Levi's POV
I watched Riley walk away from me, she took Jacobs hand and headed for the fire pit. It took all my strength to force myself to stay leaning against the truck. Sometimes I worried about myself being in control it was understandable why people were afraid of us. I was afraid for people sometimes especially when they pissed Aiden off. He seemed ok with the fact that I just moved a woman and her child into our truck. At least he hadn't said anything yet and he slept in the truck with them. I wanted Riley to stay, I tried to catch her eyes as they walked back to me with their food. She smirked and kept her head down whispering to Jacob. Since I first saw her walk out into that hallway like a breath of fresh air Ive wanted everything from her. I liked the fact that she tried to kick my ass, if I was human she might have been able to do it. Having her in my arms is not a feeling I'm going to give up on easily.
After they ate breakfast I walked them both the the RV we used for food storage. Gemma was waiting there for them. Aiden was waiting for me close to Gerard's. Ryker and Caleb were already there. Caleb sneered at me as Aiden and I climbed up into the back of the truck, He ignored Aiden altogether as usual. Gerard and his right hand man Ray we're sitting at the head of our little meeting. Ray took care of organizing the patrols and security here at the camp. He like Caleb hates that Aiden and I are changlings, both of them would of killed us as soon as they found out if it wasn't for Gerard. Gerard thought we could be useful to him and he'd been right. Aiden and I could clear entire buildings on our own, we could hear better and see in the dark. As long as we were helping him he didn't care what we were. Caleb on the other hand cared very much, his sister had been killed by one who went feral he had killed it himself. I had heard to many stories of feral changlings killing anything they came in to contact with so I kept my mouth shut and tried to ignore him as much as possible. Caleb spit at my feet and kept staring until Gerard cleared his throat and started speaking.
Gemma and Cleo are taking inventory but we should be good for 3 or 4 weeks on food. No food run for a week. Cleo is going to start helping Libby with getting supplies to make more bullets so your new girl is going to work with Gemma he said looking at me. I nodded and he continued Caleb and Ryker you round up your team and take off in two days for more gas. If the group south of us keeps coming our way we are going to need to get far away or ready for confrontation. Lastly any teams not out on runs are helping ray to dig some new traps around the camp there filling up quick and we need as many hands as possible. Gerard looked around when no one asked anything or complained he got up to leave. He turned back to Caleb "meet me in the morning we'll map out some new gas routes. We filed down and out of the truck, I followed Ray out into the woods while Aiden went to inform the team of our downtime and new work assignments, Everyone worked. I wondered how Riley's first day was going.
When we got close to the first pit I didn't have to look in to know what was in it. You could hear the moans and the mud squishing beneath their feet. Ray handed me a shovel without even looking at me, he never spoke to me unless absolutely necessary. Ray had fought hard to se me and Aiden killed when they found out what we were. We had been on the run after escaping the hospital and Gerards group which was much smaller then had taken us prisoner they would have let us go until they saw the bites. Aiden couldn't hide his scars, his entire left arm was covered in bite marks clear as day. They kept us tied up for more than a week before we made a deal with Gerard. Most of the camp hadn't been happy about it especially Ray. As I shoveled the dirt onto the rotting walking corpse it was hard not to think about the dead. I could have so easily been one of them most people who are bit are one of them. It was the best feeling I've ever had when the doctors told me I wouldn't be. Then I started to see the other changlings and the fear came right back. I may not be a zombie but they are all right I'm not human anymore either.
I spent the next couple hours filling in holes and digging a new one. Eventually Aiden and Danny showed up to help dig. Aiden dug like a mad creature so fast yet so precise in his movements. He was so focused and Danny was focused on watching him be focused they didn't even notice when I slipped away for lunch.
I found Riley sitting on the ground behind the storage RV, she was watching Jacob play with some plastic dinosaurs and eating a slim Jim.
I sat down beside her. She gave me a small smile and offered me her canteen, I took a long drink and gave it back. How's the first day I asked. It's good nothing I can't handle. The way she spoke, hesitating and not sure of herself I knew something was up. You gotta trust me Riley, what is it? She had been avoiding my eyes but now she looked at me. What is a changling? she asked. You don't know what it means? No, Gemma told me you were bit. You didn't change though. Yes I was bit and so was Aiden. She just sat there with her mouth open.....how many? How many what I asked? How many are like you? She asked. Not many, barely any at all. Some aren't like me they are dangerous. I could tell she wanted to ask more but she wasn't looking at me again. I take her chin and gently force her to look at me, I raise my eyebrows and she smiles. Two people here have already warned me that your dangerous. I would have to talk to her seriously but not right now. She was looking at me like she was studying me. I stared back at her as I said I think you know the only thing dangerous here is how your body reacts when I touch you. Her eyes widened and she shivered as she quickly looked down I could see her blushing. When she peeked back up at me her eyes were shining and she had that smirk on her lips that made my heart speed up and my stomach tingle.
If I wait up for you tonight will you talk me more..about you? Wait up for me and yes you can ask all your questions. She raised her eyebrows as she smiled at me. Jacob walked up to us. Gemma says you could go feral at any time. He didn't sound scared more like a statement or a question. Riley had a oh shit look on her face and she opened her mouth but i spoke first. Not anytime soon Jacob, he looked at me a minute then shrugged and said Ok good to know and he went back to playing with his dinosaurs. We're going to go in now, catch you later tonight she said as she started to round up Jacobs toys. I left to go back and help dig another hole before my night patrol but I was already thinking about spending more time with her.
After a few hours it was only Aiden and I left finishing up the seven foot pit. He was still digging like someone possessed when all of sudden he just quit and leaned against the pit wall. Ray is getting worse you know he really almost spit on me this time he's getting close man If he does it you better hope your around. I smiled but it scared me to, I knew he was serious even if just a little. I knew what it felt like to lose control to. I stopped digging and leaned against the opposite wall. Won't do us any good and it want make you feel better, I said. Oh, I don't know I might feel a bit better. I rolled my eyes and threw my shovel out of the pit, I crouched and jumped out of the hole after a second Aiden landed beside me. I'm headed out to patrol. See you I'll go hang out with our new friend Aiden said as he waved and walked off. He does this to annoy me I told myself he could feel the tension in me since we got back. I was annoyed that I was jealous even though I trusted Aiden he was still spending time with her and he would probably annoy the shit out of her by the time I got back and then she wouldn't want to talk. I just hoped she was resilient to Aidens shit. I loaded up my rifle and headed out to meet Zeke I was taking over his area.