Chapter 005: No Way Out
1452 Words
Aria’s POV
“You’re lying.”
My voice faltered as I scowled at Selene, her pointed smile cutting across the poorly lit space. My heart hammered so fiercely it muffled all else.
This isn't related to anything this delicious.
I staggered back, hand defensively protecting my tummy. Pregnant. Twin brothers. Twin of Kieran. How had I not noticed the signals? I was experiencing nausea, fatigue, and an unusual attraction to the moonlight.
Selene's gaze darted towards my stomach, and her smile got bigger. "He will visit you, you know. Charging in like the hero he presents, the great evil Alpha is.
I inhaled sharply. You will not live if he finds out.
Her piercing, chilly laughter permeated the room. Oh, sweetheart, I depend on him learning. That's the interesting thing.
The door let forth a blast.
Draven came running in, dark eyes fixed on me: enough games, Selene.
Selene pouted. "You're no fun, brother."
Heart pounding, I moved back. Brother...do you wish??"
Draven grinned, sluggish and hazardous. "It's not about what Aria wants. It relates to what Kieran is ready to give up.
The buzz on my phone was constant.
I stopped. Kieran’s eyes turned to my pocket, but Selene moved faster. She grabbed it and then looked at the screen.
Her smile changed to become evil. Actually, well. Talk of the devil.
Pushing the speaker button, she responded.
She pounced, "Kieran." "Miss me?"
His voice was frozen. "Where is she??"
I gasped in a sucking motion. "Kieran! Never "Aria." His voice changed, but the edge of panic stayed. "Are you injured?" Selene clapped her hands. "Aw, how lovely. Sadly, her safety rests totally on your shoulders.
The phone let Kieran's snarl resound. "Should you come into touch with her?"
"Enough!” Kieran snapped and grabbed the phone. "Listen carefully, Alpha. You are faced with two decisions. Surrender your pack and your title, then Aria walks free. Two: Fight; you lose your unborn heirs as well as her.
Quietness.
As my heart crashed into my ribs, the air thickened.
Kieran knew nothing. About the twins, he was ignorant.
His voice when he spoke was lethally calm. You believe I will turn over everything? For what? An oath given by a liar?
The lips of Kieran closed. "Choose, Kieran," he said. Your deadline is midnight.
The queue passed dead.
Quiet lingered like a thundercloud, groaned, and set aside my phone. "Men". Usually so dramatic.
My thoughts spun, late at night. That gave me hours, hardly enough time to flee.
I locked eyes with Kieran coldly. "You never won."
He moved forward, his voice low and lethal. "I already have."
He would have undervalued me, nevertheless.
I moved right away as soon as they left the room. Heart thumping, I slid towards the window and pushed my fingers up against it. Moonlight painted my skin, and warmth sprang from within—my newly acquired walking power.
Moonless blessed.
The abrupt death of Caleb made sense. Just like me, he had been hunted. As we were threatening.
And I left hunting behind me.
I had to let Kieran know.
Taking hold of my phone, I wrote rapidly: "Don't come. She is caught in a trap. Twinned. Ask Kieran, please. Put yourself first.
The scent message.
Two seconds later, the read receipt showed up.
My pulse tightened. He knew now.
Still, the response caused my breath to stop.
I'm already here.
The burst shook the structure.
The walls shook and the lights flickered.
The corridor echoed Selene's cry. " What the hell was that?"
Then Kieran let forth a ferocious yell. "Kieran."
My heart flew. He had not listened. He arrived here.
Steps on my path towards my home. I stiffened myself, and adrenaline coursed through my body.
The lock made a clicking sound.
The door burst open.
Kieran stood there, wild-eyed, laboring heavily.
"Aria,"
Tears blinding my vision, I pushed myself into his arms. "Your person with intellectual disabilities! I urge you not to show up!
His arms drew tightly around me. Like I would have never left you.
His hand slipped to my stomach and his eyes became wide. "Twins?"
I nodded while sobbing and choked.
His jaw tightened. We're leaving this place. These days.
Freedom was not, however, that simple.
At the end of the passage, they emerged accompanied by guards.
"You really thought you could steal my prize?" he snorted.
Kieran, eyes burning, pushed me behind him. " Touch her, and I'll kill you."
Grinning, Selene stepped next to her brother. "Kill us?" For what army?
Kieran gave a coldly subdued smile. "Who claimed I arrived by myself?"
Once more, the structure shook. From the shadows, Damon and the pack sprang out, fangs bared and eyes shining.
Damon scowled and said, "Stand down. We rip this place up, too.
The visage of Kieran twisted with fury. "Kieran, you will regret this."
Still, Kieran was not paying attention.
Taking my hand, he guided me through the anarchy. "Run!"
We arrived at the exit, almost.
Behind us, Selene's voice boomed out.
"Leave now; you will never find the truth about Caleb."
Freeze.
Kieran drew on my arm. "Aria, do not—”
But it was already too late. With a thumping heart, I turned.
Selene grinned brutally. "He did not perish from his powers alone. He passed away while looking after someone.
My breath halted. "Who?"?
Her eyes sparkle.
"Your mother."
The globe turned.
Kieran drew me towards the door and swore.
But the harm was done.
My thoughts whirled. Caleb: Mom. Secrets shrouded behind covers.
One terrifying insight also sank firmly into my chest: this struggle was far from finished.
The door let forth a blast. Damon stood there with a pallid face.
"Kieran," he said with a gulp. "It is not finished." They seized someone else.
My gut sank.
"Who?" Kieran urged.
Damon let out a hard swallow.
"Your sister".
Damon's comments came onto me like a tidal wave.
Your sister, please.
Kieran's whole body tightened up next to me. His breathing heavy, his hold on my hand became devastating.
No. His voice was lethal and low. You're lying, then.
Damon choked and shook his head. I wish I were. They kidn*pped her, Kieran. Not too far before we arrived.
My pulse thrashed. Still observing from the end of the corridor were Kieran and Selene. Having a smile.
Selene opened her arms, triumphant glistening in her eyes. "Ooops. I should have included that small thing."
Kieran ran.
Grabbing Selene by the throat, he slammed her against the wall faster than I could respond. She gasped and started to scratch at his hand, but Kieran held still.
"Where is she?" His voice was like pure ice.
Selene's lips twisted even as she battled to breathe. "Temper, temper, Alpha." She coughed, grinned through the agony. She won't be found in time.
Kieran squeezed harder. Try me.
Clapping his hands, Kieran moved slowly forward. Very moving. But, if I were you, I wouldn't kill my one lead."
Kieran's hold did not relax, but I could see conflict in his eyes. His sister. He has just one family remaining.
Voice shaky, I rested a palm on his arm. "Kieran, we absolutely need her alive."
His jaw tightened. His whole body hummed with wrath. Then he let go after a protracted, terrible second.
Selene slipped to the ground and couched fiercely, but her smile never faltered.
Kieran miffed. "Let's make this basic now that the dramatics are over. You walk out with Aria. I keep your sister with me.
I shivered down my spine at Kieran's snarling. "You think I would always leave her with you?"
Kieran shrugs. "You are not free to decide."
The buzz of Damon's phone persisted. He drew it out, and his face grew gloomy.
He remarked coldly, turning the screen towards us, "Kieran."
My gut sank.
Played on a video was a dark chamber, chains, and a muffled wail. And then, scared and familiar, shaking:
Please, Kieran... From what I know, they want from me—"
The screen was cut off.
Selene dabbed at a faux tear in her eye. "Tragic, not at all different from Alpha: Time is running out.
Kieran's hands curled into fists, and his breathing became frantic. His indignation was barely restrained and suffocating.
I turned to grab his arm. "We will return her. We simply need a scheme.
His angry and hurtful gaze locked with mine. Then he turned back towards Kieran.
"You're dead," Kieran said in a whisper. "You just don't know it yet."
Draven grinned. "Tick-tock, Alpha. Nightfall is approaching.
And the world closed in precisely like that.
We are not just running for our lives now.
We had time on the clock.
- Writer
