Five

ARABELLA. 

A thin line between breaking and getting yourself back. Rhys was my thin like. His saying the perfect words would have made my day better. Perhaps him choosing me over everything else would have made me float in the air instead of this heartbreak. He kissed me, and this made me think that he was ready to choose me over anything else. 

“I have duties to this pack.” He reminded me that the pack was more important. He said that choosing Mia - his right mate - was for the betterment of the pack. He said he could not reject her and again, I should be his mistress. My ego would not let me accept to be his mistress so I ran - I ran into the forest in my wolf form. All I could think about was how life had defeated me once again.

My mother - the woman I thought loved me turned out to be a fake. She wasn't my mother and she hates the gut out of me. Mia took Rhys away from me and the one man I have ever loved wanted me to be his Mistress. My wolf whispered as we walked through the forest. However, something else got our attention and we turned to the direction. 

What I wasn't expecting was to see Archer, Rhys's father being chased by some group of wolves - five big wolves. The scent that hit me next made me aware that they were rogues and then the tattoo on their beast forehead showed they were assassin rogues. 

“We need to help him!” I told my wolf and she nodded. She jumped to the scene, her paws hitting the floor hard. And then Archer shifted as well. 

My wolf went for the first rogue she saw and then bit him in his flank and he groaned in pain. It was a big brown wolf - quite bigger than I was. However, he didn't scare me at all. Archer then attacked another rogue wolf, biting his belly and they both prowled at each other.  Another dark wolf jumped at Archer and then bit the skin off his back, making Archer’s wolf growl in pain. 

I turned to help Archer out but my distraction earned the big brown wolf a chance at my body. He dug his fangs in my paw and I growled in pain. 

While growling in pain, I heard another rogue wolf descend on Archer making it four wolves on him alone. They bite off a chunk of his flesh and he growls and groans each time. I wished I could help but the big brown wolf was eating deep in my flesh. Thanks to the drugs and drinks, I became instantly weak. When I saw that I wouldn't be able to save myself or Archer, I mind-linked Rhys and left a message just before I fell to the floor. The smell of blood and flesh filling my nostrils was the last smell I recalled. However, as my eyes began to close, I saw a woman that looked like Mia. Perhaps it was Mia or the drugs that were messing with my head. 

*   * 

ALPHA RHYS. 

I shouldn't be in the bar, I was the Alpha. However, I could not help it. Something was messing with my head, everything in me was fighting against me. It seemed like I was doing the wrong things yet they felt right. It shouldn't be Mia but my wolf yearns for her. However, all my heart yearns for is Arabella. I want to be with her. I want to make her my Luna. 

Again, I gulped some tequila, and the liquid burnt my throat yet it was not enough to make me forget the worries in my heart. Why did things have to get this complicated? Everything would have been alright if Arabella was my mate. She would be happy and I would be happy. 

“Alpha, I can satisfy you for the night. Huh?” A feminine hand gently snaked around my neck in an attempt to seduce me. However, I felt nothing but disgust. 

“Sure, I’d like a torture section with you in the dungeon tonight,” I smirked at her and she instantly removed her hand from my neck. Then she picked up her phone. 

“Mom? You want me to come home?” She uttered and then walked away. I gulped another fluid and it burnt my throat again. The circle kept repeating itself. However, at the same time, the mind link opened and Arabella’s voice infiltrated my ears. 

“Your father is in trouble!” I stood quickly and then tried mindlinking her again but it didn't go through. Almost immediately, I sent messages to my Beta, Craig and he met me at the pack border with some warriors like I had requested. 

Father had told me he was going to inspect the rumors of the rogue's assassin. I told him not to do it but he insisted and said he missed tasks like this. I did not just know how Arabella knew my father was in danger. Anyways, I dispensed the men out to look for my father. Thirty minutes passed with us still searching the forest when the mind link opened again and one of the men found my father. 

Quickly, I went to the location. 

I could not believe my eyes when I saw my father naked - he must have shifted. He was naked with his skin battered. The bones in his knees shot out unnaturally and it hurt my heart. And then he wasn't breathing anymore. 

Damn it! I cursed and punched the air, preventing myself from sobbing. 

“Who did this?” I asked but got no response. 

“Damn it!” I clenched my fist. I would find who did this and show them hell on earth. The men brought out my father from the pit and I almost couldn't recognise him. Tears threatened to pool around my eyes but I pushed them back. Father would never want me to show my weakness, he would want me to fight. 

Days went by very quickly. 

One week turned into two weeks. My father’s burial came and left and I got to visit my many Alphas. I had just finished a meeting when Mia ran to me with some papers in her hands. 

“What is that?” I asked as she stopped in front of me breathing heavily. 

“I told you Arabella did not come home the night your father died. I also propose a theory that you dismissed. However, now I have more evidence.” She stretched the papers to me and I collected them and then looked at her before going through it. 

“Arabella hates your father because he was the one that made it compulsory for you to accept your real mate for the pack. Of course, she knew if he was out of the way you would be hers. That paper in your hands is from the doctor. Her fingers print and blood was found on your father’s body. Didn't Craig tell you that they later spotted Arabella at the place your father died? Sighs.” 

I squeezed the papers in my hand and fury took over. For the first time, I saw meaning in all Mia had been saying. Then I mind-linked Craig. 

“Get Arabella to the pack house, now!”