Chapter 48
**ARIA**
Betrayal. I haven't had many experiences of betrayal in my life, the only one I can think of was the day Brandi told everyone I was in love with Tommy when she had promised to keep it a secret. We were 7 years old at the time and I felt like my life had fallen apart, I can still hear Tommy's laugh. The feeling I had then is nothing like the feeling I have now. I feel sadness and anger. How could she do this to me and more importantly why? Why did she want us all to meet here? Was it only so that David would become alpha? Did she sacrifice me for her personal ambition? And now I wonder if she had something to do with the attacks at the Palace before I arrived.
I don't want to believe it, but I have to trust the evidence, our friendship is dead and buried and I'm not even sure it ever existed.
When we arrived at the Palace, we each went to our own room and Leila pointed out her room to Cassius. Since it was her first day here, we decided to have breakfast together. We were already seated when Leila and Cass arrived smiling.
"Well, it looks like it's going well." Austin whispered to my right.
"Hello everyone." Leila greets us and my brother nods next to her.
He's not a morning person, never has been even before drinking coffee. I know that I have never been allowed to talk to him before his morning coffee, but it seems that Leila is allowed to do so by the wide smile on her face as she enters.
"I'm going to give Cassius a tour of the community this morning." Leila tells me and I nod.
"I want to spend some time with you this afternoon. If you don't have anything else planned." My brother says to me after drinking some of his coffee.
"No, I'm free."
At the same time Sasha walks into the room, he notices Rosalie first and gives her his biggest smile then pauses looking at Cassius and raising an eyebrow at Adam.
"Sasha, this is Cassius, Aria's brother. Cassius, Sasha, our brother." Adam introduces them.
"My mate." adds Leila looking at her younger brother.
"Is this a fucking joke?" her little brother asks, his mouth hanging open. "No offense." He adds hastily, looking at Cassius who is frowning. "So I'm the only one without a mate... awesome." He says as he sits down and takes a piece of toast I had just buttered for myself.
"Please help yourself." I mumble as I take another one. Austin stifles a laugh and hides behind his mug. "So your mom is home?" I ask to change the subject.
"Yes. She's busy this morning but we're having lunch together. We'll do this between us, if you don't mind." Adam tells me.
"No, I understand." I reply sincerely.
***
At lunch time, we met up with Austin, Cass and I. My brother has always been more comfortable with him but since he knows the truth he's been more distant. We had lunch at a small table outside to enjoy the sunshine.
"Was Alex able to find out anything else about Riley?" I ask Austin.
"He managed to hack her phone so we have access to her geolocation, messages and calls."
"Leila told me about Riley. That's a really fucking story. To think we'd welcome her into our home." Cassius tells me clearly upset.
"Tell me about it. If I see her again...." I don't continue my sentence.
"I know." Austin replies to me, placing his hand on my thigh.
"So you're a fucking werewolf. Wow, what does a werewolf look like?" Cassius asks Austin.
"A big wolf. But it's not just that, it lives inside you. It's an integral part of us even though we don't always agree but we're all one. Aria can explain, she met hers not long ago."
My older brother looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "I thought I was going crazy at first because I could hear a voice in my head." I laugh a little as I think back.
After lunch, Cassius and I go for a walk outside, I explain to him in detail (or almost) everything I went through since I met Austin and Adam. I answer all his questions one by one, trying to be as clear as possible. And to finish, he asked me to transform myself in front of him.
"Are you sure? Wouldn't you rather do this with Leila?" I ask him.
"I'm sure I would. You're my sister... even if I feel something for Leila she's still a stranger. I'm more comfortable with you and I know you won't hurt me."
This is the first time I've seen so... vulnerable.
"Okay then, turn around. I have to get undressed."
He blows his breath and complies. This time my transformation is less painful and faster. I approach and feel him tense up in front of me, when I sniff I feel... concern?
He is nervous... Can you blame him? My wolf asks me.
She is right, I was full of apprehension too. I push him lightly with my muzzle and he turns around. He takes a few steps backwards, his eyes wide and his mouth open.
"Aria?" He asks softly.
I nod and his eyebrows go up to his hairline. "Well goodness."
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