Chapter 7

A/N: I seem to have gotten very attached to some of the characters in You are the Answer and I plan to write other stories with them and about their world. The ones I'm most keen on are:

• A short story from Rhys' POV (2018 Edit: Instead of doing this, I re-wrote You Are the Answer from Rhys' POV. The story is called We Are the Answer and is completed. You can find it on my profile.)

• A one-shot from Kennedy's POV which I might post as a bonus chapter in the story from Rhys' POV. (2018 Edit: I did post a chapter from Kennedy's POV in We Are the Answer and it can be read as a standalone one-shot.)

• A full-length book about Keri. (2018 Edit: I already wrote this and it's called Sentiments & Reason. It's completed and available on Wattpad.)

• A full-length book about Alec. (2018 Edit: As of April 2018, I 'm uploading this story on Wattpad. It's called Sweeter than Sweets.)

• A full-length book about Kennedy. (Coming to Wattpad once I'm done with Sweeter than Sweets.)

Would any of you be interested in reading these?

*****

It had taken me a couple of minutes of stunned silence, followed by Keri's laugh to snap out of my amazement. I shook my head as we'd walked into the Milk & Cream and I stood behind the bar, getting ready to begin with my duties for the day. It wasn't until I'd checked the coffee machines and took my apron that I spoke to her.

"So it is a common mistake?" I asked, tying the small apron around my waist. This woman – in her mid twenties at most – this pleasantly smiling woman, was the leader of the most feared gang around?

"Yes," she nodded and placed her hand over the bar, her fingers touching. "I guess I seem too innocent for people to assume that I might be in charge. I hope it's because I look too innocent and not because I am a woman."

"Hey, love," Winnie's figure was a blur as slapped me playfully on the butt when she passed behind me, a tray in her hand, only to disappear to the other end of the café. One of Keri's perfectly shaped eyebrows rose in a silent question.

"We are really good friends," I explained and she graced me with a silent nod. "So what are you having?" I asked, going in full work mode. Well, almost full; I was still too surprised by what she'd told me to manage one of my professional smiles.

"Lots of caffeine, cream and no sugar, thank you," she ordered, emphasizing the first word.

"Tough night, huh?" I turned around and grabbed a medium-sized mug before pouring in some of the desired brown liquid. "What do you want me to draw?" I asked, reaching for the cream. "A wolf?"

"Wolf?" She repeated. "Ah, yes, Rhys. How about something abstract for me?"

"Flowers?" I then suggested. Keri uttered 'will do' and I turned towards her, placing the mug on the bar. I took a spoon – one of my favorite tools around here – and began to gently dab it in and move it around the thick layer of cream that covered the coffee. It reminded me of when I was a child and I used to draw things in the freshly fallen snow. Back then, I used the contrast between the soil and snow; now, I did the same but I could add another color – a concoction of the two – by combining the coffee and cream.

"As for your previous question: it wasn't a tough night. It's more of an addiction with me." My eyes darted towards her just in time to see a guilty smile. "It started when I was in law school. There were so many lectures, so much to learn, so much information to search for before you learnt it... Trust me, you couldn't make it without copious amounts of caffeine! I loved it though; it was... It has been my dream since I was a child."

"Why didn't it come true?" I asked, pushing the drink towards her. She sighed, a sorrowful sound, and wrapped her fingers around the mug.

"My uncle died."

"I'm sorry," I said, a bit confused. A death in the family could have devastating effects on a person but if she really had wanted to become a layer, wouldn't she muster up the will to get over it and pursue her dream? Keri didn't seem like a person who gave up easily. On the contrary, she struck me as a strong and determined woman. She kept her cool while dealing with Alec and that definitely had won her my admiration, even more than the fact that she led the Bullets. She must've sensed my confusion as she said:

"My uncle was the previous leader of our community. When he died and after certain... evaluations, I was deemed most suitable to take his place."

"And you had to give up on your dream?" I still couldn't get their community, as she'd called it. What were these evaluations and were they so definitive that no one else could take her place? Keri obviously wanted something else for herself; why would they force her into this? Was she special in some way?

"The good of the community comes before the desires of a single member," she tried to explain, her gaze falling on the mug and the coffee she had yet to drink. A crease formed on her forehead, her mouth shut and slightly tugged at one side as she was lost in though. "I'm not sure how to explain it to you since you don't know us and our customs and traditions," she began slowly, her eyes meeting mine. "And Rhys would probably want to tell you himself..."

"Rhys?" I interrupted, my heart jolting at the sound of his name. "Why would he want to do that?"

"Why do you think?" She asked, tilting her head to the side and finally taking a sip of her beverage. She made no remark on whether she liked the way I'd prepared it, choosing to get back to the previous topic instead.

"Our community consists of over a hundred members. Our view on the word differs from what is generally accepted, our way of life differs from what is generally accepted, and in order to preserve the community the way it is now and make sure we don't become a target to people who don't understand us, a target to other communities, we pick a leader, someone to guide us and to watch over us. As such, I must make sure that we don't suffer from other people's prejudice; I must solve internal conflicts and make sure that a husband doesn't beat his wife or that a wife doesn't beat her husband; I must make sure that our children are well-taken care of, provided with food, clothes, education and medical care; I must make sure that no one in our community is in need. And all that, Riley, means that I must give up on certain things, law included. I could not pursue a career and take proper care of my people; I simply won't have the time for both. I care about us, as a community, more than I care about myself and that is one of the reasons why I was chosen to lead. Because no matter how strong, or smart, or rich and influential you are, if you do not care about your people, you would not make a good leader."

"Wow..." That was all I could utter after that speech. It made better sense to me now that Keri had explained all that. Even though I still couldn't understand what sat their community apart from the rest of us and what was with the need for secrecy about their way of life, I was beginning to think that whatever was special and different about them, it couldn't be bad. They cared for one another and were there to support each other, just like one big family would, just like a family should. Perhaps that was why Rhys used that term instead more often than 'community'.

"Hey, Riley!" The blonde teenage girl that plopped on the seat next to Keri seemed really excited. "I've been therapy shopping for hours and I'm in desperate need for some fuel before my next turn across the mall. I still have to buy Stacey a present for her birthday."

"Oh, she has a birthday soon?" I exclaimed politely although I didn't know who Stacey was. This girl though – didn't remember her name either – usually came with the same black-haired friend so I guessed that must be who she meant.

"Yeah, it's just four days away," the blonde smiled, placing about half a dozen bags with logos of nearby stores on another empty seat. "And I only got her two things so far and I'm not going to show up at her party with just two things... I mean, hello! She's my best friend. Anyway, I want one large Mocha and one of your fabulous drawings."

"The usual?" I asked and prepared myself to draw a kitten. Even though I often forgot the clients' manes, I had a pretty good memory of what beverage they ordered and what picture they would like to have. The blonde and the brunette always asked for kittens.

"Yes, pleaseeee!"

Keri discreetly placed her head in her palm, using her hand as a shield between her ear and the rather loudly-speaking teen while I got on with preparing the client's drink. I gave the kitten big, anime style eyes and an ever bigger bow and handed the drink to the girl.

"This is so one of your masterpieces," she squealed and got up, cup in one hand, shopping bags in the other. "And it's so going on Instagram," she assured me before strutting towards one of the tables that provided a window view.

"A fan, huh?" Keri teased, taking a sip from her coffee.

"Our Riley is very popular with the teenage girls," Winnie replied instead of me, placing a tray on the bar. "Don't put away your tools, Picasso; one Espresso Macchiato and one Latte, both with hearts for the lovebirds at table eight."

"That's the second male lovebird the female lovebird brings to the Milk & Cream this week," I noted, seeing the familiar redhead at table eight. "She even slipped me a note with her number the last time she was here," I added, but even though I disapproved of the girl's overly-social behavior, I took my time with the designs. She was a paying costumer after all; besides, we've all been young and horny and maybe she would grow out of it.

"You can spit in her coffee; I won't tell," Winnie suggested, tightening the knot on her apron. "It was just a joke; we don't really do that," she added, this time addressing Keri.

"Not that you would tell a costumer if you did," the other woman replied and Winnie shrugged.

"Fair point," she admitted just as I placed the two cups on her tray and she took the platter then swirled around to deliver the orders. With her bouncy walk and jerky movements, it was a miracle she never spilled anything.

"I like your friend," Keri commented, her eyes lingering on Winnie.

"I like her too," I laughed and she turned back to me.

"Rhys was right; you are really cute when you smile."

"He said that?" I exclaimed in a tone almost as shrill as the one the overly-excited blonde teen had used.

"He never told you that you are cute or anything like that?" She wondered, her brown eyes growing a tad in size. Her chin length hair fluttered as she shook her head. "That man has the patience of a saint! I usually admire that about him, but..." A sighed snuck through her painted in brown lips. It was a good color for her and it complemented her eyes, her hair and her shirt; Keri was definitely a woman who took care of her appearance. If she had been anyone else, I'd be asking her where she got her clothes from and what products she used on her hair. But with her being one of the Silver Bullets, I had been too interested in the glimpses about their community that she provided me with; now I was anxious to find out what she was willing to share with me about Rhys.

"Kennedy said Rhys likes me," I told her to encourage the topic. I leaned forward, placing my bent at the elbows arms on the bar. "As in, he has a thing for me."

"You should really take this up with Rhys," she murmured with a hint of regret. "Trust me, I'd love to talk about this, but it's between the two of you. As his childhood friend, I wouldn't feel comfortable discussing this."

I groaned, my head drooping in disappointment. There went my source of information! Perhaps I should call Kennedy? He seemed happy to supply me with tidbits about his brother. I would've already called him, but his age – just thirteen – discouraged me from consulting him about matters of the heart and bed gymnastics, especially the latter.

"I could tell you other things about him."

My head snapped up at her suggesting and I leaned even closer to her, eager for whatever she was willing to supply me with.

"Rhys is loyal, very dependable," Keri began to enlist, pausing only to take a sip of her drink. "Family and friends are what he lives for. He is not too ambitious, enjoys a simple and peaceful life although he's one of our strongest warriors..."

"Warriors?" I repeated, frowning. "What do you need warriors for?"

"Consider him... a guard of our community," she said after a moment of musing. "Someone who is ready to use force and risk their wellbeing to protect the rest of us."

"So you are something like a president and Rhys has the role of the police?"

"In a way, I suppose." She placed her head in her palm again, this time looking tired. "It is difficult to explain it to outsiders. I am the president, the judge and the commander of our armies, if you can call our warriors that; Rhys and the rest of the Council are my advisors and best warriors, sometimes sub-commanders..." Keri paused, noticing the recognition on my face. "He's told you about the Council?"

"He and Everett mentioned it," I replied, somewhat hesitant. Would they get in trouble with their community for speaking about that in front of an outsider? "They said something about the Council wanting to give Alec a chance."

"Oh, Alec." She gulped what was left of her coffee then handed me the mug to put away. "Everett and Anastasiya were never married and Alec spent most of his life with his mother. Her family looks down on our community, you see, and we don't like them much either so when Everett asked us to allow his son to stay with us, we were concerned about the boy not fitting in, about him not even wanting to fit in. He is haughty and insolent and refuses to live by our rules. So far he hasn't done anything too drastic, anything that would make us banish him, but I still prefer to keep an eye on him. I don't trust Alec; none of us do."

"Then why did you allow him in your community?"

"Because of his father, of course. The Flemings brothers are all loved in our group; Rhys and Everett are very much respected... Perhaps Carter and Kennedy will be too when they grow up; the latter already has a fan club amongst his peers."

"Kennedy is quite the charmer," I noted with a smile, wondering if Carter – the only one of the four brothers that I had yet to meet – was like the youngest sibling.

"And quite the cheeky Devil," she agreed laughing. "The boy has the nerve to actually flirt with me and Kelly; can you believe that? Kelly is my cousin," she added to explain. "He's only messing around but still... Anyway, we were talking about Everett. When he was young and before he met Anastasiya, everyone thought that he would one day step in for my uncle. Then all that drama with that woman and their illegitimate son happened and Everett changed. The community still loves him and looks up to him, but many think he's no longer fit to lead us and he agrees with them. We couldn't deny him when he asked to give him a chance to bond with his son though. He and Lisa – she's Everett's wife – have been married for years but have no children. We all hope they will one day have kids; the two will make wonderful parents."

"Why don't they have children then? You don't have to tell me if it is private," I hurried to add, backing up a bit when she looked away from me. Had I made her angry? I hoped not; I hoped that she and I could become friends not only because she already was Rhys' friend, but also because for the hour or two that I've known Keri, I'd developed a liking to her.

"Lisa's last tests," she began, her voice shaking, her eyes still escaping mine, "were promising. The doctors say that she might be able to conceive soon." Keri sniffed and as I handed her a napkin, she finally looked at me. Her eyes shone from the water that cumulated in them but she shed no tears. "I'm sorry, Riley. Family is at the basis of our community and the thought that one of us can't produce an offspring could be devastating not only to that person but to the rest of us as their close friends..."

"No, I am sorry. I shouldn't have asked; this is far too personal..."

"They would want you to know," she cut me off, her hand covering mine. She gave me a light squeeze to reassure me. My mouth opened slightly as I looked at the woman before me. She was the one who was upset, yet she was doing her best to comfort me, to show me I had nothing to apologize for. Her community was right: Keri would make a good leader with the way she put others before her; I wasn't even one of them.

"I'm not supposed to tell you this – I think it would be better if you hear it from Rhys – but you already know because of Kennedy..." Her sideways pout – one that indicated she was in thought and which was not a sign of disapproval – appeared again. She hesitated for a second more before she went on:

"Kennedy already told you," Keri repeated, "so I am going to say it as well." She beckoned me with her finger to return to my previous position and once I did, our eyes were leveled. "Rhys really does like you, Riley, and he wants to spend time with you. Getting to know him means that you'll also get to know those he loves so you would've found out about Everett and Lisa anyway. If you decide to be with Rhys, you'll have to accept all of us. And I do hope you decide to be with him, Riley; you are a nice person, I can tell. He needs someone like you."

"He doesn't act like he needs me," I muttered, looking down.

"As I said, people often misunderstand us and he's giving you time to get used to us. Besides, the guy is shy."

"Rhys?" I snorted. "Shy?" He had no problem giving commands that time at the parking lot or talking to the employees at the cinema; he never stuttered, he looked them in the face... As far as I could remember, he'd never given any indications of being shy.

"When it comes to someone he likes the way he likes you, Riley," she whispered, a smile spreading over her face, "Rhys becomes shy. Maybe you could speed things up by giving him a hint you are interested? But before that..."

"What before that?" I asked just as lowly as her. She let go of my hand and stretched before replying, her voice back to normal:

"Make me another coffee, please. Lots of caffeine, cream and..."

"... No sugar. Got it."

"We'll talk more when you're done with that," she winked and I hurried to complete her order. I wanted to know more.

*****

A/N: Again, a Rhys-less chapter, but nevertheless you got to find out more about him, his family and their community so I hope this update earned itself a vote ;)

Did you expect Rhys to be this shy about Riley?

I'm very eager to find out what do you think about the pack and their way of life. Do you think they are too soft and need to toughen up? Maybe be a little bit more selfish and not take the troubles of others so much at heart? Or do you like them sympathizing with Lisa having trouble conceiving and Everett wanting to bond with his estranged son?

DO YOU THINK I MADE THE WEREWOLVES TOO HUMAN?

Have a great time wattpading, everybody, and please tell me if any of you would be interested in reading the books I mentioned before! ♥