Chapter Three
1051 Words
Aria'pov
I woke up before dawn, not because of nightmares, but because of him. Ethan.
His name alone feels dangerous to think about. I lay on my back staring at the ceiling, listening to the soft breaths of my sisters, Kira and Lara, as they slept beside me.
I was angry at myself. I was angry for letting a stranger’s voice sink under my skin. Angry for letting his presence weaken the shields I’d spent my whole life building. A few minutes under the almond tree and I forgot who I was.
I wasn’t a normal girl. I wasn’t allowed to feel anything alone. I belonged to my sisters, Kira and Lara.
One identity, three hearts. One mistake from any of us could get us all killed.
And yesterday, one boy with brown eyes and gentle words almost made me forget who I was.
No… that shouldn't happen again.
I turned to stare at Kira as she leaned in and curled her arms around me.
I could feel her soft breath and heartbeat on my face. We shared the same bed, a life, a destiny that wasn’t ours.
We weren’t born to be free; we were born to be hidden.
“Aria,” Lara murmured my name, half awake, her voice piercing into my thoughts. “You’re thinking out loud. What’s the problem?”
“I'm fine,” I muttered. Knowing it was a lie
“You don’t look fine. Tell me what you are thinking about.”
Kira was awake now, as she heard our voice.
My sisters fell silent. They knew I wasn’t the soft one. Kira carried the kindness, Lara the calm, and I carried fire. I was the one who held us together when fear almost tore us apart.
The truth was simple; I was the strongest among us. The one who carried the temper, the one who didn’t fear the shadows, the one who didn’t bend.
If danger came, I vowed to face it and stand for myself and my sisters.
That was the vow I’d die for.
“I'm fine, go back to sleep, I had a dream ,so that's why I can't sleep”.
“Will you like to share with us”.Kira asked
“I will get over it ," I said. Let's go back to sleep”. I couldn't tell them my thoughts about Ethan. They won't be happy with me if I tell them a human boy made my heart stumble . Falling for someone meant exposure.And exposure meant death.
It was dawn, and it was Lara’s day to go to school. I watched her dress. She kissed us goodbye and left.
One goes to school at a time; that has been the routine. Mother left to get some herbs. I was at home with Kira.
I was packing up the dishes when Kira called me, “Aria.”
I looked up to her. She exhaled shakily and whispered, “When do you think this will end? For how long are we going to continue like this?”
I stared at her for a moment. She was the gentle one.She hasn't asked such a question before. I reached out for her hand, squeezing it tight.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice low. “This won’t last forever. I don’t care what fate says, or Mother’s fear, or our uncle. We are not going to live our whole lives like this, hiding like hunted animals.”
“I don’t know how long this will go on. I don’t know how long we are going to continue living in pretence. But I know one thing, we will be free someday.”
Her lips curved with a small smile as she hugged me tightly.
After eating, I fell into a deep slumber. I woke at the creak of the door. Lara was back from school. We welcomed her. She ate and rested as she prepared for the evening class,where she will teach us everything we need to know.
***
Deep into the mountains of the werewolf kingdom far away from the quiet city. A car stopped in front of the fenrath castle .
The gate opened and a huge, broadshouldered, fierce-looking man walked in. His eyes were sharp as blades. The guards stepped back,with one knee on the ground as they bowed, he walked past them into the castle.
Alpha Aldric has returned.
He has served his 20 years term and he has been let free. He still walked like a king forged from cruelty and fire.
When he stepped into the throne room he stumbled upon his sister, Elowen.
The queen gasped in shock at the sight of his brother king Aldric. The cup she was holding slipped away from her hands and shattered to pieces.
“Aldric, she whispered
The first word he said to her which she feared most all this while: “Bring me my niece.”
The thunderstorm shook outside. Then came a heavy pour.
Elowen froze in shock as she heard those words. She never wished for this day to come but it is here.
Her body shivered in fear.
“I want to see my niece soon.” He said and walked away.
Back in her chamber in which she shared with her daughters shaking, queen Elowen sat on the edge of the bed with tears running down her eyes. Aria was shocked to see her mom in that mood.
“What happened ma, why are you crying?”
“Your uncle is back.”
Her wolf roared inside her. Her vision darkened, she clenched her fist.Her wolf surged beneath her.
When her wolf is being provoked she needs the help of her mom to calm her down.
“Don’t worry ma, nothing will happen to you. I will protect us,” she said angrily.
She held her mom in her hand. Kiara and Lara held her on both.They formed a circle which they always did in moments of fear.
Mother was breaking,her tears fell silently, each one representing 20years of fear.
We stayed that way ,three daughters and one broken mother clinging together against the storm that has returned to destroy us.
We held mother tightly as we consoled her, assuring her that no harm will befall any of us.
- Writer
