Page 41 of How to Hack a Hellhound
Aiden handed me some type of pastry, and although I had just eaten, I certainly wouldn’t turn down Aiden’s baked goods. We both ate in silence for a minute. I thought about Corbin saying Aiden was pack, too. Quinton felt like he was mine, but I also felt a kinship with Aiden. I did want to protect him.
I had information about Aiden, and I didn’t want to upset him, but he probably needed to know. This was the problem with humans. You never knew how much to tell them or how theywould react. But Aiden had been reasonable about everything so far, even if I knew he had a lot of trauma.
“They’re looking for you,” I told Aiden.
His face paled, his eyes widened, and the air left his lungs in a rush. Well, shit. Apparently this was one of those things I maybe shouldn’t have told him.
“Who?” he whispered, although he seemed to know.
“Your blood relations. Toby has told us all that is not what constitutes ‘family,’ and they don’t seem very familial,” I answered.
“I…” Aiden trailed off and sat in his seat. He looked towards Quinton’s bedroom, and his eyes got wet.
“I know this is distressing news,” I said, unsure how to make him feel better. Perhaps I should call for Quinton? Or even, god forbid, Toby? Surely another human could deal with the tears better than me.
“You’ll take care of him, right? When I’m gone?” Aiden asked.
I was confused for a split second, and then I was angry. Aiden thought he should leave? Was that why he was distressed? Of all the idiotic, human stupidities…
“Aiden, where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I asked, and yes, maybe I was a wee bit angry. But really, we werehellhounds, for demon’s sake. “Do you think we can’t protect you? Did you really think a few humans, no matter how wealthy or dangerous, are any match for us?” I growled.
“Uhh…” Aiden started, staring at my eyes.
Well, yes, I’m sure they were on fire, but really. “I’m sorry, but it’s rather insulting that you have so little faith in us,” I muttered, trying to get myself under control.
Aiden was speechless, but at least some of his color had come back.
“Like we can’t handle ourselves,” I muttered. “Like dealing with your blood relations is beyond our ability. It’s completely absurd. I could bankrupt their accounts tomorrow. I could hack my way into their databases and cause them utter havoc. Never mind the fact that you act like I can’t hide your whereabouts. Do you think I’m that much of an amateur?”
Aiden mumbled something, but I was on a bit of a rant now. “And really, do you think Quinton would just let you run off? Do you thinkanyof us would just let you go it alone? Corbin said you’re pack now, and he would know. And you’re certainly Quinton’s pack, and Quinton ismine, so that means you’reours. So if you go somewhere or sneak off into the night to try and spare us trouble”—I snorted at the thought, because welovedtrouble—“then I will hunt you down and bring you back. Is that clear?”
Aiden was still staring at me, and his mouth was open a little bit.
Hmm, maybe that was a bit much. I remembered a bit belatedly that Aiden had been traumatized. Maybe I came on too strong?
“Of course, I would hunt you down in a very nice way and bring you back willingly,” I said, nodding. “Toby always says consent is important. And if you didn’t want to come back then we’d all just follow you around or something. Although we like it here, so we’d all prefer it if you'd stay.”
Aiden still didn’t answer me. I wasn’t sure where else to go with the conversation. Had I broken him? Could you break humans with bad news? Did they short circuit like computers? It did seem he was frozen. Was there a human reset button? Did he need a hard reboot?
“Should I wake Quinton?” I asked. “I’m unsure how to handle your current distress.”
But Aiden’s eyes got teary again at that, he walked around the kitchen island to me, and he pulled me into a tight hug.
I stood frozen, unsure what to do. I finally hesitantly put a hand up to gently pat his back.
“This is… awkward,” I stated.
“Shut up, Creepy Stalker. You’re getting a hug. ‘Humans’ do that sort of thing,” he mumbled into my shirt. He pulled away and wiped his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Ok. Ok then. I knew they were probably looking, but I still panicked. But I’m ok now, and I’m not going anywhere. Ok?”
“Yes, that is preferable,” I told him.
“Does anyone else know?” he asked me.
“I have been informed that disclosing information I find from ‘spying’ on people who are not evil is not to be shared with anyone,” I replied stiffly. Toby had been quite firm about that fact.
Aiden breathed out again, nodding. “Ok. I’m ok.”
There was a lot of repetition of ok, and I wasn’t sure if that meant he was actually ok or he wasn’t actually ok but he was saying he was.
