her plan to frame me

Aria’s POV

She came home in the middle of the night when everyone, except me has fallen asleep. I would have also slept off while waiting for her, but since what I wanted to confront her about was urgent and I couldn't wait, I had to stay awake. 

The moment she saw me, she froze on the stairs, her hands on her chest as if she was startled to see me right there. 

The lights were turned off, and I was sitting on the stairs in the dark. So, she must have gotten scared. 

“You maniac!”

She cussed, patting her chest. 

“What in the world do you think you are doing here? You startled me!”

Lana should have fallen off the stairs following the impact of the startle, but she didn't, which means she was never even scared to the brim. 

I got up, supporting my weight on the railing. I turned on my phone’s torch and flashed it towards her. 

Lana was drunk, her hair was a mess, and even her dress was so ruffled that one wouldn't have to be told what she did out there.

What a shame that after all she did in public eyes, she had to return here. Now, everyone in the pack would always look down on our house. They would think we are all the same. 

Lana is just a spoiled brat who always found her way in anything she put her mind to. 

“Get out of my way!”

She yelled in a commanding tone. However, she gently patted her lips and lowered her voice. Even when she knew that the night would turn into horror for her if any of the brothers, especially Kael find out she had just returned home. 

“No, I ain't done with you.” 

I stood in the way, holding my waist like someone who was ready to get into a combat with her opponent. 

One more step, and I was standing right in front of her with just a little space that would only occupy a hand. 

Lana bit her lower lip upsettingly, rage flashing in her eyes. She made an effort to push me out of her way, but I was quick to grab her hand. 

What was she even thinking? She was drunk, so there was no way she could be able to push me away. 

“Tell me who is working for you as a spy in my company.” 

I whispered, holding her wrist tightly. My hand kept tightening her wrist as the eagerness to learn the truth enveloped my mind. 

“What spy? Release my hand!”

Her voice pierced the walls, echoing in the building. But she quickly remembered and covered her mouth again.

“Answer me, and I will release your hand. If you keep on wasting time here, I will alert everyone. When they come out and find you this way, you know what will happen next, Lana.”

A mischievous grin appeared on the side of her lips, her eyes flickered in mischief, and the strength I didn't know she had at that moment gushed inside her body. 

Lana twisted my hand, grabbed my wrist instead, and before I could figure out what she was trying to do, she pulled my hand to her neck.

My eyes snapped, and my heart started palpitating. I knew what she was trying to do. To make it look like I was going to strangle her to death. 

Lana started screaming, her voice traveling around the building like wildfire. Just a few seconds, doors started opening, and everyone started running out. 

The lights were turned on, then gasps escaped from their lips, echoing in the living room.

“Alpha Aria?”

The servants cried out. Others swung their hands over their head. Others stood rooted in a spot, shocked. While others were rubbing their palms together.

“Please let her go.”

They cried out. Lana chuckled at me, narrowing her eyes. 

“Didn't I tell you you don't belong here? Wait and see how things favor me.”

She tightened my hand on her neck, coughing so hard. I would have pressed harder if not for the fact that she was trying to make me look like a terrible person.

“Aria!” 

Kael thundered. His voice pierced my heart like an arrow, sending shivers down my spine. At that moment, Lana’s hand loosened, but before I could retract, she threw herself back, tumbling down the stairs. 

Everything went silent, and all I could hear were the servants' voices screaming. Then the heavy footsteps behind me, running down the stairs. 

They nearly pushed me down too as they were running down to save Lana, who was already on the last stairs, and had just hit her head on the floor.

“Quick! Get the room ready!”

Elias ordered, checking for Lana’s pulse. 

Kael, who never even looked at Lana, nor even wanted to talk to her, scooped her on his arm and hurried towards the room Elias was heading to.

So they cared for her after all, and were only pretending. I couldn't believe I fell for that trick. I should have known that Lana was up to no good.

Gosh! That was the most terrible day of my life. The servants not only glared at me, but said words that made my saliva bitter.

“She hates Ms. Lana.”

“Since she moved in here, it has been one trouble after another.”

“She must have come here to turn the house upside down.”

“She took Lana’s position, and now she wants to kill her.”

They weren't whispering, no, they said it loudly so it would get into my ears.

I wished to be swallowed by the ground out of embarrassment, but even I knew that was impossible. 

When I thought everything had died down after the servants left, a masculine hand dropped on my shoulder. 

“Were you trying to kill her?”

I shook my head vigorously, staring at Rafe’s flaming eyes. His lips were compressed in anger, and his hand on my shoulder kept getting heavier. 

“If anything happens to Lana, you will be dead!”

He threatened, released my shoulder,, and walked away. 

I was stunned because that wasn't what I expected to hear from him. He should have asked me how it happened and waited for me to tell my side of the story first. But he didn't care about that; he was on Lana’s side. 

‘We won't escape this,’ 

Liza whimpered, teething nervously. 

My fault was only stopping that maniac on the stairs to ask why she was meddling in my affairs. I would have just let her go, but she wanted to fulfil the promise she made to me.

As I turned towards my room, Damien came out of his, yawning. I thought he was with the other brothers.

“What is going on in the house? I heard commotion.”

He said, between yawning,  closing the door. I would have told him all that happened and how Lana was trying to frame me, but I knew that was a waste of time. 

If his brothers already believed that I did that on purpose, then he wouldn't be the only one to defend me. 

“The princess of the house fell down the stairs.”

I exaggerated the princess part, waving my fingers and rolling my eyes. 

He wouldn't be an exception, so to hell with them all. I don't give a fuck about what would happen next. The least they could do is strip me of the Alpha title, and give it to Lana, since that is what she has been running after. 

I walked past him, entered my roo,m and slammed the door shut.

My regret at that moment was not pushing Lana willingly. I should have done that before she made me so it. That way, I wouldn't feel guilty or shocked. 

Well, that wasn't the end. I was sure that Lana would cross my path one day, and if that day eventually came, I might push her off the cliff. 

‘Do not think like that, Aria.’

Liza sighed worriedly. 

‘Why don't we think of a way to pass your brother’s punishment?’

“Hello!”

I cut her off.

“What punishment? I have passed that phase, Liza. I no longer fear anything or anyone. If Kael wants to take the Alpha title from me, then so be it. But I won't allow anyone walk over me again.”

Showing them my weak side would only make them look down on me and, worse, start bullying me. 

“And for those servants, wait until morning to see what I will do to them.” 

They needed to be put in their place, and to be shown who the boss is around the house and the entire pack.

The next morning, I got up, picked up my phone from the side drawer, and left the room. At that moment, the servants were busy with their daily activities. So, I gathered them around. 

“What do you want from us?”

“Maybe she wants to sentence us by pushing us down the stairs too.”

Oh, wow! 

Others had started laughing at what the two mean girls had said, and before any of them could utter another rubbish, I stepped forward, heading towards them. I hadn't reached them before I felt a soft tap on my back.

“Go apologize to Lana.” 

Kael ordered the moment I turned around.