"Arya, come on... " Alfa said, and Arya punched his abs laughing.
"I.. I'm... so...rry... I... I... could... couldn't help it," Arya said between breaths.
"Laugh first, we can discuss your team later," Alfa said sarcastically, turning.
"Wait, wait... I'm OK. I'm not laughing. What were you saying?" Arya asked, breathing heavily.
"I think you should meet them today. Whenever you want, just today."
Something about Alfa's tone didn't make sense, but she can ask about that later.
Then Arya remembered Vivien. "Oh God, I forgot about Vivien!"
"Who?"
"The servant girl I stood up for. I promised her she could show me around," Arya said.
"Arya, you cannot seriously think about being around her," Alfa said, frowning.
"Look, I don't know her back story, but no one should be treated this way. I just want friends from this pack who aren't socially high on the ladder. Just normal people. Please," Arya said, pleading.
"Fine, do what you want. Lunch is with my family again, at 1pm. Be there, and I'll send some guards with you..."
"But...." "No buts. It's for your protection. While my father is here, there could be rogue attacks anytime."
Arya just nodded.
"Vivien? Vivien?" Arya called out, but there was no answer. "Hey, have you seen Vivien?" She asked another servant girl, who was just coming into the kitchen.
"No, Luna," she said, bowing her head.
Arya looked around, then walked to the dining table, Alfa Kane was sitting there with some older pack members, probably ones who served him when he was ruling.
"Want anything, Aria?" Alfa Kane asked, looking at her.
"No, sorry. I was just looking for someone," Arya said, uncomfortablely.
Kane just nodded and went back to talking.
Arya was really beginning to worry now. She knew Vivien didn't have the courage to go back on her words since she saw her as Luna.
"Alfa, you there.' She tried to mindlink.
'What's up.' Alfa mindlinked back.
'I can't find her, Vivien, and I'm getting worried.'
'I'm sending Ronald to you. He'll help you look for her, and Arya, don't forget to talk to your team today.'
A few minutes later, Ronald showed up, hair messed up, and eyes red. "Luna, what happened? Who's missing? " he asked in a serious tone.
"It's actually the servant girl, Vivien," Arya said, sheepishly.
"The one from dinner yesterday?" Sinclair asked, shocked.
"Yes!"
"Alfa made it sound like a terrible tragedy took place!" Ronal said, shaking his head and relaxing.
"Will you help me find her?" Arya said, her voice calm. Too calm, it made Ronald straighten up.
"Of course, luna."
"You and your men search for her, while I go and talk to my team," Arya said, rushing towards the neighboring house.
"Yes, Luna," she heard Ronald say, under his breath.
Arya went to the door and knocked. Then she called out, "Guy's, it me, open up."
She immediately heard footsteps running to the door. The door burst open, and out ran four very concerned, very angry and very confused doctors.
"Arya, where the heck were you?"
"And how are you?"
"We were worried sick!"
"Our project is incomplete!"
"You totally disappeared!"
And just like that, Arya stood at the doorway, confused as to who to answer first.
"Guy's, calm down. Let me in, so I can tell you!" Arya finally spoke up.
"Sorry."
Arya sat on the couch and looked around the house. This was also big, but it looked more like a huge hall.
"Tell us!" Maryann almost screamed.
"Ok... where should I start?"
"How about from the day you met that woman and said you're from this village," Amelia said, and the others nodded.
"Well, I learned from my aunt that I'm actually a native of this village, the day before we came here..."
"And you lied to us all this time?" Darian asked, cutting her sentence.
"Well, I'm sorry. And just let me finish, then ask me anything. Ok? "
They all nodded.
"I also got to know I was betrothed to the chief of this village, Alfa Flowerew. As for the dire wolves, there's a festival held each year, where the villagers make and wear wolf costumes to pray to the wolf spirit who wards off evil spirit and protect them...." "Arya, you were never a good lier," Shirley cut again. "This story, though, is quite amazing."
"What do you mean?" Arya asked, half annoyed.
"Whenever you lie, you..." "Ok fine... the lady, Patricia Stones, said she was a witch, and she could help me locate the dire wolves, but before she could say anything more, she disappeared, and I came to Alfa for help..." Arya said before Alex could complete his sentence, as she could smell the one wolf who hadn't left for a long while. She knew he was listening to their conversation, and she didn't want Alfa to find out what the sign of her lying was.
"Arya, if you don't want to tell us, it's fine. But please don't think we're stupid and will believe your lies," Alex said.
"Yes, Arya, we've worked together for so long, we know when you're lying or hiding something from us," Amelia added.
"Arya, are you in trouble?" Maryann asked, whispering.
"What... no," Arya replied.
"Is someone forcing you to do something?"
By now, everyone else was staring at Maryann, thinking she was going mad.
"Arya, if there's a problem..." "Mary, I'm fine! Why are you asking this?" Arya asked, as the questions were scaring her.
"Where's your necklace?"
Everyone's attention went to Arya's neck, and her hand automatically went to the place the pendant was supposed to be. They all gasped.
"Omg, Arya, you never took that off, even when you were almost killed!" Alex said, his eyes wide.
"And remember one time in school, the principal told us no jewelry was allowed in class, and your aunt Kim told the principle that you needed it more than anything?" Amelia said.
They had gone to the same school but were in different grades.
"You wouldn't even remove it when you were dared to, so... are they keeping you hostage?" Maryann whispered the last part.
"Please, guys... calm down..."
"And you said something about our safety! Are we in danger?"
"Alex, please be reasonable. If you had been in danger, or I would be a hostage, how would I have come here!" Arya said in the most convincing voice she could muster. "I'm marrying Flowerew, and staying in this village with my free will. Trust me!"
Shirley scoffed, "Yeah, we believe you," she said, twitching her eyebrows, just like Arya.
"You are all leaving with your equipment and everything that belongs to you, and that is final. This project is over, and tell Damion that I'll hand deliver my resignation. Get packed by tomorrow," Arya said, her voice high in anger. She stopped by the door, "And the cottage, I lived there with my grandpa. He didn't kidnap any children," she said and left before her friends could say anything.