Arya felt like she couldn't breathe. Her heart was thumping in her chest, and she felt fresh tears stinging her eyes.
These so-called elders had made her remember everything that she tried so hard to forget. What kind of question was that. Do they ask every new Luna the same question at the end, or was it just her?
Arya was by the lake. She needed a break, away from everyone, even her mate. She needed to let go of her emotions, not calm down with his touch.
Taking off her dress, she folded it neatly and put it on some stones, and she jumped into the lake. The cool water engulfed her, calming her enough to not cry, and made her feel free. By now, it was getting dark, but she didn't care.
Alfa paced around in his room. Everyone had seen the look Arya had given Kane, and they all understood her answer.
Kane looked somewhat disappointed, but Alfa's mother, Genevieve, didn't seem at all surprised. It was almost like she knew her answer would be Kane.
"Flower?" His mother stood at the door of his room.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Alfa asked, getting to the door.
"The elders have left. They all liked Aria, speaking of which, where is she?" Genevieve asked, looking around.
"By the lake. She's still there. I don't understand if I should go get her or leave her alone," Alfa replied, looking out the balcony.
"She doesn't need an alfa. Or a mate. She needs a friend. A friend who can listen to her, without judging," Genevieve said, smiling. She turned around and walked out of the room.
Braxen jumped out of the balcony and ran towards the lake as fast as he could.
Arya's scent grew stronger as he neared the body of water, and his heart beat faster.
Braxen looked around the lake area but couldn't see her. He smelled the ground and reached Arya's clothes, which lay in a neat heap, on the shore, so he looked over at the water. Not even a ripple was seen.
He stayed for a few minutes by her clothes, but she still didn't appear.
Now, he was getting worried. Turning into his human form, he dove into the water. Maybe she was underwater and couldn't get up.
He didn't see her. Vivien's words rang in his mind, 'he wanted to harm you.'
"Arya? Arya, where are you?" He called out. Had she been kidnapped? No, the border patrol would have known. "Arya?"
Braxen jumped forward again. Now, he was getting anxious. 'Aria, where are you?' He mindlinked her. No answer.
He tried to feel her through the mate bond. Nothing. He knew she had come here through the mate bond, and since they had marked each other, he should have felt her whereabouts.
'Ronald, had Arya been to the hospital?'
'No. What happened?'
'I don't know where she is.'
'What? How could you lose your mate a day after claiming her?' Ronald was shocked.
'Will you help me find her?'
'On my way.'
"What happened between you two?" Ronald asked Alfa, as they searched the nearby area.
"The elders asked a question. She couldn't answer... more like, she didn't want to answer."
"Really? What was the question?"
"Never mind. We have to look for her."
"Alfa, have you checked the grave site?" Ronald asked suddenly, remembering how she visited her parents and grandpa's grave.
As if on queue, they heard a howl coming from the mountains.
Bella sat by her grandpa's grave, crying. While bathing, she wanted to talk to someone who would understand her. Someone who would listen to her without judging.
"I think I failed the test that the elders had set for me," Arya said through Bella. "I want him dead. I wish, with every fiber in my body, that he would just die. But I couldn't say it out loud." Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"What should I do? I'm just so confused. That man is my biggest enemy, and also my father in law. What the hell am I supposed to do?"
Bella tried to calm her down, but she also felt emotional.
'Arya, we will get through this.' Bella said. 'We have each other.'
'I know Bella, but these elders just opened a deep wound inside me that I wanted to heal. What should I do now?'
There was a stretch of silence. Arya sobbed. Bella also howled in emotional pain.
Braxen ran through the forest towards the mountains. He reached there just as Bella tilted her head for another howl.
"Bella, bring Arya back," Alfa said.
Bella turned to look at him, her eyes wet with tears. Her beautiful white fur was covered in dry twigs and leaves.
Just as she was about to turn, they both heard a rustling noise and saw a large grey wolf jump out.
"Azan, wrong timing," Alfa said, and the wolf looked at both of them and disappeared into the tall grass.
Alfa looked back at Bella. She sighed before Arya came forward.
Alfa handed Arya her clothes that he had picked up by the lake.
"Are you okay?" He asked her, and she just nodded.
The walk back was quiet. They walked slowly beside each other, taking in the fresh air.
Back in their room, Arya changed and went straight to bed. Alfa sat by her and held her hand. "You know, Aria, I love you no matter what. I want you to feel free to talk to me about anything. I promise to be there, at least to listen."
"I just hate him. He is the reason my father's pack got destroyed. He is the reason I'm struggling to know who I am. He's the reason I didn't come to my grandpa's funeral.... I didn't even know he passed away. I hate him, and I wish he was dead. I didn't know he would become my own father in law." Arya said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She wasn't looking at him. Instead, she was looking towards the wall. She knew he was still there since his hands held her hand.
"I know he is your father, but he is also a bloody murderer. I can never forgive him. He took away my entire life. I didn't even know who I was, and my family had to live in fear. You can love me or hate me, but I hate Kane. And will always do."