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 plans. 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 becoming 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, landing 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 Black 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 slammed 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 black 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 playing. 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 playing 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 porcelain 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 playing. Just as Lily was about to go back and play, 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 plastered the fakest smile I could muster.
“Everything okay, Aria? I thought I heard yelling.”
“Yes, everything is fine, we are just playing hide and seek,” I lied.
Wendy smiled politely, believing my lame-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 plastic over the top of it. The carpet was thick and black, 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 the last 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.