ARIA'S POV “My lady,” Sophia whined. “You'll be late for your training.” I tossed. “Just five minutes more.” I said to her and turned to find a more comfortable position. “That was exactly what you said 30 minutes ago.” She grumbled. “Master Caden will be pissed if he comes in here and sees that you're not ready.” I hmmed her. My entire body was aching me. I know I'd been fired up to continue the trainings with Dylan yesterday, but now I wasn't so sure I would survive another day. “Just five minutes, Sophia.” And in a bid to extend my time, I asked her another question in the hopes that she wouldn't notice. “Have you prepared the bath water?” “My Lady!” She groaned. “The water has been changed three times because you like it three times.” “Oh my god, Sophia. You wouldn't just relent.” I groaned and rolled off the bed. She smiled sheepishly. “That's exactly why you love me my Lady.” She said and I rolled my eyes. I was late. I knew. Dylan would throw all the tantrums in the wo
ARIA'S POVI was dried up, but still very much energized. I really had powers. Training was not yet over. I really wanted it to be over so I would return to the manor and celebrate. I needed to. “Are you done resting?” Dylan asked. Caden had already returned to his duties. I nodded. “That's good, cause we still have to continue.” He said, standing up and motioning for us to go into the forest. “From what I've gathered, we still have a lot of work to do. And because we don't know what your powers are, we have to try out almost all the things.” I was confused. “Can't we just focus on the water for now?” I asked. He shook his head. “I'm using Paria's template for you, Aria. She was good with the water and she was also good with the sword. So I need to confirm if that's the same thing for you so we can know where to actually concentrate more on.” This was the longest Dylan had said to me since the beginning of the training. I nodded in understanding and together, we made our way
ARIA'S POVThe whispers had not stopped at all. Not one bit. Tongues had been wagging and I could sense the fear among the servants.Some of them were bold enough to make their whispers louder than normal. Some of them no longer looked me in the eyes.I was on my way to the dining hall to have breakfast when I passed by a guard.He bowed. But his bow was not one of deference. He was wary. The maids hovered round the room but immediately dispersed the moment they sighted me.I felt all alone. Even Maria who'd look at me, without bringing her eyes down hurriedly scurried out after serving breakfast.Caden had left the manor in a hurry, saying something in the sense that he needed to work on something at the pack.And so, I was all alone in the dining room.I looked up at Sophia. “Did…did I wake up with horns on my head?”She smiled. “No, my lady. It's just that they're a lot terrified.”I paused. The teacup mid way into my mouth. “How did they know?”She giggled. “News travels fast
ARIA'S POVThe world felt thinner lately.The news had filtered to me. Caden's position as the leader of the pack was being threatened all because of me. I felt really guilty. Sophia had said that the elders had been dissatisfied with Caden's performance in the pack for a while and were just using me as a font to push him out. I'd also heard that he had stood his ground. According to the news that had gotten to me, Caden had said that he wasn't going to choose between his Luna and his pack. I couldn’t sleep.Not when Caden's position felt threatened in the pack. “Are you sure you can stay alone, my lady?” Sophia asked and I nodded. “I can.” I tried to reassure her. But could I? Not really.“Goodnight, my lady.” Sophia said bowing slightly before leaving the room. The night was going to be a long one, and I wasn't sure I had the mental capacity to stand it. ****I couldn't sleep. Everytime I closed my eyes, I saw them. The crying voices, the severed heads and the bloodied bodi
ARIA'S POV“Am I supposed to pack this as well?” Sophia asked with a slight frown. I knew I was putting her through a lot of stress but somehow I couldn't help it.We were going back to the pack I'd been humiliated almost all my life. And when I meant “we,” I meant Caden, Sophia and I.Sophia was still an option. I didn't know if we had space in the carriage to contain her.I sighed. “I think we should carry it as well.”It was going to be hard to make a choice on all the elegant dresses, Caden had gotten for me.And somehow, to be truthful, I wasn't in a fix on what type of dress to actually choose. I wanted them to know that the Aria Stonemore who had left, humiliated by almost all the pack, laughed at by the visitors who had come far and wide as a result of Alpha Talon's humiliation and the Aria Stonemore who had returned were completely different persons.I hadn't gained all of my self confidence but at the same time, I wasn't that awkward young girl who had been bullied by master
ARIA'S POV“They're here.” I said to no one in particular but it was too late. We were already surrounded.I knew my guts had been correct. They had been trying to test us, to see all the manpower we had and we had given them just that.And now? Now we had nothing to use as leverage.A masked man, one who I supposed was their leader, stepped forward. “We see you are still just as stubborn, Aria.” He said. His voice was disguised and his smell was tainted with something I couldn't place. Somehow, he still smelt familiar.“What do you want?” Caden asked. His voice was strong, devoid of fear.“You have been ignoring all the warnings that have been given to you in times past.” The leader continued, totally ignoring Caden and facing me.He waved his hands and his men advanced. The carriage door had been locked from the inside, but we knew that it was just a matter of time till they got to us.“Do you trust me?” Caden asked, his eyes looking into mine.I nodded, unsure of what to say. Of co
The carriage screeched to a stop as we stopped in front of the manor. The gruelling two day journey had finally come to an end.I looked at the manor that had served as my humiliation ground, as the not so nice memories came to my forefront. I rubbed my arms together for warmth. Not to act unbothered, but I was very worried.How were they going to welcome me?With open arms or with scorned eyes?I couldn't tell.Caden glanced at me. “Are you ready?”He was much better than he had been the previous day. “You know you have me here.” He continued and I nodded. If I was a bit confused before, I wasn't anymore.He got out of his side, came down to open my own part of the door.We had stopped at the entrance of the village, to avoid the attention of some nosy pack members.Sophia came down, carrying my bag and hers, and together we walked to the gate.The gate looked the same.But I was not the same. I was not the same Aria Stonemore who had left, clothes torn and humiliated before almos
Aria's POVIt was back again, the dream, it was as vivid as ever. I could see flames licking the shadows of those trying to put it out and there was that overwhelming scent of smoke and iron that engulfed me where I was rooted.I was always standing helplessly, not offering help or getting help. The helplessness clawed at my chest as my pulse raced, I tried reaching out as always, a struggle to move and just be close to them. To help them in my little way but slowly their faces, my parents blurred out before me as their terrifying sharp scream plunged and twisted my heart in pain. It hurts! Then the struggle to do something became intense as I shouted at the top of my voice then I heard it, loud and clear in my head…I was brought back to reality by the piercing sound from the metal gong alarm, I jolted upright with my heart pounding as I gasped for air in my small cramped frigid room. I was sweating profusely as the familiar shiver of disappointment hit and washed over me as I looked
The carriage screeched to a stop as we stopped in front of the manor. The gruelling two day journey had finally come to an end.I looked at the manor that had served as my humiliation ground, as the not so nice memories came to my forefront. I rubbed my arms together for warmth. Not to act unbothered, but I was very worried.How were they going to welcome me?With open arms or with scorned eyes?I couldn't tell.Caden glanced at me. “Are you ready?”He was much better than he had been the previous day. “You know you have me here.” He continued and I nodded. If I was a bit confused before, I wasn't anymore.He got out of his side, came down to open my own part of the door.We had stopped at the entrance of the village, to avoid the attention of some nosy pack members.Sophia came down, carrying my bag and hers, and together we walked to the gate.The gate looked the same.But I was not the same. I was not the same Aria Stonemore who had left, clothes torn and humiliated before almos
ARIA'S POV“They're here.” I said to no one in particular but it was too late. We were already surrounded.I knew my guts had been correct. They had been trying to test us, to see all the manpower we had and we had given them just that.And now? Now we had nothing to use as leverage.A masked man, one who I supposed was their leader, stepped forward. “We see you are still just as stubborn, Aria.” He said. His voice was disguised and his smell was tainted with something I couldn't place. Somehow, he still smelt familiar.“What do you want?” Caden asked. His voice was strong, devoid of fear.“You have been ignoring all the warnings that have been given to you in times past.” The leader continued, totally ignoring Caden and facing me.He waved his hands and his men advanced. The carriage door had been locked from the inside, but we knew that it was just a matter of time till they got to us.“Do you trust me?” Caden asked, his eyes looking into mine.I nodded, unsure of what to say. Of co
ARIA'S POV“Am I supposed to pack this as well?” Sophia asked with a slight frown. I knew I was putting her through a lot of stress but somehow I couldn't help it.We were going back to the pack I'd been humiliated almost all my life. And when I meant “we,” I meant Caden, Sophia and I.Sophia was still an option. I didn't know if we had space in the carriage to contain her.I sighed. “I think we should carry it as well.”It was going to be hard to make a choice on all the elegant dresses, Caden had gotten for me.And somehow, to be truthful, I wasn't in a fix on what type of dress to actually choose. I wanted them to know that the Aria Stonemore who had left, humiliated by almost all the pack, laughed at by the visitors who had come far and wide as a result of Alpha Talon's humiliation and the Aria Stonemore who had returned were completely different persons.I hadn't gained all of my self confidence but at the same time, I wasn't that awkward young girl who had been bullied by master
ARIA'S POVThe world felt thinner lately.The news had filtered to me. Caden's position as the leader of the pack was being threatened all because of me. I felt really guilty. Sophia had said that the elders had been dissatisfied with Caden's performance in the pack for a while and were just using me as a font to push him out. I'd also heard that he had stood his ground. According to the news that had gotten to me, Caden had said that he wasn't going to choose between his Luna and his pack. I couldn’t sleep.Not when Caden's position felt threatened in the pack. “Are you sure you can stay alone, my lady?” Sophia asked and I nodded. “I can.” I tried to reassure her. But could I? Not really.“Goodnight, my lady.” Sophia said bowing slightly before leaving the room. The night was going to be a long one, and I wasn't sure I had the mental capacity to stand it. ****I couldn't sleep. Everytime I closed my eyes, I saw them. The crying voices, the severed heads and the bloodied bodi
ARIA'S POVThe whispers had not stopped at all. Not one bit. Tongues had been wagging and I could sense the fear among the servants.Some of them were bold enough to make their whispers louder than normal. Some of them no longer looked me in the eyes.I was on my way to the dining hall to have breakfast when I passed by a guard.He bowed. But his bow was not one of deference. He was wary. The maids hovered round the room but immediately dispersed the moment they sighted me.I felt all alone. Even Maria who'd look at me, without bringing her eyes down hurriedly scurried out after serving breakfast.Caden had left the manor in a hurry, saying something in the sense that he needed to work on something at the pack.And so, I was all alone in the dining room.I looked up at Sophia. “Did…did I wake up with horns on my head?”She smiled. “No, my lady. It's just that they're a lot terrified.”I paused. The teacup mid way into my mouth. “How did they know?”She giggled. “News travels fast
ARIA'S POVI was dried up, but still very much energized. I really had powers. Training was not yet over. I really wanted it to be over so I would return to the manor and celebrate. I needed to. “Are you done resting?” Dylan asked. Caden had already returned to his duties. I nodded. “That's good, cause we still have to continue.” He said, standing up and motioning for us to go into the forest. “From what I've gathered, we still have a lot of work to do. And because we don't know what your powers are, we have to try out almost all the things.” I was confused. “Can't we just focus on the water for now?” I asked. He shook his head. “I'm using Paria's template for you, Aria. She was good with the water and she was also good with the sword. So I need to confirm if that's the same thing for you so we can know where to actually concentrate more on.” This was the longest Dylan had said to me since the beginning of the training. I nodded in understanding and together, we made our way
ARIA'S POV “My lady,” Sophia whined. “You'll be late for your training.” I tossed. “Just five minutes more.” I said to her and turned to find a more comfortable position. “That was exactly what you said 30 minutes ago.” She grumbled. “Master Caden will be pissed if he comes in here and sees that you're not ready.” I hmmed her. My entire body was aching me. I know I'd been fired up to continue the trainings with Dylan yesterday, but now I wasn't so sure I would survive another day. “Just five minutes, Sophia.” And in a bid to extend my time, I asked her another question in the hopes that she wouldn't notice. “Have you prepared the bath water?” “My Lady!” She groaned. “The water has been changed three times because you like it three times.” “Oh my god, Sophia. You wouldn't just relent.” I groaned and rolled off the bed. She smiled sheepishly. “That's exactly why you love me my Lady.” She said and I rolled my eyes. I was late. I knew. Dylan would throw all the tantrums in the wo
ARIA'S POVThe time was here. If I was going to beat the enemy camp then I needed to discover my powers and train myself. This wasn't going to be a child's play. Processes had been put in place to train me. For instance, I was going to meet with the best swordmaster of the pack, Dylan. I would have actually preferred Caden to teach me but he was held up in his duties and without saying it, we both knew time was no longer on my side. The nightmares had not stopped, neither had they reduced. Instead, Paria's sorrowful face was etched in my face like a fingerprint and I couldn't forget the marks on the creature's body. But I'd decided to move on. I'd moved back into the main part of the manor but had still not started going outside. The servants whispering had not stopped. The ones that came in contact with me, refused to meet my gaze, just doing whatever thing that brought them there and leaving almost immediately. Sophia was the only one who managed to stay in the room with me,
ARIA'S POV I’d made up my mind. I was going to leave. No, I wasn't going to run away. I needed to leave to know about my history. I was tired of being lied to. Tired of second-guessing every choice I made like they weren't the right choices. I had retired to my room and was pacing, confused on how to actually break the news to Caden. He would be devastated, but I couldn't help it. I really had to leave. From my quarters, I heard Damian say something and I guessed that Caden had come back. I mustered my brightest smile and plastered it on my face. “You're back!” I said a little too cheerfully when the doors opened. Caden was indeed back, but his countenance was not smiling. His shoulders were sagged and he walked like the whole world was resting on his shoulders. “What happened?” I asked as I led him to the bed. He looked at me, his eyes cloudy. “ The guards found a body.” his eyes were cloudy. “The creature’s” I gasped. It was as if a force had pushed me down and I found mys