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 placed 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.” The last 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 to come 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.” Glancing 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.
“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 will come if he tries to challenge Reid.
Walking up the Pack house driveway, I was hit with a sense of déjà vu. The last time I was here, I was running from the place 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 growl coming 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?
Aria’s POV
Watching David, I noticed he didn’t look shocked to see me. I then realised this was his plan all along. I realised I was his bargaining tool, his way to get Reid to comply. 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 collapsed under me. My body felt heavy, I was losing to the pain. For the first time in my life, I welcomed 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 have laughed 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.