Chapter 1

3044 Words
    The night was still and the only thing in the air was the smells of the food trucks who decided to pull late-night hours to pull the quota they lost throughout the day.  A cool fall evening and with it came a full moon.  A mother was busy shushing and cooing at her crying baby who couldn't seem to go to sleep because she was distracted by the sounds she was hearing in the night hours.  Sounds of claws on the rooftops and howling from a distance off.  Looking out the window the mother saw a shadow rush past and she could hear them climbing up the fire escape.  She went to the window and made sure the window was closed and locked, holding her baby tightly she watched the window hoping nothing decided to visit her on this clear full moon night.     On top of the building a figure stepped from behind the shadows and basked in the moonlight rays, a young wolf looked around at his running mates and they all howled in unison.  This was the unity run, tonight was not about hunting for food but to improve on the pack's relationship.  Off to the distance, there was another wolf on another building and he called the young pups to come on and to keep up.  But a fight broke out among the guardians, "Wait your turn and fall in line Creed you low life," he snapped at a wolf who was grey in color and looked almost smaller than the rest, "As the omega, you are to fall behind.  Don't forget your place you filth."     "Sorry Baxter, I almost fell over the ledge," Creed made sure he wasn't hovering over Baxter who was the guardian of the pack but he was also a jerk of a wolf.     "No matter, that is just another sign of your weakness.  And for you to be speaking back to me maybe I should show you some manners.  I didn't ask you to interject."     "That's enough," from the other side another wolf emerged, and there stood Aden, the son of the alpha of their pack.  He was large in size with a black coat that shinned in the moonlight rays, "We do not need fighting going on right now.  I don't have time to listen to my father's lecture about keeping the pack in check.  Baxter, you go ahead and take charge for the moment so we can finish the run with father.  I'll assist Creed."     Baxter growled something under his breath and barked at the rest of the pack to continue on.  Once they were out of earshot Aden looked at Creed who looked worn out.  They have been friends ever since they were pups, even if the pack didn't approve of it.  Aden never knew why Creed was an omega, aside from his weak position they treated him like he wasn't one of them at all.  Creed looked at Aden with a wolf's smile, "You know you're going to get into trouble staying behind and waiting for me."     "There isn't anything they can do," Aden shook his fur to catch some of the chill sweeping through the air, "Besides doesn't look like this is a night of danger.  I think the hunters are on the prowl.  I don't know what I would do if they found you alone and decided to use you as practice for their new weapons."     "You think they would attack?  There has been peace for the past ten years, I don't think anything would start up now."     "You never know with humans.  They pick and choose when they want to go to war."     "Sounds like the Elder has to reteach you a few things.  I don't mind the humans.  They haven't done anything to me.  At least with them, I will always be a fearsome beast," they both laughed a hearty laugh that echoed off the rooftop.  Not a moment after another wolf the color of snow called to them.  She was beautiful in the moonlight as her coat shimmered, "Your mother is calling us.  We better get going I'd rather deal with your father than her any day."     The two young wolves started in her direction making sure to leap where they're supposed to as they hopped from building to building making sure not to miss a step.  They carried on through the night until around five in the morning when the birds started to sing their morning songs.  They all ran to the very outskirts of the city of Megadonna, a city whose name was changed from Philadelphia centuries ago after the war.  It was the year 3021 and not a lot of the foliage was left aside from the small grove Aden's ancestors placed hidden within a building they shared as a family.       Aden allowed his body to shift summoning all of his energy and there stood a young man who was about seventeen years old with dark curly hair at a short length.  His eyes were grey and his skin was tan and smooth.  He stood at six feet with broad shoulders and everything about him exuded the makings of the next Alpha, but that was a title he could do without.  He struggled with the idea of leading the pack, a role he has been told he had to prepare for since birth.      Creed on the other hand was the opposite of him in every way.  He was smaller only standing five feet seven inches and had a leaner built to him.  His red hair was mangy and unkempt and he was pale, almost looked sickly.  By the time they had got there, everyone was already back into their human form and was beginning to sleep until the early morning hours to replenish their strength after the run.  The building was large and everyone had their own sections for their families but compared to a lot of the other wolf packs in the different territories Aden's was much smaller.  Too many of their pack members were lost to the rogue hunters.  But they managed to survive.     "Come, Aden," looking over to the side he could see a tall and slender woman in the walkway to his quarters.  He was the spitting image of his mother, she had long black hair with the same matching grey eyes and she had a smile on her face, "You have school soon so I think you should come to get some rest."     "Why do I even have to go?" I waved to Creed who went his separate ways to his own section of the building where he was always alone, "It's my last year and I wish I could just drop out already.  The humans bore me."     "But it's the only way we can fit in without causing any attention to ourselves. Your father is disappointed in the run tonight.  He said that something about tonight ruffled his fur and is currently visiting the elder."     "My father and his weird feelings."     "You should pay more attention to your instincts as well pup," Aden loved when she called him that.  It reminded him that he was still her child.  He loved the fact that she was one of the ones who never pressured him about his role in becoming the next alpha.  His mother is a kind and gentle wolf that barely raises her voice, but she is the beta of the group and from the stories he heard growing up she was more fierce than his father.  She ruffled his hair and kissed him on the cheek, "My little trouble maker, how do I keep you on a leash?"  They both laughed together.     "Serene," his father Judge walked up to the two of them and looked distracted, "I need to speak with you.  Aden, do as your mother say and go to sleep.  I have something important I need to talk to her."     Aden hasn't seen his father so worked up like that n a while.  He wondered what the elder told him and why he was having some weird feelings about the night.  After school he was going to make sure he was going to talk to the elder who normally shares everything with Aden, he was his mother's father who is the oldest and the wisest of the pack.  He has been here for years and nobody knows his real age. *     Aden was woken up by his mother and nothing showed on her face about the secret conversation she held with his father.  He did his morning routine and he and Creed headed out towards the school building.  It was about ten blocks in the opposite direction and this morning it was rainy and cloudy.  Instead of taking the moving sidewalks that could take them there in record time they always choose to walk.  Humans had become more reliant on technology and now the world was submerged in it.  Aden remembered reading books about people having to use gas-powered vehicles at one point now everything was powered by the strong sun rays.     Once they finally got to the school they quieted their voices about their home making sure that nobody could catch onto who they really were.  Humans knew about werewolves but at this time they were called Lycans, going back to the old archaic name.  But the Lycans back then were nothing like who Aden and his family are, and just like everything else about this world they evolved to.  The humans on the other hand were just the same if not less self-sufficient.      They stood in the line to enter the building because every morning they had to be checked for any sicknesses or illnesses that could affect the other students.  And in their part of town weapons were3 checked for to.  Everything was on a tight ship those days when it came to the youth because, during the war, it was the rebellious youth who started the revolution.  Now anyone under eighteen had to make sure they didn't do anything that would cause any trouble to their parents who would pay the price.     While standing in the line, Aden could see in the girl's line a new face.  She was slender and her skin was the color of the cedar trees, brown with a hint of red on the inside.  Her hair was decorated with silver accessories along with her waist-length braided hair.  She met his gaze feeling eyes on her and she gave him a once over then focused her attention back on her place in line.     "New transfer?" asked Creed who was standing so close to him he could smell the pipe tobacco he was smoking, "She's pretty for a human."     Aden didn't respond because he was busy feeling something in the pit of his stomach.  This was an uncomfortable feeling as he continued to look at her.  They all made it into the building as was on their way to their classes, but instead of following the routine, he wanted to tail her.  Like he was tailing a doe during his hunting moments.  Watching every move as she was making her way to the office.  What was so mouth-watering about her and made him start to break rules?       Aden waited outside the office hoping to hear her speak but nothing came from the other side, "Yo, what are you doing?" Creed was next to him looking at him with a puzzled look, "Are you tailing her?  That's against the rules."     "Shut up, I'm not tailing her.  It's just that we haven't seen a new transfer here in years and I wonder where she came from."     "Right, but you know we can't go sniffing around too much or we will look suspicious.  The hunters are on the prowl I hear."     "It's fine, stop ruffling your fur man," and before he could finish the girl walked back out and they almost collided into each other.  Up this close Aden could tell her eyes had a hint of green in them, reminded him of the snake he had to kill the other day before it attacked one of the little ones at home.  She was about Creed's height and she looked at Aden like he was an annoyance.     "Can I help you," her voice was low with a hint of arrogance.     "I," Aden didn't know what to say.     "We were just coming this way too," Creed quickly came up with an excuse, "Sorry if we bothered you.  You need help getting to your first class?"  She handed over her tablet, "Oh great you're in our group.  We share everything together.  Well, hope you have a great school year."  She snatched the tablet back and walked away looking back with a confused look on her face.     "She is a feisty one isn't she?"     "I would be to if I started in the middle of a semester at a new school," Creed started to look annoyed, "Can we please hurry up?  I don't want to have late marks on my checker." *     Aden stared at her as they walked into the classroom.  Their homeroom teacher gestured to her as everyone sat down in their seats, "Class this is the new student Josephine Terrell.  She and her family just moved here from...where are you from?"     "A long ways away," she said looking annoyed once again, "And just call me Jo."  Aden heard that last name before but couldn't place where he heard it from.  Everything about her was different, even down to the way she dressed.  He wondered just how far away she came, not to mention the fact that she didn't want to mention where she came from.  His classmates all looked at her in curiosity and some giggled as she walked to the back to take her place, which was near him and Creed sat.  She got the window seat and from then on her attention was out there watching as the rain fell.     *     The day went on and every chance he got Aden glanced at Jo to see if anything about her changed, while Creed barked down his throat the rules about not getting so close and to stop looking so obvious.  They left school for the day and watched her go in another direction by herself.  Aden watched as she hopped into a black car that looked like it cost more than anything he has ever owned in life, "Looks like your prey has a silver spoon, no pun intended," joked Creed, "I think your wolf instincts are starting to kick in overdrive."     "I'm fine, I'm just bored and I have been bored.  Seeing a new face here, that's not interesting to you?  I have seen everyone in this school my entire life and a new person comes along I think that's something to be interested in."     "I'm glad it's just curiosity because I would be afraid if you imprinted on her or something."     "No...I don't think that's it.  Besides a were has never imprinted on a human dummy."  Imprinting is a way the werewolves found their life partners.  It's almost like what the humans would call love only thing is once a werewolf imprints they stay tied to that person forever.  There is nothing like that stirring in Aden at this time.  But he did find something to do when everyone in his pack bothered him.     "Come on let's go get something to eat."  Creed pulled Aden to the commercial district where anything you could ever want and need was down this way.  They lived in what could be considered the slums and so everything there was not high quality as opposed to the higher living sector.  The only thing that was on the equal plain was the schools, meaning no matter how much you made everyone within that area attended that school.       They walked into a place called the Grease Trap which was a normal teenage hangout, this was also an information center for his pack.  Neko was the owner and barkeep but he also was an ally to his pack.  His family has been for years allied with his pack, giving them information on everything they needed to get their hands on.  He also used to work as a hunter but over the years he strived for peace and not war.  He also treated Creed like he was a normal teenager even though he knew his status within the pack which is another reason why Aden liked him.     "There are my favorite customers," he said pushing some trouble makers out of the bar, "If you were here a few minutes you would be handling my lightweight.  When are you coming in for work Aden?  Creed has been taking all of your shifts lately.  Don't you want to make some coins?"     "I've been busy Neko you know that.  My dad is up to my behind about the coming of age ceremony.  He wants to make sure my head is in the game"     "Well is it?  I know this is a big step but he's not wrong."     "I'll tell you another time."  Creed just rolled his eyes and picked up a pole to start playing pool.  When he was away from them Aden looked at Neko hoping he could help him with his problem, "Have you heard the name Terrell before?"     "Hmmm," he scratched his salt and pepper beard, "You mean the headshot Terrell?  Yeah, I heard of them.  They're a known name in all of the territories from what I heard.  They're one of the wealthiest families of our time.  Why do you ask?"     "Well, they just moved here.  I think one of their family members enrolled in our school today.  A girl."     "Oh really?  I wonder what brings them to Megadonna?  This city is way too poor for those types.     "Yeah, well they're here."     Then realization popped into Neko's head and then a dark and ominous expression popped onto his face.  He looked around to make sure nobody was paying attention to his mouth, "I just remembered...they're also known to be one of the strongest and most feared hunters back in the old times.  If it's the Terrell group that I'm thinking about.  And if I were you little wolf, I would stay far away from them."
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