"Elder Kane?" Arya asked, looking at everyone. Her eyes stopped at Kane. "You're a member of the council?" She looked at Alfa, "And you knew?"
"Aria, he just became a council member..." Alfa tried to explain.
"When?" Arya's direct question left him stunned.
"Aria, first of all, calm down."
Arya knew this was about a luna respecting her alfa. She knew Alfa wasn't trying to be mean or shut her up, but he was trying to ask her not to make a scene in front of the council members. This was, after all, their personal problem.
Arya closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She sat back down, then realized why Alfa asked her to calm down. She had stood up while in shock, and talking to a council member while standing meant threatening them, and they don't take to threats lightly.
'Apologize!' Alfa mindlinked Arya.
"Forgive me," Arya said to the council.
Before they could continue, Alfa said, "Council members, I'm afraid we have to end this meeting now. I just received an urgent message that two humans are at the gate, requesting to get in. Aria and I are needed at the gate right now."
Arya stared at him curiously. Two humans? Her hope was that none of her friends were here since it would be a nightmare. She hoped that a couple had gotten lost and just needed directions.
The council excused them, as they didn't want to interfere with the pack business.
Alfa and Arya got into the car and drove towards the front gate. Arya saw a rental car parked on the road, and one of the guards was talking with the driver.
Alfa stepped outside, followed by his mate, and began walking toward the vehicle. The passenger side door opened, and out came Natalie. "Oh, thank God. Arya, please tell these men that we're here to see you," she said, moving towards her, while Arya stood there processing what was happening.
The guards moved between them protectively.
"Ar... tell them," Marcus called from the car.
"You know them?" Alfa asked, his voice finally breaking Arya's trance.
"Natalie! Marcus! What are you doing here?" Arya gave a nervous laugh.
Turning to Alfa, she said, "These are my cousins, Natalie and Marcus."
'They're humans?' Alfa mindlinked Arya.
'Yes.'
"Wait, who's he?" Natalie asked Arya, pointing at the man beside her.
"Is he Alfa, the guy you're engaged to?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah. What are you doing here?" Arya asked again.
"First, tell your guard to let us in," Natalie said, and Arya heard a low growl from every wolf standing there.
"Guards, these two are my family. Let them in," she said, looking at her mate to see if he also agreed. Alfa nodded, and Arya breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wow, you live in this house?" Both Marcus and Natalie said as they got out of the car.
"How'd you find me?" Arya asked as they entered the mansion.
"Well, when you said you couldn't come on Christmas, Natalie suggested visiting you here," Marcus said.
"And Aunt Kim allowed you to?" Arya asked. Her eyes were wide with surprise. There could be no way she'd allow them here.
"Well, it took a lot of time, and finally, dad was able to persuade her," Natalie said.
"And you owe me a bottle of the best wine, Ar," Marcus added.
"Who are they?" Genevieve asked as they entered the sitting room. "Are they Kimberly's children?" She added, looking closely.
"You know our mom?" Marcus asked.
"What are you doing here?" Genevieve asked
"What's everyone's problem?" Natalie asked, a little annoyed. "Arya asked us what we were doing here two times, and now you."
"Nat's, Mar, we have to go talk alone. Now," Arya said, practically dragging them away.
She knew that by saying that, Natalie disrespected the packs old luna, and they could be punished severely for this.
"What do you think you're doing?" Arya scolded them. "She is Alfa's mother. And she knows Aunt Kim and Uncle Pete. And you shouldn't have come unannounced," she added.
"What's wrong with you? I didn't know who she was. Now you're telling us off like it's a big deal!"
"Look, you guys don't understand..."
"Wait, how does she know our mother?" Marcus asked.
"Aunt Kim went to college with Genevieve."
"Oh... well, we have to change and you can show us around."
Arya showed them to the guest room and left. In her room, Alfa was waiting. "Did you know anything about them coming?"
"No," Arya replied.
"Try to get them going. As I told you, rogue attacks are common when dad is here, and I don't want them to get in between the war." Alfa said, not looking at her.
"I know, but I can't just tell them to leave."
Arya called her siblings to the dining area. It was lunchtime, and Arya wanted to talk to them before anyone arrived.
"Look, guys, we need to talk. In this place, we respect everyone. No questions, no arguments, just say yes. If anyone askes you who you are, just say you're my family," Arya said, while serving them lunch.
"Don't tell me, you're getting married in a conservative family," Marcus said,
"What happened on your neck?" Natalie asked, reaching over to touch it.
"Nothing," Arya immediately covered the mark with her blouse.
"It looked like a bite mark. Let me see."
"No. It's nothing."
Arya tried to stand, but Natalie grabbed her arm. "Arya, is everything alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I got bitten by a wolf, but the wound is now healing. Don't worry," Arya lied. Well, she technically didn't lie. After all, she was bitten by a wolf.
"Does Alfa know?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, he helped me get to the hospital."
"You shouldn't keep it open. It could get infected."
"Yes."
"Sis, you are happy here, right?"
"Mar, why do you even ask that. Don't I look happy?"
"You look like someone forced you into this, and you're just going through with it without asking anything."
"It's not that. This was my choice. I fell in love and got married."
"Married?" Both guests asked together.
"I meant engaged."
"Well, we have to go. We're sleepy." Saying that, both of them left.
"You know, something is not right," Marcus said when he thought he was out of earshot.
"Yeah, I think Arya is hiding something. And I don't like this alfa guy," Natalie added.
"We can investigate."
"Oh yeah. Just like old times."
Arya began to worry. They could have become great secret agents. They are so good at collecting data. It made Arya scared.
What will happen now?