11 — Whispers and Wounds

Aria’s POV

The murmurs were always before daylight.

Little, keen, passed along the passageways like poison in the air.

"She's bewitched the Alpha."

“He does not even glance at anybody anymore.”

“She is too dangerous... she is not one of us.”

I told myself not to listen. The fact that their words were merely noise. However many times I said it, the sting never wore off. It was one as at Silvermoon - the same sadistic laughter, the same glares that gazed through me as though I were under dirt.

Only this time, it hurt more. This was because I wanted to fit in this place.

The Winchester pack was stiffer, meaner, harsher. They appreciated power, fidelity, and blood. And I was an omega who carried the child of another Alpha. Each of my actions was met with silence, but it was not respectful silence, but judgmental.

So I fought harder.

By the time the sun set every morning, I was already on the training grounds, all covered with sweat, fists raw and knuckles bruised. The other wolves sneered at my difficulty in keeping up, but I did not. I couldn't afford to.

Again, I said to myself, getting both my arms up.

One of the warriors, who was next to me, was gasping and said, "Rest." You have already done more than twice the amount of work of any other person.

I ignored him. "Again."

Damon stood by spectators all over.

He stood close to the edge of the arena with his dark eyes after each movement I made. He made no speech, no interference, but I could feel his presence there, constant, burning, and causing my heart to beat in stuttering irregularities.

I even thought he was proud at times. There are occasions when I got a glimpse of what was in his eyes-- something I could not figure out.

I struck another blow on the training dummy as the sound resonated into the atmosphere. I felt the pain in my arm, but still I did not stop till the wood was smashed. My breath, as I at length dropped my fists, came in sharp gasps.

“Enough, Enough,” like a deep, commanding voice, broke in on Damon.

I froze. "I can still…"

"Aria."

Just my name. But I stood still by the manner in which he said it. It was not a cold tone that he used, but rather low and nearly rough, as though he was struggling with something within himself.

I turned to face him. Sweat was sticking to my skin, hair to my face, yet I had his gaze. They will not respect me as long as I remain weak.

His jaw clenched. “You do not need to bleed in order to prove it.”

"Don't I?" I whispered. "All that they can see is the weak omega that does not fit here.”

His eyes softened, barely. "Let them see what they want. I know who you are."

A silence was in the world. Something came tight into my chest, not with tiredness, but otherwise. Something warmer.

However, I was yet to speak, when a voice came slicing through the air.

"Well, isn't that touching."

I turned. Lila.

She was half a few feet distant with her golden hair cascading down her back and a smirk on her lips. Her voice was easy in tone and attracted the wolves in the immediate area.

“I did not know that training was accompanied by individual lessons of the Alpha himself,” she thought, with such false sweetness in her voice.

Damon's expression hardened. “Lila,” he admonished but she smirked.

"Oh, relax, Alpha. I'm just curious. We all are." Her eyes were darting at me, in an incisive and mocking light. “Aria, tell me what you did to get his attention? A spell? A sob story? Or perhaps you are just too… too obedient.”

The ensuing laugh was like a stab. It was hot up my neck, but I dared not turn my head. I do not know you, I said in a low voice.

"No?" she tilted her head. "I know what you are. A leftover from Silvermoon. The toy Zac did not want again. And now you come here, bearing him his bastard, and acting like you are one of our own.”

There was something deep, buried, in what she said. I tasted it-- cold and old and stingy of shame, heavy as all the hurtful names I had ever been called. My neck closed up, but I could not give her the pleasure of watching me run.

Still, my hands shook.

"Enough." The voice of Damon roused all the wolves with the sound of its mightiness. His Alpha aura came rippling along like a wave, but Lila smiled mockingly.

“I am just telling the truth,” She said. “Should your pack not know who they were kneeling to next?

The mass grumbled and something within me disjointed.

My heart rose,--pain, rage, humiliation--each hitting something hot and wild together. Before I knew it I took a step forward.

"You think you know pain?" I said, my voice shaking. “You believe you can stab me with words? I was beaten, pushed aside, left to starve, mocked at by people just like you - and I survived. I'll survive this too."

Lila scoffed. “Bravado stuff, from someone who cowers behind the pity of an Alpha.”

I didn't think. I just felt.

Something graduated in me-- a throb under my skin, a tempest flung open. The air was glowing, heavy and dense, and as I could not prevent it, the light burst out of my hands.

The ground trembled. The wind blew in the arena and swept dust and leaves up in a tornado. The wolves reclined, and fained to be breathless.

"What the--" someone shouted.

My vision blurred. My heartbeat throbbed my ears, too wild, too loud. The power which passed through me was wild and painfully intense, as though my wolf had digging teeth to the daylight in a moment.

Lila floundered back, with horror-stricken eyes. "What... what are you?"

I didn't know. My hands were shining - a dim silver light shinning through my palms. The strength of it vibrated in my body. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

And then -- arms. Powerful and firm, and hurled me ere I struck a ground. I was engulfed by the scent of pine, and smoke, and something darker than that, which enveloped Damon.

"Aria!" His voice was severe with alarm. The world swam and I winked and the world was tilted.

"I... I didn't mean to--" My voice broke.

"Don't talk." He put his grip more firmly on, and lowered me. His hand touched my back, and locked me to the ground as the silver light fluttered and faded.

Gasps echoed around us. No one spoke. There was just the sound of my unorganized breathing, and the voice of Damon.

"Everyone, out."

"But Alpha--"

"Now!"

The command hit like thunder. The wolves all bowed their heads and fled, and we were left the two alone to the hushpuppies.

I attempted to get up, but my extremities were ponderous. I was kneeling with Damon beside me, and his face was as close to mine as it had never been close. His looks were fierce and desperate.

"What happened?" he asked quietly.

I swallowed, trembling. “I do not know,... it was like something that broke in me.”

He moved a hair of mine away out of my face, his hand was nearly soft. "You're shaking."

“I'm okay,” I said to myself but my body was telling me I was not. I was still racing in my heart, and the residue of that weird energy, was still vibrating under my skin.

“No,” replied he, in a low but definite voice. "You're not."

I glanced up-- and that is when I saw it in his eyes. Not fear. Not anger. But awe.

"Your eyes," he breathed.

I frowned. "What about them?"

He stretched forward and looked directly at me. "They're glowing... silver."

And then I could not answer, the world tipped over once more. The darkness came and enveloped the light in my eyes.

"Damon..." I called his name and I barely uttered it when I lost consciousness.

And the final sensation I had was his hand on mine, his voice clearing through the haze, coarse, frightened, all human.

"Don't you dare leave me, Aria."