Chapter 33

**ARIA**

I am seething inside, how dare he force me to stay here? Until now I have been more than cooperative with him, so maybe he thought he had all the rights, but that’s not knowing me. Adam is as much my companion as he is and right now he needs me. I don’t want to sit around and wait for him to deign to call me with news. He’s worried about his and I know he wants to be with me, he’s torn and I’m here to put Austin’s needs first. It’s not fair.
He doesn’t want to come with me? Fine, I’ll go without him.
Once in my room, I start by packing a bag with clothes and toiletries. When I’m done, I put the bag on my bed and sit down next to it. What an idiot, I don’t know where he lives.

Aargh! It pisses me off and I don’t know why it pisses me off so much. My phone vibrates on my bedside table and I look at the incoming message.

*Unknown: I never thought I’d say this, but I need you and Austin to come over. You need to finish the mating process.*

*Unknown: It’s Leila.*

*Me: I would love to but Austin is stuck here.*

*Unknown: Then come alone. Screw him. Adam can’t think straight.*

This is exactly what I wanted to do less than five minutes ago but having Leila tell me makes it more concrete. I answer her with a simple ok. I text Austin and tell him that with or without him, I’m off to join Adam. Two minutes later, the door of my room opens in front of a furious Austin. He slams the door behind him and strides towards me.

“You’re the biggest knucklehead I know!” He tells me as he places his hands on his hips.

I jump to my feet and glare at him. “I return the compliment!” I point my index finger at his chest. “Adam needs me and he’s as much my mate as you are so what right do you have to stop me from going to him! Besides, I offered you a ride with me!”

“Because it’s dangerous! They still don’t know who attacked them and for what reason. I won’t take the risk of losing you like that! I won’t end up like my father!”
These last words float in the air, leaving us both speechless. I can see by the look on his face that these words came out of his mouth in spite of himself but this confession goes straight to my heart.

I slowly approach him, relaxing. “I understand.” I kiss him.

“Why I feel like there’s a but that’s going to follow.”

“Because there is.” I answer him honestly. “Adam needs me I can feel it. Leila also texted me that we needed to finish the mating process. Quite honestly I’m starting to think that if we’re on edge like this maybe that’s the cause.”

He sighs and takes a step back. “I need to think about it.”

“I thought you agreed.”

“Give me a minute, please.”

He walks out of my room much more calmly than when he entered.

What exactly does he need to think about?
Does he have any doubts about the three of us? Or does he want to think of a way to come with me?
It’s not fair, I thought we agreed that I wouldn’t have to choose but I still find myself in the position of having to choose between the two. I know Austin has responsibilities here but he has no right to stop me from going.

Moments later, he enters my room again.

“Give me time to get my things ready and we’ll be on our way.”

***

It has been almost two hours since we drove towards Adam’s palace. Austin has given David and Garrett the reins of the pack, to give us time to finalize the mating process and try to find out more about what happened in the attack. We took the opportunity on the road to straighten things out regarding my position and I hope that being mated to both of them will make things easier.

We had to ask Leila for directions because neither he nor I know where the palace is. We leave the main road and take small paths in the woods.
“Are you sure this is the right direction?”
“We are being followed so I think so.”

I look out the window but I don’t see anyone, I then look in the rear view mirror but nothing either.I am quite skeptical, I don’t feel like we are being followed.

“It’s okay if you don’t see them, otherwise it would mean they are doing their job wrong.”

“You’ve seen them.”

“Because I’m trained to do that and I know where to look.” He sighs. “From what Leila told us, we should be there in half an hour.”
I can’t see anything but the woods for many minutes until I make out a wall in the distance.

“We’re here.”

He approaches a large gate and as we stop, two armed men appear from nowhere. They are each on one side of the car and stare at us, then pull out some kind of phone and point it at us. After a few seconds, they nod and the gate opens.

“They’ve identified us.” Austin says to me before walking forward.

Once through the portal, the landscape before us is simply breathtaking. It is squarely a mini city hidden by enormous walls. After some hundreds of meters we arrive at our destination, the palace. It is an old monumental building. The engine is hardly cut, that Adam, Sasha and Leila join us at the bottom of the steps.

Adam opens my car door and takes me in his arms. “What are you doing here?” He asks me after a few moments.

“I was worried about you and wanted to be here for you.”

“You were safer at the pack.”

“Thank you. That’s what I’ve been killing myself to tell her, but she’s a real headcase. And your sister encouraged her in her delusion.”

“Wait, what?” Leila interjects in surprise. “What do I have to do with it?”

I take a step back to get a better look at her. “You texted me to come over, you told me that Adam was freaking out and that I could help him if we finished the mating process.”

“I never sent you anything.” She tells me seriously as she looks at her brothers in turn.

“What the hell?” Austin asks her with a frown.

“Hand me your phone. I’ll try to see if we can find out who sent you that message.” Sasha says to me, holding out his hand.