The Meeting

Aria's POV 

What replaced it was shock.  But she quickly recovered. 

"What the hell do we have here?" she blurted out.  "You brought me, my servant." 

"What did you just say?" Kael asked,  as he closed the distance.  

"This filthy thing here used to serve me when I paid visits to Silverclaw.  As well as the other men,  for entertainment.  She's handy.  What a coincidence."

"Wait,  she served you?" Damien asked.  

"Of course,  she did.  Haven't you been listening to all I've been saying?"

The hand that met her actually pinned her to the wall.  It was so fast that I had a problem actually seeing their bodies move.  Kael planted her firmly against the wall, and a couple of the helpers around gasped in fear.

"I will take it that you had no idea who you were letting serve you.  But from now on,  you will not refer to Aria in that manner.  Do you understand?"

Lana was trying so hard to get his hand off her shoulder but it was like moving the ground beneath her.  "You're hurting  me."

"Don't say that, Lana," Rafe advised,  rubbing at a tattoo on his face.  "He'll only hurt you more.  Just say you understand."

"Fine,"  she struggled.  "I understand. Now let me go."

"I'm not done yet," Kael said,  not moving.  "You shall not address her as a servant anymore.  And you wouldn't dare look down on her henceforth."

I watched all these happen before my eyes and I couldn't even move.  Frozen to the spot.  Never before,  had I seen someone, or some people stand up for me. To defend my worth.  

All of a sudden, I had become very important.  I felt it was a dream and pinched myself a couple of times before I began to enjoy it.  

"Yes, yes, yes, Kael.  I hear you.  Please..."

He finally let her go and Lana looked at me with curiosity.  Why the hell was she looking at me like that? 

"If she's not here to serve then why is she here?" Lana asked.  

"She's here because she's our sister."

"What?" Lana asked,  obviously shocked. I could recall a couple of demeaning things she had said to me in the past.  She really didn't see things turning out this way for me.  "That's impossible.  I'm the only daughter our father ever  had."

"Well, our DNA matches hers," Damien explained. "You should be happy that you now have a sister.  Forget about the past."

"Take Aria to her chambers, Rafe," Kael said.  

"Of course," Rafe said,  offered me his elbow,  and took me up the stairs. The servants bowed as we passed. "Are you shaken? Sorry about Kael.  Being a leader makes him jumpy at times."

"I don't know anything  about that."

"Actually, he doesn't  like her."

"Who?" 

Rafe smirked at me.  "Like you don't know. Lana,  he doesn't like her.  Said she's different.  And that he's never really connected with  her."

"Is that true for the rest of you?" I asked. 

"We tag along.  Come to think of it,  she's more comfortable paying visits to Silverclaw than she is staying here.  Why?"

I knew why.  "Alpha Gregory is a friend."

We entered the lobby and the expensive decor took my breath away.

"Friend  or lover?" Rafe asked suspiciously.  

"I.. I... can't say for sure."

Rafe frowned.  "Then that's bad news." 

My chambers were on the other side of the palace.  It was huge.  And I couldn't believe I had the whole place to myself.  

I settled in just fine with the help of some maids.  They provided whatever I wanted.  And since  I wasn't so bossy with them,  we related just fine.  

Lana stayed out of my way.  She refused to come to dinners, even when she was called.  I guessed I understood. Someone unsympathetic like her would find it hard to come to terms with the fact that she'd have to eat at the same table with someone who'd been her servant.

One hell of a kick to the stomach.  

But it was nothing compared to the attention I was getting from my brothers.  I learnt that Kael was the Alpha leader, Elias was a doctor and Tait was a friend.  Damien was a lawyer, while Rafe was a mafia lord.  He took me to one of his meetings with the families and announced me as his sister, also demanding that I should be respected.  

I was lucky none of the men there had been any of my clients.  How would that have made me feel otherwise? 

I was given a convoy of my own.  The palace grounds were filled with cars, and I had no idea who owned which.  

The most interesting part was that I made a friend.  Her name was Nina. She had freckles on her face and curly red hair.  Met her at an event I attended and she was a great artist.  

Lana stayed out of my way as much as she could until I decided to get in her face.  Told of my maids to keep an eye on her, and when Lana was alone, I went to her.  

The fountain was at the back of the house.  Lana was in a red dress and her waist was tied with a band.  She had her back to me and was watching the flow of the water. 

"Is this your favorite place in the palace?" I asked,  making her jump.  I smiled.  

She turned, an arrogant look on her face.  "What are you doing here?" 

"Took a walk.  Ended up here.  Saw you and thought I might say something."

"We have nothing to talk about."

"I doubt that.  Ignoring  me only proves it otherwise."

She scoffed. Closed the distance between us.  "I am not your equal.  Never will be.  We might share the same blood,  but that doesn't change the fact that.." 

Damien interrupted us.  "Sisters.  Kael has called a meeting.  Lana,  if you don't attend, you might be pinned to the wall again."

Everyone was there when we arrived. Took our seats and waited for Kael to speak.  

"How's it going, Lana?" he asked.  

Lana forced a smile.  "Fine."

"Good. I'll go straight to the point. I am relinquishing my position  as Alpha leader and announcing Aria to take my place."