him affection and not hesitate to travel thousands of kilometres to see if he is well and if he needs anything.
Blaine was always used to his parents' ignorance. They didn't care about him, didn't care about his health. They only had it for his older brother, who was the family's success. Still today, with his career in Hollywood. He is adored by all and his parents are the first to promote his new projects. So all of this ended up creating jealousy in Blaine. He envied his brother, but not to the point of wanting to be like him. No, all he wanted was the love and support of his parents. But, he never had it and he got used to the idea that he never will. Now Blaine doesn't care what his parents do. He's enjoying his big empty house.
For Blaine, having a different member of the pack visit each day is quite entertaining. The boredom began to be felt, and he knew that his parents would give him no attention if they ever felt like going home. They are always away on business, taking almost no time for family interactions. Blaine would have liked to introduce them to the pack, but it's no use. They're already finding no time for himself, so how could they find time to meet his friends?
Two weeks later, Blaine came out of his doctor's appointment with renewed energy. All his wounds have finally healed, except for the scar on his stomach, but that's normal. He's finally allowed to go back to normal. He announced the news to everyone, Kurt being the first to whom he announced it. He rushed home to pack his suitcase. He wanted to get to Rosewood as soon as possible to help with the move. Construction of the territory is almost complete, so the move is coming soon. There are still a few loose ends and he wants to be there for it.
Blaine is in a hurry, leaving her big empty and cold house to find herself in a new full and warm house. He's already discussed the decoration with Kurt, both agreeing to the same things. He's already started packing up his stuff, getting ready for the big day. Now all we have to do is wait for the construction to be completed. Blaine no longer has any fears, because Sebastian is in prison and he's about to move to a place that none of his possible enemies know about. He'll finally be safe.