A dark secret revealed

Aria's pov 

The music screeched to a halt and the room fell silent as everyone's eyes were glued on me. I felt my face breaking every inch of sweat as their gaze bore a hole in me, my face burning with shame.

Flashback: an hour earlier...

Lena's microphone shrieked, drawing everyone’s attention. Their heads swiveld towards her  “we’ve all heard of a tale about a child who was cast to die in the forest for the sake of the land's peace.” She paused gripping the interest of everyone.

 It was a popular story that everyone knew, some had doubted it and others believed. One thing was certain; everyone was attuned and enthralled.

I stood paralysied In horror. A sense dread washing over me alongside every negative feelings. My heart dropped again sending a sharp pain to my chest. Then and there, I knew there was no redeeming what has been done.

“That cursed child, destined to die is…Aria” she announced and the crowd went wild. 

People gasped at the revelation, some began muttering, disbelief and doubt etched every face

Lena's smile glimed with Malice “You don't believe me? We’ll see this…” Lena said as she strode confidently towards me, her heels clicking rhythmically as she reached my side.

I was still standing speechless when she got closer to me. With a vicious tear, Lena ripped my gown, exposing the scar that marred my skin - a grim reminder of the sacrifice I had narrowly escaped as a baby.

A collective gasp echoed through the hallway and mom grapped Lena's hands with force. 

“Lena, stop it.

End of flashback…

 I felt mom’s anger radiating beside me. She lashed out on Lena “What the hell are you doing Lena? You have no right to tell everyone about this. We all swore Never to let it out. How could you stoop so low?”  She bellowed, deviating people's attention as she was raging mad.

Lena's expression remained menacing as she smacked her lips, proudly to herself.

“Can you all see what I'm talking about?” Lena smirked, unremorseful.

Amidst all these, I still wondered where Ryder was.

I turned to him expecting him to intervene, to stand up for me, to be there for me. But to my surprise, he was nowhere to be seen. “Where is he?” I mentally asked.as  I frantically scanned the hall for him.

“Why would you cause a commotion on your sister's 20th birthday? Don't you have no shame at all Lena? Have your jealousy clouded your head that you don't want to see your sister ever happy. I raised you better than this” mom let out furiously, genuinely disappointed in Lena's action.

The place fell quiet except for the murmuring of people. “I did the right thing mom. If I hadn't told everyone about Aria's curse they would all be in darkness and let this whole pack crumble. I don't want that to happen, that's why I had to tell the truth . Aria will never be my sister, “ Lena retorted without remorse.

Then the crowd began whispering “Is she really that dangerous?” I heard a lady beside me uttering. 

“I guess. No wonder everyone was against her love with the Alpha's son” another replied with a scoff.

“I see why she's always desperately clinging to Ryder. She wants to rub off her abominable self to him and infect the rest of us… pathetic” another remarked, her voice laced in disgust. My heart began pounding loudly and my breathing quickened. 

“I heard she killed her father because of the curse. Isn't that why people here called her an outcast?” The murmuring continued.

I felt everyone's eyes on me making me nervous to the point my whole body began trembling in fear.

“Lena, come here. You have done enough already. Let's go immediately ” mother demanded, trying to get everyone's attention once again. But it was too late. They all knew, a secret that I have tried to keep my whole life has been exposed by someone I trusted with my life. Feeling betrayed was an understatement.

I raise my head, looking directly at Lena and where she stood. “Lena why?” I uttered inaudibly.

“Oh you want to know why? Because you took everything away from me” she bellowed.

“What?” I was confused and surprised at her outburst.

“Yeah you heard me right. You Aria , you took everything away from me. My mother, my father and now I'm here to take back everything you stole” she continued. Everyone's eyes were now on her and some slowly turned to me giving me a disappointed look, shaking their heads too.

“I don't understand what you're talking about?” my voice croaked,coming above the whisper. immediately, Ryder snatched the microphone from her, making her move backwards and He stood where Lena previously was, placing his hands on his pocket.

“That's enough,” he ordered. “As you all know, I am Ryder Darkhaven, the son of the Blackwood pack. And I have invited you all to celebrate my girlfriend’s 20th birthday” he paused, directing his attention to me. A relieved feeling crept in me, and I trusted him to take hold of the situation, but something about his expression tells a difference story

It wasn't as comforting as it used to be but I couldn't place my finger on it.

“what Lena did today was very stupid of her and I'll like to correct that. Aria has a curse. This curse was placed on her since birth and once anyone comes in contact with her will either have evil befallen on them or something much worse” at his words, murmurs arose again. I thought he wanted to clear the air but he was making it much worse. My breath was cut shut immediately, my chest rising and falling.

My heart was now pounding again in my chest, my eyes were flowing rivers of water And my head began aching hard. I felt helpless in this situation.  I can't do anything, why am I this weak? Why can't I stand up for myself even once? Why is this curse an obstacle to my life? I lamented tearing up even more like a complete fool.

“With that being said. As the next Alpha of the Blackwood pack,I hereby reject Aria Smith as my mate and I would no longer want to have anything to do with her. Considering she's a curse, she'll only bring destruction to the pack, it's only right to let her go” Ryder concluded before dropping the microphone, existing.

The whole place fell silent again and the sound of my heart beat increased.  I stood frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Ryder broke up with me. No, he didn't break up, he rejected me because of my curse. 

 It was as if time had slowed down and everyone was going in slow motion. I tried to comprehend all that happened; first, Lena slept with my boyfriend, then she exposed my biggest secret and now my boyfriend just broke up with me all In One night…. 

  I lifted up My chin to Lena, a smug look on her face as she began walking up to me with her arms crossed. Her heels clicking as she strides 

“I want you to know how it feels, Aria. To be abandoned by someone you truly love. You should have stayed out of our lives Aria” she spat. 

I tried to speak but my voice was nearly heard “I never did anything wrong…” but was cut short by an ear deafening slap from Lena making Everyone gasp.

“You did everything to me!!” She barked at me while I held my face where she had just hit. “You did everything.. Aria I wished you were never born. I wish dad had just left you to die with your curse!!’ she continued to yell while I lowered my head as she kept on ranting.

“That's enough” The Alpha’s Beta spoke up. “Lena, please step away from her. We need to speak on behalf of the Alpha” he said, blocking her path. Lena gave me a death stare before walking away.

The beta stood in front of me, squinting his eyes before saying “you're requested to go to the prison by the Alpha” he said, making my pupils grow out.

“What why?” 

“Your presence is disturbing, and if what they all claim you to be becomes true, we have no choice but to eradicate you. We can't have a threat in the pack” he said leaning back and ordering a guard to come take me away.

I tried struggling when the guard held my hands, but their grip was too strong and their hands were embedding into my skin.

“You can't take me away. I am innocent.” I yelled “Ryder.. Ryder!!” I yelled for My boyfriend but he turned back towards me.

At the moment, I felt betrayed. It struck me like a hard blow in the guts. Ryder never cared for me. “All these while, he never felt anything for me” I said while giving up on the struggles.

Lena kept smirking and at the moment stood again as they dragged me away.

“No!” I said suddenly raising my head “I can't leave Ryder. We've been together for two years. This must be some mistake” I said, struggling to free myself from their hold. Finally I was able to break out of their grip and dashed towards Ryder. I didn't care if people were watching nor did I care if I was making a fool out of myself. All I knew was, I'm never going to give up on the love I had Ryder.

As my feet ran swiftly towards Ryder, just inches away from him I felt someone dragged my dress making it rip. As I was about to fall, the person yanked me up again and turned forcefully to her, that's when I noticed her hands again coming to strike me with another Slap. I closed my eyes waiting for the slap but it never came.

My eyes were still closed, bracing for the impact, but instead, I heard a low growl. It sounded so intimidating that I shut my eyes. However a scent began enveloping me. A familiar scent I had once perceived.

It was a very rich scent and intoxicating all at the same time. And suddenly, I felt my wolf howling inside of me.

“Don't do anything you'd regret,” the voice commanded. I peeked through my eyelashes and saw him. The same man I had collided with was there holding Lena's hands in mid air. But what was even surprising was how my wolf was becoming restless. Suddenly a realisation hit me. Bewildered I said. “No, could he be…?”