Chapter 49

**ARIA**

Days went by and I started training with Austin to develop my physical abilities. Cassius sometimes joins us with Leila, they are getting closer and closer and the more I see them together the more I think that they were really made for each other.
I don't even want to talk about the sexual tension, I'm surprised that these two haven't done it yet. I mean, they certainly did some things but they didn't go all the way. Ew, just thinking about it makes me nauseous.

I'm having breakfast with Adam and Austin when we are joined by Leila and Cassius, all smiles and...

"Did she mark you?" I ask him before he even sits down.

"Hello sis. I'm fine thanks and you?"

"Cut the crap." I cut him off and they all laugh.

"Yes I marked him." Leila answers.

"Let's get strong and get going again." He tells her with a smirk and I feel nauseous.

"Thanks for ruining my appetite." I say as I push my plate away.

"Well congratulations. You are finally one of us." Austin congratulates him.

"We need to talk to mom before she leaves again." Adam says seriously to Leila. "We didn't get to the bottom of things and I'm afraid we're missing the boat."

She sighs. "Okay, let me know when you want to see her and I'll come over."

"You'll have to come and hear this." Alex interrupts us, walking over to our table.

The five of us get up and follow him to his office. He carefully closes the door behind him and sits down in front of his screen. He presses a button and Riley's voice fills the space.

"What do you mean he's going to take his position back? This is a fucking joke! I didn't do all this for that."

"I know but this has all gone way too far. David doesn't even want to be Alpha, so why are you doing this?" A male voice I don't recognize answers her.

"I have my reasons. You told me you would do this for me. You promised me." He sighs and she continues. "Please...there must be something you can do."

"I'll see what I can do but I'm not promising anything."

"Thanks."

And then nothing.

"Who was she talking to?" I ask Alex.

"To David's dad." Austin answers me and slumps into a chair.

"What the hell?" Cassius asks.

"Riley and David's dad are behind Austin's ouster as Alpha of his pack." I summarize for him and silence clutters the room.

I feel sick and not just figuratively. I think I'm going to throw up.

I push them all out of the way and run out of Alex's office, making a dash for the first door on the left, remembering that there is a bathroom next door.
I throw up in the bathroom, a few seconds after I'm done, there is a double knock on the door.

"Are you okay?" Leila asks me worried.

"Yeah... I must have eaten something that didn't go down. Or it's the fact that you and my brother were sleeping together." I joke.

"Hmm you know my brother is sleeping with you and another guy too so... if anyone should be bummed out it's me."

I open the bathroom door after flushing the toilet.

"Austin and Adam don't do anything with each other for your information." I tell him as I wash my hands.

"Is this the first time you've felt nauseous?" She asks me frowning.

"Yes." I pause with a frown. "Are you asking me because you think I might be pregnant?"

"Well usually when people sleep together it can happen. Especially for people like werewolves on whom hormonal contraception doesn't work." she pauses. "Ok... if you have any doubts come to me and I'll get you a pregnancy test. In case you don't want to alert the boys for nothing."

"Thanks."

"You're like my double sister-in-law so I owe you that."

I didn't feel at my best the rest of the day. So I spent it in bed sleeping and watching shows. Meanwhile, I know Adam and his brother and sister had to see their mom and Austin was training with Cassius.

While I wake up from a micro-nap, Adam is sitting next to me playing with my hair, his mind elsewhere.

I sit up and he gives me a small smile. "I hope it wasn't me who woke you up."

"No don't worry. I dozed off for a while." I pause as I look at his blank face. "Is everything okay?"

He sighs. "We talked to my mom and she told us about her cousin Dimitri, Christina and James." He runs his hand through his hair. "They have a little boy Theodore and a little girl Michaela." He pauses, looking at me pained. "She told us she wanted to tell us about them but she knew they were in danger and she was afraid to put us in danger. She offered them to come live with us here and they were about to come when they were killed. They slaughtered them, Aria, the children too...they were only four and one year old."

"Oh god." I say as I put my hand in front of my mouth. I can't contain my tears. Despite not knowing them personally, I still feel like I know them after reading their story. "How can we do that?"

"Ignorance, fear and hatred." He answers me by looking straight ahead. "I know I can easily speak for Austin when I say we will do our best to protect you. No matter what happens you will always be our priority and this is proof that we need to watch our backs." He sighs as he strokes my cheek. "I'm afraid Riley is just the tip of the iceberg and I don't know if it's a good idea for you to leave if Austin were to find his way back. You're safe here while over there..."

"Are you having a discussion about me?" Austin stands in the doorway. I hadn't heard him arrive. "What are you trying to do, Adam?"