Aidan's body was tired. He rarely took a break other than a short rest before he entered town. The woodsy atmosphere was a goddess-send, but he had no time to bask in it. He tracked Kieran's scent and was lucky to find a few Aristan loners willing to share a little info with him. All signs pointed to this town. Pulling in through the main street, he assessed the area around him. There weren't many people about, and considering he noticed the town was much bigger than he anticipated, he found that a little strange. A town this big should have a nightlife. Aidan parked his bike near a shop and took his riding jacket off. Locking it up in his compartment he inhaled the air around him. He always preferred to hunt on his feet, and with the town this big and unfamiliar, it was best he took his time.

As the last bit of dusk faded, Aidan strolled the strip of businesses closing in on the track of his charge until he saw a bar a ways from him. Dive bars were to wolves as caves were to bears. They swarmed there mingling with humans, where they chalk up their rude and boisterous behavior as machismo.

The scent, though faint, lead straight to the bar and Aidan barely thought straight as his pace picked up, wanting to end this hunt before his time was up.

Reaching the doors, he instantly paused as a realization paralyzed him.

Aidan hissed a curse as he inadvertently made the most idiotic move to date.

This bar wasn't just some dive on the edge of town.

This was a Thesian Haven.

A Haviscasi, in the Aristan old world language. How distracted had he been not to pick up the scent sooner? Kieran's scent lead him right into here and Aidan didn't think of anything else. His eyes shifted from left to right. Luckily no one noticed him yet. It'll only take a second for them to catch his scent. Then all hell would break lose.

It was then he noticed that everyone was deeply distracted, their eyes focused on two bickering alphas near the counter.

As the big blond Thesian shifted to his right, Aidan saw the real reason for the distraction. He watched quietly as the beautiful, fleshy brunette stood between the two, frantically trying to calm them down.

Upon seeing that, he didn't even have to hone her scent to know she was human. A she-wolf would be cheering on the possible bloodbath in her honor from the sidelines—not trying to hinder it. Watching her hopelessly raise her voice above the growling and swearing, he realized that sidelines would have been a much better position for her...

Right now she was in the trenches.

When an alpha wants a female, often he'll challenge—sometimes to the death to win her. Neither looked as if they were backing down anytime soon.

And with her in the middle, she was likely to be seriously hurt—or even killed. Often the mindless wolves won't notice until after the damage has been done what they didn't intend to do. Aidan scoffed to himself. Thesians had no self-control apparently.

In fact, had this bar been loaded with Aristans this incident would never be. Aristans seldom claimed human females. They were incredibly feminine and beautiful, but it was a waste of time since it could only be quick and casual—never anything more. They could never be real mates. And even with casual sex, it was risky to do so. It's often difficult to keep yourself in one form when you're in the throes of sex. You were at the mercy of your own passion.

Passion that your wolf half blindly wants a part of. To do that was to endanger your pack and everyone else. A death wish. Thesians, on the other hand, will gladly shed brethren blood for a passing chance at brief pleasure.

Yeah. That's real logical.

All Maddie wanted to do was to squeeze from them now. Nothing was getting through the two of them. It was like she didn't exist right now. They didn't bother to acknowledge her anymore. All they did was eye each other taunting. Both were overdosing on machismo and she was stuck in the middle. It was scaring her...and the fear pissed her off. She didn't understand why the other men around didn't do anything to stop it. She wished Riko was back. They started behaving like assholes as soon as he left. Like teenagers anxiously waiting for their chaperone to step away— so they can pounce on each other. Pounce on her.

Trapped, she groaned in defeat. Her only move left was to kick one of them in the balls and make a run for it.

I didn't want this. Any of this. Why me?

His interfering could cause an all out brawl in here. The animosity level was unmistakable, and with this many wolves under one roof—any unwarranted move would trip this bar like a powder keg. He was better off walking into a nuclear missile barn. Just get the hell outta here, Aidan. This isn't your fight, or your business. His eyes lingered on the brunette in the middle. Instantly, he knew why these wolves wanted her. There was something compelling about her. And it wasn't just her beauty. Her arms outstretched like some gracious captive bird, her wide eyes lit with confusion. He released a distressed sigh.

If only he would listen to himself...

With a fierce growl, the Redheaded Thesian pulled back his fist to swing, now oblivious to Maddie between them. Upon seeing his force move forward, Maddie screeched and covered her head in defense, still sandwiched between the two. Aidan moved so quickly he was sure he appeared to have teleported himself to them. Aidan only had time to react, no politeness or pleasantries.

Not that it was his forte anyway.

He brutally backhanded the Redhead before his punch made contact, and the wolf was knocked backwards, skidding across the floor. The blonde Thesian begin to advance towards him, his body rigid and ready to strike. Without time to waste, he grabbed Maddie, hastily pulling her behind him but careful not to rip her arm off.

"Stay back!" he growled at her as the Blonde swung at Aidan, hitting nothing but air with a blow that could have taken his head off. Maddie did exactly what he asked, leaning against the jukebox, stunned.

Next to her, she saw the Redhead pulling to his feet.

"This isn't your fight, Aristos." the Blonde declared through clenched teeth as he swung again.

Aidan used the miss to his advantage to grab the blonde and slam his face into the bar counter and knocking him back against the tables. The onlookers backed up in time before he crashed into them.

Aidan felt his pulse rising, his forehead beaded with sweat.

"It's my business now, numb nuts."

The alchemic reactions in his body threatened to will his change, but he swallowed it back down, whipping his head back to see the brunette pressed against the wall now. Her eyes shifting back and forth to all three of them. The other wolves were all out of their seats now. Some glaring at them...some glaring at each other. Thesians preferred to keep out of fights between other Thesians. It was their way of respect in trusting their brethren to handle things on their own. However, if it's between a Thesian and an Aristan...
He began to hear snarling from the spectators.
It was open season.
If he changed now, he could take them all. In wolf form, he was always able to tolerate more pain, and he was stronger when he fought in his other skin.

But then he would have to kill the girl.

Even if he didn't, Aidan was sure the Thesians would do it anyway, for they didn't like being exposed outside of their own terms. He was certain that once he changed, so would everyone else in defense. She would see everything, and whether she believed what she saw or not didn't matter. If she witnessed it, she would die. That was the code. Primal and definite. Breaking that code in his world was punishable by death.
No jury. No negotiations.
He felt pity for her. She was now in a snake pit, a target for everyone just for trying to make things right.
She didn't deserve that.
The redhead shook his body out in attempt to relieve his aching, and stood tall glaring at Aidan. His face crinkled in anger. He was a hideous man now to Maddie as she watched him circle around cautiously to the left. But he was way bigger than the lean, honed man who knocked the crap outta him. It was then she met his bright green eyes and her breath caught in her throat. Maddie glanced away from him briefly to keep herself from gawking at him.

She didn't remember him being in the bar when she was sitting, so where had he come from? He appeared so quickly, not that she was complaining. She was certain that she would've been knocked senseless if he hadn't intervened. Or worse. He stood his ground, silently, now eyeing both men. She was so confused. Was all this fighting because of her? Her stomach filled with dread as she realized. I only wanted to relax and have a little adventure. Like watching some chicks throw themselves at drunk hot men or maybe meet a nice guy who had just moved to Augusta like her, eager to make a friend...or a lover.
But not this.
The Redhead barred his teeth at Aidan. "You're out numbered, asshole."
Aidan looked around the bar for his eyes to meet the grins of wolves responding to the comment. It seemed that the spectating wolves desperately wanted in on the action.

Dammit. You either step in it, or leave it, huh Aidan? Shit forever finds you.

There was no use chiding himself. Life has given him more than enough evidence that he was indeed a shit magnet. In the end, he only did what needed to be done.

He bit down his will to change. Forcing it down until a dangerous calm began to hum around him.
So be it. Who needs fur flying in such a nice bar anyway?
Aidan's mouth curved slowly into a meticulous, sardonic grin. His flesh tingled as his adrenaline coursed through his body, feeling the familiar heat envelope him with sweet, incredible strength. He almost forgot the moon was waxing. Let it be their mistake.
"I kinda dig the odds, if you ask me."

###