2052

~Aria

The cool down period after the incident with Rose and Kendall took a few days.

Police swarmed the entire place most of the day, and I got questioned the same way several times.

What happened that night?

What did you see?

Did she hurt you?

Was Rose acting a certain way that hinted she was going to do this?

The interviewers were stern looking Discipline Pack members who wanted one answer and one answer only. All they want to do is send her straight to one of their merciless prisons with a life sentence. Had she actually killed Kendall, then she would have been sent to an unknown fate in the Vengeance Pack.

I shiver at the thought of him alone. Alpha Kaden.

Staring into the heartless green eyes of a Discipline Pack member is frightening in itself. They are used to intimidating witnesses, to get the most honest answers out of them. I had no reason to lie for Kendall, which means I split every ounce of evidence I could to them. As I did so it made me think.

Would I lie for Zariah or Brynn? Surely I might have to when Brynn inevitably steals from Malik, like I will too. Except I expect her to be obvious about it.

She has no shame.

It was midday when I decided I want to venture out for the first time. I've been escorted by Discipline Pack members everywhere I go, which has been incredibly tiresome. Zariah and I haven't had time to talk in public after our revelation, that everyone has something special about them. It can't be a coincidence.

When I opened my door, Fynn was there, absently sharpening the blade of a knife.

He glances up at me. "Going somewhere?"

Right now, I'm not in the mood to deal with him. All I want is some time to myself, and maybe even to talk to Zariah. However, Fynn doesn't look as if he's about to let me walk off by myself. If it was any other day, I would have listened, but not today. I don't care.

The moment I begin my walk off down the hallway, Fynn calls out to stop me.

"You can't go off without..." he stumbles to his feet. "Me. We will both get in trouble if we are caught away from each other."

I sigh deeply, slowly turning around. There is nothing I have against Fynn, I'm just not in the mood to be followed around for another second. He stares at me, his warm eyes slightly apprehensive about me departing. Why do I feel so bad about putting his job in jeopardy when we aren't even supposed to talk with any other male while we are here? Had he been any other guard, he wouldn't have said a word, and just followed me anyway.

"Fine, but you have to sit outside with Zariah's guard," I tell him, raising an eyebrow.

He scrunches his nose up. "Are you serious? That guy freaks me out."

Despite wanting to do anything other than sit outside Zariah's door with the guard who Fynn believes is attracted to him, Fynn accompanied me. At least I can trust him, which is more than what I can say for most of the competitors. Rose's actions only confirmed my distrust for the rest of them.

"Think you're going to win?" Fynn asks, as we wander down the hallway together.

I shrug. "Who knows. I have no idea what Malik is thinking right now, since I haven't seen the way he acts around the other girls. For all I know, I'm going to be the next to be eliminated."

"I don't think that's going to happen," Fynn says thoughtfully. "Something about the way he looks at you spells it all out. Don't you see it?"

Alexa used to tell me I was brainless when it came to that type of thing. It's not my fault I look at males like friends when I first meet them. That's only because no one has ever made any advances toward me like they did to Alexa. She used to tell me it's because she's an extrovert, and guys feel more confident around someone like her, which I don't doubt for a second.

I'm quite happy embracing the shy girl I am. For me, it's normal.

"If he doesn't choose you though, don't be disheartened," Fynn tells me, glancing down at me. "You're very beautiful, so he would be a fool to-"

As we rounded the corner, Fynn was cut off by Malik.

I haven't seen him in a few days, so the sight of him catches me off guard for a moment. He stares at us with a grim expression in his face, his eyes slightly narrowed. Is he angry? I haven't seen him like this before; mad. Irritated, maybe, but not like this.

"Aria, you're out of your room," he notes, casting a glance at Fynn, then back at me.

Am I crazy, or did Fynn sidle away from me slightly? Malik surely heard us talking, despite the rule of any competitors not being allowed to speak to any other male. I can see where Malik's mother is coming from, since I wouldn't doubt that some of the girls here could be tempted by others, but Fynn is my guard...And a little strange too.

"I was going to visit Zariah," I tell him anxiously, hoping Fynn isn't about to lose his job because of me.

Malik looks back at Fynn, making it achingly obvious he was sussing him out. Right now, I wish I could read his mind and find out what his eyes aren't showing me. All I could see was the eerily impassive look on his face, that suggested nothing at all.

"Shall I escort you?" he asks calmly, although he seems tense. I see it in his shoulders, through his dark cotton shirt.

"It's fine, as he guard I have this covered, Alpha. You can go along with your day," Fynn says warmly.

There is little that I don't predict coming from Fynn's mouth at times, but this is just ridiculous. He's lucky he has a way with words, and was able to twist that sentence into one that seemed innocent enough. Yet, it was written all over Malik's face that he knew better, and that he wasn't about to let Fynn walk off with me on his arm.

"I'm requesting some alone time with one of my competitors. Is something wrong with that, guard?" Malik said, his deepening with every word.

The way he called Fynn guard, as if he is nothing made the hair raise in my neck. Even I'm offended, and it has nothing to do with me. Malik is putting a back chatter in his place. As an Alpha, he's entitled to do so much. It doesn't make me any more comfortable under his scrutinising gaze.

"Of course," Fynn grumbles begrudgingly. "Alpha."

Malik smiles down at me, but his eyes are cold. Wordlessly, I link my arm through his and walk off with him down the hallway. The moment we are no longer near Fynn, Malik instantly begins to relax.

"What was that all about?" I question

"I apologise," he says softly, glancing down at me with those insanely blue eyes. "I don't know what came over me. Seeing you talking to him made me mad, and that's unreasonable, I know."

I'm suddenly not mad at him anymore. He knows what he's done, and at least he's admitting it. With his privileged life, I'm sure he's not used to his woman being interested in anyone else, and honestly, a part of me enjoys seeing him all worked up over this.

"It's fine, he was just being friendly," I reassure him, although I can tell it does little.

When we make it to Zariah's room, Malik stops me before I walk in.

"I really need to say this," he says, and the grim expression on his face suddenly watches me. Is this it? Did he find out? Or maybe, he just doesn't like me anymore, and he wants to eliminate me. That could have just been the final straw.

"I want you to know, that I really enjoy your company," he says softly, running his hand down the back of his neck. "I'm starting to really like you."

My heart stopped, and I felt an entire choir of emotions. What do I say back? A part of me doesn't want to admit that I've been feeling close to him too lately, and that it's going to fog over my mission. But there is that part that wants to tell the truth...

"I'm feeling that too Malik," I tell him gently. "I really am."

•••

Everyone was nervous when Malik called for an emergency meeting the next day.

Brynn clung to my hand, while Zariah looked nonchalant. Usually, Brynn has been the confident one, but we all know she feels something for Malik now, and the deep end is doing things to her. She's wary of us now, despite the fact that we assure her we won't make it very far, and that we are rooting for her.

Although, I'm not sure how comfortable I would feel having her as a Luna. As much as I love her, she did threaten to steal all his most expensive things.

Fair enough.

We all took our seat, while Malik stood on the raised platform. His parents are here, for once. Apparently, they have been out on a small holiday. Like they need one...Malik hasn't taken me on any of his outdoor dates, and I must admit I'm craving one.

"Thank you all for meeting me here on such short notice," he says, his voice sharp as he clasps his hands together in front of him.

Short notice? Some of the girls still have towels in their hair after being woken early.

"I'm afraid, some revelations have come to light, that have made me very uncomfortable," Malik says, casting his glance across us all.

My heart stopped for so long, I'm sure I could have been pronounced legally dead. He didn't meet my gaze, but that didn't stop the cruel thoughts that invaded my mind. He knows. He knows I'm here to steal from him, and he wants me out. Not only that, but I'm going to be kicked to the Discipline Pack with Rose to live the rest of my life in servitude.

"My private diary has gone missing," he tells us. I cringe. "And I found this in my shower."

My ring. It gleams in his fingers as he holds it up. It was a sign of my life, and how I nearly lost it before I was even born. It was about my mother's sickness, and how that nearly effected me too. Now, it's in the hands of Malik, having fallen off when I smothered myself with soap.

Did he know? Has he seen me wear it. Had anyone?

No one looks at me; not even Malik. They all act like it's the biggest mystery, as they look between themselves, chatting like no ones buisness. I should feel relieved at that, but guilt seeped into every ounce of me.

"If any of you know about this..." Zariah and I exchange glances. "Then please come to me, as this is very serious."

Malik sighs, and I see him visibly distressed.

"I just want to know who did this," he says carefully. "And why."

💛••💛

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midikacrane

Midika Crane

Midika

~Midika 💜🐼