Chapter Four

Aria 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 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 to 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 stepped back again before grabbing 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.

 I should go out the back and check on Lily I thought to myself before wandering out to Zoe' s studio, Lily was eating her dinner Zoe had made her Ravioli. 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 Alphas mug he smiled at me and kept watching me, his gaze never left me he followed my every move with fascination. His staring started to make me feel self conscious the look he was giving me was like I was a piece of meat he wanted to devour. What the hell was his problem? I thought to myself.

Marcus came out to speak to me placing his hand on my lower back. I turned to look at him. Over my shoulder I could hear a low growl coming from Alpha Reid, so low I looked at him wondering if I heard it, he was glaring 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 looks like its 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 when it starting pouring down with rain.Just my luck. Placing Lily's bowl in the sink, I then passed Lily to Marcus before taking my jacket off and draping it over Lily so she wouldn't get so wet. Before grabbing her again. She nestled into me. Marcus followed me grabbing his keys, Zoe walked out behind him putting an apron on.

"I'm not letting you walk home in that when its 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 eye's 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 we were both drenched and freezing as I was about to walk up the porch steps, when the Alpha came bursting through the front door growling, he stalked towards me ,quickly placing 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 and feel my skin stretch as it swelled instantly. 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 our land"

"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 the commotion was Alpha David lunged at me ,I managed to jump back at the last 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 menacing it was dark brown with patches of black he was growling, snapping his teeth at me. Advancing on my position he swiped at me with his claws cutting deeply down my rib cage. I clutched at my side blood running down my side soaking my hands,shock forcing me to stumble 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 me "Get inside Ari" getting to my feet, I ran up the stairs and into the pack house. I could hear growling outside. Michael was the only reason I was not dead right now.

Running into my room I slammed the door shut leaning up against it for support. Lily was hiding underneath the blue blanket on the bed, 

"It's okay Lily it's just me" She popped her little head out from underneath the blanket before running at me. she gripped me around the waist sobbing, I flinched at the 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 pain was trickling in, I could feel my fangs coming out looking over at Lily she took a terrified step back making my eyes snap to hers. I could hear her heart pounding, hear the blood pulsating in her veins, I could smell it,the urge to feed threatening to take over my senses.

Quickly opening the door, I raced into the kitchen to where the basement door is. Throwing it open I raced down the stairs so fast and tripped halfway down and somersault down the rest of the way making me groan in pain as I landed on my back. Rolling over I crawled to the back of the basement where different herbs and plants 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 placed the herbs in a bottle of water shaking it 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 working its way through my system 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, I could feel the burn all the way to my stomach making me want to double over and scream.

"How?" I asked my voice sounded strangled and breathless and I couldn't stop coughing.

"We have always known at least all of the original pack members when you joined this pack, I seen 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 almost completely 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 Aria you're still one of us everyone else thinks the same, but Ari you need to get out of here" He stated

"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! and I won't leave her behind" I replied.

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 isn't awoken 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 till it stopped bleeding before placing a water proof dressing over it, it was going to take a good few days before it heals 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 explain yourself. 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 also 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 so very potent. I know wolfsbane can't kill you but them he said pointing at the syringes of gold liquid will put even you on your arse for a while okay and tell Lily not to drink from the bottles"

I looked at him questionably "Its fine I noticed every time you got injured my wolfsbanes supply went down or completely 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 hurt even breathing hurt 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 placing a box of pain killers in my hand. She walked me to my room and watched me and Lily eat the stew it was delicious. I didnt 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 glass of water and pushed the pills into my hand again I quickly swallowed 2 of the little pills, before getting up and placing the jar and bottles of water in the duffle bag after explaining 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 too" I said making sure I spoke clearly, so she understood what I was telling her.

Elizabeth took the bowls and bread plates out before bringing in 2 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 a large clawfoot bathtub and a huge shower with multiple shower heads, the room had grey tiles on the walls and black 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 relax not realising how tense I was, looking down I watched as blood and dirt went down the drain. We showered quickly, washing Lilys hair before getting out. 

The pain killers were starting to kick in 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 and myself, grabbing our toothbrushes we quickly brushed our teeth. I looked at my reflection in the mirror I had a huge black bruise on my jaw and on the other side a black eye. Great now I need to borrow make up 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 in bed it did not take long before the pills knocked me out and I fell into a dreamless sleep.