Alpha Aria

Chapter 5- The Reveal

**ARIA**

"We have nine packs scheduled to be here for the Alpha Summit this weekend." Uncle Bill told me at dinner. He helped himself to another scoop of mashed potatoes. "Even Swift Claw will be there. First time in 25 years."

Raising my eyebrows in surprise, I signed to him. "Wow! Why so long?"

He chuckled. "They weren't too happy when your mom became Alpha and so they refused to come while she was in charge. After Alpha Brian took over we've only hosted once before, when you were 9."

I nodded, remembering how exciting it was. He continued. "They had planned to come then but had to back out at the last minute, I think their Luna was pregnant and too close to her due date to risk the trip."

"So why didn't they like mom as Alpha? I thought everyone loved her." I asked after shoveling a bite of steak in my mouth.

Uncle Bill looked thoughtful before answering as tactfully as possible. "Swift Claw has a rather... unconventional... view of werewolf society. They prefer men to be in charge, let's just put it that way."

Curling my lip in disgust, I swallowed my bite and took a drink of water. "Yikes, I feel bad for the women in their pack."

"Me too. Oh! Their Shaman apprentice in training is coming to help kick off the opening ceremony. She's your age, I believe."

"She? I'm surprised they allow a woman to have that position."

Uncle Bill smiled. "It's traditionally a female held position, as it's believed women are better able to link with the moon goddess Selene."

"I bet that chaps their sexist hides." I laughed.

Uncle Bill chuckled. "Probably!"

After the amusement died down, I sighed, my thoughts turning serious. The last time we hosted the Alpha Summit it was exciting and I had a great time. However, after nearly two years of being without a wolf, the whole prospect seemed depressing to me.

The official reason for the annual event was to strengthen the alliances that King Maximilian of the Pacific Northwest had forged over a decade ago. However, the weekend-long event held during the full moon was really just an elaborate opportunity for the unmated to find their fated mates.

"They really ought to call it the Matchmaker Mixer." I signed to uncle Bill. He chuckled, nodding. Then he glanced to the wall where a picture of my Aunt Elise was hanging. She had died in childbirth when I was two years old and I didn't remember her at all. Sadly, their pup didn't survive, either. It devastated uncle Bill and it wasn't until he took me in that he started to climb out of his depression.

It was obvious that he still missed her terribly. His eyes misted over as his mind drifted to a far away place, full of memories. "I know you still miss her, Uncle. But don't you think she would want you to be happy? Maybe you should try to find a second chance mate."

My uncle watched as I signed the words to him and he was already shaking his head before I was done.

"Elise was my whole heart. I have no more to give." He said, shrugging his shoulders. When I started to protest he held up his hand. "No, Aria. I am content. I do not need anyone else. End of discussion."

I sighed in defeat but nodded. Then he asked me, "Are you going?" The question surprised me. Why would I go when I hadn't even shifted yet? His eyes twinkled at me. "You may not have a wolf but you do have a heart to share, unlike your old uncle here."

The thought of me finding romance was so bizarre, so incongruent with my life so far that I either had to laugh or cry. I wasn't sure which. After all, who would want me? I was just a broken she-wolf without a wolf, a witch with no magic, a girl full of opinions, dreams and ideas, but no voice.

Suddenly my dinner didn't feel so appetizing. I grabbed my plate and headed to the kitchen. I scraped the remaining food into the compost bin and started to load the dishwasher. Uncle Bill followed me shortly after and handed me his cleared off plate. He sure loved his food, never leaving a speck behind.

"You really should consider going for the opening feast. Besides, as the previous Alpha’s daughter, it would look kinda bad if you didn’t go." He persisted with me. I shook my head and felt tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. I quickly wiped them away, hoping he didn't see them. He placed his hand gently on the back of my shoulder and then gave it a slight pat. "Goodnight, Aria." Then he left the kitchen, heading to his own room to turn in for the night.

Once he was gone I let more tears fall. Then more came, as though I had opened the floodgates. I slumped to the floor, drew my knees up and bawled into them. I wasn't really sure why I was so upset. It wasn't really the Alpha Summit. I had come to terms with the thought of being alone for the rest of my life. At least, I thought I had.

No. This was something else. Every time I squeezed my eyes, trying to staunch the flow of tears, I saw Diego. My dearest friend. He was hiding something from me. He was lying to me. And worse than all that, I felt a hollow in my core knowing that soon, he would find his mate. I would be alone. The weight of this reality left me feeling raw and torn. I cried until there were no more tears, and only dry sobs shuddered from my chest. After some time, a glint from the dining room window caught my attention and I saw the reflection of the moon. It was a waxing Gibbous Moon, so the light it cast was enough to see well.

My nose was stuffy and my head hurt, my stomach hurt, my whole body ached. I collected myself off of the floor and found myself heading to the front porch, the moon drawing me outside like a moth to the flame.

My uncle's house was across from the packhouse. Directly behind the packhouse was a small clear blue lake, and behind it were snow capped mountains in the distance. Tall evergreen trees skirted around the length of most of the lake. The moonlight cast an almost eerie glow on the surroundings, but there was also a calm beauty about it. It was early June and the breeze tonight was unusually warm. I breathed in the fresh air deeply. Pine needles and delicate whisps of night-blooming jasmine filled the air and cleared my nostrils. The pain in my body lessened, but I felt restless. I decided to go for a walk.

I didn't have a destination in mind, but soon I found myself wandering towards Diego's house. I had gotten halfway there when I saw a familiar tall figure striding in my direction. The moon was behind him so I couldn't make out his features, but I knew it was him. I paused walking as I realized I wasn't sure if I was ready to face him yet. I wanted answers, yes, but what if I didn't like what I found out? What if the truth was too painful?

I almost turned around to run back home but he raised his hand, waving to me. If I ran off now that would just be awkward. Then I noticed something that hitched my breath. The moon was positioned directly behind him, and I swore that for a moment I saw a blue halo like light shining around his head. Rubbing my eyes, I looked at him again and the light was gone. My mind was playing tricks on me.

Soon he was within arms length of me. "Hello, Aria. Beautiful night for a stroll, huh?" He grinned his trademark lopsided grin at me, half of his face dimpled.

Why was I finding it hard to breathe when I looked up at him? He was so close I could smell him, his scent a lovely mixture of chamomile and vanilla. "Aria..." Diego's voice sounded choked. He cleared his throat. He stepped closer like he was ready to hug me, but his arms stayed at his sides awkwardly. "I..." he trailed off, and groaned in frustration, running his hand through his wavy hair. For a split second I wondered what it would be like to run my hands through his hair.

What the heck? Where did that come from? My face flushed and I looked away, embarrassed at my musing and wondering why I was thinking about that at all. "Ri. Look at me." His voice was soft and I looked back up at him. "I need to tell you something."

"I know." I signed. "You have been acting weird." I swatted at his chest playfully as though admonishing him and he grasped my hand suddenly before I could pull it away. He pressed my hand over his heart and I could feel it beating. His pectoral muscle was hard and strong beneath my fingers and I felt my own heart rate spike as my breath quickened. I stared into his eyes searching for answers and raised my eyebrow slightly, thoroughly confused. He stared back at me and his head moved closer to my own as he leaned down, his lips parting slightly. I could feel his emotions swirling, a mix of many, but mostly it was desire. Need.

Jerking my hand away, I took a step back, bewildered. Was he just leaning in to... kiss me? I shook my head, fear and confusion making me feel dizzy. "What are you doing?" I signed desperately. Without waiting for an answer, I turned and fled back toward my house.

"Aria! Wait!" Diego called out. "s**t!" He cursed loudly. I ran faster as my heart pounded loudly in my ears. I could hear his footsteps gaining on me and soon his hand caught my shoulder. "Stop, Ri, please! I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me!"

I pulled my shoulder away and kept running. "Please!" he sounded strained and hurt. "Please, Ri, I am so sorry!" His words became frantic as I continued to run, guilt coursing through me, but I had no idea how to handle the storm of emotions overwhelming me. I heard his footsteps fall back but I didn't dare turn to see if he had stopped. Soon I came to my uncle's house and threw open the door. I slammed it behind me and locked it, then fled to my bedroom. I didn't bother changing into pajamas, I just hurled myself onto my bed. Burying my face in my pillow, I let out a scream of frustration.

My best friend had just tried to kiss me. He said he didn't know what came over him, but I knew better. He had been filled with desire. For me... For me! Goddess, what was going on? He had feelings for me?! It was the strangest thing I could have ever imagined. Worry wracked through me as I despaired over our friendship being ruined over this. I didn't think of him like that! Did I? I had known him for most of my life, he was almost like a brother to me. I couldn't think of him like that. I just couldn't. My cell phone rang with Diego's ringtone and I swiftly hit ignore. It rang again and I ignored it again. Finally it buzzed with a text notification.

"Please Ri, we need to talk. I am so sorry, please dont shut me out." I read it and gulped, my throat tight. I turned my phone off and tossed it on the nightstand.

My emotions were all over the place and I needed to process before I could even begin to think of talking to him. I felt another pang of guilt that I was ignoring him but I just wasn't ready.

I just couldn’t face my own truth. No matter how much my brain tried to tell me that it was wrong, my heart had wanted it. I had desperately wanted Diego to kiss me. And that terrified me.