Chapter 57

**ARIA**

The doctor came to see me and physically I'm fine. After explaining that my miscarriage hadn't damaged my uterus and that I'd be able to conceive again in a few months, she left... To conceive again. I've just lost my baby and they're talking about being able to conceive again, as if to replace it.

When the doctor left, I was visited by Cassius, Leila and Rosalie. No one told me what had happened, but they all expressed their gratitude that I was all right. I think this situation is making everyone uncomfortable, and no one knows how to broach the subject of losing my baby in front of me. I didn't cry... I didn't show any emotion but inside it's a whirlwind. I'm devastated because I already loved this little being growing inside me and I'm angry that someone could have hurt it. I will destroy all those who are directly or indirectly responsible for his death. Even if I didn't have a body to bury and he didn't have a first name, I don't give a damn. He was my baby and he was taken from me.

"Where is she?" I ask the boys as we stand alone. They exchange glances in silence. "Riley. Where is she?" I ask them again, raising my voice.

"She's in a cell." Austin answers.

"Aren't you going to tell me anything? Do I have to get the whole truth out of you?" I ask them, losing patience.

Adam sighs. "You should rest..."

"I've been asleep for five fucking days. I'm rested!" I reply curtly, half lying.

"I interviewed her three days ago. She confessed to being behind the palace attack, your father's death and poisoning you." He answers me softly. "She assured me she didn't mean to kill your father, she just wanted to hurt him to get you away from the palace. She acted out of jealousy. She felt you had more..."

"What more?! She still has her fucking parents, while I already had no mother. She's a fucking werewolf, she's got superhuman strength and a lot of things I didn't have. She was jealous of an ordinary fucking human." I explode. The tears start to well up. "She killed my father! She killed my baby! Why did she do it? Because of some fucking jealousy shit! She's a fucking monster and I hope you haven't touched a hair on her head because I want to destroy her myself. I want to make her suffer like I suffered." I'm trembling with rage and my tears are undeniably flowing.

They both stare at me and I feel love, compassion and pride.

"We didn't touch her, but believe me, there was no lack of desire. If Cassius and I had gone in before Adam we certainly would have killed her." Austin pauses. "She's going to suffer... I promise. She killed our fucking child and she's not getting off that easy."

"She's been under interrogation for three days to get a list of everyone involved in this." Adam adds. "Once we don't need her anymore you can do whatever you want."

I nod with a clenched jaw.

Adam approaches me and takes my face in his hands. "We love you and you're the strongest, bravest young woman I've ever met in my life. When we get that list we're going to check off every name on it ourselves to make them pay for attacking you and our child. They wanted this to be the end of us, but it's going to be the end of them."

Austin, who is now standing on the other side of the bed, puts his hand on my shoulder and nods to confirm what Adam has just said.

I feel so loved at this very moment that I burst into tears. I'm crying for everything I've lost, but deep down I know I still have so many extraordinary things to live for thanks to them.

One thing's for sure, I'll never forget this little bundle of joy who left us far too soon.

They both hold me in their arms, telling me again and again that everything will work out... and I believe them.

**AUSTIN**

She's a fucking warrior. She walks ahead of me toward the cell, head held high. Cassius, Adam and I accompany her, but I think she'd do just fine on her own. Honestly, when we were informed of her miscarriage, I thought she'd be devastated for longer. Well, I'm sure she is, but she's hiding it behind her anger and desire for revenge.

Cassius has gone into beast mode. He train almost every day, in both human and wolf form. When I see him, I think he's going to be the most impressive creature when he's a hybrid. He wants to protect his sister at all costs.

When we arrive in front of the cell, she pauses.

"If you..." I start but she cuts me off.

"I'll go alone. I know you're going to watch us, but I want you to let me handle this my way, okay?" She looks at the three of us and we nod.

She walks in slowly, in her all black outfit and high ponytail. Riley doesn't look up when she hears the door.

"If she touches her, I'll kick the door in and I'll crush her head." Cassius warns us, crossing his arms.

"She won't touch her. When I knew Aria wanted to see her, I had her cuffs changed, the inside is in reinforced silver." I explain.

Aria grabs the chair in the corner of the room and drags it to the floor, making a high-pitched noise. Riley looks up, grimacing.

Aria sits down opposite her and Riley looks at her wide-eyed.

"Aria. You... You..."

"You what?" She asks her with an icy tone. She crosses her arms and looks at her.

Fuck, Riley looks at her and I think she realizes she doesn't have her friend in front of her anymore.