Aria watched over the television the news about her funeral. Jane and Harry, her parents, led the procession while holding her portrait.
It broke her heart to see them that way.
But she could not let them know that she was alive. Not yet.
They need to follow the plan.
They need to make it look like she was already dead, so the Valles or whoever was behind the attack would think they killed her.
Then, when they least expect it, they will attack. For now, Aria will have to lay low in the cabin - in the falls, the safe haven of Crescent Pack here in Clarke's Lake.
Behind Jane and Harry were Lizzie and Cassie, followed by the rest of her schoolmates, former teachers, and mentors.
It weirded her out, watching her own funeral. But, ever since she found out about being a werewolf, her betrothal with Leo, and the prophecy, that is the least weird
Aria smiled upon seeing Leo's sleeping face beside her. She stroked his face and studied it. "God, is this real?" she whispered to herself. She ran her fingers thru Leo's hair, down to his cheeks and his well-defined jawline. "I can assure you I am real." "You're awake," Aria chuckled and kissed him. "How are you?" he asked. "I'm feeling good." "You're not sore?" "I am, but it's tolerable. Anyway," Aria said. "We need to go out and ask for an update. We need to discuss our plan, step-by-step." "Can't we just stay like this for a moment?" Leo groaned. Aria was about to get up, but Leo pulled her towards him, so Aria was lying on his chest. "Okay. We have all day," Aria agreed. "But, I have a question." "What is it?" "Where were you? How did you escape?"
"If my biological dad is alive, and he was in Crescent Hills all this time, does that change the prophecy?" Aria asked.Matt and Leo were silent. The discovery that the previous alpha was actually alive is a huge thing. However, it still did not answer the question of why he did not look for the rest of his pack. Or whether it would change Aria and Leo’s destiny or not.‘Brother against brother,’ Matt thought of the prophecy Aria said days ago. ‘And in victory comes the death of the other.’They have been so focused on getting around the prophecy of someone’s death before they could take back Crescent Hills that they did not notice the other phrase.‘Brother against brother.’“That is only one of our many problems. I have another concern,” Matt said.
May 16, 2003Olivia sat by the window, trying to find relief from the heat of the summer night. She stared at the full moon above Crescent Hills and watched the rest of their pack run in the wilderness near them. She caressed her round belly after feeling a light kick from the creature inside it. "I also can't wait to meet you soon, little one," she chuckled. "Did she kick again?" Blake asked, peeping from the door. Olivia laughed and motioned for him to come closer. He bent down and kissed Olivia on the lips, then her full belly. Then, he fondly stroked it. "Are you having fun there, little alpha?""Oh!" Olivia exclaimed when she felt another kick. They gaped at each other, both smiling from ear to ear, then laughed while the rest of the pack howled below the light of the full moon.Their pack always waits for a lunar eclipse t
Bodies of decapitated vampires scattered all over the dungeon to the main hall of Crescent Hills palace.Blake ran out of the dungeon that kept him for years. His eyes were almost blinded because of the sun rays directly hitting him for the first time in many years.His heart sunk as he saw the debris of the battle in their home. The Valles altered everything.The plaza where their pack usually goes to hang out became a burial ground for the corpses of the werewolves killed in the battle.The dried remains of his people hang in the gates of their castle.Because the sun was still out, most vampires couldn't get out of the castle."Seize him!" Bella commanded the wolves guarding the palace. But, their loyalty to Blake remained.As soon as they recognized who he was, they ran by his side."Alpha!" one of them said. "How
Aria walked towards the man who emerged from behind the trees. She stared at him, mouth gaping. “Who are you?” she asked, though there is no doubt she already knew the answer in her heart.“Holy-” Matt blurt. He was just as surprised as Aria. He stood up and grabbed Aria’s arm. “Hold on,” he said. “We need to be sure who he is.”Aria nodded.Yet she still took a step forward.“Who are you?” she repeated, tears started forming in her eyes.“I am Blake Crestwood,” he answered.Aria and Matt did not say anything for the first few moments after hearing those words. They only looked at each other, both confused, yet hopeful.“Blake Crestwood was dead,” Matt said.
“Father. I think you’re mistaken,” Aria said, holding her father’s arms, stopping him from attacking Lizzie again.“I will never be mistaken. If she is her daughter, that would mean that girl is also a traitor,” Blake raged.“Father, please calm down.”Aria was using all her strength to keep Blake away from Lizzie. Leo intervened as well and tried to talk Blake out of it while Matt only watch from the sofa as if the whole thing was an amusing movie.“He’s right,” Lizzie shouted.They all stopped and stared at her. “What do you mean he’s right?” Aria asked. Lizzie stood up and walked closer to Aria.“He’s right about my mother being a traitor,” he said.Aria let go of her father’s arms and pe
Aria and Leo visited one house from another, finding and analyzing clues and marks left by those who took the kids."Thirteen kids in total," Leo stated while looking at the last house they visited. Those who stayed in contact with Matt and Leo while Aria was not aware of her identity chose to leave near them.Clarke's Lake.They run when the Hunters run. They hide when they hide. And they fight when they fight.“Please, he’s only seven,” Danielle cried to Aria and Leo. She still had her apron on, she said she let little Rob play in the garden, they had a fence, so she was not worried.But then she heard him scream and when she ran after her child, all she saw was the smoke of a black van dashing out of her sight.All cases of abduction left similar traces – the symbol of the moon with runic alphabets written below it. Aria looked up t
Despite the gloomy atmosphere, the members of the Crescent pack did their part to prepare for the wedding of Leo and Aria. Cassie, the only person present who had superhuman strength because of being a vampire, lifted most of the heavy equipment that needed lifting.The others helped each other build an altar with its back facing the rippling falls behind.Aria was watching the people below work. She smiles, occasionally, at those who meet her eyes, but after that, she finds herself staring to the distance, thinking of the things that led them here and where this will lead them.She loves Leo.She loves her pack.And even though she does not think she is ready for marriage for the sake of her pack, for the sake of those kids, she will do anything.But the melancholy she felt i