Someone in the shadows

Aria's POV 

What was happening? I had no idea.  And why the hell was it even happening?

Elias, Damien, and Rafe all turned to look at their eldest brother,  but they said nothing.  I had a feeling he hadn't said anything about his decision to them before the meeting.  And just like me,  they were hearing it for the very first time.  

A chair scraped loudly against the tiled floor and Lana shot to her feet like a rocket.  Her hands were planted firmly on the table.  "What?" 

"You heard me,  Lana."

"You're not seriously thinking of handing  over Bloodmoon Pack to her."

"I've actually thought about it and that's  why I'm saying it."

Lana shook her head and gave a wry smile.  "I disagree."

"Why?"  Kael asked.  He was wearing another one of his suits that morning.  Looking as sharp as ever.  

"Because she doesn't deserve it.  I do. I have worked so hard,  trained, stayed here with you all.  If there's  any of us who needs  to be in charge, then it's me."

Kael said nothing to her.  He turned to me.  Asked,  "What do you have to say,  

"May.. Maybe she has a point." I shrugged.  "Think it would be a mistake telling  me to rule, when I know nothing about it."

Kael smiled. "You will be trained.  Mason will take care of that."

"Who's Mason?" I asked.  

"Bloodmoon's Chief Beta," Rafe answered.  "One cold asshole."

"Don't tell me you all are really considering agreeing to this," Lana complained.  

"It's a proposition," Damien said.  "We can agree or not. And we haven't made a vote yet."

"I vote for myself."

"The vote wouldn't include you,  Lana. Or Aria here.  Just the four of us." 

Lana went to Kael and spoke harshly into his ear.  I didn't think she wanted to whisper because  I heard her. 

"You call me Lana but you call her sister.  And you would favor her more than me.  This isn't over."

With that,  she walked out.  

"Is she supposed to leave?" Rafe asked.  

"Let her go," Kael said.  

"What's the deal with her?" I asked.  

"You mean,  what's the difference between you and her?" Kael asked.  

I said nothing.  

"Well,  we call her daughter.  But we call you sister. "

"Why?"

"She is our father's daughter.  Suddenly sprang up after his death. We never even grew up with her."

"That goes the same for me," I said.  

"You were switched at birth.  Even from that point,  your life has been at a disadvantage.  Hers was never.  So do not try to find any similarities between the two of you,  Aria."

"Yeah,  I mean,  if you hadn't found me, I'd still  be wallowing in Silverclaw..."

"Stop," Rafe cautioned.  "Don't go there." 

Elias sat forward,  leaning both hands on the table.  "Something has been disturbing me." 

"What's that, doc?" Damien asked, twirling a Queen chess piece between his fingers.  

"Ever since  we found Aria." He paused.  "How did that happen?" 

"Doctor Tait told me..."

Elias interrupted.  "I know what Tait told you,  sister.  He told us the very same thing.  Problem is,  who was that person?" 

"He brought you to the hospital, and told Tait to run a DNA test on you," Damien said.  "Anyone can tell that this person knew who you really are,  sister."

I hadn't really thought about that anyway.  My thoughts had been on Jace and why he had rejected me at our first meeting.  People hardly did it that way.  They gave some chances to get to know their mates, then decide on what to do.  But he just looked at me and told me I was no good for him.  

I wondered how he would feel now if he saw me.  Or how he would feel if he discovered I was the leader of Bloodmoon Pack.  The feeling was exhilarating.  And very, very tempting.  

"Probably been keeping an eye on you," Elias said.  "DNA test  matched ours and since Tait was a friend, he called me personally and broke the whole story  to me."

"Someone is playing games," Rafe said.  

"Yeah, and from the very beginning it seems," Kael said.  

"Question  is why."

"I don't know."

"Are you sure you don't remember  someone who took care of you?" Kael asked.  

"If I did have someone,  I would know."

"So is making Aria pack leader a good idea,  Kael?" Elias asked.  

"Why would it be a bad idea?" Kael demanded cynically.

"We have someone in the shadows, Kael.  Who knows too much.  Probably... And..."

His voice trailed off.  Somehow I felt myself really wanting that position.  Kael was right,  my life had been placed at a disadvantage.  There was nothing I could do on my own.  Just at the whims of other people who saw me as their tool for entertainment.  

I felt myself craving for someone more.  And if Kael was offering his position to me on a platter of gold, then why the hell shouldn't I take it? 

There would be a lot of differences that I could make.  And finally a lot of things  I could do on my own.  

No man would reject me anymore.  And Jace would surely regret his actions.  

Someone touched my arm.  Rafe.  "Earth to Aria.  We lost you there."

"Sorry," I apologized, my face flushing with embarrassment.  My thoughts had gotten the better of me.  

"I was saying that the decision would rest on you," Elias said.  "Should you agree to be pack leader,  then you must begin your training with Mason.  After you're done,  then comes the oath."

"Mason won't take it easy on her," Damien said.  "His ways aren't walks in the pack,  sister.  Kael,  we can have someone else train her.  Someone who'll go easy on her."

"No,"  I blurted out.  

"No, what?"

"I've endured a lot.  I can endure  my training."

Kael's face seemed to glow.  "So that's a yes?" 

I pushed my chin up.  "I agree."

"Rise, Aria Black."  I did.  We all did.  "From now on,  I confer  my powers as Alpha leader on you." 

And from now on,  I thought, I would show them all what I was capable of.