Sworn Enemies

Aria’s POV

So it happened that Jace and Rafe once crossed paths in one of their pack’s elite meetings and Jace got on his nerves because he refused to agree to Rafe’s decision. From that day, they became sworn enemies.

Rafe’s threatening to turn Jace into a pancake was the best thing ever and I would have been the happiest person if he did that. 

However, I didn't want it that way. Jace was already useful to me. He was the only weapon to use against Lana to make my revenge plan easier and more painful.

“Tell me!”

Rafe thundered, breaking me out of my reverie.

Before I could intervene, Jace had already unpinned Rafe’s hands from his collar. 

“I didn't come here for you, Rafe, I came for Aria.”

The look Rafe gave me was enough to send a coward tumbling down a tunnel. It scared me, and would have made me drop to my knees, pleading for mercy if I were still in the Silverclaw pack. But Kael told me Alphas do not get scared over anything.

“What is he talking about, Aria?”

His tone was commanding and authoritative. 

“She is the love of my life.”

What!

Jace should know he was getting himself into trouble. How could he even think of saying something as ridiculous as that at that moment?

“You're what?” 

Rafe gasped, stepping closer to Jace. He cracked his fingers, glaring at Jace as he walked over to him.

“Rafe?” 

I stepped in, blocking his way to Rafe.

“Can you stop this, please?”

Even though my heart was palpitating, I had to brace up and feign annoyance.

“Jace came to visit me, and yes, he is the man I love.”

Not only Rafe, but his entourage's breath dropped as well. They exchanged confused glances, but their expression wasn't as deadly as Rafe’s.

He looked like he could slay at that moment.

“My enemy?”

He embedded his upper teeth in his lower lip, breathing hard.

“You guys only had a misunderstanding. You should sit it out instead of keeping malice.”

Rafe gave Jace a deadly stare before storming away.

I knew I had just opened the door for a serious crisis in the family. Rafe loves me just as the rest of my brothers do. And if he should inform the rest of what had transpired between us, then it wouldn't end well.

Watching him ambled away scared me to the bone, but there was nothing I could do since I wouldn't send Jace away.

“I didn't know you were that brave.”

Jace chuckled softly, his hands carefully tracing mine.

I pulled it away, scowling at him.

“Do not read a meaning into what I said to Rafe,” 

I hissed, walking away from him.

“I don't love you, and I will never do that.”

“But you already informed him that we are a couple.” 

“That was to save you from getting flattened, you fool. Get the hell out of here already before Rafe returns and turns you into a pancake!”

“I can't leave,” 

He protested, stepping closer again.

“Then suit yourself.”

As I veered around turning my back on him, Jace’s long fingers clutched my wrist. He pulled me back, pinning me to his body.

The moment my head hit his hard broad chest, his lavender scent surged inside my nostrils. My heart ceased beating for a few seconds, and my blood stilled.

It was as if the universe and everything in it had come to a standstill. 

“Mate,”

Liza giggled within me, her voice above a whisper. 

I couldn't believe that was happening. I thought after he rejected me at the Silverclaw pack, that was the end of it.

Moreover, I wasn't ready to give in, no. I promised myself that Jace cannot get a second chance from me. 

The moment I felt his fingers stroking in my hair, I returned to my senses and kicked his leg.

“Know your place!”

I warned, turned towards the stairs, and hurried off.  

“That was sick!”

Liza cracked up the moment my head banged the fluffy pillow.

Yeah, it was. What actually made me excited among all the chaos in the living room was Lana’s look of defeat.

I knew she was never going to let it slide, but I was ready for her. No matter what she plans against me, Lana must never succeed. Not anymore. I am no longer the girl I used to be in the Silverclaw pack.

“But you provoked Rafe,” 

Liza sighed anxiously.

“What if he informs your other brothers and they scold you?”

I sighed, sitting upright on the bed. It would be much better if they stick to the scolding part. I didn't want to get on their nerves, but Jace just made me do it.

“Can we go to the garden so we can get this off our heads?”

She yawned.

That made sense. But the fear of running into my brothers got the better of me. I wasn't ready to face any of them that day because I had nothing in mind to tell them about what I said to Rafe.

And as if they were waiting for the right moment, Kael brought up the topic at breakfast the next morning.

Nobody was left out, we were all gathered there as usual, including Lana.

Ever since I arrived at the table and sat down, Lana wouldn't stop staring at me. If she were a witch, she would have swallowed me whole with that kind of stare.

“Rafe told us what happened yesterday, Aria,”

I lowered my head with a sigh, spinning the fork in my hand. 

“What do you expect from someone who was raised as a servant?”

Lana scoffed.

But the eyes that met her made her quickly stuff her mouth with boiled egg.

“How many times do I have to warn you never to use that word on Aria?” 

Kael dragged his chair back, but was stopped by Damien who was sitting closer to him.

“Mind your tongue, Lana.” 

He warned her.

“Sorry,” 

Lana murmured arrogantly.

“Jace and Rafe are enemies, and there is no way you should fall in love with someone like him.”

I would have sworn to them that there was nothing between Jace and explained my reason for saying that to Rafe. Unfortunately, Lana was there, and her big eyes were fixed on me like a predator waiting for the right moment to pounce on its prey.

Letting the cat out of the bag at that moment would only give Lana more opportunity to walk over me.

“I am sorry,” 

I exhaled deeply, placing the fork on the plate.

“You should be,” 

Elias muttered.

“But I can't leave Jace.”

Utensils slipped from their hands, falling on the plates.

“You can't do that?” 

“Are you trying to say an enemy is more important than your own brothers?”

Jeez! That wasn't it. There was no way Jace would be more important than them. I didn't even like him. 

“I can't take this anymore!” 

Lana sprang up, slamming her hands on the table.

“Jace and I are a couple. It is I whom he loves, not you!”

She snapped, pointing a finger at me.

“If you don't stay away from my mate, Aria, I swear, I will make you regret it!”

“Do your worst, Lana, Jace is my mate and you cannot change that!”

She threw a piece of boiled egg at me, but I was quick to dodge it. 

“Enough!”

Kael thundered, his voice piercing the walls.

“Are you girls for real? Fighting over the dude who isn't even welcomed here?”

Rafe got up.

“I am so disappointed in you, Aria,” 

He shook his head unbelievably and left.

“Me too,” 

Elias picked up his stethoscope and left too. Damien also left, leaving us with Kael whose eyes were shut, and fingers on his chin and the tip of his nose.

“Kael, tell Aria to take her eyes off my man. He belongs to me not her,”

I scoffed at Lana who was fuming like a mentally deranged person. 

“What if I don't tell her?”