“Ari!” Lily squealed excitedly.Brushing her curls out of her face, I bent down and picked her up, placing 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 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 him last night.He said we won’t be leaving because you are his mate and his wolf marked you.”
Shaking my head, I sat back flabbergasted.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 particular, 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 clammy, 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 glare 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 placed my head between my knees, trying to regain control, but just thinking of Wendy and our argument would make it flare 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 black 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 incomplete 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 becoming 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 muscular chest.He looked like he had been carved out of marble.He was dressed very casually compared 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 place 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 slap in the face, only coming 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 to comfort 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 just come 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 accident?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.
Chapter 12
Reid’s POV
Walking in, seeing heron 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.