Chapter 23

Aria's POV

I woke up to my head pounding and the sound of a million bees swarming around me. I opened my eyes a crack but instantly shut them again, wincing at the light. Everything was hurting. I wanted to go back to sleep, but I want to know what was going on first.

I cracked my eyes open again, this time fighting against the light to see where I was and what was going on. The memories of what happened came back to me, making me cringe slightly, the lights, the sound, even the smells were all too strong.

Once I could finally open my eyes I looked around the room, reaching up to rub the back of my head where I could feel a lump. Forest was asleep next to me and the from to look of it, it was the middle of the night. I was still tired, so I went back to sleep, I would find out what happened in the morning.

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When I woke up again the sun was streaming through the curtains and Forest was gone. I sat up and slowly walked down the stairs, towards the smell of food and the noise of quiet chatter. When I reached the doorway, the chat died down and everyone round the table looked over at me.

"Umm hi?" I said quietly, confused about why everyone was looking at me. Forest stood up, knocking over his chair, pulling me into a tight hug, as Atlas and Isla smiled from across the table.

"I was so worried about you," Forest said, pulling me tight against him, "I thought you may never wake up." I smiled at him and sat down at the table once he realised me from his hug.

"You can't get rid of me that easily," I said, causing Isla to laugh from the other side of the table, "What happened, how long was I out?"

Atlas smiled sadly from across the table, "Shifting senses, you're senses got too strong for you to cope so we had to sedate you, otherwise you could have hurt yourself. It affects everyone differently, so we didn't know what would happen, you were only out for a day."

I nodded my head in understanding before another thought hit me, "Haven't I missed, like a ton of school? I haven't been back since I shifted and that was weeks ago."

Forest put a plate of food in front of me and I tucked in while Isla answered, "As far as the school are concerned we are all on holiday far far away and won't be back until next week,"

I smiled over at her and nodded, "What shall we do?" I asked, excited at all the possibilities.

"Well, we do need to check on the pack, you could come and help, nothing too hard, just some rounds to meet some of the pack?" Atlas suggested.

I nodded again, I liked the sound of meeting some of the pack, maybe I would get to see the children again!

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After breakfast was cleared up I went upstairs to get changed. I put on red tartan skirt and brushed through my hair, before I went downstairs I grabbed my phone off charge and checked my notifications.

A text from my Father.

"You thought you saw the last of me but little bitch I am not done with you, not by a long way, I will be back, and I will win, just you wait."

I felt my shake as fear consumed me, he was another person on my list to look out for, it was growing, along with my fear, I just wanted to be free.

I locked my phone as I heard Forest come up behind me, "Aria? Are you ok, you look scared?" Should I tell him? Could I tell him?

YES, my wolf yelled, He's your mate, you have to tell him! "No, I'm fine, I just got some dust in my eye, that's all."

I heard my wolf howl in protest at the back of my mind, but I shut her out, we would have to deal with this on our own, I am worthless, I can't burden Forest with this, he has enough on his plate already.

Suddenly Forest asked the question that I never wanted to answer, "What happened to your back?" I slowly looked over at him.

"My dad and brother happened, you know that, why do you ask." Forest looked down at the mention of my dad and brother, for some reason he felt guilty.

"No some of your scars are new, what happened in the cells Aria?" No. He saw the scars from the guard.

"I tried to get out and cut myself on the silver bars." I lied. I didn't want to, but what could I do? I couldn't tell him, the guard said if I told anyone he would kill everyone I cared about. I wouldn't do that. I wasn't worth that much.

I walked downstairs with Forest following close behind, he didn't look completely convinced but he knew not to push any further, he wouldn't find anything.

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After driving for a few minutes, we arrived at a building I recognised as the pack house. Isla turned off the car engine and I climbed out the door, I had seen the pack house before, but never up close.

It was magnificent. It was old fashioned but modern at the same time with red brick walls and glass windows. The garden was just as spectacular, honey suckle climbed the walls and rose bushed lined the path. It was magical.

We walked up the path and into the house. Everyone inside bowed down with a synchronised, "Alpha, luna." I looked over to Forest for an explanation and he laughed before explaining.

"My mum and dad are the Alpha and Luna of the pack, they rule the pack, this is a show of respect." I nodded to show him I understood before looking around the house again.

"Alpha, who is this?" An older woman said, while looking down her nose at me. She looked like a snob and she was sure acting like one.

"Aria this is Winfidora, the head cook, Winfidora, this is Aria, she is staying at this pack while we sort some things out for her." Isla answered, bending the truth a little so I didn't have to tell them I'm Forest's mate.

Winfidora just sniffed down at me, whispering so only I could hear the funniest thing I have ever heard anyone say to someone they hate. "I hope you don't find your mate in this pack, I would hate to have to put up with you every day." I just smiled at her, knowing I had already won, almost laughing out loud at the irony of her words.

Still silently laughing from that we continued on to meet the higher-ranking wolves, "You already know Ash, this is his dad Albert, the Beta, and his mate, Ali.

I smiled at them, and shook Albert's hand before looking towards Ash, "Good to see you are feeling better you ugly shrimp." Ash said, grinning at me, his words full of humour. I shook my head at him, immature. But funny.

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Once we had met everyone Forest, Ash and Skye, who had joined us after I had met everyone, took me around the house and the garden. It was beautiful. I could have stayed there all day, but then my tummy rumbled, and food is more important than a garden, so I left to get food.

Since I was hungry everyone else decided to come with me to get food. Apparently, Forest had picked up on the hostile behaviour from Winfidora, so decided she might try something if I went in alone. Ha I would like to see her try.

Once we got to the kitchen though, I was glad the others had come with me. Lots of people were staring at me, but no one had the opportunity to say anything against me.

Before we got food, Atlas and Isla came into the kitchen, "We're all done here, are you ready to leave?" Atlas asked.

Forest half nodded before answering, "We were just going to get some food, but we can get some at home."

I was quite glad to walk out that kitchen. I had felt curious and heated glances following me around the kitchen and I was more than ready to get out of the spot light.

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On the way home everyone seemed quieter than usual, even Forest looked a little subdued and Atlas looked almost outraged.

"I don't know much about packs, or even reading people's facial expressions," I looked round the car at the worried and angry faces, "But I'm guessing something was wrong?"

Forest took my hand in his kissing the back before answering, "Rogues have been coming around our house for weeks, it's on the edge of pack land so one or two would be expected but we had more than usual, and any and all rogue sightings have been around our house. We have guards around the woods near the house, they shouldn't be getting past, not so many of them,"

I nodded, "Ok, but why do you look, kind of angry," It didn't make sense being angry at rogues because, from the sound of it, they don't really care.

This time it was Atlas who answered, "Because they're blaming you. One of the guards must have let on that you were a rogue from our cells and now no one trusts you. A load of my trusted men have been telling me to throw you out or some even suggested killing you, 'for the good of the pack,' They don't seem to trust my judgement anymore."

Isla took his hand to calm him down, he looked as if he was about to shift right here in the car. She turned to me, "But of course that's never going to happen, we're not going to let you get hurt all because some pack members don't know the full story."

I nodded before the car resumed its thoughtful silence. It's my fault again, why is it always my fault.Now, because of me, the pack is starting to turn on Atlas, I can't let that happen. I will talk to them. I will show them the truth.