《Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall》


 Introduction

    Introduction


    Fear. Pure fear, the sort of fear that makes your skin itch. When you can feel every hair on your body


    rise. When you feel like your skin is crawling. Fear that makes your body freeze, paralysing you on the


    spot, that¡¯s the sort of fear I felt when I heard her blood-curdling scream. The only thing was I was her


    big sister, so I couldn¡¯t run away. I had no choice but to move, to go to her. I forced my legs up the front


    porch of the Pack house, running in the direction I could hear her screaming my name. My feet pound


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    on the floorboards in panic. I¡¯m moving so fast, I felt myself slipping on the hallway rug, making me skid


    along the floor and into the wall. My head and shoulder twist at an awkward angle into the kitchen door


    frame, with enough force that ck dots danced in front of my vision. My corbone and shoulder send


    shooting pain through my body as I feel my shoulder dislocate on impact.


    ¡°Aria! Aria!¡± Her petrified scream echoed through the house. Jumping to my feet, my head spun. I


    turned the corner into the kitchen to see the Alpha dragging my sister by her hair into the basement


    with a whip in his other hand. I start running to her, grabbing the basement door frame just in time for


    him to m the door shut on my fingers. My own scream escapes my lips in agony. I reach for the door


    handle, only to find it''s been locked. I start trying to yank my hand free. I could hear her crying and


    screaming for me on the other side of the door.


    ¡°LEAVE HER ALONE!¡± I screamed at him, mming my body into the door, trying to free my fingers


    and get in. Not being able to get a run-up, I threw my body with all my might towards the side where my


    fingers were stuck, the door moving just enough for me to free my injured bloody mangled hand. My


    fingers were definitely broken as they twisted and jutted out at unnatural angles. Backing up into the


    kitchen, I ran full force into the door and bounced off, knocking the air out of my lungs. I stood up,


    backing up again and running harder. I dropped my shoulder hitting the door with so much force it burst


    open, my feet hitting air as my body was thrown down the stairsnding at a weird angle. My head


    smashing into the basement¡¯s concrete floor.


    "Aria"

 Chapter 1

    Chapter 1


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Two weeks earlier


    ¡°Come on, Lily, time to get up,¡± I whispered to my six-year-old sister. She rolled on the mattress


    stretching and yawning, her beautiful sapphire blue eyes fluttering open to look back at me. Our room


    was the smallest in the Packhouse and at the back of the house away from everyone. The room


    consisted of a double bed mattress, a window, and a few toys for Lily. All our possessions easily fit in


    the duffle bag that was also our wardrobe.


    ¡°You''ve been jogging, Ari,,¡± she said, sleepily looking down at my outfit.


    ¡°No, they are justfy now. Come on you have to get ready for school,¡± I sat next to her on the


    mattress on the floor. Lily sat up frowning at me. I pulled her pyjamas top off before pulling her school


    shirt over her head.


    ¡°Quick, hop up and put your pants on while I get ready,¡± I told her.


    I quickly got up, walked over to the duffle bag next to the mattress, and pulled my work uniform out my


    bag before quickly undressing and slipping it on. I reached for my brush, pulling my hair into a high


    ponytail before doing the same to Lily¡¯s hair while sitting next to her on the bed. I reached over,


    grabbing her joggers and socks, cing them on her feet and tying theces. We could hear people


    moving about in the house. Lily froze, staring towards the door.


    ¡°He¡¯s up, Ari,¡± Lily whispered.


    I quickly threw my shoes on and grabbed the duffle bag, throwing her pyjamas in it and the clothes I


    had on earlier. Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I walked over to the window, knowing we wouldn¡¯t


    be able to sneak out of the house using the front door. Slowly opening the window, I dropped the bag


    out before reaching for Lily. She climbed up onto the windowsill before jumping to the grass below. It


    wasn¡¯t a big jump; the house was only one level besides the basement and the attic. I climbed through,


    jumping to the grass below before reaching up and shutting the window behind me gently.


    Running up the side of the house towards the side gate, I nced to make sure none of the Pack


    members were in the front yard. It was exceedingly early still. The sun had only just starteding up,


    light starting to break through trees that surrounded the house. I grabbed Lily¡¯s hand and started


    jogging towards the bus stop at the end of the dirt road, which was also the driveway. As we neared the


    end, I could hear the busing past. We ran faster to the bus stop, getting there just in time. I threw


    my arm out, waving the bus down. The bus driver smiled when he saw us.


    ¡°Hey, Bill,¡± I said, getting on the bus and passing him our bus fare.


    ¡°No smile today, Lily?¡± he asked, smiling down at her. Her lips tugged at the sides before she gave him


    a big toothy grin.


    ¡°That¡¯s my girl,¡± he said. We moved to the back of the bus. The drive into town was only ten minutes


    long, and Lily stretched out on the seat next to me, cing her head in myp.


    ¡°Ari, I¡¯m hungry,¡± she said, gazing up at me.


    ¡°I know, I will make you some lunch and breakfast when we get into town,¡± I told her as I leant down to


    kiss her head.


    I gazed out the window watching the trees and morning birds. I was over having to live this life. My


    stepfather was a cruel man, and he was the Alpha of one of the most notorious Packs in the city. I


    would have left when our mother died, but he wouldn¡¯t let me take Lily. I don¡¯t know why, it¡¯s not like he


    was ever a father to her. He hated her from the moment she was born, med her for our mother¡¯s


    death. I still remember when he brought her home and told me my mother died during childbirth. He


    shoved little Lily in my arms and said, ¡°Look after it.¡± I remember being confused. I was only thirteen at


    the time. I knew nothing about babies. I had to drop out of school, give up my entire life. I raised her,


    loved her, and she became my whole world. I didn¡¯t understand how he could reject his own pup, his


    own flesh and blood.


    Lily was an adorable baby; Mum would have loved her. I named her Lily since David didn¡¯t even bother


    to do the paperwork. Lily was Mum¡¯s middle name. She was so excited when she found out she was


    expecting, and so was David, but when my mother died that excitement turned to hate. The Pack


    suffered for 6 years since. Petrified of him, they would never go against him. He was Alpha for a


    reason. So here I was, a high school dropout raising my baby sister. Luckily, Mum had everything ready


    for her arrival before she passed because the Alpha didn¡¯t help me with anything. I had to get form


    off Pack members. Luckily, even after Mum¡¯s death, they didn¡¯t hate her or me. They felt sorry for Lily


    so they would sneak me tins of form and nappies.


    When Lily turned five and was old enough for school, I enrolled her and started looking for a job so I


    could try and provide for her. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was better than having to ask or beg Pack members


    for anything she needed. I still remember the beating I got when I asked David for some money to buy


    her school uniform. He split my lip open before dragging me to the basement, where he beat me until I


    passed out. I shook my head at the memory before looking down at Lily, who was ying with my


    father¡¯s ne that hung from my neck.


    The ne had a wolf on one side and a man with fangs on the other side. My father died when I


    was two, I don¡¯t remember him. My mother used to tell me how loving he was, but after the Alpha took


    us in when I was seven, she didn¡¯t really speak about him. Alpha David didn¡¯t want to hear about her


    past life. She was his mate, he always thought it was a betrayal that she had a child with someone who


    wasn¡¯t her mate sent by the Moon Goddess.


    What made it worse is my father wasn¡¯t a wolf. He was a Vampire and my mother was a wolf, therefore


    making me a Hybrid, which isn¡¯t all it¡¯s cracked up to be. I¡¯m an abomination. I can¡¯tpletely shift like


    other wolves. I can grow ws when needed, which is quite painful, and I can also mind link. From my


    vamp side, I get their speed and sense of smell. I also can¡¯t heal like a wolf or a Vampire unless I drink


    human blood. Being raised in a wolf Pack means I don¡¯t get blood, which is okay. I can live without it


    simply fine, but it means I¡¯m always weaker and I can¡¯t heal. Alpha David forbids me from drinking


    blood, and besides him, the only other people who know what I am are my mother and Lily. I hoped


    one day, Lily and I would be free of this hellhole so I no longer must hide what I am, but that will never


    happen.


    The bus pulled up out the front of the diner I worked at. I quickly pushed Lily towards the exit, stepping


    onto the footpath.


    ¡°Come on, Lily. If we hurry, I will get Marcus to make you some pancakes before school.¡±


    Lily took off into the diner to her usual spot, which was close to the kitchen. I watched as she slid along


    the booth seat, cing her bag down on the red leather seat beside her. Lily loved the diner; she came


    with me every morning before school and after school, because my shift didn¡¯t finish until 6. I would use


    my lunch break to pick her up from school, but the biggest bonus of working here was Zoe.


    The owner was a human woman who owned ¡°Joe¡¯s Diner¡±. Her husband was Joe. He died years ago,


    and she took over her husband¡¯s business. Zoe was in herte sixties. She has long white hair that¡¯s


    always pulled into a bun with green eyes and rosy cheeks. She is a bigger woman but one of my most


    favourite people I know. She always smiled and loved Lily, and since she didn¡¯t have children of her


    own, she kind of took me and Lily in. Zoe always made sure Lily had lunch for school and breakfast


    and dinner. After Lily got seated in the booth, I greeted Zoe with a hug before walking out to the


    kitchen. Marcus was standing at the stove with his hippy tie-dyed shirt and jeans, already making Lily


    pancakes.


    Marcus was probably my only real friend; he was a good-looking bloke with his blonde hair and blue


    eyes, but unfortunately for me, he was also gay. I waved to him as I walked past to find my apron. Lily


    has pancakes every morning before school. I grabbed my apron and wrapped it around my waist


    before walking back out to grab the coffee. I started refilling a few customers'' cups. Joe¡¯s Diner was


    always busy no matter the time of the day. When I finished refilling cups, I walked back into the kitchen


    to grab Lily her pancakes.


    By the time Lily finished her breakfast, it was 8 AM. I cleaned up the booth Lily was at and ducked back


    into the kitchen to grab Lily¡¯s school bag, which I kept in the duffle bag. As I was walking back through


    the kitchen, Zoe was already waiting with a paper bag.


    ¡°I made her ham and sd sandwiches, and Marcus threw in some quiches from yesterday for her,,¡±


    she said, smiling, cing the bag in my hand. Lily came running into the kitchen, wrapping her arms


    around Zoe, her little arms barely making it halfway around Zoe¡¯s hips. Zoe smiled down at her before


    cing a kiss on top of her head.


    ¡°Have fun at school and learn new things,¡± Zoe told her. I thanked Zoe before chucking the bag over


    my shoulder and grabbing Lily¡¯s hand to walk her to school. The school was only one block away, so


    Lily and I walked hand in hand the whole way. The streets were busy with everyone getting ready for


    work, and I quickly pulled to the side as a rush of people came out of the subway, just in time for us not


    to be trampled. We quickly made it to the school, stopping just out the front of the gates, and I gave her


    a quick kiss. ¡°I¡¯ll see you at 3 o¡¯clock, okay? Have fun,¡± I said before giving her a quick hug.


    I watched her run off towards her friends before turning and walking back to the diner. Once I got back


    to the diner, I quickly went to retrieve mine and Lily¡¯s clothes from the duffle bag, but when I opened the


    bag, it was empty. Before I even got a chance to close it, Marcus walked in.


    ¡°Zoe already put them in the wash for you,¡± he said before walking back to the kitchen. I quickly


    retrieved my apron and went to start taking orders and refilling everyone¡¯s mugs. The day went by


    quickly, and before I knew it, Zoe came out of the kitchen, signalling for me toe over.


    ¡°It¡¯s quarter to 3, you have to get Lily, dear. Here, eat this on the way. I noticed you haven¡¯t eaten since


    yesterday morning,¡± she said, cing a roastmb sandwich in my hand with a napkin.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine, really Zoe, you do enough for us already.¡± She refused to take it back.


    ¡°You girls are like children to me, don''t be ridiculous,¡± she replied before quickly turning around and


    walking into the kitchen.


    I ate the sandwich while walking to the school. As I did, I looked up at all the high-rise buildings. I loved


    the city; everything was so fast-paced and alive, constantly on the go. I loved watching people rushing


    around going about their lives. When I made it to the school, I waited out the front for the school bell to


    ring. I wasn¡¯t waiting long before Lily came bursting through the doors with a huge grin on her face. She


    ran straight towards me wrapping her little arms around me in a hug. I bent down, picking her up and


    cing her on my hip as we walked back to the diner. She told me all about her day and what she did


    in ss. Once back at the diner, Lily grabbed her books out of her bag and went to sit with Zoe, who


    was already sitting in a booth waiting for Lily¡¯s arrival. Every afternoon after school, Zoe would help Lily


    with her homework and listen about her day. I waited tables getting ready for the afternoon rush when I


    suddenly felt eyes on me. I looked up from refilling Lily¡¯s cup with water, but no one was there. Shaking


    off the feeling, I walked back into the kitchen to get the next order ready.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.

 Chapter 2

    Chapter 2


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Having just finished one meeting, my Beta Zane texted to tell me the next meeting I had has been


    moved to Joe¡¯s diner. Apparently, it was on neutral territory; the ck Moon Alpha didn¡¯t want to meet


    on my territory. Pussy, I thought, shoving my phone back in my pocket before adjusting my tie while


    walking to the elevator. I stepped in the elevator, hitting the button to the bottom floor when the elevator


    doors closed. I watched the buttons, watching the floors go down. When it got halfway down, it


    stopped, the doors opening. I growled, annoyed. Two women, one with red hair and the other a blonde


    both were quite attractive. One of them I recognised, the redhead. Michelle was a Pack member. The


    other was a human I didn¡¯t know, and a short stumpy man from the tech floor walked in after them.


    They quickly stepped back, realising who I was. They dropped their heads looking at the floor. ¡°Sorry


    Boss,¡± said the man. I¡¯m fairly sure his name was Peter. I remember himing up to my office to


    update theputers. I pushed the button for the doors to close. Listening, I heard them let out a


    breath just before the doors shutpletely. I stared down at my Rolex watch, 2:30 PM. Shit! I was


    going to bete.


    Once down at the foyer, my Beta was waiting with my keys in his hand. He tossed them to me.


    Catching them, I quickly threw them back at him. ¡°You drive, I don¡¯t know where this ce is.¡± I walked


    out to my ck Bentley getting into the passenger side and opening the window. We were driving to


    the south of my Pack''s territory, and just as we left the border, I felt my wolf stir, trying toe forward.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, Ryder?¡± I asked. He didn¡¯t reply. I could feel that he was anxious. Maybe this


    meeting wasn¡¯t a good idea, I thought to myself. Feeling him pressing beneath my skin, I knew my eyes


    must have changed when I let out a growl, warning him to stop.


    My Beta pulled the car over to the curb. ¡°You alright boss?¡± he asked. Hair was spreading across my


    arms, my wolf fighting for control.


    That¡¯s when it hit me, the most intoxicating scent. I looked around; we were pulled up out the front of a


    primary school. I couldn¡¯t see anyone, so I stepped out of the car. My wolf instantly calmed down,


    happy that we stopped. I looked towards the primary school across the road then looked up the street. I


    couldn¡¯t see anything except trees along the footpaths and a group of mothers waiting along the school


    gate, none of them standing out to my wolf and they were definitely human. As I was getting back in,


    the breeze shifted, and the intoxicating scent got stronger. It smelt like strawberries and citrus; it was


    making my mouth water.


    My Beta got out staring at me questionably, and that¡¯s when I noticed her. She was standing behind a


    tree next to the gate of the school. She had long dark hair that was pulled into a ponytail and an


    hourss figure. I stared at her back, hoping she would turn around, she was dressed in jeans and a


    in white blouse with long legs. I wanted to run my fingers through it. ¡°MATE. MINE.¡± I growled. Ryder


    echoed the same thing in my mind.


    Zane smiled, a knowing look on his face. I went to walk across the road when the bell rang, and the


    little girl jumped up into her arms. I stopped before crossing and growled. Turning my back on her, I


    quickly got back in the car.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked Zane, staring at me in disbelief. ¡°Go get her,¡±


    ¡°What do you expect me to do? She has a kid,¡± I said, pointing at her.


    ¡°First of all, you don¡¯t know if she has a kid. Secondly, I don¡¯t think she would be old enough to have a


    kid that is already in school,¡± he stated.


    ¡°Fine, cancel my appointments and follow her,¡± I snapped back. I watched Zane as he instantly sent a


    few messages before pulling out from the curb to follow her. My wolf wanted her. She was extremely


    attractive, but I am not one to separate a family. I watched her hips and arse move when she walked


    into the diner, feeling my pants bing a little too tight. I adjusted them, stupid bloody wolf giving me


    dirty thoughts of what he wanted to do to her.


    My eyes followed her through the window of the diner that I was supposed to be having a meeting at.


    The little girl ran to a woman that was seated in the booth. Zane and I watched her as she walked out


    the back before returning with an apron on and a ss jug with water and filled a ss up before


    handing it to the little girl. She must have felt me staring at her because she suddenly stood up, looking


    around cautiously.


    ¡°So, what do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°Drop me back to my office ande back to watch her for now. Try and find out which Pack she


    belongs to,¡± I ordered him. Zane nodded his head before driving me back to my office.


    The entire drive back, my wolf wouldn¡¯t settle down, trying toe forward, wanting me to go back and


    im the girl. Stepping into the elevator, I hit the 20th floor where my office is. My wolf lurching forward,


    making me hit the elevator walls, trying to fight me for control.


    ¡°Settle down, Ryder, or I will reject her,¡± I growled. The thought of rejecting her caused a stabbing pain


    in my chest and my lungs to restrict. How could she have such an effect on me already when I haven¡¯t


    even spoken to her yet? Stepping into the corridor, my secretary came running over to me. She was a


    nice girl, not much to look at, very in Jane, in my opinion. She was like a stick figure, no arse and no


    boobs, but she was good at her job.


    ¡°Sir, I couldn¡¯t stop him. He said it was urgent, he is in your office,,¡± she said, fear evident on her face.


    ¡°Who is?¡± I asked, annoyed.


    ¡°He said his name is David, sir.¡± I nodded before throwing open my office door and ring at Alpha


    David. I cancelled my meeting with the ck Moon Alpha earlier; I didn¡¯t think he would have the balls


    to show up to my office.


    When I walked in, he was sitting behind my desk in my seat, his muscles bulging from his shirt. It


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    looked ridiculous, as if it belonged to his little sister. He stared up at me with a smirk on his face before


    cracking his knuckles.


    ¡°Alpha, you¡¯re back,¡± he stated. I growled warningly at him.


    ¡°Yes, I am. Now get the fuck out of my seat,¡± I spat the words at him. He put his hands up in surrender


    before getting out of my seat and leaning against the window, looking down towards the street. Taking


    my seat, I sat back before asking Melody, my secretary, to make coffee and bring it in.


    ¡°What can I do for you, David? Why the sudden interest in meeting me?¡± I asked.


    ¡°That¡¯s Alpha to you,¡± he snarled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t push me, David. You¡¯re in my territory now. You may have one of the strongest Packs in the city,


    but you know as well as I do that you don¡¯t stand a chance against me or my Pack. Now what the fuck


    do you want?¡± I said using my Alpha voice, forcing him to submit.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure you''re aware of the rogue attacks at my borders. I need help. I''m losing too many of my


    warriors. My guys keep pushing them back, but they keeping.¡±


    ¡°So, you daree to my territory, try and challenge me in my office and then ask for my help?¡± I


    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing you can give me clearly. I don¡¯t need anything, and I don¡¯t want to get mixed up in your gang


    rivalries and drug business. I will do this as a favour for now, but just know when I do need something,


    you will do it. Understood?¡±


    Alpha David nodded his head before giving me his hand to shake. ¡°Deal,¡± he said.


    ¡°Fine, I will organise my Beta to send some of my men over to watch the border. Tell your guys to


    expect them. If any of your Pack attacks one of my men, I will dere war.¡±

 Chapter 3

    Chapter 3


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Thest week and a half, I have been getting this strange feeling that I am being watched. Would Alpha


    David be sending someone to watch me? I wonder what he is nning. I know the Rogue attacks were


    getting out of hand and that he had to ask the Blood Moon Pack¡¯s Alpha for help. They have been


    along the borders. I have run into a few of them in thest week. Their auras are very dominating. I


    thought our Pack was sinister, but theirs is on an entirely different level. They even make me want to


    retreat, and that¡¯s saying something because not even Alpha David can make me submit with me being


    a Hybrid. The only reason I do is because I know I can¡¯t beat him. Sometimes it makes me wonder if I


    had human blood how much stronger I would be than my Pack. I know that¡¯s the only reason Hybrids


    are hunted down because we would be the dominant species, but there are so few of us that we don¡¯t


    stand a chance against a werewolf Pack. Therefore, I will always have to remain hidden and do as


    David says, because if he leaks what I am out, I will be hunted down like the rest of the Hybrids that


    have stepped foot into the city. I also know if I drink blood, they will realise straight away that I¡¯m not


    just a wolf, and I really don¡¯t feel like being attacked by my own Pack. Lost in my thoughts, I didn¡¯t


    realise someone hade into the diner until they grabbed my elbow as I was walking past to clean


    some tables.


    cing my hand over my heart and jumping back, I looked at the customer.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t see you. You nearly gave me a heart attack,¡± I said nervously. The diner was extremely


    quiet today. The man just stared at me; he was quite handsome. He had shoulder-length hair that was


    pulled into a ponytail at the back of his neck. He was very lean and muscr, and he had green eyes


    and tanned skin. He was wearing a grey suit, so he looked like he just stepped out of an important


    meeting.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine Hun, I was wondering if I could get some menus.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± I replied, going back to the counter and retrieving one. I passed it to him and waited for him to


    order. I could tell he was a werewolf by the way he carried himself, plus his scent was a dead


    giveaway. I wonder what Pack he is from.


    ¡°For now, I will just get two coffees ck, no sugar please,¡± he said politely.


    I quickly ducked to the kitchen, putting the coffee on. I nced over to him, which was a mistake as he


    was staring directly at me, watching what I was doing. Marcus came over standing behind me, ¡°Order?¡±


    he asked.


    I shook my head, turning to him.


    ¡°He hasn¡¯t ordered yet; I think he is waiting for someone,¡± I said, grabbing two mugs and the jug,


    walking back over to the booth he is sitting at. I ced the mugs down before pouring the steaming hot


    coffee in the mugs. As I was about to leave, he stopped me, grabbing my elbow again. I looked down


    at him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A... Aria,¡± I stuttered. He was starting to make me ufortable. I looked back towards the kitchen


    where Marcus was watching in case this bloke turned all creep on me.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Aria. My name is Zane,¡± he said, smiling at me. He had perfectly straight pearly


    white teeth. Looking down at his hand that still had hold of my elbow, I could feel my face getting hot. I


    quickly moved out of his reach, stepping back only to turn and walk straight into what felt like a brick


    wall. But it wasn¡¯t, it was another man. He was about 6.5 feet tall, had short dark hair, and I could feel


    his abs through his shirt when I walked into him. I looked up to apologise when his scent hit me. He


    smelt amazing, he had an earthy aroma like rosewood and sandalwood. I leaned in and inhaled without


    realising, when I heard someone clear their throat awkwardly. My eyes snapped open, and I stepped


    back quickly, apologising before taking off back towards the kitchen.


    Once in the kitchen, I tried to calm my racing heart by taking deep breaths. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± I


    asked myself, not realising I said it out loud.


    ¡°Nothing is wrong with you. If I had to go serve those two hotties, I would be hyperventting too. Damn


    girl, they are fine,¡± said Marcus,ing up behind me.


    Straightening out my apron, I followed him back towards the kitchen, stealing nces towards where


    they sat at the back of the caf¨¦. I was secretly hoping Zoe would be back from her doctor appointment


    before I had to serve them.


    A few minutes passed before they waved me over. I cautiously walked over making sure to stay a few


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    feet away so I wouldn¡¯t get distracted by his intoxicating scent.


    ¡°What can I get you?¡± I asked, not looking at either one of them.


    ¡°What Pack do you belong to? I can tell you¡¯re a wolf, but you smell different from any normal wolf,¡±


    asked the new mystery person.


    Instead of answering, I just repeated the same question. ¡°What can I get you?¡± My tone sounded


    bored.


    The man smirked before reaching forward and grabbing my hand. As soon as he touched me, sparks


    flew through my hand and arm, leaving a tingling sensation. I quickly pulled my hand back as if I had


    just been burned. Taking a step back, I looked at him. His eyes turned pitch ck, even the sclerae. It


    onlysted a few seconds before going back to their normal silver-grey colour. He smiled at me; I


    couldn¡¯t bring myself to look away,pletely mesmerised by his gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯m Reid, Alpha of The Blood Moon Pack. What Pack do you belong to?¡± he asked, using his Alpha


    voice.


    My heart rate sped up fear consuming me. His Pack was the Pack helping ours, and he had an even


    scarier reputation then Alpha David. He was known for being cruel and merciless to those that have


    stood against him. Alpha Reid was also said to have wiped outplete Packs when they wouldn¡¯t


    agree over territory disputes, but he was also an Alpha no other Alpha could go against. He had the


    been undefeated, and even if other Packs tried to stand against theirs, it would be a bloodbath. He is


    also the one responsible for killing off all the Hybrids. He made me want to run away or submit, which


    no Alphas have that effect on me.


    ¡°Ari, you got to go get Lily,¡± Marcus sang out from behind the counter, distracting me and also saving


    me from submitting and answering him. I looked in his direction relieved, thanking the Moon Goddess


    for my escape. I quickly ripped off my apron, chucking it at Marcus, not daring to look behind me as I


    ran out the door to get Lily from school.

 Chapter 4

    Chapter 4


    Reid¡¯s POV


    I watched her escape the diner. I heard her heart rate spike when I told her my name. She has every


    right to fear me, but I don¡¯t want to scare her. My wolf wanted her. All of her, and so did I. Never in my


    life have wanted something as much as I wanted her to be mine, but what was the most interesting


    thing about her was the fact that she could fight my Alpha¡¯s voice. I could tell by the look on her face


    she wanted to submit, but she was also determined not to reveal anything about herself. Her scent


    radiated fear. It took all my strength not to chase after her and mark her. The bloke behind the counter


    came over and introduced himself as Marcus, pulling me out of my thoughts. He smelt human. We


    gave him our orders before deciding to move over to the table and chairs, where I know the girl Lily


    always sits after school. Zane raised an eyebrow at me when I moved but followed anyway.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the n then?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Well, if she won¡¯t talk, maybe her daughter will,¡± I stated.


    Marcus brought our food out, cing it in front of me. I looked down at my food and started eating. It


    was good. After about half an hour, the door opened to the diner. As predicted, the little girl ran straight


    for her usual spot directly across from us and started getting her homework out. We finished eating


    while they were gone, but I gged Marcus down and ordered more coffee and a hot chocte and


    cookies. When he ced the coffee on the table, he went to ce the hot chocte and cookies down.


    I shook my head and pointed to the girl. He quickly ced them down in front of her and thanked me


    before cing a kiss on the girl¡¯s forehead and walking away.


    I could feel eyes on me. I knew my mate must be watching me carefully to see if I was going to hurt her


    pup. The girl looked up and smiled before thanking me. She set out to do her work, and after a few


    minutes, my mate brought her over a sandwich, cing it on the table in front of the girl as she looked


    at the girl¡¯s work.


    ¡°Where is Zoe?¡± asked the girl.


    ¡°She is still at the doctor. That one is incorrect, try again,,¡± she said, pointing at the page at some math


    work before walking away to serve some new people who just walked into the diner.


    I turned back to Zane. ¡°You should head back to the office; I¡¯m going to stay here for a bit.¡± Zane


    nodded before standing up and leaving. I watched Lily struggle with her homework before getting up


    and sliding into the booth sitting across from her. She looked up at me with her blue eyes and chubby


    cheeks. She was adorable, her blonde curls hanging down around her face.


    She looked up at me. ¡°Hi, thanks for the hot chocte,,¡± she said. I just nodded and looked down at her


    work; she was doing three times tables. Really, they make kinders do times tables now? I then


    proceeded to grab the little bags of sugar from the jar on the table and set up three lots of three and


    told her to count them, she looked down and using her fingers, she counted all nine.


    ¡°Nine,¡± she said happily.


    ¡°Then that¡¯s your answer,¡± I said to her, pointing at her page. She started using the sugar to help work


    out her math problems while I watched. After a while, I asked her some questions.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your mother¡¯s name?¡± I asked, pointing at my mate who was standing behind the counter,


    her eyes glued on me.


    ¡°Aria, but she isn¡¯t my mum, she is my sister,,¡± she said while still looking down at her page.


    ¡°So where is your mummy?¡± I asked, taking a sip of my coffee.


    ¡°She died when I was born. Ari looks after me. Has since I was born,¡± she stated matter of factly.


    ¡°What about you dad then?¡±


    Lily got all nervous. Her shoulders slumped, and her heart rate picked up. She was scared. I could


    smell it on hering off in waves, so I quickly changed the question.


    ¡°How old are you and what grade are you in?¡±


    She immediately rxed. ¡°I¡¯m six, and I¡¯m in grade one.¡±


    ¡°And your sister?¡±


    ¡°Ari is neen.¡± So, she has been looking after her sister since she was thirteen? What about school, I


    thought to myself.


    ¡°How old are you?¡± she asked.


    ¡°How old do you think I am?¡± I asked in return. She smiled.


    ¡°Old,¡± she replied. Iughed at her answer. Kids always say the first thing that pops into their minds.


    ¡°I¡¯m 28,¡± I told her.


    ¡°So, you are old.¡± She giggled.


    ¡°You won¡¯t think it¡¯s old when you are my age. So, it¡¯s just you and Aria?¡± Lily looked up. I could tell she


    was mind linking. Her eyes zed over before she nodded. I knew her sister would have been listening


    in on my conversation.


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    ¡°Aria said I shouldn¡¯t talk to strangers.¡± I looked over to her, she was talking to the owner who just


    stepped in. Lily noticed my stare, looked up, and saw Zoe. She squealed before running over and


    wrapping her arms around the woman¡¯s waist.


    I observed my mate. I could tell she was very protective of the pup, but there was something else I just


    couldn¡¯t put my finger on it. I knew she was a wolf, but she didn¡¯t seem quite as affected by the mate


    bond. I knew she felt it when I touched her, and she leaned in, inhaling my scent, but most wolves can¡¯t


    help but be all over each other like an stic band that keeps pulling them back together. But for the


    most part, she seems unaffected unless she is close to me.


    ¡°She hasn¡¯t got a wolf,¡± Ryder spoke up in my head.


    ¡°What do you mean she hasn¡¯t got a wolf. She is a werewolf?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Yeah, she is, but she has no wolf. I have tried talking to her wolf, but it¡¯s like there is a blockage, or


    maybe her wolf died somehow.¡± I could feel his sadness spilling into me at the thought of her not


    having a wolf, so I pushed him to the back of my mind.


    Aria came over to clean the table. It was now dark outside. She ced Lily¡¯s stuff in her bag before


    wiping the table over.


    ¡°Aria,¡± I asked.

 Chapter 5

    Chapter 5


    Aria¡¯s POV


    ¡°Aria,¡± he asked while I tried to clean the table as fast as possible.


    ¡°That¡¯s your name, isn¡¯t it?¡± he said, reaching out and grabbing my hand before standing up and pulling


    me into him. He lent forward and ran his nose along my chin to the crook of my neck. The sensation


    made me shiver. He smelt so good it made my mouth water, made me want to lean in and touch him. I


    reached up and put my hand on his chest, inhaling his mouth-watering scent. I heard him chuckle softly


    before he kissed my cheek softly, which sent sparks all through me.


    ¡°Why do you smell different than a normal wolf?¡± he asked, which then snapped me out of my trance. I


    quickly stepped back. He looked upset for some reason and took a step toward me, I quickly grabbed


    Lily¡¯s bag and walked fast back behind the counter. He did not leave though. He sat at the front of the


    diner watching me, and no matter how much I tried to ignore his presence, my eyes would always go


    back to him. Deciding I should go out the back and check on Lily, I saw Lily was eating her ravioli Zoe


    had made. I thanked Zoe before walking back out to finish my shift. Only an hour to go.


    When I came back out, I made myself a coffee before walking back out to the counter only to find the


    Alpha now sitting at the counter. I sipped my coffee, looking towards the two truckers that came in


    earlier, but they were still eating happily. Deciding to get the jug, I refilled the Alpha¡¯s mug. He smiled at


    me and kept watching me. What the hell is his problem, I thought to myself.


    Marcus came out to speak to me, cing his hand on my lower back. I turned to look at him. Over my


    shoulder, I could hear a low growling from Alpha Reid, so low I looked at him wondering if I heard


    it. He was ring at Marcus¡¯s hand. Not wanting him to kill my friend, I quickly stepped to the side,


    which made Marcus drop his hand.


    ¡°Lily is falling asleep. She has finished her dinner. Zoe said to knock off early, she can handle it from


    here. It looks like it¡¯s going to be a quiet night tonight.¡± I nodded before walking out the back, and sure


    enough, Lily was fast asleep next to her empty bowl. I quickly grabbed her bag, taking off my apron. I


    chucked it in the washing machine before putting the washing in from today, along with all the tea


    towels and napkins and turned it on. Grabbing my jacket, I put it on.


    I picked up Lily and walked out towards the entrance where it was pouring down with rain. cing Lily¡¯s


    bowl in the sink, I passed Lily to Marcus before taking my jacket off and draping it over Lily so she


    wouldn¡¯t get wet. She nestled into me. Marcus followed me, grabbing his keys. Zoe walked out just


    behind him putting an apron on.


    ¡°I¡¯m not letting you walk home when it¡¯s raining.¡± I nodded, thanking him before saying goodnight to


    Zoe.


    Alpha Reid stood up. ¡°I can take them home.¡±


    I politely declined his offer. He looked disappointed for some reason which made me feel bad. The


    drive to the Pack house was a lot faster by car. As he went to pull onto the dirt driveway, I stopped him.


    ¡°It is okay we can walk from here,¡± I said, opening the door before Marcus could protest. I could feel the


    Pack members'' eyes on us through the trees, where they were watching. I grabbed Lily from the


    backseat, unclipping her seat belt before thanking Marcus for the lift home. It was still pouring down


    with rain by the time we got to the front of the Pack house, and we were both drenched and freezing.


    As I was about to walk up the porch steps, the Alpha came bursting through the front door growling. He


    stalked towards me. Quickly cing Lily on the ground, she stood behind me. I motioned her to run


    inside. I could tell it was me he was after. His eyes hadn¡¯t left mine since he nearly broke the door when


    he burst through it.


    I took a few steps back and to the side of the house. Lily ran behind and up the porch steps and into


    the house just as he got to my position. He punched me straight in the face, forcing me to stumble. I


    stood back up when he raised his fist again; it connected with my jaw. I could taste the metallic taste of


    my blood. The third time he tried to hit me, I blocked him and stepped out of his reach.


    ¡°How dare you bring some random person to ournds.¡±


    ¡°It was just Marcus, and I didn¡¯t. He dropped us off down the end of the driveway. I would never bring


    anyone to the Pack house,¡± I screamed at him.


    He didn¡¯t listen; he smelt strongly of whiskey. Pack members had started to crowd around to see what


    themotion was. Alpha David lunged at me, but I jumped back at thest second, which was a huge


    mistake. It pissed him off when he missed, and instead, he decided to shift. This time it was his beast


    that took over. His wolf was a menacing dark brown with patches of ck. He was growling, advancing


    on my position. He swiped at me with his giant ws, cutting deeply down my rib cage. I clutched at my


    side, which was bleeding profusely, stumbling back and onto one knee. When he went to lunge at me


    again, another wolf jumped in blocking him. I recognised the grey wolf instantly. It was his Beta


    Michael. He mind linked with me


    ¡°Get inside, Ari.¡± Getting to my feet, I ran up the stairs and into the Pack house. I could hear growling


    outside. I knew Michael was the only reason I was not dead right now.


    Running into my room, I mmed the door shut, leaning up against it for support. Lily was hiding


    underneath the nket on the bed. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lily, it¡¯s just me.¡±


    She popped her little head out from underneath the nket before running at me. Lily grabbed me


    around the waist sobbing. I flinched on impact, and she stepped back, noticing the blood. Sliding down


    the door into a sitting position, I closed my eyes. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain was


    trickling in. I could feel my fangsing out. Looking over at Lily, she took a terrified step back, my


    eyes snapped to hers. I could hear her heart pounding, hear the blood pulsating in her veins. I could


    smell it.


    Knowing it would not be long before my hunger kicked in, I raced into the kitchen to where the


    basement door is. Throwing it open, I raced down the stairs so fast, I tripped halfway down and rolled


    down the rest of the way, making me groan in pain. Once at the bottom, I crawled to the back of the


    basement where different herbs and nts were dried out and stored. Just as I went to reach up and


    grab the wolfsbane, a gloved hand grabbed it for me. I watched as Beta Michael ced the herbs in a


    bottle of water before passing it to me. I stared at him, confused and frightened. How did he know what


    I was?


    I grabbed the bottle and chugged it down. It felt like acid burning down my throat, but I knew if I didn¡¯t,


    Michael would start looking like dinner. Wolfsbane instantly muted my bloodlust. Laying back on the


    cement floor, I could feel the wolfbane burning every cell in my body.


    My stomach turned violently, and I reached for the closest thing to me, a box, and threw up the entire


    contents of my stomach, which was not much. Sitting up, I leaned back on some shelving before


    bringing the bottle back to my lips and forcing myself to drink more down. My throat was killing me. I


    could feel the burn all the way to my stomach, making me want to double over and scream.


    ¡°How?¡± I ask, my voice sounded strangled and breathless.


    ¡°We have always known, at least all of the original Pack members. When you joined this Pack, I saw


    your mother feed you a few times. The Alpha had sworn us to secrecy,¡± he stated.


    I looked at him. His eyebrow had a cut on it, but it was almostpletely healed beside his clothes


    being a bit of a mess. You wouldn¡¯t think he just got into a fight with a werewolf, let alone an Alpha.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care that you¡¯re a Hybrid, you''re still one of us. Everyone else thinks the same, but Ari, you


    need to get out of here,¡± he stated.


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    ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t already know, but I can¡¯t. He won¡¯t let me take Lily, and he would find her


    straight away, being that the dick is technically her father!¡± I replied dryly.


    His eyes darted up to the door nervously before falling back on me. ¡°Get her to reject the Pack when


    she steps over the border. You do the same, then leave the city. Ari, we can¡¯t go against him, but we


    are all sick of his shit and watching him abuse you,¡± he whispered. I could see the sadness in his eyes;


    he truly did care for Lily and me.


    I nodded, not really knowing what to say.


    ¡°But her wolf isn¡¯t awake yet. How can she reject the Pack when she hasn''t woken yet?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need a wolf to reject the Pack, Ari. You should know this seeing as you haven¡¯t got one


    either. You can also reject the Pack at any time. It¡¯s wolf genes, not the wolf itself!¡±


    Nodding my head, I lifted up my shirt. There are 5 deep gashes across my ribs. The blood running


    down my stomach and thighs was pooling on the floor. Beta Michael grabbed a cloth and put pressure


    on it until it stopped bleeding before cing a waterproof dressing over it. It was going to take a good


    few days before it healed. I can¡¯t heal like a wolf but still faster than a human even without blood.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I croaked out.


    ¡°I would give you my blood, but the Alpha will notice straight away when your scent changes, and then


    we will both be dead and no one to look after Lily.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin, I understand.¡± Gripping the shelf, I pulled myself up before leaning back,


    regaining feeling in my legs. Michael passed me a jar. It had syringes filled with a gold liquid and two


    water bottles of wolfsbane.


    ¡°Just in case you need more, show Lily the syringes in case she ever needs to use them on you. They


    are concentrated levels of wolfsbane. I know wolfsbane can¡¯t kill you, but they,¡± he said, pointing at the


    syringes of gold liquid ¡°will even put you on your arse for a while, okay? And tell Lily not to drink from


    the bottles,¡± he said.


    I looked at him questionably. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I noticed every time you got injured, my wolfsbane supply went


    down orpletely went missing. I figured out it was you. Also, I could smell it on you.¡±


    He pushed me towards the stairs, and I climbed up them. Every step hurts. Even breathing hurts. I


    could feel my wound stretching with every movement I made. Once to the top step, Michael¡¯s mate


    Elizabeth was standing in the kitchen. She hugged me carefully before speaking.


    ¡°There is hot stew in your room. The Alpha is passed out drunk, so eat then have a shower,,¡± she said


    before cing a box of painkillers in my hand. She walked me to my room and watched me and Lily eat


    the stew. It was delicious. I didn¡¯t realise how hungry I was until I walked in and smelt it, my stomach


    instantly started growling. I polished off the whole bowl and even soaked up all the juices with a piece


    of bread. Elizabeth handed me a ss of water and pushed the pills into my hand again. I quickly


    swallowed two of the little pills before getting up and cing the jar and bottles of water in the duffle


    bag after exining to Lily what they were.


    ¡°Remember Lily, you can¡¯t drink these. They will kill you and only use these on me if you have to,¡± I


    said, making sure I spoke clearly so she understood what I was telling her.


    Elizabeth took the bowls and bread tes out before bringing in towels. Getting up, I pulled Lily up with


    me, and we walked down the hall towards the bathroom, which was in the middle of the house.


    Stepping in, I flicked the light on. The bathroom was huge, bigger than our bedroom and had arge


    wfoot bathtub and a huge shower with multiple showerheads. The room had grey tiles on the walls


    and ck tiles on the floor. The fixtures were a gold colour, it was beautiful.


    I turned the shower on letting it heat up the room before I slipped my clothes off. Lily pulled hers off as


    well and stepped under the water. My dressing was already drenched in blood from the wound


    reopening with movement. Climbing in behind her, I adjusted my shower head temperature, making it


    hotter. My muscles started to rx, not realising how tense I was. Looking down, I watched as blood


    and dirt went down the drain. We showered quickly, washing Lily¡¯s hair before getting out.


    The pain killers were starting to kick in, and everything felt like it was going dull. I felt no pain, but my


    body felt heavy. I turned the water off and wrapped a towel around Lily. Grabbing our toothbrushes, we


    quickly brushed our teeth. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I had a huge ck bruise on my jaw,


    and on the other side, a ck eye. Great, now I need to borrow makeup from someone before work


    tomorrow.


    Once back in our room, Lily put on her pyjamas, and I slipped on a shirt and panties before climbing


    into bed. It did not take long before the pills knocked me out, and I fell into a dreamless sleep.

 Chapter 6

    Chapter 6


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Leaving home early, I decided to head straight to Joe¡¯s Diner, not bothering to send Zane today.


    Besides, I also had a meeting at 9:00 with Alpha David. Seeing as we have cleared his rogues, he


    wants my men off his territory now.


    I was extremely tired. My wolf kept me up most of the night. Even now Ryder was starting to be


    agitated and restless, and I had been struggling to keep him contained. All night he kept telling me


    something was wrong but did not know what. Getting in my car, I drove quickly, ignoring the speed limit,


    not taking me long to arrive at the small diner. Parking the car on the curb out the front, I got out and


    went in. I was greeted by the owner, Zoe. She was a nicedy. I sat at the counter, looking around,


    trying to see if she was in. Zoe came over, cing a mug of coffee in front of me. Reaching for it, I took


    a sip. After about an hour, she still wasn¡¯t in.


    I looked at the time and saw it was 8 o¡¯clock already. Zoe looked worried too. She kept ncing at the


    clock a few times, and she even stuck her head out the door looking towards the bus stop, but no Aria


    or Lily.


    ¡°I knew something was wrong. It¡¯s been nagging me all night,¡± Ryder growled angrily in my mind.


    ¡°Shut up, you can¡¯t know that,¡± I replied, annoyed, shoving him into the back of my mind. Feeling him


    still growling at me I got up and walked to the window looking out but no sign of her, so I walked back to


    the counter to speak to Zoe.


    ¡°Is Aria not working today?¡± I asked nervously.


    ¡°She was supposed to start at 6 this morning. I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s going on,¡± she replied. I could tell she


    was concerned, she kept ncing at the door and the clock.


    ¡°Is Aria usuallyte? Does she have a phone?¡± Zoe looked back at me before refilling my mug.


    ¡°No, never she is never usuallyte or misses her shift unless¡­¡± she hesitated then regained her


    ¡°Unless what?¡± I ask. I could tell she was going to say something before she stopped herself.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing you should concern yourself with.¡±


    When Zoe went to walk away, I stopped her. I could tell something had her on edge, but before I could


    say anything, she stared me down.


    ¡°Look, I know she is your mate. It¡¯s quite obvious to me, but really I can¡¯t tell you anymore. She has


    enough on her te without you causing trouble for her; you need to leave her alone,¡± she snapped


    before ncing at the door again.


    ¡°What? How do you know?¡± I shook my head. trying to wrap my mind around what just came out of this


    human woman¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°My husband was a hunter. I know what goes on in this city; I may be old but not blind.¡±


    ¡°Was a hunter?¡± I asked, shocked by her admission.


    ¡°Yes. Joe, my husband, was a hunter until he realised his best friend was a Vampire. That¡¯s when we


    realised Vampires and your kind aren¡¯t much different from humans. Most just want to live in peace, so


    he quit, and that¡¯s what got him killed. He died protecting his best mate when the Hunters came for


    him. My husband got in the way trying to protect him, they both died.¡± She told me thispletely


    unaffected, not like she did not care, but like she hade to terms with it and epted it.


    I just stared,pletely shocked. Most Hunters wouldn¡¯t go and tell someone like me they were


    Hunters unless they were cocky or downright suicidal, but Zoe spoke as if it were a lifetime ago. I could


    tell there was no hate in her for my kind at all, just eptance. I watched her go out the back, and I just


    sat thinking of what Zoe had just told me.


    While I was lost in my thoughts, I felt a hand touch my shoulder. Looking up it was Alpha David and


    another man. Alpha David introduced him as his Beta Michael, we quickly shook hands before taking a


    booth in the far corner. Zoe came over and asked if we wanted to order anything, and we all just


    ordered coffee. I wanted this meeting over with as soon as possible so I could find Aria and Lily.


    Looking at the Alpha, I could tell he was tired, and his breath smelt strongly of whiskey. Was he still


    drunk? I thought to myself. His clothes looked like he slept in them. He was wearing a nnelette shirt


    and jeans. His beta was dressed in a suit, he looked like he was angry with the Alpha over something.


    Whenever the Alpha would ask him something, it was short answers, and he practically spat the words


    at him. The Alpha was definitely drunk or extremely hung over because he wasn¡¯t even paying


    attention to how his Beta was speaking to him.


    Zoe brought our coffees over, and the Alpha started gulping his down before he spoke.


    ¡°Well, Alpha Reid, I just wanted to let you know your warriors did an excellent job and we haven¡¯t had


    an attack thest 3 nights now, so if you wanted to pull your men back, you can. I really appreciate your


    help,¡± he stated.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t need them any longer, I am happy to have theme back home. I know my men are


    missing their families. Even though they talk every day, it¡¯s still not the same for them when they are


    used to being with their mates and children daily. You would understand; you have kids yourself, don¡¯t


    you, David?¡±


    His Beta stiffened, looking towards the Alpha. I observed as Alpha David clenched his fists tightly on


    the table then unclenched them, not bothering to answer me. Suddenly my wolf started to get all


    anxious. I was about to mind link Zane to send some of our warriors out to look for Aria and Lily when


    her scent hit my nose so quickly I thought for sure I imagined it, until she bolted past the front of the


    diner quickly, apologising to Zoe for beingte before she took off to the back where I couldn¡¯t see her.


    Looking towards Zoe, I saw concern on her face before she followed Aria to the back somewhere.


    What the hell was going on? Straightening out my suit, I turned back to Alpha David and his Beta. At


    least she was safe.


    ¡°d you think so. Are you really that blind, Reid? I could see from the back of your mind. She is


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    hurting, you bloody arsehole. Plus, I could smell it on her. I knew something was wrong,¡± growled


    Ryder. He pushed at me, trying to take over. To run to her, to chase her and make sure she was okay.


    But I would not give him the control he wanted. I could not let him rip apart the diner and scare


    everyone here or have Alpha David think I was challenging him.


    ¡°You okay, Alpha Reid?¡± asked Michael


    ¡°Yes, sorry, I¡¯m fine. I just zoned out for a second, sorry about that.¡± We made small talk while we


    finished our coffees. Well, mostly Michael and I talked while David just looked hungover and didn¡¯t


    know what day it was. After about 20 minutes, Aria came out. I kept ncing over to her, watching her.


    When she got closer, I got a strong whiff of her scent. I instantly got goosebumps all over me. Ryder


    was trying to push forward because she smelt terrible. I could smell blood on her. Aria¡¯s scent was


    extremely weak, and I could smell something else.


    ¡°WOLFSBANE,¡± growled Ryder. He was pissed that someone had hurt our mate using wolfsbane. Just


    before she reached my table, she froze for a second. Both the Alpha and the Beta looked up to see


    who I was staring at. Aria quickly dropped her head but not fast enough, I could see she had a ck


    eye and bruises along her jaw. She quickly filled our cups, and before taking off behind the counter,


    which made me feel relieved, the look that Alpha David gave her made me want to rip him apart. He


    looked at her with disgust. I didn¡¯t catch the Beta reaction to her, he was looking everywhere but at me.


    I thought I saw his eyes ze over though like he was mind linking someone.


    ¡°Well, since everything has been sorted, we might as well keep this meeting short. I will have my men


    off your territory straight away, and if I ever need anything, Alpha, I will be sure to contact you to collect


    that favour,¡± I said.


    The Alpha nodded before getting out of his seat and walking out. His Beta Michael got up shaking my


    hand before saying, ¡°Sorry about him, he had a rough nightst night and a few too many drinks.¡±


    ¡°I figured as much. He smells like a bar.¡±


    Michael chuckled before taking his leave. Walking up to the counter, I went to take a seat when I saw


    her just out of the corner of my eye, standing next to the sink in the kitchen. I watched as she took


    some pills when I felt Ryder push me over. Before I knew it, I was standing behind her.


    She turned around and walked into me ¡°You can¡¯t be back here, sir,¡± she said nervously.


    I looked down at her, then grabbed her and crushed her against my chest. Reaching into her back


    pocket, I pulled the sheet of painkillers out and read it. ¡°Codeine. What are you taking these for?¡± I


    asked her. Werewolves heal fast, no need to take pain killers unless severely injured. She quickly


    stepped out of my grasp and snatched them out of my hand.


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Now please, you can¡¯t be back here.¡± I could tell she wanted to get away


    from me, so I turned and walked back out and sat at one of the booths. Someone had hurt her. The


    evidence was all over her face, and I could smell blood on her like she was still bleeding, and she


    strongly smelt of wolfsbane. It must be on her clothes, or maybe she spent the night around it, because


    from how strong it smells, she should be dead.

 Chapter 7

    Chapter 7


    Aria¡¯s POV


    The next morning, I woke up, and Lily was already dressed for school, quietly waiting, leaning against


    my side. Sitting up slowly, my body ached. I reached for my watch ncing down at the small screen


    that said 9:30 AM. ¡°Shit, we are alreadyte,¡± I told Lily.


    ¡°I tried to wake you; we missed our bus,¡± she replied, putting her shoes on and trying to tie theces


    herself.


    ¡°Come here,¡± I said. She walked over, and I quickly tied herces. ¡°Pass me my uniform please, Lil.¡±


    She quickly did as I asked, passing me my clothes. Putting my bra and panties on, I reached for my


    blouse Lily was holding. As I moved, I could feel my wound reopening. I slowly ced my hand over it,


    trying to hold it together. Lily helped me put my ck cks on and my shoes. I quickly tied theces,


    before putting my blouse on. I peeled one side of my dressing back, it was starting to heal very slowly.


    Pulling the dressing offpletely, I quickly reached into my duffle bag, pulling out a new waterproof


    dressing and covering it again. I then put my blouse on, grabbed our bags, and walked down the hall to


    the kitchen with Lily following closely behind me. Elizabeth was standing in the kitchen at the sink,


    washing the dishes from breakfast when we walked in.


    ¡°The Alpha isn¡¯t here if that¡¯s what you are wondering.¡±


    ¡°No, I need a lift to Lily¡¯s school. Is Michael still here?¡±


    ¡°No, he is with the Alpha, but I will go grab my keys and run you myself. Meet me in the car,,¡± she said,


    walking out of the kitchen towards her room. Lily and I grabbed our bags and walked out to the garage


    where a heap of cars were lined up. Finding Elizabeth¡¯s green hatchback, we waited beside it until she


    came out and unlocked the doors. I pulled the front seat forward so Lily could climb into the backseat


    before getting in the passenger seat.


    ¡°Here, take these pain killers when you need to. They won¡¯t make you drowsy but will relieve the pain,


    and this is my make-up bag. Your bruises are already fading but are still quite visible,¡± she told me,


    dumping the makeup bag on myp. I put the pills in my pants pocket before using the visor mirror to


    try and conceal my ck eye and a bruised jaw. It helped a little, but anyone looking too closely would


    easily see them. Elizabeth also handed an apple to Lily in the back seat and told her to eat it for


    breakfast and a lunch box.


    ¡°Here Lil, some sandwiches and chips for lunch.¡± Lily thanked her before eating her apple.


    The drive to the school was fast. Elizabeth wasn¡¯t the best driver; she is very heavy-footed; I¡¯m not


    even sure she knows what a brake is. It was usually a ten or fifteen-minute trip, and she got us to Lily¡¯s


    school in half the time, which I was d for. Her driving was starting to make me nauseous. Once we


    pulled up out front of the school, Lily and I quickly walked to the main office where I signed her in as


    was surprisingly more exhausting than I thought it would be. My ribs were throbbing, and I knew the


    dressing was saturated with blood already. Putting pressure on it with my hand while I was walking


    stopped it from tearing openpletely.


    As I got closer, I was walking past a group of teenagers when I felt my gums start to tingle. I moved to


    the side of the footpath, pressing up against the brick building as they walked past. Just as they did, my


    fangs came out, overwhelming my sensespletely. I listened to the sounds of their beating hearts


    until they were out of view, too afraid to move from my position. All I wanted to do was chase them


    down and rip into their carotid arteries and feed until I drained them.


    Once they were out of view, I took off running to work. When I opened the diner door, I held my breath


    and ran straight past everyone and to the back, dropping my bag on the ground. I grabbed the


    wolfsbane bottle and took two huge gulps of it before cing the lid back on the bottle. Zoe was bound


    toe out soon to check what was wrong with me. Since I didn¡¯t have time to change my dressing


    again before she came into the back, I ced another straight over the top of it before fixing my blouse,


    just as she walked back a worried expression on her face.


    ¡°You okay, dear?¡± she asked, rushing over to me.


    ¡°Yes, sorry, I¡¯mte. We missed the only bus, and I had to wait for a lift into town,¡± I told her before


    picking up my bag to put away.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay? You¡¯re sweating, and you look a bit pale,,¡± she said, staring at me. I knew


    she must be able to see my bruises because she was directly looking at them, making me nervous.


    stering a fake smile on my face, I nodded quickly before answering.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s because I ran here from the school,¡± I told her before walking out and putting my


    apron on. Grabbing the coffee jug, I walked around to all the tables and quietly refilled everyone¡¯s cups.


    When I reached thest booth, I noticed Alpha Reid sitting dressed in a ck suit with a silver tie that


    matched his eye colour. He was talking to someone who had their back to me. Hearing me approach


    from behind, the man turned around and red at me, it was Alpha David and Beta Michael. I dropped


    my head and filled their mugs quickly. My hands were shaking, making me nearly spill the coffee on the


    table. Beta Michael looked at me before looking away.


    ¡°I can smell wolfsbane all over you and blood,¡± he told me through the mind link.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m sorry, Beta.¡±


    ¡°Just stay away. Alpha Reid won¡¯t hesitate to kill you if he notices you are a Hybrid,¡± he stated.


    ¡°Why the meeting?¡± I ask.


    ¡°We no longer need his help. This is just a casual meeting, thanking the Alpha for his help, that is all.


    So don¡¯t worry but don¡¯te back over, we will be leaving soon anyway,¡± he replied.


    Moving out the back to the kitchen, I asked Marcus if he needed any help and started cutting up fruit


    and vegetables for him.


    After about twenty minutes, Zoe came out to the kitchen and asked me to clean up some tables on my


    way out. I grabbed a ss and filled it with water before reaching into my pocket. I popped two of the


    painkillers in my mouth before quickly swallowing them down with a mouthful of water. When I turned


    around, I walked straight into Alpha Reid.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be back here, sir,¡± I stuttered nervously. He stared down at me, making me feel tiny next to


    his tall, muscr frame, before pulling me to his chest. He wrapped his arm around my waist, causing


    me to wince in pain from the pressure on my ribs. Using his other hand, he reached into my back


    pocket and pulled out the small sheet of pain pills which only had two left in them. He then let me go


    before reading the little Packet.


    ¡°Codeine. What are you taking these for?¡± he asks, raising an eyebrow.


    Snatching them out of his hand, I quickly ced them back in my pocket before talking.


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Now please, you can¡¯t be back here,¡± I said now annoyed. He turned


    and walked back out and sat back in one of the booths. Watching him walk away, my pounding heart


    started to slow down. Zoe walked out with a ss of water in her hand, and she ced it in front of me


    on the counter.


    ¡°Here, drink this. Are you sure you¡¯re okay? If you need the day off, it¡¯s ok, Ari. I can manage on my


    own with Marcus,,¡± she said, cing her hand on my neck. She rubbed her thumb over the bruise on


    my jaw worriedly, and I saw she had tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Really I¡¯m fine, Zoe. I¡¯m just tired,¡± I told her. I drank the ss of water down, soothing my dry throat


    before walking out with a tray to clear the tables.


    Alpha Reid stayed all day watching me. Doesn¡¯t he have work to do? Why is he hanging around the


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    diner? Does he know what I am? Is he waiting for me to leave so he can ughter me? My brain was


    working overtime, trying to figure out what his sudden interest in me was. When it came time to get Lily,


    I quickly took off my apron before walking out the door, towards the school.


    When I was out of sight of the diner, a pair of hands mped down on my arms. I knew instantly it was


    Alpha Reid by the sparks that ran all over my body. He pushed me against the brick wall of the building,


    pressing his chest against mine. He leaned in, breathing in my scent. My heart was pounding so hard I


    could hear it. I froze, waiting for him to kill me. Only he did not; instead, his hand moved underneath my


    blouse where my dressing was. He ran his nose along the top of my shoulder before lifting my blouse,


    revealing the bloodied dressing. He ran his fingers over it, letting out a menacing growl that paralysed


    me on the spot. ¡°Who did this?¡± His voice was deep and menacing.


    ¡°No one,¡± I stuttered, my voice so low it was nearly a whisper. I tried to move to escape, but he growled


    warning me not to, so I stood there not daring to move an inch. Running his nose to the crook of my


    neck, he inhaled deeply. I could feel his canines protruding, pressing against my skin. They were sharp.


    I inhaled deeply, not realising I had been holding my breath.


    ¡°Why do you smell of wolfsbane? Is that why you¡¯re not healing?¡± His voice was dangerously low.


    Frightened, I tried to push him back, but he did not budge.


    ¡°Please, I have to get Lily,¡± I cry out. Stepping back, he let me pass. I quickly took off in the direction of


    the school.


    After I picked up Lily, we went back to the diner where Reid was waiting next to the door. Reid stepped


    right into my path, blocking us from moving further into the diner.


    ¡°Hello Lily,¡± he says, passing her a giant choc chip cookie. Lily took the cookie, smiling up at the Alpha.


    ¡°You can help with my homework if you want, Mr. Reid,¡± Lily told him excitedly, but before he could


    answer, Zoe saved me from telling her no and stepped forward, wrapping Lily in a hug and forcing the


    Alpha to move out of the way. Lily walked off to her usual booth, and I pushed past the Alpha before


    into the kitchen and put my apron on. Reid never left. When my shift was about to end, I walked out the


    back to retrieve my bag and grab Lily, who was sleeping in the back part of the store where Zoe¡¯s little


    studio was.


    When I was bending down, grabbing our clothes out of the dryer and cing them in the duffle bag, I


    felt familiar hands brush my sides. I knew it was Reid, his tantalizing scent hit my nose just as he


    touched me. Sparks stretching throughout my body. Why does he have this effect on me? Thinking to


    myself, I spun around only for him to push me back so my ass was pressed against the washer and


    dryer. I watched him lean in, breathing in my scent. His other hand reached up into my hair pulling my


    head back, forcing me to look up and meet his gaze. Just as I was about to tell him he couldn¡¯t be back


    in this part of the diner.


    He smashed his lips hungrily into mine, catching mepletely off guard, but the most surprising part


    was my own body¡¯s reaction to him. An involuntary moan escaped my lips, and I felt my core tighten.


    His tongue traced my bottom lip, wanting ess which I granted before he deepened the kiss,


    pressing his body into mine. Just as fast as he kissed me, he pulled away, I heard him chuckle to


    himself, ¡°Now that¡¯s the reaction I have been wanting.¡±


    Confused, I was about to ask him what he meant when Zoe walked in. I felt my face flush with


    embarrassment as I stepped out of theundry. Grabbing Lily, I quickly collected our things and ran out


    the door, not even bothering to say goodbye. I walked home as quickly as possible, and after an hour


    of walking, I finally reached the driveway.

 Chapter 8

    Chapter 8


    Reid¡¯s POV


    As soon as I saw her walk to the back, knowing her shift was about to end, I couldn¡¯t help myself, I


    followed her. I stood in the doorway, watching as she bent down to remove the clothes from the dryer,


    went hard as I stared at the shape of her plump ass in the air. I reached over, cing my hand on her


    hips, and she instantly froze. I watched as she sniffed the air slightly, spinning her around so she faced


    me. I pushed my body against hers. I could feel her skin heating up under my touch. This is the


    reaction she should have had the moment we met, but she is only affected when I¡¯m close or touching


    her.


    Curious to see her reaction, I ran my hands up the side of her body and into her hair before grabbing a


    handful. I pulled it back so her face was looking directly at me. I could see lust and fear in her eyes; she


    wanted me to kiss her, but she still feared me. My lips crashed into her soft pink lips, making me growl.


    My wolf was howling in my head, pleased to finally taste her. I sucked her bottom lip before running my


    tongue along it, wanting entry to taste her more. I felt her lips part, and I plunged my tongue into her


    mouth, tasting every bit of it. Her scent was sending my wolf crazy. He wanted to im her right now,


    but I knew it would scare her, so I pulled back.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s the reaction I have been wanting.¡±


    She stared at me, confused. She was about to say something when we were interrupted. Zoe walked


    in, and my mate¡¯s face flushed adorably with embarrassment. Zoe red at me, then my mate took off.


    I turned to Zoe, crossing my arms across my chest.


    ¡°I told you to stay away from her,¡± Zoe¡¯s voice was calm but demanding, which irritated my wolf.


    ¡°She is my mate; you know this already.¡±


    The old woman stepped forward. ¡°That girl has enough going on. You think you can juste in here


    and confuse her? She doesn¡¯t even know you¡¯re her mate and she won¡¯t until you mark her. She won¡¯t


    throw Lily away to be with you. Ari has raised her since she was born. Loves her like a daughter, not a


    sister. Just because you are her mate, don¡¯t think she will choose you over her.¡±


    My wolf growled. Zoe raised a brow at my reaction to her words but did not look bothered. My body


    trembled as I tried to fight my raging wolf from trying to take over.


    ¡°I never said I would make her choose between us. I know wherever Aria goes, Lily will be with her. I¡¯m


    not trying to separate them. I fucking love her and Lily. I don¡¯t fucking care what you say she is mine,¡± I


    snap at her. Zoe¡¯sposure faltered, not expecting my anger before her eyes softened and she let


    out a breath of relief.


    ¡°I thought you wanted to take her away from Lily, but it still doesn¡¯t change anything. She doesn¡¯t know


    you¡¯re her mate, and Lily¡¯s father isn¡¯t going to just let Lily leave with Aria.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, how do you know so much about her? They are siblings, and who is Lily¡¯s father?¡±


    I was bing more annoyed and confused by the minute, and my wolf had gone awfully quiet. I


    could tell he knew something I didn¡¯t, but he just retreated to the back of my mind where I could not


    reach him.


    Zoe¡¯s face went pale, and she started to sweat. I could smell her fearing from the pores on her


    skin. Now I was starting to get pissed off. First my wolf runs off and now Zoe has all of a sudden gone


    quiet too.


    ¡°What the fuck is going on? What aren¡¯t you telling me?¡± I growled at her. Zoe looked around nervously.


    ¡°I knew her mother and father, that¡¯s all I can tell you.¡±


    ¡°What? Whose mother and father?¡±


    ¡°Aria¡¯s. Lily and Ari have the same mother but different fathers.¡±


    Now her words made sense. He would not let Ari take Lily when Aria wasn¡¯t even his daughter. So, if


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Lily¡¯s father is alive, why is Aria raising his daughter? I had so many questions that needed to be


    answered, but I could tell Zoe would not be the one to give them to me.


    Storming out of theundry and back into the diner, I looked everywhere for her. I wanted answers, and


    she was going to give them to me even if I had to force them out of her. But she was not here. Where


    did she go? I don¡¯t even know what Pack she is in, so I can¡¯t just turn up and demand that her Alpha


    hand her over. Stepping outside, I tried to pick up her scent, but she was long gone. Where did she go?

 Chapter 9

    Chapter 9


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Walking up the long driveway, Lily moved in my arms, waking up. I ced her on her feet. The night


    was cold, and the walk home took longer than usual since I was still in pain from the gash on my ribs. It


    was starting to get cold, and the breeze made it a little chillier than normal. I could smell an earthy


    aroma telling me it was going to rainter. When we were nearly all the way to the Pack house, Lily


    looked up at me tugging on my hand, I looked down at her.


    ¡°Can I run ahead please? I really need to pee.¡± I chuckled at her; she was wriggling around while she


    walked.


    ¡°Go on then.¡±


    She looked relieved and took off running towards the Pack house, which was only about ten metres


    away now. I watched her run up the steps and into the Pack house. As I got closer to the Pack house, I


    pulled the duffle bag off my shoulder, about to climb the stairs, when a new sensation took over me,


    making me drop the bag on the ground. A horrid feeling churning in my stomach, overwhelming all my


    senses.


    Fear. Pure fear. The sort of fear that makes your skin itch. When you can feel every hair on your body


    rise, when you feel like your skin is crawling. Fear that makes your body freeze paralysing you on the


    spot. That¡¯s the sort of fear I felt when I heard her blood-curdling scream.


    Only thing was, I was her big sister. I couldn¡¯t run away. I had no choice but to move, go to her. I forced


    my legs up the front porch of the Pack house, running in the direction I could hear her screaming my


    name. My feet pounding on the floorboards in panic. I was moving so fast, I felt myself slipping on the


    hallway rug, making me skid along the floor and into the wall. My head and shoulder twisting at an


    awkward angle into the kitchen door frame with enough force that ck dots danced in front of my


    vision. My corbone and shoulder sending shooting pain through my body, as I feel my shoulder


    dislocate on impact.


    ¡°Aria! Aria!¡± Her petrified scream echoed through the house. Jumping to my feet, my head spun. I


    turned the corner into the kitchen to see the Alpha dragging my sister by her hair into the basement


    with a whip in his other hand. I start running to her, grabbing the basement door frame just in time for


    him to m the door shut on my fingers. My own scream escaped my lips in agony. Reaching for the


    door handle, only to find it''s been locked. I start trying to yank my hand free. I could hear her crying and


    screaming for me on the other side of the door.


    ¡°LEAVE HER ALONE!¡± I screamed at him, banging on the door with my fist. mming my body into the


    door, trying to free my fingers and get in. Not being able to get a run-up, I threw my body with all my


    might towards the side where my fingers were stuck. The door moved just enough for me to free my


    injured, bloody, mangled hand. My fingers were definitely broken.


    Backing up into the kitchen, I ran full force into the door and bounced off, knocking the air out of my


    lungs. I stood up, backing up again and ran harder. I dropped my shoulder hitting the door with so


    much force it burst open. My feet hitting air as my body was thrown down the stairsnding at a weird


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    angle and my head smashing into the basement¡¯s concrete floor.


    ¡°Aria!¡±


    ¡°Aria!¡±


    Her cries made me pull myself to my hands and knees. The Alpha was standing above Lily, who was


    cowering on the ground at his feet, tears staining her rosy cheeks. As he went to raise the whip, I threw


    my body over hers just as it came down, tearing the back of my blouse open. I could feel my flesh


    being torn. I screamed, shoving Lily out from under me and to the side. I turned over and kicked my leg


    up straight between his legs. The Alpha grunted in pain before kicking me in the stomach. I tried to get


    to my feet, but he grabbed me by my hair, forcing me to look at his rage-filled face.


    This man is a monster. I tried to mind link Michael but was punched in the face, his fist connecting with


    my nose making blood spill everywhere on the floor. I could hear Lily¡¯s frightened screams making my


    blood boil.


    ¡°I saw you today cosying up to Alpha Reid. You think you can betray me, girl?¡± His voice was


    menacing; I could smell his putrid whiskey breath on my face which just fuelled my anger. I felt my


    ws extend, and I didn¡¯t think twice as I plunged them into his thigh, making him let me go.


    ¡°You¡¯re fucking dead now, bitch,¡± he screamed. My eyes widened when I heard his bones snapping. He


    changed so quickly, jumping into his wolf form in a split second. He lunged at me, my body mming


    violently into the shelving along the walls. Feeling his teeth sink into my side, I let out a strangled


    scream. My breathing wasboured, and I was fighting to stay conscious when I felt his teeth sink into


    my thigh, feeling my flesh being ripped away.


    ck dots tried to take over my vision. I could hear Lily screaming and frantic footsteps above us.


    I tried to look for Lily, but all I could see was fur, the Alpha violently throwing me around like a rag doll. I


    hit more shelves. Just as the Alpha went to lunge for my throat, he let out a scream. I looked up trying


    to figure out what happened when my eyes fell on Lily. She was holding a bucket. Her fingers were


    bleeding, and she looked on the verge of copse. That¡¯s when I put the pieces together. Wolfsbane.


    She had grabbed the bucket of wolfsbane off the shelf, tipping some on herself before she threw it at


    the Alpha.


    Adrenaline kicked in, and I ran to her just before she copsed. The Alpha was on the ground naked,


    screaming, turning back to his human form. I didn¡¯t wait to see what would happen next. Scooping up


    Lily, I started running up the stairs. Halfway up, Michael and one of the Pack warriors raced down the


    stairs. I saw him look over my shoulder at the Alpha on the floor. A loud growl echoing through the


    basement.


    When we made it out of the basement, I went to ce Lily down, but Michael stopped me. He jammed


    a chair from the dining table under the door handle so the Alpha could not get out.


    ¡°Run. We won¡¯t be able to hold him for long, especially if hemands us to grab you.¡± He sounded


    panicked, so did the person with him, who must be new as I did not recognise him. He kept ncing


    between the basement door and me.


    ¡°Go Aria, get out of here while you still can.¡± Michael''s voice dragged my eyes away from the


    neer.


    I took off out of the Pack house, adrenaline the only thing that kept me moving. I should be dead, and


    once I stopped moving, that might actually be a possibility. I could feel blood running down my


    legs and face. Stepping onto the porch, the breeze was cold, making me shiver. I could feel Lily starting


    toe to, which meant the Alpha wouldn¡¯t be far behind us.


    Running down the stairs, I grabbed the duffle bag when I ran past and started running through the


    forest that surrounded the Pack house. Michael mind linked me as we got close to the border. My legs


    felt like giving up, and I spent most of the run holding my breath so I did not attack Lily. Slowing down, I


    listened to the Beta.


    ¡°He is awake, don¡¯t forget, Ari, you need to wake her and make her reject the Pack.¡± Stopping just on


    the border, I shook Lily a bit, and she stirred in my arms.


    ¡°Come on Lily baby, I need you to wake up.¡± I kept repeating what I said until her eyes fluttered open.


    Tears sprang in my eyes seeing her look up at me.


    ¡°Ari,,¡± she said, her voice sounding so weak.


    ¡°Come on, Lil, I need you to wake up and repeat after me.¡± She was too weak to stand, her eyes


    fluttering closed again.


    ¡°Come on, Lil, stay awake for a few more minutes.¡± Her eyes opened, and she groggily repeated after


    me.


    ¡°I, Lily Violet ckwood, reject the ck Moon Pack and understand by doing so I will be a


    rogue.¡± I felt her link snap just as she drifted off to sleep in my arms. Getting up, I did the same.


    ¡°I, Aria Rose Peyton, reject the ck Moon Pack and understand by doing so I will be a rogue.¡± I


    felt my teether to the Pack snap just as I heard vicious howls. He has told them to find us. Running as


    fast as I could with Lily in my arms, I listened to my surroundings. I could hear a car. If I could just get to


    the road before they found us, we might be able to escape.


    Running was difficult because I felt like passing out. Seeing the brake lights up ahead through the


    trees, I ran faster. Branches and sticks were scratching up my legs. I could still see the brake lights


    when I realised the car must be stopped at the train crossing. I listened as much as I could, straining to


    hear over the thunder from the storm that wasing. I could just make out the sound of a train


    passing when I felt what felt like razors cutting through my skin.


    Looking around,ntana bushes were everywhere, blocking our escape. I forced my way through the


    branches trying to shield Lily as much as possible. When I came out the other side, I was on the road.


    My clothes were in tatters. My legs were almost bare from thentana stripping and scratching away


    my pants, leaving cuts everywhere they touched my skin. My blouse was only held on due to me


    holding Lily, and I could feel one of my bra straps hanging on my back.


    I quickly looked over, and the train had passed. The ute was just waiting for the gate to lift before it


    could cross. Not wasting another second, I put Lily in the tray before climbing in behind her. There was


    an old tarp in the tray underneath a box. I quickly pulled it over us just as it started to belt down with


    rain. Only when I felt the ute move and start to elerate did I let out the breath I was holding and


    closed my eyes.

 Chapter 10

    Chapter 10


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Waking up when the ute came to a stop, Iid under the tarp, frozen. Listening carefully, I could hear


    music ring loudly and lots of voices. I was not sure how long we had been in the tray because not


    long after our escape, I had given in to exhaustion. When I was sure the coast was clear, I stuck my


    head out from under the tarp, trying to find anything that might tell me where we were. We were in a


    parking lot. Looking out, I could tell we were at a bar, one that I had never heard of, so we were not on


    ck Moon territory, but where were we exactly? Feeling Lily move beside me, I mped my hand


    down on her mouth. She looked up groggily at me as I motioned with my finger to my lips telling her to


    keep quiet. When I heard voices, I quickly stuck my head down and back under the tarp lying


    motionless.


    The voices stopped right next to the tray. The voices sounded like they were right next to us two male


    voices. Focusing on what they were saying, I heard a man with a deep voice speaking to whoever was


    with him.


    ¡°You smell that, Mark?¡± I listened as they sniffed the air.


    ¡°Rogues,¡± the other man growled. My body tensed at his aggressive growl. Shit, we escaped only to


    end up on another Pack¡¯s territory.


    ¡°They couldn¡¯t have got far; the scent is too strong, and they are injured too, so I doubt they will put up


    much of a fight.¡± The first manughed.


    ¡°Alert the Alpha; it¡¯s time to go hunting.¡± Mark sounded like he was excited to hunt us down. Lily¡¯s


    breathing started to get louder. I could tell she heard what they were saying. Lily gripped my hand


    tightly, and we waited until they moved away. As soon as they did, I pushed the tarp off us. I slowly


    climbed out, ducking behind the tray, I quietly gripped Lily from under her legs and arms, lifting her out


    of the tray.


    Grabbing the bag, I flung it over my shoulder. I did not know where we were, but one thing I did know


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    was we had to get off their territory before they found us. Carrying Lily, I ran down the street and behind


    a hardware store. Sitting behind the dumpster out of view of the street, I ced Lily on the ground,


    forcing her to stand.


    ¡°Lily, I need you to run. I won¡¯t be able to carry you. Don¡¯t stop until I tell you, and whatever you do,


    don¡¯t let go of my hand.¡± She nodded, clutching my hand tightly. Looking above the dumpster, I tried to


    find a street sign to tell me where we were, but there weren¡¯t any. The streets were pretty much


    deserted besides the bar around the corner, so it must bete.


    Grabbing Lily¡¯s hand, we stayed low and walked as quietly as possible to an alleyway that was behind


    the hardware store. I couldn¡¯t recognise any of the streets because it was dark and my vision was


    already blurry. Sticking to the back streets and alleyways, we made our way to a residential area. All


    the house lights were off; only the dim street lights illuminated the roads. Quickly as possible, we


    climbed a small hill in the residential area once at the top. I looked around trying to find anything that


    would let me know which side of the city we were on.


    My heart stopped when I saw a huge skyscraper building in the distance. The giant lit-up sign on top


    that said Pharma enterprises. My blood ran cold, we were on Blood Moon territory. Pharma enterprises


    was a Blood Moon owned business. Grabbing Lily¡¯s hand tightly, we started to run down the hill when


    we came to some busnd. It wasn¡¯t very thick, so didn¡¯t offer much coverage. Lily started to slow


    down to the point I was half dragging her. Stopping behind a tree, I let her catch her breath.


    ¡°Okay, Lil, catch your breath. We can¡¯t stop again; we need to get to the other side of the city.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m thirsty, Ari.¡± She had tears in her eyes, her hair was all matted, and she was sweating.


    ¡°I know, baby. When we get to the other side, I will find you something to drink, okay? But we aren¡¯t


    safe here. I need to get you out of here first,¡± I said, rubbing her face gently. Lily looked down and


    nodded before I felt her freeze. She tugged on my hand, pulling my eyes down to what she was staring


    at on the ground. Blood and lots of it. In my panic, I forgot I was bleeding; it was leaving a trail straight


    to us.


    Lifting up my shirt, the ce where the Alpha bit me was just a piece of pping skin barely hanging on


    except for the fact the remaining parts of my blouse were sticking to it, holding it together. My thigh


    wasn¡¯t much better. A huge chunk was missing, and my blood was turning a ckish colour. Just Lily


    pointing it out made me very aware of the fact that I had somehow ignored the hunger I felt. Pulling off


    the blouse that was only held on by the arms as the back waspletely ripped open, I made a


    makeshift bandage by wrapping it around my stomach and side holding the p of skin in ce. I can¡¯t


    do much about the leg unless I walk around naked, which is not going to happen.


    Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I gripped Lily¡¯s hand tightly and started running, pulling Lily with


    me. Now that Lily pointed it out, every step I took was leaving an obvious trail behind us. When we


    reached the end of the small busnd, we heard howls. We were in another residential area and only a


    few blocks away from the city centre. Running down towards the city centre, I knew if we could make it


    to the subway, we would be able to catch a train out of the city. Just as we stepped on to the main drag,


    I heard a vicious growl catching us from behind, and a huge brown wolf stepped out from behind a


    building. I turned to face it, pushing Lily behind me protectively, forcing my ws to extend; they


    painfully ripped my fingernails off. Then more growls came from the side. We were outnumbered, six


    wolves were surrounding us. The only way out was the direction we were running in, but they would


    easily outrun us. I could feel Lily shaking behind me, pressed tightly against my back.


    ¡°Lily, I need you to run and don¡¯t stop, no matter what, okay?¡± I felt Lily shaking her head against my


    back.


    ¡°Please, no, Ari,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Do as I say, Lily. Run and don¡¯t stop,¡± I growled at her. The brown wolf was slowly prowling, sizing me


    up as the others moved in.


    ¡°Run Lily,¡± I growled just as the big brown wolfunched himself at us. I smashed into it, grabbing it


    before it could grab Lily. Lily screamed then took off running. I watched as another wolf pounced, its


    ws digging into my back painfully. I was thrown to the ground violently. Just as another smaller grey


    wolf went to jump on me going for my face, I lifted my hands, my ws digging into its chest. Using my


    legs, I pushed it off and away from me.


    The only thing on my side was there were too many of them to attack at once without injuring each


    other, but at the same time, I couldn¡¯t catch my breath. My lungs felt heavy, and I understood this was


    going to be how it ends for me. So long as I could be a distraction and Lily could get enough distance,


    she might stand a chance of making it off this territory. I just needed to buy her some time. A grey and


    ck wolf I noticed out of the corner of my eye went to chase after Lily. I jumped, sinking my ws into


    its back and hanging on before I was thrown off and into a brick wall. Jumping to my feet, I lunged at it,


    only to be hit from the side, mming me to the ground again.


    ck dots started to take over my vision. Thest thing I remember seeing was the ck and grey wolf


    snarling and snapping its teeth at me, running at me. The next thing I see is oblivion. Complete


    darkness. No pain, just a feeling like weightlessness, like floating. Is this what death is like? Darkness?


    Nothing? They were myst thoughts before everything went ck.

 Chapter 11

    Chapter 11


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Deciding to leave the diner, I mind linked Zane. ¡°I want everyone on the lookout for Aria and Lily.¡±


    ¡°Everything okay, Boss?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I just need answers. I had an interesting conversation with Zoe, the owner. She told me a few


    things that aren¡¯t making any sense, but she won¡¯t say anything else. I will exin when I see you. Just


    find them and bring them back to the Pack house. Is there any news on which Pack they belong to or


    ¡°No, Boss, whoever Aria is, someone has gone to great lengths to keep her hidden. Same goes for Lily.


    There are no birth records for Aria, not even banking information. Zoe must pay her in cash, and Lily¡¯s


    records are sealed seeing as she is a minor. Public records wouldn¡¯t hand out her information when we


    visited. It was weird, though. When we went to the school, they said they could not find her files.¡±


    ¡°Hmm that is interesting, keep looking.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss. Want me toe grab you?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m almost back at the office, anyway.¡±


    Cutting the mind link and walking to the elevator, I hit the button to my office floor. When the doors


    opened, I went straight to my office. My secretary was still sitting at her desk when I walked in.


    ¡°Why are you still here, Ellie? Go home.¡±


    ¡°Just had some filing to do. I''m about to leave, Boss.¡±


    Nodding my head at her, I walked into my office. Ryder was lingering just below my skin, agitated. His


    feelings were starting to mix with my own, making me angrier. ¡°What are you hiding, Ryder? What do


    you know that you¡¯re not telling me?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. Having a wolf doesn¡¯t mean we share everything, but we do feel everything together,


    and I could tell he was hiding something. Something he was worried about me knowing. Something to


    do with Aria. A few hourster, I was still in my office looking over some documents. My bad mood only


    got worse when one of my Pack warriors alerted me to two rogues running through my territory.


    ¡°They are running north of the office. They are running through the bush heading straight towards your


    location, Alpha.¡±


    ¡°Fine, keep following them. I will meet up with you.¡±


    ¡°What about the child, Boss?¡±


    ¡°There is a kid?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss, woman and child,¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill them, catch them.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± The mind link is cut off. Putting on my suit jacket, I decided to take the stairs, running


    down them 2 at a time, pumping my adrenaline in case they decide to put up a fight. Maybe this will


    settle Ryder down; he always loved a good chase. I felt him jumping forward, he was excited just as


    much as I was.


    Once on the bottom floor, I sniffed the air. Nothing but the smell of rain. The sound of howls could be


    heard in the distance. Jogging slowly and turning at the corner of the street, I started to run up towards


    the outer parts of the city towards the housing estates. Just as I was running through a small industrial


    area, I cut through an alleyway. I could hear growling then footsteps running on the pavement towards


    me. Picking up my pace and turning another corner, I stopped dead in my tracks.


    Lily was sobbing, running directly at me. Her clothes were covered in blood, and she was running like


    her life depended on it. Noticing meing towards her, she stopped, her eyes going wide, fearing I


    was someone chasing after her before recognition hit her.


    ¡°Reid?¡± Her voice cracked, and she ran at me, grabbing me around the legs.


    ¡°Lily, what are you doing here? Where is Ari?¡± cing my hand on top of her head, I looked around


    frantically. Aria would never leave Lily on her own, especially in this state and thiste at night. Lily was


    sobbing uncontrobly and shaking.


    ¡°They¡¯re going to kill her! Help her please,¡± she begged, clutching my pants leg.


    More growls could be heard. Running in the direction of them getting closer, I got a whiff of her scent.


    She was up an alleyway up ahead. I could hear Lily puffing and panting trying to keep up behind me.


    Turning into the dark alley, I could see Pack members circling around the intruder, and I caught sight of


    Aria being mmed onto the concrete. Just as one of the Pack members went to lunge for her throat, I


    was standing over her in a split second, moving with inhuman speed. My hand grasped around the


    grey wolf¡¯s throat. Merle, his name was. Squeezing until I heard a sickening crack, his body going limp


    in my hand. ¡°MINE,¡± I snarled.


    Dropping his lifeless body at my feet. I stepped over him towards my men, growling. They all moved


    back, and they lowered their heads whimpering.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t know, Boss,¡± one of them whimpered out through the mind link. Turning around, I gazed


    down at Aria¡¯s limp body. She was saturated in blood, her clothes were torn, and her top half was


    chest. I nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent. Her body felt cold against my hot skin, my wolf


    instantly calming. She was alive, her breathing shallow but alive.


    ¡°Let me fucking kill them,¡± Ryder growled.


    ¡°No, we will deal with themter. We need to take her home.¡±


    ¡°Zane, get here now.¡± I mind linked.


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Not even two minutester, Zane turned up in his wolf form. Shifting into his human form,


    he quickly pulled on his jeans that were tied to his leg before walking over.


    ¡°Grab Lily,¡± I said, nodding towards her. She was standing shocked, staring at Aria¡¯s limp body in my


    arms. Zane walked over, picking Lily up from under her arms before picking up the duffle bag that was


    at her feet. Lily clutched it tightly as he rested it on his shoulder.


    ¡°Where to, Boss?¡±


    ¡°Home. The Pack doctor is meeting us there. I already called for her.¡±


    ¡°What about Mark and the others?¡±


    I growled warningly at them, and they backed up, lowering their heads.


    ¡°Not now,¡± I snapped, looking down at my mate. I could feel her blood running down my arm, where I


    was holding her legs. One of the Pack members pulled up at the end of the alleyway, opening the door


    of my ck SUV. Throwing the door open, I climbed in, pulling Aria on myp. Zane ced Lily beside


    me, putting her seat belt on. She was sobbing uncontrobly, still clutching the bag that was over


    Zane¡¯s shoulder. When she wouldn¡¯t let go, he slid it onto herp before closing the door and hopping


    into the passenger seat.


    Looking down, I pulled the shirt that was tied around her stomach slightly. Blood started gushing out


    except it was not red; it was ck and thicker than normal blood. I quickly ced my hand over it,


    putting pressure on it.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t she healing?¡± I asked out loud. Zane peered over the front seat looking at her before my


    re made him turn around, quickly realising she was barely clothed. Pulling her closer, I looked over


    at Lily, who was rubbing Aria¡¯s leg with the hand that was not clutching the bag.


    Trying to take her mind off Aria, I asked her, ¡°What¡¯s in the bag that¡¯s so important, Lil?¡± She clutched


    the bag tighter and looked at me but did not speak.


    We got to the Pack house quickly. As soon as the door opened, I ran out and up the stairs clutching


    Aria to my chest. I kicked the door open and ran to the infirmary where the Pack doctor Mavis was


    standing next to the hospital bed, in her white coat. Her red hair was a mess, telling me I had woken


    her. I could see she was still in her pyjamas under her coat, and she only had socks on and no shoes.


    cing Aria on the gurney, Doc quickly started to work. Zane walked in a few minutester with Lily still


    clutching the bag tightly.


    I bent down to look at Lily. ¡°You okay?¡± She shook her head and sniffled. Her blonde curls were tinged


    red covered in blood, and some was dried on her face. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± She shook her head again.


    ¡°The blood is Ari¡¯s. She was carrying me,¡± she stuttered, trying to hold her sobs in. I could tell it was


    Aria¡¯s; I would know her scent anywhere.


    Looking down at her drenched clothing, I noticed what looked like blisters along her hands. Pushing the


    sleeves of her shirt up her arms, I found more blisters and burns. I could smell wolfsbane on her


    clothes, which would be causing her pain. Immediately, I signalled for the nurse that was with doc to


    She took one look at her before confirming, ¡°Wolfsbane,¡±


    ¡°Is that why my mate isn¡¯t healing?¡± She looked uncertain.


    ¡°Maybe. Come on, let¡¯s get you cleaned up,,¡± she said, holding her hand out to Lily to take. Lily looked


    uncertain but took her hand anyway.


    ¡°Why are you so quiet, Ryder?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You will find out soon,¡± was all he replied. I knew he was scared for our mate. She looked so small and


    fragile,ying on the hospital bed. The Doc was stapling her leg while another nurse was stitching her


    side. She waspletely unconscious. If I couldn¡¯t see her chest rise with each breath she took and


    hear the slow beating of her heart, I would have thought she was dead. A tall man in a white coat


    walked in before cing an IV in her arm and attaching a bag of fluids. I watched as he took some


    blood samples before walking out of the room again. Both doctors kept giving me nervous nces.


    ¡°Maybe you should go wait in your study, Alpha,¡± said Mavis. I have known her for years, and I could


    tell something was making her nervous. That I was making her nervous.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine here.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t think you should be here when she wakes up.¡±


    ¡°She is my mate, I¡¯m staying.¡± Mavis looked shocked for a second, ncing at Tom, the male doctor


    who had stepped into the room again before looking down at my mate with a look of fear on her face.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m afraid I need to insist you leave. Mavis or I wille see you soon. It¡¯s for your mate¡¯s safety,¡±


    said Tom.


    ¡°Safety? I am not going to hurt her. She is mine.¡± Tom wouldn¡¯t budge, instead gestured towards the


    door.


    ¡°Please, we will be able to work more efficiently with you not here.¡±


    Storming out of the room and mming the door behind me, I made my way down the hallway to my


    study. The study was dark. Turning on the light, I looked around the room trying to find something to


    distract myself, looking over at the shelves of books. I didn¡¯t feel like reading or working, instead


    deciding to just sit behind my desk. Running my fingers through my hair, I leaned back in my chair,


    closing my eyes.


    I must have dozed off because Zane walked in with a te in one hand and a mug of coffee in the


    other. He ced them down in front of me.


    ¡°Eat,¡± he ordered, pushing the te in front of me.


    ¡°Any news?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but you¡¯re not going to like it. I had my suspicions earlier but didn¡¯t want to say anything,¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Please just eat and wait for Doc.¡± Just as he mentioned her, she walked in with some papers in her


    hand. She looked over to Zane nervously before he nodded, and she walked further into the room.


    ¡°Well, take a seat, Doc.¡± She shook her head before looking down. Mavis was making me uneasy; it


    cannot be that bad, surely, she was breathing and alive. ¡°What, did she die?¡± I asked, my voice


    breaking at the thought.


    Doc shook her head. ¡°No, of course not but there is something you should know.¡±


    ¡°Like?¡± I threw my hands up impatiently. Doc nced at Zane again before looking down at the papers


    in her hand.


    ¡°You said she was your mate?¡± I nodded, confirming her words. ¡°Well, she had lethal doses of


    wolfsbane in her system. Enough to kill 10 or more wolves to be precise.¡± she said, cing a piece of


    paper down in front of me.


    ¡°But she is alive. She will be fine, though, right?¡± I asked, ncing down at the paper.


    ¡°Yes, Sir, she will live, but she needs blood to heal. We don¡¯t have any here. I am organising some to


    be sent over.¡±


    ¡°Ok, so what blood type is she? I can organise some Pack members to donate blood if needed?¡± Now


    she is really worried. She looked around anxiously, her hands began to shake, and she moved closer


    to Zane. ¡°Am I missing something? What¡¯s going on? Does she have a rare blood type?¡±


    ¡°No sir, you¡¯re not understanding, she¡­. your mate needs blood to heal. She is a hy... Hybrid,¡± she


    stuttered over thest word.


    I burst outughing. ¡°Nice try Doc,¡± she looked towards Zane. Before he stepped forward, his hand


    gripped my shoulder squeezing lightly. He looked at me and nodded his head, confirming what the


    doctor said.


    My blood started to simmer. She can¡¯t be a Hybrid, but at the same time, so many things made sense


    now, her unique scent. The fact that she could not heal. Why she wouldn¡¯t know of the mate bond?


    Why she had no wolf. Why she was not dead when I smelt wolfsbane on her. My head was spinning.


    ¡°This is what you wouldn¡¯t tell me, huh Ryder?¡±


    My anger reached breaking point, boiling over. Gripping the desk, I flung it against the wall, narrowly


    missing Mavis. My mate was a fucking Hybrid! Mavis darted out of the room. I wanted to break


    something. I wanted to kill something. No, I wanted to kill her. Is this my fucking punishment, Moon


    Goddess? Did you do this to fucking torture me? I will not have a Hybrid as a fucking mate. Trashing


    the room, there were no shelves left standing. The windows smashed from flying furniture. Zane did not


    move, just stood in the doorway, waiting for me to finish. When I went to walk out, Zane stepped in my


    way.


    ¡°Move,¡± I growled, grabbing his shirt and mming him into the door frame.


    ¡°Why? So you can kill her? You kill your mate, the Moon Goddess will not grant you another. Reid,


    think about this. Do not let your hate control you. Don¡¯t let it destroy her.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t have a Hybrid as a fucking mate,¡± I spat at him.


    ¡°Killing her will only weaken you. Be reasonable.¡±


    ¡°I made a fucking promise to wipe them from existence. She doesn¡¯t change that,¡± I screamed, shoving


    him out of the way.


    ¡°And I won¡¯t let you hurt our mate,¡± Ryder, finally speaking up, growled at me. Fighting me for control.

 Chapter 12

    Chapter 12


    Aria¡¯s POV


    The ceiling, I remember the ceiling. All I can see is the fluorescent light above my head, shining brightly


    down on me, making a bead of sweat run down my neck. My head is pounding against my skull, heart


    throbbing in my ears. I could not remember if I were asleep or awake. I only remember the ceiling.


    Were my eyes already open or did I open them? Turning my head to the side, my head felt heavy, and


    my limbs felt like they were held down by weights. The whole room appears to be white. Too bright for


    my eyes, so I close them. My eyelids felt heavy, and I was trying to concentrate on breathing, sucking a


    big breath in to fill my lungs before I let it out again.


    Hearing a single click, I try to turn to look in the direction it came from, but I felt too heavy. My throat felt


    raw and dry like a desert. Inhaling the air slightly, I force myself to roll onto my side, when I hear a


    noise like a hummingbird¡¯s wings pping hard against the wind. I focus on the noise, opening my eyes


    slightly, and I see a figure standing next to a ck door. I can see their bare feet on the tiled floor.


    Forcing my eyes up to see who it is, stopping briefly halfway, I notice they are wearing butterfly


    pyjamas. Why did they look familiar to me? My eyes search them trying to find the noise that is


    consuming the room and overwhelming my sensespletely. I need to know what the sound is, such


    a sweet melodious noise. My eyes stop at their neck when I notice the steady movement of a vein


    twitching, pulsating.


    I watch captivated as the vein pulses to the rhythm of the fluttering,pletely mesmerised by the


    sweet sound vowing to satisfy my thirst. I inhale the smell of the sweet-smelling liquid emanating


    through their veins calling to me. Promising me everything I have ever craved. Promising to extinguish


    the burn in my throat.


    Standing up, I move on instinct following the alluring scent. When I am in front of them, I can hear


    inaudible noises like talking, but I could notprehend what they were saying. All I could focus on


    was the hypnotic sound of their blood that flows through their veins. Lifting my hand, I caressed the


    white flesh of their neck lightly with my fingers. They shuddered under my touch, fear only making their


    delectable scent sweeter. Gripping their shoulders, I tugged them to me, leaning down and brushing my


    lips against their soft, warm skin. Just as I was about to sink my fangs into their neck and drink their


    sweet nectar of life, the door was thrown open, making me pull back. Uncontroble hunger seized me.


    All I saw was red. The intruder grabbed me roughly around the shoulders, and my mouth was jammed


    against warm flesh, sinking my fangs into it. My senses became overloaded when the warm sweet


    taste of blood flooded into my mouth, soothing my painful dry throat. A soft satisfied moan almost like a


    purr rumbled through my chest as I gulped down the most delightful soothing liquid ravenously.


    Ryder - Reid¡¯s Wolf POV


    Listening to my human speak venomously about our mate was scraping my insides. Hmm¡­ he thinks


    he can go against the Moon Goddess. He is just my vessel, two minds for one body. I do not like being


    in control of our human side. To me, it is just a pound of flesh, but I will not stand idly by and watch him


    obliterate our only chance at happiness. Foolish humans and their off-centre emotions. I observe from


    behind the veil of his mind, watching him lose control, waiting for my chance to overthrow him, to take


    full control. I have only had real control in my wolf form, not in this weak sleeve. Yes, he lets mee


    forward but never gives inpletely. He knows my taste for blood. Knows I will kill without hesitation,


    so I do not me him. The human world and its politics I know nothing much about, so it is best he has


    control, but not now. Not when he is the one about to give in to his hatred.


    Aria is ours; Aria is mine. I watch as he destroys the office. I don¡¯t fight, but when I hear him tell Zane


    he wants to kill our mate, I know with every fibre in my body that he means it. I understand his hate. I


    have always been with him, so I know his secrets, I know his anger, but she doesn¡¯t deserve that hate.


    She doesn¡¯t deserve his wrath. I¡¯m d for Zane¡¯s distraction as Reid doesn¡¯t feel me getting closer.


    His fury and hatred shadow me until thest second. ¡°I won¡¯t let you kill our mate.¡± I pounce, gripping


    the teether we share and ripping him into the depths of our mind. He puts up a fight, but even he


    recognises he won¡¯t win, not when he is fighting out of anguish. He isn¡¯t thinking straight. Lunging


    forward, I shove him to the pits of darkness, where he likes to shove me when I get under his skin.


    Lurching forwardpletely, I take control.


    ¡°Ryder, thank the Moon Goddess,¡± Zane exims. ¡°I was wondering when you would appear. I knew I


    couldn¡¯t hold him forever.¡± I watch as Zane¡¯s grip on me rxes before sagging against the door in


    relief.


    ¡°Where is my mate?¡± Zane, standing up straight, straightens his shirt, wiping off some invisible dust.


    ¡°She is in the infirmary.¡±


    ¡°And Lily?¡±


    ¡°She should still be with the nurses.¡±


    ¡°Lead the way then.¡± Zane turns and starts walking down the hall, and I follow closely behind. When we


    reach a ck door, a nursees forward. Looking up, she goes to say something before looking


    directly at me. She does a double take before she takes a step back. Understanding Reid is no longer


    in control before bowing her head slightly, revealing her neck in a sign of submission. ¡°Alpha, I didn¡¯t


    realise we would be seeing you.¡± Looking down at her hands, she continues, ¡°Doc has just stepped out


    to gather some blood for your mate.¡±


    I nod in understanding ¡°The girl?¡±


    ¡°She is with her sister.¡± Using my wolf senses, I listen. I can hear Lily talking.


    ¡°Aria, it¡¯s me.¡± I hear her sob in distress. Kicking the door open, I ran into the room. Aria is leaning in,


    and from the angle it looks like she is about to cuddle the girl, except her eyes are no longer the vibrant


    green. They are the eyes of a predator about to kill its prey; they are now an orange burning like


    embers of me.


    Without hesitation, I tackle her around the shoulders, plummeting to the ground against the wall, her


    back pressed against my chest. I feel her fangs sink into my forearm. Her bite is not painful like I


    thought it would be, it must be a mate thing. Aria lets out a moan that vibrates through her chest, biting


    down hungrily. I can feel her sucking, hear her swallowing. She ispletely overwhelmed with


    bloodlust. When Doc walks in, taking in the scene before her, she holds up a bag of blood. I motion for


    her to throw it to me. Doc obeys, tossing it. I catch it with my free hand, pulling her head as gently as


    possible from my arm to get her attention.


    I pierce the bag slightly with my nail. Smelling the bag of blood she rips it from my hand, biting straight


    into the side. Blood spurts out like a burst water balloon all over her face and mine. Knowing it will not


    Aria is sitting on myp. Pulling her closer and brushing her hair to the side and out of her face with my


    fingers, I gaze down at her. She truly is an extraordinary creature. When she grabs savagely for the


    second bag, I know I will never get a second chance. I sink my teeth into her neck to mark her. The


    metallic aftertaste of her blood on my tongue brings me satisfaction, and I growl softly before running


    my tongue along the mark to seal it. Aria copses into my chest, the blood bag falling from her


    fingertips. I wait a few minutes before I lift her up bridal style and ce her back on the bed. Raising


    her hospital gown slightly, I watch as hercerations close and all the bruising vanishes.


    ¡°She will be out for a while. A normal wolf¡¯s marking will take a toll on the body, but an Alpha¡¯s mark?¡±


    She looks down at my sleeping mate. ¡°I think she will be out for the rest of the night.¡± Nodding I tuck the


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    nket around her, kissing the top of her head before walking out to where Lily is in the hall.


    ¡°Reid?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m Ryder. Come on, how about we get you to bed.¡±


    Lily hesitated. ¡°When is Reiding back?¡± she asked. I must be scaring her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure he will be back by morning; he doesn¡¯t like to be kept in the dark for long.¡± I chuckled to


    myself. Reid cannot kill her now, not without killing us in the process. Feeling proud, smiling to myself, I


    know now she will be safe from us.

 Chapter 13

    Chapter 13


    Aria¡¯s POV


    The next morning, I awoke early to someone opening the curtains and letting the light into the room.


    Sitting up, I stared at the person who appeared to be a nurse. She was wearing blue scrubs and white


    sneakers, her blonde hair pulled tightly in a bun. Noticing my movement, she turned around to face me.


    Surprise was evident in her blue eyes.


    ¡°You are up.¡±


    I just nodded my head in reply. Feeling confused, I tried to remember how I got in this room, but the


    only thing I can remember is telling Lily to run and then a wolf snapping its jaws, lunging at me before


    being plunged into darkness. The memory sent a shiver down my spine.


    ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°You are on Blood Moon territory.¡± Petrified, I tried to get up, but the nurse ran over, pushing me down


    by my shoulder.


    ¡°Luna, you¡¯re safe here.¡± Dismissing what she said as a mistake, I shook my head. Looking at her


    name tag that was pinned to the bottom of her shirt, I discovered her name was Wendy.


    ¡°There was a girl with me. What happened to her? She is 6 years old with blonde curly hair, dark blue


    eyes.¡± As I was describing Lily to the nurse, I could feel tears start to brim. My throat felt thick with


    worry. The nurse, noticing my distressed state, came and sat on the bed next to me.


    ¡°Luna, calm down. Lily is fine. She is in the rec room ying with the other Pack members.¡± My


    shoulders sag, feeling relieved that she is ok and safe. But that still didn¡¯t answer how we got here.


    ¡°How did we get here? How long have we been here?¡± Confused, I just keep shooting questions at her,


    but she does not seem to mind.


    ¡°Alpha Reid found you and Lily and brought you back here. You¡¯re currently in the Pack house


    infirmary, and you have also been asleep for two days since your mate marked you.¡±


    ¡°Mate? I don¡¯t have a mate.¡± Reaching up I slid my fingers over my neck and shoulder, flinching when I


    hit the tender skin of a mate¡¯s mark. It stings a little, but mostly when I touch it, it just tingles. Shocked, I


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    instantly start to panic. Getting up, I nce down at my clothes. I am in a green hospital gown. Looking


    around, I do not see my duffle bag or my shoes. The nurse watches worriedly but does not stop me.


    Now I just need to find Lily, and we will be on the next bus out of the city. Walking over to the ck


    door, I tried to open it, but it had been locked. Spinning around, I turned to look at the nurse who ced


    her hands up in surrender.


    ¡°It¡¯s for everyone¡¯s safety and yours, Luna. I understand you''re confused, but everything will work out


    soon.¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s safety? Why do you keep calling me Luna? I¡¯m not your Luna,¡± I yell, starting to feel


    trapped and angry.


    ¡°You are our Luna or will be once everything settles down and yes our safety. You really don¡¯t


    remember anything when you woke up after you arrived here?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I¡¯m not going to hurt anyone. I just want to get my sister and we will be out of everyone¡¯s


    way. Now open the door,¡± I demanded.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you have a shower? I will get you some clothes and bring you some breakfast.¡±


    ¡°I want to see my sister,¡± I say, sitting back down on the bed. cing my head in my hands, I try to


    think of an escape n. I know it is not going to be realistic while locked in this room.


    ¡°I will bring Lily in after you have a shower and breakfast, deal?¡± She tries to bargain with me.


    ¡°Fine,¡± I say storming off into the bathroom. Stripping off the gown, I realised I waspletely bare


    under it, but that wasn¡¯t the most startling piece of information. I waspletely healed, not even a


    scar. I know I was in bad shape after our escape from Alpha David, and knowing I can¡¯t heal properly,


    it¡¯s either they have some crazy voodoo doctor or they gave me blood. In fact, I feel the best I have in


    years, not a single ache, no pain at all.


    Preferring the crazy voodoo doctor, I walk over to the small mirror above the basin. Peering into the


    mirror, I jumped back, not expecting the reflection that was staring back at me. No scratches, no marks


    covered my skin, but my eyes were no longer their normal green. Instead, they were bright amber


    orange glowing dangerously back at me.


    They gave me blood; they know what I am. Why haven¡¯t they killed me? Nothing is making any sense.


    Why would they help two lowly Rogues?

 Chapter 14

    Chapter 14


    Reid¡¯s POV


    I can¡¯t believe my wolf would go against me. How dare he betray my trust. We are supposed to be a


    team, supposed to be one whole. He knows the promise I made and yet he still went against me for


    her. Marked her against my will, all because she has spelled his wolf with her phony humanity. Hybrids


    are an abomination; they are barbaric savages. They exist to kill, and it¡¯s incredible she has managed


    to conceal her true self this long. To hide the monster she truly is. It is only a matter of time until she


    slips up and kills someone.


    ¡°Do you hear yourself? Really Reid, you sound like a whiny bitch. I did you a favour, you¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°I am not whining, you betrayed me. If you were doing me a favour, you would have ughtered her,¡± I


    tell him before shoving him back to where he belongs.


    I haven¡¯t slept in two days since he marked her. Concerned he will force his way back in control when


    I¡¯m vulnerable, I won¡¯t allow him to cause more irreversible damage. Leaning back on my office chair, I


    try to rest my eyes. When that doesn¡¯t work, deciding I need more caffeine, I walk down the hall


    towards the kitchen. On the way, I find Lily stopped outside the infirmary door with Wendy, the nurse.


    Lily, noticing me, starts walking towards me, before stopping in front of me. She is wearing her butterfly


    pyjamas again, carrying her duffle bag, which she hasn¡¯t let go of since she arrived. ¡°Are you visiting


    Ari?¡± she asks.


    Her innocent little face peers up at me. It¡¯s not her fault her sister is a monster. ¡°No, I¡¯m getting coffee.


    Why are you still in the same pyjamas? Don¡¯t you have more clothes in the bag?¡± I ask, reaching for


    her bag, but she tugs it closely to her chest, shaking her head.


    ¡°No, just my school clothes. We didn¡¯t have time to grab anything else.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Who are you running from, Lil? It¡¯s okay, you can tell me.¡±


    Lily doesn¡¯t say anything, just steps back, walking back to the door where the nurse is waiting.


    ¡°You¡¯re not letting her in there, are you?¡± The nurse seemed confused, and Lily looked up questionably.


    ¡°I promised she could see her sister, Sir.¡±


    Grabbing the nurse¡¯s arm tightly, I pull her to me. ¡°You are aware she is a Hybrid, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, but she isn¡¯t dangerous. She is in control.¡±


    ¡°For now, she is. Don¡¯t let her fool you.¡±


    ¡°Sir, I understand your dislike for Hybrids, but Ryder marked her. She is our Luna and your mate. How


    long are you going to deny her?¡± Wendy¡¯s reply touched a nerve.


    How can the whole Pack be so epting of her already? She hasn¡¯t been here five minutes and she


    already has my Pack wrapped around her fingers. I am fucking Alpha, for god¡¯s sake. I don¡¯t care if she


    is supposed to be my Luna, I will never stand beside her. She will never be my equal. Wendy pulled her


    arm from my tight grip before opening the door, stepping out of view of the door. I watched as they


    walked in before going to the kitchen.


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Getting in the shower, I washed quickly, eager to see Lily. Not having her close to me and not knowing


    where she is was making me anxious. When I got out of the shower, I wrapped the towel around me


    before sticking my head out the bathroom door. Laying on the bed were some clothes. Walking over


    and picking them up, I realised they were exactly my size.


    Wendy left a pair of light blue jeans and a white tank top, along with a ck bra and panties set and a


    pair of socks. Quickly putting them on, I was drying my hair with the towel when Wendy walked in


    carrying a tray. She ced it down next to me on the bed. Pancakes. My stomach growled hungrily at


    the sight of them. Embarrassed, I quickly thanked her for the clothes and breakfast before she walked


    out.


    After breakfast, Wendy did as she promised and brought Lily to visit. The relief I felt upon seeing her is


    unexinable. Never since Lily has been born have I spent a night away from her. Not seeing her was


    making me extremely anxious. Lily walked in, wearing her familiar butterfly pyjamas before she


    dropped the duffle bag and ran to hug me, just as excited as I was to see her.


    ¡°Ari!¡± Lily squealed excitedly. Brushing her curls out of her face, I bent down and picked her up, cing


    her on the bed.


    ¡°You okay now, Ari? Wendy said we can stay here now.¡± Lily spoke excitedly.


    I motioned for Wendy to leave. Instead of leaving, she shook her head and stood next to the door.


    Shaking my head, annoyed, I turned back to Lily.


    ¡°That¡¯s great, Lil, but remember we have to leave the city as soon as they let me out.¡± Lily looked


    upset, tears shining in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t let them fall.


    ¡°Ok, but they said we would be safe here. Alpha Reid said we could stay; he even gave me my own


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    room,¡± Lily replied disappointedly.


    ¡°I know, but this isn¡¯t permanent. We have to leave, and when did you see Alpha Reid?¡¯


    ¡°He was in the hall when I arrived, but I spoke to himst night. He said we won¡¯t be leaving because


    you are his mate and his wolf marked you.¡±


    Shaking my head, I sat back bbergasted. That¡¯s why he hung around the diner, and that¡¯s why he


    took us in. I wasn¡¯t even aware I could be someone¡¯s mate. I tried to remember him marking me, but I


    have no memory of even seeing him since I got here.


    ¡°Hello, Ari, are you okay?¡± Lily sang out, waving her hands in front of my face, pulling me from my


    thoughts.


    ¡°Sorry, Lil, I was thinking.¡±


    ¡°About what?¡±


    I shrugged my shoulders. ¡°Nothing in particr, it doesn¡¯t matter, Lil.¡±


    Wendy walked over. ¡°Only 20 minutes then we have to go, Lily.¡± she said.


    ¡°Go where? She can stay with me,¡± I replied, annoyed. It was like they were trying to keep us


    separated.


    ¡°Sorry Aria, but Alpha¡­¡± I didn¡¯t let her finish, instead jumping to my feet.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what the Alpha said. Lily is my sister and my responsibility. He has no right keeping her


    from me when I am the one who raised her.¡± I didn¡¯t realise I was yelling until I had to take a breath.


    Wendy¡¯s shocked expression showed she wasn¡¯t expecting my outburst. But I didn¡¯t care, who does he


    think he is? Marking me, then ordering me around. I never asked for this, I just wanted to get as far


    away from the city as possible with Lily.


    Wendy motioned for Lily to take her hand. Lily hesitated, confused on what to do, before walking to me


    taking my hand. But Wendy clearly refused to go against her god damn Alpha and went to grab Lily¡¯s


    hand, only fuelling my anger. Without even thinking, I growled at her and took a step forward, putting


    myself between them. Wendy took a startled step back. I could hear her heart rate spike, then that was


    all I could focus on. My hands became mmy, and I could feel my hunger for her blood starting to


    overtake my senses.


    I could smell her fear oozing off her skin, and I started to advance on her. When Lily grabbed my hand,


    I ripped my hand from her and spun around my re now on her. When she took a frightened step


    back, something clicked in me. They are trying to help. Holding my breath, I pushed Lily towards


    Wendy, who grabbed Lily and ran out the door.


    Sitting on the floor, I ced my head between my knees, trying to regain control, but just thinking of


    Wendy and our argument would make it re up like an erupting volcano. Sitting up, I rested my head


    on the wall, my eyes falling on the duffle bag by the bed. Quickly getting up, I raced over to the bag,


    ripping it open, relieved to find two bottles of wolfsbane and the jar of syringes. Nobody has looked in


    the bag because if they did, they definitely wouldn¡¯t have left them with a six-year-old.


    Undoing the lid of one of the bottles, I swallowed down two painful mouthfuls, gagging and choking


    instantly. I always forget how much this crap burns, but knowing it is the only way to control my


    bloodlust means I¡¯m just going to have to deal with this torture.


    After about five minutes, the door opened again. I was still sitting on the floor trying to stop myself from


    dry heaving. Looking towards the door, I see a pair of ck sneakers and looking up. I instinctively


    know who it is by the feeling in the pit of my stomach. There is no doubt now that he is my mate. My


    breathing instantly increased, my heart was racing. I always thought I didn¡¯t need anyone besides Lily,


    but I needed him. I never realised how iplete I was until he walked into the room, making me


    realise he was the missing piece in my life. The other side to my soul, two souls fitting perfectly


    together bing a whole. How had I not realised sooner?


    Breathing in, I inhaled his intoxicating scent. My nerves felt like they were on fire, every fibre in my


    body trying to pull me to him. Standing up, I stared at the man who was everything I didn¡¯t realise I


    needed or wanted. Through his shirt, I could see the outlines of his abs, see the lines of his muscr


    chest. He looked like he had been carved out of marble. He was dressed very casuallypared to


    when I would see him at the diner. His hair was a bit of a mess like he had been running his fingers


    through it. His gaze was intense, not his usual soft gaze.


    I watched as he clenched and unclenched his jaw. His hands were fisted tightly, and he looked tense


    like he didn¡¯t want to be here. Moving closer, I went to ce my hands on his chest and ask him if he


    was okay. But he moved so quickly, my heart skipped when he grabbed hold of my wrists tightly, too


    tightly. Any tighter I was sure they would break. The usual sparks from his touch did nothing to help the


    ache of my bones being crushed in his strong grip. He then shoved me back, making me stumble.


    Looking up at him, I could see his breathing changing. It was getting faster, I could tell by the rise and


    fall of his chest moving rapidly. He was angry, he didn¡¯t want me. Rejection was like a p in the face,


    onlying from him, it hurt more than any of the times I had been punched by David. Feeling tears


    brim in my eyes, I turned my head and wiped them, not wanting him to witness me breaking.


    Why does this hurt so much? Once I was sure my face wouldn¡¯t betray me, I looked back at him. He


    went to say something but then stopped, his eyes flicking between him and his beast before going back


    to their silver-grey, showing that Reid was undeniably in control. I wanted tofort him, ask why he


    was upset, but the look on his face was full of disgust like he couldn¡¯t look at me, like I was beneath


    him. Like some trash he had juste across. He turned and walked out of the room without saying


    another word, locking the door behind him, leaving me more confused.


    How could he mark me then reject me like that? Was it a mistake? Did he mark me by ident? Or is it


    because of what I am? An abomination, an atrocity. As soon as I find a way out of here, Lily and I are


    leaving. We don¡¯t need anyone, never did, so this won¡¯t be any different.


    Author Note


    Let me know what you think and don''t forget to rate the book

 Chapter 15

    Chapter 15


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Walking in, seeing her on the ground, I couldn¡¯t help the pull I felt towards her, even after knowing what


    she is. The mysterious mate bond had other ns. I am supposed to hate her, but being in front of her,


    the bond won¡¯t allow that. Only the need for her. Her feelings of disbelief, surprise, understanding, then


    lust all flowing into me through the bond. I could feel every emotion rolling off her and into me. Her


    desires bing mine. When she moved towards me, I could feel her intention. She just needed to be


    close, to touch me. I could feel Ryder pushing me to give in to her, which aggravated me, distracting


    me enough to think clearly to realise my reason for being here wasn¡¯t to snuggle up with some bloody


    Hybrid. I grabbed her wrists before she made contact.


    I felt Ryder jump at me trying to fight me for control, but I held strong, too strong. I didn¡¯t realise I was


    squeezing her wrists so tightly until I felt her bone-crushing pain sink into me through the bond. Letting


    go abruptly, she stumbled to the floor,nding on her ass. I could feel her embarrassment, then


    sadness leaking through the bond, I could smell the saltiness of the tears she tried to hide. Ryder kept


    pushing for control. He was screaming in my head, angry. I only came in here to find out who she was


    running from. Instead, this shit happens, making everything more awkward than it needed to be.


    Seeing her hurt gaze staring back at me, I couldn¡¯t handle it any longer. Turning my back on her, I


    walked out the door, locking it behind me. Going back to my office, Zane was standing against the


    office door.


    ¡°We have a problem, Alpha.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± I snap, pushing past him into the office.


    ¡°The ck Moon Pack have been at the border. They want permission to look for some Pack members


    that escaped,¡±


    ¡°Let me guess, a woman and child?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡±


    Aria¡¯s POV


    After Alpha Reid left, I was locked in for most of the day. Wendy came in a few times to check on me,


    but other than her, I spent the rest of the day alone plotting our escape. In the afternoon, I got that


    chance. Wendy came in and said the rest of the Pack had to go out on Pack business and that I could


    explore the Packhouse. When she left the door wide open, I thought it was a trick. Fifteen minutes had


    passed when I realised the door wasn¡¯t going to be mmed in my face, and I couldn¡¯t hear anyone


    loitering behind the door or in the hall.


    Stepping into the hall, I felt soft carpet under my feet instead of the cold tile floor in the hospital room.


    The hallway walls are a soft light grey colour with white trims and ck dome lights hanging from the


    ceiling. I walked down the hall until I came to what I thought was the end but was actually just an open


    ceiling and balcony overlooking the floor below. Peering over, I could see the foyer below and hear


    children ying. Walking down the huge white staircase to the floor below, I followed the noises into


    some sort of media and games room. I watched for a little while before walking in and interrupting the


    children¡¯s fun. Lily was ying Mario Kart with another little girl. Seeing me walk in and standing behind


    the huge lounge, she jumped up, bringing her new friend with her. ¡°Amber, this is Ari, my sister.¡±


    Amber had dark straight hair that was cut just above her shoulders and pale skin with rosy red cheeks.


    She looked like a porcin doll.


    ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Ari,¡± I told her, waving to her. She shyly waved back before taking off back to her spot on the


    giant navy-blue horseshoe-shaped lounge. Sitting down, she grabbed her controller and resumed


    ying. Just as Lily was about to go back and y, I pulled her aside.


    ¡°This may be our only chance to leave, we have to take it.¡±


    Lily shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave Ari, I like it here!¡± she yelled, crossing her arms over her


    chest and pouting.


    ¡°We can¡¯t stay here, Lily, we have to leave,¡± I said, grabbing her arm, pulling her gently towards the


    stairs to retrieve the bag so we could leave.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not going!¡± Lily yelled and took off up the stairs. Just as Lily took off, Wendy walked in. Just my


    luck, now I must find Lily and not tip Wendy off to our departure. Turning to Wendy, I stered the


    fakest smile I could muster.


    ¡°Everything okay, Aria? I thought I heard yelling.¡±


    ¡°Yes, everything is fine, we are just ying hide and seek,¡± I lied.


    Wendy smiled politely, believing myme-ass excuse. She then turned around and walked off through


    a door on the other side of the media room. As soon as she was out of view, I darted up the stairs.


    Going back to the infirmary, I quickly grabbed our duffle bag, chucking it over my shoulder before


    turning and walking out of the room, shutting the door behind me. Making my way down the hallway


    towards the foyer, I opened every door, but each room was either an office or storage rooms.


    How big was this house? I felt like I had been walking around opening random doors for hours, even


    though it had only been 10 minutes tops. That¡¯s when I decided to go back the way I came. Starting


    back at the infirmary, I turned in the other direction which led to another hallway turning the corner into


    the new hallway. I came across another office, this one was richly decorated. Mahogany bookshelves


    lined the walls loaded with books. I loved reading, I used to borrow books off the pack members back


    home. Some of the teenagers still in school used to borrow them for me since I didn¡¯t have a TV in my


    room to watch. But as Lily got older and I started working, I didn¡¯t have much time to read, and when I


    did, I was too tired.


    In the centre of the room was a mahogany desk which looked brand new, as it still had stic over the


    top of it. The carpet was thick and ck, warm under my feet. Walking back out of the room, I went to


    the next door and the next until I came to another hallway of doors. Opening the first one I realised was


    a bedroom. Knowing Lily must be hiding somewhere here, I started opening every single door. I came


    to thest one next to a set of stairs that led to yet another floor of this mansion of a house. Opening


    the door, I could tell straight away it was a child¡¯s room. It was pink, and there was a white 4 poster


    single bed with a frilly pink unicorn bedspread. It had fairy lights hanging from the posts and had lots of


    toys and a fluffy purple mat. Looking over, I saw a built-in cupboard, and opening it, I found Lily sitting


    in the bottom sobbing.


    ¡°Come Lil, we need to go before everyone gets back,¡± I told her, trying to get her to understand. Lily


    wasn¡¯t one for tantrums, and this was the most difficult she has ever been, but slowly, she sniffled,


    wiping her nose on the sleeve of her shirt.


    ¡°Do we really have to go, Ari?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we need to leave. We have to leave the city before your father finds us or Alpha Reid hands us


    over to him.¡± I left out the part of Reid hating Hybrids and was probably in his torture dungeon plotting


    my death somewhere. Lily slowly nodded and stood up. Pulling the pyjamas off her, I quickly


    rummaged through the bag, pulling out her winter school clothes and dressing her quickly. Once Lily


    was dressed, we snuck down the stairs, going to the front door. I tried to open it, but it was locked with


    a key.


    Knowing that Wendy must have the key, I quickly walked through the media room to the door on the


    other side, pulling Lily behind me. Sticking my head through the doorway, I found that it was a kitchen.


    Everything was white tile, the benchtops white marble over grey cupboards. There was a gold


    chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and all the appliances were restaurant quality. Seeing that Wendy


    wasn¡¯t in the kitchen and steppingpletely into the room, I noticed on my examination there was a


    set of double doors leading outside. Racing over I twisted the handle, they were unlocked.


    Pushing Lily out the door, we walked out to what must be the rear of the property. We were on a huge


    patio area that overlooked a pool. Running down the stairs quickly, I saw that the entire property was


    surrounded by trees, making it very private. Moving quickly across thewn, we made it to the tree line.


    Looking back, I could see that the ce was indeed a mansion. It looked more like a white sandstone


    castle than a mansion actually. Not giving it another thought, Lily and I started running through the


    trees. After a while, we came to a dirt side road. We must be outside the city. Where? I had no idea, but


    luck must be on my side today because, after about two minutes of walking, a silver car with an old


    couple pulled up beside us and asked if we needed a lift into the city.


    Knowing if they were psychos I could easily just turn around and eat them. We epted and asked if


    they could give us a ride to the closest train station or bus depot. The old couple were quite talkative.


    On the drive, they told us they had been married for 40 years and had 7 children who were all grown up


    and 16 grandchildren. Their names were Norman and Enid. Pulling up to the front of the train station, I


    tried to offer them money for fuel, but they declined. The train station was small, covered in graffiti, and


    the signs were ripped down so I couldn¡¯t even tell which station we were at.


    Walking up to the ticket booth, we met a girl. She had piercings all through her face, ck and pink


    hair, and she looked very emo, chewing on bubble gum with a frown on her pale face. Raking through


    my bag, I told her I needed two tickets out of the city. When she asked where, I told her as far away


    from the city as possible, not really knowing where I was going. I would call Zoe and let her know we


    left when we found a phone at our new destination. Grabbing the tickets, I passed her the cash before


    she said the train was five minutes away.


    Once on the tform, I found some vending machines. Putting some change in, I got Lily some chips


    and peanuts for the trip and a few cans of lemonade. I wasn¡¯t sure what we were going to do once we


    got there, but I would have to figure out something fast. I had some money we had saved up, mostly


    tips from the diner, but it wasn¡¯t going tost long, maybe a month max. I would have to find a job as


    soon as possible.


    When the tin can also known as our freedom, pulled up at the station, we jumped straight on finding


    some seats, which was easy since the whole train was empty. It consisted of 3 carriages so we must


    be out of the city a fair way, because the city trains were huge and modern looking. On this train, we


    had to open the doors ourselves, and the leather seats were ripped. It had a weird odour to it. Sitting in


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    the green leather seats, I rolled up my work uniform so Lily could use it as a pillow. I wanted to put my


    feet up, but after seeing how filthy my feet were decided against it, not that it would matter with the


    state of seats.


    The first thing we needed to do was find a shop with shoes because I couldn¡¯t go around barefoot


    forever. Pulling the socks out of the bag that Wendy gave me, I quickly ced them on so my feet


    wouldn¡¯t catch a disease from the filthy carpet in the train carriage. After about 20 minutes of being on


    the train, it came to an abrupt stop, making us jerk forward in the seats. Lily,ying with her head in my


    weren¡¯t at another station yet. All I could see was farnd. Walking over to the other side, I looked out.


    My heart nearly stopped, there were about 7 ck SUVs along the tracks. Like some scene from a


    movie, the doors opened, men stepping out. I knew it was Reid¡¯s Pack members. I recognised his beta,


    Zane. They got out in their suits. I could see the train driver out talking to someone. When they spun


    around, I could tell it was Reid. He looked furious. He was showing the driver a picture, which I was


    guessing was us, and all the Pack members started boarding the train. Grabbing Lily, I pulled her


    through to the next carriage, intending to run out thest door. Halfway through the carriage, the door


    opened. Zane and another Pack member walked towards us, smirks on their faces like they found this


    amusing. Spinning around, I went to run the other way, when an angry Alpha stormed through the door


    we just came through, blocking our escape, making me gulp and take a step back. Fuck this, I¡¯m sick of


    ying nice.

 Chapter 16

    Chapter 16


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Turning on an angle so I had a clear view of both ends of the carriage and those blocking the exits, I


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    shoved Lily into the seat, not taking my eyes off Zane or Alpha Reid. ¡°Lily, close your eyes please, and


    hands over your ears,¡± I said, not even looking in her direction. I couldn¡¯t afford to take my eyes off


    them. Knowing they were waiting for me to turn my back on them, Alpha Reid crossed his arms over


    his chest, making him look even bigger if that was possible. I may not win nor be trained like them, but


    I¡¯ll be damned if I go quietly to my death. Zane, noticing my intent, smiled. His bulky friend standing


    beside him chuckled like he thought I was joking about trying to fight my way out. Peeking over at Reid,


    he looked amused, taking a seat in the first chair at his end just as another Pack warrior walked in,


    standing in his ce. Okay, not the best scenario. I may not be trained, but I am a Hybrid. Not having


    blood for 2 days now is a disadvantage, but I know I have had enough, that my speed and reflexes


    outmatch theirs.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what you got then,¡± said the cocky shit standing next to Zane. He was shorter, around my


    height, but Packed with muscle, too much muscle. I knew he would be slower than me. He was a fair


    bit shorter than Zane¡¯s 6-foot frame. The carriage wasn¡¯t big, but I knew that would work in my favour. I


    didn¡¯t need as much room to move. Zane shoved him forward, he stumbled about a metre away from


    me.


    ¡°You first then,¡± he threw at him with a grin on his face. The warrior looked back at Zane, taking that as


    my opportunity.


    I grabbed his outstretched arm he was going to use to stable himself, taking him by surprise. Using his


    momentum, he jerked forward, underestimating my strength, just as I lifted my knee, which connected


    with the side of his head. Shocked, he didn¡¯t have time to recover, his body being pushed back by the


    force of my knee, making himnd on his arse. I quickly stomped on his manhood, making him squeal


    while he clutched at his groin. Zane immediately stepped forward over his friend¡¯s body and tried to


    grab me, but I jumped back just in time. Forgetting the person behind me, they grabbed me in a bear


    hug from behind. Thinking fast and using my legs, I pushed off the ground, shoving both feet into


    Zane¡¯s chest, making him trip over his recovering buddy, who was stillying on the ground cradling his


    balls.


    Throwing my head back, I connected with my hugger''s nose. Their hands let go instantly. Spinning


    around, I watched as they clutched their nose, which was bleeding, running like a tap. My own growl


    ripped through my chest and escaped my lips, not a normal growl, more primal, savage. It was


    disturbing, the growl of a predator. The smell of their blood reaching my nose filled me with hunger.


    Alpha Reid stood up. Shoving his Pack member out of the way, hended on the seat, stomping


    towards me and grabbing my arm just as I went to lunge for the fallen man¡¯s throat.


    Letting out another growl of annoyance, I pped at his hand with my free one not realising my ws


    had extended, leaving a gash running down his chest and arm, making him growl back at me. Reid¡¯s


    grip tightened, ripping me forward. Inded into his chest. The force knocked me out of my blood-filled


    trance. Struggling against his grip, I dropped my weight, making my body go limp until I hit the floor


    him off, making him somersault over me. Getting to my feet and spinning around, I saw Alpha Reid had


    a smile on his face, which confused me. Was he having fun? Not giving me a chance to lunge at him,


    he tackled me, knocking my feet straight out from underneath me.


    Just when I thought for sure my head was going to crack open like a dropped egg on impact, he twisted


    so instead ofnding on the filthy floor, I was once again on his chest. His arms wrapped around my


    own, and he squeezed, forcing the air out of my lungs. I would have been amazed at his strength if it


    weren¡¯t being used against me.


    ¡°Nice try,¡± he whispered in my ear, confusing me, making me very aware of the closeness of his body


    pressed against my own. Trying to get out of his grip that has caged me in was useless. He outweighed


    me and easily overpowered me.


    Rolling to his side with me still caged in his arms, he stood up, pulling me with him like I weighed


    nothing. I guess he never misses leg day then, I thought to myself, making me chuckle. Reid turned his


    head looking at me questionably, wondering what I thought was so funny. I could feel his breath fan my


    face making me instinctively lean into him wanting more.


    Letting me go, he took a step back and to the side motioning for me to move past him to the exit.


    ¡°What? You expect me to go back willingly to my death?¡± I asked, raising my eyebrow. Reid pointed


    toward the exit again. Looking up at the exit, Zane was leaning against the frame of the door with Lily in


    his arms, who was talking happily to the person who¡¯s junk I crushed. My shoulders sagged instantly.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t the target. We only needed to distract you to get to Lily. I know you won¡¯t risk endangering


    her. If we wanted you dead you would be. I only told them to grab you or grab Lily. Nice try though, it


    was quite entertaining.¡± Alpha Reid¡¯s tone was mocking, making me think he thought this whole


    situation was childish.


    Stomping past him, I followed Zane. When I came up behind him, I went to reach out for Lily. Shaking


    his head, he continued walking before stepping off the train, while I followed. Walking up to the car Lily


    was being ced in, I went to get in, but the door was mmed shut in front of me. Spinning around to


    confront the person who mmed it, I came face to face with the bulky wolf from the train.


    ¡°Low blow, don¡¯t ya think? Nearly crushed my baby-makers,¡± he said jokingly. ¡°I¡¯m Rick by the way.


    Nice to finally meet you, Luna.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not your Luna, and I¡¯m umm sorry about your family jewels.¡± Just as he was about to say


    something else, I felt a pinch in my neck. My hand reflexively going to my neck, I turned around to find


    Alpha Reid standing there with a syringe in his hand. ¡°What?¡± My body instantly weakened. ¡°Son of a


    Bitch.¡± My words sounded slurred, my body went to jelly, and I slumped into Alpha Reid, who scooped


    me up. My headnded heavily against his shoulder just as my eyelids began to shut. I heard him


    <pugh, the rumble echoing through his chest.

 Chapter 17

    Chapter 17


    Reid¡¯s POV


    We didn¡¯t even make it to the Pack border before Wendy mind-linked me to tell me Aria and Lily


    escaped. We¡¯d been driving for 40 minutes only to turn around. I was furious. I finally found out what


    Pack they belonged to and who had been hurting my girls, and now they were going to do a runner


    from me. I may hate Hybrids and am having trouble figuring out if I want to give into the mate bond, but


    she is mine. Whether she likes it or not, she will being home. Aria believes she can leave my wolf


    and me. Not happening.


    ¡°Spin around head back towards the Pack house,¡± I tell my driver. The car makes a sharp U-turn,


    spinning back around the way we just came. The rest of the vehicles behind us instantly spun around


    and followed.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Boss?¡± Zane¡¯s mind link came through.


    ¡°Aria thinks she can leave. She gave Wendy the slip.¡±


    ¡°What about Alpha David?¡±


    ¡°Tell Dominic to deal with him for now. Tell him to tell the prick he isn¡¯t getting them back.¡±


    ¡°You want to start a war?¡±


    ¡°Why are you scared?¡± I mocked.


    ¡°Pfft yeah, pissing in my boots,¡± he sarcastically spat back.


    Driving back to the Pack house, Wendy was waiting out front. Jumping out of the car while it was still


    moving, I walked over meeting her halfway.


    ¡°How did she get out of the room?¡± Wendy looked down, giving herself away instantly. ¡°You let her


    out¡­. FUCK!¡±


    ¡°She had been in there all day, Alpha. I thought she might want to look around. I didn¡¯t think she would


    run. I thought I locked all the doors.¡±


    ¡°Obviously, you thought wrong,¡± Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out a breath ¡°It¡¯s fine Wendy, she


    couldn¡¯t have got far on foot unless she was picked up along the road. We didn¡¯t pass any cars so if


    she did get picked up, she must be in one of the outer towns. Closest is Larse, we will head there.¡±


    Everyone waiting next to the cars got back in. Four cars went one way at the T section, my car and 4


    others went the other direction heading towards the small town out of the city. We drove for about 20


    minutes before we came to a derelict train station. Sending Zane to the ticket booth to see if she had


    been seen, I waited by the car.


    ¡°They got on a train about ten minutes ago, Boss. Heading out of the city.¡±


    ¡°Lead the way, we can cut the train off.¡± Getting in, I told my driver to get out of the driver¡¯s seat, and he


    quickly slid into the passenger seat. Putting my foot down and leaving a cloud of dust behind us, we


    tore out of the train station to chase after the train. After about five minutes, we hit farnd. Driving up


    to the train tracks, we turned, driving alongside the tracks, when we saw the train up ahead. Putting my


    foot down, I overtook the train before driving up onto the tracks about a kilometre ahead of it to give it a


    chance to stop safely. The train driver instantly slowed beforeing to a stop just before my car. An


    elderly gentleman with his grey beard and hair wearing overalls stepped off the train raising his hands


    in surrender. ¡°I don¡¯t want any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Settle down, we aren¡¯t here to cause problems. I¡¯m looking for a woman and child; they got on at Larse


    station.¡± I showed him a picture on my phone that I had Zane take when he was watching her at the


    diner.


    He briefly looked at it before saying, ¡°The middle carriage, son. You aren¡¯t going to hurt them, are you?¡±


    He genuinely looked concerned for them.


    ¡°Of course not, why would I hurt a defenceless woman and child? You have been watching too many


    action movies, old-timer,¡± I replied. He looked relieved, nodding his head, he climbed back into the


    carriage.


    Walking along the train, I made eye contact with Zane before pointing to thest carriage. He


    immediately obeyed. I knew she would run for the back one, so predictable. Pushing the sliding door


    open, I climbed into the train before opening the carriage door inside. Aria was protectively shielding


    Lily.


    ¡°Just grab her. If not, grab Lily. She willply; she won¡¯t risk her safety.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± Everyone replied before I cut the link.


    I observed. Aria wasn¡¯t really thinking she could get away, surely, she would know better.


    ¡°Lily close your eyes and put your hands over your ears,¡± Aria called out. ncing over at Lily, she did


    what she was told no questions asked. Lily really is a great kid; Aria has raised her well considering.


    Looking back up, Aria had turned, so she had a view of both ends of the carriage. HMMM, she is really


    going to try, interesting.


    ¡°Our girl is a fighter. Let¡¯s see what she can do,¡± Ryder says excitedly. ¡°Should have brought some


    popcorn.¡± I muffle myugh, but luckily no one was paying attention. Zane shoves Rick forward, but


    what happened next, I wasn¡¯t expecting. Aria seized the opportunity and cracked him a good one with


    her knee before stomping on his nuts. I internally cringe as I watch her foote down.


    Next up is Zane, who I could hearughing at Rick¡¯s downfall. Aria was ready though, jumping out of


    reach. But she wasn¡¯t expecting Mitch behind her. After she kicks Zane in his chest with both her feet,


    he trips groaning.


    ¡°Fuck, I feel like I just been kicked by a horse. What have you been feeding her?¡±


    ¡°My blood,¡± Iughed back at him. Hearing a terrifying growl, I look back up and notice a crazed gleam


    in her beautiful amber eyes. Hunger. Looking over at Mitch and seeing he is bleeding. Crap. Getting up,


    I shove him to the side, making himnd on the seat. I grab her just as she lunges for him, but she is


    quick to swat my hand away, along with it my bloody skin. My own growl matches hers. Yanking her,


    she turns andnds against my chest but then goes limp catching me off guard and we start to fall to


    the ground. Only she is prepared and shoves me straight over the top of her. She isn¡¯t as weak as she


    looks. Amused, I feel a smile creep onto my face. Just as I lunge at her, tackling her, she starts to fall,


    but I twist at thest minute, pulling her onto my chest.


    She squirms for a bit before realising it''s useless. My arms wrapped around her warm body, and I could


    feel her breasts pushing against my chest, her scent driving me and my wolf crazy. I could feel my dick


    going hard at the thought of having her pushed up against me. Rolling to my side and using my legs, I


    pull us to a standing position. Not wanting her to know the reaction being close to her gives me. Letting


    her go, I instantly lose the warmth of her body.


    ¡°What, you expect me to go back willingly to my death?¡± she asks, raising her eyebrow at me. I indicate


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    towards Zane, and her eyes follow before she recognises defeat.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t the target. We only needed to distract you to get to Lily, I know you won¡¯t risk endangering


    her, if we wanted you dead you would be, I only told them to grab you or grab Lily. Nice try though, it


    was quite entertaining.¡± She stormed off the train.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t she marvellous? I¡¯m so d we decided to keep her,¡± says Ryder, obviously impressed.


    ¡°Think you mean you decided to keep her. I wanted to kill her, but she is kind of growing on me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm something is definitely growing, and it isn¡¯t her,¡± he bites back sarcastically. Looking down, I


    discover a tepee rising in my fucking pants.


    ¡°Settle down, Ryder, you filthy dog.¡± His anger at me calling him a dog made my erect dick instantly go


    down. Walking back to my car, I reach over and grab a bottle that has a sedative in it. Grabbing a


    syringe from the first aid kit, I stick the needle in the bottle, drawing some out. Walking back over to


    Aria, who was having a discussion with Rick over his hurt balls, I jab her in the neck while she is


    distracted.


    A confused expression appears on her face when she notices the syringe. ¡°What?¡± She falls into me


    before she mumbles something else that doesn¡¯t make sense. I think she called me a bitch. Picking her


    up, I inhale her scent. Little wolf won¡¯t be escaping now, I think to myself. I climb into the car with her


    sitting across myp and wait for the driver. The train has pulled away now, and I watch her sleeping


    body in my arms. Brushing her hair out of her face, I ran my nose against her jaw to her ear then along


    my mark Ryder gave her. She moved a bit at my touch but didn¡¯t wake. I ced a kiss on her head just


    as the driver¡¯s door opened and Mitch climbed in the front.

 Chapter 18

    Chapter 18


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Waking up, the bed felt soft,fortable, and warm. Not like the infirmary bed, which was a rubber


    mattress with nnelette sheets and thin cover. I was also aware I wasn¡¯t in bed alone. A heavily


    muscled arm drapedzily over my torso, his body heat seeping into mine from his chest pressed


    tightly against my back. Turning my head, I looked over at the sleeping Alpha. Must be deep in sleep


    because he snores like a bloody chainsaw. It was the middle of the night; I could see the moon sitting


    high in the sky through the windows that wrapped around half the room. Rolling onto my back, I freed


    one of my arms and lifted his arm that was now ced under my breasts, moving it off my body. I sat


    up and put my foot on the soft carpet, about to make a run for it.


    Looking towards the door, I started to get up when I realised the snoring stopped. ncing over at him,


    he was no longer sleeping; his eyes open staring at me. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. I mean, you can try if it makes you


    feel better. I will even give you a head start.¡± He rolled on to his back, closing his eyes.


    Getting up swiftly, I darted to the door. I could hear the Alphaughing behind me. Throwing the door


    open, I ran out, a cold breeze sending goosebumps all over my body. Looking down, I realised I only


    had an oversized shirt on that was only just covering my bare arse. Where the fuck are my clothes?


    Running back into the room, I turned around and red at the Alpha.


    He was sitting up in the bed back propped up against the wooden headboard. Reaching over, he


    flipped on themp that was on the bedside table. ¡°Well, that was quick. Forget something?¡± He


    smirked, raising an eyebrow before looking down at my bare legs. Suddenly feeling naked, I tried to


    pull the shirt down to try to cover my exposed flesh.


    ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± Alpha Reid put his hands up in surrender.


    ¡°I promise I didn¡¯t peek, and I thought you would be ufortable sleeping in jeans.¡±


    ¡°So, you thought I would be ufortable in my underwear as well?¡± I asked, crossing my arms over


    my chest ring down at him. His eyes dropped to my legs again. He smiled. Looking down, I realised


    by crossing my arms, I had hitched the shirt up even higher, nearly exposing myselfpletely. Quickly


    ripping the shirt back down, I felt my face heat up.


    ¡°I wonder how low your blush goes?¡± Looking back at the Alpha, his head cocked to the side with a


    smile on his face. I watched his eyes flicker oddly in the dim room to his wolf before settling back to his


    normal stormy grey. I stood awkwardly at the door, trying to cover myself and my embarrassment,


    which he seemed to be enjoying.


    ¡°You can have your clothes in the morning,¡± he said, pulling the nket back and patting the empty


    side of the bed.


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired. Might have something to do with you knocking me out.¡±


    ¡°Well, I am. Now get in the bed.¡±


    ¡°No, I will go sleep with Lily. Where is she?¡±


    ¡°Why? So you can run the first chance you get? Not happening.¡± He patted the bed expectantly.


    Knowing I wasn¡¯t getting anywhere, I walked over to the bed and climbed in. The Alpha tried to pull me


    closer, but I wriggled out of his grip. One minute he was ring murderously at me, the next he was


    almost yful. Why am I in his bed? He wanted nothing to do with me the other day.


    ¡°My wolf will sleep better closer to you, and so will I, if you stop questioning everything.¡± Confused, I


    looked over at him, his eyes were closed. ¡°I can hear your thoughts when you¡¯re close, now can you


    please go to sleep?¡±


    What? Can he hear my thoughts? My face heated up, instantly mortified, thinking of all the


    inappropriate thoughts I had of him in the diner. Why can¡¯t I hear his then?


    Propping himself up on one elbow, he looked down at my reddening face.


    ¡°I can hear yours because I have marked you and you are close to me. You haven¡¯t marked me so,


    therefore, you can¡¯t hear mine. As for the dirty thoughts, I didn¡¯t know of them until you just


    remembered them, now please go to sleep.¡±


    Oh my god kill me now. I mentally face palmed myself. Rolling over to my side, I tried to go back to


    sleep, but it just wasn¡¯t happening. Trying to think of anything other than the Alpha¡¯s warm body next to


    mine, I started counting back from a 100. ¡°Not helping, please stop talking.¡±


    ¡°Stop listening then, I never asked to be in here. I can¡¯t sleep with you next to me.¡±


    ¡°You were sleeping just fine before. I can help if you want.¡±


    I rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically. ¡°How? Are you going to drug me again?¡± Iughed.


    ¡°I have other ways.¡± Before I could ask what they were, he was on top of me, his legs pressed against


    my thighs, his head pressed to where my mark was. The next thing I remember is his canines brushing


    up against it before his teeth sunk into it, remarking me, then I was out like a light.


    Waking up the next morning, I could hear water running. Groggily opening my eyes and peering around


    the room, I blinked, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the light shining in through the floor to ceiling


    windows. His room looked like something out of a catalogue. All the furniture was made from oak, and


    the carpet was ck and thick, making the room quite cosy looking with the furniture. The king bed was


    also made from oak with a huge headboard that had two wolves facing each other carved into it.


    Getting up, I noticed straight away I still only had his shirt on. Walking over to the dresser, I opened the


    drawer which had briefs and socks in it, going to the next drawer I opened it. Inside were boxers and


    pyjamas. Grabbing a pair, I slipped them on before taking a pair of his socks and putting those on too.


    Wanting to leave before he got out of the shower, I quickly opened the door and started running down


    the stairs, which were located next to the bedroom door I found Lily hiding in.


    Opening the door, I popped my head in, but the room was empty. Closing the door, I walked down the


    hallway, passing the infirmary after a few turns. I knew this side of the house, so finding the stairs


    leading down to the main floor was easier today than when I tried to escape. Walking down the stairs, I


    could smell freshly brewed coffee and bacon. My stomach growled hungrily. I followed the scent all the


    way to the kitchen, where I found Lily, Beta Zane, and a blonde woman with the little girl Lily introduced


    me to. Standing in the kitchen was Wendy and another man whom I¡¯m assuming must be her mate, as


    he had his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. His head rested on her shoulder while she was


    standing at the bench drinking what I¡¯m assuming is coffee or what I like to call liquid gold.


    As soon as I swung the wooden door open, all eyes turned to me. Not one of them seemed shocked to


    see me. Wendy smiled and walked up to me with her arms open, embracing me in a warm hug.


    ¡°I¡¯m so d you are alright. You had me worried when you left.¡±


    I hugged her back before stepping back and looking at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I hope you didn¡¯t get in too much


    trouble.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the Alpha, I can handle him.¡± She winked before smiling back at me.


    ¡°Oh, this is Mitch, my mate. You already know Zane, and that is Christine, Zane¡¯s mate,¡± Wendy said,


    pointing to each one. Mitch had short blonde hair and blue eyes and a round face. He was taller than


    Alpha Reid but leaner. Christine had blonde curly hair that sat on her shoulders, her facial features


    were softer, and she had green eyes and pale skin. Waving at them, I instantly recognised Mitch was


    the one I headbutted.


    ¡°Sorry about yesterday,¡± I said, looking at him. Mitch just nodded his head. His nose was already


    healed, not even a scratch, but that didn¡¯t make me feel any better especially knowing he was Wendy¡¯s


    mate.


    ¡°What, I don¡¯t get an apology?¡± asked Zane.


    ¡°I barely touched you, and you fell over your own feet,¡± I threw back at him with a grin on my face.


    Zane shook his head, smiling before taking a sip of his coffee. Lily stopped eating her pancakes and


    came over to me, wrapping her tiny arms around me in a hug, before running back to the table to sit


    next to Amber. Walking over to the jug, I poured myself some coffee and lent on the counter with my


    arms next to Wendy and Mitch, who had gone back to the same position they were in when I walked in.


    Come to think of it, Christine also had some part of her touching Zane. When each would move, they


    would readjust some body part whether it was arms, legs, or hands to keep touching each other like


    mas. Must be a mate thing and werewolf thing because I don¡¯t feel like touching Alpha Reid. I feel


    like running from him.


    Speak of the devil, and he will show. Just as I was taking a sip from my coffee, in bursts Reid with his


    wet hair that was dripping on his clean blue shirt and a pair of jeans. The panicked look on his face


    made me jump back before his features softened and rxed upon seeing me standing next to Wendy.


    Walking towards me, I took a step back, bumping into Wendy.


    ¡°He won¡¯t bite love; he is alright once you get to know him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t been bitten by him.¡± I could hear everyone chuckle. My hand reflexively


    went to my mark where he decided to take a bitest night. Who is she kidding? I have every right to


    fear him. He hates me and my kind.


    ¡°I don¡¯t hate you, don¡¯t think that.¡±


    ¡°Will you stop doing that? It¡¯s an invasion of privacy,¡± I said, gritting my teeth. Grabbing my coffee, I


    went and sat next to Lily, drinking it slowly.


    ¡°So, how many Pack members live here?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Only us, the rest have their own ces. It would cause too many fights having everyone under one


    roof, and Pack warriors love to fight,¡± Christine said, speaking up for the first time since I walked in.


    Made sense, Pack warriors are hunters and loved fighting, so I would assume amongst themselves


    too.


    Looking around the room, I noticed the Alpha leaning casually on the counter staring at me, his dark


    eyes burning into me with a look on his face I couldn¡¯t decipher. Looking back at Lily, she had finished


    eating.


    ¡°Can we stay here now, Ari?¡± she asked excitedly. Before I could answer, the Alpha was standing


    directly behind me.


    ¡°Your home is here now, you aren¡¯t going anywhere,¡± he said, cing a hand on my shoulder. His


    touch sent sparks flying down my shoulder to my core, desire coursing through my body. I pressed my


    thighs together, trying to stop the ache between my legs. Looking up, the Alpha was looking down at


    me with a sly smirk on his face over the effect he was having just by touching me.


    My face instantly heated up. He chuckled softly before removing his hand and walking back to the


    counter. When I looked around, I found everyone was staring at me smiling, like they were in on some


    joke I was unaware of. Wendy broke the awkward silence.


    ¡°Zane reckons Alpha has no effect on you. Alpha wanted to prove him wrong.¡± If looks could kill, he


    would be dead ten times over with the daggers I was throwing his way.


    When Lily walked out, I was quick to follow, pulling her to the side.


    ¡°Lily, where is our bag?¡±


    She looked nervous, looking down before answering. ¡°Alpha Reid took it; I think he took it in his room.


    He had it when he was carrying you,¡± she said, still looking at her purple socks. Looking over at her


    clothes, I noticed she was in brand new ones. She had on ck tights and a pink unicorn shirt that


    matched her bedspread.


    ¡°Okay, I will try to find it. Stay with Amber.¡±


    Lily nodded before running over to y with Amber in the games room. Walking back up the stairs, I


    quickly ran back to the Alpha¡¯s bedroom, looking in all the drawers before going into his walk-in closet


    and rummaging around trying to find my duffle bag. I knew if I didn¡¯t find it soon, we would have


    problems. Ever since the night I came here and they fed me blood, I have started craving it more and


    more, not just when I¡¯m injured or angry. The thirst is now always there waiting for a reason to take


    over.


    Realising it¡¯s not in the bedroom, I make my way down to his office which I know is the one with the


    new desk simply because it¡¯s the biggest. It was nearly as big as his room, plus it was kind of in the


    middle of the house. Feeling relieved when I opened the door to see he wasn¡¯t in there, I made my way


    Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    over to the bookshelves which had filing cupboards underneath and started opening them.


    When I opened the third drawer, I found the bag. I opened it, noticing it felt lighter. My stomach dropped


    when I realised the bag only had my work uniform and my wallet. Standing up, my back was turned to


    the door, so I hadn¡¯t realised the Alpha had walked in and was now sitting behind his desk watching


    me. Shit, where did he put them? I couldn¡¯t find them anywhere.


    ¡°Looking for these?¡± His voice was low, making me jump. Turning around, he was sitting at his desk


    holding up a jar full of syringes. Relieved, I went to grab them, but he pulled them away at thest


    second.


    ¡°I need those, please,¡± I begged.


    ¡°Why?¡± not willing to answer. I tried to snatch them from him, but he was quicker, moving them out of


    reach again.


    When I went to grab them a third time, I noticed one of the bottles of wolfsbane at the end of his desk.


    Quickly snatching it off his table, I walked out and mmed the door.

 Chapter 19

    Chapter 19


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Watching her leave and mming the door behind her, I wanted to chase her down and force her to tell


    me what she wanted the wolfsbane for. It was unusual for a wolf to want it. Was it for protection? Does


    she feel safer knowing she has it on her? Lily refused to tell me when I asked why Aria smelt of it at the


    diner and why Aria had so much in her system when we found them. The only thing Lily said was that


    they used it against the Alpha when they escaped. I¡¯m assuming her old Alpha forced her to drink it as


    punishment, knowing it wouldn¡¯t kill her. I just didn¡¯t understand why they would have so much in the


    bag. Just as I was about to follow her, the door opened, making mee to a stop. It was Doc. She


    walked in holding a bunch of paperwork.


    ¡°You are going to want to take your seat, Alpha. I have some surprising news for you.¡±


    Walking back over to my desk, I sat down waiting for her to exin what the hell she was talking about.


    Mavis sat down before pushing the papers in front of me.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, confused. The documents looked like blood work documents.


    ¡°When Aria came in here, we took some vials of her blood. Out of curiosity I had her DNA tested


    because even for a Hybrid she had ingested way too much wolfsbane. Enough to even kill a Hybrid.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Looking at the papers, they were just numbers on a page


    to me. I could never understand all this medical gibberish.


    ¡°We got the test results back. Aria isn¡¯t a typical Hybrid. She is 83% Lycan or in simpler terms a pure


    wolf, but her Vampire side is also pure. Aria isn¡¯t just a werewolf/Vampire Hybrid. Her DNA is older, her


    bloodline is ancient, and she is more wolf than any of us. Whoever her parents are, they are old,


    incredibly old. Aria¡¯s bloodline is so pure that she is, in every sense of the word, a mythical being.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Lycans died out centuries ago. There are none in existence. Run the tests again.¡±


    ¡°We have multiple times. I thought it must have been a mistake as well, but I assure you Alpha, it¡¯s


    not.¡±


    Lycans were the first of our kind. They don¡¯t have a wolf because they are the wolf. Meaning if what


    Mavis says is true, her bloodline isn¡¯t much younger then the Moon Goddess herself. The Moon


    Goddess was Lycan. It¡¯s said that one of her grandchildren fell in love with a human, therefore creating


    a mutated version called werewolves. When the Moon Goddess found out that her grandchild mated


    with a human, she had a witch help her, and in turn, the Moon Goddess created the mate bond to try


    and keep the bloodlines pure. What she didn¡¯t realise was that humans and Vampires could also be


    mates for Lycans and Werewolves, so after time, the Lycan blood was eradicated. Werewolves like


    myself are a mutation over Lycans mating with humans. No wolf today has Lycan blood, we are half-


    human, but that means Aria is from an original generation of Lycans. It also means that if she wanted,


    she has more power over any Pack and is rightfully a queen of Alphas. It also means the Moon


    Goddess is either her grandmother or her aunt because thest Lycans alive with as much purity as


    Aria were the Moon Goddess¡¯s siblings or her children.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°What about her Vampire side?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the same. I have no idea who her parents were, but you said Lily and Aria share the same mother.


    Lily¡¯s test showed she has normal wolf genes, and shees from an Alpha bloodline. So that means


    it was Aria¡¯s father who was an original Hybrid. Aria¡¯s Lycan side is more dominant than the Vamp side


    for now. From what I gathered from her blood test, she hasn¡¯t drunk blood in years. Her Vamp side was


    almost dormant until you gave her blood. I¡¯m actually surprised at how well she is adjusting, her thirst


    must be excruciatingly painful for her. Giving her blood would have awoken her Vampire side, she


    would probably be ravenous.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean she would be ravenous? Has shee to you to get blood?¡±


    ¡°No, I figured you must have been feeding her, but if you haven¡¯t been feeding her, that means she


    hasn¡¯t had blood since you fed her the first night here. She would be a ticking time bomb if she doesn¡¯t


    feed.¡± Doc¡¯s worried expression has me concerned. If she is a ticking time bomb, then how safe is my


    Pack with an original Hybrid in the house?


    ¡°And you¡¯re sure no one has given her a blood bag?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Alpha. It¡¯s not something we keep here. Not much use in a Pack house full of werewolves with


    super healing abilities.¡± She chuckled lightly.


    ¡°Well, you are going to have to order some.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Boss.¡± She walked out of the room, leaving me to my own thoughts.


    So, if Lily has Alpha blood, does that mean Alpha David is Lily¡¯s father? No Pack has two male Alphas.


    And who was Aria¡¯s father? Does Aria know what she is?


    ¡°And you called her an abomination, she is more werewolf than us,¡± Ryder spoke up.


    ¡°Shut up, Ryder. We have more pressing issues like where our mate is and what she is hiding. We also


    have to sort out the ck Moon Pack and that Alpha of theirs.¡±


    Leaving my office, I followed Aria¡¯s scent to look for her.

 Chapter 20

    Chapter 20


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Running from the Alpha¡¯s office, I quickly made my way to the Alpha¡¯s bedroom. I didn¡¯t want Lily to


    worry, and I was also worried she might tell the Alpha I was craving blood. I didn¡¯t need to give him any


    more reasons to kill me. I knew he wouldn¡¯t follow me because as soon as I left, Mavis, the Pack


    doctor, walked in straight after me. Going to the bathroom, I quickly chugged down half the bottle


    before crumbling to the floor. My thirst was beginning to be a problem. I haven¡¯t wanted or needed


    blood so badly before, but it was like every fibre of my body was craving it. The wolfsbane burnt every


    cell, making me cry out in pain, clutching my stomach.


    Come on, Aria, you can do this just a bit more. It will make the hunger stop. I tried to drink more down,


    but as soon as it hit my tongue again, I doubled over, throwing up into the toilet. I could feel my tongue


    sizzling from the poison. Blood started running down from my eyes and mouth. I thought drinking more


    would hold me off longer, but all it did was make me thirstier. My hunger became the only thing I could


    think about, taking over my thoughtspletely. Laying on the cold tiled floor, I suddenly felt like my


    body was overheating, like I was boiling from the inside. I don¡¯t know how long Iid there. When I


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    suddenly heard the bedroom door open, I could smell his alluring scent instantly. Closing my eyes, I


    tried to concentrate on anything but his scent, his blood calling to me. Sitting up, I quickly locked the


    door, but as soon as I did, he knocked on it.


    ¡°Open the door Aria,¡± his voice sounded strained. I didn¡¯t answer because I knew if I did, it woulde


    out pained or I would growl at him. Not trusting my hunger, I tried to drink another mouthful but only


    ended up choking gasping for air, when the door was suddenly kicked in. Alpha Reid walked in a


    pained look on his face; his breathing was ragged, and he was clutching the door frame tightly with his


    hand.


    ¡°Stop whatever you are doing,¡± he gasped. I tried to get up but only stumbled back onto my hands and


    knees. So instead, I leant on the wall. He walked back out to the bed sitting on the edge, ¡°The stronger


    the mate bond gets, the more I feel what you are feeling, including your pain.¡±


    Looking over at him, I suddenly took in his appearance. He had sweat running down the sides of his


    face, and his shirt was drenched in sweat as well. He sat there until he regained his strength before


    pulling his shirt over his head, dumping it on the floor next to him. cing his elbows on his knees, he


    brushed his fingers through his hair before looking over at me sitting on the floor.


    ¡°Is that why you drink it? To stop the bloodlust?¡± Nodding my head, I faced the wall. I had been holding


    my breath for a few minutes now. Knowing as soon as I took a breath, I would be consumed with


    hunger again.


    Getting up he walked back over to the bathroom door, leaning on the door frame. I watched as a drop


    of sweat ran from his neck down his muscr shoulder over his pecs and down his 6 Pack to his V-line


    before stopping at his jeans. He really was built like a god.


    ¡°If you¡¯re done eye-fucking me, get up off the floor and breathe. I know you¡¯re ufortable,¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± I said, gritting my teeth.


    ¡°Why? Because you¡¯re hungry¡­because you need to feed?¡±


    Looking up at him, his eyes were soft. He didn¡¯t look angry, he just looked worried. Does he really care,


    or is this some trick to see if I can control my hunger? Well, if that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t give him the


    pleasure of seeing me break.


    Reid, figuring out I wasn¡¯t going to listen, showed me his palm. His ws extended, and he ran his


    index finger down his palm, slicing deeply. Blood started running down his hand onto the floor. He was


    baiting me. I could hear his blood dripping onto the floor. My face distorted just at the sight of it; my lips


    parted, my fangs breaking through my gums painfully. I growled at him in warning, trying to tell him to


    back off, but he didn¡¯t even flinch. I took a breath through my mouth, my growls getting angrier like a


    predator about to attack its prey.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Aria. It¡¯s not a trick I promise.¡± Looking away, I closed my eyes, but my eyes snapped back to


    his when I heard his skin be resliced, only deeper. He was healing but reopening the wound. Teasing


    me. Obliterating what little self-control I had left. Why is he doing this to me? I felt tears brimming in my


    eyes, threatening to spill over. You are stronger than this Aria, you can do this, he is just trying to bait


    you.

 Chapter 21

    Chapter 21


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Getting up off the ground, I shoved past him. I didn¡¯t get far before his hand reached out to grab my


    shoulder. Spinning around, I grabbed him and pushed him. He flew backwards andnded on his back


    on the bed. Climbing on top of him, my legs straddling either side of his hips, anger and fear began


    taking over.


    ¡°Is this what you want? To see me break, to lose control? So, you can prove I¡¯m the monster you think I


    am, to give you a reason to kill me?¡± I screamed. Lifting his shoulders, I mmed him back onto the


    bed.


    He had a look on his face I was having trouble deciphering. He didn¡¯t look happy, just concerned, sad.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Reaching his hand up, he ced it on my cheek, his thumb tracing the veins that were exposed under


    my eyes. His touch sent shivers down my spine. My body wanted to lean into his touch, but I refused,


    pulling back. I watched him; his hand dropped to my hip, squeezing it lightly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to break you. Just let go and give me control, Aria. I... It¡¯s hard, but I can¡¯t reject you.


    You¡¯re not like them, I know this now.¡± His voice was soft.


    ¡°Not like all the Hybrid¡¯s you killed. What did they do that has you hating us so much that you would be


    sick enough to exterminate uspletely? You want control? You¡¯re an idiot if you think I will give you


    control. People only want control because it¡¯s power over the other person, something to use against


    them,¡± I spoke through gritted teeth.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that; the mate bond wouldn¡¯t let me. Why can¡¯t you see that? I was wrong, what I did was


    wrong. I know that now.¡±


    Pfft, I refuse to bow down to anyone anymore. I¡¯m sick of being a pawn in everyone else¡¯s game, sick


    of hiding, sick of fighting what I am. As I was about to climb off him, he sat up, holding me in ce. I


    went to shove him back with my hands, but he gripped both my wrists, holding them firmly to my sides.


    He lent in and ced a kiss on my jaw.


    My eyes widened before they closed, a moan escaping my lips. His head dipped lower, kissing my


    neck. Reaching up, he grabbed my hair, wrapping his fingers in it softly pulling, giving him better


    ess to my neck. I could feel his erection pressing against his jeans. I inhaled his scent, arousal


    flooding me mixed with hunger. Pulling back, he looked up at me. I hadn¡¯t realised I was growling at


    him. Not in anger but hunger and desire, both fighting against each other not sure which was going to


    win.


    Reid pulled my face down so we were looking at each other, his eyes holding mine. Desire coursed


    through me as he leaned in, kissing my lips softly. His lips moving against mine filled with desire. I


    answered his kiss. Kissing back fiercely, both of us fought for dominance. My hands moved to his


    chest, and I ran them along his shoulders. His arms wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me


    closer. Kissing him behind the ear, I heard him moan against my shoulder.


    Moving closer to his neck, hunger took over, devouring my senses. My fangs pressed against his flesh.


    I tried to pull back, to run, to stop from hurting him. His grip only tightened, one of his hands reached


    into my hair, holding my face to his neck.


    ¡°Shhh¡­. it¡¯s okay Ari, let go. I won¡¯t let you kill me,¡± he whispered, pressing his lips on my cheekbone.


    Hearing him use my nickname and the tenderness in his voice, I let go. My walls came crumbling


    down, no longer scared, no longer hiding what I am. Trust, something I never thought I was capable of,


    trusting someonepletely and of all people, I truly did, at this moment, trust him. Sinking my fangs


    into his neck, his blood rushed into my mouth. I gulped it down greedily, yet he didn¡¯t scream like I


    thought he would. Instead he moaned, pressing me tighter against his chest.


    I could feel his emotions flooding into me: love, eptance, desire. His intoxicating scent was nothing


    could get drunk on his taste. Pulling back before he had a chance to, I ran my tongue along my bite. I


    watched as it sealed but remained the same as the mark he gave me, marking him. I didn¡¯t realise I


    had tears running down my cheeks until he wiped them away before kissing me.


    Rolling me on to my back, he kissed me harder, his legs pushing between my thighs. I could feel the


    bulge in his pants pushing against my core, moaning loudly at the friction. His hands running beneath


    my shirt until they reached my breasts, my nipples hardening under his touch. Pulling my shirt off, he


    sat up, looking down at me. There was so much in the way he was looking at me. I could feel how


    much he wanted to touch me. How much he loved me, how much he wanted me. He didn¡¯t hate me.


    Just how had I been so blind to see it. His love for me outweighed the anger he had for my kind.


    I pulled him down, pulling his hips into mine. I arched my back, wanting more when I felt his teeth graze


    my nipple as he took it in his mouth. I wanted him, all of him. I don¡¯t know why I felt so bold. Reaching


    for his belt buckle, I started undoing it, my hands shaking. Seeing me struggle, he gripped my hands,


    holding them in one hand above my head. He hungrily kissed my neck before I felt his hand push


    inside my pants, slipping his fingers between my wet lips, leaving me moaning against his touch. He


    rubbed his fingers in a circr motion around my clit, my core throbbing in anticipation as he slipped a


    finger into my flooding hole.


    ¡°You like that?¡± His husky voice sent thrills all through my body. I didn¡¯t respond, my moans were my


    answer. Opening my eyes, he was watching me, seeing my reaction.


    A seductive smile appeared on his lips. He slipped another finger in, curling his fingers, hitting my g-


    spot, my hips moving against his fingers as he slipped them in out. My skin started to burn up. My legs


    began to shake as I could feel my releaseing, just sitting on the edge building up until I felt my


    walls mp down on his fingers. He slowed his movements, letting me ride out my orgasm. Slipping his


    hands out of my pants, my face flushed when I watched him suck his fingers clean, tasting me on his


    fingers. Kissing my neck, he sat up. I justid there never feeling so rxed as I did now.


    ¡°You might want to get up, we havepany.¡± His voice ran clear in my mind. Shocked, I looked over


    at him. He had a cheeky smile on his face.


    ¡°Did you just mind-link me?¡± I asked. Instead of answering out loud, he mind-linked instead.


    ¡°Yes, I did. You¡¯re part of this Pack now that you have marked me. You are my Luna.¡±


    I blushed all the blood rushing to my face thinking back to me marking him. Now everyone will know


    what we just did. How embarrassing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be embarrassed.¡± I couldn¡¯t help it though; I was never one for public disys of affection.


    Looking at the mark on his neck, it was red, angry. It was no longer bleeding but clearly on disy,


    much to my horror. Seeing how ufortable I was bing, he put out his hand. I dly epted


    it, letting him pull me to my feet.


    ¡°Why are you so ufortable? If you¡¯re this embarrassed now, I would hate to see how


    ufortable you will get after the mating ceremony.¡± The mating ceremony oh my god, how


    awkward. Now I¡¯m d we didn¡¯t have sex. The whole Pack would know, be able to smell his scent on


    me, iming me as his.


    ¡°Are you a virgin?¡± he asked. I stared back mortified, and he chuckled softly.


    ¡°Well sorry, but I have been a bit busy raising my sister. I didn¡¯t have time to being throwing myself at


    randoms,¡± I said sarcastically, trying to hide my embarrassment. His eyes zed over, his wolf taking


    charge. Gripping me, he pulled me to him, crushing me against his chest. I rxed in his hold before


    someone awkwardly cleared their throat. If I had been paying attention, I would have heard theme


    in. Stepping back, Reid¡¯s eyes were back to normal, his wolf no longer holding control. Looking over at


    the door, I saw it was Zane.


    ¡°Lily wants to know if she can go see Zoe?¡± he asked, raising his eyebrow a small smirk ying on his


    lips as he took in my dishevelled appearance. I nodded, embarrassed, walking past him to go search


    for Lily.


    Author Note


    Let me know your thoughts and don''t forget to rate my book please and drop your gems. Also check


    out my Author Page Jessica Hall Author Page on Facebook

 Chapter 22

    Chapter 22


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Walking downstairs, I find Lily ying with Amber. They were both sitting peacefully ying with a


    dollhouse and some barbies. Sitting next to them on the floor, I watched.


    ¡°Can we visit Zoe? I miss her,¡± Lily asked with a frown on her face.


    ¡°I can send Zane with you; I have a few things to look into,¡± Reid said, walking over to us. Lily beamed


    at him. Excitedly, she stood up, running off beforeing back with some pictures she drew.


    ¡°Can I also go back to school?¡± Lily asked. I went to tell her not yet, but Reid decided to answer for me.


    ¡°Would you like to go to school with Amber at the Pack''s school?¡± asked Reid. Seems like he has


    everything figured out, so I didn¡¯t object.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she squealed excitedly, throwing herself in my arms. Looking up at me, she sniffed me before


    sitting back. ¡°You smell different, Ari.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s another thing we have to talk about Lily, we are going to join the Blood Moon Pack, that¡¯s why I


    smell different.¡± I thought Lily may be a bit disappointed joining another Pack that wasn¡¯t connected to


    our family, but she looked just as excited.


    ¡°Really, we don¡¯t have to hide anymore?¡± I shook my head, tears springing in my eyes at her


    excitement.


    ¡°Come on, we will go see Zoe and talk about it more when we get home,¡± I told her. Zane walked out


    standing beside me. Reid was on the phone now but pulled the phone from his ear as we were about to


    leave. ¡°We are going to have a bit of a ceremony to introduce you to the Pack as the Luna. We can


    also do Lily¡¯s initiation ceremony as well,¡± he said, handing me his credit card. ¡°Here, find something


    nice to wear. Zane will escort you just in case you run into anyone from your old Pack,¡± he said before


    kissing me on the cheek.


    When we arrived at Joe¡¯s Diner, Lily took off and ran straight through the doors. Walking into the diner


    myself, I was greeted with a hug from Zoe. She hugged me so tight I didn¡¯t think she would let go.


    Marcus also came out, picking Lily up and throwing her up in the air.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go make pancakes, Lil,¡± he said excitedly. Lily followed him to the kitchen.


    Turning back to Zoe, she had tears in her eyes. ¡°I thought that Alpha killed you, but when he came in


    looking for you and Lily, I knew you must have escaped.¡±


    Being shocked at her words was an understatement, I waspletely gobsmacked. Zane gave me a


    nod before sitting in one of the booths. Zoe ushered me out of the diner and into her studio, walking


    behind the tv that sat in the corner off the wall. She pushed on the wall, which opened up, showing


    some stairs. I followed her down the stairs. As we walked down, lights started flicking on. They must


    have been motion sensor lights, little LED lights were running on each step. When we reached the


    bottom, the lights turned on and revealed a bunker.


    Along the walls were tv screens. I could see different angles of the diner and the street outside as well


    as the back entrances. Looking at Zoe, she gestured for me to sit down at a long stainless-steel table


    that looked more like a medical table than one you would eat at.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Zoe? What is all this?¡± Looking at Zoe, I came to realise I didn¡¯t know Zoe as much


    as I thought I did. She never really spoke much of her life with her husband. Mainly she asked about us


    or told us what she had nned or what she might have done that day, but nothing personal. I just


    assumed the memories of her life with Joe were too painful, and so I never pushed her for answers.


    ¡°I¡¯m shocked Reid didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Looking back over to her, I said, ¡°What? He knew all along?¡±


    ¡°No, only recently when I figured out he was your mate. I kind of told him to back off and leave you


    alone,¡± she mumbled.


    ¡°So, what is all this?¡±


    ¡°My husband used to be a Hunter. This was our weapons bunker.¡± Zoe got up and pressed a switch on


    the wall. The wall opened a hiddenpartment, and the whole wall on the inside uncovered an


    arsenal of weapons. Standing up, I walked over, examining them carefully. There were weapons for


    every sort of supernatural creature plus some I had never seen before.


    ¡°What¡¯s this,¡± I asked, pointing to a ground ball with a pin in it. It appeared to be a grenade but was


    clear with a gold liquid in it.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wolfsbane grenade.¡± A shiver ran down my spine. Turning back to Zoe, I watched her carefully.


    She didn¡¯t seem fazed about being in my presence. No matter who Zoe is or what her past contained, I


    knew I could still trust her.


    ¡°I know you have questions. If you take a seat, I want to show you something.¡± Sitting back at the table,


    Zoe walked back up the stairs and came back with a photo album. Opening it up, I saw a picture of Zoe


    with her husband. ¡°I married Joe when I was 18. Joe was 19 at the time. I came from a Catholic family,


    so when I found out he was a Hunter, I instantly thought I married a nutter.¡± She giggled at the memory.


    ¡°But after a little time, I came to see for myself. I never agreed with any of this, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to


    stand on the sidelines either, so I was also a Hunter for a while. I helped track them down but didn¡¯t get


    involved in the war, Joe preferred it that way anyway. He was a bit old fashioned, said it was too


    dangerous for a woman. Joe came from a family of Hunters, and when his parents died, he took over.


    He was raised to believe all supernatural creatures were dangerous and merciless killers and that he


    needed to rid the world of their evil. When he was in his early twenties, he met a man. They became


    best friends, but he soon discovered his friend wasn¡¯t human.¡±


    Zoe turned the page revealing a picture of Joe and another man. The man had ck hair and a strong


    jawline; he was tall and strongly built, he also had orange zing eyes. But that¡¯s not what I found the


    most astonishing thing to this story; the ne around his neck- it was my ne. Picking up my


    ne between my fingers, I looked at the wolf¡¯s head before turning it over to see the back, which I


    realised had the same face as the man in the picture. It captured his features perfectly, even the eyes


    which were the same orange as mine now.


    ¡°That¡¯s my father, isn¡¯t it?¡± Zoe nodded sadly.


    ¡°Yes, your father was my husband¡¯s best friend. When he found out, he was shocked but then realised


    his view on them was ruled by fear. They weren¡¯t much different than us. Yeah, you have your bad


    eggs, but they usually keep to themselves. So, after he found out about your father, he quit. Your father


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    was a good man, and after a while, he became family. A few yearster, as you know, me and Joe


    couldn¡¯t have kids, so we went and visited an orphanage, and we adopted a little girl. She was 3 at the


    time. She was abandoned on the side of the road when the authorities found her, and we raised her


    like our own.¡± I looked at the little girl in the picture. She reminded me of Lily.


    ¡°When she grew up and was about 10, she shifted into a wolf for the first time. Gave us quite the


    shock, but your father knew all along. He helped teach her to hunt, how to bond with her wolf. Your


    father also helped us keep her hidden. When she was 21, our daughter and your father established a


    rtionship. They fell madly in love.¡± Turning the page tears sprung in my eyes. It was my mother


    standing with my father and a huge baby bump. ¡°Not long after you were born, the Hunters my


    husband worked with found out about your father. My husband tried to get them to understand that he


    wasn¡¯t like the rest of the Vampires they hade across, but they refused to listen. One day they


    trapped your father and Joe. They were ambushed when they were out hunting, killing them both. My


    husband tried to save your father, but in the end, it got him killed. Your mother was devastated, and for


    a while, she left. She came back a few times when you were younger but never stayed long.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re my grandmother? Lily¡¯s grandmother?¡±


    Zoe smiled sadly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you, but Alpha David refused to let me be a part of your lives.


    So when you stopped in that day looking for a job, I knew it was my chance to be a part of your lives.


    Your mother used to send me photos of you growing up before she died. Alpha David was very


    controlling when he met your mother, and when he realised she was his mate, he kidnapped her. I


    thought I lost her. He forbade her from having contact with me, but after a while, the bond was too


    strong, and she stopped fighting to leave. A few yearster she had Lily. We kept in touch secretly, but


    once David came into the picture when you were 7, I never saw you in person, only by photos. David


    forced your mother to have you hypnotised to forget about me. That¡¯s why you have no memories of


    me.¡± Come to think about it, I haven¡¯t got many memories from my childhood, only dribs and drabs.


    I had tears running down my face. Standing up, I hugged her tightly. I still have a family; Lily and I


    aren¡¯t alone anymore. I have someone to connect me to my family.


    ¡°Aria, there something else, your father wasn¡¯t a Vampire, he was Hybrid. A powerful one at that. He


    wasn¡¯t a werewolf. He was a Lycan. When we met your father, he was 440 years old. My husband


    discovered after a lot of research that your father was the first Hybrid in existence. Your blood holds so


    much power. I didn¡¯t want to tell you earlier because if David found out that you could take him and his


    Pack, he would have killed you, and I knew you wouldn¡¯t want Lily left behind to be raised by that


    monster.¡± I just nodded my head. There is no way I would want him anywhere near her, especially after


    finding all this out.


    ¡°The more you feed, the stronger you will be, but you also need to be careful about the Hunters.


    You may not hear of them, but they are still around. They find out about you, they wille for you.


    Your bloodline is old, rightfully you would be considered an original Hybrid. You can¡¯t shift because you


    don¡¯t have a wolf. Your Lycan blood means you aren¡¯t a mutation, you''re something special. Your blood


    holds the past of when Lycans ruled when Lycans were considered Gods of Alphas.¡±


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t tell Lily, not yet I don¡¯t want to confuse her or scare her,¡± I said, which Zoe agreed.


    ¡°So how is everything with Reid?¡± Changing the topic to a lighter, almost casual topic. Honestly, I was


    d for the change in subject. I was having trouble wrapping my head around this whole Lycan stuff


    and the fact that I have a living rtive not only connected to my mother but my father also.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I thought he hated me when he found out I was a Hybrid, but he hase around. Now we


    are having a little ceremony tonight to introduce us to his Pack.¡±


    ¡°Go easy on him dear, he has his reasons for hating Hybrids. He has a pretty tragic background


    himself, but the mate bond will correct all faults. Trust in the Moon Goddess.¡±


    ¡°How do you know so much about him?¡±


    ¡°I have my ways; granny still has connections, and I have cameras all over the city. I have seen a lot


    over the years.¡±


    ¡°So does Marcus know about all this?¡±


    Zoe nodded. ¡°Marcus is also a Hybrid but just a normal Wolf and Vampire Hybrid.¡±


    ¡°How does he hide it?¡±


    ¡°Well for starters he drinks blood, so for the most part to the werewolves he smells human. After a


    while your eye colour will dim a bit, but he wears contacts mostly. His bloodline isn¡¯t like yours, your


    eyes will probably stay like your fathers growing brighter with hunger and strong emotion, but you can


    try contacts if you¡¯re that worried. Your father wore contacts before we discovered what he was.¡± Just


    as I was about to say something else, we heard amotion upstairs racing up the steps.


    I ran towards the entrance of the diner, where I could hear growling and things being smashed around.


    Stopping when I got to the counter, I saw Marcus had Lily pushed behind him. Zane was fighting with


    Alpha David and his Beta. Quickly racing forward, I grabbed Michael and threw him into a table. Alpha


    David turned. Knocking Zane out of the way, he stalked towards me. Lily screamed loudly, distracting


    me just as David punched me, knocking me to the ground. Zane and Marcus were quick to jump at him


    though, forcing him back before he could lunge at me. Getting to my feet, I grabbed Lily and pushed


    her towards the back of the diner. As I went to go help Zane and Marcus, I heard Zoe walk out from


    behind the counter, a shotgun in her hand pointed straight at the Alpha. She cocked the gun. David


    froze, a snarl on his face. His ws extended and his canines elongated.


    ¡°I won¡¯t miss, mutt. Now get out of my diner.¡± David growled at her, and Michael got to his feet and


    moved to David¡¯s side.


    He went to take a step closer to Zoe, who had Lily behind her. She lifted the barrel, so it was directly


    pointed at his head. ¡°You think you can take my daughter away, my heir. I¡¯m her father?¡±


    ¡°Your daughter? How dare you? She isn¡¯t your daughter. Being her father implies you cared for her and


    raised her. The only thing you ever did was push your responsibilities on to me. You are nothing but a


    coward. Lily is mine, I won¡¯t let you take her,¡± I screamed, outraged that he thinks he can even give


    himself the title of being her father.


    Michael gripped David¡¯s arm, trying to pull him towards the door and out of sight of the gun that Zoe


    held. They reluctantly leave.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over you will pay for this; I will get her back.¡± David sneered from the door.


    ¡°Pfft, you can try, but you don¡¯t scare me. You are delusional if you think I will just hand her over to the


    likes of you. Mum would be disgusted in you. You¡¯re no Alpha, you''re weak and pathetic.¡±


    David growled at me, trying to push past Michael. I must have hit a nerve. Fuck him, who does he think


    he his suddenly wanting to im parental rights. The Alpha and Beta Michael left in a fit of rage; David


    smashed the ss doors, sending ss everywhere on his way out.


    Zane came over, cing a hand on my shoulder. ¡°We should get back before he sends for back up.


    Reid wants toe get you.¡±


    ¡°Tell him no. We are leaving anyway, we can meet him at home.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Luna.¡±


    Picking up Lily, I turned back towards Zoe, who ced a kiss on Lily¡¯s head. ¡°You shoulde with us;


    it won¡¯t be safe here.¡± Zoe shook her head.


    ¡°I have Marcus here, and I¡¯m not some defenceless little olddy. I can hold my own, Ari. I refuse to be


    scared out of my home.¡±


    Marcus got a broom and started cleaning up the broken ss with a broom. Embracing him in a hug, I


    said my goodbyes. As I was walking through the busted door, I heard a low growl from behind me. Reid


    was standing there, ring at Marcus. Marcus growled back, shocking me. I always thought of him as


    human, so it was quite shocking to him growl at someone, especially an Alpha. He must feel


    This city isn¡¯t the safest for Hybrids. I¡¯m his best friend, he shouldn¡¯t have felt the need to hide it from


    me, but now I am seeing him in a totally new light.


    Reid took a step forward, reached out his arm and grabbed Marcus. I stepped between the two of them


    and red at Alpha Reid.


    ¡°Move Aria.¡±


    ¡°You are not going to touch him; he has done nothing wrong.¡±


    ¡°He is a Hybrid, fucking move.¡± He growled, shoving me to the side. Spinning around, I passed Lily to


    Zane before jerking Reid back by his jacket, who had tackled Marcus to the ground.


    ¡°I said no. If you want to kill him, you can go through me first. Marcus is my best friend. I won¡¯t allow


    you to hurt him.¡±


    Marcus got up and went back to sweeping, seemingly unfazed by Reid¡¯s show of dominance. Marcus


    could probably hold his own, but he isn¡¯t very confrontational and would rather diffuse a situation. The


    only time I had seen him get angry or hit anyone was when I had customers being inappropriate or vile


    towards Zoe or me, but Reid needs to get over his aversion to Hybrids seeing as I am one.


    Storming off, Reid got in the car that was parked on the curb, mming the door behind him. Zane took


    Lily in his car, while I got in Alpha Reid¡¯s.


    ¡°Why are you here? I told Zane to tell you to wait at home.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re my mate. As if I am going to sit at home like some house husband while my mate is in trouble,


    and then I show up and you''re cuddling up to some Hybrid.¡±


    ¡°Really, you¡¯re jealous? That¡¯s what this is about? Well, I¡¯m afraid to burst your bubble, but you and


    Zane are more his type. Marcus is gay, and he is my best friend, so grow up. I don¡¯t know why you hate


    Hybrids so much, but if I catch you trying to hurt Marcus, Lily and I will leave, and then you will have no


    mate.¡±

 Chapter 23

    Chapter 23


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Driving back to the Pack house, Reid didn¡¯t say much. He seemed to be thinking about what I said.


    After about ten minutes, he finally spoke. ¡°Do you know why I hate Hybrids?¡±


    Shaking my head, I looked over at him. Reid was staring out the window. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know,¡± I said.


    Reid thought for a few moments before speaking again.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t an only child. I had an older brother: his name was Alexander. He was 4 years older than me,


    and he was meant to take over the Pack when my father died. He never got the chance, though. When


    I was fourteen, my father took me away on Pack business with him. My mother and older brother


    stayed behind. Alexander was meant to go, but I begged my father to take me instead. We were gone


    for three days when my father got called through the Pack link saying the Pack house was under


    attack. We shifted and ran all the way home. My father screamed in agony every time he felt a Pack


    members link break, but he didn¡¯t stop running because he knew his Pack needed him. When we


    arrived at the Pack house¡­¡± Reid went quiet, trying to find the words to express what haunts him.


    ¡°When we reached the Pack house, Pack members bodies were strewn across the ce. Men,


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    women, even the children that didn¡¯t have a chance to get to the bunkers. All ripped to pieces, their


    blood staining the soil where theyy. My brother was fighting for his life and the Packs, but we were


    outnumbered. My father screamed, clutching his chest. It was the most agonised scream I had ever


    heard. I felt like my chest was being crushed. I will never forget the feeling of my mother¡¯s link


    breaking. My brother dropped to the ground feeling it too, feeling my father¡¯s heartbreak through the


    Pack link. I ran towards my brother to help when a man put his hand through his chest, ripping his heart


    out right in front of me. I killed the man, ripping him limb from limb. Thest image of my brother has


    haunted my dreams ever since...¡± Reid¡¯s hand clenched into tight fists white-knuckled he continued.


    ¡°When my father managed to get to his feet, he became crazed at the loss of his mate, my mother. The


    loss of my brother was thest straw. He ughtered every single one of them. We lost half the pack


    that day. My father wiped out the entire other Pack, every single person. He didn¡¯t care if they were


    involved or not, he went after them anyway. They were a rival Pack, my father had a dispute with them


    a few weeks before. They waited for my father to leave so they could attack, and they enlisted the help


    of the Hybrids. I hate them for what they did, not just the fact that they killed my family but for what they


    did to my mother. The Hybrids ripped her to pieces. It took us hours to find her entire body.


    ¡°My father went on a rampage and killed every Hybrid in the city with my help. I promised him I would


    kill every Hybrid I came across, promised to keep the Pack safe. A few years after, when I was sixteen,


    my father took his own life. My father couldn¡¯t handle the pain of losing his mate. I found him hanging


    from the ceiling in my office. Losing a mate will send a wolf crazy or make them bitter and angry. My


    father went crazy and killed himself, leaving the Pack to me. That¡¯s why I hate Hybrids. It doesn¡¯t


    matter if they weren¡¯t involved. I have seen what they can do, I know the destruction they are capable


    of.¡±


    I sat silently listening to everything he said, letting it sink in. He didn¡¯t look at me or add anything else.


    Reid just sat there gazing out the window trapped in his memories. Reaching over, I grabbed his hand.


    Reid ripped his hand out of my grip, and a growl escaped his lips, making me flinch and pull my hand


    back. We had pulled up outside the Pack house. Opening the door, Reid walked inside, mming the


    car door behind him, leaving me sitting in the car. I felt terrible not because he rejected me but because


    he had his own secrets, his own pain. A pain I couldn¡¯t take from him. Feeling through the bond, I could


    feel how hard he struggles with himself being around me, but at the same time, I could feel how much


    he rejects those feelings, pushing them aside for me. I felt guilty. I know I didn¡¯t kill his family, but that


    didn¡¯t make me feel any less guilty knowing that my kind were the ones to cause his heartbreak and


    knowing I was also making him break the promise he made to his father.


    After a few minutes lost in my own thoughts, Zane came over, opening the door. He waited for me to


    get out. ¡°Let him calm down. He doesn¡¯t mean to push you away.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± I said, hopping out of the car. Zane looked at me, worriedly. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Zane. Reid is the one


    that needs you, not me.¡± Zane nodded his head, following his Alpha.


    Walking into the Pack house, I find Lily, who is in the kitchen talking to Wendy excitedly about the


    uing celebrations. Looking at Lily, it made me think of what Reid said about losing a mate. How it


    sends a wolf crazy. Alpha David lost his mate, my mother. I could, for the first time, understand what he


    went through. I know if something were to happen to Reid, it would kill me. The mate bond was that


    strong, it would be like losing a piece of your soul. How was David able to live with it? I couldn¡¯t forgive


    all the horrid things he had done, how he rejected Lily, but for the first time, I did understand it. He


    med her even though she didn¡¯t deserve that me.


    For the first time since my mother died, I felt sorry for him, but sorry doesn¡¯t erase what he has done.


    Sorry doesn¡¯t make me think any better of him. I just hope one day Lily could have a father figure in her


    life that adores her. But if not, she always has me. I will always make sure she knows that above


    everything. That her happiness will always be more important than everything else that life throws at


    us. But to keep her safe I will have to try to speak to her father. They may never build a rtionship like


    I used to hope they would when she was baby, but I also didn¡¯t want to risk Reid¡¯s Pack, our Pack, if we


    were to go to war.


    I know Reid would go to war if we needed to keep her safe. I just hope it doesn¡¯te to that, and if


    there is any way to stop it, I promise Lily I will try. After all, as much as I can¡¯t stand David, it doesn¡¯t


    change the fact that he is her father. Lily may want nothing to do with him now, but that could change


    when she is older, and if there is a chance they could build a rtionship, I will have to make sure she


    gets that chance. So, for now, I need to find a way to defuse the situation before it bes out of


    hand.


    Walking over to Lily and Wendy, they walked out the back onto the patio area that overlooked the pool


    and backyard. Following behind them, the first thing I noticed was heaps of Pack members. There were


    about a hundred people in the yard setting up long tables and cing out chairs. There were men


    setting up what looked like a DJ station and dance floor. Women were happily chatting amongst


    themselves, setting the tables. Arge group of teenagers were hanging lights from the trees and on


    the huge gazebos. How did they set up all this in the time while we were gone? Everyone seemed


    buzzed and excited about the ceremony. I wondered if they would feel so excited when they discovered


    they have a Hybrid for a Luna. I suddenly felt inadequate. I was a noone, now I¡¯m expected to help lead


    the Pack.


    Wendy, noticing me, walks over, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. ¡°This is all for you, Luna, you


    and Lily. The Pack members are excited to meet their Luna finally. We never thought Reid was going to


    find his mate. He has always been so closed off to everyone until you came into the picture, so


    everyone is naturally curious.¡±


    Her words only made me more anxious. Stepping away from her, I made my way back inside. Deciding


    to go upstairs, I walked into Reid¡¯s room, not really knowing where else I could hide from everyone. I


    looked for a linen cupboard, wanting to take a shower, but couldn¡¯t find one after a few minutes. I


    walked back downstairs to the hallway. Walking past the bedrooms beforeing to Alpha Reid¡¯s


    office, next to it was a cupboard and opening it, I grabbed a towel out. As I was about to turn to walk


    back upstairs, I heard talking. ¡°Calm down Alpha, if you go back and kill him, Aria will never forgive


    you.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t fucking care. I hate them, hate them all.¡± I quickly dropped my head going to walk off back to


    the stairs when the floor creaked. Looking through the gap of the door. I made eye contact with Reid,


    who was ring directly at me. His canines protruding, his face was distorted with anger. I couldn¡¯t


    seem to pull my gaze away from him. His anger was strong, thick, reaching to me through the bond. I


    suddenly felt like my blood was boiling, making me feel hot. His anger was burning hot and unrelenting.


    Zane stepped into my line of vision, breaking my eye contact. He looked at me, smiling sadly before


    closing the door.


    Running to the room, I locked the door before walking into the bathroom. His anger scared me. I felt


    frightened of what he might do if I pissed him off. I knew he can¡¯t kill me without destroying himself, but


    that didn¡¯t make me fear him any less in this moment. Jumping in the shower, I turned the taps on,


    washing my body with the shower gel and a loofa. I washed myself slowly, not wanting to get out of the


    shower. My muscles were tense, and I was on edge. After about five minutes, I heard the door handle


    to the bedroom break. It dropped to the floor with a soft thud. My heart skipped a beat, and my stomach


    dropped when I heard the door handle to the bathroom twist before opening.


    Dread consuming me, I froze. Reid¡¯s imposing frame walked in. Watching him, I had the sudden urge to


    not turn my back on him. He was still angry. Reid stripped his clothes off before stepping into the


    shower and turning on the other showerhead at the other end on the wall. Putting his head under the


    hot stream of water, I watched his shoulders rx, and he let out a breath. I quickly washed my hair


    before turning my own shower off. Grabbing my towel that was sitting on the sink basin, I quickly


    wrapped it tightly around my body. When I looked up, Reid was staring at me, his jaw clenched and


    eyes zing. Rushing out of the bathroom, I quickly closed the door behind me.


    Sitting on the bed was a dark aqua coloured dress. The dress was beautiful, it was a mid-thigh off-


    shoulder silhouette with a plunging neckline which would show a lot of cleavage. Picking up the dress, I


    stared at it. I couldn¡¯t remember thest time I wore a dress, maybe when I was a little girl. I wouldn¡¯t


    usually wear something so revealing. Next to the dress was a blue suit, which must be what Reid will


    be wearing. Wrapping the towel tighter, I went to the draw and pulled out some underwear. The dress


    wouldn¡¯t allow for a bra, so I slipped my panties on, just as the door opened. Wendy and Christine


    excitedly stepped in. ¡°You like the dress?¡± asked Christine excitedly.


    ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous but don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit revealing?¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, it will look great. Come on, let¡¯s get you changed,¡± said Christine grabbing my hand, pulling


    me from the room and down the stairs to her room. Christine was wearing a lc floor-length dress.


    Wendy was wearing a strapless blue mid-length dress that red out at the bottom. Both of them


    looked stunning.

 Chapter 24

    Chapter 24


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Wendy and Christine didn¡¯t waste any time; they excitedly did my hair and make-up. I just let them do


    what they wanted. There wasn¡¯t any point in trying to argue with them, I had more pressing issues


    consuming me. How were Reid and I going to get along when he had so much anger and hatred


    towards things that were out of my control? I can¡¯t change what I am, but I won¡¯t stand for him, making


    me fear him. I have always been submissive to how mine and Lily¡¯s life turned out, taking it as ites.


    I¡¯m not willing to sit and take it anymore. I know who I am now. More importantly, I know who I want to


    be, and that¡¯s not a person who gets pushed aside and walked all over. Only I can control who I


    am supposed to be, and standing there and taking blow after blow didn¡¯t work in the past. So, learning


    from those mistakes, I refuse to devalue myself for the sake of pleasing others or fearing the reactions


    of those who won¡¯t agree. Lily needs to know it¡¯s not normal hiding from everyone, not normal to fear


    everyone, and the only way I can get her to see her own strength is to disy it myself.


    I was brought out of all-consuming thoughts after about an hour of Wendy fiddling with my hair and


    makeup when they asked me to get changed into the dress. The dress fit like a glove, though I must


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    admit I wasn¡¯tfortable with the length, but they insisted it wasn¡¯t too short. Slipping the ck heels


    on, I stood in front of the mirror. Wendy had curled my long hair and put it half up half down, the curls


    raining down to the middle of my back. I had to admit they did a really good job. I looked nice. I looked


    how a Luna should look. Standing there, staring at myself in the mirror, I had a newfound confidence. I


    was starting to be excited about the celebrations. Today may not have been the greatest in terms


    of Reid and I getting along, but I pushed those thoughts aside. Even if he chooses to ignore me or not


    even show up, I will manage on my own. I won¡¯t let the Pack see what a nervous wreck I am on the


    inside. Just smile, fake it until you make it, I guess.


    Walking out into the foyer, Lilyes bounding up to me. She had a pink frilly dress on that went to her


    feet. Her blonde curls shaping her angelic little face to the middle of her back and white sandals on.


    She looked like a little princess.


    ¡°You look pretty Ari,¡± she said excitedly, pulling on my curls gently. I smiled down at her.


    ¡°So, do you, Lily, just like a princess.¡± Lilyughed excitedly, spinning in a circle to show me her dress,


    the bottom ring out as she spun around. Holding my hand out, Lily took it, and we walked towards


    the back yard. Beta Zane walked out with Christine and Wendy. The girls, noticing some Pack


    members, ran to go chat and mingle, leaving me there holding Lily¡¯s hand. Zane stepped over in his


    ck suit putting his arm out for me to take.


    ¡°Luna.¡± He nodded. ¡°You look great, Ari.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, you scrub up nice yourself,¡± I replied, smiling. Lily, Zane, and I walked over to the end of the


    patio. The entire yard had been transformed. Fairy lights shone brightly from the trees, making the


    whole yard glow. There were small fire pits scattered around, the tables were all set up and decorated.


    Music was ying loudly. There were tables of food. Lily looked excitedly at a group of kids around her


    age that were dancing on the dance floor that had been set up in the middle of the yard. Noticing her


    excitement, I nudged her. ¡°Go y, Lily, it¡¯s alright.¡±


    ¡°But what about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I have Zane, and I¡¯m sure Alpha Reid will be down soon,¡± I answered, not so sure on the


    standing around talking, dancing, drinking, and eating. The atmosphere was very rxed and happy,


    carefree. Everyone was enjoying themselves.


    ¡°Ready?¡± asked Zane.


    ¡°Yep, as ready as I''ll ever be.¡±


    Zane led me down the stairs. He introduced me to a lot of people. I could tell some thought it was weird


    that Zane was showing me around and introducing me to everyone instead of Alpha Reid. But no one


    said anything. They all seemed excited to meet me, and I was just as excited to meet the other Pack


    members. After a few hours, I did start to worry that Reid wasn¡¯t going to make an appearance. Pack


    members whispered amongst themselves. I even heard someone call me an unwanted mate. I didn¡¯t


    let it bother me, choosing to ignore the whispers. Their opinion of me didn¡¯t matter, and I didn¡¯t care to


    hear it either.


    Letting go of Zane¡¯s arm, I walked over to the bar area and grabbed another drink. The gentlemen


    behind the bar passed me a flute of champagne. He had red hair that jutted out everywhere, making


    him appear younger than he was. He had a strong build but wasn¡¯t as tall as most male werewolves.


    He wore ck cks and a t-shirt that had a picture of a tie on it.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the Luna. It¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet you. My name is Damien.¡± He bowed his head


    slightly.


    ¡°Nice to meet you, Damien. I¡¯m Aria.¡±


    ¡°Where is that Alpha of mine? Haven¡¯t seen him all night.¡±


    ¡°He is somewhere, I¡¯m not quite sure either.¡± He nodded in understanding. I could tell by the look on his


    face that he had heard the whispers. Does everyone think I¡¯m the unwanted mate? As the night went


    on, I started noticing the women kept ncing or smiling sadly at me. Like they felt sorry for me. I didn¡¯t


    want their sadness or pity. I wanted to feel like one of them. Everyone was polite but didn¡¯t go out of


    their way to talk to me. Wendy and Christine came over, finally finding me sitting on a stool at the bar.


    This time I was drinking red wine. Wendy took the ss from me, taking a sip before she passed it


    back to me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have that one please, Damien,¡± she told him. He quickly handed her a ss as well, and she


    motioned for me to follow her. We sat at one of the tables. Watching everyone, I saw Lily dancing with a


    group of kids on the dancefloor. Laughing amongst themselves. Zane came over with a huge tray of


    food. There were various types of meats and cheeses, and we tucked in eating, watching everyone.


    After we were done, Zane put his hand out for Christine. She happily took it, and they made their way


    to the dance floor. Wendy¡¯s mate also came and grabbed her. I watched them excitedly. But after a


    while, I found I was the only one still sitting at the table. I didn¡¯t mind, I was happy just watching. I knew


    it wasn¡¯t normal for the Alpha not to be at a ceremony he had organised. I tried to reach him through


    the bond, but he pushed me out.


    When Wendy and Christine came back over, they both put their hands out. Gripping their hands, they


    pulled me up before dragging me to the dancefloor with them. Feeling a bit giddy from the wine, I joined


    them, dancing with them andughing at Zane, who was trying to impersonate Mick Jagger¡¯s strut. The


    whole night seemed to be passing by, but I didn¡¯t care. I was having fun dancing with everyone,


    dancing with Lily whose face was red with exertion.


    After a few hours of dancing, everyone was clearly intoxicated and there was still no sign of Reid.


    There was amotion at the end of the dance floor. Zane walked off to go deal with it. When the


    voices got louder, though, I decided to walk over to see what was going on. Three Pack members were


    arguing, throwing punches. Zane was trying to separate them. They were too intoxicated and weren¡¯t


    listening to hismands, caught up in fighting each other. A crowd had started to grow around the


    idiots that were fighting. I saw Zane mind-link the Alpha presumably, but just as his eyes regained


    focus, he was punched making him stumble. There was a collective gasp from the crowd. Walking


    over, I put my hand out to help him up.


    ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Luna, I¡¯m fine. I will deal with this go back to enjoying your night.¡± I went to walk away when one


    of the men threw a punch, forcing the other man to stumble into me, knocking me to the ground.


    ¡°You fucking twit, show some respect to your Luna. Apologise now,¡± Zane ordered. Getting to my feet, I


    dusted some leaves and dirt off my dress.


    ¡°Luna? Reid doesn¡¯t want a Hybrid for a mate. He isn¡¯t even here; she is no Luna.¡±


    ¡°Watch your mouth, Tom. She is your Luna. Now apologise.¡± The man scoffed at me, rolling his eyes


    childishly. Lily came over wondering what was going on.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, there are children present,¡± I spoke up, looking towards Zane and the other man.


    ¡°See, that isn¡¯t a Luna. She is weak.¡±


    This bloke was really starting to piss me off. One of the other men threw another punch, and it started


    all over again. Zane was trying to separate them.


    Reaching through the mind link, ¡°Reid can youe down here, please. If not for me, do it for Zane.


    Things are getting out of control.¡±


    Reid never replied. I know he heard me; I felt the connection go through. I could even feel him listening.


    Zane managed to get them separated. People were talking in small groups, agreeing with the man


    about my authority orck thereof.


    The man from earlier, the one who knocked Zane down, stopped fighting. Walking towards me, he


    stopped directly in front of me. I could smell the bourbon on his breath. His white shirt had been torn


    from the fighting, he had a cut on his lip, and his blue jeans had blood on them from the other man. He


    had leaves in his blonde hair, which was all matted. Christine was right about one thing; having so


    many Pack warriors under one roof would be a disaster waiting to happen. The amount of testosterone


    in the air was ridiculous.


    The man smiled cruelly. I could tell he was up to no good. I also knew if I backed down, he would see


    me as weak and no one in the Pack would respect me. The man started jabbing me in the chest with


    his index finger. Zane went to walk over, but I put my hand up waving him off.


    ¡°You¡¯re not fit to be Luna. Even the Alpha agrees because he isn¡¯t even here.¡±


    Some of the Pack members were nodding their heads, agreeing with him. Looking over at Lily, she was


    scared, worried I was going to get hurt. When the man jabbed me in the chest with his finger again, I


    grabbed his hand. His eyes widened, and he growled at me. Angry, I started twisting his hand. I bent it


    back, he tried to manoeuvre out of my grip, but I was stronger. Twisting his wrist until I heard a


    sickening crack. Snapping his wrist, it hung at a weird angle. Everyone took a step back. I was pissed


    off. He may be drunk, but that¡¯s no reason to be disrespectful. I could feel my anger boiling bubbling in


    my veins. I knew my eyes were zing, my fangs elongated. The man let out a shriek as his wrist


    broke, clutching it to his chest. He snapped it back into ce, then red at me.


    ¡°You bitch.¡± He sneered, lunging at me. I stepped out of his way. Hended face-first in the dirt. That


    didn¡¯t stop him lunging again. I don¡¯t know if it was his embarrassment or his ego, but he kept lunging


    trying to gain an advantage. Trying tond a blow. I was too quick, my reflexes were faster than his. It


    didn¡¯t help that he waspletely shitfaced either. After the third punch he tried tond, I had enough.


    Gripping him by the cor of his shirt, I shoved him away, making him stumble into someone. Getting to


    his feet, I yelled at him.


    ¡°Enough!! Sit down and shut up.¡± My voice echoed through the trees surrounding the yard. The man


    instantly dropped to his knees and went silent. I didn¡¯t realise how much authority I put behind what I


    said. I used an Alpha voice, one I didn¡¯t know I contained. Only realising the extent of mymand


    when I looked up. The entire Pack was on the knees with their heads tilted to the side, baring their


    necks in submission. The whole yard had gone silent. Even Beta Zane was on his knees, though he


    had a silly smirk on his face.


    Looking around, I noticed Reid¡¯s imposing frame walking towards me. He looked over at the crowd of


    people on their knees at my feet. The man mymand was aimed at started shaking and whimpering


    when Reid approached. Reid looked handsome in his navy-blue suit. cing his hand around my


    waist, he pulled me into him. He gently ced a kiss on my cheek, his earlier angerpletely gone.


    Now he just looked shocked but proud. Using his Alpha voice, hemanded the whimpering man


    that was at my feet. ¡°Apologise to your Luna now.¡± The man quickly apologised, stumbling over the


    words. Everyone let out a breath.


    ¡°You may rise,¡± he said to the crowd. Everyone started to get up from their positions on the ground.


    Seizing my hand, Reid pulled me towards the small podium at the front. Up on the podium, Reid pulled


    me to his side, his fingertips rubbing circles on the small of my back.


    ¡°Well everyone, by now you have all met your Luna. You would also have distinguished by now that


    she is Hybrid. Despite what I have said in the past about their kind, I expect you all to show her the


    respect she deserves as the Alpha Female. I¡¯m sure she will put you in your ce like earlier if you do


    cross her.¡± Raising his ss which I didn¡¯t even see him grab on the way to the podium, ¡°To the Luna,¡±


    he said.


    In unison, everyone replied before cheering. Having Alpha Reid beside me, no one dared to speak out


    against me, but after the little show earlier, I think they realised my ability, and I had asserted my


    authority. The crowd sipped their drinks. Alpha Reid waited for the cheers to stop before speaking


    again. Waving his hand in the air, everyone fell quiet.


    ¡°Now Lily, I would like you to please step forward ande to me.¡± I watched Lily excitedly skip up to


    the stage. Her pink dress was now covered in dirt and grass stains from ying, but she still looked


    adorable. The crowd watched as Alpha Reid took a knee,ing down to her height. She smiled


    happily gazing back at him.


    ¡°ce out your hand for me, Lily.¡± Lily raised her palm up in front of Alpha Reid. He sped it gently


    between his own. ¡°Now Lily I would like you to repeat after me.¡± Lily nodded looking out at the crowd


    shyly.


    Lily repeated after Alpha Reid, her voice was calm, and she didn¡¯t stumble over the words. ¡°I, Lily Violet


    ckwood, ept the Blood Moon Pack and ept you, Reid, as my Alpha.¡± The Alpha took a small


    knife and sliced Lily¡¯s finger before slicing his own hand down the palm. It was quite unusual to have a


    child be brought into another Pack. Usually, this was for adult neers or rogues that weren¡¯t killed,


    but a child was pretty much unheard of. If Lily were my child, there would be no need for him to slice


    her finger because she would have been a Pack member the moment Reid marked me. Children were


    usually born into a Pack. Since we left ours, this was the only way for her to be part of the Blood


    Moon Pack. I was grateful that Reid didn¡¯t sh her palm like he did his, though. Lily¡¯s finger would


    heal quickly with her wolf gene. By morning, it would probably be gone. Lily didn¡¯t flinch when he


    pressed his palm to her fingertips, but she did gasp when she felt the Pack link merge, linking her to


    everyone.


    The audience all cheered excitedly, and for the first time, I felt emotional not because I was sad but


    proud of how far Lily hade. She was no longer the scared little girl, like in our old Pack. Here she


    was vibrant, happy, and everyone loved her. Lily started jumping up and down, not being able to


    contain her excitement. ¡°We are home now, Ari; we have a home.¡± Picking her up, I cuddled into her,


    hiding my tears in her shoulder.

 Chapter 25

    Chapter 25


    Aria¡¯s POV


    After Lily¡¯s Pack initiation, the party went on for a few more hours. Reid went off to talk to other Pack


    members. Looking for Lily, I found her asleep next to one of the fire pits. Lily wasying on a chair


    cosied up next to the fire. Taking a seat next to her, I took off my heels because my feet were


    absolutely killing me. I felt relieved taking them off, rubbing my heel. A few minutes passed, I decided


    to pick Lily up and put her to bed. Getting up with Lily in my arms, I looked around for Reid, but he was


    still busy talking to Zane and Damien at the bar. Walking up the stairs, I made my way inside and to


    Lily¡¯s room, cing her on the bed before removing her sandals. Tucking her in, I sat on the end of her


    bed. Tonight had been a long night. I still wasn¡¯t sure where I stood with Reid, because as soon as


    Lily¡¯s little ceremony was over, he disappeared into the crowd.


    Feeling tired myself, I climbed in beside Lily, pulling the covers up. I snuggled into her tiny frame. It


    didn¡¯t take long before I fell asleep.


    I felt like I had only just fallen into a deep sleep when I was jostled awake by movement. I felt familiar


    tingles running up my back and legs. Reid¡¯s familiar scent hitting me, I nestled into his chest. Reid had


    found me and had taken it upon himself to put me in bed. Leaning into his warmth, I fell back asleep. I


    vaguely remember him unzipping my dress, but I was too tired to care. The next morning, I woke to find


    Reid leaning over me, intently staring. Opening my eyes to see his face so close made me jump in


    fright.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said, before pushing his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent.


    ¡°You seem in a better mood.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± was the only reply I got. His hands running along my body before slowing just under my bare


    breasts. Reid¡¯s palm ran up and over my nipple, causing me to shiver and nipple to harden.


    ¡°So receptive,¡± his deep voice whispered just below my ear. I could feel his breath on my neck. Reid


    sucked on my mark, sending pleasure all through my body straight to my core, making me lean into


    him. I could feel him chuckle against my skin, his lips curving up into a smile against my skin at my


    reaction.


    Turning to face him, I ced my hand on his hips and pulled him towards me. Reid¡¯s hand running


    along my side then my arse before pulling my leg up, so it was draped over his hip. Just as his lips


    smashed into mine, the door burst open, and Lily bounced into the room. Reid groaned in annoyance,


    disappointed. I could onlyugh at his reaction at being cock blocked. Lily, unaware of what she nearly


    ran in on, jumped on the end of the bed, jumping up down like it was a trampoline. ¡°Wake up, wake up,¡±


    she squealed. Reid rolled on to his back.


    ¡°And why must we get up?¡±


    ¡°I want to y outside. Zane¡¯s setting up a jumping castle in the backyard for me and Amber.¡±


    Reid shook his head. ¡°So why must we get up?¡± he groaned.


    ¡°So you can y too.¡± I heard him mumble something annoyed.


    ¡°We will meet you down there, Lil,¡± he told her. Lily bounced off the bed, jumping to the floor with a thud


    and went to run out the door when Reid called to her. ¡°Shut the door.¡± Lily obeyed before darting back


    down the stairs. Turning back to me, he nuzzled my neck. ¡°Now where were we?¡± Iughed, pushing


    him away.


    ¡°I¡¯m having a shower.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ why? Stay here.¡± He pouted.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m going to y with the kids, go on the jumping castle,¡± I told him, walking into the bathroom.


    ¡°I have something you can jump on,¡± Reid sang out from his position on the bed.


    ¡°Tempting, but I¡¯m already up,¡± I sang back, turning the shower on. Grabbing my toothbrush, I quickly


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    brushed my teeth, trying to rid the dry taste in my mouth from the winest night. Washing my hair, I felt


    Reid¡¯s hands slide up my hips before he stepped in behind me, hogging all the water. ¡°There is another


    shower head over there. Move over,¡± I said, trying to get the soap out, that was now burning my eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯m good here,¡± I heard himugh before he pulled me into his chest under the stream of water.


    Quickly turning around and washing the soap off and rinsing my eyes, I looked up at him. The obsidian


    eyes of his wolf looked back at me; he had a sly smile on his lips. ¡°What are you doing, Ryder?¡±


    ¡°Reid said you want to y.¡± His voice was deeper, rougher than Reid¡¯s. His eyes flickered before


    going back to their normal silver colour.


    ¡°Your wolf is a horn dog.¡± Reidughed before pulling me back into him. I could feel his rock-hard


    erection pushing into my stomach. ¡°Stop Reid, we have to go meet Lily.¡±


    He ignored me, nipping at my neck before his hands found my ass, running his fingers to just under my


    thighs before he lifted me. Forcing my legs to wrap around his waist, he pushed me into the shower


    wall holding me in ce. I could feel his erection pressing against my core. Excitement pooled in my


    stomach.


    ¡°You sure about that?¡± he asked, not giving me a chance to answer as his lips found mine. His tongue


    brushed my bottom lip. I parted my lips, and he plunged his tongue into my mouth, exploring every inch


    of it. His hot tongue ying with mine made me moan out, wrapping my arms around his neck. I kissed


    him back. He pushed his hips up, his cock pressing between my wet folds, making him groan into my


    mouth.


    Pulling him into me with my legs that were wrapped around his hips, the tip of his rock-hard cock


    pressed inside, stretching my tight walls. He inched himself in, giving me time to adjust and stretch


    around hisrge size. Pushing the length of his thick cock in slowly until he waspletely in. His lips


    found my neck as he pulled out before thrusting back in, making me gasp. ¡°So tight,¡± he whispered, as


    he pulled back out before thrusting back in even harder. Holding onto his shoulders, I could feel my


    pussy clench around him, my juices coating his thick cock. Pleasure rippled throughout my body as he


    plunged his cock repeatedly into my tight pussy, making me scream out in pleasure. His fingers digging


    into my thighs only made me wetter. His flesh pounding against mine. I could feel my orgasm building


    as my walls tightened around him. Digging my nails into his shoulders, I bit into the soft flesh of his


    neck, making him groan against my shoulder as his cock plunged into my wet pussy repeatedly.


    Pulling back his lips smashing against my own, his breathing became rapid as I found my release. Reid


    slowed his movements while I rode out my orgasm, making me see stars as my pussy clenched around


    his cock. Finding his release, he groaned leaning into me, pushing his cock deeper into me. I felt his


    hot cum shoot into me before he came to a stop, resting his forehead against my shoulder. Letting go


    of my legs, I slid down the shower wall, standing on my feet. Reid pulled me towards him, wrapping his


    arms around my shoulders.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get cleaned up and go downstairs,¡± he said before kissing the top of my head.

 Chapter 26

    Chapter 26


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Running down the stairs and racing out the back, I saw Zane had set up a huge jumping castle. It was


    a princess one with a huge slide and on the side a climbing wall and a jumping pit. Christine was on it,


    bouncing around with Lily and Amber. Seeing me walking towards them, she waved me over, telling me


    to get in. I hadn¡¯t been on a jumping castle since I was a kid. The jumping castle looked intimidating, an


    injury waiting to happen. As I went to climb up, my legs were suddenly ripped from underneath me,


    making my stomach drop and the air to leave my lungs before I was tackled, my body bouncing in the


    air on the jumping castle. My legs stretched out in a not sody-like manner.


    Looking over, I see it was Wendy. She wasughing hysterically at her actions, which nearly caused


    me to have a heart attack. The worst part though was looking back out through theting and seeing


    Zane, Reid, and Mitch wereughing, sitting on the bench seat watching. Getting to my feet, I tackled


    Wendy onto the slide, and we both ended up rolling down before I ended upnding on top of her on


    the grass. Jumping to my feet, I took off running. Wendy started chasing me along with Lily and Amber,


    who jumped off the castle to help her. When they failed to catch me, I heard Wendy¡¯s cracking bones


    as she dived into her wolf form. Her wolf was a light grey with a bluish tint to it. She had a white streak


    that went from her head to her tail, and she was big even in wolf form. Growling yfully, she ran at


    me, before lunging. I dropped to my knees,nding on my back, sliding along the grass. Wendy went


    straight over the top of mending on her paws, spinning around. I stuck my tongue out at her before


    taking off heading straight towards where Reid, Zane, and Mitch were sitting. Darting behind her mate,


    I shoved him at her just as her wolf went to tackle me.


    Mitchnded on the grass with a loud thump. Lily and Amber both jumped on him, holding him down.


    Knowing Wendy couldn¡¯t climb on to the castle in her wolf form without popping it, I tried to sneak back


    to the jumping castle to catch my breath. Wendy, noticing my hesitation looking between the trees and


    the castle, chased me down, her fast on my heels running around the back of the jumping castle. I took


    off towards the trees when I heard a loud growl.


    Looking back towards everyone, Reid was taking off his shoes. Wendy¡¯s wolf collided with me,


    knocking me to the ground before she started yfully sniffing my face, telling me she won. Looking


    back over, I watched as Reid took his shirt off. Damn, that man is fine.


    Reid had a silly smirk on his face that turned into a devilish grin. Christine mind linked me, her voice


    ringing loudly through the link. ¡°I would run if I were you. The big bad Alpha ising.¡± I watched as


    everyone turned to look at the Alpha. He shook his head at Christine for dobbing him in. I watched as


    he started running towards me. I heard the sickening crack of his bones snapping mid-jump as he took


    his wolf form. Landing on the grass about 40 metres away, I stared at him. His wolf was more like the


    size of a bear,pletely ck, his shiny fur had not a patch of colour anywhere. Even in his wolf


    form, Ryder seemed to be smiling, baring his teeth. Jumping to my feet, I ran straight towards the trees.


    I could hear Ryder gaining on me, hear the twigs breaking under his giant paws. Running through the


    forest, everything became a blur. I felt free as the trees whipped past me, the branches hitting my skin.


    My adrenaline pumped with excitement as I weaved in and out when suddenly I hit a clearing. Nowhere


    to hide, I turned to the left, running along the tree line. Ryder still hadn¡¯t caught up. Using that to my


    advantage, I climbed a huge tree standing on the branch, I waited.


    A few seconds after knowing the branch would easily hold my weight, I gotfy on my branch,


    draping my legs over either side. Ryder came into my line of sight he was sniffing the ground. I ced


    my hand over my mouth to muffle my giggling. I watched as he kept running past then stopping after


    losing my scent. Turning around, he was at the bottom of the tree I was hiding in.


    I watched as he sniffed the tree before looking up, his gazending on me straddling the branch. He


    tilted his head to the side. ¡°Ryder can¡¯t climb, but I can.¡± Reid¡¯s voiceing through the mind link, my


    smile dropped. I looked down before climbing another branch. Going back to his human form. I heard


    himugh, making my eyes dart back to him. Reid was standing there in all his naked glory, smiling


    back at me. He started climbing the tree rmingly fast. I took off running along the branch before


    jumping to a nearby tree, gripping the tree with my ws before I steadied myself. Looking at the


    ground, I gasped. That¡¯s a long way down in my adrenaline rush I hadn¡¯t realised how high I had


    actually climbed. Frozen on the tree, Reid jumped overnding on the branch above me. ¡°You can run,


    but you can¡¯t hide.¡±


    ¡°Ha, that¡¯s what you think,¡± I threw back at him before clenching my teeth. I jumped off the branch the


    ground rushing towards me, making me let out a high pitch squeal, my feetnding on the ground


    below. I was now looking up at Reid who looked like he was about to have a heart attack at my little


    stunt. I saw him mutter something under his breath but couldn¡¯t make out what he was saying. I knew


    he would have to climb down. His human form isn¡¯t sturdy enough to jump the thirty or forty metres to


    the ground.


    ¡°You could have hurt yourself doing that.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you mean, you would hurt yourself if you tried that?¡± He shook his head at me. Climbing down


    the tree while I watched his nice firm ass. I giggled to myself watching him swinging from branch to


    branch, like Tarzan.


    ¡°What are youughing at?¡±


    ¡°The view,¡± I called back. He smiled at me. Before hanging from a lower branch by his arms, he let go


    shining in the sunlight. My eyes running down his body to his V-line.


    ¡°Hey, my eyes are up here.¡±


    Rolling my eyes at him. I shoved him to the ground, making himnd in the dirt, and took off running


    towards the Pack house. I could hear him shifting back into wolf form just as I broke through the tree


    line. Seeing his clothesying on the ground, I reached down and grabbed them, only leaving his


    shoes. Zane and Mitch watched as I darted inside, locking the door behind me. Everyone was standing


    inside the kitchen, watching amused. I knew Reid wouldn¡¯t fit inside the door in wolf form, his shoulders


    were too wide. I watched as he breathed on the ss, I waved his clothes at him.


    ¡°He is going to kill you when he gets inside,¡± said Christine.


    ¡°Has to find me first,¡± I said, running through the kitchen door and towards the foyer. I could hear


    everyoneughing behind me.


    ¡°Bring my clothes back, Aria.¡± I ignored him walking up the stairs. I listened as he Pack linked everyone


    asking for some clothes so he could shift back.


    Everyone ignored him except Zane. ¡°Can¡¯t get involved, boss man¡± Iughed to myself, before hiding in


    his office. After a few minutes of him not being able to get in. I heard him use his Alpha voice through


    the link demanding clothes. He sounded annoyed.


    Being cheeky, I knew mine would overrule hismands. ¡°No one help him, I¡¯m trying to find


    somewhere to hide,¡± I called back. I heard him growl annoyed.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna regret that, Ari, when I get inside. I am going to punish you.¡± Iughed back at him.


    Deciding he would find me in his office, I ran back downstairs and into the kitchen. Reid was no longer


    at the door.


    ¡°Where did he go?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, but you better hope he doesn¡¯t find you,¡± Mitch chuckled. I heard banging. Looking


    through the window I see Ryder/Reid had jumped on to the lower part of the roof. Whoops didn¡¯t think


    about the windows. I knew as soon as he was out of sight of the kids he would shift back and climb


    through a window. I looked at Zane for help, but he put his hands up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. I¡¯m staying out of it.¡±


    Christine nodded towards the walk-in pantry. Just as she closed the door, I heard Reidnding on the


    floor in one of the upstairs rooms.


    Everyone darted out of the kitchen, leaving me in the pantry. It didn¡¯t take long before the pantry doors


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    were thrown open and a not happy Alpha was staring down at me with his arms folded across his


    chest.


    ¡°I see you found some clothes,¡± I nervously giggled.


    ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re enjoying yourself at my expense.¡± Reaching forward he gripped my wrist, making me


    smack into his rock-hard chest before he threw me over his shoulder.


    ¡°How very caveman of you.¡± He stormed out of the kitchen and past everyone, who were now sitting on


    the lounge in the games room. I could hear Reid muttering to himself while I iled around trying to


    make him put me down.


    He didn¡¯t let me go, and much to my embarrassment as we were walking past everyone, his hand


    pped my arse. I flinched at the impact of his huge handing down on my arse, making me hiss at


    the sting. Did he just spank me? Zane smirked, shaking his head and waved at me. I, in turn, flipped


    him the finger. Reid started climbing the stairs with me still half upside down over his shoulder. On the


    plus side, I got a nice view of his ass. Returning the favour, I pped it. He grunted before pping my


    arse even harder. ¡°Do that again, and you won¡¯t be able to sit for a week.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a brute, you know that?¡± I could feel the vibration of himughing. My belly was starting to hurt


    as his shoulder pressed into it. Just as I was about to demand he put me down, he kicked the bedroom


    door open and dumped me on the mattress, making me shriek. Reid stood looking down at me.


    ¡°You think what you did was funny?¡± he asked, tilting his head to the side. His lips turned up and into a


    menacing smile. Excitement ran through me. I couldn¡¯t help the smile that crept onto my face as I


    nodded my head. His smile didn¡¯t waver, and it sent a chill down my spine. Iughed at his expression.


    I couldn¡¯t tell if he wanted to kiss me or kill me. He raised an eyebrow at me and clicked his tongue.


    Gripping my ankle, he yanked me towards the end of the bed.

 Chapter 27

    Chapter 27


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Reid grabbed my other ankle and flipped me over so I was belly down on the bed. I squirmed, trying to


    break his hold on my ankles. Reid growled at me warningly before gripping my hips and pulling them


    towards him. My feet were forced to the ground while the rest of my body was draped over the bed.


    Lifting myself up onto my elbows, he forced me back down. Pushing his hand between my shoulder


    des to hold me in ce.


    Reid then pushed his groin into me. I could feel the bulge of his erection pressing against my ass.


    Stepping back a bit, he ran his other hand up my thigh. Stopping at my shorts, his fingertips moving


    along my panty line between my legs teasingly, sending delightful shivers to my core. Removing his


    hand from beneath my shorts, he started rubbing my arse, making me quiver everywhere he touched. I


    could feel my underwear bing moist. I pushed into his hand, shaking my ass at him.


    His palm came down, connecting with my ass cheek. I could feel his handprint burning into my flesh. It


    stung, but it also turned me on even more. Reid rubbed his hand over where he pped. His hand then


    finding its way back into my shorts, using his fingers, he pushed my panties to the side before sliding


    his fingers between my wet lips. Reid bent over me; I could feel his breath on my neck below my ear.


    ¡°You liked that?¡± he growled, before shoving his finger inside me, making me moan out loud. Pulling his


    finger out slowly, he pushed another finger inside me. My body quivered at his touch, bing more


    aroused. I want more.


    Then his fingers were gone, his touch was gone. Rolling over, I looked up at him. Reid¡¯s eyes were


    zed over, telling me he was mind-linking someone. The look on his face was pure rage. His


    eyebrows furrowed together. His canines protruded. Hair was spreading across his arms. I watched as


    his nails turned into ws. His breathing got deeper and faster. He was fighting himself for control. A


    terrifying growl ripped through him, vibrating through his chest. I flinched and pulled away. His eyes


    darting to me. The zed look left instantly. His eyes softened. Reid walked towards the door. Getting


    to my feet, I went to follow him.


    Just as I was about to ask what was going on, he spun around. His eyes pinning me to the spot.


    ¡°You stay here, and don¡¯t leave this room.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on Reid?¡±


    ¡°Nothing you need to know about. Just for once do as your bloody told.¡± He walked out the door, pulling


    it closed behind him. I heard thetch click over. He locked the door. Rolling my eyes at his abrupt


    change of mood. I don¡¯t know why he expects the door to keep me in. Maybe a deterrent, but it isn¡¯t


    Hybrid proof. Deciding to give him a head start at whatever was bothering him, I opened my mind


    feeling for Wendy through the link. I could feel her wolf. It was restless.


    ¡°Wendy, why has Reid locked me in the room? What is going on?¡±


    Wendy didn¡¯t answer straight away. I could tell she was trying to fight my Alphamand.


    ¡°Wendy, do not make me ask again.¡± I could feel every fibre of her being trying to shake off the


    into me, and she did.


    ¡°Why are you making me go against him? I can¡¯t tell you; he doesn¡¯t want you involved.¡±


    ¡°Wendy, what is going on?¡± I emphasised every word. Saying them slowly, forcing my Alphamand


    on her. I heard her wolf whimper through the link, making me feel bad. I know it is painful for her trying


    to fight against my will.


    ¡°Alpha David and his Pack are at the border.¡± The words spilled out like word vomit. I could hear cars


    leaving. Moving fast.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening then?¡±


    ¡°Alpha is going to warn him or¡­¡±


    ¡°Or what? Wendy-¡±


    ¡°Wipe them out. He sent all our warriors to the border.¡±


    I gasped shocked. The Blood Moon Pack would annihte the ck Moon Pack. They weren¡¯t big


    enough or trained enough to go against the Blood Moon Pack. Why would David do this? It was


    suicide. I couldn¡¯t let Reid¡¯s Pack ughter everyone. I may not be a part of that Pack anymore, but I


    still considered them to be family. As weird as it sounds, it is the only family we have known. And a lot


    of the Pack members are good people. I also couldn¡¯t let Reid kill Alpha David; he is Lily¡¯s father. But


    what can I do? I know Reid will lose it if Imand everyone to stand down. He would never forgive


    me for taking his authority from him. I may be Luna, but this is rightfully his Pack.


    Trying to think, I heard the door click unlocking. Lily walked in, tears running down her face. Wendy


    walked in behind her; her head was down. ¡°Lily, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Reid is going to hurt Uncle Michael,¡± she sobbed. Damn it I was going to kill Reid. That¡¯s if my idea


    doesn¡¯t get me killed first.


    ¡°No, Lily. I am going to fix this.¡± Lily looked up at me hopeful. Quickly hugging her, I walked towards the


    door. Wendy gripped my arm, stopping me as I walked out. ¡°It''s fine, Wendy. Don¡¯t warn the Alpha,¡± I


    said, forcing my Alphamand on her.


    Wendy''s shoulders slumped in defeat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t have you warn them, you know he will


    her pain. I hate putting her in this position where she has been forced to choose between her Alpha


    and her Luna.


    Running down the stairs and out the front door, I ran towards the tree line. The border was half an hour


    away by car. I could run there in a quarter of the time. Then I just have to convince them to go back to


    the Pack house and try not to kill or be killed by one of Alpha David¡¯s Pack warriors, and hope they are


    still in human form so I can speak with them.


    Sprinting through the forest, I came to a hill. I could see the convoy of SUV¡¯s driving along the dirt road


    below. Cutting straight across through the trees, I raced across the paddocks, overtaking them. I


    remained hidden in the tree line. I ran towards the city. Reid must have felt my heart rate picking up,


    sensing I was up to something because I could feel Wendy whimpering not giving in to hismands


    and threats. I felt him trying to force a link between us, but I just pushed back harder. Running faster, I


    came to the edge of the city, heading east towards the border. The sun was starting to go down. I knew


    by the time I reached the border, it would be dark. Running through the streets, I slowed down a bit. I


    knew the border couldn¡¯t be too far from here. The streets were starting to look seedier. The north side


    was what I used to call the posh area. The street I was currently running down definitely wasn¡¯t part of


    the north side. Some of the houses were burnt out, and there was rubbish strewn across the streets.


    Lawns overgrown, gardenspletely overgrown with weeds. There was even a burnt-out van on the


    corner of the street. Running to the end of the street, I looked for a street sign.


    Melrose street. I was already over the border. I hadn¡¯t realised I had crossed over it. Which meant they


    would know I have crossed the border already. Slowing to a stop, I waited. I listened to the noises


    trying to pick up any movement. It didn¡¯t take long before I heard the ferocious growls of my former


    Pack members. The street waspletely dark now. The broken streetlights didn¡¯t offer any light. No


    light from any of the abandoned houses. The only light came from the moon. It was a full moon tonight,


    making it seem eerier than normal, or maybe it was the fact I am standing in an abandoned street.


    When the first wolf stepped out in front of me, I could tell it was a Pack warrior by its size. They send


    warriors when they sense a threat. The only problem was, I am no threat to them. I just want to talk,


    and hurting one of them was only going to cause a war.


    When another 2 wolves stepped out, I ced my hands in the air, surrendering. Falling to my knees, I


    watched them circle around me. The biggest one, a grey one, came up to me, baring its teeth. Growling


    in my face, I stared it down, making sure not to move to suddenly. He pushed me with his nose, trying


    to get a reaction out of me.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to fight. I just need to speak to Alpha David.¡±


    The wolves all growled, stepping closer. Closing in on me, they must think I¡¯m threatening the Alpha.


    This wasn¡¯t working, I couldn¡¯t talk to them. I wasn¡¯t a Pack member. I didn¡¯t understand what they were


    saying. ¡°I¡¯m not here to start anything. I just need to talk to my stepfather.¡± Thest word rolled off my


    tongue, leaving a sour taste in my mouth. But it seemed to get the attention. The grey wolf stopped in


    front of me. My heart rate slowed down, and I listened as theirs did too. I could hear their breathing.


    Hear their blood moving throughout their bodies. I calmed my mind, trying toe up with a way to get


    them to understand.


    ¡°What do you think? Should we take her to the Alpha?¡±


    ¡°Call for Michael, he will know what to do with her.¡± ncing behind me, I looked to see who was


    talking. But it was only the three wolves in the street. No one in human form except myself.


    ¡°Call Michael. He can verify who I am. My name is Aria,¡± I pleaded.


    ¡°How did she know what we were mind-linking?¡± asked the red wolf, who was standing behind me.


    I looked at the grey one, he stepped forward right into my face.


    ¡°Can you hear us?¡±


    I nodded my head. I could hear them but couldn¡¯t push the link back. I don¡¯t know how, but right now I


    didn¡¯t care. I just needed to get to Alpha David. I waited as they linked Michael.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Follow us,¡± the grey wolf demanded.


    I followed them all the way to the Pack house. I knew Alpha Reid wouldn¡¯t be far off the border. I just


    needed to find out what Alpha David wanted and try to create an arrangement with him. To try and stop


    this war that wille if he tries to challenge Reid.


    Walking up the Pack house driveway, I was hit with a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Thest time I was here, I was


    running from the ce not trying to break into it. The Pack house looked the same, still an oversized


    farmhouse. Standing up on top of the porch was Michael. He had a distressed look on his face. He was


    standing next to Alpha David. Alpha David had his arms folded across his bare chest, the only clothing


    he had on was a pair of jeans. He looked intimidating.


    I wanted to run, but I wasn¡¯t that scared, weak girl anymore. I refuse to run from him. If anything he


    should be begging at my feet. I know what I¡¯m capable of now and I know who I am. I¡¯m not going to let


    him walk all over me anymore. I¡¯m doing this for Lily, for his Pack. I know he is a crazy bastard, but I


    also know he doesn¡¯t want his Pack killed.


    Alpha David wore a smirk on his face, dropping his arms to his side. He started walking down the


    steps. He never took his eyes off me. I could hear a low warning growling from him as he walked


    towards me. I stood straighter, not breaking my gaze, refusing to look away. When I didn¡¯t submit, the


    rest of the Pack started circling around us, growling at me threateningly. Michael didn¡¯t move off the


    porch, he just stared at me, trying to warn me with his eyes. He looked petrified not of me but for me.


    What the hell have I just walked into?

 Chapter 28

    Chapter 28


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Watching David, I noticed he didn¡¯t look shocked to see me. I then realised this was his n all along. I


    realised I was his bargaining tool, his way to get Reid toply. I was Reid¡¯s weakness. If something


    happens to me, it weakens him, and he can get Lily back.


    Too busy watching David trying to think of a way to convince him to sort this out amicably, I didn¡¯t hear


    the person sneaking up behind me until I felt the sting of the needle as it pierced my neck. The burning


    sensation bled into my skin, burning my insides like fire consuming my body. I gripped my neck, trying


    to get the pain to lessen, trying to stop it from spreading. Turning around, I see no one behind me but


    my former Pack members and a syringe at my feet containing gold liquid concentrated wolfsbane.


    I felt my surroundings start to spin as fire consumed my veins, overtaking all my senses. I could feel


    myself burning up. I screamed in agony, trying to stop the burn. My legs copsed under me. My body


    felt heavy, I was losing to the pain. For the first time in my life, I weed the darkness, praying I


    would pass out so the pain would end.


    I could feel my body falling, my head hitting the soil, but I didn¡¯t even feel it. All I could feel was


    wolfsbane burning through every cell in my body. I smiled when I felt everything getting darker, my


    surroundings starting to dim. Michael''s words came back to me. ¡°This stuff will even put you on your


    arse.¡± He was right. If I weren¡¯t in so much pain, I would haveughed at the fact it did exactly what he


    said it would¡­. I thanked the Moon Goddess as I finally slipped away into the darkness of oblivion.


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Torn between going to fight beside my Pack and staying and protecting Aria and Lily, I reluctantly left. I


    had a Pack to protect. We raced through the winding back roads towards the city. The trees blurring


    into one at the speed we were moving. Alpha David crossed the line, and now there is no going back, I


    will finally rid the earth of that scum who dared torture my woman. Aria can¡¯t hate me for protecting my


    Pack¡­ our Pack. I was doing this for her, for Lily, and for us. Driving towards the border, the city came


    into view. We were only a few kilometres out. The only thing surrounding us were trees and farnd.


    Just as we hit the outskirts of the city, I felt a cold wave of a feeling I couldn¡¯t recognise rush over my


    skin. Ryder instantly tensed and tried to lurch forward.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I ask him. He pushed underneath my skin forcefully. Hair spreading across my arms, my


    ws extending tearing the leather seat.


    ¡°Aria is getting away from us,¡± I heard him snarl at me in reply. No, Aria was at home where I ordered


    her to stay. She wouldn¡¯t defy me; she wouldn¡¯t betray my trust like this. I locked her in, the door was


    sealed, and wolf proof. The ss on the windows is even imprable. Mind-linking Wendy, I felt her


    push back, trying to ignore the link. Furious that she tried to ignore my call, I shoved back forcing her to


    ept the link. I could hear her groan as I pushed through the tether. Mitch, who was in the front seat


    driving, whimpered at me, feeling his mate''s paine through the bond. Wendy let go and stopped


    trying to shove me out, knowing it¡¯s a battle she can¡¯t win.


    ¡°Where is Aria?¡± I demand. Wendy didn¡¯t answer. Mitch tried to get her to answer by asking the same


    question I just did. I could see his grip tightening on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.


    Wendy whimpered from the pressure of her mate.


    ¡°I ca¡­can¡¯t,¡± she stuttered almost breathlessly. Aria has done this; she is the only one who is strong


    enough to bind someone against me. Her tricks don¡¯t work on me, but the rest of the Pack is


    defenceless against hermands. But I also know she wouldn¡¯t force that burden, that pain to go


    against an Alpha on Lily. Linking Lily, I could finally get answers.


    ¡°Lily, where is your sister?¡± Lily didn¡¯t resist, meaning Aria hadn¡¯tmanded her to keep quiet.


    I heard Mitch let out a breath when I dropped the link to Wendy.


    ¡°She went to speak to the Alpha, um, my dad.¡± Lily sounded unsure on thest word like she hadn¡¯t


    used the word before. I growled, pissed off that she disobeyed me. I felt Lily cower through the link, she


    doesn¡¯t understand I¡¯m not angry at her. Cutting the link, Mitch looked at me through the rear-view


    mirror.


    ¡°Speed up, Aria is heading to the border.¡± Mitch nodded before putting his foot down, overtaking


    everyone like they were standing still.


    Jumping out of the car before the car even stopped as we reached the border, Dominic, one of my


    warriors, came up to me. ¡°They all retreated about 5 minutes ago, Boss.¡±


    ¡°Where is the Alpha?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know. He never showed up here. Only their warriors showed up, but they left. What do you want


    to do, Alpha?¡±


    ¡°Stay alert, they have your Luna.¡± Dominic growled in reply. I tried to reach out to Aria but got no reply.


    Trying toe up with a n with Zane, we had no idea where the Pack house was having never


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    been there. We knew it wouldn¡¯t be anywhere in a popted area. Most Pack houses were away from


    the human poption and near busnd so we could let our wolves out. So, it¡¯s probably on the


    outskirts of the city. Dominic brought some maps of the city so we could search for secluded areas of


    the east side. Unfolding the maps, I sprawled them out on the car bo. The only ce big enough


    and secluded enough was the busnd along the railway tracks. It was backed onto a wildlife reserve.


    I know that is where I would build a Pack house if it was me.


    Suddenly feeling like I was being skinned alive, I fell to the ground panting. My body felt like it was


    being doused in acid. Ryder pushed forward, forcing me to shift. My clothes tearing as I took my wolf


    form.


    ¡°Aria,¡± snarled Ryder. Jumping over the border, I could feel him trying to run towards her until I


    suddenly felt cold, my body going numb, my vision blurred. Pushing forward I regained control, forcing


    us to shift back. Zane was right behind me. Clutching his stomach he shakily handed me some shorts.


    ¡°We can feel her, Alpha, make it stop.¡± he pleaded before copsing next to me.


    Sitting up, I look around to find all my men on the ground, shaking and writhing in agony. How is this


    possible? The bond only works on me. Ryder was pacing in the back of my mind, anxious. Reaching


    out to Aria, I feel nothing through the bond, no connection at all. Which could only mean two things: she


    has passed out or she is dead. I knew she wasn¡¯t dead; I would feel that. The thought alone was


    painful like my soul ripping out of me, so I knew she was still alive. But the question was how she


    affected my entire Pack.


    ¡°Lycan Blood. She is our rightful queen. They were all bonded the moment you marked her,¡± growled


    Ryder. My body felt weak; I shakily stood and put the blue shorts on before copsing to the ground


    again. We just had to ride it out. Once she waspletely out, the pain would end, I hoped.

 Chapter 29

    Chapter 29


    Aria¡¯s POV


    ¡°Now what do we do with her?¡±


    ¡°We use her to get my daughter back. Alpha Reid wille for her. If he wants her he will hand Lily


    over.¡±


    ¡°He will kill the entire Pack. This is insane even for you. You¡¯re willing to risk everyone?¡±


    I could hear whispers. Alpha David was talking with someone. Slowly opening my eyes, I stay as still as


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    possible to not alert them that I¡¯m awake. I was in Alpha David¡¯s office. I could see shelves of books


    and a desk that had papers and maps all over it. I was ced on the brown leather sofa in the centre of


    the room. I could see Michael with his back to me, talking to the Alpha who was seated at his desk.


    My throat felt incredibly dry. I felt like I had a major hangover. My head was pounding against my skull.


    Testing out my limbs, I realised I could move my legs and arms. I was weak, but I had feeling back.


    That wasn¡¯t the only feeling I had though. Hunger. I was ravenous. I needed blood. I could hear four


    heartbeats in the room. My own standing out above everyone else¡¯s thumping loudly in my chest


    against my ribs. I knew two belonged to the Alpha and the Beta, but the fourth person must be behind


    me somewhere. I could feel my fangs breaking painfully through my gums, my mouth filling with the


    metallic taste of my own blood.


    ¡°You hear that? She is waking,¡± said the mystery person behind me. Looking over in the Alpha


    direction, I hear him stand up. Michael made eye contact with me.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, she should have been out for hours,¡± he stated.


    ¡°Dose her again before she regains her strength,¡± ordered the Alpha through the mind link to the


    person behind me. Obviously, he forgot I can hear them, or maybe his Pack members forgot to mention


    that detail. I heard the person behind me start walking towards the back of the sofa. Just as his hand


    reached over to inject me, I gripped his wrist, pulling him over the sofa making himnd on the floor.


    Sitting up, I still had hold of his wrist that was gripping the syringe. I squeezed his wrist, making him cry


    out and drop it. I saw the Alpha and Michael about to lurch forward to stop me as I ripped the man


    towards me, sinking my teeth into his neck. I drank voraciously, draining him in a few seconds before


    rolling his body off me and onto the floor, his lifeless eyes peering up at us in shock.


    I grabbed the syringe that had fallen at my feet, twirling it between my fingers, admiring the poison that


    just knocked me out cold. I heard shuffling as the Alpha went to try to stop me from attacking first, but I


    had no intentions to fight; it would end in their deaths. I sat back on the couch, gettingfortable.


    ¡°I understand it now, why you did it,¡± I said clearly. The Alpha stopped. Looking up at him, he looked


    confused. Michael wore the same expression, trying to figure out what I was talking about. I observed


    the Alpha. He didn¡¯t look the same. I no longer feared him. He looked rather normal in his blue denim


    jeans and a ck t-shirt. I could tell he lost weight, his eyes were dark with sleep deprivation, He


    looked like he aged ten years since Ist saw him at the diner.


    Now I just felt sorry for him. I knew I shouldn¡¯t, but I couldn¡¯t help it. He was a monster to us for years,


    but now I see a broken man, not someone to be feared.


    ¡°What are you talking about, Aria?¡± asked David, crossing his arms over his chest he leaned back


    sitting on the edge of the desk.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about why you hated Lily and me. Why you abandoned your own pup.¡± The Alpha bared his


    teeth at me and growled. ¡°I understand it now. I know a wolf goes crazy without their mate. I


    understand what it does to them. I don¡¯t agree with your actions, but I do understand,¡± I told him.


    ¡°You know nothing, Aria. Don¡¯t pretend you know anything. I just want my daughter back.¡±


    ¡°You mean the daughter you dumped in myp to raise? The daughter you pretended you didn¡¯t have?


    That daughter?¡±


    ¡°Watch it, girl,¡±


    ¡°No, you''re right. I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to lose a mate. But I understand why you are the way you


    are. Most wolves kill themselves after they lose their mate, or they go mad. You went mad with anger


    and med her. When you should have put all the anger you had into loving her.¡±


    ¡°Aria, shut up,¡± warned Michael. Looking back over at the Alpha, his face was red with anger, veins


    sticking out along his arms like he was a ticking time bomb. But that no longer scared me.


    ¡°Listen to Michael, Aria. You know nothing of what you¡¯re talking about. You can¡¯t sympathise with me.¡±


    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to lose her? You lost your mate. I LOST MY FUCKING MOTHER,¡±


    I screamed. ¡°I was thirteen, and you threw Lily in myp. I couldn¡¯t even attend her funeral because


    you were too gutless to be around your own daughter. Mum¡¯s flesh and blood. You didn¡¯t just lose her. I


    lost her too. Then I lost my childhood. I threw everything away to raise her. ME, not you. I took care of


    her, and now you expect me to hand her over to you.¡±


    ¡°She is my daughter, Aria.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right, she is, but she doesn¡¯t know you. She knows only to fear you. You spent so much


    time hating her, but did you ever think of what Mum would have wanted? I know she wouldn¡¯t have


    wanted you to abandon her flesh and blood. She would have wanted you to be the father you promised


    her you would be. Now after six fucking years you want to im her back.¡±


    Alpha David walked back to his desk and took a seat. He knew I was right. Lily doesn¡¯t know him the


    way she should, and he doesn¡¯t know her. ¡°So, what do you suggest then, Aria? You think you¡¯re


    calling the shots? You think you have all the answers?¡± Michael rxed a bit before sitting on the edge


    of the desk. I sat back understanding the Alpha was willing topromise.


    Looking at the clock, it was a little after 8pm. The Blood Moon Pack was already at the border, but why


    haven¡¯t they crossed over yet? Reid would know I¡¯m here by now.


    ¡°I am only here because of Lily. Despite the hell you have put her through, she still feared Reid was


    going to kill you. She wanted me to stop this. You and I still have unfinished business, but for now, this


    is about Lily, so I suggest you prove you deserve to be a part of her life. Maybe visit, get to know her,


    but she remains a part of my Pack.¡± The Alpha growled at me about to disagree and argue back. I held


    my finger up at him, motioning him to let me finish.


    ¡°When she turns 18, we let her decide if she wants to take over the ck Moon Pack. For now, until I


    can trust you, you can get to know her and then maybe down the track if Lily decides she wants you in


    her life we can sort out custody agreements.¡±


    ¡°Shared custody, she is my daughter,¡±


    ¡°Listen to her, Alpha. She has a point. You can¡¯t just rip Aria away from Lily and expect Lily to be okay


    with that. Aria is all she has ever known.¡±


    The Alpha seemed to think about it. I heard Michael start to mind link him and blocked him out, giving


    them some privacy to speak. Pushing through the bond, I could tell Reid was close.


    ¡°Reid you there?¡±


    ¡°Where the fuck are you, Aria? Do you have any idea of the damage you have caused?¡±


    ¡°Calm down, I¡¯m with Alpha David. I will be back at the border soon.¡± I could tell he was using the bond


    to find my location.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ming to get you. Tell David to tell his warriors to let us through or it will be a bloodbath.¡±


    ¡°Just wait there, I will be there soon,¡± I argued back.


    ¡°No, you went against me. This could have been avoided, but you had to defy me. I¡¯ming to get


    you, and that¡¯s final.¡± He cut off the mind link. I could feel his anger pouring through the link.


    ¡°Reid is on his way. Tell your warriors to stand down.¡± They both stopped talking and looked at me.


    Alpha David raised an eyebrow at me. ¡°I tried to stop him, but he ising anyway. Tell them to stand


    down. I don¡¯t want our people hurt.¡±


    ¡°Our people?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I might not be a part of this Pack anymore, but they are still family to me, despite what you may


    think. I don¡¯t wish any harm to anyone here. Please.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I will tell them to let them through, and as for Lily, we have a deal for now.¡±


    I smiled, genuinely excited for Lily. She may just get the father she wanted, after all. I always had that


    hope for her that this monster would eventuallye to his senses and see what a great little girl she


    was and how much like Mum she is.


    It didn¡¯t take long before we heard cars pulling up in the driveway. Following David and Michael out we


    made our way through the Pack house.


    It hadn¡¯t changed much. I had so many horrid memories here, but it was home for so long it just felt


    familiar,fortable in a way. Which is absurd, but it was home. It¡¯s where I lived with my mother for 6


    years, where some of my earliest memories were. This ce will always feel familiar.


    Once outside, five ck SUVs were parked out the front. Men piled out of the cars, standing alongside


    the vehicles. Reid stepped out of the one that was parked in front of the stairs. He only had blue shorts


    on, and his chest was bare. He was covered in dirt and sweat. Meeting his eyes, I went to walk down to


    him when I noticed him ring directly at me. I froze on the step. He was furious. My heart skipped a


    beat when I heard him speak.


    ¡°Aria, get in the fucking car.¡± I was frozen. I didn¡¯t react which just pissed him off even more. Marching


    forward, he gripped my arm, ripping me towards him, making me stumble into him. I heard Michael


    growl at him behind me at his forceful grip.


    Reid shoved me towards the open rear door. ¡°Get in the car NOW!¡± he shouted at me, making me


    flinch. Alpha David came down the stairs and extended his hand to Reid in a polite gesture, trying to


    diffuse the situation, but Reid just spun on his heel and punched him breaking his nose making David


    stumble back falling onto the steps.

 Chapter 30

    Chapter 30


    Aria¡¯s POV


    The only sound was a collective gasp from everyone who was present. I held my breath when I saw


    David scramble back to his feet. He dusted himself off before rubbing his already bruising jaw.


    Michael¡¯s eyes flicked to my horrified ones, begging me to do something before this got out of hand.


    But I didn¡¯t have to, the most shocking thing happened when David clenched his jaw and walked back


    up the stairs and inside the house. Everyone kind of looked around confused by the Alpha just walking


    away from a fight. No one was more surprised than Alpha Reid.


    ¡°What? You are just going to walk away and be a coward?¡± Alpha David just kept walking ignoring


    Reid. Michael quickly followed behind. For the first time ever, I was actually proud of the way he


    handled himself. He didn¡¯t give in to his anger, he just simply got up and walked away not wanting to


    risk the agreement we havee up with. Maybe he really is going to try and right his wrongs.


    Looking around, my former Pack members eyes quickly darted away from the scene and they went


    back to patrolling, leaving just the Blood Moon Pack standing around. I must have missed an order


    through their Pack link since there were no threatening growls or any attacks from anyone. Reid¡¯s Pack


    looked tense like they were expecting retaliation, but there wasn¡¯t any. They all simply walked off like


    we weren¡¯t intruding on theirnd.


    Walking over I went to ce my hand one Reid¡¯s arm. He spun around so quickly and gripped my wrist


    before I made contact. His eyes burned with anger. If looks could kill, I would be a pile of dust by now. I


    wasn¡¯t sure if he was more pissed that David turned his back on him or my escape. I think it was a


    mixture of both.


    Difference is if I walk away, he will chase after me. So instead, I calmly rxed in his death grip. When


    I didn¡¯t pull away, Reid started dragging me towards the open rear door. Once we were close enough,


    he shoved me inside. Inded on the seat, my legs still hanging out the door. I moved to the other side


    of the car just as Reid sat down. He didn¡¯t say anything, but when I went to turn and ce my feet on


    the ground, he gripped my ankle and yanked me towards him until I was half on hisp with one leg


    draped over him the other awkwardly bent next to him. Reid didn¡¯t let go. I watched the fall and rise of


    his chest while he tried to calm himself and his wolf down.


    After a few minutes I tried to remove my leg that he gripped and was forcibly pulled back to the same


    position. When I heard a growl emit from him, I froze my movements and watched him warily. I could


    feel his hot breath on my neck.


    Being around him is like walking on eggshells. My leg was starting to cramp from the position I was


    sitting in. Deciding to move, I sat in the middle seat trying to find a morefortable position, when


    Reid suddenly pulled mepletely onto hisp, so I was straddling him.


    He dropped his head into the crook of my neck and started inhaling my scent. His strong arms wrapped


    around my waist, he started to rx after a few minutes. I had to hold back a moan when he started


    sucking on my mark, my eyes rolled into the back of my head just from his touch. Pulling away slightly,


    I looked around embarrassed. Zane was driving back to the Pack house but was paying no attention to


    us in the back seat. I tried to hop off hisp when his fingers dug painfully into my waist.


    ¡°You will not leave again without my permission. Do you understand?¡± His deep gravelly voice spoke


    just below my ear near my neck. I tried to get off hisp by pushing off his chest with my hands, but his


    strength was unrelenting as he held me in ce with one arm, his other hand snaked out and gripped


    my chin forcing me to look at him.


    ¡°Do you understand?¡± he asked. His intense gaze made me gulp nervously. His eyes hardened when I


    didn¡¯t answer his grip on my chin tightening. I quickly nodded my head, not trusting my voice not to


    break if I answered out loud. He let my chin go and his grip on my waist loosened. I climbed off of him


    and scooted as far as the seat would allow away from him.


    Reid turned his body so he could watch me, draping one arm along the backrest of the car. I looked in


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    the mirror to be met with Zane¡¯s sympathetic eyes staring back at me before he quickly nced away.


    ¡°What happened with Alpha David?¡± asked Reid. I had this entire scenario yed out differently in my


    head. I wasn¡¯t expecting it to be so tense nor was I expecting him to punch David without giving me a


    chance to exin.


    ¡°It was about Lily,¡± I told him my voice firm, annoyed that he was treating me like I was some omega.


    Angry that he nearly ruined the deal I have with Alpha David.


    ¡°And?¡± Reid asked, annoyed at my answer. I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes at him, his way of


    talking down at me was starting to really get under my skin.


    ¡°And it doesn¡¯t concern you, David and I will organise thingster around Lily¡¯s school schedule.¡± Reid


    growled at my response and my tone of voice. I knew I sounded bitchy, but what did he expect after the


    way he just treated me.


    ¡°When it¡¯s about you and Lily, it does concern me Aria. You are mine, now lose the attitude and tell me


    what is going on,¡±


    ¡°Really, lose the attitude? I¡¯m sorry if I won¡¯t bow down to you. Until you start treating me like your


    equal, the attitude stays.¡± I retorted.


    Reid reached over and gripped my arm. I see Zane nce nervously in the mirror before his eyes went


    back to the road. Through the bond, I could feel that he was a ticking time bomb, his rage just swirling


    inside him looking for an escape even Ryder was angry. Pissed off he didn¡¯t get the challenge from


    Alpha David like he hoped he would. Both of them were annoyed, feeling like I was challenging them.


    I wasn¡¯t, but I also wasn¡¯t going to put up with their anger issues. Not wanting to be suffocated by his


    testosterone-fuelled rage at me, challenging him, I gripped the door handle and shoved the door open.


    Ripping my arm out of Reid¡¯s grip, I jumped from the moving vehicle, Zane instantly hitting the brakes.


    My body collided with the rough gravel; I could feel my flesh being ripped away as I rolled along the


    road. The car behind us screeching to a stop about a metre off me. My clothes were torn, and I had


    cuts and scrapes covering every bit of exposed flesh, including my face. I was too angry to notice. I just


    wanted away from him, away from both of them.


    Pushing up off the ground onto my hands and knees, I groaned. Maybe that wasn¡¯t the smartest idea I


    had thought of. Standing up, I dusted myself off pulling small rocks out that were embedded in my


    hands, I turned and started walking towards the forest that led to the Pack house. I could hear people¡¯s


    rushed voices calling after me before the car that nearly hit me left, driving towards the Pack house.


    Reid screamed at me, demanding Ie back to the car, but I was not in the mood to deal with him. I


    ignored him and kept walking. Next thing I know I am being knocked down onto the grass from behind


    as Reid barrelled into me. Hitting the grass with an oomph as the air was knocked out of me. Reid


    rolled me over onto my back; I just stared, dazed.


    ¡°Where do you think you''re going little one?¡±


    ¡°Where do you think I¡¯m going¡­ Home. Now get off me.¡±


    Reid red down at me, challenging me. I red back at him, not submitting. When he realised I


    wasn¡¯t going to back down he growled warningly at me, but I just growled back. How dare he challenge


    me. We are meant to be mates, equals. I don¡¯t own him just as he doesn¡¯t own me. I won¡¯t submit to


    him or anybody. I¡¯m not going to be his little bitch that he can treat like garbage then think I will forgive


    his brutish behaviour.


    When I growled back, Ryder''s eyes peered back at me. Ryder may love me, but Alpha¡¯s don¡¯t like to be


    challenged even by their Luna. Most Luna¡¯s are submissive to their mates. I¡¯m not a normal wolf, I¡¯m


    Lycan and not going to back down to him whether he is my mate or not. Ryder seemed to realise that I


    could tell Reid was fighting for control, his eyes flickering between him and his beast. I shoved him to


    the side and went to get up when hands gripped my shoulder¡¯s pulling me back down.


    Ryder pulled me, so my back was pressed against his chest, his arms holding my arms at my side, I


    felt him move my hair over my shoulder, exposing my neck to him.


    Suddenly feeling teeth bite down harshly on my neck, trying to get me to submit, I struggle against him


    when I feel his canines bite through my flesh harder pinning me in ce. Ryder growled menacingly at


    me, but I refused to submit. When I felt him bite deeper, I could feel the blood start to run down my


    neck and arm, any harder he could rip my arm off.


    His growling got louder, trying to force me to give in. Instead, I pivot, his teeth ripping harshly out of my


    shoulder and neck. Gripping him I bite him back, I sink my teeth into his neck, but the blood loss from


    his bite starts to make me woozy as I feel myself getting sleepy, I drop to my side my body feeling like


    it''s being weighed down.


    Why didn¡¯t I just let Ryder win? I knew better than to challenge a wolf. Reid is one thing, Ryder is


    is show weakness, especially in front of their mate. So, me challenging Reid brought Ryder forward.


    I feel my body being lifted, and my head hits Reid¡¯s shoulder as I fight to stay conscious. I can feel


    movement before I am ced on hisp. Hearing the car door close I know I¡¯m back in the car on


    Reid¡¯sp. I could hear Zane speaking.


    ¡°Luna alright, Alpha?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she just bit off more than she can chew with Ryder, she just needs blood,¡±


    I feel the engine start and the car move. When I give into exhaustion.


    I¡¯m nice and warm. My skin feels like it¡¯s vibrating, tingles are spreading down my sides where Reid¡¯s


    hand is drawing patterns in my skin. I leave my eyes closed, enjoying the sensations and my


    heightened senses. I breathe in his intoxicating scent. His masculine smell making my mouth water. I


    can tell we areying on our sides, my face resting on his arm, his breath fanning my face. Wriggling


    closer Reid tucks my head under his chin, pulling me tighter to his chest.


    I growl low, almost a purr at our closeness, I have an overwhelming need to taste him, running my nose


    along his chest, I lift my head and start licking and sucking his neck softly. He moves onto his back,


    pulling me with him, so I¡¯m lying on his chest. I breathe in his scent, which is teasing me, making me


    thirstier. My eyes still closed; I run my nose along his corbone, breathing him in. Reid pulls me up


    higher, so we are face to face. I open my eyes to see Reid¡¯s soft gaze staring at me. I lean in and kiss


    his lips softly, his fingers softly drawing circles on my lower back.


    Dropping my head back on his chest, I listen to his heartbeat thump in his chest, my own heart falling in


    sync with his.

 Chapter 31

    Chapter 31


    Aria¡¯s POV


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let Ryder have control.¡± Reid¡¯s husky voice broke the silence. My hand instinctively


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    went to my neck, remembering the feel of his anger as he bit into my soft skin. My neck was smooth,


    having already healed. Lifting my head up, I stared at Reid¡¯s face. He was fully in control now his gaze


    soft, but I could feel his worry seeping into me through the mate bond. I could feel his guilt thick and


    strong. Reid¡¯s silver eyes searching mine waiting for me to say something.


    Leaning over, I kissed his lips softly before getting up. I climbed off the bed and walked into the


    bathroom, I wanted to shower so I could go see Lily and tell her about my meeting with her father.


    When I opened the bathroom door Reid sat up, he must have felt my intentions through the bond.


    ¡°Lily is asleep. I wouldn¡¯t wake her; she has her first day of school tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? What time is it?¡± I asked, confused. I didn¡¯t feel like I was out that long. It was the


    middle of the night when we left David¡¯s, I feel like I only had a short nap.


    ¡°It¡¯s 2:00 AM Aria, you have been out for three days now.¡± His voice got lower as he looked down at the


    bed. Three days I have been out, Ryder knocked me out for three days. No wonder he feels so bloody


    guilty.


    Turning my back on him, I push the bathroom door open. Stripping my clothes off I turned the shower


    on, my body felt a little stiff but other than that I felt fine. I certainly didn¡¯t feel like I had been asleep for


    three days. I was fairly hungry though my bloodlust was strong, but it was strong before Ryder bit me. I


    will have to go see if I can find any blood in the infirmary. Dr. Mavis said she would stock it there in the


    fridges for me.


    Halfway through washing myself, Reid walked in, I watched as he stripped his clothes off and turned


    the other showerhead on at the opposite end to me. I watched as the water ran down the muscles on


    his back. His arms braced on the wall in front of him, his head under the stream of water.


    Reid must have felt my eyes on him as he turned around and stared back. His eyes running up my


    body stopping at my hips then my breasts, before looking me in the eyes. His gaze stirring my insides,


    as arousal started to flood me. I wasn¡¯t sure it waspletely mine or just Reid¡¯s desiresing


    through the mate bond. Scanning my eyes over him, I watched his chest move with each breath, my


    eyes sliding down his abs then slowing at his V line when I noticed his erection standing proud. I turned


    away, definitely not just my own feelings I was picking up on. I didn¡¯t want to give him the satisfaction.


    Abruptly ignoring my arousal, I turned the taps off and stepped out of the shower. He will have to tend


    to himself, I could feel the hint of a smile creeping onto my face at the thought. Grabbing a towel, I


    wrapped it around myself and walked out, closing the door behind me. I heard Reid groan with


    frustration.


    Since it was night-time, I decided to put my pyjamas on. Leaving the room, I snuck down the stairs and


    opened up Lily¡¯s door, she was sleeping peacefully snuggled up to her purple unicorn plushie. Closing


    the door, I walked to the infirmary. My gum tingling in anticipation. Just as I¡¯m about to reach out and


    open the infirmary door, Zane steps into the hallway.


    ¡°Luna, you are up,¡± he said noticeably shocked at finding me walking the halls sote at night.


    ¡°Yes, Zane, good morning. Why are you up so early?¡± My voice was breathy, my fangs had already


    protruded from my gums, making it difficult to speak.


    ¡°Patrol duty, are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± asked Zane, reaching out he gently touched my arm. I pulled


    back. I tried to calm myself, but in this empty narrow hall, it was hard to ignore the beating of his heart,


    the sweet smell of his blood racing through his veins. I was struggling. I was fine, but as soon as the


    infirmary came into view, my hunger took over knowing what waited on the other side of the door.


    I watched the vein in his neck lost in a trance. I could hear his concerned voice talking to me, but his


    words didn¡¯t register. My mouth started to water; I could feel my eyes zing in hunger. Just as I went


    to lean in to taste him, he pulled away startled. My eyes flicked to his concerned ones.


    ¡°Luna¡­ Luna, Aria.¡± I could hear him speaking, but they were just words. They held no meaning at this


    moment. Moving towards him, he put his hands up, trying to ward me off. My only response was a


    guttural growl. Just when I went to take another step towards him, I felt arms wrap around my own,


    distracting me.


    Reid¡¯s arms, the familiar tingles spreading throughout my body at his touch, his intoxicating scent


    making me lean into him instinctually, calming myself down. Reid pulled me closer, tucking my head


    under his chin.


    ¡°Beta you are free to leave. Let me know if you have any problems while on patrol.¡± Reid spoke with


    authority. Beta Zane sounded relieved to have Reid walk in. His heart rate instantly slowed down at the


    sight of his Alpha.


    ¡°I will see youter. Luna, feel better,¡± he said as he walked off towards the foyer. I let out a shaky


    breath and tried to pull away.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Reid asked.


    ¡°I need blood,¡± I stated, my voice still slightly distorted.


    ¡°I know, but why you are going into the infirmary?¡± I looked at him confused. I know blood isn¡¯t stored


    next to the milk in the fridge downstairs. Reid pulled me back towards our room. Wriggling out of his


    grip, I opened the door to the infirmary.


    ¡°I told Mavis not to store blood here for you after thest batch went off.¡±


    ¡°Why would you do that?¡± I asked in disbelief. Was he going to force me to go without it like David?


    Reid grabbed my hand and walked me back to our room, why would he tell Mavis to do that? Is it


    because I challenged him? Because I went behind his back? Was this his punishment?


    Once back in the room, Reid pulled his shirt off and sat on the edge of the bed. ¡°You don¡¯t need blood


    bags when you have me, I don¡¯t want you drinking random peoples blood Ari, only mine.¡±


    I watched him waiting for him to tell me it was a joke. I searched the bond and found no deceit, no


    indication that he was going to go back on what he was telling me. I could tell he felt strongly about me


    drinking only his blood, his possessiveness making him even want to control who I drink from. I didn¡¯t


    mind, he tasted just as good as he smelt.


    Reid put his hand out and tilted his neck towards me, I watched the vein in his neck, throb to the beat


    of his heart. His scent perfuming the room, the sight of his neck was making my mouth water. I


    hesitantly stepped towards him and grabbed his hand. He pulled me on hisp, I was starving, but I


    was also worried about hurting him after what happened in the hallway with Zane.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you kill me, Ari, stop worrying,¡± When I didn¡¯t move, Reid reached up and slid his nail across


    his shoulder where it met at his neck. Drawing a thin line of blood. His blood spilling over and running


    down his shoulder onto his chest.


    I couldn¡¯t fight the urge anymore, seeing his blood running down his skin, the temptation became too


    much. I licked up the trail of blood. Reid shuddered under my hot tongue, running over his flesh. When


    I reached his neck, I sank my teeth into his tender flesh. Reid moaned loudly at the sharpness of my


    teeth. Through the bond, I could feel that he actually enjoyed me feeding off him, like he found it erotic.


    His blood dribbled down my chin as I drank from him, my hunger felt insatiable, when I went to pull


    away, Reid shook his head, he could feel my hunger radiating through our bond. I sank my teeth back


    into him, I knew my eyes and sclerae were burning red as the colour of his blood started to take over


    my vision. Making the room appear tinted red.


    Adjusting my position, I could feel Reid¡¯s erection pressing between my legs through his jeans.

 Chapter 32

    Chapter 32


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Pulling back, I went to get up when Reid tugged my hips back down, thrusting his hips into mine. I


    could feel his rock-hard cock pressing against my core. Reid held me in ce with one arm tightly


    secured around my waist. His other hand reached up towards my face. He gripped my chin between


    his fingers, forcing me to meet his hungry lust-filled gaze. The intensity of his eyes made me squirm in


    anticipation.


    Reid''s thumb rubbed over my chin before brushing over my bottom lip. Parting my lips, my tongue


    brushed against his thumb softly. I could taste his blood on it. Swirling my tongue around the tip of his


    thumb, I sucked on it. His delicious taste enticed my arousal more.


    Reid''s hand dropped to my breast, he palmed it firmly, fondling it with his warm hands, as he hungrily


    smashed his lips into mine.


    Rolling my hips over the bulge in his jeans. I felt moisture pool between thighs at the friction, making


    me moan against his lips, earning a growl from him.


    "You still aren''t forgiven," I told him. My voice sounds breathy and desperate.


    "We''ll see." His husky voice spoke just below my ear as he sucked the skin on my neck.


    Reaching between us, I undid the button and zip on his jeans, reaching inside. I grabbed hisrge thick


    cock in my hand. Squeezing it, he thrust into my hand. I stroked him, slowly teasing him.


    Reid grabbed my ass with both hands, squeezing so tightly, I knew his fingers were going to leave a


    bruise. My body betrayed me when he squeezed even harder, making me moan out.


    Flipping me over, Reid sat on his knees between my legs. The silk slip dress riding up, revealing my


    wet panties. Gripping my panties, he ripped them off, my skin stinging as the fabric tore into my flesh,


    making me hiss.


    Pulling me towards him and spreading my legs wide apart for him. I watched as he rubbed his fingers


    over my bare pussy, sliding his fingers between my swollen wet lips. He rubbed softly between my


    moist folds before pushing two fingers inside me, my pussy clenched around his fingers as he slowly


    pulled them out before adding another, his fingers moving in and out of my pussy torturously slow.


    "So wet." Reid''s husky voice made me quiver.


    I pushed against his fingers, trying to get the release I was sitting on the edge of. Pulling his fingers out


    Watching as he ced his fingers in his mouth, sucking my juices from them.


    "And so sweet." His gravelly voice making my stomach tighten.


    Leaning over me, he smashed his lips into mine, his tongue ying with mine fighting for dominance. I


    could taste myself on his lips as he took over my mouth.


    Standing up, he removed his jeans, his cock springing free from the confines of his pants. He stroked


    himself while watching my reaction. Sitting up on my elbows, I watched as his hand stroked and


    squeezed his cock.


    My juices running down and onto my thighs, at the sight of him standing over me, I rubbed my legs


    together to try and soothe my throbbing desire.


    Sitting up, I grabbed hold of his thick cock, I felt it jerk in my grip. Looking up and watching his reaction.


    I flicked my tongue out and licked his knob, before taking itpletely in my mouth.


    Sucking his cock, I felt his hands slide into my hair. Gripping a handful, he thrust into my mouth, making


    me gag. His cock twitched when my throat constricted around his hard length.


    Sucking harder, he thrust into my mouth again. This time I was prepared for it and rxed my throat.


    Reid continued to fuck my mouth for a few minutes before reaching down. He grabbed my dress and


    pulled it over my head, before shoving me back, making me fall on my back on the bed.


    Using his hands, he spread my legs apart, beforeying between them. I moaned out when his hot


    breath came in contact with my skin as he sucked on the inside of my thigh. Moving closer to my core,


    his hot breath fanning my skin as he ran his tongue over my swollen lips.


    His hands running up and over my belly to my breasts, everywhere he touched sparks ignited, making


    my sensitive skin tingle.


    I writhed in pleasure as he sucked and licked the small bundle nerves, he then slid a finger inside of


    me, making me grip the sheets. His tongue giving me no rest as he tasted me. I tried to m my legs


    shut, but he pulled them open holding them in ce, my stomach tightened, and body tingled as my


    orgasm took over as my pussy mped around his fingers, slowing his movements so I could ride out


    my orgasm.


    Iid there trying to catch my breath when Reid suddenly flipped me over onto my stomach, grabbing


    my ankles. He ripped me towards the end of the bed. I yipped at the speed, thinking I was going to be


    thrown off the bed when suddenly my feet touched the soft carpet. My body still bent over the bed,


    trying to sit up, I felt his warmrge hand shove me back down before the sound of his p echoed


    through the room as his hand swatted my arse. I could feel his handprint burning into the tender flesh


    of my arse as he rubbed it soothingly.


    Using his feet, he kicked my legs apart, his hand gripping my hips, pulling me closer to the edge of the


    bed, leaving me face down with my ass in the air. I felt as he shoved his erection between my wet folds


    teasingly. My stomach tightened in anticipation, reaching between us, Reid''s hand ran over my ass


    gently before sliding his fingers between my wet folds and rubbing my core, my wetness coating his


    fingers.


    The low hum like a purr rumbled through his chest deep and low making me insides clench, when


    suddenly his fingers were gone as he mmed his hard cock into me. I cried out at the shock and force


    of his cock mming relentlessly into me, my cries turning to moans as I became putty beneath his


    hands.


    The only sounds were moans and the sound of our flesh as his hips mmed into mine, it didn''t take


    long before I felt my core tighten and my skin heat up as another orgasm washed over me. My pussy


    clenching around his cock as I rode out my orgasm, I could feel his movements be harder as he


    finally found his release. Spilling his seed into me, we both copsed onto the bed.


    ***


    Waking up a few hourster, the sun was now up, making my way into the bathroom. I quickly peed


    before jumping in the shower to wash away the remnants ofst night¡¯s shenanigans. Getting out, I


    quickly chucked on jeans and a shirt, sliding on my slippers, I quickly made my way down to Lily''s


    room.


    Opening the door, Lily threw herself into my arms. The relief I felt being able to hold her in my arms


    was overwhelming; my eyes instantly pooling with tears. Lily let go excitedly, she was wearing a navy


    blue skort and light blue button-up blouse.


    ''"I get to go to school today," Lily said, jumping up and down excitedly. "I''m d you''re awake, you will


    love my school. Reid took me to the Pack school yesterday so I could meet my teacher. She was so


    nice, and she has Pink hair like a princess." Lily exined, her excitement never wavering.


    "Pink hair? What¡¯s her name? Did you like her?" I asked just as enthusiastically as Lily.


    "Yes, her name is Mrs. Tatt. She is nice, and she even wears princess dresses with frilly skirts." Lily


    replied, just as Reid walked in, he was wearing his usual ck suit and white shirt looking very formal


    and work ready. In his hands, he was holding a pair of ck Nike joggers and some socks. I watched


    as he got down on one knee in front of Lily. Lily instantly sitting next to him as he ced her socks and


    shoes on her feet before tying herces.


    I kind of felt a little left out. I was so used to doing this stuff for her, it was kind of weird seeing someone


    else dress her and get her ready for school. I felt unneeded. Reid sensing my emotions looked up at


    me and raised an eyebrow at me. His voice slipping into my mind.


    "You''re not jealous, are you?" I didn''t reply. I know it was childish, but I actually was a little jealous.


    "Don''t be, someone had to look after her while you napped. Besides, it is good practise for when we


    have kids. I even did her hair." I was gobsmacked. I didn''t really picture Reid as the type to want kids,


    let alone see myself wanting kids. I guess I never really thought of myself ever having a mate either.


    Never wanting children of my own, I always ssed Lily as my own. Now the thought of having my own


    scared me. Looking at Lily, Reid had indeed done her hair, it was a little out of ce but looked ok still,


    her blonde hair was parted down the middle and pulled into pigtails, I smiled at his attempt. Watching


    him with Lily, I could see another side of him, one I never knew existed.


    I knew I wasn''t ready for kids; I only just found my mate, and now he wants me spitting out a litter. Hell


    no. Reid stood up and hugged me, wrapping both arms around my waist and resting his head on my


    shoulder; his lips gently kissed my cheek.


    "I didn''t say right away stop stressing; I can feel your anxiety.... calm down. When you''re ready, we will


    talk about it,"


    I will never be ready. I thought to myself, it was never a desire I ever had.


    "Yes, you will one day." Reid whispered in my ear.


    "Stop reading my thoughts," I retorted.


    "Then stop hiding your feelings, and I won''t have too."


    Lily was digging through her new unicorn backpack,pletely oblivious of my inner turmoil or mine


    and Reid''s conversation. Lily was excitedly getting ready for school, when the doorbell rang loudly,


    echoing throughout the house. Lily looked at me, nervously. I was confused at her reaction, Reid


    stiffened beside me as his hands tightened around my waist. Kissing my neck, he let go.


    "You should get that,¡± he stated. I walked out of the room and walked towards the foyer. As I was


    that scent having spent half my life around him. Confusion took up my mind. I could hear Lily and Reid


    He was clean-shaven wearing jeans and a loose-fitting blue shirt. He also looked like he had a haircut.


    His hair was neatly done, and he was even wearing deodorant instead of his usual foul whiskey smell,


    which usually followed him like a dark cloud. He looked good clean, but most of all, like a normal father


    instead of a dirty rough biker.


    I froze on the steps. I could feel Lily tug my hand gently when she grasped it. David looked panicked for


    a second upon seeing me frozen on the steps.


    "Am Ite?"


    I stared, confused. Wendy piped up when I didn''t say anything.


    "No, just in time. We were all about to have some coffee while the kids ate breaky then we will head


    off."


    David nodded. I made my way down the stairs slowly, never taking my eyes off him.


    "Okay... I am missing something, what''s going on?"


    "You messaged saying it was Lily''s first day of school and I could attend if I wanted, so here I am"


    David spoke in a nervous voice.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Reid walked up behind me. "I didn''t text, I don''t even have a phone" I replied confused. Reid reached


    into his pocket and pulled out an iPhone.


    "Well, you do now, and I invited David on behalf of you. Nowe on, let''s go have some coffee" Reid


    said , cing the phone in my hand and walking towards the kitchen. Lily stared up at me nervously


    before chasing after Reid. I nodded for David to follow as we all made our way to the kitchen.

 Chapter 33

    Chapter 33


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Once in the kitchen, I started making coffee with Wendy. The atmosphere was a little tense not knowing


    how to react to having someone that wasn''t a Pack member in the Pack house. David looked extremely


    ufortable, and he and Reid sat across from each other at the table watching each other closely.


    Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Neither of them trusting the other. Walking over, I ced a coffee in front of both of them. I don''t know


    who¡¯s as more shocked Lily or myself when David thanked me for his cup.


    I stared speechlessly, so did Lily, the words sounded aliening out of his mouth. Quickly masking


    my shock, I took a seat between both Alpha''s, my own cup in hand and watched as Lily and Amber


    munched on their breakfast. Wendy offered everyone pancakes, but Alpha David declined, and I


    suddenly lost my appetite. How could I eat when everything felt ufortable? I didn''t trust myself to


    not choke on my food.


    When Lily finished eating, she grabbed her bag, chucking it over her shoulder. I stood up and reached


    for her hand. She grasped it tightly, I could sense she was nervous. I just didn''t know if it was about


    starting a new school or the fact that David was following behind her. Reaching the foyer, Reid stopped


    in front of us.


    "I have to go to the office. When you¡¯re done at the school head over if you like, Mitch will drive you


    wherever you want to go" He told me, cing a kiss on my lips before stepping back. Just as he was


    about to bend down to talk to Lily. David stepped forward.


    "Actually, is it alright if after I have some time with Aria? I have a few things I would like to discuss with


    her?" I was once again left speechless. The man I had always feared asking permission like a child and


    using manners too. What happened while I was out, he was like apletely different person.


    Reid nced at me quickly, and I shrugged my shoulders before he looked back at David.


    "Fine but Mitch stays with her, wherever you take her, he is to stay with her understood." David nodded


    and thanked him. Agreeing to the terms.


    "Okay, let¡¯s get Lily to school" I announced, drawing everyone''s attention to what we were meant to be


    doing. Reid bent down and ced a kiss on Lily''s head.


    "Everyone will love you and have fun kiddo,¡± he told her before walking out the front door. David looked


    down at Lily and smiled. The smile seemed genuine and held no malice, it was weird seeing him smile.


    I hadn''t seen the man smile since my mother was alive. Oh, how things were changing.


    Walking out behind Reid, I watched as he jumped into his car with Zane following behind him, before


    jumping in the driver¡¯s side and leaving. We watched the car go down the driveway, Mitch pulled up out


    the front in a ck SUV, I walked over and opened the back door for Lily. Lily climbed in, cing the


    seat belt on while I slid in next to her. David stood awkwardly. I could tell he was unsure whether or not


    he was supposed toe with us or follow.


    "Just jump in the front, we can drop you back to your car when we are finished at the school." I yelled


    out to him. David made his way to the front passenger seat climbing in and buckling himself up. The


    drive to school was silent and luckily a quick drive, the school was only ten minutes from the Pack


    house.


    Jumping out of the car, the school was only small,pared to the ones I went too. One huge building


    surrounded by high fences. Kids were talking and hanging around in groups, there were even older


    teenagers. I looked at Mitch, confused. Noticing my confusion, he stepped closer.


    "The school is K to twelve. There are only around 200 students that attend the school, so instead of


    having two separate schools, we joined them into one. Makes it easier for the warriors to watch over


    everyone. The sses are smaller, so the students get a lot of one-on-one time with their teachers.


    First half of the day is spent doing your normal human sort of education, maths, English, science, etc.


    The other half of the day is spent learning about werewolf history and training," I nodded my head in


    understanding, it was a lot different than the schools I went to.


    I went to a mixed school, with a mainly human poption that was unaware of the werewolf poption


    walking the halls of the school. This seemed more practical, the kids didn''t need to hide what they were


    and were amongst those they have grown up with, they also got the best of educations into both


    worlds. By the time Mitch had finished showing David and I around, we had stopped in front of a


    colourfully decorated ssroom. The windows were covered in different art pieces the kids had drawn


    one window was covered in painted handprints that I''m assuming were Lily''s ssmates.


    Stopping, I noticed we had quite the following of kids, they were crowded around us, staring up at


    Alpha David and myself curiously. Lily was talking animatedly to Amber, and another little girl who''s


    name I learned was Tara. She had red hair and freckles wearing her navy-blue school uniform proudly.


    "Is your sister our Luna?" I heard Tara ask, staring up at me excitedly. I smiled back, Lily just nodded


    her head and introduced us.


    "This is Ari, my sister and this¡­" She stopped unsure of what to say when it came time to introduce


    David. Luckily, David didn''t freeze, in fact, he looked quite proud. He waved at the children that were


    huddled around. I see a few kids sniff the air realising he wasn''t a Pack member before they stepped


    closer to Mitch and myself. David seemed unfazed and introduced himself.


    "I''m David, Lily''s father,¡± he said before looking at my face to see if I would deny him. I just smiled, and


    Lily did too. She looked relieved but also unsure of his new attitude towards her. I couldn''t me her; I


    was actually proud of how she was carrying herself; she really hade a long way from being the


    frightened little girl she once was. Now she was more confident and sure of herself, she still had a long


    way to go, but I now knew she would get there.


    David watched Lily talk amongst her newfound friends, Mitch stuck close, never leaving my side just


    like Reid had told him. When the bell finally rang signalling the start of ss, kids ran in all different


    directions to their ssrooms and lined up. Lily took her ce next to Amber in line and waited


    patiently.


    A woman walked over to us. She eyed David warily before rxing when she spotted Mitch and myself


    standing with him.


    "Hi, you must be Luna Aria,¡± she stated, giving me her hand to shake. Her handshake was gentle. She


    had soft features and caramel coloured skin and bright brown eyes with curly ck shoulder length


    hair.


    "I don''t think I have met you yet. I''m Mrs. Tatt, but you can call me Nadia." She spoke softly. I said a


    quick hello before her gaze looked over my shoulder to the Alpha standing behind me.


    "Ah, I''m David, Lily''s father,¡± he said, offering his hand to her. She quickly nodded and shook his hand. I


    could tell she was slightly confused. David Alpha Aura was strong, not as strong as Reid''s but definitely


    strong. I was shocked he didn''t introduce himself as an Alpha, instead just giving his first name like he


    was any normal person. I could tell she thought it was weird that a non-Pack member and Alpha was


    on Pack territory and that his daughter wasn''t a part of his own Pack. I didn''t have time to exin the


    very strange situation right now. So, for now, Nadia will just have to wait until I exin the unusual


    family situation to her.


    Lily raced into ss and put her bag at her desk. I watched her run back and wrap her tiny arms


    around me and give me a hug. She pulled away, and Mitch ruffled her hair while she swatted his hand


    away. She looked up at her father, not knowing whether to just walk away or shake his hand. I saw her


    raise her hand like she was going to wave when Alpha David ced a hand on her shoulder and lightly


    squeezed. I could tell he was just as unsure as she was. "Have a good day, Lily,¡± he told her with a


    gentle voice.


    She smiled and nodded her head before walking off to go back to her desk.


    Walking out, I heard Mrs. Tatt calling out "Luna, Luna." I stopped quickly remembering I was, in fact, the


    Luna. That was still going to take some getting used to.


    Turning around, I faced her. "School finishes at three as I''m sure you are aware but if you don''t mind


    would you be able to stop by the ss at 2:30 the kids would love to meet and get to know you,"


    "Of course, I will see you then." She smiled excitedly, and I could see many faces pressed against the


    ss peering out at us. I waved at them before following Mitch back to the car. Alpha David walking


    beside me.


    "I would like to speak to the principal here one day if that''s okay. I like the idea of this whole werewolf


    popted school. The kids look a lot more rxed when they aren''t surrounded by humans," I raised


    an eyebrow, that had to be the most Alpha thing I have hearde out of his mouth. He did seem


    quite interested when Mitch was exining the way the school was set up. Mitch answered for me.


    " You will have to discuss that with the Alpha assuming Luna Aria is okay with that, I don''t think Alpha


    Reid will have a problem": It was weird hearing Mitch address me so formally. I knew he was only doing


    it out of respect, and because Alpha David was with us. I really hope it doesn''t stick though; I like being


    myself around everyone back home. But I feel it might change if everyone keeps calling me Luna. I


    didn''t mind the title, but I also liked just being Aria.


    "That''s fine with me, we can discuss itter, now where did you want to have this talk at?"


    "We can head back to your Pack house if you would be morefortable there" Mitches mind-link


    pushed through to me. "Luna I would prefer if it was done at home, it is a lot safer there with the


    warriors, and I don''t think Reid would like it very much if we left the territory."


    I nodded in Mitch''s direction. "Yes, we can head back to the Pack house and discuss things." I told


    David. Getting back to the car we made the short trip back to the Pack house.

 Chapter 34

    Chapter 34


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Once back at the house, we headed straight towards the kitchen. I brewed coffee while David went and


    took a seat at the table. Mitch just lingered in the kitchen watching, keeping a watchful eye. David¡¯s


    whole demeanour changed once I sat across from him. He suddenly became extremely nervous like he


    didn¡¯t know how to start. I sipped my coffee and watched as he did the same. He kept ncing towards


    Mitch like he didn¡¯t want to speak in front of him.


    ¡°Does your friend need to stay?¡± he asked. I looked towards Mitch who was sitting at the counter


    reading the newspaper, having heard David speak, he looked up.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, so pretend I¡¯m not here,¡± he confirmed what I already knew. Reid had given


    him strict orders that under no circumstances I was to be left alone with Alpha David.


    David realising this turned back to me while Mitch turned back to his newspaper and coffee.


    ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡± I asked, breaking the silence that seemed to be drawing on. I


    just wanted to get this over with.


    ¡°Well first, I wanted to say thank you for allowing me to try and form a rtionship with Lily, I know it


    must be hard considering the past,¡± I scoffed at his use of words, he was really trying not to mention


    any details, but at least he was attempting to apologise. Seeing my reaction, he put his head down.


    ¡°Look Aria, I wasn¡¯t all bad. Before your mother died, I was a good stepfather, a good husband. It was


    just difficult after your mother died. I couldn¡¯t cope with losing her. I loved your mother, Aria.¡±


    ¡°I know that, David, I do. I understand to a certain point now. I spoke to Reid; his father never


    recovered from losing his mate either. Now having Reid, I can¡¯t imagine life without him. That¡¯s not my


    problem though. I know who you are capable of being. I also know what you¡¯re capable of doing. I


    won¡¯t allow Lily to be put through that again. I know she is your daughter, but I am the one who raised


    her.¡±


    David seemed to be thinking, I could tell he was ufortable with being called out for his shit, and I


    could also see he really was trying to apologise for his actions.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    ¡°I do have a question for you, though,¡± I said. He lifted his head and looked at me, his face unreadable.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about Zoe? Why did you stop her from being a part of our lives?¡±


    David sat back in the chair like he was trying to find the words. ¡°If you knew about Zoe, you could have


    left, and she was a part of your mother¡¯s old life, the life she had with your father. I guess I was jealous


    that your mother loved someone other than me. I made it no secret that I felt betrayed that she had a


    child with someone who wasn¡¯t her mate, so I made her cut ties with her family.¡± I was appalled at his


    reasoning. He basically made my mother choose her family or her mate, which it¡¯s almost impossible to


    go against the mate bond.


    David seemed to grow tense under my re. I didn¡¯t even realise I was ring at him until I saw him


    look to Mitch, who was already on his feet staring at me. I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths


    through my nose, I could feel my fangs protruding and taste my own blood in my mouth. Regaining


    control, I rxed. That was the first time I had actually managed to gain full control of my emotions and


    instincts. David''s answer was so selfish it made my blood boil.


    Once I was settled down, I grabbed my coffee and let the burn from the scolding liquid distract me from


    ripping him apart. I had no doubt in my mind now that if it came to that, I could easily overpower and kill


    him. I couldn¡¯t do that though I had to think of Lily.


    ¡°So, after Mum died, what was your excuse for not letting her see us? And don¡¯t say it was me running


    off because you and I both know I would never leave Lily in your care.¡± He went to protest but shut his


    mouth.


    ¡°Well after your mother died, I just didn¡¯t see the point in bringing it up. You lived without her, so what¡¯s


    the point? Then when you started working there, I was quite shocked she didn¡¯t tell.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t say anything because she knew I would never leave Lily behind, and also so you wouldn¡¯t


    stop us from seeing her. She didn¡¯t care what sort of contact she had with us, she just wanted to be a


    part of our lives.¡± David nodded his head in understanding. Listening to my words before speaking


    again.


    ¡°Well¡­ so how do we go about this whole custody agreement?¡±


    ¡°What agreement, David? I haven¡¯t agreed to anything. Lily will remain with me until you either prove


    yourself, or she is old enough to choose.¡±


    ¡°But surely, we can organise some routine so I can spend some time with her, or maybe even a time


    when you and Lilye and stay at the Pack house, so she is still around her Pack members?¡±


    Mitch seemed to stiffen at thest part. There would be little chance of Reid ever letting me go back to


    my old Pack. ¡°You would have to speak to Reid about that, David.¡±


    ¡°But he isn¡¯t Lily¡¯s father. I should have some say,¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m his mate, I will not go against him. If he won¡¯t allow me to stay at our old Pack house, then I am


    sorry David, but I will not allow you to be alone with Lily without me there. I didn¡¯t do this, you did. You


    made your bed so, for now, you need toy in it and do things on my terms. If you don¡¯t agree to it, that


    is fine, I understand. But you won¡¯t be seeing Lily until I say so or she is old enough to understand and


    decide for herself.¡± I would never back down when ites to Lily¡¯s safety, and I had toy it all out


    there because if he thinks I am just going to be pushed to the side and let him take over, he is sadly


    mistaken. I won¡¯t allow him to damage my sister any more than he already has.


    David stood up about to protest, I remained seated, keeping calm. Mitch stood up and started making


    his way towards the table when Alpha David looked in his direction, he sighed before reigning in his


    emotions.


    ¡°I see at the moment we aren¡¯t going to agree on anything, I really need to talk to you about something


    else but wish to do so in private¡± Mitches phone suddenly started ringing, cutting David off. David


    looked at Mitch, who answered it. It was clear he was on the phone to Reid. ¡°Some other time then


    Aria, can I pick Lily up after school with you?¡±


    I nodded in agreement and told him to meet me in front of the school at 2:20. I promised I would stop in


    early to meet her ssmates and teacher. That would also give me enough time to let the warriors that


    patrol the border to allow David back into the territory.


    I escorted David out and watched him leave. Walking back inside, I was suddenly stopped by Mitch. He


    was carrying my jacket and had keys in his hand. ¡°Come on Ari, Alpha wants you toe to meet him


    at his office. You really need to reign in your emotions. He has been hounding me the entire time you


    were talking to David, and now he is that anxious, he has ordered I bring you to him.¡± I rolled my eyes


    at him, I could just overthrow him, but I know that would not only piss Reid off but also Ryder. Thest


    thing I need is an angry possessive werewolf on a rampage to hunt me down so I decided it is best to


    go willingly.


    Driving through the city, it was just starting to rain clouds rolling in from the mountains. The sky was


    grey, and the weather was turning miserable. When we reached the skyrise that was owned by the


    Pack, I made my way inside. The foyer wasrge; the marble floors made my wet sneakers squeak


    when I walked. At the front was a woman who, when I approached, bowed her head before telling me


    to catch the lift to the top floor.


    Everything was so clean and polished, I could see my reflection in the buttons on the elevator, they


    were that shiny. When I got to the top floor, the elevator dinged as the doors opened. This office space


    was incredibly fancy, just what you would expect to find in a CEO¡¯s floor, everything was state of the


    art. The secretary at the front was a middle-aged woman in a pinstripe suit, she had sses perched


    on the end of her nose and was gazing at herputer screen. When I approached, she looked up


    with a huge smile on her face.


    ¡°Good morning, Luna.¡± I waved her off.


    ¡°Call me Aria. I am still not used to that title yet,¡± I told her. She looked at me, nodding understandably.


    ¡°Alpha said to just go into his office.¡± She told me, pointing to the cked-out ss windows behind


    her. I couldn¡¯t see in the windows were tinted darkly, upon opening the door though his office kind of


    resembled the one at home.


    Everything was clean and tidy with the same oak furniture; the only difference was the size of the room.


    It was huge, and the view from the floor to ceiling windows overlooked the entire city. Walking over I


    looked out and the view was breathtaking.


    I stayed there looking out the window. I could just make out all the different territories in the distance. I


    was so absorbed in what I could see that I didn¡¯t hear Reid sneak in behind me. His arms wrapped


    around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest. His face pressing to the side of my neck as he


    breathed in my scent. Tingles and sparks ran through my body straight to my clit. ¡°Hmmm,¡± his voice


    changed to one of desire. I could feel his hard rod pressing into my arse. Deciding to tease him a little, I


    pushed my arse into him, making him groan. Reid¡¯s hands snaked under my shirt, and under my bra,


    he pinched my left nipple between his fingers while his other hand travelled south into my pants. Reid¡¯s


    finger pressing softly against my clit, his fingers moving torturously slow, my head rolled back onto his


    shoulder, Reid started kissing and sucking on my neck. Turning my head slightly, Reid imed my lips


    with his, his fingers moving faster rubbing building me up, I moaned into his mouth.


    Reid pushed his erection into me, and I reached back and grasped him through his pants. Reid growled


    before pulling his hand from my pants which earned him an annoyed growl from me. He smiled before


    shoving me towards his desk.


    ¡°You have no idea how much I have wanted to bend you over my desk and fuck you.¡± Before I could


    say anything, Reid spun me around. ¡°Hands t against the desk.¡±


    I obeyed, cing both hands on the desk while he pulled my pants down, forcing me to step out of


    them. ¡°Open your legs,¡± he ordered, kicking my feet apart further with his own. I moved my feet,


    excitement shed through me at his demand. I could feel Reid¡¯s hand between my legs ying with


    my slit before he rammed two fingers inside me. I moaned at the sudden intrusion. Reid moved his


    fingers in out of me slowly, so slowly I actually started pushing into him trying to get more friction and


    make him move faster. Reid¡¯s other hand snaked around my body back under my shirt and he


    squeezed my nipple hard making me cry out. It hurt but also kind of felt good, he is walking a fine line


    between pleasure and pain.


    Moving his finger¡¯s faster, he built up my orgasm, only to pull his fingers from me entirely, leaving me


    feeling empty and frustrated. He kept repeating this until I cried out in annoyance. Just when I thought


    he was about to do it again, I felt somethingrger and a lot harder press between my legs. Reid''s


    hand on my shoulder shoved me, so I waspletely bent over his desk, my breasts pressing into the


    cold surface of the desk.


    Positioning himself at my entrance, Reid mmed into me hard, my body jerked forward, my hips


    hitting painfully on the desk, but I didn¡¯t care. Reid relentlessly pounding his cock into me had me


    writhing and moaning in pleasure, finally getting the release I needed. When my pussy started to mp


    around his cock, he picked up his pace mming into me harder and faster. My orgasm came on hard


    and fast, my body twitching as Reid held me in ce. In this moment I couldn¡¯t care less if anyone


    walked in and caught us, my body ached, and I was exhausted, my whole bodypletely rxed


    while I rode out my orgasm, all the while Reid pounded into me until I felt him slow his pace before I


    could feel his warm cum shooting into me, coating my insides.


    Author Note


    Don''t forget to check out chosen by the dragon kings and fated to the Alpha avable on Goodnovel

 Chapter35

    Chapter35


    The knock on the door alerted us that someone was outside his office door. I managed to throw my


    clothes on with speed that would have put The sh to shame. I could hear Reid chuckle at my


    embarrassment. Any werewolf walking in could easily smell what we had been doing. My dishevelled


    appearance would only be verifying it. I tried to tten down my hair and smooth out my clothes. Reid


    was slowly buttoning up his pants, not even fazed in the slightest. I groaned with annoyance at his


    leisurely pace.


    Without warning, Zane waltzed on in, taking in the room, a sly smile spread across his face as he


    leaned on the doorframe. Reid chuckled at my mortified expression. Before slipping his belt on. Zane


    cleared his throat. ¡°Sorry about that, but by the sounds of it, you two were done. I couldn¡¯t very well


    wait in the hall all day, some of us have work to do,¡± he stated.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    My face flushed red. I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Zaneughed at me. Reid eyed me


    like he wasn¡¯t the least bit embarrassed, it actually made me wonder had Zane walked in on Reid with


    some random bent over his desk before. The thought churned in my stomach jealousy, consuming me


    at the thought.


    ¡°Calm down, Aria, Zane is just ying. And no, he hasn¡¯t walked in on me before,¡± he said, answering


    the question that was lingering in my mind. I hated when he did that, I can¡¯t even keep my thoughts


    private. ¡°No, you can¡¯t so I don¡¯t know why you bother trying.¡± Reid answered. Invading my mind again.


    Zane just watched our lover¡¯s quarrels. I sat on the edge of the desk and folded my arms across my


    chest. I know it was childish, but it really irritated me that invading my thoughts was bing easier


    and easier for him and yet I could feel what he was feeling but still not see into that head of his.


    Reid, ignoring my ranting turned to Zane. ¡°What do you need?¡±


    Zane smirked at me before turning back to Reid. ¡°Nothing Alpha, I just came to see you about a breach


    in security,¡± Reid¡¯s head popped up at that, all joking pushed aside while he listened intently on what


    Zane had to say. I unfolded my arms and leant forward on his desk to listen too. ¡°Hunters were spotted


    sneaking around the territory, and they managed to breach theputer database, they stole some


    footage.¡±


    ¡°Footage? Of what? And are you sure they were Hunters; we haven¡¯t had Hunters around in years.¡±


    ¡°Positive Alpha, they left something behind. When we scoured the footage, we saw they left a note in


    the foyer downstairs. I¡¯m not sure what they were looking for, but they stole the footage from the night


    Lily and Ari came to our territory. They didn¡¯t take the footage of inside the building but of the cameras


    on the streets,¡± Reid looked back at me, panic on his face and leaking through the bond. I could tell he


    was trying to mask it. Zane¡¯s eyes darted to me quickly before his eyes zed over. I could tell he was


    mind linking Reid as Reid¡¯s eyes lost focus before going to me. He growled lowly from the back of his


    throat, it sent chills down my spine and paralysed me on the spot.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked, demanding to know what had Reid so riled up. Zane looked back at Reid, who put his


    hand up before pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. I could tell he was trying to pull himself


    together, so I waited patiently for him to answer.


    ¡°The note said to hand over the Hybrid, and they will show the rest of us mercy,¡± I gasped in shock.


    There is no doubt in my mind the Hybrid they are referring to is me. My throat suddenly felt dry. If they


    know I exist, they would definitely know about Lily. Lily and I are always together, especially the night


    they took the camera footage from.


    ¡°Why, though?¡± My voice shook in fear but not for myself, but for our Pack and for Lily. I never should


    have stayed in town; I should have left when we had the chance. Now I have put everyone at risk and


    why now after years have the Hunterse out of hiding and feel brazen enough to break into one of


    the most feared Packs¡¯ business buildings.


    ¡°I have no idea, Aria, but it won¡¯t be for anything good, you aren¡¯t to leave without an escort from now


    on, in fact, you won¡¯t be leaving my sight.¡± I shook my head that wasn¡¯t even an option in my head for


    the sake of Lily and my Pack, I may just have to hand myself over. No one is dying for my sake; I could


    never live with myself.


    Reid growled menacingly, obviously reading my thoughts yet again. I rolled my eyes, but Zane seemed


    to get the message that I apparently missed because he left the room in a hurry, the door mming


    behind him.


    Reid gripped my arm tightly, pulling me towards him and wrapping his other arm around my waist, so I


    was flush against him. I could feel his anger radiating off him, the heat of his skin suddenly feeling like it


    was burning into me. ¡°You will not be leaving my sight, Ari. Do you understand?¡± I looked up at him, my


    own anger bubbling to the surface. How dare he tell me to sit on the sidelines while everyone risked


    their lives for me. Over my dead body would I allow that. Reid¡¯s nails dug into the skin on the inside of


    my arm. I hissed at the sting and looked up at him. His eyes were no longer his own, Ryder¡¯s eyes


    peering back at me were zing in fury at my defiance.


    ¡°Stay out of my head, Reid, or is it just you now, Ryder?¡±


    ¡°No, Reid is here too, but he isn¡¯t willing to do what needs to be done if you refuse.¡± Ryder¡¯s voice was


    low daring me to defy him. I could hear the challenge in his voice like he really wanted me to try. I knew


    better, the memory of his bite still fresh in my mind. I hated that, but that didn¡¯t mean I was going to


    drop to his feet and beg for forgiveness. He was the one not thinking rationally.


    ¡°Bring Reid back now, Ryder.¡± Ryder growled his nails digging deeper as he pulled me even closer,


    which I didn¡¯t think was even possible. His lips at my ear. ¡°You won¡¯t be leaving Ari, will you?¡± I felt the


    blood leave my body, and my heart felt like it had moved into my throat. His voice was so menacing, I


    tried to swallow the lump that was caught in my throat, but my mouth felt like I was trying to swallow


    sand, the saliva leaving my mouth making it as dry as a desert.


    ¡°Bring Reid back, Ryder.¡± My voice trembled and didn¡¯te out as strong as I was hoping.


    ¡°Wrong answer,¡± Ryder spun me, with so much force my surroundings blurred for a second, my back


    now pressed tightly to his front. Ryder''s arm wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me in ce.


    When I felt his canines brush my neck, I screamed and ced my hand just in time, so he bit into the


    back of my hand instead of my neck. I shrieked at the sudden pain and pulled my hand away.


    Dropping down I twisted, so I was facing him. Lifting my hands, I hit him straight up under his ribs


    forcing him away from me. Ryder growled annoyed before getting to his feet. I watched him crack his


    neck, epting the challenge. I didn¡¯t want to hurt him, and I knew deep down he didn¡¯t really want to


    hurt me. This was just his caveman side, brute force, and not much rational thinking.


    Holding my hands up in front of me. ¡°Wait, wait.¡± Ryder halted, thinking I was agreeing to his terms. I


    used that to my advantage. Using my Alpha voice. ¡°I said bring Reid back NOW!¡± I screamed. Ryder


    fought off mymand easily. ¡°Shit,¡± I really hoped it would work with him being distracted. It didn¡¯t,


    why for once, couldn¡¯t I get the upper hand over him just once. Ryder seemed to think it was funny that


    my Alpha voice didn¡¯t work on him, because he was my mate. The look on his face was disturbing,


    primal, in this moment he truly looked like a predator and unfortunately for me, I was his prey.


    I only had two choices: take a very painful nap for god knows how many days or give in to his


    me.¡± He smiled triumphantly before stepping forward.


    ¡°Promise you won¡¯t put yourself in any unnecessary danger.¡± I nodded my head. I could agree to that


    unless it involved Lily, I won¡¯t put myself in danger. I made sure to remember to hold my walls up, so


    Ryder didn¡¯t read into my thoughts.


    Ryder reached for me, tugging me to his chest, I could feel his face in my hair breathing in my scent.


    His grip around my waist was strong like a cage. I couldn¡¯t escape without hurting him, not that I


    wanted to, the familiar tingles running over my skin as his warmth seeped into. His arms loosened


    slightly, and I knew Reid had taken back control. I felt his lips kiss me on the top of my head. Pulling


    away, I red at him before shoving him away.


    Turning on my heel, I walked out of his office.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, Ari?¡± Reid asked, reaching for my arm. I pulled my arm away.


    ¡°To Zane¡¯s office, don¡¯t worry, Alpha, I am not leaving your ss prison without you. With Zane, I don¡¯t


    have to watch out for his psychotic alter ego wolf attacking me¡± I spat at him. Reid growled, but I


    ignored him mming the door in his face. Before I even got two steps out of his office., Zane walked


    up to me. ¡°I hear I have been summoned,¡± he said jokingly. I pushed past him and walked into his office


    and sat on his grey suede couch and pulled my mobile out.


    Zane followed me back in shutting the door behind him. I tried to navigate the new phone Reid had


    given me. ¡°Don¡¯t be too upset Luna, Ryder can be a pain in the ass, but he means well¡± I ignored him


    and kept scrolling through the contacts until I found the name I was looking for.


    Zoe.

 Chapter 36

    Chapter 36


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Zoe answered after three rings. Her voice questioning ¡°Hello?¡± I felt relieved upon hearing her voice. I


    have no idea why I was worried. I had no doubt that she could handle herself, but that didn¡¯t make me


    worry any less. I ryed the conversation between Zane and Reid, letting her know about the Hunters.


    ¡°And they are sure they were definitely Hunters?¡± Zoe asked concernced her words.


    ¡°Positive, they also left a message demanding the Hybrid,¡± I told her. Zoe seemed to think for a minute.


    ¡°How do they even know you exist? Only a handful of us know, and I know Reid wouldn¡¯t give you up or


    your Pack. The most intriguing question though, besides the obvious, is why specifically say they want


    the Hybrid, I wonder what they need you for?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea but, Reid won¡¯t let me out of his sight, so I won¡¯t be able to visit you until he says, I just


    wanted to let you know what was going on¡± I sigh frustrated.


    ¡°I still have some old contacts. I will see what I turn up, can I call you back on this number?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is my number, call anytime,¡± I told her. We say our goodbyes and hang up the phone. I turn to


    see Zane is pretending to ignore me like I didn¡¯t know he was eavesdropping on the conversation.


    When two o¡¯clock came. I got up from the couch and went to walk out the door, heading towards Reid¡¯s


    office. As soon as the door opened though Reid was already standing on the other side of the door. His


    face was unreadable but I could tell he was waiting for me to say something.


    ¡°I promised Lily¡¯s teacher I woulde back early and meet the ss, I also told David I would meet


    him at the school¡± Reid clenched his jaw but moved to the side to let me pass. Zane must have been


    called through their link because he was straight behind me following along with Reid. This is


    ridiculous, I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Coming to the elevator, I stepped inside, Reid¡¯s hand


    reached down, grabbing my hand in his death grip, Zane hit the button to go back down to the foyer.


    Nobody said a thing the entire way down, you could cut the tension with a knife. When the elevator


    dinged signally, we arrived on the ground floor, I went to step out when Reid pulled me back to his side,


    keeping a strong grip on my hand. Its fucking daylight for god¡¯s sake, what does he expect is going to


    happen during the day?


    ¡°Don¡¯t test me, Ari, it won¡¯t end well for you.¡± I gave up and rxed my hand, Reid¡¯s grip loosened as


    we walked to the car that waited out front. Zane jumped in the passenger side, while Reid tugged me


    into the back. Mitch sat in the driver seat.


    ¡°Alpha,¡± He nodded to Reid in the mirror.


    ¡°The school, Mitch.¡± His words sounded bored. I sat back in my seat. Choosing to ignore Reid the


    entire time, I chatted with Mitch. When I slid to the middle seat and lent forward, I felt Reid¡¯s hand pull


    me closer, so our sides were touching. His arm pulled me back against the seat so I couldn¡¯t lean


    forward. He draped his arm across my shoulders. Jealousy raging through the bond, at me deliberately


    ignoring him and talking animatedly with Zane and Mitch. I looked over at him, his eyes racked over my


    face his expression was annoyed, but I could feel desire and an overwhelming need to touch him and


    reassure him flood through the bond. Giving up, I decided to not poke the angry wolf and leant into him,


    cing my head on his shoulder.


    Reid''s shoulders rxed, and his fingers brushed my hair out of my face before gripping my chin. He


    tilted my head up so I could meet his eyes. His eyes softened, and he pressed his forehead to mine. I


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    could feel his fear of losing me wash over me. I swallowed feeling suddenly guilty about earlier,


    remembering him telling me about his father going mad after the loss of his mate. I could never do that


    to Reid, I won¡¯t make him suffer because of my stubbornness. So silently I agreed I wouldn¡¯t put myself


    in danger and I would remain within arm¡¯s reach of Reid. Reid sensing my change or maybe he was


    reading my mind, kissed my forehead before pulling me tighter against him, I draped one armzily


    over his chest. Reid''s other hand reached up and entwined his fingers in my hair.


    When the car halted, I looked up, we were at the school. Mitch and Zane got out of the car and waited


    beside both rear doors like they were keeping watch. I noticed David¡¯s car parked in the parking lot. I


    could see him leaning against the bo. Stepping out, Reid followed behind me. When David saw


    Reid step out behind me, he looked taken aback but didn¡¯tment. I walked over to him. ¡°Ari, Alpha


    Reid.¡± David nodded his head, and Reid entwined his finger through mine holding my hand. ¡°Alpha


    David.¡± Reid acknowledged. We all walked into the school and towards Lily¡¯s ssroom. I could feel


    eyes on us, peering out of the ssrooms. Before I even had a chance to knock, the door swung open.


    Lily¡¯s teacher smiled warmly back at me. Mrs. Tatt didn¡¯t hide her surprise at seeing Reid standing


    behind me along with our small entourage. ¡°Alpha what a surprise, is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Nadia everything is fine.¡±, but I could tell she felt uncertain, as her eyes darted around to all the


    faces of her students in the ssroom with rm. She stepped outside, closing the door behind her. ¡°Is


    something wrong?¡± Reid stopped her from continuing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic, Nadia. Everything will be fine; we just had a breach of security. Nothing for you to worry


    about, your students are safe.¡± Zane and Mitch both nodded trying to reassure her. For some reason,


    my eyes darted to David, who shifted ufortably. I thought it was odd, but it was quickly forgotten


    when Lily opened the door and poked her head out drawing our attention back to the ss who now


    had their faces pressed against the ss watching all of us with excitement. Moving past Mrs. Tatt,


    Reid reached down and picked up Lily and walked into the ssroom.


    The children instantly swarmed Reid excitedly. I could hear the children excitedly squealing Alpha


    trying to get his attention. I watched him y with the children and joined in too. Mitch and Zane stood


    outside the ssroom, keeping guard. David sat awkwardly, watching the kids excitedly y with


    myself and Reid. When the bell rang signalling the end of school, I stood up, and Lily walked over to


    David and peered up at him. She looked uncertain, but David actually looked genuinely excited to have


    her attention finally.


    ¡°How was school, kiddo?¡± he asked, ¡°Fun¡± she nodded and asked if he wanted to see her work. He


    nodded, and I could feel Reid¡¯s uneasee through the bond while he kept a close eye on David.


    When it came time to leave, I held my hand out for Lily and she ran over her little hand, fitting perfectly


    in mine.


    ¡°David, we need to talk. We had some intrusion on our territory.¡± David nodded and walked over to


    Reid, who was leaning on the teachers¡¯ desk. He told David what had happened. To Reid he seemed


    concerned, but I knew David better, I could tell by the way he shifted nervously, his whole demeanour


    shifted, Reid couldn¡¯t tell not being around him all that much. I knew David like the back of my hand,


    and I could tell something was off. David, sensing my stare, looked in my direction before his eyes


    darted to the ground. I watched the exchange between them. Something was eating at me though. I


    knew David knew more than he was saying and admitting to.


    ¡°I will have extra patrols out to keep an eye along the borders. If we notice anything, I will ring you


    straight away. If Lily or Aria need somewhere to hide out for a while they can stay on my territory,¡± Reid


    shook his head.


    ¡°No, the girls are safer with me. Our Pack is stronger, no one will get to them with us.¡± Reid spoke


    confidently, I could tell he was proud of his Pack. David I could tell didn¡¯t agree but didn¡¯t voice his


    opinion on the matter.


    ¡°Very well, keep me informed, and I will do the same.¡± Something felt off, the whole exchange on


    David¡¯s end felt false.


    Walking out, Reid came over to me. We walked back to the cars, and David helped Lily in the car. Reid


    held me back, sensing my unease. His voice flitted through my mind through the link.


    ¡°What is it? What is wrong?¡± he asked, concerned.


    ¡°Nothing, just something doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± I answered honestly. ¡°I¡¯m just being paranoid¡± Reid looked


    at me doubtfully like he didn¡¯t think my feeling was just paranoia, I didn¡¯t either, but I made sure to keep


    my walls up so he couldn¡¯t read my thoughts and climbed in next to Lily. I watched as David walked


    back to his car. His eyes darted over his shoulder in the direction of the car when he noticed me


    watching him. He nodded his head at me before getting in his car. David left, and we made our way


    back to the Pack house. When we stopped, Lily ran inside with Amber. Zane grabbed the girl¡¯s bags


    from the boot and followed behind them. Reid followed directly behind me, jumping out of the car, and


    Mitch drove the car off to the garage.


    ¡°I know you''re hiding something, what is going on Aria?¡± Reid asked.

 Chapter 37

    Chapter 37


    Aria¡¯s POV


    ¡°I know you¡¯re hiding something, what is going on Aria?¡± Reid asked.


    Choosing to ignore him, I walked into the house. I have my suspicions on who might be behind this, but


    until I have proof or confront him about it, I can¡¯t very well go causing a war on a feeling. I would hate


    for Reid to go kill him, thenter find out he wasn¡¯t behind it. Reid followed me into the house. Walking


    into the kitchen, Wendy and Christine were making the kids afternoon tea. Reid not wanting to cause a


    scene in front of the kids, let me be. I knew this wouldn¡¯t be the end of this discussion. I quickly made


    coffee for everyone before sitting at the dining table. Lily excitedly showed me her paintings they had


    done in ss today. I watched but had trouble showing the enthusiasm she had about them.


    I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what an impact this will have on Lily if it is Alpha David who leaked


    information. I know Reid/Ryder would go berserk if they knew what I was thinking, but it was slowly


    eating away at me. I could feel it in every atom of my body that I was right. But now what, killing him


    doesn¡¯t change the fact that they havee out of hiding after years of keeping a low profile. When


    Lily got up to go y in the rec room, I followed her out, leaving her to y with Amber. I walked


    upstairs. I could feel Reid¡¯s lingering gaze on my back, I needed answers, and I know what he is going


    to say already, but I have no choice. I need to know, and I need to try and fix it.


    Walking into the closet, I grabbed a jacket. Reid is going to pitch a fit when he finds out I n on


    leaving to go to the ck Moon Pack, but the way I see it, he eitheres with me and waits outside,


    which I know he won¡¯t do, or shuts his mouth and lets me go alone. I kind of need him to let me go


    alone, though. David will not admit anything if Reid is there. Just as I finished zipping the jacket up, in


    walked Reid. As soon as he saw me dressed and ready to leave, he crossed his arms over his chest


    and blocked my exit.


    ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡±


    ¡°I need to go see David,¡± I tried to step past him, but his grip on my upper arm stopped me. Pulling me,


    so I was facing him directly. I huffed annoyed.


    ¡°You just saw David, why would you need to see him? Just ring him,¡±


    ¡°I know, but I need to speak to him privately,¡± I said, crossing my own arms across my chest to match


    his annoyed and angry stance.


    ¡°Nice try, you¡¯re not going anywhere, Ari,¡± I rolled my eyes annoyed at his childish behaviour. He needs


    to realise I am not some pathetic little girl. I am quite capable of taking care of myself.


    ¡°I will take Zane if it makes you feel any better.¡±


    ¡°So, you will take my Beta, but I can¡¯te?¡± I could feel his jealousy leaking into me through the


    bond. I raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Really, you¡¯re jealous of your own Beta? Come on, Reid. I won¡¯t be gone for long just a few hours at


    most.¡±


    ¡°Few hours? What the fuck could you possibly need to be gone that long for? I said no, and that¡¯s final.¡±


    Knowing he wasn¡¯t going to change his mind, I waited for him to turn his back and leapt at him. He


    didn¡¯t see iting. Itched my arms around his shoulders, he tried to throw me off, but I was


    stronger but not by much. Now he is going to find out what it¡¯s like to be put to sleep.


    I struggled to get a good angle, as he kept trying to throw me off, falling backwards on the bed, he was


    suddenly on top of me, his back to my chest. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I tried to hold him in


    ce. I could hear Zane running up the steps leading toward our room, I needed to be quick before


    Zane stopped me. Reid hearing Zane¡¯s footsteps on the stairs as well turned to look at the door, he


    turned just enough that I got a good view of his neck and I took my opportunity.


    My fangs extended and I sank them straight into his neck, I drank greedily, my hunger kicking in at the


    first taste of his sweet blood flooding my mouth, he moaned involuntarily when my teeth bit down into


    his flesh. I could feel his blood running down my chin and neck as he struggled to throw me off. His


    movements became jerky, and I could hear his heart rate slow, feeling him go ck, I utched my


    fangs from his neck just as Zane threw the door open. Shoving him off me, I got up and wiped my


    mouth and neck on a towel, cleaning the blood off.


    ¡°What the fuck have you done?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, now calm down, he is still alive. His wolf genes will kick in after a while, he should be fine.¡±


    ¡°Should?¡±


    ¡°I promise he is fine; I can still hear his heart beating.¡± Zane listened, picking up Reid¡¯s faint heartbeat


    before nodding his head.


    ¡°Is there a reason you put the Alpha to sleep?¡± he asked, confused.


    ¡°Well first, he deserved a taste of his own medicine, and second, I need to go to the ck Moon Pack,


    and you¡¯reing with me.¡±


    ¡°Why not ring?¡± It was the exact question Reid asked. I need to see David; I knew I could catch him out


    on a lie if he was in front of me. Over the phone not so much.


    ¡°Stop your questions and help me tie him up,¡± I said motioning to Reid.


    ¡°Come again?¡±


    Seriously, do I have to exin everything? ¡°If he wakes up, he is going toe looking for me, help me


    tie him up, where are some chains?¡±


    ¡°Nope I¡¯m out, you are nuts. He will kill me slowly, you - he will just kill.¡± I rolled my eyes, walking over


    to Zane, I gripped his face forcing him to look at me.


    ¡°Go get the chains now,¡± I told him using my Alpha voice. He rushed to do as he was told, not being


    able to fight mymand. Dragging Reid up the bed closer to the headboard, I ced his head on a


    pillow and tucked him in. Iughed at the thought of tucking in the big bad Alpha, not so big and scary


    now are ya. I thought to myself.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Zane came back with some chains and two padlocks, I quickly wrapped them around his wrist then the


    foot of the bed on each side. I know it won¡¯t hold if he shifts, but I am hoping we will be back before


    then if he does wake up with any luck, the chains slow him down a little.


    ¡°Now what?¡±


    ¡°You and I are leaving, tell Mitch to watch the girls.¡± Zane nodded and walked out. I walked over to Reid


    and kissed his lips. ¡°Sorry, but you kind of deserved it, so I¡¯m not really sorry,¡± I told him, chuckling on


    my way out and down the stairs.


    Getting in the car, we drove quickly to the ck Moon Pack border, upon arrival, two wolves stepped


    out but motioned us to drive through. We drove right up to the Pack house porch parking next to the


    steps.


    ¡°Ari, what are you doing here? Where is Reid?¡±


    ¡°Sleeping, I need to speak to you¡± Alpha David looked uncertain when Zane stepped out of the car. ¡°He


    is fine, he won¡¯t cause any trouble¡± Alpha David gave Zane onest nce before showing us inside.


    Not that I needed showing I lived here most of my life, I followed after him anyway.


    ¡°Zane, go talk with Michael, I will be back soon,¡± I said, leaving Zane in the loungeroom with Michael


    and his wife. Zane I could tell wasn¡¯t happy but didn¡¯t argue. I followed David to his office. Once inside,


    David took his seat behind the desk. I decided not to waste any time and got straight to the point. Time


    wasn¡¯t on our side, Reid will wake ande looking for me. ¡°I know it was you,¡± I told him, taking a


    seat across from him.


    Alpha David looked at me, confused. ¡°I know it was you, who told the Hunters about me.¡± I rified.


    He went to shake his head, but I stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t deny it, I can tell when you¡¯re lying¡± He appeared


    to think for a minute, his eyebrows furrowed, and he pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a


    breath and looking at me.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I thought you were going to take Lily from me, so I thought if I got you out of the way, Lily


    would be forced home, then after you and I came up with an agreement, I tried to tell you earlier to


    warn you, but someone is always with you. I didn¡¯t want to jeopardise our arrangement,¡± I sighed,


    relieved my instincts were correct. I also had something else that had been eating at me since I first


    suspected, he was the one who was giving out information. ¡°How do you know how to contact them?¡±


    Alpha David looked taken back by my question but answered anyway. ¡°I grew up with one of them.


    They aren¡¯t all bad, but most are raised from childhood to be Hunters. It is taught and passed down the


    family, generation after generation, doesn¡¯t mean they all agree. A lot of them don¡¯t have a choice,¡± I


    thought for a few minutes before asking my next question.


    ¡°It was you, wasn¡¯t it? You knew Mum was your mate, so you told the Hunters to kill my father,¡± I didn¡¯t


    ask it as a question, I knew I was right. He was the reason my father was dead, and my grandfather.


    His selfishness killed them. ¡°How long did you know Mum was your mate before you had him killed?¡±

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Alpha David got up from his seat and walked over to the cupboard that sat next to the window


    overlooking the vast forest. His back was to me, I couldn¡¯t see what he was doing but could hear the


    clink of sses and him pouring liquid into them. When he turned around, he held out a ss of whisky


    to me. I epted the ss believing this conversation definitely warranted hard liquor. I could tell


    David was starting to get nervous and a little ufortable with the conversation topic.


    I took a sip of the brown liquid. It was smooth tasting and had an oak taste to it. David downed his in


    one go and poured himself another. Finally, he sat back down across from me looking a little more


    confident with his ss in his hand. I took another sip from my drink and watched him over the top of


    my ss. ¡°I knew she was my mate for five years. Your mother knew about me too but didn¡¯t want to


    break up her family. Your family Aria, not mine.¡±


    ¡°So, what happened?¡± David ran a hand through his hair nervously and sighed, bing resigned with


    the fact everything was about to be out in the open.


    ¡°I was pissed off that she would turn me down, reject me even though she never officially did reject me.


    She tried once but couldn¡¯t say the words. Couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject me. I told my friend about


    there being a Hybrid living in the city. I wanted to get rid of your father and try and have a life with my


    destined mate. I could tell your mother would never leave him for me. So, I took matters into me owns


    hands,¡±


    I thought his words over trying to remember anything, but I was only two years old, so I had no memory


    of my father.


    ¡°It took another five years afterwards for your mother to ept me as her mate. She refused to move


    on, and I kept what I had done a secret for years, but I think your mother knew all along it was me. She


    just didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    ¡°So basically, you killed not only my father but my grandfather? Why didn¡¯t you just wait for the mate


    bond to work. The pull is stronger than anything I could have imagined. She would have given in


    eventually,¡± I asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wait. I waited five years before I acted, and as for killing them, they never died by my


    hands. I thought your father was dead. I thought he died along with Joe. They never found his body,


    and by the time your father came back, your mother was already dead.¡±


    ¡°Came back? My father is dead.¡±


    ¡°No, Aria, your father isn¡¯t dead, I saw him at the diner the other day when I had the meeting with Alpha


    Reid,¡± I shook my head trying to wrap my head around what he just told me. How could my father be


    alive and not contact me?


    ¡°Are you sure? Why wouldn¡¯t he make contact?¡±


    Alpha David looked confused for a minute and didn¡¯t say anything. He looked as confused as I felt. My


    father was alive and not only is he in the city, but he has also been at my work. Why didn¡¯t Zoe say


    anything, why didn¡¯t she tell me he was there? I have longed for my father for years, wanting to know


    him so I could know more about my past. The one I didn¡¯t know I had, to know more about my lineage.


    How could he sit back, knowing I exist and not say anything?


    ¡°So, what¡¯s next then?¡± asked David.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. We need to fix this Hunter''s mess then I need to try and find my father if he is alive¡± I


    suddenly felt very sceptical.


    ¡°The Hunters won¡¯t be so easy to fix. When I told them you existed, they seemed really keen to get


    their hands on you, I¡¯m not sure why. I think we will have a war on our hands. I am sorry Aria, I didn¡¯t


    mean, well I did, but I wasn¡¯t expecting everything to turn out the way it did, I promise to help with the


    Hunters, even if it means fighting alongside your Pack and as for your father, I won¡¯t say I¡¯m sorry


    seeing as he isn¡¯t dead, but I do know where you can find him.¡±


    My head perked up, suddenly excited. Some good news hase out of this conversation, after all. I


    wasn¡¯t expecting what came out his mouth next, and the next few words shocked me to my core, how I


    had not put two and two together.


    ¡°He works at the diner; he is the cook there. He has changed his name but is definitely him. Marcus? I


    think his name is,¡±


    My lips parted astonished, my father has been there all along, I didn¡¯t know how I felt. Shocked, angry?


    How could he sit idly by and not say anything he knew who I was all along. Also, how did I not


    recognise him, he looks nothing like the photo¡¯s Zoe showed me or like my ne. I just assumed he


    was human until Zoe told me, what hurt the most was knowing Zoe kept this secret from me. I thought I


    could trust herpletely now I was starting to wonder what else she was hiding from me.


    Getting up, I wanted to scream, my anger was overshadowing everything. I needed to get out here. I


    needed to get home figure out my next move, cing the ss on the table, I stood up. Everything was


    falling into ce, starting to make sense. I spent years grieving for a father who was there all along.


    Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org.


    Silently watching but not interfering. How could he just watch and not step in? How could Zoe not tell


    me? Why would they feel the need to keep this from me? Walking out of the office, I started walking


    down the hall. I just wanted to go home, I just wanted Reid. Zane, seeing me walk past got up off the


    lounge and followed after me.


    ¡°Ari, what¡¯s wrong?¡± I didn¡¯t answer, just kept walking to the car.


    ¡°Luna?¡± asked Zane as I got in the passenger seat.


    ¡°I think she might be in shock¡± David spoke behind us.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± Zane asked, suddenly bing defensive.


    ¡°Nothing, I told her the truth,¡± he said nodding in my direction, I nodded back and sat in the car. Zane


    looked between the car and David, who had turned his back and was now walking up the stairs. Zane


    waited for him to leave before getting in the car himself.


    ¡°Where to now?¡±


    ¡°I just want to go home¡± My voicecked any emotion. I felt numb to all the new information I had


    gathered. I didn¡¯t say anything for the entire trip home. Zane kept ncing over at me, but I just ignored


    him and watched the trees and farnd pass by out the window. When we were about five minutes out


    I heard Ryder¡¯s voice, break through the thoughts circling in my head.


    ¡°Where the fuck are you?¡±


    I ignored him, which I could feel ticked him off even more. I couldn¡¯t care less right now. I would take


    whatever punishment he decided to hand out. I wasn¡¯t in the mood to argue anymore.


    ¡°Ryder just linked me.¡± Zane voice echoing in the silence. I just nodded, my eyes not leaving the


    window. ¡°I told him we would be home soon; he sounds pissed, and I am pretty sure he''s gonna eat me


    alive when we get back.¡±


    I turned to look at Zane, I could tell he was genuinely worried about defying not only Reid, but Ryder.


    Maybe I will have to deal with him, at least for Zane¡¯s sake.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let him touch you,¡± I simply said. Zane seemed to calm down, and his grip on the steering


    wheel lessoned. His shoulder seemed to rx, and I could tell he was d, I said something. I wasn¡¯t


    about to let Zane get hurt because of me. And I wasn¡¯t about to let Reid hurt his Beta, I could feel


    Ryder¡¯s burning rage as the Pack house came into view. Reid was standing out front pacing back and


    forth. The car pulled up, and I could see the tremble in Zane¡¯s hands as he put the car into park. Before


    I could even open my door, Reid was ripping it open. His re was not his own but Ryder¡¯s. I could see


    his eyes flicking dangerously as Reid fought for control, Ryder was having none of that. Refusing to


    give in, I prayed Reid would regain control.


    Zane got out of the car. He tried to sneak inside like a naughty kid caught doing something wrong, but


    his movements didn¡¯t go unnoticed by Ryder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fucking move, Zane.¡± Zane froze instantly under Ryder¡¯smand. I heard the front door open


    and could see Christine¡¯s horrified expression looking at her mate.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t let him hurt my mate.¡± His voice came through the link, pleading desperately.


    Standing up, I knew I had to get attention away from Zane. When I stood up, I met Ryder¡¯s angered


    eyes. ¡°Leave Zane alone. He didn¡¯t want any part of it but wouldn¡¯t let me go alone,¡± I stated. Ryder''s


    eyes burned with anger, but he seemed to believe what I said. He looked at his Beta, they must have


    been mind-linking because he took off.


    Christine¡¯s voice passed through my mind fluidly. ¡°Thank you, good luck.¡± When I turned to look at the


    Pack house. Christine had already run after her mate, leaving me with mine and his burning rage.


    Ryder¡¯s eyes fell down to meet mine.


    His anger was so bad he couldn¡¯t even feel my emotions that were running all over the ce. I didn¡¯t


    want to argue, I didn¡¯t want him to be mad. I just wanted to go to bed. I felt burnt out and exhausted.

 Chapter 39

    Chapter 39


    Moving past Ryder, I felt my arm brush against his, I went to walk inside, Ryder was directly behind me,


    his re burning into my back. I walked inside and made my way to Lily¡¯s bedroom. Ryder smacking


    into my back at my sudden stopping. I gripped the handle and twisted, opening the door, I popped my


    head in and could see herying in her bed fast asleep, her unicorn plushie tucked tightly under her


    arm as she cuddled into it. Closing the door gently, I headed up the stairs towards our bedroom. Behind


    me, I could feel Reid¡¯s entire body shaking violently. His anger so much he couldn¡¯t see that I was


    breaking, about toe apart at the seams. When the door opened, I felt his sudden shift. Shifting in


    such close quarters had me thrown through the door, making mend on the floor on my stomach. I


    have never seen them angry enough to see them shift out of anger so quickly.


    Ryder''s front paws were suddenly on both sides of my head, I could feel his hot breath on my neck and


    in my hair. I watched goosebumps rise all over my exposed arms. Yet I couldn¡¯t bring myself to feel


    fear. I felt nothing, rolling onto my back, I came face to face with Ryder¡¯s true form, and when he was


    angry like this, he really was a thing of nightmares, his teeth gleamed in the light sharp and fierce. The


    sort of teeth that could snap bones like they were toothpicks, his ws dug painfully into my shoulder


    when he raised his paw, bringing it down on my shoulder. I squirmed under his grip, but his anger was


    unrelenting. Blood started to trickle down into the crook of my neck pooling slowly. Ryder brought his


    nose down before licking at the blood that had pooled. I just watched without saying anything. When I


    tried to get up, though, I was shoved back down.


    ¡°Please Ryder, I don¡¯t want to fight with you right now.¡± My voice breaking. I was done, so god damn


    done. I give up, I know he can¡¯t kill me but, in this moment, when my world just took a massive blow


    and was spinning out of control, I didn¡¯t really care if he did kill me. I not only have put two Packs in


    danger because of my existence, I put Lily at risk. I also find out Zoe and Marcus, or should I call him


    Dad, have been lying to me for years. My life was just thrown a curveball, and I didn¡¯t know how to


    react, how to deal with everything. Everything was falling apart, Hunters were after me, Ryder was out


    for blood. And I was falling apart. I didn¡¯t have the energy or willpower to argue right now.


    ¡°I fucking warned you Aria, and you disobeyed me anyway.¡± Ryder¡¯s anger bubbling into his words as


    they boomed in my head. I flinched at the venom in them. Rolling to my side, I went to get up but only


    managed to scoot closer to the bed, propping my back against the leg I was able to sit up. Ryder


    watched me, his eyes burning with anger threatening to set me on fire. Tears brimmed in my eyes; I


    could feel them burn, as I tried to focus my vision back on Ryder but could only see my tears bubbling


    up before spilling over onto my cheeks. I squeezed them shut tightly and breathed out my mouth, trying


    to stop the feeling I was starting to feel flood me and drown me entirely.


    ¡°Just do it.¡± My voice came out firm but soft. I really could use the sleep right now, he just needed to get


    it over with. I would do anything right now to be taken out of my own mind, sleep suddenly looked


    promising. I could feel Ryder¡¯s breath on my neck, and I squeezed my eyes tighter waiting for the pain


    of his savage bite, only it didn¡¯te. I waited for it, braced myself for it, but no pain came. Instead I


    felt hands rub along my shoulders and up my neck. Opening my eyes, Reid was staring back at me


    his arms wrapped firmly around me, holding me tight while I just cried into his chest. I felt his hand


    move into my hair, and he kissed my forehead.


    ¡°What happened, my love? I¡¯ve got you now.¡± His voice was soothing, and I squeezed tighter.


    Reid felt warm against my cold skin, making me shiver, I inhaled deeply, takingfort in his familiar


    intoxicating scent. I always felt safe with him, Reid was my safe ce, so is Ryder. I loved them both,


    but right now, all I wanted is Reid. Reid¡¯s hands moved up and down my arms slowly, I could tell he


    was waiting for me to tell him what¡¯s wrong. I just didn¡¯t want to think about it right now, let alone tell


    anyone. Sitting up, I got an overwhelming sense of vertigo, maybe it was fromying down so long and


    my sudden movement to get up, but the entire room felt like it shifted as I stood up and I found myself


    staggering to the bed. Reid watched my clumsy movement¡¯s as I tried to get into bed.


    ¡°Have you taken something or been drinking?¡± he asked. He must be able to feel what I felt when I


    stood up.


    ¡°No, David gave me a drink, but that was it¡± Reid¡¯s growl tore through the room, as his hands clenched


    at hearing me mention Alpha David¡¯s name. His whole body began to tremble, Reid pinched the bridge


    of his nose and closed his eyes, I could feel through the bond he was trying to calm himself and Ryder


    down. Moving to the edge of the bed, I tried to stand, but the same sensation rolled over me, I gripped


    onto the nightstand, next to the bed to bnce myself. When suddenly, a new sensation took over a


    violent need to throw up. I took off for the bathroom, kicking the door shut behind me. I barely made it


    to the toilet before I threw up the entire contents of my stomach. Reid burst through the door, just as I


    flushed. I stood up feeling a little better. Walking over, I rinsed my mouth and grabbed my toothbrush.


    Reid turned the shower on and hopped in.


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    ¡°You okay? Do you think David put something in your drink?¡±


    ¡°No, he was drinking from the same bottle. I think I have just had too many emotions for one night,¡± I


    mind linked back, seeing as I couldn¡¯t speak clearly with a mouthful of toothpaste. Reid growled lowly.


    When I finished, I gargled mouthwash and went to walk out, when Reid¡¯s arm reached out of the


    shower and pulled me in.


    ¡°You have blood on you, strip.¡± I took my now wet clothes off, Reid helping me take my shirt off that


    was acting like a second skin. Chucking them out of the shower and onto the floor. Reid pulled me


    under the water, I rested my head on his shoulder, the shower steaming up, all I could smell was my


    own blood as it washed down the drain. Ryder¡¯s ws must have dug into my shoulder deeper than I


    thought, not that I could tell now though seeing as it already healed. Reid moved the loofah and soap


    over my skin, softly washing all the blood off before continuing to wash me entirely, his fingers moving


    through my hair as he washed it,bing it out with his fingers.


    When he was done, I stood back, rinsing it off. When I opened my eyes, Reid was watching me, a look


    in his eyes that I was now familiar with, Lust. Moving closer, I kissed him, running my tongue across his


    bottom lip. My hand reaching down, I grasped his cock and squeezed, his eye¡¯s fluttered shut, and he


    groaned. Then I let go and stepped out of the shower. Reid growled, annoyed at me teasing him. I


    grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself and walked back into the room.


    I just finished drying myself and was rummaging through Reid¡¯s shirt drawer trying to find a shirt to


    wear, when I felt his arms wrap around my waist picking me up, he then dumped me on the bed.


    I chuckled at his behaviour, I could tell Ryder was just below the surface, his eye¡¯s flickering. Reid


    stood at the end of the bed looking down at me. I squirmed under his intense gaze. When I couldn¡¯t


    handle him staring at me anymore, I lifted my knees and opened my legs slightly, Reid smirked and his


    eyes darkened, gripping my ankles.


    I was yanked to the bottom of the bed, getting on his knees at the end of the bed, he pushed my legs


    further apart, I felt him kiss the inside of my thigh just next to my glistening wet cunt, he sucked on the


    skin and bit down, the stinging from his bite lingered but was soon forgotten when his hot tongue


    moved to my clit. Reid pushed my legs harder down into the bed so I couldn¡¯t move as he devoured


    me. My moans filling the room, his tongue swirled around the sensitive bundle of nerves. My legs


    began to shake, and my back arched as he sucked and licked relentlessly, making my stomach tighten


    and my skin heat up. Reaching down, I ran my fingers through his hair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± My voice was airy, Reid sped up his movements, sitting on the edge, I spilled over, seeing


    stars as I came hard, Reid licking up my juices as they spilled out of me, making me slump back down


    on the bed while I came down from high.


    Pulling me down the bed, I was exhausted, Reid pushed my knees back apart and into my chest before


    ramming his cock between my lips, my eyes opening at the feeling of his hard cock thrusting in deeply


    and hard. Moving my hips as he pounded into me, his cock hitting my cervix as he pounded hard and


    fast, my body reacting to his harsh movements, screaming out as waves of pleasure rolled over me


    again and again. Letting go of my legs, they fall to the sides suddenly feeling like they were made of


    jelly, Reid¡¯s mouth moving to my nipple as he sucked and bit down before soothing his bite with his


    tongue. I could tell he was close, gripping his hair, I pulled his face to mine, kissing him. I could feel his


    tongue ying with mine, fighting for dominance. When I felt his hot seed spill into me, his movements


    became jerky as he came inside me.

 Chapter 40

    Chapter 40


    The next morning, I woke refreshed. I had the best sleep I have ever had. Rolling over and stretching, I


    notice Reid¡¯s side of the bed is empty. Sitting up, I looked around and listened, but he wasn''t in the


    room or bathroom. Getting out of bed, I grab a pair of tights and a singlet, before walking downstairs. I


    run into Wendy as I enter the rec room.


    ¡°Where is Reid?¡±


    She looked around nervously.


    ¡°Where is Reid?¡± I repeated using my Alpha Voice. I could tell she has been told to hide whatever is


    going on from me. Wendy tried to fight mymand off, I have to give it to her. Shested longer than


    Zane. Sweat started to form on her face, her skin losing colour as she fought against it. The pain


    bing too much she blurted it out like rapid fire. ¡°They went to see David, to see what he put in your


    drink because you have slept for over twenty-four hours¡± I stepped back bbergasted. Twenty-four


    hours, I have been asleep for thirty-six hours. Grabbing my phone, I dialled Reid¡¯s number, he


    answered after the second ring.


    ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±


    ¡°Come home, David didn¡¯t put anything in my drink. I told you this.¡±


    ¡°Then why were you asleep so long?¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know; I have no idea, I was just tired.¡± Reid seemed to think for a second before I could


    feel through the bond, he was getting closer to me.


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t even make it down the street when you rang.¡± I hung up knowing he would be here any


    second, I walked out the front just as his car pulled up. Zane was first out followed by Reid. He walked


    over to me and wrapped an arm around me, kissing my temple.


    ¡°Sleeping beauty awakes.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You had me starting to worry, and Mavis is stuck in surgery at


    the hospital so couldn¡¯te until tonight,¡± he told me I just nodded my head.


    ¡°Well, I am starving; I am going to look for something to eat,¡± I told him, turning my back on him.


    I walked into the kitchen where Wendy and Christine were with the girls. They were eating happily and


    drawing. I walked over and kissed Lily¡¯s head, before helping myself to the bacon that was on the


    bench piled up for everyone. Taking a bite of it, I swallowed quickly, not wanting Wendy to think I didn¡¯t


    like her cooking. The food tasted nd, like eating paper. I struggled to swallow it down. Reid, feeling


    my reaction through the bond, walked over and bit off what was left on my fork. I heard his voice


    through the link. ¡°What? It tastes fine.¡± Him being so close overwhelmed my senses. I could feel and


    hear his blood moving through his veins. I was starving; I thought I needed food. What I actually


    needed was blood, and I was absolutely ravenous.


    I didn¡¯t realise how hungry I was until I could suddenly hear every single person¡¯s blood pumping


    around me, hear the soft thrum of their heartbeats calling out to me teasing me. I growledpletely


    lost, I could only focus on the sounds of everyone¡¯s heartbeats calling me, enticing me to rip their


    throats out and feed. The chatter in the room stopped, creating a deafening silence as everyone¡¯s eyes


    went to me. I could taste my own blood running out of my mouth and down my chin, as my teeth


    protruded going through my bottom lip. I was crazed with bloodlust, I tried to shake it off, but


    everyone¡¯s startled emotions made their delightful scents stronger. Fear sweetened their blood as it ran


    through their veins. I turned towards them when suddenly strong arms wrapped around my own. I


    threw them off like they were nothing. Mitch and Zane jumped to their feet, taking a protective stance in


    front of their mates and the girls. Lily and Amber started crying, they cowered behind Christine, who


    shoved them behind her as soon my growl ripped through the room, hunger taking overpletely.


    Then I smelt it, fresh blood. I turned in the direction of it. Reid¡¯s hand bleeding dripping onto the tiles, I


    was in a trance as I watched it drip onto the ground, so bright so tasty, my mouth watered, I could hear


    shuffling behind me, but I didn¡¯t care, all I could focus on was the blood calling to me. Reid moved


    closer.


    ¡°Focus on me, Hun.¡± I nced up to him, my eyes catching his worried one¡¯s, he was scared of me. It


    shocked me, I turned when I heard the doors leading outside open, I saw Lily run outside with everyone


    else. That¡¯s when I realised I was about to attack them, hurt my family. Holding my breath, I ran from


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    the room. I could feel Reid catching up behind me as I took off up the stairs. I nearly hurt them, even


    Reid was scared of me. Now that I was holding my breath, I could feel his fearing through the


    bond. He was scared, I was going to hurt them, not himself but everyone else in the room. He was


    scared for them. Closing the door, Reid¡¯s hand reached out, stopping it from shutting.


    I looked at him, then at his hand, which was still covered in dry blood. Noticing my eyes drop to his


    hand, he walked into the bathroom and washed his hands with soap and came back out.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on with you?¡± he asked sitting beside me on the bed, he didn¡¯t sound angry, more


    worried.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I need to speak to my father he might know,¡± I told him.


    ¡°Your father? He is dead, Ari.¡±


    ¡°No, he isn¡¯t, David said he is alive.¡± Reid turned me, so I was looking at him. His face showed


    confusion, I hadn¡¯t told him yet that my father was still alive.


    ¡°Marcus, my friend from the diner, is actually my father. I found out the other day. Alpha David, he


    recognised him. I don¡¯t know how? They look nothing alike, but I am assuming there is a reasonable


    exnation as to why¡± Reid thought for a second before speaking.


    ¡°mour, he used his mour so you couldn¡¯t recognise him maybe?¡±


    ¡°mour?¡± I asked, my eyebrows raising slightly, I have no idea what that is, but Reid seemed to.


    ¡°mour - when they use a sort of mindpulsion to get people to do what they want or see certain


    things.¡± I nodded in understanding, I wondered if I could do that.


    ¡°You do it every time you use your Alpha voice, I have noticed it thest few times, the more blood you


    drink, the stronger it gets,¡± he stated. I just thought my Alpha Voice was stronger because of the Lycan


    blood running through my veins, not some Vampire voodoo. Reid mentioning blood brought my hunger


    back, Why was I suddenly craving blood so much?


    ¡°We will figure that out, but for now you need to feed, so you don¡¯t kill everyone.¡± I usually hated when


    he invaded my thoughts listening to what I was thinking but it didn¡¯t seem to bother me as much at this


    moment. I looked at Reid, suddenly feeling scared, I won¡¯t be able to control my hunger once I start


    feeding, but he didn¡¯t hold the same fear for himself. I could feel through the bond that he knew he


    could stop me. I don¡¯t know what he thought could stop me, seeing as I just threw him across the


    kitchen earlier. He chuckled eavesdropping in my mind again.


    ¡°I have my ways, now here,¡± He turned slightly, giving me a good view of his neck. The sight was too


    enticing, and I lurched forward, my teeth sinking into his neck. The crazeing back, as I tasted his


    blood that was filling my mouth. Reid didn¡¯t even flinch when I bit down again. I could feel panic start


    creeping into me as I fed longer than usual. I couldn¡¯t pull away, my ws extended digging into his


    shoulder, Reid didn¡¯t react like I would have expected. A normal person would have tried to fight me off,


    he didn¡¯t. He calmly just put his fingers through my hair.


    ¡°Focus Aria, you don¡¯t want to kill me.¡± But I couldn¡¯t focus on anything but his blood, his hand moved


    between us grabbing onto my breast rubbing his thumb over my nipple through the thin singlet, I


    moaned, my attention being pulled to his thumb as my nipple hardened under his touch. ¡°Focus Aria,¡± I


    did, my focus going to his fingers as he rolled my nipple between them. My ws retracted, and my


    grip lessened. Pulling my face back, I watched as his wound on his neck closed. His other arm


    wrapped around my waist, pulling me onto hisp, so I was straddling him. Reid kissed me, and I could


    feel him smiling against my lips. ¡°I told you I have my ways.¡± He whispered against my lips. I kissed him


    back, shoving him backwards on the bed, so I hovered over the top of him. I ripped my singlet off and


    wed at his shirt, lifting it off over his head. I started kissing his neck, and up to his chin, Reid grabbed


    my hips, rubbing his erection into me through his pants. I moaned at the friction. Moving off him, I


    started pulling on his belt, undoing his pants and getting rid of them quickly.


    I wanted him, all of him. The sight of his cock as it sprang free from his pants made me gulp, moving


    between his legs, I grabbed it. Kissing the knob before my lips parted and I took him in my mouth, I


    swirled my tongue around his knob, Reid¡¯s hand going to my hair as he grabbed a handful, forcing


    more of him into my mouth until I felt him hit the back of my throat. I started bobbing my head running


    my tongue along the smooth skin of his cock as I sucked on it, Reid¡¯s grip on my hair bing tighter


    as he started pounding into my mouth making my eyes water. I let him fuck my mouth until he stopped


    and went to sit up, I shoved him back down, climbing on top of him, I positioned his cock at my


    entrance and slowly sat down letting his cock fill mepletely. Reid¡¯s fingers digging into my hips as I


    started moving, my nails digging into his chest as he started to meet my movements with hard thrusts,


    as he mmed me down onto his hard cock.


    I moaned out, my head going back as I rode him, one of his hands reached up squeezing my boob


    harshly, it hurt but was enough to send me over the edge as I came, my walls tightening around him, I


    felt him cum with me as I copsed onto his chest. Wey there for a few minutes catching our breath


    before I rolled over hisid cock, leaving my body, I rolled on to my back next to him.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter 41


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Rolling to my side. ¡°I need to find out if he really is my father,¡± I said as I was getting up. Reid rolled to


    face me.


    ¡°Fine but I aming with you.¡± I looked over my shoulder at him and nodded. He jumped out of bed


    and started chucking a pair of jeans on. I grabbed my jeans and a bra before finding a white singlet.


    When I couldn¡¯t find a jumper, I grabbed one of Reid¡¯s nnelette shirts and rolled the sleeves to my


    elbows, I could smell the lingering scent of his aftershave on it. Once I was done, I grabbed my runners


    and followed after Reid, who was waiting by the door for me in his usual jeans and ck shirtbo.


    Reid grabbed his keys off the hallway table and walked out to his car, I hopped in the passenger seat. I


    thought it was strange Zane wasn¡¯ting. He usually follows Reid everywhere like a shadow.


    ¡°You scared them, Ari, I told him he could wait here.¡± I looked out the window feeling guilty. I was


    turning into a monster, I just hoped Marcus had some idea why.


    ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Reid told me, grabbing my hand before starting the car. We drove to the diner,


    when the car slowed, I wasn¡¯t sure if I wanted to go in anymore. I suddenly felt different about wanting


    to meet my father if that is indeed who he is. Reid pulled over to the curb and got out. I followed suit


    and got out before walking past him and into the diner. When I entered the bell sounded signalling our


    entrance. Zoe walked out to see who had stepped in, her face breaking into a smile upon seeing me.


    She walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me.


    After a few seconds, I wrapped mine around her, she pulled me at arms lengths and looked behind me


    to Reid than the door.


    ¡°Lily didn¡¯te?¡± she asked. I could tell she really hoped I had Lily with me.


    ¡°No, we had an incident, Aria is best away from her now,¡± Reid answered. Zoe looked at me, but I just


    shook my head.


    ¡°She is fine, Zoe; I need to speak to my father.¡± Zoe nced between Reid and I.


    ¡°Aria, your father is dead.¡± she answered.


    ¡°No, Alpha David said he saw him, recognised him. Where is Marcus?¡± Zoe nced to the back where


    the kitchens are. I walked past her, just as Marcus stepped out. Only it wasn¡¯t Marcus, it was my father.


    How I hadn¡¯t recognised him after Zoe showed me a photo of him had me baffled, but it was definitely


    him in the flesh. Recognition shone in his eyes; he knew I knew.


    ¡°I can exin Ari,¡± he said, looking between Zoe and I. Zoe didn¡¯t look shocked to see him. Therefore,


    she knew all along who he was and helped keep it a secret. Zoe moved past him.


    ¡°Shall I put the kettle on?¡± It wasn¡¯t really a question, more a statement as she darted behind the


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    counter. I moved off to a booth and sat down.


    Reid sitting beside me, my father sat across from me. His hair was the same colour as mine, even the


    eye colour, I could make out through his contacts were ming orange and yellow. His skin was tanned,


    he was wider than before he was bulkier and no longer looked like a gay hippy man, even his clothes


    were different, no tie-dyed shirt just a remarkably simple white shirt and ck cks.


    ¡°Does he look any different to you?¡± I asked Reid.


    ¡°No, is he supposed to?¡± he asked. My father nced between the pair of us, before putting his hand


    out to Reid. ¡°I¡¯m Abel, nice to see you have calmed some, Reid¡± Reid shook his hand. Abel, that was


    my father¡¯s name? I thought it would sound older than it is. I stared at the man, not sure what I felt


    besides confusion. ¡°It¡¯s called a mour; you should be able to do it.¡± He spoke to me. His voice was


    different deeper, and he had a weird ent I couldn¡¯t ce. It sounded old and not of this world.


    ¡°I know what it is ,Reid exined it to me. What I don¡¯t understand is why?¡±


    ¡°Why I hid myself from you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, and Mum. For years she spent grieving your loss, and you were here all along. How could you do


    that to her? Do that to me?¡± my voice breaking on thest word, I reigned in my emotions. I needed to


    hear this, hear the excuse hees up with, not that that will change my anger right now from being


    lied to.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice, Aria. When the Hunters found out about me, they hunted me for weeks, you and


    your mother hid away. I couldn¡¯t let them find out about you. Your grandfather and I set up a trap hoping


    to let them think I was dead, only it backfired, and it actually got your grandfather killed. I pretended to


    be dead, waited, and when the coast was clear, I left the City. It was safer that way, they would know


    about your existence if I stayed, they would have found out and killed your mother and done only


    goddess knows what with you,¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exin why you didn¡¯t tell me when you came back.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt your life. I saw you had a sister and were raising her like your own. If I told


    you, it would have put both of you in danger, so Zoe and I decided to keep it from you, you¡¯re the only


    one that couldn¡¯t see me for me. I only moured you, that¡¯s why I look the same to Reid.¡± I nodded in


    understanding, but that didn¡¯t make me feel any better knowing he was here all along just watching in


    the shadows.


    ¡°After David saw me, I knew it was a matter of time before he blurted it out.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I went to see him after Hunters were spotted in the city. He has connections with them. David told


    them what I am,¡± Panic took over my father¡¯s face as he looked around quickly as if we were being


    followed, Reid started shaking with anger, fur sprouting across his arms and his canines protruded. I


    forgot I hadn¡¯t told him about David being the one to alert the Hunters to my existence.


    I ced my hand over his that was digging into the table because his ws were extended.


    My father sat back and rxed when he saw no one watching. Reid slowly calmed down, my thumb


    rubbing circles on the back of his hand. Zoe came over and ced a coffee in front of us. The smell


    instantly hit my nose and made me gag, jumping up Reid slid out, letting me out. I ran into the


    bathroom and threw up. My throat was burning, and my eyes watered. I threw up blood everywhere.


    Zoe walked in to check on me.


    ¡°Are you alright, dear?¡± I stood up and flushed the toilet before walking out and rinsing my mouth at the


    sink. What the hell is wrong with me?


    ¡°Yep, I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, trying to catch my breath. ¡°This is why I needed to speak to my father.¡± Zoe


    nodded and handed me the tea towel from her apron to dry my face. Walking back out, I made my way


    to my seat, holding my breath, so the strong smell of coffee didn¡¯t make me want to be sick again.


    Reid was talking to my father, but I didn¡¯t catch what they were talking about when I sat down.


    ¡°Your mother used to do that, she even craved blood. The hormones would make her crazed with


    bloodlust.¡± I looked at my father confused. My mother was a werewolf, werewolves don¡¯t crave blood.


    ¡°Reid told me how you have been sick, starving hungry and sleeping, it is the only thing that makes


    sense¡± He tilted his head to the side listening for something. ¡°Don¡¯t you hear it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hear what?¡± I asked, looking between him and Reid, who was also listening intently.


    Reid¡¯s face lit up when he heard the mystery noise, while I just stared at them both, Reid''s face broke


    into a grin, and his eyes sparkled brightly.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant.¡± He whispered.

 Chapter 42

    Chapter 42


    Aria¡¯s POV


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this great? We are gonna have a baby,¡± said Reid, kissing the side of my face. I was in shock.


    This was not the sort of news I was going to be excited about. Zoe wiped tears from her eyes as she


    excitedly congratted us. I just zoned out and put my walls up, blocking Reid from invading my mind


    and my tumultuous thoughts. I didn¡¯t want kids; I have been raising a kid since I was a kid myself. This


    was far from anything I wanted. I didn¡¯t want a baby, to bring a baby into this chaotic world, let alone


    right now when we were about to go to war. A war I also didn¡¯t want a part of. This was far from any


    future n; I hade up with in my head. The worst part is the excitement on Reid¡¯s face, how do I


    break it to him, that there won¡¯t be any baby?


    I watched as my newly found father and my mate spoke excitedly about kids and potential baby names.


    Zoe, noticing my silence, ced a hand on my shoulder and looked down at me, her eyes knowing.


    Zoe knew I didn¡¯t want kids, and after seeing everyone¡¯s excitement, how do I tell them I don¡¯t want to


    be a mother. Zoe nodded her head in the direction of the kitchen, getting up I followed after her.


    ¡°That¡¯s some big news,¡± she stated. While making up orders, I leant on the bench next to her. Keeping


    my voice low so Reid and my father didn¡¯t overhear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want this, Zoe. You know this already.¡± She nodded in my direction, so I knew she heard what I


    said.


    ¡°I know the timing isn¡¯t great with everything going on, but you wille around eventually dear,


    Babies are a miracle.¡±


    I shook my head. This was no miracle; this was a disaster. How do I tell Reid? I looked up at the


    ceiling, things were going to get worse before they got better and chucking a baby in the mix is just


    ridiculous.


    ¡°I am not keeping it. I don¡¯t want this, Zoe. He can¡¯t make me.¡± Zoe put the egg flip down and nced


    around paranoid someone overheard my words.


    ¡°You know Reid, even Ryder won¡¯t allow that, Aria. You do anything to jeopardise this pregnancy and


    Reid is going to lose it. Even I know werewolf pregnancies are sacred, you will be shunned and forced


    to leave the Pack Aria, think of Lily.¡±


    ¡°I am thinking of Lily. I have enough on my te without adding more to it. I need to focus on her, focus


    on keeping her safe, I can¡¯t do that pregnant. Besides, it isn¡¯t a real werewolf child. It will be a Hybrid so


    they can think what they want, it¡¯s my body, my choice,¡± my voiceing out louder than I would have


    liked. Zoe stuck her head out, looking back into the diner, I did the same. My father and Reid were both


    happily bonding over baby news. I felt guilty for not wanting to keep this baby, but at the end of the day,


    it is my choice. Reid isn¡¯t the one that has to birth it. I am.


    Zoe pulled me back into the kitchen. ¡°You know, you won¡¯t get a say in this. You¡¯re going against the


    Moon Goddess Aria, you do anything Reid will see it as a betrayal, shit he might even kill you himself.


    You don¡¯t get a say in this, you know this.¡± I rolled my eyes; this was stupid.


    ¡°Here I was thinking since it¡¯s my body I would get some say, what about all pro-choice, women have


    rights these days.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right but not werewolf women or Hybrids like you. You don''t get that choice the Moon


    Goddess chooses for you.¡±


    ¡°Well in my case she chose wrong, I want no part of this.¡± I could hear Reid, walking over to see what I


    am doing. I quickly shut my mouth so he wouldn¡¯t hear what we were speaking about. Zoe seemed to


    get the message and remained quiet.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    ¡°You ready to leave?¡± I nodded my head. My father walking in behind him, stepped past Reid and


    embraced me in a hug. I wrapped my arms around him too, it felt good finally knowing the truth and


    having everything out in the open, but at the same time, I wasn¡¯t forgiving so easily that they lied to me.


    ¡°Congrattions sweetie this is awesome news, I can¡¯t believe my daughter is giving me a grandbaby,¡±


    he said gripping my shoulders. It would look funny to outsiders seeing as my father looked not much


    older than me, I would have to remember to ask him at what age he stopped aging, and also more


    about my family history. My father turned to Reid, ¡°Make sure she has plenty of blood on hand, even


    though her mother was a werewolf, she craved blood like crazy, sometimes even became crazed.¡±


    He nodded, taking in the information. ¡°This is such great news,¡± my father stated.


    ¡°If you think so,¡± I muttered, not feeling excited in the slightest. Zoe nudged me with her elbow


    warningly, and Reid raised an eyebrow at myment but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he grabbed my


    hand and led me back to the car. Can this day get any worse? I thought, as I sat in the passenger seat.


    Reid started the car and started driving back to the Pack house. I could see Reid¡¯s reflection and seen


    him nce at me a few times, while I just stared vacantly out the window.


    ¡°I will get Mavis toe over so she can determine how far along you are,¡± he told me. I didn¡¯t reply.


    The only thing I wanted to know is how to get rid of it. I didn¡¯t say that out loud, though. Reid noticing


    my silence, tried to push through the link to me. I shoved him out.


    ¡°What has gotten into you, Aria?¡± I ignored him. ¡°Is this about the baby? Don¡¯t worry Hun, I won¡¯t let


    anything happen to either of you. The Pack will keep you safe, I promise.¡± Great, thest thing I wanted


    to hear. I have no intention of keeping it, and I can see this is going to cause a huge argument. I just


    hoped he would hear me out. Surely though he wouldn¡¯t force this on me. I wonder if Mavis would


    speak to me alone. I know I am meant to get patient privacy, but I also know she fears Reid and I don¡¯t


    know if she would go against him even for her Luna.


    When we got to the Pack house, everyone was waiting out the front.


    ¡°Can we not tell anyone yet? Please,¡± I pleaded. Reid looked at me funny, I could tell he was a little


    taken aback by my request.


    ¡°Fine we can wait until after Mavis has checked you over.¡± I nodded letting out a breath. It would be


    harder if he told the entire Pack I was expecting.


    ¡°I am going toy down for a bit,¡± I told him, wanting to be left alone. I climbed out of the car. Lily came


    over to me, and I scooped her up. ¡°Sorry I scared you this morning¡± I whispered, kissing her chubby


    cheeks and rubbing my nose on hers. She wrapped her arms around my neck. ¡°Want to watch a movie


    in my room?¡± Lily nodded excitedly.


    ¡°Can we watch the one with the snowman?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yes, go grab it and meet me upstairs,¡± I ced her on the ground, and she took off inside. I made my


    way upstairs and turned the TV on that hung on the wall across from the bed. Lily and Amber came


    running in and jumped on the bed, making themselvesfortable. I ced the DVD in and pressed


    y beforeying down with them. I got lost in the movie being the first time I had actually watched it.


    When the movie was nearly over, Reid stuck his head in the door waving at me. Amber had fallen


    asleep, and Lily looked like she wasn¡¯t far off. I climbed off the bed and made my way over to him.


    ¡°Mavis is here,¡± he said, pulling me from the room. I followed him down to the infirmary. Mavis was


    waiting there in her white hospital scrubs fiddling with a machine next to the bed.


    ¡°Luna.¡± she said excitedlying over and kissing me on the cheek. ¡°I will get you toy down and lift


    up your shirt.¡± Great, Reid had already told her. I walked over to the bed andid down. She squirted a


    cold jelly-like substance on my stomach, and using the device in her hand moved it around, she


    pointed to the screen. I didn¡¯t look. But I could hear Reid trying to get me to look at the screen.


    ¡°Do you want to hear the heartbeat?¡± Mavis asked.


    ¡°No,¡± I said harsher than I meant for it toe out. Reid ignored me. I could feel his eyes boring into


    me.


    ¡°Yes, I want to hear the heartbeat,¡± he told Mavis. Mavis turned a dial on the ultrasound machine. I


    could hear the steady hum of a heartbeat. I tried to block it out, but it was now forever burned in my


    memory.


    ¡°You are four weeks and 3 days along. Baby should be due around another twenty weeks seeing as


    Hybrid pregnancies don¡¯tst as long as human ones or werewolf ones,¡± she stated. I sat up wiping the


    jelly off with some paper towel. I can¡¯t believe I have been here only one month; it feels so long ago


    that Reid found us, and it also means I got pregnant the first time we had sex.


    ¡°Any questions?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Can I speak with you alone?¡± I asked, looking at Mavis. She looked to Alpha Reid to see if it was


    alright.


    ¡°You can ask any question you like, Aria. Don¡¯t be embarrassed because I am present,¡± he stated,


    denying my right to privacy. Mavis turned back to me. I suddenly felt like throwing up, nerves taking


    over. I knew Reid was going to flip his lid when I asked my question.


    ¡°So, what did you want to know?¡± I started sweating, both their eyes staring at me, I felt a bead of


    sweat run down my neck, and my throat went dry.


    ¡°How do I?¡± I tried to force the words out and nced at Reid, who was watching expectantly, waiting


    to hear what I wanted to know. ¡°How do I get rid of it?¡± My words came out so rushed, I didn¡¯t think she


    heard me. My heart rate spiked. I could hear it pounding in my ears. Mavis looked nervously back at


    Reid who looked like he was about to explode in rage.


    Mavis stood up when his ws extended, Reid trying to remain in control.


    ¡°Mavis, leave,¡± Reidmanded, his eyes zing. I didn¡¯t want her to go, she looked unsure as well.


    ¡°Mavis, get out now.¡± His voice booming echoing off the walls so loud the ss windows shook.

 Chapter 43

    Chapter 43


    Aria¡¯s POV


    I was expecting this. This was the exact reason I didn¡¯t want to say anything in front of Reid. The fire in


    his eyes showed his fury. Although I knew he wouldn¡¯t hurt me, I still feared what he would do next. He


    was pacing back and forth, I could tell he was trying not to let Ryder out, who I could tell was just below


    the surface waiting to pounce on me.


    When he stopped, I froze holding my breath, waiting for him to speak. Only he didn¡¯t. He walked over


    and grabbed my hand, ripping me to my feet with so much force, I was thrown into him. I smacked into


    his chest. He stormed out of the room, pulling me with him. I tried to pull my hand from his iron grip, he


    stopped in the hallway out front of the infirmary.


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he warned as I tried yet again to free my hand. One word but the malice in it made me freeze.


    Pulling me towards the stairs, Wendy and Zane stepped out of the rec room to see what themotion


    was that had Reid so angry.


    ¡°Everything okay, Boss?¡± Zane asked, ncing at me before stepping out of the way, as Reid pushed


    past him. I watched as he pressed on the wall next to the stairs. The wall opened up to a concrete


    stairwell leading underneath the house. I pulled my arm back, trying to yank it free. Wendy and Zane


    nced between each other, trying to figure out what was going on. I looked around panicking trying to


    find an escape, but there weren¡¯t any. Reid stopped trying to pull me down the stairs, realising I


    wouldn¡¯t go willingly. Instead threw me over his shoulder while I struggled to get free.


    ¡°Reid, stop. Let¡¯s talk about this.¡± He ignored my pleas. I could hear his footsteps echoing on the


    concrete floor as he marched down them.


    Zane and Wendy looked on horrified, as I was thrown into a cell and dumped on the bed.


    ¡°Boss, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wendy asked, running to my side and wrapping her arm around my


    shoulders.


    ¡°Any of you let her out, and you will have me to deal with.¡± They looked at me wondering what it was I


    had done that would earn such treatment. ¡°Now get out.¡± Both of them bolted from the room. I heard


    Wendy¡¯s voice creep into my mind.


    ¡°What did you do, Aria?¡± Her panicked voice quickly leaving as Reid gripped my shoulders, shaking me


    out of the mind-link.


    ¡°You ask them to let you out, and I will kill them. Do you understand, Aria? Their deaths will be on your


    hands.¡±


    ¡°You''re being irrational. You can¡¯t keep me here, what is that going to do?¡± Reid paced around trying to


    think.


    ¡°I will not have you murder my child.¡±


    ¡°So, what your going to keep me here until I spit out this baby?¡±


    ¡°Yes, if I have too. After that I will let you out. You don¡¯t get to choose this; this decision isn¡¯t yours.¡±


    I cut him off. ¡°The Moon Goddess has no right choosing my life, Reid. This is my choice. It¡¯s my body.¡±


    He lost it; I was shoved into the wall, his hands on either side of my arms while his face was barely an


    inch off mine. Ryder¡¯s eyesing to the surface, burning rage simmering in the eyes of his beast. His


    voice distorted as his growl shocked me to the core, making my hair stand on end.


    ¡°Anything happens to that baby you are carrying, I will not only end you but everyone you love.¡± His


    voice was cold and emotionless. It chilled me to the bone. I knew he wasn¡¯t bluffing. Ryder wasn¡¯t like


    Reid, he wasn¡¯t rational. Ryder acted out of instinct and anger, any emotion setting him off. I hated to


    admit that I did fear him when he was like this. I knew his threats weren¡¯t empty, they were a promise.


    One I knew he would keep if I pushed him. My mind went to Lily. Would Ryder really kill her? Would


    Reid let him?


    The knowing glint in his eyes showed he knew where my mind went first. Where it always goes first,


    Lily. Everything I have done is for her. I would never willingly put her in danger. I would give myst


    breath for her; she is and always will be put above my own life. Ryder, realising I understood, retreated.


    Reid¡¯s silver eyes came back, showing Ryder had given him control back.


    Reid kissed my forehead and then stood up, walking out, closing the concrete door behind him. I ran


    towards it, but it clicked into ce, effectively locking it before I even had a chance to try and escape. I


    sat back on the bed, looking around at my new living arrangements. It consisted of a bed with a rubber


    mattress and a steel toilet with a sink attached up the top. This was a prison cell, usually prison cells


    were for rogues. It was cold and damp. There weren¡¯t any windows, so I couldn¡¯t see outside and the


    only lighting I had was from the fluorescent light beaming brightly above me.


    Deciding toy down, I pulled the thin sheet over me. Trying to get some sort of warmth. After a while, I


    felt myself doze off. I wasn¡¯t sure how long I was asleep for when I was awoken by the sounds of


    footsteps on the stairs outside the door. I felt like it had only been a few minutes but could have been


    hours.


    Reid opened the door, stepping in, only to close it behind him. I sat up. Reid had a pillow and some


    nkets in his arms, as well as some food. I watched as he ced it on the end of the bed and walked


    out again, not saying a single word to me. I grabbed the nket, wrapping it around me. The food


    didn¡¯t tempt me in the slightest, all it did was make me crinkle my nose from the strong smell of the


    cheese. I usually liked grilled cheese, but now, I couldn¡¯t stand the smell of it or food in general. Laying


    back down, I soon forgot about the smell as I went back to sleep.


    I dreamt of Lily when she was a baby, only this wasn¡¯t a good dream. A dream of David taking her


    away, of never seeing her again as she was ripped from my arms, screaming, crying out for me. I


    screamed and smacked into him trying to get him to give her back, only for him to turn around, and no


    baby was in his arms, fear running through me at his empty arms. I awoke covered in sweat, my heart


    pounding in my chest as I tried to adjust to the bright light. Only I wasn¡¯t alone, Reid was watching me.


    An indecipherable look on his face.


    ¡°You have been asleep for three days. I asked your father and Mavis. They said it is normal. That its


    because the baby is growing more rapidly, faster everyday.¡± I mulled over his words.


    I noticed my clothes were different. I was in nnelette pyjamas and had white socks on. Did I really


    sleep that heavily? How did I not wake up?


    ¡°I will let you upstairs to shower. You try anything, anything at all, Aria¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± I whispered, cutting him off and looking at the open door. My throat felt dry and itchy having


    not used it for days apparently. Reid nodded and stood up, walking to the door. He waited for me to


    follow. I sat up stretching, stretching felt different. I felt different, looking down to notice the small bump


    at the bottom of my abdomen. That¡¯s impossible, it''s been three days and I could already see a slight


    bump proving my pregnancy was progressing. My hand went to it, to see if it was real and it was. The


    bump was really there. Reid watched me carefully like he thought I was going to hurt myself. Pulling my


    top down, I heard him let out a breath.


    ¡°Where is everyone?¡±


    ¡°They are upstairs, you won¡¯t be speaking to anyone Aria.¡±


    ¡°Can I at least see Lily?¡± Reid turned back to the door, holding his head high ignoring my question.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have all day, hurry up,¡± Reid said. He held so much hatred behind his words. It saddened me


    that one question could turn him against me. Why did I ask Mavis in front of him? I felt stupid.


    I walked over to the door, and Reid gripped my arm and pulled me to the stairs leading into the house.


    Once we were standing in the foyer, I mind-linked Lily.


    ¡°Where are you, Lil?¡±


    ¡°Ari? I¡¯m in the yard ying, where have you been? Reid said you are having a baby,¡± she squealed in


    my head excitedly. I held my head as her squeal vibrated through me like a freight train.


    ¡°Shh, Reid has let me out to shower. Come to the bedroom.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t Ari. Reid said I can¡¯t see you until he says.¡± I looked at Reid who was watching me. He could


    tell I was mind-linking, probably even listening into my thoughts. I tried to shove him out, but he shoved


    harder, forcing himself back in.


    ¡°Aria, I will only warn you once, or I will take you back to your cell.¡± I looked back at the stairs leading


    back below the house. I didn¡¯t want to go back down there, it was cold and too quiet. I started walking


    up the stairs towards our bedroom. Walking past the infirmary and past all the bedrooms before


    climbing the stairs that lead to the bedroom.


    Opening the door, I could barely smell Reid¡¯s scent in the room. It was only faint like he hadn¡¯t spent


    much time in here. He answered my thoughts.


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    ¡°I have trouble sleeping knowing you are locked down there.¡± He did sound tired. But I refused to feel


    sorry for him. I didn¡¯t want to be locked down there, that¡¯s on him, not me. Walking into the bathroom, I


    found fresh clothes sitting on the edge of the sink basin, I really needed to pee. I went to close the door,


    Reid forcing it open as he stepped into the bathroom. ¡°Door stays open.¡±


    ¡°I need to pee,¡± I told him. He turned to re at me.


    ¡°Door stays open,¡± he said emphasising the word open. He turned his back on me waiting for me to go.


    I refused; I was notfortable going to the toilet with him standing there. Reid, seeing me refuse,


    walked over to the sink basin and turned it on.


    ¡°There, better?¡± He said, crossing his arms over his chest. I red at him and walked over to the toilet


    and quickly peed. Getting up, I stripped my clothes off, Reid watched me from the door. I could feel his


    eyes follow me everywhere I moved, watching me like a hawk. Turning the shower on, I stepped in.


    The water warming my cold skin, I braced my hands on the wall and dipped my head under the steady


    stream, feeling my insides warm up. I sighed and rxed under the feel of it running down my back.


    Reid was still leaning against the door, just staring at me, like I was about to run off.


    ¡°If you¡¯re gonna stare, can you at least get in? I feel weird with you standing there like some creeper.¡±


    Reid cocked his head to the side, considering my words before I saw him take off his shirt. I moved


    over when I saw he was going to hop in. Reid took off his pants and stepped in behind me. I started


    washing my hair when I felt his fingers take over massaging my scalp. I leant back into him, loving the


    feel of his hands touching me. He pulled me under the stream of the water, rinsing it out. I turned


    around only to open my eyes and see he was watching me again, his face emotionless. I reached up


    and put my hand on his chest, running my fingers through the small amount of hair.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t make me go back down there,¡± I begged, leaning my head on his chest. Reid ced his


    hand on my cheek, rubbing his thumb down my cheekbone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust you anymore.¡± His words hurt, stung as if he pped me. I looked up at him, I could feel


    my eyes burn as tears threatened to break me. Through the bond, I could feel that he thought I was


    trying to trick him, get him to drop his guard. I stood back, moving away from him, and I turned my back


    on him and got out, grabbing the towel that was on the basin and wrapping it around my body.


    Grabbing a pair of his thick track pants, I put them on and one of his hoodies. If he was forcing me back


    down there, I wasn¡¯t going to freeze. Reid got dressed quickly, afraid I was going to run. I had just


    finished putting on some socks when he stood in front of me.


    ¡°You need to eat.¡± I ignored him and stood up and walked towards the door. Reid wouldn¡¯t let me pass,


    so I waited. ¡°You need to eat, if not for you, do it for the baby.¡± I red at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, just take me back,¡± I said. If he didn¡¯t trust me, I didn¡¯t want to be around him.


    He moved out of my way, and I opened the door and started walking down the stairs. I could hear


    voicesing from Lily¡¯s bedroom. Stopping, I opened her door. Lily and Amber were ying with their


    dolls, sitting cross-legged on the floor. ¡°Ari!¡± Lily screamed, throwing herself into my arms.


    I hugged her tight and inhaled her scent. She always smelt ofvender. I felt Reid¡¯s shadow fall on me


    as he stepped in the room. Lily froze in my arms and looked up at him. ¡°She came in Alpha; I didn¡¯t go


    to her.¡± She didn¡¯t sound scared when she exined herself, but I didn¡¯t like the fact she had to at all.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay Lily, you¡¯re not in trouble. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Reid told her making her rx.


    ¡°Reid said you¡¯re going to having a baby, that I will be an aunty.¡± She looked so excited I couldn¡¯t help


    but feel excited for her, finding her excitement contagious.


    ¡°I have a bump want to feel,¡± I asked. She nodded excitedly pulling at my shirt. Her little hands touching


    softly on my small bump.


    ¡°Can you feel it move? Do you know if it is a boy or a girl? Where have you been?¡± she asked excitedly,


    her blue eyes shining with happy tears.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t feel it yet. At least I don¡¯t think I can, and no I don¡¯t know what it is, and I -¡± I didn¡¯t know


    how to answer her, I can¡¯t tell her Reid has had me locked in a cell downstairs. I didn¡¯t want her to be


    scared. ¡°Maybe Reid will ask Mavis if she can do a scan and we might be able to find out,¡± I told her,


    looking up at Reid who was watching me. His eyes were softer. I could tell he was probing into my mind


    seeing my reaction to Lily¡¯s excitement.


    ¡°I can see if she can stop by tomorrow. Do you want to know?¡± he asked me. I thought for a second.


    Did I? I just can¡¯t seem to picture myself as a mother. I felt excited for Lily, but could I feel excited for


    myself? Was a baby such a bad thing? Reid seemed to want this, maybe I would too.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I answered honestly.


    He nodded his head. ¡°You can think about it while you eat¡± I knew that was his way of saying It was


    time for me to leave.


    ¡°Can we watch a movieter? You have been gone for days, where did you go?¡± Lily asked.


    I looked at Reid. ¡°That is enough questions, for now, I will decideter if you can watch a movie if you


    behave,¡± he said. The girls looked excited and went back to ying quietly on the floor. I knew he


    wasn¡¯t referring to them though. He didn¡¯t mean if they behaved. He meant if I did.

 Chapter 44

    Chapter 44


    Taking a seat in the kitchen, Reid rummaged through the pantry, making something that I knew was


    going to turn my stomach upside down. The smell alone of him just getting the ingredients out was


    enough to make me dry heave. I felt lightheaded and rested my head on the cool tabletop. Reid came


    over.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    I didn¡¯t say anything, refusing to give him any reason to send me back to the cell. Loneliness and the


    quiet down there was enough to send a person crazy. I was also scared that if I did go back down


    there, I would sleep. What if I slept the entire time away, slept until this pregnancy was over or worse


    never woke up. That thought scared me, the thought of leaving Lily alone in this world without me to


    protect her. I didn¡¯t want to go back to the cell. My own thoughts would send me insane, and I couldn¡¯t


    bear being away from Lily. I needed her like I needed air. She was the piece of my life I was proud of,


    the only thing I would fight to the death for besides Reid, who I wasn¡¯t so sure would do the same for


    me, at least not anymore. Making sure to keep my walls up so he couldn¡¯t invade my thoughts and


    think I was just trying to defy him. I could feel him probing trying to find a way in.


    ¡°Stop blocking me out, Aria,¡± he growled annoyed. ¡°I have warned you and yet you still go against the


    warning. Are you trying to piss me off?¡±


    ¡°They are my thoughts; you have no right to know them. If I wanted you to know what I was thinking, I


    would tell you.¡± I told him, taking deep breaths through my mouth, so I couldn¡¯t smell the revolting


    stench of the bacon he ced on the counter. Reid gripped my shoulders, hauling me to my feet. The


    room spun before tilting. I bent over throwing up bile and narrowly missing Reid¡¯s foot. Walking over


    holding my breath, I washed my face under the sink and rinsed my mouth, trying to bring my


    temperature down. My body felt like it was on fire burning up and to think he wants me to keep going


    through this for another twenty weeks. Grabbing a tea towel and wetting it, I walked back over to where


    I threw up, intending to clean it. Reid snatched the tea towel from me.


    ¡°Sit, I will clean it.¡± He sounded furious like he thought I did it deliberately. I suddenly wished to be back


    in the cell, anything to stop this heat that was overtaking my senses boiling me from the inside. I sat in


    the chair and watched as he cleaned the floor before walking out and chucking the tea towel in the


    ¡°Here Wendy, I will do it,¡± I said, trying to take the mop from her hand.


    ¡°Sit back down, Aria, I didn¡¯t say you could move.¡± I red at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m pregnant, not fucking disabled.¡± I spat back at him, snatching the mop from Wendy¡¯s hand. I was


    not going to make her clean up after me. Especially something so embarrassing like vomit. When I was


    done, Wendy took the mop and bucket and left. She didn¡¯t say one word to me the entire time. I wonder


    what Reid has said to them, usually even Wendy would have pushed the limits with Reid and tried to


    reach out to me. Only she didn¡¯t this time. Was she mad at me too for wanting to abort this pregnancy?


    Was I the only one who thought this was a disaster? Maybe I had gone too far, gone against the Moon


    Goddess.


    I sat back down, my stomach starting to settle now that it was empty. Surely, I can¡¯t be sick again after


    throwing up already. That thought was soon proven wrong when Reid walked over, cing the te in


    front of me. He had cooked bacon and eggs, toast, and fried tomatoes. I stared at it, not wanting to be


    anywhere near it. I knew the consequences of eating, I could feel it already in the back of my throat,


    threatening toe up at any moment. I could already taste the bileing back up. Reid grew


    annoyed, his fisting down on the table next to me, making me jump. The wood creaking and


    cracking up the centre from the force. I was quite surprised it actually didn¡¯t break and split down the


    middle. Looking up, Reid was ring at me. If looks could kill I would have been turned to ash with the


    way he is ring at me, the venom in his words made my heart sink to somece deep and dark.


    ¡°Fucking eat, or I will force-feed it to you.¡± I didn¡¯t want to know what that entailed, so I picked up a


    piece of toast and tore off a bit. Chewing slowly before trying to swallow, as soon as it touched my


    tongue, I heaved and ran for the sink. Only just making it in time and throwing up yet again in the


    kitchen sink. Reid was at my side in an instant gripping my arm making sure I didn''t run off.


    ¡°Is this your n to starve the baby to death?¡± How could he think that? I felt like pping him. I have


    no intentions of harming it. I didn¡¯t ask for this. If I could eat I would.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s the food,¡± I choked out.


    ¡°There nothing wrong with it, you will eat whether you want to or not, one way or another Aria, so


    fucking choose.¡± I shook my head, rinsing my mouth again. I could feel my anger start to bubble. How


    could he think I would deliberately starve myself? I know I need to eat, but food right now is something I


    won¡¯t be able to keep down. Then it clicked. This baby doesn¡¯t want food, it¡¯s a Hybrid and Hybrids


    need blood. Just thinking of the rich, soothing taste of blood made my mouth water and brought my


    need to feed to the forefront of my mind wrapping around my senses.


    I could hear the soft beating of Reid¡¯s heart and a fast fluttering of another heartbeat. I looked around


    my fangs protruding painfully. Where was iting from? No one was in the kitchen with us. I realised,


    it was the only thing that made sense. I knew it wasn¡¯t my own. Mine was in sync with it, feeling it


    pushing the blood throughout my body. This one was faster and softer, the beating not nearly as loud. I


    looked down at the bump. The soft thrumming wasing from inside me, the life living within me.


    I looked at Reid, shocked at what I could hear. How had I not noticed it before?


    ¡°I hear it.¡± My wordsing out distorted while my bloodlust takes over, my fangs getting in the way of


    my tongue.


    ¡°Hear what?¡± I looked down and ced my hands on my stomach. Reid¡¯s eyes followed my hands,


    watching.


    ¡°I can hear it.¡± I whispered. Reid figuring out what I was talking about. ced his hand over mine. Like


    he could suddenly feel it, although we both knew that was a couple of weeks off yet. Zane stepped into


    the kitchen, before realising, he walked in on something. He froze and went to turn around, but it was


    toote. My senses were already overloaded, his heartbeat just adding to the pressure snapping the


    control I had left. I lunged at him, the sound of his heart beating bing too much.


    Grabbing him by the shoulders, I bit into the tender flesh of his neck. Zane¡¯s blood filled my mouth. I


    could feel my eyes change as my vision turned red as I drank greedily. Starving and rabid, I had no


    control, but in this moment, I didn¡¯t want control. I just wanted blood and was willing to do anything for


    it. Zane tried to fight me off, but I was stronger, his hands pushing and yanking more of an annoyance,


    a distraction but not strong enough to fight me off. Shoving him into the wall and biting down harder this


    time into his shoulder, I had him where I wanted him pinned to the wall with no escape. It all happened


    so quickly not even Reid had time to react. I could feel Reid¡¯s hand wrap around my shoulders and


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    yank me back, forcing me to let go of Zane. My teeth ripping away taking his flesh with me. I spun


    around quickly to fend off Reid. Only for his intoxicating scent to hit me, his scent filling my nose, as I


    breathed deeply my eyes fluttering closed, a growl tearing out of me vibrating through every cell in my


    body.


    Zane¡¯s blood was nothingpared to Reid¡¯s. I craved Reid¡¯s blood. Zane¡¯s was sweet but bitter


    around his waist, my arms wrapping around his shoulders, as I sink my teeth into him, drinking so fast I


    couldn¡¯t swallow fast enough, his blood running down my chin and neck. I could feel Reid trying to pull


    away, fighting me off. It was only when I heard her agonised scream ring in my ears that I stopped. The


    sheer pain in that one scream tearing through my heart and shattering my soul. All her fear and pain


    flooding me through the Pack link as she screamed out for her mate. Forcing myself trying to override


    the need to feed, I turned to find Zane slumped on the floor next to the kitchen door. Christine clutched


    onto his shirt, tears staining her face as sobs wracked her entire body.


    Her wailing as she clutched his shirt, trying to wake him. Wendy and Mitch ran in. Wendy¡¯s hands going


    to her mouth trying to hide her shock as Mitch ran to Christine pulling her out of the way before leaning


    down and cing his hand on his neck which wasn¡¯t healing just spilling out his life¡¯s blood onto the


    tile. Zane¡¯s face drained of life as his skin started to lose its colour. Reid shoved me out of the way


    trying to get to his best friend and Beta. Then I see Amber and Lily step into the kitchen, Ambers


    screams shatter me as she runs trying to get to her father, only for Christine to grab her shielding her


    eyes away from her father¡¯s limp body bleeding out on the floor. What have I done?

 Chapter 45

    Chapter 45


    I watch in panic as they try to stem the bleeding. When Reid walks over, ripping me up by one arm and


    dragging me to Zane¡¯s limp body,ying on the floor drenched in blood. Christine starts screaming at


    me. ¡°Get her away, she has done enough damage!¡±


    ¡°She can help,¡± Reid says, throwing his Alpha voice behind his words. Christine looks at me doubtfully


    but can¡¯t go against her Alpha. I hold the same doubt. I caused this, how was I supposed to help? Lily


    looks pale, standing in the door, looking at the monster I have be. Reid, not wasting any time bites


    into my hand, making me flinch. I try to pull my hand back, but he just yanks me forward. What the fuck


    is he doing? He presses my hand to Zane¡¯s mouth, my blood running into his mouth before my hand


    starts healing. Reid reaches up and grabs a knife from the bench and cuts down my hand where he


    just bit me, I squirm as he twists the knife and my blood pours down Zane¡¯s throat. Reid lets go of my


    hand, and I fall backwards, trying to figure out what he was just doing.


    After a few minutes, Zane starts coughing and spluttering spitting, out the blood. I watch amazed as his


    neck starts to heal up. Christine gasps and throws her arms around him in a stranglehold. She starts


    peppering his face in kisses, and I suddenly feel relief flood through me that he is alright. I stare at my


    hand, confused. My blood saved him. How?


    Reid, noticing me staring at my hand, shook his head at me. He was livid that I had hurt one of his


    Pack members. I stood up and bolted from the kitchen, intending to try and escape. I couldn¡¯t remain


    here not if it means risking their lives or Lily¡¯s life. I yank on the front door handle, only it''s locked. I go


    to kick it open, knowing I could shatter its wood easily when Reid¡¯s arms wrap around my waist and rip


    me backwards. We stumble, and Ind on top of him, my back pressed to his chest, his grip


    unwavering. I struggle and fight to get up.


    ¡°Stop it Aria,¡± he says as he rolls to his side and stands up, pulling me with him to my feet.


    I throw my head back, and it connects with his nose, I hear it crack, knowing I just broke it and quickly


    hold my breath as I feel his blood dripping on my back. Reid lets go with one arm while squeezing


    tighter on my shoulders, so I don¡¯t escape. I hear him break his nose back into ce. Why the fuck is


    he so much stronger than me, I just fed for fuck¡¯s sake?


    ¡°Perks of being mated to a Hybrid, our bond doesn¡¯t just link us Aria, it makes me stronger, a better


    Alpha.¡± Answering the question that ran through my thoughts. Reid pulls me back towards the cells I


    kick out, trying to get him to drop me, but he doesn¡¯t let go. Lily runs out and sees Reid trying to drag


    me to the stairwell.


    ¡°What are you doing, Reid, let her go,¡± she screams, running over smacking his leg with her tiny fists.


    Reid looks down at her, his gaze softening. I hear his voice in my head. ¡°Stop fighting, you''re scaring


    your sister, Aria. Look at her.¡±


    ¡°You fucking are. Now let me go.¡± I mind linked back. Reid looked down at Lily, and I felt like punching


    him when he used his Alpha voice on her.


    ¡°Lily, go wait with Amber and stay away from this door.¡± Lily tries to fight his Alpha voice, but I can tell it


    causes her pain within a second. She gives up and walks out. Lily has Alpha blood, but her wolf hasn''t


    awoken yet to even put up a fight.


    ¡°You fucking arsehole, you could have hurt her,¡± I said whipping around and smacking Reid in the side


    of the head. Reid grunted at the impact but just managed to get a better grip on me and throw me over


    his shoulder marching down the stairs before depositing me on the bed. I went to get up and run for the


    door when Reid spun around.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget what Ryder told you Aria, and just for your information, I won¡¯t fucking stop him especially


    after what you did to Zane!¡± He screamed, making me freeze on the spot. Tears sprang to my eyes.


    Reid just red and walked out before mming the door shut and locking it.


    I sit back on the bed, trying to figure out what my next move is, how to get myself out of this situation


    and fix what I have broken. I nearly killed Zane, Reid¡¯s Beta. The look on Christine¡¯s and Amber¡¯s faces


    I was sure would haunt me. I nearly devastated their lives and possibly destroyed Christine in the


    process. I knew there was no way Reid would let me out of this cell now. Looking around, I started


    banging on the walls, but the concrete was too thick. Moving to the door, I tried pushing on it, then tried


    prying it open with my fingers, but the steel was too thick, and I couldn¡¯t get a grip on the frame itself, it


    was pointless.


    Sitting back down, Iy on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. Trying to figure out a possible way to get


    out of this cell when I notice a vent just above the light. I pull on the bed, hoping to loosen it from the


    floor, I continue to pull and push on it. It gives a little, and I know I can with some effort get the bolts to


    loosenpletely with the repetitive motion. I continue pulling and pushing until I hear the bolts snap, I


    do the same with the bottom end, eventually pulling itpletely from the floor.


    Dragging the bed, I moved it under the light. Standing on it, I reach up and punch the vent with as


    much force as possible. It dents but doesn¡¯t budge. I punch it again, the little louvres separating slightly.


    The third time I hit, it busts open. Gripping it with my fingertips, I pull it down, letting it fall to the ground.


    Jumping up, I grab the sides and pull my head through the ceiling looking inside. I let myself fall back


    down onto the bed. The vent narrows out, and a small child would struggle to get through the gap, let


    alone an adult. I huff annoyed I just wasted all that time and energy for it to fail.


    Pushing the bed back into the corner against the wall, I stare at the mark dragging it left on the floor


    and the broken vent. Reid is going to blow his lid when hees in. I pick up the vent to try and hide


    under the mattress beforeying down.


    With nothing else to do, I decide to sleep, but before I even start to nod off, I hear footsteps on the


    stairs, echoing loudly through the concrete walls. My heart rate picks up as I hear him stand on the


    other side of the door, but not opening it.


    ¡°Zane ispletely fine,¡± he says, I hear shuffling before he sits, leaning against the steel door. I get


    up and move to the door and sit with my back against it. I try to pry into his mind anything to know what


    he is thinking before his voice interrupts me.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t, Aria, you might not like what you find.¡± I stopped because of the harshness of his words. I


    lean my head back against the door, waiting for him to speak.


    ¡°Hunters have been caught and stopped on the borders twice since you have been locked up.¡± I could


    hear the regret in his voice but decided I must have imagined it. ¡°We aren¡¯t sure why they want you, all


    three killed themselves before we could interrogate them,¡± he stated.


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    ¡°So, what¡¯s that mean then?¡± I whispered back, knowing he could hear me.


    ¡°Means they are willing to go to extremes to hide whatever it is they need you for, David asked if he


    could take Lily for a few days until things settle down,¡± I froze my blood running cold.


    ¡°You¡¯re not letting him, though right?¡± I desperately ask the thought of her being away from me and in


    his clutches horrified me.


    ¡°He has changed Aria, you have to give him a chance. I know he won¡¯t harm her; I have spoken to him


    a fair bit, he has been over here every day to see her. Lily wants to go,¡± he says, shocking me even


    further.


    ¡°No, she stays here Reid, you can¡¯t let her go with him.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no longer up to you Aria, he picks her up in two days, this is only a trial Aria. He won¡¯t be keeping


    her.¡± I get up enraged. I kick the door and feel him jump before getting to his feet.


    ¡°Anything happens to her I will fucking kill you, Reid. Mate or not, I will fucking end you,¡± I scream while


    punching the door wanting to get to him. ¡°He can¡¯t fucking have her!¡± I scream, my heart plunging into


    my stomach. ¡°I have spent years protecting her from him. Now you¡¯re going to hand her over to him.¡±


    ¡°She wants to go Aria; he is her father, and I have his word he won¡¯t harm her.¡±


    ¡°His fucking word, that¡¯s what you''re gauging his intentions off of?¡±


    ¡°No, Aria like I said he has been here every day while you have been in this cell. I think we can trust


    him, Aria.¡±


    ¡°Clearly, you¡¯re fucking forgetting we are in this mess with the Hunters because of him,¡± I spat punching


    the door, my fist leaving a dent.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten, but this isn¡¯t your choice anymore, Aria. When you realise my word isw maybe I


    will let you out,¡± he said before I hear him stomp up the stairs. Two days, I have two days to try and get


    out of this godforsaken cell to stop him from handing her over. What the fuck is he thinking, to let her go


    with him, I don¡¯t care if she wants to, she is a child. She doesn¡¯t understand she is putting her life at


    risk. I can¡¯t picture David changing enough in such a short time span where I would feelfortable


    leaving her with him for any amount of time.

 Chapter 46

    Chapter 46


    I pace around in the basement, my mind reeling, anger consuming every cell in my body. My skin


    warming, getting hotter and hotter as my rage reaches boiling point. My ws extend, ripping my nails


    from my fingers painfully. My fangs push through my gums slowly tearing until they a through. I can


    taste the metallic of my own blood filling my mouth. I was losing control, a control I never really realised


    I never had control of in the first ce. My entire body felt heightened, my senses overloaded. The light


    hanging from the ceiling bing unbearable as it burned my eyes. I jump up trying to grab the bulb.


    Only instead of grabbing the bulb, I rip the entire light fixture from the roof.


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    The metal hitting the concrete floor nging loudly. The cell was plunged into darkness, only it wasn¡¯t


    dark, my eyes adjusting to the change of light instantly, and I could see everything clearly as if it were


    still filled with light. Well, this was certainly new. I could always see in the dark, but this waspletely


    different. Looking around, I suddenly be aware of every noise. I am also able to hear above me


    for the first time sinceing down here. I can hear Wendy talking in the rec room, telling the girls to


    get ready for their baths.


    Hear Christine and Zane, who were obviously busy making up for his near-death experience in a very


    sexual way. I wonder if they can hear Reid and me. I shake the thought away, not needing anymore


    desires other than getting out of this room right now. I listen and can hear Lily and Amber running up


    the stairs, and I hear Reid¡¯s office door click shut. I can hear every person in this huge house, my


    hearing zooming in and out listening intently.


    Walking over to the door, I examine the hinges. They are pretty embedded only just sticking out slightly


    past the frame. The door handle, I know has five deadbolts that shoot into the wall bracing it, so I know


    there is no way to bust the door open from that side. But on the other side, I might be able to break it


    and open it just enough to squeeze through. Looking at the hinges, I kick one. The concrete cracks and


    I realise not only my senses are better, but I am a lot stronger. I wonder if that is why Reid is so much


    stronger now, he said it himself that being mated to me has its Hybrid perks, but this seems different. I


    also noticed Reid¡¯s Alpha voice is stronger now. The angrier he gets, the stronger he gets. Looking at


    the area where the hinges are. I kick it again; a chunk of concrete cracks, and I know it won¡¯t take me


    long to break them.


    I continue to kick it until I hear both hinges break off the concrete and fall on the ground on the other


    side of the door. I freeze and listen. I hear Reid¡¯s office door open, and I hold my breath. Feeling


    through the bond, I can tell he heard something but is unsure of what it was. I feel him try and push into


    my mind, and I let him. Not wanting him to be suspicious of what I am doing. His voice popping


    into my mind.


    ¡°What are you doing, Aria?¡±


    ¡°Still rotting in the cell, like you want,¡± I answer back sarcastically.


    ¡°You know I don¡¯t want that. You brought this on yourself, Aria.¡±


    ¡°Last I checked you locked me in here, so that¡¯s on you, not me. You could always let me out.¡± I move


    and shove the door slightly. The deadbolts on the other end bending but not breaking. I squeeze


    through the gap, the concrete scratching my flesh.


    ¡°I never wanted this, Aria. What did you expect me to do when you wanted to abort our child?¡±


    ¡°Respect my decision, Reid, instead you took my choice from me, and now it¡¯s toote,¡± I reply while


    creeping up the steps toward the door leading into the house.


    ¡°You wille to see this is the right choice. I don¡¯t understand how you would want to destroy a piece


    of us.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue, Reid. What¡¯s done is done,¡± I state listening to hear if anyone is on the other side


    of the door. Which I find hard with Reid in my head because I am trying to answer him and not alert him


    to my escape as well as not think of what it is, I am doing. When I know the coast is clear, I open it


    slightly and pop my head out. I can hear the girls ying in Amber¡¯s room.


    ¡°Well make me understand then. I want to know why you don¡¯t want to be a mother when you¡¯re a great


    one to Lily.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly the reason, Reid. I was forced to raise a child when I was a child. I have never once in


    my life done anything for myself other than raise a kid that wasn¡¯t even mine. I waspletely alone,


    raising a baby. I put my life aside for her. I lost every part of myself I liked, as I was suddenly plunged


    into exhaustion, diaper changes and bottle feeds. While most thirteen-year-old were out hanging with


    friends and doing normal things, I was stuck raising a baby. It may seem selfish to you, but I don¡¯t want


    to raise another baby, have all that responsibility thrust onto me again. It¡¯s a baby, Reid. Something I


    will have to raise and keep alive and throw my life away for yet again.¡± I hadn¡¯t realised I had stopped


    on the stairs until I stopped answering. Shit, I lost focus. I quickly moved up the steps and into the


    closet on the first level.


    Just in time as I hear Christine and Zane walk past. Zane sounds like his normal self; you wouldn¡¯t


    even think he was knocking on death''s door a few hours ago. I hear him stop and sniff the air.


    ¡°You smell that?¡± he asks Christine. ¡°I swear I just caught Aria¡¯s scent.¡±


    ¡°She is in the cells, you must have imagined it,¡± Christine says. I hear them keep walking. Letting out a


    breath. Reid¡¯s voice popping in my head again.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be alone this time, Aria. You have a family now, you have me.¡± I tried to focus on my task,


    but his words were bothering me. I could also feel his sadness through the bond seeping into me. I


    wiped a tear from my cheek and opened the door. I made my way to Amber¡¯s door; I could hear Lily


    ying behind the door.


    ¡°Aria what are you doing?¡± Crap, I must have let my guard down. I could feel him probing then


    realisation hit him, and I heard the office door swing open down the corridor. I looked in the direction


    that he woulde down, Lily threw the door open and looked at me.


    ¡°Aria?¡± She looked shocked to see me. I went to grab her and run when I suddenly heard Zane behind


    me.


    ¡°Ari, you don¡¯t want to hurt her.¡± I looked at him confused. I would never hurt Lily intentionally. Lily


    squealed loudly, and I looked at her. My ws were digging into her flesh. I quickly released her


    shocked, my hands going to my mouth, only to cut my own face. What the fuck was happening? Reid


    approached me like he was trying to cage a wild animal.


    ¡°Aria, focus on me.¡± I thought it was strange he would say that. I took a step towards him. Panic taking


    over, my breathing became rapid. I could hear someone growling. I turn sharply to see who it is. Then I


    realise the growling ising from me. Reid steps closer and my eyes flick to his. I see the concern in


    them and anger. I know something has gone wrong, everyone¡¯s bodynguage proving my


    assumptions. The hallway tense and no one¡¯s eyes leaving me, no one moving. Goosebumps raise on


    my arms. I know if I move wrong, Zane and Reid are going to jump me.


    My instincts for some reason were all over the ce andpletely out of control.


    ¡°It¡¯s the hormones Aria, you need to fight it.¡± I try to force my ws to retract, but they don¡¯t. My body


    feels foreign to me like I am just an observer of its actions. Reid moves closer, and I step towards him,


    he holds his hands out, and I run at him. I know if I snap, he will be the only one to be able to hold me. I


    grab him around the sides he grunts when my bodyes in contact with his. Then my hands feel


    warm and wet. I look down, and my ws are embedded in his sides. I hold my breath knowing if I


    catch a whiff of his scent, I will be gone, all control lost and start hunting them.


    I go to step back away from him, but he holds me tight against him. ¡°I¡¯m fine, it''s already healing.¡± I feel


    tears burn my eyes. Reid¡¯s hands rubbing my back soothingly.


    ¡°They need to leave,¡± I say through clenched teeth. The memory of Reid¡¯s blood, consuming my


    senses. I hear everyone quickly go after Reid nods to them to get out of here.


    ¡°Zane is going to take Lily to the ck Moon Pack.¡± I nod, now realising she might actually be safer


    there then with me right now. We stayed frozen in the hall, my head on his chest, his hands rubbing my


    back softly but his grip tight. Reid moves his hand under my shirt, his handing in contact with my


    skin. Sparks ignite on my skin. I focus on the feel of them and feel him through the bond.


    I can feel his worry, but I also feel that he doesn¡¯t fear me even when I¡¯m like this. Even uncontroble,


    he still loves me. Reid feels me digging through his mind but doesn¡¯t stop me. I feel how much he


    wants me and this baby, how much he loves his Pack and Lily. I look up at him, his gaze steady


    watching me.


    ¡°You¡¯re not alone anymore, you never will be with me by your side,¡± he whispers before kissing my


    head. My body rxing in his hold, and I feel his arms loosen.


    ¡°Come on, let''s go upstairs. I am assuming you broke the cell door.¡± I nod, but don¡¯t move. Reid tugs on


    my waist. ¡°Come on.¡±


    ¡°What about the others?¡± I ask, panicked. Maybe I really should have remained in the cell.


    ¡°They won¡¯t being back tonight. You don¡¯t have to worry. Mitch and Wendy have a holiday house a


    little away from here. Everyone will stay there.¡±


    ¡°Lily?¡± I hate the thought of her being away from everyone, especially me.


    ¡°She will be fine; David won¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡±


    We had walked up the stairs, and I opened the door, how I missed our bed. I walked over to it andid


    down rubbing my hands on the soft duvet.

 Chapter 47

    Chapter 47


    Reid walks over to me, leaning down he presses his entire body onto mine before kissing me gently. I


    answer his kiss, kissing him hungrily as the need to takes over. Reid, feeling my arousal through the


    bond, presses himself into me. I can feel the bulge in his pants. I rub myself against him, wanting the


    friction. I feel Reid chuckle against my lips, his hands going to mine, lifting them above my head. He


    holds them down with one of his, his other hand going to my leg as he wraps it around his waist.


    I moan into his mouth, his tongue ying with mine, fighting for dominance and I don¡¯t fight back,


    loving the feel of him touching me. I grind my hips upwards. Reid groans, his lips going to my neck and


    his canines brushing my skin, before moving lower. He lets go of my hands and lifts my shirt off over


    my head before trapping them again above my head with his hand. I feel his teeth graze my nipple as


    he sucks it into his mouth, tugging on it with his teeth. My senses are fighting for control. Reid senses


    that and grips my hands tighter. ¡°Fight it, give me control.¡± I fight the urges and remain still.


    Reid continues his assault on my nipples, sucking and biting. My body bing impatient with need. I


    grind myself against him, needing the friction, needing him to touch me. Reid¡¯s hands go to my thighs


    as he lets go of my hands, my fingers going instantly to his hair, as I rub my fingers through it. I feel him


    shiver, his lips moving lower, stopping at my hip. He grips the waistband of my pants and yanks them


    off before reaching for my panties which are now soaked in my juices. I feel him kiss my knee as he


    slides them down. Reid suddenly moves his face between my legs, and without warning, I feel his hot


    tongue on me, parting my lips before plunging inside me, hungrily. I moan at the sudden contact, my


    back arching off the bed. My hands gripping his hair, wanting to tug him away, but Reid just pulls my


    thighs further apart, his tongue swirling around my clit before sucking it into his mouth.


    I moan, my juices spilling onto my thighs and Reid''s mouth as he devours me. My body reaching its


    peak, on the verge of exploding when I feel my stomach clench. Reid sucks my little button in his


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    mouth hard and I am shovedpletely over the edge. My legs shaking, trying to close around his


    head, but he holds them wide forcing them to rest on the mattress. His tongue not stopping as he licks


    up my juices.


    I moan as Ie down from my orgasm, Reid moves up my body, and I clutch at his pants. Needing


    him inside me, I undo his belt buckle and Reid using one hand, he slides them down his cock springing


    free, I feel it against my thigh. Using his legs, he kicks his pants off and onto the floor. I reach for his


    cock grasping it with my hand, I feel it twitch at the contact. Reid¡¯s lips finding mine. His tongue ying


    with mine as I move my hand up and down his shaft. Reid groans before thrusting into my hand, his


    lips not leaving mine. I move my hand lower, cupping his balls, I tug on them squeezing softly. Reid¡¯s


    lips go to my mark sucking on it, my legs wrap around his waist, pulling him to me. My hands go to his


    face as I kiss him hungrily. Reid positioned himself at my entrance and rams in making me cry out at


    the sudden intrusion. Reid finds his rhythm as he ms into me, His hands gripping mine above my


    head pushing them into the mattress, as he thrusts into me harder, making me moan out as his cock


    fills me to the brim. I meet his thrusts, moving my hips in time with them. My orgasm building up the


    faster he moves, mming his cock into me relentlessly as he chases his own release. His thrusts


    bing erratic, and I know he is close. I reach between us and grab his balls, squeezing them. I hear


    him groan, and I am sent over the edge, my pussy clenching tightly around his cock and Reid finds his


    own release, his warm seed spilling into me as I milk his cocking down from my own orgasm.


    Reid copses beside me, his nowid cock leaving my body. We bothy there breathless,ing


    down from the high. I roll to my side, facing him when he pulls me on top of him. I rest my head on his


    chest, loving the warmth of his skin. Reid¡¯s fingertips running down my back to my waist and up again. I


    prop my head on my hands that are lying t on his chest and watch him. His eyes not leaving mine as


    his fingers keep tickling my back. Reid lifts his head and kisses my nose, before rolling so he is now


    between my legs, holding himself up with his arms on either side of my face.


    I watch him, he moves my hair from my face where it was sticking due to perspiration. I lean up to kiss


    him, and he moves his head back, a smile on his lips teasing. Reid presses his lips softly to mine.


    ¡°I love you,¡± he says softly. I wrap my arms around his waist.


    ¡°I love you too.¡± Reid¡¯s face moving closer to mine as he kisses me gently. I wrap my legs around his


    waist, and he chuckles.


    ¡°Come on, let''s have a shower then you need to feed,¡± he says, kissing my head. He goes to get up,


    and I wrap my legs tighter around his waist. Heughs but then sits up, bringing me with him, so I am


    now straddling him. Realising I am not letting go he stands up, his hand pping my arse before he


    squeezes it, I can feel his growing erection pressing against the inside of my leg. I rub myself on it.


    Reid squeezes my arse but keeps walking into the bathroom, he turns the shower on.


    My lips going to his neck where my mark is. He groans and grips my hips, rubbing his cock on my clit. I


    feel the water hit my back before I feel the cold tiles on my back, making me squeal and jump at the


    coldness. Reid chuckles. I feel it rumble in his chest. Before his hands push me lower, and he thrusts


    inside me again. My head going back to rest on the tile, Reid¡¯s mouth moving to my neck and


    corbone nipping, and sucking on my skin. I grip his shoulders, moving my hips against his. I pull his


    hair, pulling his head back, his face getting wet under the water before I smash my lips into his, desire


    coursing through every cell of my body, my fluids coating his cock as he thrusts harder and faster, his


    grip on my hips getting tighter as he moves them in rhythm with him going deeper.


    My walls gripping him, as my orgasm floods through me, my legs tightening around his waist as I moan


    out. Reid¡¯s hands moving to my face as he kisses my chin before biting my bottom lip. He finds his own


    release again, as he presses me harder into the wall before stopping. My legs aching from the strain.


    Reid steps back, and I unwrap myself from him. He steps under the water, pulling me with him.


    Grabbing the soap, I start washing his chest, my fingers brushing through the small amount of chest


    hair. He closes his eyes and lets me wash him before doing the same to me, my muscles rxing


    under his touch. When we are done, he grabs my towel and passes it to me before wrapping his own


    around his hips.


    I follow him back into the room, he chucks me one of his shirts before putting a pair of ck shorts on


    himself. He sits on the edge of the bed and motions me to go to him. I hesitate. I have never feared


    feeding as much as I have for thest week. My hunger is insatiable, in fact, I am finding everything to


    be insatiable my hunger, my sex drive. I always feared feeding, all my life feared it because it is


    the one time youpletely let go of control. I also know I have hurt people which now makes that fear


    stronger, I don¡¯t want to hurt Reid. I know he won¡¯t let me kill him, but I still fear going too far and him


    hating me for it.


    Seeing my hesitation, he leans forward and grabs my hand tugging me, so I am standing between his


    legs. ¡°Maybe we should use blood bags,¡± I tell him. Reid pulls a face, I can tell through the bond he


    doesn¡¯t want me feeding on anyone else, the thought of having some other person¡¯s blood in my


    system repulses him.


    ¡°I let it pass that you fed on my Beta, you aren¡¯t feeding off anyone other than me.¡±


    ¡°We can get female blood,¡± I tell him. He shakes his head.


    ¡°You are mine, no one else¡¯s male or female. I don¡¯t want to smell anyone else on you.¡±


    He pulls me, so I am sitting on hisp, his hand going under the hem of the shirt resting on my thigh,


    his thumb rubbing against my hip. He kisses my lips softly. ¡°You won¡¯t hurt me, I promise, your bark is


    worse than your bite.¡±


    ¡°Really, is that so?¡± I raise an eyebrow at him. He kisses my neck before offering his own to me. The


    sight of his neck makes my mouth water, and I don¡¯t try and fight it, I let go. Trusting Reid to take


    control and bring me back to reality. As soon as his blood floods my mouth, I swallow greedily, his


    blood soothing the burn and dryness of my throat. Replenishing every cell in my body, awakening my


    senses and overloading everything. Like fireworks exploding on my tongue. I could get drunk on his


    taste, I hear him moan, which only fuels my yearning, never enough. I knew I should pull away, but I


    couldn¡¯t, and Reid wasn¡¯t trying to stop me as I bit down again. Instead, offering more of his neck to


    me. I drink hungrily, wanting to drain him. I feel tears well in my eyes, my mind screaming at me to


    stop, and my body doing the exact opposite. It was a war one I had no choice but to wait for Reid to


    pull away as I couldn¡¯t physically do it myself.


    ¡°Babe, stop,¡± he says, rubbing my back. Panic taking over and I will my body to stop, only it refuses to


    listen, my ws extending and digging into his shoulder. I hear him hiss at the sudden pain before he


    realises, I can¡¯t stop. Reid grips my shoulders and shoves me back hard, making me fall backwards


    onto the floor. My adrenaline kicking in and my hunger the only thing I can think of even though I know I


    need to fight it but I can¡¯t, all rational thoughts being shoved aside as my animalistic side overrides me.


    I lunge at Reid, but he manoeuvres, so I am forced to turn, and Ind on the floor between his legs, his


    arms criss-crossed against my chest, holding me down between his legs.


    ¡°Sorry babe, I have no choice.¡± I know what he is going to do, and I don¡¯t me him, I actually wee


    it. I feel his canine bite into my flesh, I scream. His bite is painful and savage as his teeth tear through


    my flesh. I feel myself start slipping, the room getting darker. I blink my eyelids grow heavier and


    heavier. I blink once more, and I can¡¯t open them, and I give in to the darkness letting it take hold,


    wrapping me soothingly as I drop into oblivion.

 Chapter 48

    Chapter 48


    Reid¡¯s POV


    I watched as she slept, I picked up her limp body. Guilt eating away at me, I could feel Ryder pressing


    against my skin. Itching to be released. I ced her on our bed, leaning down, I nuzzled into her neck.


    God, I loved this woman, but damn she infuriated me. I sometimes have to remember she didn¡¯t have


    the childhood she deserved, didn¡¯t have the support she craved. I inhaled her scent, Ryder instantly


    settling down. I ced my hand on her stomach, the slightest bump on her lower abdomen. I could


    hear the steady heartbeat of the life she was carrying. I knew Aria would be a great mother, I can¡¯t


    grasp why she would doubt her ability. Aria always puts her life second to Lily, no matter the


    consequences. I know she will be protective of our pup. I wouldy my life down for all three of them.


    Lily was as much hers as she was David¡¯s, their bond was unbreakable. I know Aria feared that I made


    the wrong choice, but I know she wille around. I can sense the change in David, the bitterness of


    the loss of his mate now leaving, and his love slowly being given to Lily where it should have gone in


    the first ce. I was envious of the bond they had formed in thest couple of weeks.


    How he was able to pull himself from whatever dark ce he was in. My father was not so lucky, he


    couldn¡¯t live without my mother, not even for me. I brushed her hair out of her face and tucked the


    nket around her. I heard the front door; I knew instantly it was Zane. What I didn¡¯t understand was


    why he was here. Something must have happened, for him to barge in when he was under strict orders


    to steer clear. I raced downstairs, Zane¡¯s appearance was dishevelled his clothes torn and barely


    staying on him. ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡±


    Zane tried to catch his breath, his hands on his knees while he was bent over. I mind linked him,


    knowing he was too out of breath to talk.


    ¡°Zane?¡±


    ¡°They attacked, there were too many of them. They took them, oh god Reid, they took her.¡±


    Panic coursed through my veins, my body tensing. I nced up the stairs, knowing Aria was up there


    sleeping, unaware of the shit storm that just blew in. The timing couldn¡¯t be worse.


    ¡°Took who? Who took them?¡±


    ¡°My mate, oh god they took Christine. They had tranquilisers, we couldn¡¯t do anything. They took


    Christine and Wendy.¡±


    ¡°What about Amber?¡±


    ¡°She is fine. Mitch ran with her taking her to the ck Moon Pack, she is with Lily¡± I felt instant relief


    knowing, the kids were at least safe.


    ¡°What happened?¡± I was already moving, my fingers moving a hundred miles an hour, texting the entire


    Pack to meet.


    ¡°The Hunters. They want Aria, Reid. They said they will kill them if we don¡¯t hand her over. They were


    watching the house as soon as we got inside the entire property was surrounded, they kicked the doors


    in and let off Wolfsbane grenades. Mitch grabbed Amber when I told them to run, but I couldn¡¯t stop


    them, I tried. I fucking Tried. But I WASN¡¯T STRONG ENOUGH!¡± his voice screaming in my head. His


    anger boiling over, before crushing him. He was dying inside with guilt, dying with the thought of what


    they could possibly be doing with his mate.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault we will get them back, Zane. I won¡¯t let them hurt your mate or Wendy.¡±


    Zane nodded, putting hisplete faith in me. Ryder was hackled up in my head growling. ¡°I am going


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    to fucking ughter the lot them¡± His growl ripping out of me before I felt the shift take over. I didn¡¯t fight


    it, I let him out. His instincts were to kill and take back what belonged to us. They were part of my Pack,


    and nobody fucking takes from me. Not unless they have a death wish. I looked up the stairs. I have to


    protect them, I will not let anyone touch what¡¯s mine.


    ¡°Go to the ck Moon Pack, take Aria with you. Warn them. Tell them to get ready, we are about to go


    to war.¡± I took off knowing Zane would get Aria out of here and to safety. I haveplete trust in him.


    He feels like he failed them, but I know he would have fought until hisst breath if given the chance. I


    know if he did, they would have killed him.

 Chapter 49

    Chapter 49


    Aria¡¯s POV


    I woke to Lily and Amber crying, my instincts going on high alert. I grabbed them, hugging them to me


    before ncing around, looking for the threat they fear. I didn¡¯t recognise my surroundings, why were


    they here? Reid said they were staying away for the night. I push trying to feel for Reid, but I get


    nothing, he is blocking me out. The girls are hysterical. I try soothing them enough to get them to


    speak. I look around. I am in some sort of bunker, getting up. I peer around and huddled on the ground


    are hundreds of women and children. Fear consumes, what is going on?


    I walk over to a woman, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. The lights flicker before I hear an


    explosion above us. Bits of concrete cracking off and falling to the ground. The room reeks of tears and


    fear, it was burning my nose, the stench nearly making me gag. The woman stands up when I


    approach, she is wary of me. But she can feel that I¡¯m an Alpha female. The woman has sandy blonde


    hair and big brown doe eyes. She is lean and muscr, she is a trained fighter, and blood smears her


    clothes. A child is clinging to her leg, whom I assume is her pup; she looks around the same age as


    Lily.


    I can almost hear the vibration of everyone shaking in fear. The room seems to buzz with tension.


    ¡°What¡¯s happened? How long have I been out?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Two days, Luna. We are at war.¡± she whispers as the girl clinging to her leg whimpers. War?


    ¡°With whom?¡±


    ¡°Hunters they attacked and took some Pack members two days ago, your Beta came and warned us


    Alpha locked us in the bunker, they attacked not long after. We fought, but there were too many, the


    Alpha said it was best we stayed here.¡±


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    ¡°Which Alpha? Reid?¡±


    ¡°No, Luna, you¡¯re in ck Moon Territory.¡± I know something has gone terribly wrong if I am here and


    so is half my Pack.


    ¡°Who is in charge here?¡± I ask expecting to see Michael¡¯s wife pop up from the shadows, the ce was


    crammed with bodies. The room was huge like a football field, but not big enough for everyone to move


    or stretch their legs much. Another explosion was heard up above. I was worried the roof was going to


    cave in.


    ¡°You¡¯re in charge, Luna. Alpha David couldn¡¯t leave any warriors with us, there¡¯s too many of them.¡±


    Shit, I know what they wanted. Looking around the room, I tried to find Elizabeth, Michael¡¯s mate. I


    called out to her, but no answer.


    ¡°Does anyone know where Elizabeth is, your Beta female?¡± I knew she would have answers. Lily


    walked over, wrapping her arms around my waist, she was shaking.


    ¡°They killed her Ari, and they took Wendy and Christine.¡± My blood ran cold. Ice in my veins, a growl


    tore from my throat so loud, it was actually painful. Vibrating out of my chest, everyone froze. I couldn¡¯t


    even hear the sounds of their breathing; you would be able to hear a pin drop, the silence deafening.


    They have them, they have my family.


    An explosion by the door leading outside made everyone turn and shuffle towards me, trying to get


    away from the door. I shoved through the sea of people until I was standing between them and the


    door.


    ¡°Get the children to the back of the bunker now,¡± I screamed, throwing my Alpha voice at them, forcing


    them to move and get organised. I heard banging on the door, someone was trying to break in. If it


    were Alpha David, I knew he would have just unlocked the doors, this was no friend this was foe. I let


    my ws extend so angry, I couldn¡¯t even feel them tearing my nails off. The women in the bunker


    shuffling around, shoving the children to the back, taking protective stances.


    ¡°Get ready!¡± I yelled, and everyone turned to the doors waiting. My fangs tear through my gums, my


    eyes zing, I could feel every vein moving in my body as adrenaline pumped through me feeding my


    anger. I wanted blood, and I wanted to find my mate, but right now, I needed to protect my Packs. The


    door burst open concrete debris flying everywhere, filling the room with dust. The lights shattering


    above our heads, raining ss down on us. I didn¡¯t feel the sting as it cut into my skin. I could hear the


    woman and children¡¯s cries and screams behind me.


    I had no idea what I expected when the doors burst, what I wasn¡¯t expecting though, was wolfsbane


    grenades. As soon as I heard the metallic clink and the roll across the floor and smelt the deathly sick


    smell, I screamed. ¡°Cover the kids!¡± Just as they exploded. Everyone started coughing and dropping


    like flies. It burnt my skin, my growl ripping out of me as I am thrown backwards smacking into the


    people behind me. I jump to my feet. When I see the first sign of movement, I lunge straight for their


    throat.

 Chapter 50

    Chapter 50


    Aria¡¯s POV


    I move with precision and speed, my hands reaching straight for them, knocking the gun from their


    hands, as I bite into the flesh of their neck, blood spurting all over me, as I rip his throat from his body.


    Red dots filled the room, and I kept moving, reaching and grabbing for any part of them, as I ripped


    them towards me, tearing them apart. I could feel their blood dripping off me, could hear my Pack


    fighting behind me. Hear the screams of the kids, which only fuels my anger more. Another explosion


    goes off, as a second grenade is let off. I choke on the fumes, my lungs feeling like they are on fire, my


    eyes burning, my skin burning as if it had been doused in acid. I could hear the agonised screams of


    everyone behind me. I force myself to my feet staggering. I grab the first man I see in the cloud of dust


    and smoke. He has some sort of ck armour on. The only skin showing is their faces and neck as I


    bite his face tearing the flesh of his cheek off. I spit it out, my teeth going for his jugr. His blood


    flooding my mouth as I drain him before dropping him at my feet, I step over his body, moving toward


    my next target. Only they kepting, and the room was already Packed with dead bodies and people


    fighting.


    I feel the sting of being shot in the leg. I look down and see a green dart in my thigh, I pull the dart out


    and lunge at the woman holding the gun that was pointed in my direction. Her scream dying in her


    throat as I tore it from her body. Everyone is running around in a panic, trying to escape the cloud and


    rain of Wolfsbane falling onto everyone, suffocating us all. I watch as few escape when I ampletely


    surrounded. Red dots appearing through the smoke all aimed directly on me at different locations on


    my body. I feel their sting as each one fires, the darts prating my flesh, making me woozy. I lunge


    grabbing the closest person, using him as a shield while I rip his spine from his body. Sinking my teeth


    into him, needing blood to regain some strength. I shouldn¡¯t be standing, I can feel whatever they shot


    me with moving through my bloodstream, hear the heartbeat of the life inside me thumping loudly.


    Anger courses through me. I keep fighting, but they keep shooting, dart after dart into me, making me


    weaker. I fall to my knees before I fall to my side, my eyes growing heavy, I fight the fog consuming me.


    Forcing my eyes open when a man walks in. The room has gone silent. Deathly silent.


    The man walks over to me and crouches beside me. He has a whiteb coat on and round sses, his


    gaunt face looking down on me.


    ¡°Keep fighting, and we will kill everyone in this room.¡± I growl because that¡¯s all I can do; my body is


    I hear Lily and Amber¡¯s screams resonate through the room. My head slowly rolling to my side, my


    eyes searching, until they find them through the thick smoke and people crowding around me. Their


    flesh is red, raw, and bleeding. They can¡¯t even stand only scream. I growl louder and try to lift my arm,


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    but it doesn¡¯t move. Tears escaping my eyes running down my cheeks.


    ¡°Aria, please get up.¡± Her voice breaks as she screams for me. My heart splintering off sharp edges,


    piercing my soul, knowing I can¡¯t get to her.


    ¡°Like I said Aria, don¡¯t fight and I will let those who remain alive go, which isn¡¯t many I must admit,¡± My


    ws extend, I try and throw it at his face, but miss and my hand falls to the ground.


    ¡°Ah, Ah, Ah, Aria don¡¯t be foolish, we have your sister and her little friend. One wrong move and I will


    force you to watch as they die painfully¡± My eyes get heavy, and I try to fight the cold feeling consuming


    me as darkness takes over. I mindlink trying to seek help.


    ¡°Reid, Please Reid, you have to save them.¡± I am out before he answers that¡¯s if he even heard me.


    ***


    The dripping of water pulls me from my cked-out state. I try to move my arms, but they don¡¯t budge.


    My head hanging forward heavily, my neck stiff, having not moved it for however long. I lift it, and I see


    I am braced to a wall. Metal holding me to the walls around my wrists, elbows, and shins, another


    around my chest. I look around my eyeszily falling on Lily and Amber, who are cuffed to a metal table


    in front of me. Bothying with their heads on the steel surface.


    ¡°Psst Lily.¡± She doesn¡¯t answer. ¡°Lily.¡± She moves her fingers, and I know she is alive, I can hear the


    slow beating of her heart. The room reeks of wolfsbane. Lily¡¯s flesh burned and peeling off. She was


    too weak to move, and Amber was in a worse condition. Slumped forward, nearly falling off the chair


    she has been ced on, her mouth open and a steady stream of blood pouring onto the floor from her


    mouth.


    I hear coughing and turn to look beside me. I gasp when I see Alpha David braced to the wall beside


    me, I look on the other side and see Christine and Wendy braced as well. They are covered in bruises,


    and Wendy has a gash that isn¡¯t healing on her head. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Alpha David¡¯s voice sounds


    strangled and pained. I turn my head to him, making eye contact.


    ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°Some sort ofb.¡± He throws his head towards the front. I look up, and I can see clear ss. We are in


    some sort of ssed room resembling a huge fish tank. I can see scientists inb coats walking around


    on the other side of the ss withputers and notebooks, all working, not paying attention to us


    trapped in the room in front of them. I look over to Christine and Wendy.


    ¡°Girls?¡± I call out to them, but they don¡¯t answer.


    ¡°They haven¡¯t woken since they got here, the doctor injected them with something. They keeping


    back, testing their blood and injecting them.¡±


    ¡°What do they want?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I have no idea, but we need to find a way out of here.¡±


    I nod, I try to mindlink but can feel some sort of barrier blocking me. I hear the lock to the ss door


    open and the man from the bunker steps in, a smug smile on his face.


    ¡°Nice to have you back with us, Aria.¡±


    I growl at him. ¡°Let them go. You have me, leave them be.¡±


    He walks over to me; he has some stick in his hand. It is long and has two prongs on the end. He


    ces it on my shoulder. Pressing the prongs into my flesh. I hiss at the sudden pain and struggle


    against my restraints. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, see you aren¡¯t in any position to do anything; therefore, I can do


    as I please.¡± He turns and presses the stick onto Lily¡¯s back. He presses a button near the handhold,


    and she starts screaming and convulsing, the buzz of electricity in the air. It¡¯s a cow prodder. I scream


    and pull on my restraints, and so does David.


    ¡°Leave her, fucking leave her, you fucking coward,¡± David screams. The man turns toward David and


    jams him in the ribs with the prodder, turning it on. David tenses, his muscles bulging and rippling under


    the current. The man stops and turns toward me.


    ¡°That all you got, you fucking maggot,¡± David screams at him before spitting on him. The man wipes his


    face and hits him again with the stick. I can smell his flesh burning, but he doesn¡¯t scream. In fact, he


    just res pulling on his restraints. ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking rip you to shreds,¡± he spits out venomously


    through gritted teeth. Lily stirs behind him, and her eyes go wide, realising her father is being


    electrocuted. Her eyes meet mine, and I mouth to her to stay quiet. I watch tears run down her cheeks


    before she freezes, holding back her sobs.


    The man stops, and David fights against the restraints trying to break free. It is no use, though. The


    man walks around and sits across from Lily.


    ¡°Well, hello youngdy.¡± Lily moves back in her chair trying to get away from him.


    ¡°Well, now that I have your undivided attention, listen up. I am not sure if your father told you about the


    experiments we wanted him for.¡± I stare shocked that he knows my father is still alive. ¡°Oh yes, Aria, I


    have known for years. A body just doesn¡¯t disappear. Anyway, back to what I was saying. I need your


    blood, and I need a lot quite frankly. The blood we took from your father years ago has run out, and I


    need more and you, my dear will be, let¡¯s see, what¡¯s the word,¡± he says, tapping his chin.


    ¡°Oh yes, my personal blood bag.¡± His dark hair falls in his eyes, and he throws his head back, pushing


    it out of the way.


    ¡°And why is it that you need my blood specifically?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re incredibly unique, and your blood holds the key to immortality, why else? Nothing more, nothing


    less. Although over the years, we have had some developments. Your friends there are living proof our


    science does work,¡± he says, pointing to Wendy and Christine. I look over to them, still slumped


    forward, their faces hidden behind their hair that is acting as a veil. They do smell different.

 Chapter 51

    Chapter 51


    Reid¡¯s POV


    We had just finished the meeting; every back member was called. We had to meet at the Pack stadium


    just to cram everyone in. We tripled the border patrols, made sure that we had a n. A n that I


    believed was solid and would work, that they wouldn¡¯t catch us off guard. The patrols were running


    smoothly for the first nine hours. My men were exhausted but alert. Geared up on needing to protect


    their families and our way of life. The Hunters haven¡¯t been seen or heard from in nearly two decades.


    We soon learned they had been biding their time, umting more members, they outnumbered us.


    There were over five hundred Pack members in my Pack. This should have been an easy victory,


    especially with the help of the ck Moon Pack by our side. We sent word to the neighbouring Packs


    outside the city, everyone that we had alliances with. But even they couldn¡¯t get here in time. I had just


    received word that Alpha David had sent all the women and children to the bunker, we sent ours to be


    safe, or so we thought. I still don¡¯t know how many made it. One thing I learnt was that our bunkers


    were old and outdated, not for the size our Pack has grown. I hope they made it, but I know it¡¯s foolish


    to think they all did.


    If we find a way out of this, if any part of the Pack survives, we will have hundreds of people to ount


    for, hundreds to bury. Zane took Aria to the ck Moon Pack, to the safety of their bunker. Despite his


    past grievances andck of training for his Pack, Alpha David was prepared for war. I was surprised


    when Alpha David told me to start sending my Pack members over there for protection. But it was a


    smart move less ground to cover if everyone was in one ce.


    What we weren¡¯t prepared for was the fact that the Hunters didn¡¯t need to cross the borders, they were


    already lying in wait for us, their numbers tripling both our Packs. They were well trained and had an


    advantage, they had something that weakened us. After I received the call that the ck Moon was


    under attack. I knew instantly that we failed.


    We failed because to get to the ck Moon border, they had to get through ours. That¡¯s where we went


    wrong, we were so busy protecting the biggest border of the city, not realising they were already well


    and truly past our city border. Smack in the middle by the hundreds. They snuck up behind us, and


    when the first explosions went off, everything turned chaotic. They attacked both Packs at once leaving


    a clear divide between both. The woman and children fleeing caught in the crossfire between borders.


    Every street, every building lit up like Christmas trees, as they were blown to smithereens effectively


    trapping us. Both Packs tried to get to the bunkers to protect them. But with the amount of firepower the


    Hunters had and the amount of Hunters we didn¡¯t stand a chance, they wiped out over half our people.


    I had to block the mind link; nobody was able to fight properly, bing distracted by the fear and


    screaming of their loved ones being ripped into the afterlife. I knew instantly when the bunker had been


    breached. I could feel Aria had woken, then I could feel her pain. Her pain as the explosions went off, I


    could feel the wolfsbane burning her skin, but she held on, and I knew exactly why. Aria wasn¡¯t one to


    go down without a fight, especially when her loved ones were at stake, when our Packs were fighting


    for their lives, I knew she would fight for them. I was well aware of everything she was thinking,


    everything she was feeling, but I couldn¡¯t focus on her alone when I could feel the teethers of my Pack,


    being cut and ripped away from me. I lost count after the first seventy.


    The pain of their deaths only fuelled me to keep fighting. I knew if I stopped, I would break, it¡¯s


    unnatural to feel one death, let alone hundreds of links torn. Hundreds of people now memories. Then


    the feeling of everyone¡¯s heartache at having lost their mates, their parents, their children. It was too


    much to bear; I bore all that suffocatingly. I don¡¯t know how my father survived living through it for years


    after the attack that killed my brother and mother. I felt like my soul was being split away piece by


    fucking piece, the sharp edges cutting deeply, bleeding my soul right out me and creating a void, that


    was now being filled with guilt. Guilt that I couldn¡¯t save them. Guilt that I failed my job as Alpha.


    When Aria finally sumbed, I felt that too, not only did I feel it, but the entire Pack was also linked to


    that teether we shared. We started dropping like flies. The Hunters did their research because they


    backed off as soon as she went down, going back to the shadows they came from. I tried to fight it, but


    her pull, the Lycan pull, was greater. Had I known being mated to her would cause not only me to fall


    but my entire Pack, I may have second-guessed marking her, although I knew that was a foolish


    thought to have, the mate pull is stronger than us, it would have been inevitable. The Hunters must


    have known, I don¡¯t know how they knew but without a Queen tomand or fight for, the soldier¡¯s fall.


    We all dropped, plunged into darkness as whatever they did to her knocked her down, effectively


    putting her out. I knew she wasn¡¯t dead, but I also knew that if they did kill her there would be no


    waking up, her link to this Pack was far too strong, stronger than we could have imagined as we were


    pulled into oblivion. I opened the link just in time to hear her.


    ¡°Reid, please Reid, you have to save them.¡±


    Then nothing but darkness. This was their n all along. Take out the Luna and we all go down, so


    they can escape taking the only light in my life with them.


    Aria¡¯s POV


    This maniac of a man has been rambling nonsense for what felt like hours. I have never held so much


    anger towards one person before. I didn¡¯t just want to kill him; I wanted his death to be slow and


    painful, I wanted revenge. I wanted revenge so bad I could taste the bitter taste of it in my mouth.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Christine and Wendy still hadn¡¯t awoken. Periodically men in whiteb coats woulde in and inject


    them with something. I demanded so many times to know what it was he was giving them, but he said


    we would find out soon enough.


    We learned a few things about him like his name, which is Kade. I was going to kill Kade, no matter


    what, I knew when I went down, I was taking him with me. I watched as he finally walked out. Lily


    visibly rxing as soon as the door clicked shut.


    I looked to David, who was still clinging to consciousness after being electrocuted at random by the


    sick bastard.


    ¡°David?¡± He looked in my direction but couldn¡¯t even lift his head to look at me. At least I knew he was


    listening.


    ¡°Do you think you could shift out of your restraints?¡± His breathing was ragged, sweat dripping off his


    head and onto the floor. I could smell the burnt smell of his body hair, wherever the cow prodder


    touched, leaving behind round inmed red blotches on his skin and bleeding holes. His blood was


    enticing my senses, trying to consume me.


    ¡°I am too weak, and I can¡¯t feel my wolf anymore, I haven¡¯t since we got here. I think they did


    something when I was knocked out.¡± Even his speech was slurred and raspy. Lily looked at me,


    frightened. This was the man I feared for years and was now a crumbling mess, what chance did we


    have of escape when they took him down so easily.


    ¡°Lily, I need you to try and wake up Amber, nudge her try to rouse her awake.¡± I watched as Lily used


    her elbow trying to nudge Amber awake, all it managed to do was make her move closer to the edge


    and closer to falling. I shook my head at Lily to stop, and she did. I could hear Amber¡¯s heartbeat, but it


    was so faint, I knew she was only just clinging on to life. Looking at my hands, I tried to wriggle them


    free, but it was no use. I actually wished; I could shift it woulde in handy right about now to escape


    these restraints. Wendy shifting her head and groaning pulled my attention to her.


    ¡°Wendy, you¡¯re awake, are you okay?¡± She lifted her head, and I could see the full extent of her


    injuries, her eyes were swollen shut, her lips bruised and bloody, her hair sticking to her face from the


    dried blood from the gash on her head. ¡°Mitch, Mitch, where are you?¡± She muttered.


    ¡°Wendy, it¡¯s Aria, I need you to look at me, I¡¯m on your right side.¡± She moved her head, it rolled more


    to the side then moved. She was weak.


    ¡°Aria, where is Mitch? Why isn¡¯t he here?¡± She was disorientated that much I knew.


    ¡°We are in someb,¡± I told her. I didn¡¯t want to tell her, I felt Mitch¡¯s teether snap, I knew when she


    came too, she would realise and feel he was gone. I felt him leave this life just as the first explosion


    went off outside the bunker doors. Felt his life be snuffed out.


    ¡°Wendy, what do you remember?¡± She slurred her words and muttered something that didn¡¯t make


    sense before going unconscious again. I put my head back against the wall. We were screwed. I was


    losing feeling in my limbs from the restraints. Looking at my hands again, I stretched my fingers and


    realised they were only a few centimetres off David¡¯s. Then an idea popped into my head, one that


    might actually work.


    David was drooling on the floor, but I needed him awake. Just when I went to call out to him, the door


    opened again. This time another man walked in, he had a shaved head and bulging eyes, he wasn¡¯t


    dressed like the others, in theirb coats instead, he wore a white singlet with jeans, and I could see


    his tribal tattoos that ran up both his arms from his wrist to his shoulder. He looked towards the table.


    ¡°Stay away from them, don¡¯t fucking touch them!¡± I yelled pulling on my restraints. David hearing me


    yell, looked up and started struggling as well to get free. He walked towards the table Lily and Amber


    were at. He lifted Amber¡¯s head by her hair and sneered as he let go, her head hitting the table with a


    thud. Lily started screaming as he grabbed her, before undoing the cuffs holding her to the table. He


    then pulled her to her feet, and she stumbled, trying to free herself.


    ¡°Let her go, she is just a child.¡± The man grabbed her arm and started taking her towards the door.


    David and I both screaming at him.


    ¡°Let her go, where are you taking her?¡± I screamed tears building in my eyes, panic setting in. The man


    opened the door. Pushing her through the door she fell forward, she got up and tried to run, but another


    man grabbed her, we watched on in horror as he held her. Another man brought in a mesh cage, he


    opened it and shoved her inside. Her fingers clutching the mesh as she called for us. She couldn¡¯t even


    stand the cage was fit for a dog, not a person. Kade walked over with a syringe in his hand, walking


    directly towards her, Lily backed into the corner of the cage trying to get away from him screaming and


    crying. My heart tearing into pieces at seeing her so frightened and defenceless.


    David screamed for them to stop, but they ignored our pleas. Kade put the syringe on the end of a pole


    before shoving the pole through the mesh. He tried to stab her with it, but she managed to move just in


    time. This went on for a few seconds before he jabbed it into her thigh.

 Chapter 52

    Chapter 52


    Aria¡¯s POV


    I watched and thought maybe whatever they gave her didn¡¯t work, I prayed to the Moon Goddess that


    whatever they injected her with was a failure. Only when I heard her scream, did my blood run cold,


    colder than ice. I could feel the blood leave my face and bile rose in my throat. And if that weren¡¯t


    enough, they then wheeled her in so we could listen to her agonised screams. She looked at me in


    panic, her fear radiating out of every pore in her body, making the room fill with her scent. She writhed


    in agony panting, as wave after wave of pain shot through her.


    ¡°Lily, focus on me, bub, focus on my voice,¡± I called out to her, tears running like a stream down my


    cheeks. I watched them close the doors, leaving her screaming in pain. They sat on the other side of


    the ss, notepads in hand scribbling whatever garbage they were writing on to the pads. Lily looked


    at me, her eyes begging me to stop the pain. That¡¯s when I heard her bones start snapping and


    moving, morphing, her eyes changed colour half blue, half yellow.


    ¡°Make it stop, make it stop, please Aria, make it stop. Daddy please.¡± Her voice taunting and tugging at


    the pieces of my heart. David, hearing her call him Daddy snapped. I could hear his shoulder break as


    he pulled against the restraints trying to get to her.


    Blood dripping from her mouth as her face morphed. I will never forget the sound of her screams; they


    will forever haunt my memories burned into me forever. Her nails ripping from her nail beds, as her


    hands turned into paws, her ws going through the mesh, her screams getting louder as her spine


    rearranged itself, her clothes being torn to shreds, as she shifted right before our eyes.


    Werewolves aren¡¯t meant to shift before they are teenagers, Lily wasn¡¯t meant to endure this torture for


    many years, and now she was forced to shift, and all I could do was watch. Her blue and yellow eyes


    staring back at us pleading to make it stop. When the shift finished, she was left standing in the cage,


    not as Lily but that of her wolf. She was magnificent, her fur was an unnatural silver with ck paws


    that kind of looked like socks. One side of her face ck and the other silver. Werewolves weren¡¯t


    these colours; I knew whatever they did to her changed her, Werewolves didn¡¯t shift early to give their


    wolf time to create a bond with their human part. Just as the shiftpleted, she let out a mangled


    scream before passing out on her side, the floor drenched with her blood.


    ¡°Lily, Lily, baby, wake up,¡± David called to her. She didn¡¯t wake.


    ¡°She is still alive, listen; I can hear her heart beating still and hear her breathing.¡± David listened before


    slumping against his restraints. I could see the scientist excitedly talking and writing notes before they


    walked away like they didn¡¯t just watch a child being tortured.


    I looked at David, I had never seen this man cry before, and right now he was a sobbing mess. I just


    hoped Lily¡¯s wolf hasn¡¯t been permanently damaged from being forced to shift, and I hope this doesn¡¯t


    kill her. I knew only time would tell what impact this will have on her in the future assuming she has


    one.


    The door opened again, I looked up and watched as they pulled Christine down from the wall she was


    braced on. ¡°Please this is enough, you have done enough. Just let them go please¡± The man with the


    bulging eyes ignored us. Christine fell on the floor in a heap. He then did the same to Wendy. Wendy


    groaned when her body hit the floor. Christine, however, didn¡¯t make a sound. I would have thought she


    was dead if not for her irregr heartbeat. I thought it was strange how fast her heart was beating, it


    sounded a lot like mine. More of a fast fluttering than an actual thumping beat.


    Wendy dragged herself to a sitting position, leaning heavily against the wall. Another scientist walked in


    with Kade, they stopped in front of her before bending down. Forcing her eyelids open with their fingers


    and shing a light in her eyes. She tried to push their hands away, but she was too weak.


    ¡°Interesting, the lower concentrate of her blood did nothing to this one,¡± Kade said to the other man.


    The scientist wrote something while nodding his head. They walked to Christine and did the same.


    Only when they shed the light in her eyes, they flicked between a burning ember before going back


    to normal when the light left.


    ¡°The higher concentrate and mutated version seem to work on her though. So, let''s wake her up,¡± They


    all walked out. David and I looked at each other, and Wendy reached out for Christine''s hand, trying to


    pull her towards herself.


    ¡°David, I need you to see if you can reach my hands,¡± David looked at our hands seeing they weren¡¯t


    far off touching. He stretched, his broken shoulder making a horrid noise as he pulled on it. His wrists


    dug into the metal braces, but it worked. He could reach just onto my wrist with his fingertips if I


    stretched far enough.


    ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±


    ¡°We need to get free before theye back, I have a bad feeling about whatever they have down to


    Christine.¡± He nodded looking at her crumpled body on the floor.


    ¡°What next then?¡±


    ¡°I need you to yank on my arm and pull my elbow out, then I need you to snap my thumb and slit my


    wrists¡± David looked at me like I was insane. Saying it out loud, it definitely sounds crazy. But I would


    heal quickly, I hoped. I just needed to get my hands out, then I could manoeuvre my arm out. David,


    realising what I was thinking, nodded his head.


    ¡°This is going to hurt.¡± I didn¡¯t even have time to process his words before he grabbed my hand and


    ripped on it, my body being pulled further through the braces, my shoulder tearing as the metal cut into


    it, it worked though. I felt my elbow dislocate. I held my breath to stop from yelling out. Gritting my teeth


    through the sudden pain. If Lily could shift, I could at least break a few bones for her.


    David squeezed my fingers, not just my thumb, breaking all of them in his vice-like grip. I knew he


    didn¡¯t mean to break all of them, but he didn¡¯t have much choice; it was the only way to get enough


    strength to break my thumb. I couldn¡¯t help the shudder that ran through me, as I felt my thumb slide


    into my palm. I wanted to throw up. My entire right arm throbbing.


    ¡°You need to stretch Aria, cutting your wrists is going to be harder without my ws.¡± Tears ran down


    my cheeks as I stretched my arm as far as it would go, but it still wasn¡¯t enough for him to reach my


    wrist. I could feel my mangled fingers trying to heal, so closed my hand into a fist, forcing my thumb to


    remain in its position. I looked at Wendy on the floor.


    ¡°Wendy, Wendy,¡± She groaned before her head rolled to look up at me. ¡°Can you stand?¡± she shook


    her head. ¡°I need you to try. I need you to find something to cut my wrist with so I can get my arm out,¡±


    She looked around, but the room was bare besides the steel table and the mesh cage. She slumped


    back against the wall.


    I looked at David. ¡°What about my hand?¡± He nodded and stretched out again. I did the same, my


    fingers slipping back into their rightful position. I groaned knowing we would need to break them again.


    David¡¯s nails dug into my hand right at the base before my wrist. I hissed as he dug his nails in. He was


    straining so hard trying to get them to break my skin when suddenly his ws jutted out and went


    straight through my hand. I screamed, not expecting his ws toe through. He looked startled but


    relieved to see he was able to slightly shift.


    ¡°Break it again.¡± My blood was dripping on the floor. I had to be fast, I could feel my skin already trying


    to heal, although it was much slower than usual. David broke my fingers again and using my blood, I


    was able to make the braces slippery enough to get my hand all the way through, but not quick enough


    to pull my arm out when the door opened. I froze, leaving my hand just inside the wrist cuff.


    Kade walked in before jamming a syringe into Christine¡¯s arm before quickly running out and shutting


    the door. He waited eagerly by the door peering in the small window with a triumphant grin on his face.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    Christine gasped loudly like someone who just took a deep breath for the first time. Her eyes opened


    and they burned bright like embers of a me. She turned her head to the side, a growl escaping from


    her. I recognised the look on her face instantly, a look I was all too familiar with. The need to feed and


    Amber was directly in front of her.

 Chapter 53

    Chapter 53


    Reid¡¯s POV


    We all finally came to, I could feel my Pack members waking, I lifted my head in search of Zane. Only


    to realise I wasn¡¯t in the industrial area anymore but a bunker. I rolled to my side, my eyesnding on


    Abel, Aria¡¯s father. Zoe and he were going over something on the steel table across from me. I sat up,


    dropping my feet over the edge of the couch I was ced on.


    ¡°You''re awake about fucking time. Now get up and help me find my daughter.¡± Abel spoke, I could hear


    the venom in his words, and I jumped up growling. Abel turned to me his anger clearly on disy not


    even trying to hide what he is, his eyes burning brightly, reflecting oddly under the lights.


    ¡°Maybe you can answer that, they should have taken you, not my mate!¡± I screamed, grabbing a hold


    of his shirt and flinging him back into the table. Zoe raced to his side but was too slow before he


    charged at me. Grabbing me around the waist, we fought, throwing punches back and forth. I noticed


    Zoe taking a seat out of the corner of my eye, looking annoyed. I headbutted Abel and felt his nose


    break on impact. He stumbled backwards. Just as he went to lunge again, Zoe spoke up.


    ¡°Enough we have to find my granddaughter and great-grandchild this shit isn¡¯t helping.¡± We both


    stopped ring at each other, both of us breathing heavily trying to catch our breath.


    ¡°I see being mated to my girl has made you stronger,¡± he said rebreaking his nose into ce. I knew he


    was holding back slightly. I shouldn¡¯t have had the upper hand on him, but I think he needed to blow off


    steam and I was the more durable target in the room.


    ¡°Where is the rest of my Pack?¡±


    ¡°I could only bring you; I am not a bloody donkey. How many did you want to bring back here?¡± He


    snarled. Zoe hit the table with her hand bringing our attention back to her, the Pack will have to wait.


    ¡°I have scoured the entire City trying to pick up their scent, they covered their tracks well,¡± Abel said,


    annoyed at hisck of progress.


    ¡°How long have I been out?¡±


    ¡°Only about twelve hours,¡± Zoe said matter of factly. Ryder wasn¡¯t happy about being out so long, they


    could be anywhere by now.


    ¡°I enlisted the help of some humans; a lot of people noticed the war happening on their doorstep and


    are also scouring everywhere trying to find a lead.¡±


    ¡°Humans?¡±


    ¡°Yes Reid, they aren¡¯t stupid. They know what happens in their City they just choose to turn a blind eye


    to it, but now I have spoken to some, human or not these monsters killed innocent children they won¡¯t


    stand for that, they are going to help move yours and those of David¡¯s Pack that are injured to the


    stadium, they are willing to help if needed, we just need to find them first.¡± Zoe added.


    I nodded. It felt strange knowing they have turned a blind eye. I knew a few high up members of the city


    knew of our existence but never in a million years would I have thought the entire City knew, times


    were definitely changing. We had a war on our hands and could really use the extra reinforcements,


    maybe this is a good thing them knowing.


    ¡°So, what do you know? So far?¡±


    ¡°Not much I just got off the phone and was about to tell Abel what I know, but then you woke up, and I


    couldn¡¯t get a word in with you two trying to kill each other¡± Abel turned to her giving her his attention.


    He lent back on the table, and I folded my arms across my chest, waiting to listen as well. Now


    realising our mistake, we weren¡¯t going to get anywhere fighting amongst ourselves.


    ¡°Well, he didn¡¯t have much, an old friend heard about what happened and called me. Apparently, the


    Hunters dispersed years ago, but everyone was called back with the promise of immortality if they


    helped catch the Hybrid. Apparently, their numbers have grown massively and that a man by the Name


    of Kade Bary is now running things. He said he noticed some of the originalbs had been


    undergoing refurbishment, that he has been watching them for a while keeping tabs on them, he is on


    his way to help try locate them.¡± I nodded and looked at Abel. He looked livid and his face changing to


    a crimson colour with his anger. Like a kettle about to boil over.


    ¡°Did you say Kade Bary?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, why? Have you heard of him?¡± Abel nodded deep in thought.


    ¡°Yes, but he is human. I don¡¯t know how he could still be alive.¡± My eyebrows furrowed, and I felt Ryder


    press against my skin listening in.


    ¡°What do you mean, he should be dead?¡±


    ¡°He is human, and the only Kade Bary I know was alive in the eighteenth century, it would be


    impossible.¡±


    ¡°Could be someone else with the same name,¡± I suggested he nodded but didn¡¯t look like he believed


    that.


    ¡°Say it is this Kade, how do you know him?¡±


    ¡°He captured me when I was younger, him and a group of Hunters noticed I wasn¡¯t aging figured out


    what I was and hunted me down, I was ced on a ship brought here to some undergroundbs, he


    was a mad scientist, crazy smart for the times and had a few small breakthroughs in medical science.


    After he caught me, he started looking for ways to prolong life and create immortality. As far as I knew it


    never worked, he also tried to replicate my Hybrid gene. He became obsessed with bing like me.


    He used to test my blood on other werewolves. He even managed to capture a Vampire, using them


    like guinea pigs trying to mutate their genes and make them like me. All of them died from his science,


    and after a while, I managed to escape when they were moving me to a differentpound, they sent


    off litres of my blood to a French scientist. He imed he found a way to change the DNA and mutate


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    it. I haven¡¯t seen him since I left the country. I returned a hundred yearster forgetting about him and


    assuming he died.¡±


    That was one hell of a story, was it possible he did find a way to create immortality? Ryder was thinking


    the same thing.


    ¡°When will your friend get here?¡± I asked, looking at the clock, it was already the middle of the night.


    ¡°He should be here soon, he isn¡¯t far from here,¡± Zoe stated. We both nodded our heads.


    Not even ten minutester we heard a knock on the door upstairs, Zoe looked to the TV screen above


    the bunker entrance, a man was waiting at the door with an armful of papers.


    ¡°That¡¯s him, I will go let him in. Wait here and don¡¯t kill each other.¡± She gave us both a pointed look,


    and I chuckled. We were past that now, our little dispute was forgotten.


    I walked over and looked at the documents on the table which were actually the City¡¯s blueprints. Every


    building, including mine, had underground tunnels. Something to look at in the future would be


    destroying those tunnels or at least blocking ess from underground. I noticed one of the tunnels


    leading into the City ran along the boundary lines between both mine and David¡¯s Packs.


    I pointed to it, and Abel nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fairly sure that¡¯s how they got in without being noticed. If


    you follow that tunnel, it leads to nowhere though, only to the city library and cuts off halfway through in


    the other direction, if these maps are still correct. It could have changed by now, I think these maps are


    outdated, they belonged to Joe,¡± Definitely something we needed to check out, we were going to have


    to go into the tunnels and see where they lead.

 Chapter 54

    Chapter 54


    Aria¡¯s POV


    Wendy looked up at the noise that ripped from Christine. Christine climbed to her feet, having not


    noticed Wendy¡¯s crumpled form lying beside her, her eye¡¯s only on her prey. That prey was Amber, her


    own daughter. I struggled with my restraints, my hand slipping out from the wrist cuff, leaving only my


    elbow now stuck in the second cuff along that arm.


    David, noticing the crazed look, started calling out to her, fighting to release himself, anything to distract


    her from hunting her own defenceless daughter, who was unconscious and unaware of the danger she


    was in, from her own mother. Wendy grabbed Christine¡¯s leg, but her bloodlust hadpletely taken


    over her. She didn¡¯t even look down at the tug on her leg, her eyes solely focused on that of her


    daughter.


    ¡°Wendy, you have to stop her, I can¡¯t get free.¡± I screamed. My bone in my upper arm snapping under


    the pressure I was exerting trying to break free. My bone breaking through the flesh just above where


    my elbow should be. I screamed from the horrendous snap, my nerves in my arm feeling like I just tore


    straight through them. My arm bending, I was able to slip out of the cuff, my right arm dangling at a


    weird angle, blood running down my arm and dripping on the floor. I could already feel my arm shifting


    back into ce and the wound healing as I endured the pain of my bones rearranging.


    Christine, smelling my blood, turned and looked in my direction. The first thing I noticed were her


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    amber eyes, except the pupil was blood red. I don¡¯t know what they gave her, but it was clear to me


    whatever it was, it wasn¡¯t just my blood. Whatever they did altered her DNA. Right now, I was staring


    back at the perfect predator. No recognition on her face that I am her friend, her Luna. I realised in that


    moment whatever was left of Christine was gone.


    Wendy staggered to her feet between us, but Christine¡¯s eyes never left mine. She was hunting, and I


    was her prey. Wendy lunged forward falling into Christine¡¯s body and knocking her on the floor before


    little energy she had left trying to stop her. They wrestled on the ground, Wendy trying to pin her down,


    but she was no match for her. Christine threw her off, Wendy smacked into the steel table her head


    smacking the side of the cage Lily was trapped in.


    Amber groaned and shifted in her seat, dazedly looking up. Her groan, a distraction to Christine as her


    eyes snapped to that of her daughter.


    ¡°Mum?¡± Amber said, her voice a murmur as she tried to work out what was going on. David started


    screaming, trying to get the attention off her own daughter. I saw his braces starting to pull from the


    wall when his shin bone snapped, trying to get his leg free.


    I struggled with my other arm, breaking my left hand before sliding it out of the wrist cuff. I was close, I


    just needed to free my other arm.


    Christine lunged directly over the table at Amber. Amber¡¯s scream jolted Wendy to her feet just in time


    for Wendy to grab her around the waist. Adrenaline must have been the only thing that got her to move


    so fast because Wendy was there fighting her own best friend to stop her from destroying the one


    person she loved most in this world. Wendy mmed Christine into the wall next to me before Christine


    kicked her in the stomach, making her double over.


    I saw the look in her eye, nothing was going to stop her from killing all of us once she was done with


    Amber. The hunger in her eyes proved there was nothing left of her to save. Tears poured down my


    face as she lunged forward. I moved, my hip dislocating as I threw my entire body toward her, my hand


    punching straight through her chest. I felt my hand smash through her ribs and sternum, her blood


    coating my arm before I felt the beating of her heart in my hand.


    She stopped and looked down at my arm that was in her chest cavity. My fingers wrapped around her


    heart before squeezing. An agonised look crossing her features as I ripped her heart from her body.


    She stood upright for a second, still staring at the hole in her chest before her body copsed in a heap


    on the floor.


    ¡°Please forgive me, Zane!¡± I screamed his name as I felt her link to me snap, my heart felt like it had


    been squeezed with hers and ripped away, as her teether to me snapped. Her life gone, and at my


    hands. Wendy screamed her voice piercing my ears and pulling at my soul. She threw herself at Amber


    trying to cover her eyes from seeing her mother¡¯s death. Wendy was toote though, everything


    happening so fast. I knew she saw me; her Luna and her mother¡¯s friend just rip the life out of her.


    ¡°I had no choice.¡± My voice breaking at the realisation, my entire body crying out for her, crying for


    Amber, crying for the heartache I know I just caused Zane. But most of all, crying out for Reid, who I


    know would have also felt what I just did.


    Amber was hysterically screaming out for her mother, trying to break free from the cage of Wendy¡¯s


    arms, as she held her trying to shield her from what I had done.


    I killed one of my best friends, I know Christine would have wanted me to if it meant saving Amber, but


    that doesn¡¯t stop the hurt I have caused and feel. I knew I just destroyed and traumatised her daughter,


    destroyed her mate. But what choice did I have? I had to choose. It was either Christine or her


    daughter, and I know deep down I made the right choice, the choice she would have wanted.


    ¡°You had no choice Ari,¡± David spoke next to me. One of his legs was free, but his arms still braced to


    the wall. His ws extended, and I knew whatever they gave him was wearing off, I also knew because


    I could feel it slowly disappearing from my bloodstream.


    We need to get out of our restraints before they readminister another dose. I looked at Amber


    apologetically, sobs wracking her entire body. The bleeding in her mouth had stopped, but the gash on


    her head was still deep and not healing. I ripped my arm from thest brace. I could feel the skin


    tearing from my body like I was being degloved, but I didn¡¯t care I was mad, my anger numbing the


    pain. I would heal quickly, I just needed out of the restraints. I won¡¯t let them hurt anyone else.


    My body fell forward smacking into the concrete floor, I felt my shins snap from the unnatural way my


    body was lying on the ground while they were still braced to the wall. Wendy let go of Amber and


    helped lift me up, she struggled under my weight. I was able to slide one leg out, having to twist my


    ankle to release myself. I felt my leg heal just as the door opened. Men rushing inside. I ced my leg


    on the ground, and Wendy went into defence mode, holding them back. I broke my ankle and


    manoeuvred my other leg out just in time, for them to run back out of the room sealing it shut. I looked


    up when I heard an exhaust fan start, I knew instantly they were trying to gas us out with Wolfsbane.


    After a few seconds Wendy started coughing. ¡°Cover your mouth with your shirt.¡± Both Amber and


    Wendy covered their mouths dropping onto the floor. The room started to fill with white smoke, I turned


    to David and started ripping on his restraints, they started pulling from the wall with his help he was


    able to get free, falling on the floor next to my feet. I couldn¡¯t see out the windows, the fog making it


    increasingly difficult to see.


    I started choking on the fumes, my lungs filling with its toxic gas. I dropped to the floor, covering my


    face with my shirt.


    We just had to hold out longer, wait for the gas to be turned off. I heard Lily in the cage coughing and


    looked up to see her naked inside the cage, the wolfsbane must have forced her wolf to change back.


    She coughed and choked, gasping for air. But she had nothing to shield her face. I crawled toward the


    cage before tearing a piece of my shirt and passing it to her through the mesh, poking it inside with my


    fingers. She looked up at me panicked. And I gasped to see her eyes had remained the same as that


    of her wolf, half blue and half orange glowing like embers of a me.

 Chapter 55

    Chapter 55


    Reid¡¯s POV


    Zoe¡¯s friend was extremely useful, I could tell years of being a Hunter himself had him still wary of Abel


    and myself. I could also tell; he was trying his best to conceal his difort. Hunters are raised in


    families who have generations of Hunters following in the footsteps of their forefathers. I didn¡¯t expect


    him to drop everything he has been raised to believe. I could tell he had only juste around to the


    idea that not all of us were bad, that didn¡¯t make him morefortable though, so Abel and I let Zoe do


    most of the talking. This was her area of expertise even though she retired decades ago.


    Abel and I were organising what was left of both Packs into scout teams, which was easy over the mind


    link for me, but David¡¯s Pack discovered Abel didn¡¯t need to be a Pack member. Being half Lycan


    allowed him tomunicate with David¡¯s Pack members, he was able to contact Michael for me. I


    wondered why Aria never talked about the fact she could mind link any wolf. I also learned that Michael


    lost his mate in the war, Elizabeth. My Pack took the biggest blow; we lost two hundred and nine Pack


    members; David¡¯s side only lost seventy-one members. The Crescent Pack, another neighbouring


    Pack outside the city, was on their way over to give us a lending hand. I was grateful, but we didn¡¯t


    have the best rtionship with them. We were currently waiting for the Crescent Pack Alpha to arrive


    before we made our move.


    Abel also was able to verify Kade was, in fact, the same man from his younger years. We were still


    trying to figure out how the heck he had managed to prolong his life. Johnathan the Hunter that was


    helping had taken plenty of surveince footage of trucksing in and out of the city heading towards


    the area where the tunnels cut off one of those photos were of Kade. We knew now they must have


    built a headquarters just outside the city. Our scouts at the moment were verifying that¡¯s where the


    tunnels lead to.


    Right now, we were waiting for people to start arriving. When we heard the familiar ding of the diner


    bells ringing, I knew instantly it was the Alpha from the Crescent Pack. I looked at the screen above the


    bunker door. I looked at Abel, and he nodded. I walked upstairs.


    Walking upstairs, I came to find four enforcers and the Alpha Trent and his young son. Who looked to


    be thirteen? I thought he was insane for bringing his son until I remembered my brother and I were


    taught by our father the same way with hands-on experience.


    ¡°Alpha Trent, thanks foring,¡± I said, holding my hand out. Alpha Trent was a giant of man, his arms


    flexing as he shook my hand. He had shoulder-length blonde hair that was tied at the back of his neck


    and dark, almost ck eyes. Anyone else would be intimidated just by the look of him, but I felt no such


    things. They were the third biggest Pack, but after our loss, our numbers were pretty much the same as


    theirs now.


    ¡°Alpha Reid, nice to finally put a face to the name, this is my son Damien.¡± His son put his hand out,


    and I quickly shook it giving him a nod.


    ¡°If you want to follow me, I will show you downstairs, please be mindful there are two retired Hunters so


    I would appreciate if you didn¡¯t kill my mate''s grandmother or her friend, they are helping us locate my


    mate and our missing Pack members¡± He nodded once, but I was a little concerned still. It was unheard


    of to have Hunters working alongside the very thing they hunted.


    I was halfway down the stairs when I felt it, a wave of emotion hit me. I grabbed onto the handrail and


    doubled over. Zane would be here any second, and if I feel this bad, he would be ten times worse.


    Forcing myself back up the stairs, I shoved past everyone.


    ¡°Alpha Reid, what''s going on?¡± I looked back at them. Trent looked up at me rmed.


    ¡°I need to get to my Beta,¡± I gasped out, forcing my legs to keep moving up the stairs. I had just walked


    out to the diner''s dining area when I saw Zane¡¯s car run straight into a telegraph pole out the front. The


    howl that resonated through the air chilled me to the bone. I ran to open the door just in time for Zane¡¯sPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    wolf to break through the door of the car, ripping it clean off. His howls agonised as he threw himself at


    the ground.


    I ran towards him, Zane had no control left, his wolf taking over as I felt Christine¡¯s teether to us break,


    her life slipping from us. Zane¡¯s agonised screams resonating through my head at the loss of his mate.


    And our Beta female. I hesitantly walked over to him; his wolf was whining,pletely devastated.


    ¡°Zander,¡± I called to Zane¡¯s wolf, he lifted his head at themand of his Alpha, he took a step towards


    me, teeth bared, I knew he wouldn¡¯t attack me. I knew his wolf well; he made a noise that sounded


    strangled. ¡°You need to give Zane control.¡±


    His wolf whined and then howled, I could hear how broken he was, I could feel it. I looked back towards


    the diner. Alpha Trent and Abel were watching a knowing look on their faces. I didn¡¯t have to exin


    anything. The sounds he was making told everyone what broke him. But right now, I needed him to


    focus, move through the pain he still had to find his daughter.


    I put my hand on his head. ¡°Zander, give Zane control, we still need to find your pup, your little girl


    buddye on.¡± He whined before I watched him shift, Alpha Trent walked out with a towel Zoe had


    given him. I threw it over his naked body. Tears running down his face as sobs wracked his body. I had


    never seen him like this, my strong best friend, now broken. Alpha Trent helped me get him up and


    inside the diner.


    We ced him on a chair, Abel came out with a change of clothes and handed them to him. He took


    them with one hand. His eyes looking at us were empty and hollow. It was like looking into the eyes of


    my father, nothing left, just an empty vessel.


    After a few more minutes of silence, he pulled himself together and stood up pulling the pants up


    before doubling over again. I turned around horrified praying to the goddess it wasn¡¯t Amber, but then I


    felt it too. My breathing bing harder, my skin burning, my eyes watering. Something was terribly


    wrong. I could hear Trent yelling at his men to do something, anything. He wasn¡¯t prepared to deal with


    this, none of us were when we realised we were all linked to Aria the way we were. I didn¡¯t even have a


    chance to warn him before both Zane, and I passed out. The pain bing too much. If this keeps up,


    we were never going to have a chance to find them. Myst thought was trying to mind link Aria.


    ¡°Keep fighting, stay alive, so we can find you.¡±

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56


    Aria¡¯s POV


    I tried to fight it, tried to hold my breath, but the wolfsbane burning my flesh had me screaming only to


    inhale its toxic gas. Just as I passed out. Reid¡¯s voice popped into my head, he sounded weak and in


    pain.


    ¡°Keep fighting, stay alive so we can find you.¡± His words giving mefort as I sumbed to the


    darkness.


    When I came too, I was strapped to a gurney. I turned my head to the side to see Lily in the cage. She


    was awake and observing everyone walking around the room. I rolled my head to the other side to see


    Wendy strapped down along with David. Amber was missing. I tried to ask Lily where she was, but my


    voice waspletely gone. I must have breathed in more than I thought. Lily was covered in burns, the


    skin on her face all blistered. Her hands blistered, but I was surprised to see she was awake.


    The only conclusion I coulde to was that her wolf kept her alive, I just hoped Amber was still alive.


    Wolfsbane was extremely potent, and I am surprised by the amount that has been used on us


    repeatedly that we were all still alive. I was immune to death, but the rest of them, they weren¡¯t. I heard


    Wendy awaken beside me. She looked over at me panicking when she realised we were strapped to


    tables like some science experiment. Whatever wasing next, I knew it wasn¡¯t going to be good.


    I tried to look around. We were in the same room only the table was gone and, in its ce, the three


    gurneys we were ced on.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Amber?¡± asked Wendy. I shook my head, not knowing when Lily spoke.


    ¡°They took her,¡± I looked at Lily, her blue and gold eyes gleaming back at me, but she didn¡¯t look scared


    or sad. She looked angry. I wasn¡¯t sure if I was looking at Lily or her wolf, it was hard to tell the


    difference with her eyes remaining like that. Her voice did sound different though older then the six-


    year-old girl she is.


    The door opened and in walked Kade. A woman walking in with him. Her red hair tied tightly in a bun


    on top of her head, sses perched on the end of her nose, she was around my age. She carried a


    small case in her hands and a clipboard.


    ¡°Start with the Hybrid,¡± he said, looking towards me and pointing. She nodded her head and walked


    over, standing beside me. I wondered how she could justify doing whatever it was she was about to do,


    to women and children; did she feel nothing towards us. I couldn¡¯t imagine watching a child and other


    woman being tortured, I wondered how she sleeps at night. Peacefully or restless? Do her sins weigh


    heavily on her? She opened the box pulling out two syringes one filled with a green liquid. The other


    was empty. She jabbed the empty syringe in my arm before drawing blood. Her eyes met mine, and


    hers quickly darted away guiltily, yes, I knew she didn¡¯t have a clear conscience and that her sleep


    haunted her. I could smell her fear and something else. Guilt.


    When she pulled the syringe out, she handed it to Kane before Picking up the syringe with the green


    liquid in it.


    ¡°What is that?¡± I asked my voice croaky, praying to god whatever they were about to give me wouldn¡¯t


    hurt my baby. I don¡¯t know why I turned so maternal all of a sudden, but as soon as she neared my arm


    panic for my baby kicked in, fear consumed me but not for me but for the baby growing inside me. I


    squirmed trying to get free.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a mutation of your father¡¯s blood, I have been saving it waiting to catch another Hybrid, I want


    to see if I can make you shift¡± Shift? Hybrids couldn¡¯t shift, was he insane? I had no doubts he had a


    few screws loose. Just as she stabbed it in my arm, Wendy blurted out the one thing I was hoping to


    hide from them.


    ¡°Stop, she is pregnant, use me,¡± The woman looked up concerned, her finger hovering above the


    plunger that could kill my baby. I was too scared to move in case I identally injected myself. Kade


    walked over, lifting up my shirt, revealing my bump. He pulled a stethoscope from his pocket and


    pressed it against the centre of my stomach and listened. I knew what he could hear, the slow


    thumping of its heartbeat. He looked up, surprised. He nodded at her. ¡°Remove it.¡± The woman looked


    relieved. She pulled it from my arm, and I rxed. My fear dissipating but only momentarily. ¡°Grab a


    bigger syringe, I want you to inject it into the foetus.¡± She looked appalled.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You heard what I said, now get a bigger needle.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t, I won''t do that.¡± I watched as he grew angry, he reached over and grabbed her leaning


    ¡°Either you do it, or I will inject you with it.¡± She shook her head before he let her go. I started struggling


    against my leather cuffs. Wait leather? This will be a piece of cake. I watched as her hands shakily


    drew out a bigger needle, she put it in a vial drawing out the green liquid. Her hand shakily moving


    towards my stomach. Fucking leather, are they for real, we managed to get out of steel braces did they


    really believe wolfsbane would weaken me that much? Just as her hand went to jab me, Wendy started


    yelling at her to stop pulling against her restraints beforeing to the same conclusion I did. I felt the


    needle press but not break the skin on my stomach before I moved, the cuff ripping from the chain that


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    held it to the table. I grabbed her hand, her scream echoing off the ss windows.


    I sat upright, just as we heard an explosion, the entire building shaking.

 Chapter 58

    Chapter 58


    Aria¡¯s POV


    The st from the explosion shattered the windows of our ss cage. Kade being thrown backwoods


    and into Lily¡¯s cage. I still had hold of the woman¡¯s hand, that was no longer attached to her arm as a


    huge shard of ss sliced her arm off, from just below her elbow. The woman is screaming trying to


    stem the bleeding. I tossed her hand on the ground before undoing my ankle cuffs. Complete and utter


    chaos ensued. Wolvesing in from everywhere ripping apart anyone they found. Wendy was in


    battle with a man, still weak, she couldn¡¯t put up much of a fight, and I noticed his eyes changing to that


    of Christine¡¯s only he seemed to have more control. Lily was unconscious in the cage, the st must


    have knocked her out as her cage was damaged. Kade stood up dusting himself off, I jumped up when


    he moved with so much speed, I knew he wasn¡¯t just a human at least not anymore.


    Running at me, I stepped out of reach before shoving the gurney between us, the only problem was


    that left Lily trapped in the cage on the side he was on. But clearly, I was his target as he paid no


    attention to her whatsoever. The table David was on was thrown on its side, and I could hear him


    struggling to get loose before I heard him yell.


    ¡°Aria, duck,¡± My body dropped instantly as the table was thrown at Kade and smashing into the brick


    wall behind him andnding awkwardly covering Lily¡¯s cage. Kade shifted just in time and David


    punched David¡¯s wolf, knocking him to the side.


    I ran towards him, hitting him before he could stab David with the needle he had grabbed from the floor


    knocking us both through the brick wall and into the main part of the building where wolves and


    Hunters were fighting. I groaned having the wind knocked out me, Kade elbowed me in the face and


    shoved me off.


    His eyes changing to a fluorescent blue. What the fuck was he? I had never seen eyes like his before.


    He stood up, the needle still clutched in his hand, I watched horrified as his fangs protruded from his


    mouth and ws like a tiger came through, hair sprouting from his arms as he half shifted. Only he


    wasn¡¯t a wolf; he still stood on two legs, and his face remained the same besides the fangs and eyes.


    He had the making of a wolf yet wasn¡¯t one.


    We circled each other, trying to get an advantage. ncing around, I noticed he wasn¡¯t the only one


    that had partly shifted into a wolf. The man Wendy was fighting was the same. The building caught


    alight. I could hear what sounded like chemicals or gases blowing up bursting and sending sparks


    everywhere, catching whatever it touches alight.


    My attention being diverted, when I see David run from the room, heading towards the new door that


    had been blown out on the side of the building, he had Lily in arms. I noticed Amber¡¯s limp body over


    his shoulder. I wondered how he found Amber as she wasn¡¯t in the same room with us. That distraction


    cost me, as Kade saw it as an opportunity to get the advantage as he plunged the needle into my arm.


    I felt the poison enter my bloodstream and an agonised howl ripping through the room, I looked at the


    needle, then at Kade who had a triumphant grin, which was soon destroyed as I see Ryderunch


    himself from the floor above us biting down on Kade¡¯s face.


    I felt the room shake but not from an explosion but from whatever it was that I was poisoned with. I


    wobbled on my feet as extreme vertigo washed over me. I felt drunk and stumbled around deliriously,


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    grabbing anything I could to remain upright. Then I saw my father¡¯s face next to mine. Where did he


    My entire body going numb, as I am paralysed. I hear people talking before I hear my father scream at


    Ryder.


    ¡°Leave him, take my daughter, that bastard is mine.¡± I heard a savage growl, my father¡¯s shirt ripping


    from his body like he was on steroids. His eyes zing almost red before he left my line of vision, my


    head rolling to the side. My eyes searching for anything in the smoke and chaos. I could smell the


    lingering smell of burning stic and feel the heat of the mes as they got nearer.


    The entire building was on fire, and I couldn¡¯t move just watch as the mes got closer. ¡°Reid,¡± I


    coughed out as I started choking on the smoke that was filling the air. What had he given me, it didn¡¯t


    seem to do anything but paralyse me and make me feel sick?


    Then I see Reid¡¯s face hovering above mine, I could tell he was naked by his bare chest.


    ¡°Let''s get you out of here,¡± he said, scooping me up, my head falling backwards before he adjusted me,


    so it was resting on his shoulder heavily. He turned around, looking back at my father, who was still


    fighting Kade. mes were everywhere destroying the entire building; parts of the roof were falling,


    and Reid sang out to all the wolves and humans present.


    ¡°Humans?¡± I mumbled my tongue, starting to go numb.


    ¡°I will exin everythingter.¡±


    ¡°Everyone get out, the building is going to copse.¡± His Alpha voice rolling over me, I could feel the


    power behind his words as everyone ran from the building. Reid carried me outside, leaving me on the


    grass before running back into the burning building. All I could see was the sky, which was ck with


    smoke, it was night-time. I couldn¡¯t move, I justy there. I felt a hand brush my hair from my face, my


    eyes looking up to see David sitting next to my head, it was his hand I felt.


    ¡°Where did Reid go?¡±


    ¡°To help your father and Zane, they are still inside.¡± I felt my heart rate increase, fear taking over. They


    were in there while Iy paralysed, not able to help. ¡°What about Lily?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here,,¡± she said, grabbing my hand and leaning over the top of me.


    ¡°Amber too, she is awake as well,¡± I listened carefully and could hear her sobbing somewhere off to my


    side.


    I don¡¯t know how long passed but Reid and my father finally came out with Zane. I heard Amber start


    screaming hysterically, wailing. I heard Zane pick her up and whisper soothingly to her.


    ¡°I know baby girl, I know.¡± Hearing them made tears fall from my eyes. I killed her, I killed my friend,


    killed their loved one. The guilt was eating at me, I hope they will forgive me.


    ¡°Reid?¡± I called out, my voice breaking. He came into my line of vision and knelt beside me, pulling me


    up, so I was leaning on him.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I move?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the drug, I think your body is rejecting it.¡±


    ¡°What was it?¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t sure, we think it was some mutated gene of your own blood, but your father got him. The


    Crescent Pack are helping your father move him to their cells for questioning.¡±


    The Crescent Pack, that was a name I hadn¡¯t heard in years, no one really had an alliance with them,


    they tended to stick to themselves. I wondered why they suddenly wanted to help.


    ¡°Let''s get you home,¡± he said, picking me up. I started to get feeling back in my legs when we got to the


    car, but nausea rolled over me, and Reid helped me manoeuvre, so I didn¡¯t throw up all over him,


    instead emptying the contents of my stomach next to the car.


    ¡°Better?¡±


    ¡°A little,¡± My gums tingled and my fangs protruded.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Lily?¡±


    ¡°Already in the car with David. Zane has Wendy and Amber in the other car.¡±


    He pulled me into the back, so I was sitting across hisp. Lily touched my back softly with her small


    hand. I managed to turn my head, getting enough mobility back to turn slightly. Reid, seeing I wanted to


    turn to face the front, ced me on hisp, my back pressing against his chest. I felt his hand go to my


    stomach before going underneath my shirt and rubbing my belly. His hand felt warm on my stomach as


    he rubbed my belly in circles.


    We drove back to our Pack house. By the time we got back, I had full movement back. Whatever he


    gave me must have been a dud luckily, maybe the Moon Goddess was watching over us after all.


    The drive home was quiet but peaceful. It was so strange sitting in a car with David infortable


    silence. Going back to when we were still part of the ck Moon Pack, I would haveughed if


    someone told me Lily would have her father back wanting to parent and that we would all be a


    family again. Seeing it with my own eyes now, I knew things were going to be good between us, we just


    have to mourn those we lost first and rebuild our Packs, but I had no doubt that David was going to


    step up for his daughter and be the father she deserved all along.


    I looked at Lily and smiled sadly. Her blue and yellow eyes looking back at me. I was so proud of her,


    and I knew that Lily was strong enough to endure it no matter what happens in the future, strong


    enough to move past what happened and any new challenges. Which I knew we would have them,


    because her wolf and her had been altered and I could tell it was permanent. But we would get over


    these obstacles too when they arise. We finally made it home, it was a sombre feeling as we all got out


    of the cars. Not all of us made it back and the weight of that hung heavily in the air.

 Chapter Fifty-Eight

    Chapter Fifty-Eight


    Aria POV


    The next few weeks past by in a blur, weid the dead to rest and helped rebuild the parts of the City


    that were destroyed. The attack had devasting effects and alot had died and not just the wolves, but


    humans too. Wendy was inconsable after the loss of her mate and so was Zane, Amber was coping


    exactly how we expected she would. Her saddness only making my guilt worse, knowing her mother''s


    death was on my hands. I hadn''t spoken to my father since the day we escaped, he was quick to leave


    after everything said he to take care of a few things and refused to give us any answers as to where he


    was going.


    Reid had been run off his feet and would drop in bed exhausted each night trying to salvage what was


    left of the packs, David to had been working closely alongside Reid and I was slowly getting used to


    having him around. Lily seemed to have grown closer to him and I was happy for her. Watching Lily the


    Sometimes I wasn''t sure if Lily was in control all the time, sometimes she would look at me and I swear


    I wasn''t looking in her eyes but that of her wolf. Her eyes never went back to their normal colour


    instead staying that Saphire blue and glowing amber colour.


    Lily has also been sleep walking, which has had me constantly on alert, she never remembers the next


    morning but it doesn''t ease my anxiety for her. Something was off and it made me wonder what exactly


    her futre had in store for her.


    Climbing in bed next to Reid, I snuggled under the nket, his arm wrapping around my waist as he


    tugs me closer, the warmth of his bare chest seeping into my back and warming me as delightful tingles


    and sparks rush over my skin. His scent making me inhale deeply. He rubs my belly with hisrge


    hands in a circr motion and for the first time I feel our bundle move. Reid notices too before lifting his


    head up and looking down at me his hand on my belly waiting to feel it move again. We found out I am


    having a little boy and we have decided to call him Ryker. Reid''s eye light up when Ryker kicks again


    and I giggle at the feeling.


    "Does it hurt?" Reid asks and I shake my head.


    "No, just feels strange" I tell him brushing my fingers through his stubble, he really needs to have


    shave.


    "Not long now" He whispers to my bump before kissing it.


    "What I don''t get a kiss?" I ask and I see his eyes light up before he moves closer his lips brushing


    mine softly, before he kisses me harder deepening the kiss. I roll onto my side facing him and he brings


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    my leg, up to straddle his hip, rubbing himself against my core. I moan at the friction. Reid begins


    attacking my neck, nipping and sucking on my mark making my skin heat up as I am flooded with


    arousal. Pushing him on his back I climb on him, draping my legs over eitherside of his hips, Reid''s


    hands running up my thighs pushing my pyjama''s dress up my legs and his eyes widen slightly when


    he realises I haven''t got on any panties.


    "Hmm no panties" He asks, lifting an eyebrow.


    "They are annoying and getting too tight" I tell him, pouting. Evwerything was getting to tight with my


    growing baby bump another week or so and won''t be able to see my feet. Reid grabs my ass with his


    hands rolling my hips over his harden length beneath me making me moan out. God how I missed this,


    with everything going on we have either been to busy or too tired. Reid sits up leaning against the


    headboard his lips going to my neck as I feel his fingers wrap around my nipple twisting making my


    stomach tighten, I tug at his waistband wanting him to remove his boxer shorts and he lifts himself


    slightly and I help him push them down his legs before he uses his legs to kick them off.


    Reid suddenly wraps his arm around my waist pulling me closer beofre he flips us so he is now


    between my legs hovering over me. He pause for a second while he observes my face, his fingers


    brushing my hair behind me ear befor ehe leans down kissing my lips softly.


    "I love you,babe" He says and I feel my heart tighten at his words and the look in his eye.


    "I love you too" I tell him. That''s when I realise no matter what the future holds for us or for Lily, with


    him by my side I know we can and will get through anything. Reid is my safe ce, Reid is my home.

 Epilogue

    Epilogue


    Lily¡¯s POV


    Nearly 12 yearster


    I watched as my sister chased after the kids. She was an excellent mother, a little overbearing at times


    and always so watchful of everything they did, including me. I couldn¡¯t get anything past her. When she


    had her firstborn, a little boy, they named him Ryker. I could tell her life was moving on for the better.


    When the twins came along, Arial and Lana, I was ten and decided to move back in with my father. Aria


    had enough on her te with running the Pack and looking after the kids.


    I often felt guilty about her being forced to raise me, but at the same time, I¡¯m d she did. I knew I


    Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.


    never would have made it to adulthood without her. My father and I have now built a bond the way it


    should have been in the beginning, although I also ss Reid as my father, giving me two.


    When the twins were born, I felt a little out of ce. Life moved on, yet I stayed the same, only growing


    older. My life has been thrown into chaos since my wolf and I never had a chance to bond, having been


    forced to shift so young.


    For years Aria, my father, and Reid tried to help me learn how to control her, but nothing we did


    worked, and eventually, we gave up trying. When she had control, it was hard taking it back from her.


    My wolf waspletely altered, and I don¡¯t think I will ever be able to let her out willingly. She can¡¯t be


    trusted.


    I knew I was a danger to my nieces and nephew, so I made the decision to leave. It was safer that way.


    Aria and Reid tried to get me to stay, but I couldn¡¯t put that burden and worry on them. Aria thinks she


    owes it to me to fix me, but she doesn¡¯t realise she doesn¡¯t actually owe me anything, if anything, I owe


    her for throwing her life away for me. For everything she has done. I still asionally stay with them.


    Still see them almost daily, I just hate not being at home.


    Most of the wolves of my father¡¯s Pack house are older, and if I lose control, I know they can take me


    down if needed. I won''t risk that here with the kids present. I would never forgive myself if I hurt one of


    them.


    As I walked through the clearing towards where Aria was ying on the swings with the kids, she


    looked up, a smile lighting up her face. I waved heading toward them.


    Ryker, seeing me, jumped off the swing mid-air running towards me despite the panicked look his


    mother gave him. He was eleven now and looked so much like his father with his ck hair and silver


    eyes. The girls had ck curly hair, but their mother¡¯s amber eyes. Ryker threw himself into my arms.


    Catching him, we tumbled backwards onto the grass.


    ¡°Aunty, Aunty,¡± he squealed. I hugged him tight, smelling his hair. He always smelt of cinnamon. Aria


    ¡°Ryker, what have I said about jumping off the swings like that? You could have hurt yourself.¡± Ryker


    rolled his eyes, and I smiled before giving him a wink. He was a wild child, always up to mischief.


    Maybe he gets that from me.


    Aria held her hand out, and I grabbed it, letting her pull me to my feet. She embraced me in a hug


    before holding me at arm¡¯s length, her judging eyes prating as she gave me the once over.


    ¡°You''ve been partying again. You know you need to stop this, you¡¯re about to take over the ck Moon


    Pack. It''s time to grow up, Lily.¡±


    I sighed the same lecture every fucking time. Doesn¡¯t she get sick of giving the same speech?


    ¡°Don¡¯t roll your eyes, you know I¡¯m right. You are about to meet the new Alpha of the Crescent Pack


    today, and you smell like a brewery,¡± she scolded.


    ¡°Fine, I will change, okay?¡± I left out the part that my father, Reid, and I had been in discussion already


    about me standing down. I don¡¯t want the Alpha position. I know with my wolf, I can¡¯t be Alpha. Aria


    doesn¡¯t know this. I think she knows something is up. We have been waiting to let her know, deciding to


    about it.


    ¡°I have already met Alpha Damien, and I don¡¯t care what anyone thinks. My life, my body, I will do what


    I like, Aria,¡± I argued back. She went to say something, but I beat her to it.


    ¡°But if it makes you feel any better, I will change, okay?¡± She looked tired, the kids and I suppose the


    stress of me has caused her many sleepless nights. Yet she still looked the same, no different, never


    aging along with Reid. Even the other Pack members aged slower than most because of the link to her.


    Aria having Vampire and Lycan blood had its advantages. My sister was a pure Hybrid. The secondst


    of her kind, her father was born from an original Vampire and a Lycan, we only found all this out when


    her father came back into her life when I was six, when the Hunters attacked and destroyed everything


    including me.


    As I walked back into the Blood Moon Pack house, I made my way upstairs to Aria¡¯s room on the top


    floor. As I was walking up the stairs, I saw Amber, my best friend and aplice, although I feel Zane


    sometimes wishes I weren¡¯t such a bad influence on his daughter with my wild ways and partying.


    ¡°Lil, are you here for the meeting?¡± She called out to me.


    ¡°Yep,e upstairs with me, Aria wants me to change,¡± I said, rolling my eyes. She walked up the


    stairs a knowing smile on her face, she had also been scolded a few nights before for sneaking inte.


    Her father Zane and the Beta of the Blood Moon Pack gave us a stern talking to, then he rang my


    father like he was going to do anything. I only have to bat myshes and dad was wrapped around my


    finger. I know he doesn¡¯t like punishing me because of my childhood, so why not y on it.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your father?¡± I asked nervously.


    ¡°Probably off with Wendy, doing something,,¡± she said.


    Wendy and Zane both lost their mates in the war with the Hunters. A few yearster we were shocked


    to find out they had been granted second chance mates. Our shock getting stronger when they


    announced they were getting married and were each other¡¯s second chance Mates. Amber was upset


    at first, no one could rece her mother, but Wendy was a great stepmother and helped raise her, so


    eventually, she came to see it as a good thing.


    When we got upstairs to Aria¡¯s room, I walked in not expecting to see Reid getting dressed.


    ¡°Shit sorry Alpha,¡± I said as he was standing only in his ck pants, hispants, his shirt still undone as


    he quickly buttoned it up.


    ¡°All good Lily, you know where her closet is,¡± he said, pointing to it in the corner of the room. Aria must


    have warned him I was on my way up.


    ¡°You¡¯re not gonna scold me, too, are you? Because if you are, I will rock up like this,¡± I said cheekily.


    Reid smiled.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m sure Aria will give you enough shit. Are you ready for today?¡±


    ¡°Yep, just want to get it over with and then bail, you can deal with Aria.¡± I stated.


    ¡°She wille around eventually. What about meeting Alpha Damien? You haven¡¯t seen him in twelve


    years, and I know your father had that falling out with himst year.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s dad''s business, not mine. I don¡¯t care for this Alpha Damien. I will just be d when I don¡¯t have


    to keep going to all these Alpha meetings.¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Amber, get your father to meet me in the boardroom please,¡± he said, walking over and


    kissing my head in a fatherly way. Amber quickly left, obviously feeling awkward with Reid getting


    dressed in front of her. Not that nudity was a big thing with werewolves, and he had pants on so


    besides his masculine chest you couldn¡¯t really see anything.


    ¡°Get ready, the other Alphas will be here soon. I know they won¡¯t like it when they find out that my Pack


    will be bigger than theirs once you hand the Pack over to me, so prepare yourself.¡± He left the room,


    and I walked into the closet.


    One thing I loved was Aria''s sense of style. I was always borrowing her clothes, it annoyed her


    sometimes. I rummaged through and grabbed out a pair of jeans and a shirt before throwing on one of


    her ck leather jackets before putting my sneakers back on. Looking in the mirror, I felt I looked


    decent enough, and no way was I letting Aria dress me, she would have made me wear a dress. But


    looking in the mirror, I looked great. I was tall, not freakishly tall but taller than Aria, my long blonde hair


    falling in waves down my back to my waist, then there were the eyes which is what most people saw


    straight away, I had hoped they would go back to normal. I hated them, people always stared, not that


    they would ever say anything with my father¡¯s presence. Yet, they made me self-conscious, you could


    tell there was something wrong with me, no matter how hard I try to pretend I am okay. I know what


    people call me.


    Unhinged. They aren¡¯t wrong, though. So, I have learnt to ept it. My half amber half sapphire eyes


    staring back at me are a constant reminder of what those sick Basterds did to me.


    ¡°Fuck what anyone thinks,¡± La, my wolf growled in my head. She really was a hard case to crack.


    One minute she almost seems normal, then others she is just a savage, primal and acts out of instinct,


    we still don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with her and our bond.


    ¡°Behave, please don¡¯t embarrass me,¡± I whispered back to her.


    ¡°Behave? You embarrass yourself, got nothing to do with me. Besides, everything will change soon.¡± I


    wondered what she meant, and I could feel her pacing in the back of my mind. She never made any


    sense.


    ¡°Everything will make sense, make sense?¡± She rambled.


    ¡°What will?¡± I asked, annoyed.


    ¡°When we turn eighteen, yep eighteen.¡± Clearly, she didn¡¯t know what she was talking about, so I gave


    up trying to get answers. I walked out heading back downstairs only to run back into Amber, who was


    trying to sneak off with her mate. She found her mate on her sixteenth birthday, I haven¡¯t found mine.


    La and I don¡¯t think we have one because of what happened years ago. I was often jealous that


    everyone else in our grade either found their mates already or had boyfriends. People steered clear of


    me. I¡¯m the unhinged one, the dangerous one, keep your children away parents would say.


    Even if we did have a mate, I would have to reject them. I am not mate material. No one wants a


    broken mate. La didn¡¯t agree, she reckoned our mate would ept us. She also said she will kill me


    if I reject our mate. Like I said, she is unhinged, to kill me; she also kills herself. My wolf one minute is


    lucid, the next batshit crazy. I shake my head at the memory. Amber holds a finger to her lips, and I


    smile as she and Shaun sneak out the back no doubt to let their wolves free in the forest surrounding


    the property.


    I make my way down the stairs when I get hit with the most intoxicating scent. Mmm, someone must be


    baking chocte cookies, my mouth instantly watering. I hear voices off to the sideing from the


    kitchen. I quickly duck around the corner and run for the board room. I can¡¯t afford to bete; I open the


    door, and all eyes turn to me.


    Shit, I am alreadyte. My father has azy smirk on his face like he expected nothing less. Reid didn¡¯t


    even look in my direction at all, he knew I was on my way down. Aria was ring. I shrunk back under


    that gaze before realising I¡¯m also an Alpha technically, so I hold my chin high and walk to my seat,


    ignoring her boring eyes. I notice the Alpha from the Forest Pack is already here, and the Alpha


    Thomas from the Red Moon Pack, but the Crescent Moon Alpha was also runningte. I sat in my seat.


    I hated the Crescent Moon Alpha. I heard he was obnoxious and liked to sleep around. I met him when


    we were rescued from the Hunters and haven''tid eyes on him since. Only heard the rumours about


    how he killed his own father and took over the Pack; apparently, he is ruthless and merciless when it


    I knew he would be pissed when he found out mine and Reid¡¯s Packs were merging, making ours the


    biggest and strongest in the country. I stared at the ceiling waiting for thest Alpha to arrive bored


    already. Only looking up when that intoxicating scent hit my nose again just before the door opened


    and in stepped the Crescent Moon Alpha.


    I must admit he was hot as fuck. He froze, his eyes looking around the room beforending on mine.


    He looked shocked before heposed himself and walked into the room, taking the seat across from


    mine. My wolf was going crazy, trying to take control.


    ¡°Settle the fuck down, what¡¯s gotten into you, La?¡± She didn¡¯t answer and just kept pushing against


    my skin.

 Author Note

    Author Note


    Hey everyone


    Thanks for reading Hybrid Aria the series does continue will list below.


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Alpha''s Unhinged Mate ( COMPLETE)


    Fight Between Alpha''s (COMPLETE)


    Alpha King''s Mate (COMPLETE)


    Avalon City (Complete) Is spin off that interwines with book 3-4


    Also don''t forget to check out my other books,


    Chosen By The Dragon Kings (COMPLETE)


    Fated to the Alpha (Series in ONE book)


    Hope you guys enjoyed it and continue on to the next books, don''t forget to rate andment and


    drop your gems if you have any. xx


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!