Chapter 13

**ARIA**

As I reach the bottom of the stairs, a familiar voice calls out to me. I turn in its direction and Adam is standing there in jeans and a white t-shirt, his piercing blue eyes locked in mine. He is gorgeous.

“Adam. You are already here.” I tell me, walking toward him.

“I couldn’t wait a moment longer.”

Austin arrives next to him and rolls his eyes, jealousy written all over his face. “You and I need to talk. You’ll see Aria later.”

Adam offers me a small smile before following Austin outside. This cohabitation is going to be most complicated.

As I watch them walk away, Riley joins me with David, the latter also watches them leave. As the three of us eat breakfast, I try to glean information from David and find out what could have made Austin accept Adam’s arrival here, when he was chasing him not long ago.

“They explained themselves and it turns out that Adam was not involved in the attack on us, at least not under the circumstances we thought.” He takes a sip of coffee before continuing. “As for the rest I think you should take that up with the two principals involved.”

Once breakfast is over I go for a walk in the library, Riley has given me directions and to my surprise it is very well stocked. I’m wandering through the various shelves when I hear a familiar voice behind me... again.

“I see you like English literature classics.”

I turn to face Adam. “Do you find that surprising?” I ask him, raising an eyebrow.

“No it’s just that you seem to be a modern girl so I would have thought your reading would be more contemporary.”

“Oh but I enjoy them too. I have varied tastes.”

“That’s good to know.” He tells me softly taking a step closer to me.

He places a strand of black hair behind my ear. “I’ve been dying to do this... To touch you. Do you know you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in my life?”

“I’ve been told I’m pretty before.” I shrug my shoulders not nonchalantly to tease him.

“I don’t doubt it.” He takes another step toward me and I take a step back. Until I find myself up against the shelf of books. “I have to be honest with you. Austin told me I had to tell you myself.” I nod my head in encouragement. “I was born a werewolf, I’m the son of an alpha. Unfortunately when I was 20 I was left for dead after a battle and Raya found me. She is a vampire, she bit me and made me a hybrid. There are three of us altogether. Leila, Sasha and me. Three werewolves who were saved by Raya, our mother.”

I’m speechless in front of him, a hybrid, half vampire, half werewolf well talk about news. What am I supposed to say to him now?

“Do you drink blood?” I can’t believe that’s the first question that pops into my head. “Sorry, I don’t know...”

“Yes, but I can eat normal food too. But I need a minimum amount of blood to function normally.”

“Do you bite people?” I ask him uncertainly grimacing.

“Not for a long time. I drink from blood bags. But my brother and sister, yes it happens to them a lot.”

I simply nod, unable to formulate a coherent sentence.

“Are you going to bite me?”

“Only if you feel like it but I have to say that with you, I don’t know if I will be able to stop.” He places his hands on either side of my face on the shelf behind me. “But right now it’s not a bite I want but a...”

“Ah there you are. I was looking for you Aria. Would you like to go for a walk with me?” Rosalie says to me standing behind Adam.

She’s clearly team Austin on this one. Not that she’s been hiding it, but I suspect she’s trying to get in the middle of Adam and me to get her way.

“Yes, why not. I could use some fresh air.” I reply to Rosalie focusing on Adam's piercing blue eyes.

**AUSTIN**

“And you left them both alone?” David asks me annoyed.

“What else did you want me to do? I agreed to let him stay there so I have to play along.” I pause. “And I may have sent Rosalie to make sure nothing happened between them.” I add with a smirk.

“He’s a fucking hybrid. How could she choose him? With you she can have a future, a family. Which she’ll never have with him.”

“What makes you think that’s what she wants?” Riley interrupts us. “She grew up alone with her father and brother, both of whom are single and from what I understand have no desire for serious relationships. Her longest relationship with a guy lasted four months, and that was Gavin. And she was the one who ended it because she felt things were getting weird. It wasn’t getting weird, they were just becoming a real couple.”

Even though hearing Riley talk about Aria with another guy makes me want to go rip that poor guy’s head off, knowing she’s allergic to commitment leaves me breathless. I thought the hardest part of having a human mate would be not making her run away from me because of my nature, but in fact, the hardest part would actually be making her love me and stay by my side. Even if I really just have to convince her to let me mark her. Like it’s easy... but nothing is from the beginning, everything is difficult with her. I’ve spent my life waiting for her and now that I’ve found her I’ve been put on the spot. Goddess, don’t I deserve to be happy?

“Look, I just want to be honest with you. I know her well so I’ll help you. I love her and I’d rather have her around for a while longer.” She sighs. “She’s not like most of the girls you’ve met.”

“I already guessed that, thanks.” I interrupt her.

She rolls her eyes before adding. “If you want my advice. Treat her as your equal. I know it’s not easy for you especially in your position but at least try. And, be honest with her, she can’t stand lying and being taken for a fool.”

“Anything else?”

“No, that will be all. The rest has to come from you.”

She looks at both of us before leaving the room. I hear a laugh in the distance and walk over to the window followed by David. Aria, Adam and Rosalie are all three walking outside, all smiles. Adam says something to them and the girls burst out laughing.

“Very good idea to send Rosalie.” David says to me, patting me on the shoulder before walking out of my office in turn.

I thought she was on my side but it looks like she’s fallen for Adam’s charm too. As if she felt my gaze, Aria looks in my direction and gives me a small wave with a smile before continuing on her way with the other two. I think back to what she told me the day before, that this situation was hard for the three of us, not just for me. I know that she is right but that does not prevent me from doing my best to get out of it and with her. I mindlink Riley to know some things that can be useful to me about Aria. It’s time to take action.