Page 35 of Lycan and Lark
Aria had a plan. It wasn’t a very good plan, but she was working with the hand she had been dealt. The first step was getting off this island. She needed to make her way to the airport, if you could call it that. A single runway guided barely flyable planes on and off the island. She was going to find her way there and then convince them to fly her home. Or at least to a bigger airport, with a real plane, that could make it all the way back to Mountain’s End. How was she going to convince them? Not important right now. This was an unfolding situation. She would cross that bridge when she came to it.
She packed her meager belongings in the duffle bag Leah had sent her with and popped her bedroom window open. Salty sea air blew in on the breeze and she allowed the ocean mist to draw deeply into her lungs. She had grown to love that smell, but she loved the scent of caramel and burnt sugar more. She tossed the bag out the window and climbed on a chair to make her own way out. A quick, persistent knocking at the door made her freeze.
“Aria?” It was Romani. How the hell had he figured out she was escaping? The last she checked, Romani didn’t possess the Sight. Which meant it was a coincidence. He was here for some other reason. “I know you’re in there. This is important, open up.” His fist pounded against the door again. Sorry, Romani, she was on her way out.
Aria slung one leg over the window frame and scooted to the edge. She was on the first floor, but the windows in this building sat unnecessarily high. It was only a few feet down and she would heal fairly quickly if she did end up with some bumps and bruises. She straddled the windowsill, preparing for the jump.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah!” Aria shrieked as Romani’s voice came from directly next to her ear. She toppled back and out the window. Strong hands gripped her before she hit the ground and hauled her back in the room.
Romani peered curiously down at her. “Running away?”
“How did you get in here?” Aria wriggled out of his grip and took several steps back. Romani cocked an eyebrow at her before teleporting from one end of the room to the other, and then back in front of her. “Oh, right.” Aria knew he could teleport, but he had been nice enough to use doors when he needed something instead of just appearing in the room. Until now. “What if I was doing something private?”
Beet red crept into Romani’s tan cheeks. “The walls are thin here. I can tell when you’re…busy.”
Aria had never felt so mortified. How many nights had Romani heard her crying out Lark’s name as she touched herself? “Moving on… I’m sure there’s a reason you came barging into my room and foiled my escape plan.”
“Gideon called. He needs us to come back.”
“Oh my god that is the best news ever!” Aria launched herself into Romani’s arms. He caught her, but there was no warmth in his embrace. Aria pulled away. “Aren’t you excited to go home?” Romani was quiet and Aria’s heart fluttered. She gave him a look. “Why does Gideon want us to come back?”
Romani rubbed a hand down the back of his neck. “They captured Lark.” Cold, suffocating terror seized Aria immediately. Romani’s scrutinous gaze roved over her. “He’s the one you’ve been missing… Is he your mate?”
Aria swallowed thickly, then nodded. Shame washed over her. She expected judgment and criticism. But instead warm arms wrapped her in a fierce embrace. She felt safe with Romani. They had grown close over the past few weeks and he had become like a brother to her. He had been her protector and confidant.
“I’m so sorry.” His voice held an unmistakable sadness.
Aria continued to find comfort in his embrace. “What for?”
Romani’s chest rose and fell as he inhaled deeply. “For the difficult path before you.” He was right. There was nothing easy about what was going to happen next. Romani pulled away, wiping the tear that had rolled down Aria’s cheek. “Come on. Let’s get you back to your mate.”
* * *
They said their goodbyes to the Scottish pack and gathered up Graham. Romani had planned ahead with Gideon and he teleported them straight into the conference room at the complex. Gideon, Lance, and Laurie stood in the center of the room. Chilling whispers of hurt, betrayal, and unspoken words weighted the somber air. Gideon’s eyes were fixed on Aria. That gaze could melt through steel. She was surprised she hadn’t felt its heat from all the way in Scotland.
He flicked his attention toward Graham, taking the new lycan’s hand in a welcoming gesture. “Welcome to the pack, Graham. The lycans of Mountain’s End are overwhelmed with joy to receive you. I’m the Alpha of this territory, but you can call me Gideon. This is our Beta, Lance, and his wife, Laurie.” The two men shook hands and Laurie gave Graham one of her beaming smiles. “There are a few things that need my attention at present. Laurie will help you get set up. I look forward to spending more time getting to know you later.”
Laurie was quick to speak up. “Absolutely. Let’s take a tour of the complex and get you to your new apartment. Once you’re settled in we will introduce you to the rest of the pack, or your wolf can go for a run and explore its new surroundings. How does that sound?”
Graham just grunted as he looked between Aria and Gideon. His usual jesting persona had evaporated. He was a lycan, which meant he was certainly picking up on the tense energy in the room. The two headed out and the door clicked ominously behind them. Aria watched them leave, unwilling to face Gideon yet.
“Aria.” She did not like Gideon’s tone. She turned slowly to face him as nerves ate away at her stomach. “We need to talk about Lark.”
Her pulse double-timed with the mention of her mate. “Is he all right?”
Gideon looked disappointed by her question. “He’s fine. We have him in a holding cell here in the complex. He came willingly.”
Relief took the sharpest of the edges off her adrenaline-spiked nerves. “Can I see him?”
Gideon stiffened. “Is it true? Are you fated mates?”
Aria worried at her bottom lip. “It’s true.”
Gideon’s frown deepened. He paced the length of the room and the air thickened around him. Lance and Romani stood statuesque, as if a single movement on their part may throw Gideon into a rage. He stopped and looked at Aria. There were a myriad of conflicted emotions in his blue eyes. “Are you sure?”
Aria actually laughed at that. “I’ve never been more sure of anything. Now take me to him.”
