Valca had been pacing outside the sitting room where Arya and his mate's family were talking.
Soon, he saw Natalie's parents and her brother, Marcus rush out of the room, and her mother stared daggers at him.
Just when it began to get uncomfortable, Natalie and Arya burst through the door. His mate was crying.
He felt his heart ache, but he didn't want to interfere between them, as demons had their own set of rules; they never interfered in human lives unless they summoned you to.
"Mom," Natalie ran to her mother, but she didn't even want to hear her out. One word, "Don't." Made Natalie stop.
The mother then turned to Valac, prince of the demon kingdom, and accusingly raised a finger at him, saying, "My daughter is sixteen. She's still a child."
Was this the reason they were shocked, because in human years, that meant she wasn't old enough to get married. Though humans can start reproducing at nine or ten, they are considered too young at that time, so sixteen also meant that they are children!
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize she's under age in human years," Valac apologized.
Maybe now she'd...
No. She was still angry.
Natalie's mother had said that she wanted her to get married in a church and all the likes. This was the reason that even if Natalie were over eighteen, which Valac understood is the age humans become an adult, she wouldn't let him marry her.
Valac felt anger raise inside him. Being a demon meant anger can cause too much harm, so that's why Valac occasionally went out of his home and visited earth. To calm himself.
He had been threatened that they were leaving.
"Prince Valac, please give me some time... "Arya was saying, but he was too upset to hear the entire sentence.
"If I don't get her, I'll burn the entire place to the ground," he said.
Something about his look made Arya run towards her family. He knew his eyes had turned red. It meant anger was rising slowly inside him.
Uncontrollable anger meant he'd transform into a full demon, horns, tail, and large teeth.
Valac didn't understand if he should follow them or stay put. He stayed where he was.
After a while, he felt dominance spread over the house. Female dominance, but then, he felt his mate in distress. It was almost like she was calling out to him, so he decided to go investigate. He'd apologize later.
What he saw made him explode with anger. The wolf was holding his mate's mouth and trying to suffocate her.
His only instinct was to protect his mate, and he didn't even know when a scream escaped his throat and Arya was dangling in mid-air.
"Val, please. We were just playing." The sweet voice was followed by his mate's touch. He let go and noticed the others standing there. The male wolf looked like he would attack at any moment. He could try, but they both knew who would win.
Arya woke up in the hospital a few hours later. Alfa was there, and he looked like he'd been crying.
"Hey, how are you?" He asked as his eyes glowed.
"I'm feeling good," Arya replied, just as she saw Gretchen walk in.
"Luna! How are you?" She asked.
"I'm much better."
Arya's voice was hoarse.
"Is there any pain or discomfort in your neck, luna?" The doctor asked.
"No. My throat just feels dry."
Alfa handed her a glass of water, and she drank it slowly.
"Thanks. Hey, where's everyone else?" Arya asked, remembering what happened.
"They're outside," Alfa replied.
"And Valac?"
Alfa's face changed as soon as he heard that name.
"Al, where's he?" Arya asked again.
"He tried to kill you, Aria, and you're still asking for him?" Alfa said in a voice that didn't sound like his.
She could feel pain and desperation in his voice. Pain that he nearly lost his mate and desperation of wanting Valac dead.
"I can understand what you're feeling. But I need to know what happened after I passed out," Arya said.
The silence was deafening. Something happened that Alfa didn't want to tell Arya. Her only hope was that nothing major occurred since the demon kingdom and wolf pack were under a pact.
Arya understood that whatever Valac did was out of fear; the fear of losing his mate. She just wanted to make sure that there was no misunderstanding between them.
"Al..." "Arya, you're awake!" Kimberly said as she entered the room. Arya couldn't even finish her sentence.
"Aunt Kim!" Arya greeted, as Kimberly, Pete, and her cousins entered.
"How are you, sweetheart?" Pete asked, and Arya felt a shift in Alfa's mood, as a very low growl escaped his lips.
Wolves and their possessiveness. Arya rolled her eyes at him, then turned to her family, "I'm fine, Uncle Pete. How is everything else?"
"Everything is fine."
"Ar, I'm so sorry... I didn't know this would happen!" Natalie said, coming near her. Alfa gave her a warning glance, and she froze in her step as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Al, what was that?" Arya asked, sensing the tension between them.
"Love, why don't you focus on healing, then we'll talk," Alfa replied.
Every fiber in Arya wanted answers from him, but something told her to listen. A small voice in her warned her that her reaction right now would have grave results for her family.
The fear in Natalie's eyes told her that whatever Alfa did or said was quite threatening, and she would only cause more problems for them if she pushed.
"Your mate is right, honey. Take rest, and we'll see you soon," Kimberly said quickly. Too quickly.
Before Arya could respond, they were out of the door, closing it gently behind them.
"How long was I out?" Arya asked, hoping to lighten the mood.
"Six hours," came the reply.
"Six hours?" Arya asked in disbelief.
Usually, in cases like this, where someone was strangled, they gain consciousness as soon as enough oxygen enters their lungs. But six hours? That was an insane amount of time!
"Al, what exactly happened to me?" Arya asked, confused.
"I'll send Gretchen in to explain. Meanwhile, I'll get you something to eat." With that, Alfa stood up and walked out, leaving Arya more shocked than confused.
"Luna, you called for me?" Gretchen walked in a few minutes later.
"Well, I just want to know what happened to me, and why is everything so tensed around here?" Arya asked honestly.
"Luna, you almost died. Your windpipe was completely severed, and your oxygen supply completely cut off. We had to do an emergency surgery on your throat, and thank Goddess it worked," Gretchen explained.
"Wow. No wonder my throat felt dry!"
"Luna, you have to take care. No hard food, no shouting, no fast drinking of liquids, and no hot food or beverages," the doctor told her.
"Hey, doc, do you know what happened after I passed out?"
"I'm sorry, luna. It's not my place to say."
Perfect. Another dead end.