Five.

Aria's POV

Flash back- three months ago

Racing to Ryan’s side, I drop to my knees and lean over him. Tears stream down my face as I try to shake him. He wasn’t breathing, his chest still in the moonlit grounds.

“Aria” my father rests his hands on my shoulders. “Aria, he will be fine, it’s just what happens”

The Alpha summons Kyle and his Beta to help move Ryan back inside. He tries to reassure me that by morning Ryan will be his normal self, but I didn’t believe him.

Refusing to listen to my father, I follow Kyle and my fathers Beta. Both men were huge and they were struggling to carry Ryan. A complete change to the day I had brought Ryan home.

The men carry Ryan to his room. A room on the opposite side of the house to my bedroom. It didn’t stop me from following my brother in. As they lay Ryan down, I sit by his side, holding on to his hand.

Kyle hovers for a moment, like he wanted to say something, his eyes darting about. 

“You think it failed?” I ask Kyle, hoping that it wasn’t the case.

He shakes his head at me 

“No, it’s just….” He trails off, quickly leaving without looking back. It was weird for Kyle, he doesn’t normally care about what he has to say.

A few moments after Kyle leaves, I climb off the bed. Moving to the door, I slide the lock across. I wanted to be alone with Ryan, I didn’t want any interruptions.

It was a few hours before Ryan finally opens his eyes. He suddenly sits upright, gasping for air like he hadn’t been breathing. He looks at me wide eyed, and then around his room, confused. 

“What happened Aria?”

“You don’t remember?”

“No” Kyle shakes his head “Did I do it? Did I take the Blood Oath?”

“Yes,” I was confused too, how could he forget something so powerful??

The cut on his hand still hadn’t healed and I pull Ryan’s hand up to his face, “You made the oath Ryan, you are a part of this pack now.”

A smile spreads across his face, he seemed happy that he had completed the oath.

Ryan pulls me on top of him, holding me close to his body. I could feel the warmth of his chest through the thin white t-shirt as he kissed me. His hands slide up my back and unhook my bra. 

I let out a giggle, finally grateful that we were completely alone and whisper “The door is locked”

“Perfect”

Ryan pulls my top up over my head, an urgency in him as he hardens beneath me. After always being interrupted, now would be the perfect time.

I was just as eager, my hands work on the fastening of his linen trousers. Quickly freeing him, but before I get a chance to do anything. Ryan flips us over, tearing my trousers and panties from me in one tug.

The night was long and very intense. Every time I started drifting off to sleep, Ryan would be trailing his fingers over me, teasing me in any way that he could until I was begging for him to fill me. 

As dawn broke, I reached over to Ryan’s side of the bed, he wasn’t there. When I turn, I see his bathroom light is on and do not think much about it. Turning over, I close my eyes, a few moments later, I feel Ryan slip into bed behind me. Slipping his arm around my bare waist, pressing his chest up against my back as he kissed my cheek.

Ryan whispers something in my ear, but I was too exhausted to hear what he said. Sleep taking me before I get a chance to understand his words.

Opening my eyes, I smile and stretch out like a cat. The dream I had was amazing. Ryan and I were together, just like I had always hoped and we lived a happy life together, a perfect life.

I continue to stretch and realise that once again, Ryan is not in the bed. Only this time there was no bathroom light on. His side of the bed was cold too, his scent weak, he hadn’t been in the room for some time.

Racing across the room, the door was still locked, I didn't understand. If the door was locked, how did he get out? It didn’t make any sense.

The cold breeze hits my naked skin and I realise the window is wide open. I quickly get myself dressed, pulling on some of Ryan’s shorts as my trousers lay in tatters. Searching the room, Ryan’s things were gone, most of his clothes, his wallet and his keys.

I didn’t understand. 

Our night together had been amazing, he had paid me so much attention, everything had been perfect. Tying my hair back, I faintly remember him whispering something into my ear, but I had been so tired, I could barely remember what he had said.

It hits me like a ton of bricks “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

How could I have not listened to something so important. Why did he have to go??

Unlocking the door, I frantically search the packhouse. There was no sign of him anywhere. He had gone!

Kyle comes out of his bedroom, almost colliding with me and rubs his sleepy eyes.

“What’s going on Aria? You look like a crazy woman!”

“He’s gone Kyle?!”

“Who?” Kyle rubs his eyes again, not registering what I was saying. He yawns sleepily as he tugs me into his room.

“Ryan! He has left us Kyle, he has left me!”

Kyle pulls me in for a hug, “I’m sure he has probably gone for a run, or maybe a hunt”

“No Kyle, all his things are gone!”

He asks me to show him and when I lead him to the empty room, he screws his nose up. Obviously knowing that more than just sleep happened in here.

“See, he is gone!”

Kyle looks through Ryan’s things, or rather, the lack of things. His jaw clenched so tight that I could see the pulsing in his cheek.

He finally stands and looks at me. His green eyes dark

“Did he say anything Aria?”

“Yes, but I was half asleep, I can only remember him apologising and telling me he had to go.”

“And you didn’t question him?”

“I was half asleep Kyle.” my voice was whiny and I hated how pathetic I sounded

“I need to talk to father!” 

Kyle walks away from me, leaving me in complete panic. My father would jump to conclusions and blame me for Ryans disappearance.

“Well, well, well. You fucked that one up sis!”

It was the last person I wanted to see. Seren saunters up to me. Today she is in an eye watering short skirt. If she bent over, there would be nothing left to the imagination. Her top was just as bad, her cleavage practically hanging out for all to see.

“Seren leave me alone” I stomp towards my room but she is hot on my trail.

“Why should I? The guy you forced into taking a Blood Oath is nowhere to be seen. Father will be happy with you!”

“Get lost Seren”

“Let me guess, big bro is going to save the day?”

I roll my eyes, I couldn’t believe that once upon a time, I wanted to be just like Seren.

“Maybe you were crap at sex!” Seren calls out down the hallway, making me freeze. 

“Or maybe his men have come for him!”

I spin around to look at her, certain that I had misheard.

“What did you say?” I ask accusingly

“Exactly what you heard, Aria. His people are closing in on this pack!” She cackles as she walks away.

She had to be lying. Ryan hated Crimson Pack, he had told me hundreds of times. No one had said anything, no one had mentioned a possible attack. Seren had to be lying!