Aria’s POV
“Do you ever get the feeling that something bad is going to happen?” I asked.
Mia, who was sitting opposite me, glanced at me. “Aria, with everything that’s been happening around us, it’s hard not to feel uneasy. But all we can do is pray to the Moon Goddess for protection.”
We were sitting on the porch of Mia’s house, a bowl of fresh strawberries between us. The morning sun was warm, and the air was thick with the scent of wildflowers from the garden.
Despite the tranquility, there was an underlying tension in the air, especially with everything that was happening.
I picked up a strawberry, rolling it between my fingers before taking a bite. The sweetness was comforting, but my thoughts were far from the taste. “I’m glad we became friends, Mia,” I murmured. “It’s been nice having someone to talk to, especially after… everything.”
Mia smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I’m glad too, Aria. It’s not easy being new in the pack, but you’ve adjusted well. And with Edward in your life now, you have even more reason to stay strong.”
My heart swelled at the mention of my son. Edward was three months old now, and he had brought a sense of normalcy back into my life. But even as I thought of him, that unease crept back in.
“I just can’t stop thinking about all the deaths that have been happening,” I admitted.
Mia’s expression darkened slightly. “Liam’s death was a tragedy,” she said quietly. “He was a good man, loyal to the pack. I went to see his family yesterday. His mate is devastated, Aria. She didn’t even have the strength to speak when I saw her.”
I felt a pang of sorrow at her words. Beta Liam’s death had hit the entire pack hard. I hadn’t even seen Denderick since it happened.
“It’s just… it feels like we’re not safe anymore,” I said finally.
Mia nodded, her gaze distant. “I know. I felt the same way when I lost Jacob.” Her voice cracked slightly as she mentioned her mate’s name. “He was everything to me. And when he finally left me… I didn’t think I’d survive the pain.”
I reached out and squeezed her hand, offering what little comfort I could. “I’m so sorry, Mia. can’t imagine what that must have been like.”
She gave me a sad smile. “It never gets easier, losing someone you love. But you learn to live with the pain, to carry on because you have no other choice.”
We sat in silence for a moment. The only sound that punctuated the quiet was the rustle of leaves in the breeze. I was about to say something more when the porch suddenly darkened with a shadow. Both of us looked up, startled, to see a man standing at the edge of the steps.
The unease I had felt all morning sharpened into a jagged edge of fear. There was something about him that felt wrong, deeply wrong. His presence was heavy, and oppressive, like a storm cloud hanging over us.
“Who are you?” I asked. “What do you want?”
The man’s gaze flicked to me, then back to Mia. “I’m a friend of Mia’s mate,” he said, his voice rough and gravelly.
Mia’s face drained of color. “Jacob?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “But… he never mentioned having a friend.”
The man gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable. “Eric,” he introduced himself, his eyes fixed on Mia. “I came to see you, Mia. There are things we need to discuss, things Jacob wanted me to tell you.”
Mia blinked, clearly overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events. “I… I see,” she stammered, glancing at me. “Aria, would you mind giving us a moment? I’ll come by your house later.”
My gut twisted with unease, but I forced a smile. “Of course. I’ll see you later, Mia.”
I got up slowly, every instinct screaming at me to stay, to not leave her alone with this man. But I didn’t want to intrude, especially not when it came to something so personal.
Who was this Eric, and why had he shown up so suddenly? A friend of Mia’s mate? I didn’t think so. The story didn’t add up, and the more I thought about it, the more certain I became that something was wrong.
I reached the door of my house and hesitated, my hand resting on the doorknob. The feeling of dread was so strong now that it was almost suffocating. I couldn’t ignore it.
Something wasn’t right.
I turned back towards Mia’s house, my heart thundering against my chest. As I rounded the corner, the sight that met my eyes made my blood run cold.
Mia was struggling in the man’s grip, her face twisted in terror. And then, before I could even scream, I saw him pull out a knife and drive it into Mia’s stomach, her pregnant stomach.
“No!” The scream tore from my throat, but it was too late. I watched in horror as Mia collapsed to the ground, blood pooling around her.
Something inside me snapped. My hands suddenly began to glow with a strange, blue light. I didn’t know what was happening, but I didn’t care. All I knew was that I had to save her.
I ran forward, the light in my hands growing brighter as I closed the distance. The man looked up, his expression one of surprise, but before he could react, I thrust my hands towards him. The blue light shot forward, hitting him with a force that sent him crashing into a nearby tree.
However, the man was relentless. Even before I could take any step towards my bleeding, dying friend, he was already getting to his feet.
“Out of the way, woman!” He roared. “I am not here for you!”
I had an inkling that this man was wrong. Who could kind and gentle Mia have offended to warrant such an attack?
“Stay away from my friend!” I shrieked, inching towards Mia. I dropped to my knees beside her and grabbed her hand.
“Stay with me, Mia.” I urged. “I will mind linking Denderick to send help now.”
Mia opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a pitiful whimper.
The burly man was bounding towards us again. This time, I was ready for him. I had no idea where this newfound power had come from, but with a roar, I used It to blast him across the yard.
I didn’t stop to see if he was still breathing. I turned back to Mia, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood. “Mia, please, hold on!” I cried, my voice breaking as I pressed my hands to her wound.
But it was no use. Life was already leaving her eyes.
“Mia, please!” I sobbed, my tears falling onto her pale face. “Don’t leave me! Please, Mia!”
But she was already gone.
Slowly I rocked back and forth, clutching her lifeless body, the grief consuming me. I had failed her. I had failed to protect her.
Suddenly, I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I turned, my heart lurching in fear, to see the burly man back on his feet, his eyes filled with cold rage.
And before I could react, he raised his hand and smacked me across the head with such force that I crumpled to the ground.
And everything went black.