Trouble is Loading
1065 Words
Chapter 6
Aria's POV.
I blinked profusely, the voices nearer than I thought. I couldn't have imagined that Reece would put me in this position, as little as I knew him. I breathed, holding on to the hatch ladder, deciding my next line of action.
I looked down and then up at Reece's knowing smirk before, darkness. The door closed behind me, leaving me in pitch black surroundings, with Marcus's voice approaching quickly.
“Aria? You're in here, aren't you?” The voice sent chills down my spine. I clamped my hands around the wall ladder, looking up, determined.
I held on, trying hard not to panic. I climbed back up, only inches from the hatch door, and began to bang with one hand, careful not to make enough noise that would alert Marcus on the other side of the tunnel.
How could Reece do this? It's fine that he suspected I was up to something, but why throw me away like this? Fresh from a near-death experience, without any warning? What did I do?
As I banged on, my mind washed fresh with thoughts. The kiss we'd shared. Fierce, hungry, passionate. His hands are all over me, holding, loving. If he felt any suspicion towards me, even after that kiss, I'd missed it. How did it get to this?
He truly was just as cunning as I'd felt him to be.
“Aria?” A voice sounded behind the door.
I banged again.
Damon's POV
I sniffed long and hard again, running for the sweet smell of her fear. I knew I shouldn't have left her in Reece's hands.
Marcus has gotten through the boundary and charged in. Our men were spread out fighting and searching for him and his men, though they had most likely spread out by now.
I needed to know she was safe. I couldn't rest with the clawing inside. I'd ignored it through the battle, taking on wolves and tearing attackers apart.
Trouble. I couldn't shake it off.
So I came back, unwilling to believe Reece would harm her, but returning all the same. And now, it looked like I was right.
I stopped. A dead end. The hallway led to a bare wall in the middle of the way. I looked around, and the smell was unquestionably strong. I touched the walls, feeling for any openings of any kind.
Nothing.
I growled, kicking the wall. This couldn't be. She was most definitely in trouble. Right here. So where the f*ck was she then?
The wall made a hollow sound. It was a door. I felt around again, more careful this time, working against time. The smell was stronger, if that was even possible. This was grave. I had to get to her. I felt a small switch on one end of the door. I flicked it.
It opened. Oh, finally.
I rushed in, finding myself in a small, empty room. I looked around finding a handle projected out of the ground, a faraway banging coming from there continuously. I rushed for it, pulling the handle in seconds. It wasn't pulling open.
I turned the handle to the side and it moved easily, a click following. The circle of wood flung open to reveal Aria, the most scared I'd ever seen her. My chest hurt.
“Quick. Marcus is coming.” Her voice was small, scared. The small scratches on her face have reopened, and and sweat all over her face.
I extended my hand and she took it, propelling herself forward. I did the rest, pulling her up and out, closing the hatch door immediately, and clicking it shut.
“What happened?” I grabbed her in my arms, breathing her in, my fears finally abating. Marcus could've gotten her. I could've lost her.
Reece.
“Reece told me to go down there and locked the door on me. I obeyed and was climbing down when Marcus's voice became clearer, echoing from the other side of the tunnel.” She was breathing heavily, baby hairs matted to her forehead. I reached out beside myself, tucking the hairs behind her ear.
Reece had done this. He'd known this hatch opened into the outside world. He'd known Marcus was coming and had given him access to her so easily.
I cupped her cheek, placing a hand behind her. I pulled her to me, breathing onto her hair and placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Don’t worry. I'm here now.” Heat radiated from her, calling to the wolf within me. Hold. Protect. And that, I would more than do.
I took her hand and walked her out of the room, off to alert Kael. The empty hallway had meaning now, all of Reece's plan unfolding before me. This part of the building was too hidden for it to have been panic that brought them here. If not for the strong smell he'd picked up the minute he entered the place, he wouldn't have found her.
He knew this part of the building. He'd brought her here and held her, eventually deciding to send her outside again for whatever reason. The question then was, What did Marcus have to do with anything?
Was he working with Marcus, too?
The walls were more familiar now. I walked, making my way to the main room hoping Kael hadn't moved yet. I stopped by the bedroom she'd been in and sent her back there, laying her down and getting her comfortable.
Kael was in the main room, some men standing around as he sat. He was seated roughly, legs wide, reviewing the plan from the map of the pack territory.
“There's no need. I know where Marcus is. But I need to talk to Reece first.” Heads shot up, Kael’s first.
“Damon, now is not the time for shenanigans. Silverpack is out loose on our grounds. You know where Marcus is?” Kael's eyes were wide, expecting.
“He’s in a tunnel in a hidden part of the building. I just brought Aria back from said tunnel minutes ago. Reece was supposed to be watching her.” I spat, annoyed. Something could've happened to her and here he was talking about shenanigans.
“Where in the building?” He'd gotten up, the men right behind him.
“Follow me,” I said, turning in the direction from which I came.
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