"I just hope Arya is safe. Alfa did say we would be going in a few days..." "Yes, but what about our project? And our leader? We can not leave Arya here!"
"We haven't seen her in days... who knows if she's still alive or not..."
"Don't say that, Shirley. She said she's from this village, remember?"
"But she didn't say anything else! She promised to explain, then woke up late, then disappeared!"
The white wolf turned around slowly and began walking away. Alfa followed behind, feeling her sadness.
"What's wrong?"
"My human is conflicted. On one hand, she feels lost. On the other hand, she feels you're rushing everything."
"You do understand me, don't you?" Alfa asked Arya's wolf.
"Yes! That is why I need some space with my human alone. She doesn't know me, and I need to know her as well." Saying that, the huge white wolf moved forward, leaving the giant black wolf behind.
"Where am I," Arya asked, feeling darkness around her.
"You're in our mind." Came a voice.
"Who are you? How do I get out?"
"I'm your wolf, and I am here to get to know you."
"Why can't I see you?" Arya asked, almost crying.
"You are not looking. Look closely towards the dim light..."
Arya searched the dim light, and sure enough, there was a light. She walked to the light and peered out. To her surprise, she saw a white wolfs face reflected in the water.
"Is this me, in my wolf form?" Arya asked, amazed.
"Yes, Arya, we are one."
"What's your name?"
"You can choose my name. Since I'm just born, I don't have a name."
"In that case, I'll call you... Bella. Do you like it?" Arya asked.
"Hhmmm, Bella... sound nice. I can tell Braxen I'm Bella," Arya's wolf smiled proudly.
"Braxen? Who's he?" Arya asked.
"Our mate," Bella said.
"He's not our mate! He had Sinclair kill Patricia right in front of our eyes. He is also holding my team hostage," Arya said angrily.
"No, Arya, he is just keeping them safe. I've seen them... they are worried about you."
"You've seen them? Where?" Arya asked. Hope filled her, as the thought of saving them once again filled her.
She also needs to get out before Alfa Flowerew marked her. Patricia had told her that once your mate marks you, he shares your thoughts and knows where you are, even when you conceal your scent from the world, he'll still find you.
"Arya, we cannot leave. I trust him; I don't trust his vampire friend. I smelt him, and I think Alfa has moved your team closer to him to protect them. Those vampires drink human blood. With the team living in Alfa's own house, the bloodsucking demons cannot do anything to harm them, for it will be a disrespect to their host," Bella said, thoughtfully.
Arya hadn't thought of it that way. She still remembered the faces of those slaves who were bled dry.
"I never thought of it that way," Arya said. "But I still don't want to be marked."
"Arya, being marked by an alfa is a great honor. It will not only protect you but also your family." Bella insisted.
"Are you on my side or his?" Arya asked, angry that her wolf is also on board with him.
Braxen was the reason she lost her parents, and Kane was the reason she never got to say goodbye to her grandpa... and here Bella wants that alfa to mark her?
She never got to really know her mother and father or his pack! And her own wolf wanted to be mated to the alfa? No way!
"Arya, if we do somehow escape, we don't have anywhere to go. I have seen the longing in Braxen's eyes... he'll never let us go, and he is willing to kill anything that stands in the way of us." Bella sighed. "And he knows about aunt and uncle and our cousins. They'll just be collateral damage for him. I'm not strong enough to fight him, let alone the monsters that suck blood. We have to be smart because he can and will force us to submit."
"So what now? Can't we just run away? I'm sure he won't kill my friends before finding me!"
"Arya, you don't think he's stupid enough to send us out here alone, do you."
"What do you mean?"
"I can smell wolves all around us. Yes, I can't see them, but the scent is strong. We are surrounded," Bella said, looking around. Then she rolled on the ground playfully.
'So you're telling me she's just staring at her reflection, then looking around and rolling?' Alfa asked Sinclair through the mindlink.
'Yes, Alfa.'
Alfa Flowerew had gone home after seeing Arya's wolf walk into the forest. He sent Sinclair and his men to watch over her, as he didn't trust her yet. They were to remain hidden and not engage with her at all, and report back her every move.
'Alfa, she's turning back... Luna Arya is now in human form...' 'Sinclair, I know what turning back means. What is she doing now?' Alfa asked.
'She's... Alfa, she's sitting and crying.'
Arya screamed as she let all her emotions out. She knew his men were watching her, but she didn't care.
Her tears flowed freely, and she let them.
Arya then remembered her grandfather was buried somewhere in this village. Sinclair must know about it... and she can bet Sinclair was among the men Alfa sent to keep watch.
"Sinclair? Sinclair, I know you're there! I need to ask you something. Come forward," Arya said loudly.
'What?' Alfa asked.
'Yes, Alfa, she's calling me! What do I do?' Sinclair asked in a panic.
'Step forward, but remain in wolf form. And give a shawl or something to her to wear.'
Why would she want to see Sinclair? Alfa wasn't surprised she knew he was there, he was surprised that she called him, while she was sitting but naked on the ground.
Arya heard rustling of the leaves. She turned her head toward the sound, and saw a familiar grey eyed, brown wolf approaching with something in his mouth.
The wolf put the cloth near her, and turned away. She looked around, but didn't see anyone, yet she knew no one was looking. She got up slowly and covered herself with the shawl, then turned to Sinclair, who was still facing the opposite direction.
"Sinclair?"
The grey eyed wolf turned around.
"I want to see my grandpa's grave. I know you know where he's buried, so can you take me?"