An eye for an eye

“Aria darling, what do you say about the arrangement, that way you'll still be in the family and we can all still care for you” mum's sweet voice cut through the air, as she spoke to me softly.

What's going on? Did mum follow me to the after life? But that's impossible.

“Honey, don't keep your mother waiting,” Father added, in that very soft toned that felt so unfamiliar now.

Wait, why do these words sound so familiar, my eyes fell to my arms, it was smooth, lacking the bruises I had often spent hours covering under layers of makeup.

What in the word is happening, I had died, my eyes caught my reflection in the mirror and a gasp slipped through my lips, my hand flew to my face

“Impossible” I muttered, touching my smooth and unbattered skin.

“What's impossible” mum asked.

“Nothing,” I quickly said, “what day is it?” I asked, trying to confirm my suspicions.

“Why are you acting all weird,” her eyes narrowed at me, “are you alright” she raised her hand trying to reach for my face

Instinctively, I shrunk back, dodging her touch, her hands froze mid air, a look look of shock and pain passing across her face. 

“Ari” she called me by the very pet name they had all given me, “are you angry at mother? I told you nessa is your sister now, we can't throw her out” she said with an aggreieved expression.

I sneered inwardly, if I hadn't known any better I would have fallen for this same act that once cost me my baby and life. 

“No mum, Nessa is your only daughter. I would never ask you to throw her out on my behalf,” I said with fake sweetness.

I couldn't let them suspect my awareness of their plan until I was fully aware of what was going on, could it be that I was reborn? That seemed to be the only reasonable explanation.

“What are you rambling about? You better not be thinking of accepting that bastard's proposal” Luna's sarcastic voice rang loudly in my head

“Luna” I called in surprise, “I never thought I'd be so happy to hear your voice again,”

“Are you sick in the head?” She asked

I froze, “you don't remember what we just experienced few minutes ago?” I asked in shock

“I only remember you acting like a child who was given a lollipop in a platter of gold, I don't like Adrian’s aura, you can't accept to be his chosen mate”

“It's exactly the same” I muttered, tears pooling in my eyes, her words were exactly the same as the warnings she had given me five years ago, before I stubbornly fell for my family's lies, and married Adrian against Luna's warnings before we found out we were fated mates. 

“Stop crying dummy, of course I remember everything” she rolled her eyes. “I'm sorry I couldn't protect him,” her voice turned sad.

I shook my head, “it's not your fault,” I smiled bitterly, my eyes fell on my supposed family, and an ironical laugh threatened to spill from my lips. 

“Aria Honey, have you considered it? Adrian is not only your adopted brother but also the Alpha, he's in a better place to protect you” Mother—No, Luna Casey said. 

My gaze turned cold, “And why would I do that?” She froze mid sentence, disbelief spread across her face, clearly not expecting such from me.

“What? He's your brother” 

“Exactly why I can't be mated to him, he's my brother, have you thought of it, which brother mates his sister?” I retorted stubbornly 

“It doesn't matter, who cares what anyone says, as long you're not related by blood, nothing stops you from marrying him” she said stubbornly 

“I'm sorry, but I can't marry him. I see him as my brother and nothing more, if he's in desperate need of a mate, I'm sure Vanessa would be glad to mate him” I bit back sarcastically 

The crack in her expression finally showed, “It's not the same thing, Nessa is different. She's…Family” 

“Family? Then what am I? Thought you just said I'll always be family” I mocked.

She stared at me, stunned to speechlessness, clearly not expecting such response from me. 

“Don't speak to your mother like that” Alpha Kreig growled, trying to salvage the situation. “You know she didn't mean it that way" he said in a stern but soft voice, one I had forgotten what it sounded like. 

Thinking back to it, how was I so blind not to see the ridiculousness of it all back then, naively falling for their sweet words and promises. 

“Oh…Then how did she mean it?” I crossed my arms beneath my breast, “she just said I should marry the same brother I grew up with because I'm not your real daughter?” 

Guilt flickered across their eyes, “no, I just meant that remaining in the family without a status would be disadvantageous to you” her voice softened.

Anyone who heard them would probably think they were probably being generous and having my best interest at heart.

I sneered inwardly, the revealed their true colours after almost draining my blood completely to save their dearest Vanessa who someone had been had and lost 3 pregnancies before 18, my blood was the best and stronger than most for some reason.

What better way to get it, than from your mate and Luna, bound by duty to protect.

“If lacking a status means not being a part of this family, then maybe I should just leave” I shot back

“No” they exclaimed, their eyes went wide with panic, “you can't,” 

“I have no status” I threw her words back at her 

“You…” the words seemed to dry up in her mouth, the fake kindness spread across her face. 

“You're mother is just trying to look out for you, we’ve raised you for the past 15 years, blood or not we can't just throw you out into the street. You'll forever remain our daughter” Alpha Kreig quickly broke the awkward air. 

“Daughter indeed” I muttered under my breath.

“They won't let us leave so easily” Luna scoffed, “not until they've saved their precious daughter”

A bitter smile spread across my lips, “who said anything about leaving? An eye for an eye,” my hands clutched my stomach, “they took my child, this time I'm going to take away everything they hold dear.”