My head perked up, suddenly excited. Some good news has come out of this conversation, after all. I wasn’t expecting what came out his mouth next, and the next few words shocked me to my core, how I had not put two and two together.
“He works at the diner; he is the cook there. He has changed his name but is definitely him. Marcus? I think his name is,”
My lips parted astonished, my father has been there all along, I didn’t know how I felt. Shocked, angry? How could he sit idly by and not say anything he knew who I was all along. Also, how did I not recognise him, he looks nothing like the photo’s Zoe showed me or like my necklace. I just assumed he was human until Zoe told me, what hurt the most was knowing Zoe kept this secret from me. I thought I could trust her completely now I was starting to wonder what else she was hiding from me.
Getting up, I wanted to scream, my anger was overshadowing everything. I needed to get out here. I needed to get home figure out my next move, placing the glass on the table, I stood up. Everything was falling into place, starting to make sense. I spent years grieving for a father who was there all along. Silently watching but not interfering. How could he just watch and not step in? How could Zoe not tell me? Why would they feel the need to keep this from me? Walking out of the office, I started walking down the hall. I just wanted to go home, I just wanted Reid. Zane, seeing me walk past got up off the lounge and followed after me.
“Ari, what’s wrong?” I didn’t answer, just kept walking to the car.
“Luna?” asked Zane as I got in the passenger seat.
“I think she might be in shock” David spoke behind us.
“What did you do?” Zane asked, suddenly becoming defensive.
“Nothing, I told her the truth,” he said nodding in my direction, I nodded back and sat in the car. Zane looked between the car and David, who had turned his back and was now walking up the stairs. Zane waited for him to leave before getting in the car himself.
“Where to now?”
“I just want to go home” My voice lacked any emotion. I felt numb to all the new information I had gathered. I didn’t say anything for the entire trip home. Zane kept glancing over at me, but I just ignored him and watched the trees and farmland pass by out the window. When we were about five minutes out I heard Ryder’s voice, break through the thoughts circling in my head.
“Where the fuck are you?”
I ignored him, which I could feel ticked him off even more. I couldn’t care less right now. I would take whatever punishment he decided to hand out. I wasn’t in the mood to argue anymore.
“Ryder just linked me.” Zane voice echoing in the silence. I just nodded, my eyes not leaving the window. “I told him we would be home soon; he sounds pissed, and I am pretty sure he’s gonna eat me alive when we get back.”
I turned to look at Zane, I could tell he was genuinely worried about defying not only Reid, but Ryder. Maybe I will have to deal with him, at least for Zane’s sake.
“I won’t let him touch you,” I simply said. Zane seemed to calm down, and his grip on the steering wheel lessoned. His shoulder seemed to relax, and I could tell he was glad, I said something. I wasn’t about to let Zane get hurt because of me. And I wasn’t about to let Reid hurt his Beta, I could feel Ryder’s burning rage as the Pack house came into view. Reid was standing out front pacing back and forth. The car pulled up, and I could see the tremble in Zane’s hands as he put the car into park. Before I could even open my door, Reid was ripping it open. His glare was not his own but Ryder’s. I could see his eyes flicking dangerously as Reid fought for control, Ryder was having none of that. Refusing to give in, I prayed Reid would regain control.
Zane got out of the car. He tried to sneak inside like a naughty kid caught doing something wrong, but his movements didn’t go unnoticed by Ryder.
“Don’t fucking move, Zane.” Zane froze instantly under Ryder’s command. I heard the front door open and could see Christine’s horrified expression looking at her mate.
“Please don’t let him hurt my mate.” His voice came through the link, pleading desperately.
Standing up, I knew I had to get attention away from Zane. When I stood up, I met Ryder’s angered eyes. “Leave Zane alone. He didn’t want any part of it but wouldn’t let me go alone,” I stated. Ryder’s eyes burned with anger, but he seemed to believe what I said. He looked at his Beta, they must have been mind-linking because he took off.
Christine’s voice passed through my mind fluidly. “Thank you, good luck.” When I turned to look at the Pack house. Christine had already run after her mate, leaving me with mine and his burning rage. Ryder’s eyes fell down to meet mine.
His anger was so bad he couldn’t even feel my emotions that were running all over the place. I didn’t want to argue, I didn’t want him to be mad. I just wanted to go to bed. I felt burnt out and exhausted.
Aria’s POV
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