Alpha Elijah’s POVI didn’t really want to leave Ryan alone but there were more pressing matters. I needed to see if Kyle really was in the Fae world or if we had jumped to conclusions.The main hall was filled with dancers and the melodic charm of Fae music but it didn’t take my attention away from the smell, it was getting worse. I had scented it last time I was here but it seemed like the Fae were oblivious to it and I had decided to keep my mouth shut. Today though, it seemed extra pungent, but I had no idea what it was.Casting my eyes across the room, I couldn’t spot her anywhere. Aria would have been easy to see, the majority of the Fae had some shade of blonde hair whilst hers was dark. She wasn’t here and I let out the breath I had been holding, at least she wasn’t taking part in their weird rituals.Heading out to the stairs, I run into Chepi. Her eyes are wide and they looked tearful. Not something I was used to seeing in Fae.“Is Aria upstairs in her room?”She shakes her
Aria’s POV“I don’t understand. Where are we going?” “You will see soon my dear.”My arm was linked with Alwins', his hand pressed against mine. When I went up to see him, I was expecting the worst. Kyle had clearly run straight to him but Alwin had been sat on a plush gold sofa waiting for me with that irritatingly beautiful smile of his.“I want you to come on an errand with me!” He had continued to smile at me, no mention of Kyle, yet that rotten flesh smell, it was overwhelmingly powerful in his room.I repeat my question; not only was his hand resting on mine but I had been blindfolded. He had told me that it was a surprise. I didn’t really like surprises, it felt like a trick and I knew I had to keep my guard up. Keep myself prepared for whatever he was planning.I knew we were outside, the cold air dancing across my skin as we walked. The music that was once loud had fallen quiet“I see your wounds have not fully healed.” His words were barely a whisper and I feel the hairs on
Ryan’s POVFuck! Fuck! Fuck!Her father, he had known about this and Alwin had known about Aria all along. Her father had done everything he could to keep her safe, including making me vow to protect her. Everything was just so fucked up, I wish Aria’s father had just told me the truth. All the bits with Seren wouldn't have happened. I most likely wouldn't have killed her parents. We could have been happy! I was so fucking stupid!“This has always been the plan!” I shake my head at Simon “I had been so caught up in this plan of making Aria mine that I failed her entirely. I missed the most important thing.”“I take it you’ve come up with something then?” He takes his feet off the desk and folds his arms across his chest.“Alwin has had this in place for years, it’s just been a huge benefit to him that Aria is mated to Elijah as well as me. It made it easier to trap her.”“Elijah will find her!”“What if he doesn’t, what if Alwins plan involves taking us down completely? Her wolf is po
Alpha Elijah’s POV“WOW!”I turn to look at Chepi who was busy spinning in circles, her face tilted up towards the dark sky and her eyes closed.“You’ve really never been outside?!”“He never allowed it, but this. I just can’t believe that I have been missing out on this for so long.”The house was surrounded by hills, like it sat in a valley. From far away it would make the house look tiny but that was far from the truth. The house had many floors, dieen spaces everywhere and I was certain it was bigger on the inside than what it appeared to be from the outside.The smell of rotting bodies was just as strong out here. Almost eye wateringly strong but at the same time I could still scent Aria, but only a little.“This way." I let the mate bond lead me, pulling Chepi along with me. She was in awe of everything around her. Her eyes constantly focussing on the starlit sky. This was nothing, here it was always like this, the sun never shone. It was constant darkness, another way for Alwin
Aria’s POVOpening my eyes, something didn’t look right. It took me a moment to realise that I am upside down, my head bobbing inches from the grass. A hand is clasped around my ankles and my hands are bound behind my back.The cream shirt I was weraring was drenched in blood. My own I assume and as I look at the grass and see a trail of red droplets following us. My wounds had opened up again, it explained why I felt so spaced out and off.Willing myself to shift, nothing happens and instead I am left with the dull throb in my head. How long had I been upside down?I’m sure I heard Ryan speak back to me. Had he or had I imagined it? He had no idea where I was anyway. Elijah couldn't hear me either, I was on my own.“Care to know where you are going?”I hadn’t spoken so how did he know I was awake? Again, I choose to keep my mouth shut, it was better for him to think that I was out of it. Alwin suddenly drops me to the ground. My neck cracked as I hit the floor head first sending a s
Ryan’s POVAfter telling Elijah everything, we agreed to split into two parties, it would make searching for her easier. Simon came with me so he could pass messages back and forth between us if needed, letting one another know if she had been found. I’m not sure what Elijah’s plan was but I was following my nose.It was the first time I had ever scented her, if it was her. So I was taking a huge risk in believing it was Aria, but there had to be a reason why I could suddenly scent her.“How can you be sure Aria is what you are smelling?” Simon questions me as we move.“Gut instinct!”“What if it is someone else that you are mated too?”“It’s not.” I was certain of it, it had to be Aria. It didn’t make sense for it to be anyone else but I was still confused as to why I could suddenly scent her.We moved through the darkness and I glance at the watch on my wrist. It was reading 2:20pm so how was it night here.Like he knew what he was thinking, Simon whispers, reminding me that time wa
Alpha Elijah’s POVI hated what I was seeing, the way she was curled up in his arms, the way her lips were locked onto his wrist as she fed but I knew that right now, he was the only one that could help her. My blood was not enough, me holding her wouldn’t have been enough. She may hate him, but Ryan was saving her.I didn’t disagree when Ryan said he was taking her home. It wasn’t safe for Aria here and I had no idea what was about to happen. All I know is that Alwin would pay for this. I would make sure of that.My pack doctor links me to tell me that he has Aria. At least Ryan had kept to what I had asked him. She was in my pack and hopefully that would be enough to keep her safe.“What do you want us to do Alpha?” Simon glances from where Aria had been laid to look at me. He was calling me Alpha. That wasn’t a good sign. He was afraid of something, it wasn’t like him. Simon was so confident but we were about to fight the unknown.Chepi just looks at me with wide eyes. She had bee
Alpha Elijah’s POVAlwin starts to laugh, pressing his own neck against the knife Chepi held until it was cutting into his throat. Any deeper and he wouldn’t be able to tell me anything.“What did you do to her?” He must know that he is out of time, that he cannot escape this.His lips curve up as he smiles at me. He somehow swings out of Chepi’s grip, reversing the pose so that the blade is now pressed against her throat. He wipes his own blood away with his free hand.“Dearest daughter. I thought better of you. But it appears that I have only one faithful child, one child who is loyal no matter what.”He rips the blade across her throat, splitting her skin and causing her blood to spurt everywhere. It takes Chepi a moment to realise what is happening. Her hands frantically grabbing her throat, her eyes search mine but the light quickly dims as her body falls to the floor. He had killed his daughter without hesitating. Dropping the blade, he spits on his daughter.“You won’t find he