Page 4 of Lycan and Lark
Creedin folded his arms in boredom. “Well this will be an easy choice. The Alpha’s sister for your pretty little Celestial. I’ll even help to speed up your decision.” Creedin turned to face him again.
“Not a fucking chance,” Aria snarled and spit right in Creedin’s face. Creedin recoiled, wiping his face clean. When he turned again, his eyes had a new hardness to them.
“Very well,” he said in a low, menacing voice. Lark raised the knife to her skin again. He slowed down time for just a fraction of a second. He needed to think. He had to find a way to get her out of this. Fear tore at him when he realized he may have to choose, right here right now, between a woman he just met, and the wrath of the man who had controlled him his entire life.
Aria fumed in his grip and her thoughts began to race, dragging him back to reality. He saw Aria’s plan a second before she struck. Time started up again.
She turned her head to the side and quickly ducked under his arm. With lightning speed she reached out for the wrist holding the blade. Lark moved on instinct. Just as she grasped his arm, he thrust his other hand forward. Aria shrieked as her delicate wrist snapped in two.
The sound of her ruined bones destroyed Lark. He carefully gripped her by the neck, pulling her up.
“Stop!” Nova yelled from within the crowd. “Let her go. I’ll come with you.”
Aria flailed frantically in his grip. Below, Nova’s mate struggled to keep her by his side.
“I said I’m going!” she cried, louder, facing Creedin. Another of Creedin’s teleporters appeared at Nova’s side, snatching her up and reappearing atop the same mound of bodies. Creedin signaled, and the group took their leave. Lark could just hear Aria’s cries for Nova as he teleported away. His gut twisted and his very soul ached.
Something had shifted within him. Years of torture and fear were pushed to the recesses of his mind and sapphire eyes floated to the surface, consuming his every thought. He made a choice at that moment to find his way back to Aria. It was time to escape this hellhole. He would find a way out. He would do it forher.
ChapterThree
“Why is it so damn hot already?” Aria shouted to no one in particular. Soft thuds echoed as she jogged lightly across the concrete. Her early morning run in Mountain’s End had been peaceful and reinvigorating until the sun decided to blaze her bright ass up and cover everything in sticky, golden heat.
She needed exercise this morning to clear her head. She had woken up heated and flushed. She had been dreaming about him again. Lark. Her body still surged with blood and her thighs clenched at the memories of the dream. It had been months since Lark had taken her during the battle and she hadn’t seen him since. Well at least not in person. He dominated her dreams most nights. The contents of those dreams were R-rated at the least. She felt semi-deranged having sex dreams about her kidnapper. Deep down she knew he was more than that. Her wolf howled mournfully.
After Lark and Creedin had taken Nova, a team had gone to rescue her. They succeeded, but Creedin and Lark had disappeared and hadn’t been seen since. A heavy sigh left Aria’s chest. Gideon kept asking her what happened that day. How could she tell him the truth? Hermatewas Creedin’s murderous lackey.
It just didn’t add up. She could feel him, sense the good within. Even Nova said she didn’t think he was bad. Lark had tried to help Nova escape. If only Aria could talk to him. She had so many questions and the lack of answers ate away at her day after day. The wards surrounding the complex were surely enough to keep him out of the building and Gideon had barely let her leave since the Collectors began their attacks. When she did finally get some time outside the complex, he had carefully disguised guards watching her. Did he really think she hadn’t noticed? Please. She was the daughter of an Alpha. Had he forgotten the years of rigorous training she had endured at the hands of private mentors? She was highly trained and lethal and he thought she wouldn’t notice a private security team following her to brunch and dinner with friends. It was insulting. She’d had to tear him a new asshole to get him to withdraw his snooping spies. Things had calmed down after that but she still felt stifled most days.
Aria luxuriated in a post-run shower then slipped into a pair of fluffy pink slippers. It was still early and she considered a nap, but Lark’s face remained vivid in her mind and she knew sleep would not come. Her coffee pot uttered its familiar gurgle and hiss. The sound alone sent a wave of joy through her tired mind. She added enough creamer to turn the coffee white, then took the first steaming sip. The hot liquid coursed down her throat. She sighed contentedly and plopped onto the couch. Her butt had just hit the cushions when a knock at the door popped her back on her feet.
A deliveryman stood in the hallway with a bouquet of flowers so outlandishly large Aria couldn’t even make out his face. “Aria Ulric?” His voice was muffled behind the stacks of blossoms.
“That’s me.” She took the arrangement and the large box that accompanied it and wobbled over to the kitchen island. There was a small note pinned to the top. Her heart momentarily lurched into her throat at the thought that maybe Lark had sent them. She quickly dismissed the idea. Anything this outrageous could only come from one person.
Happiest of birthdays to my not-so-little sister.
Eat up and cheer up!
I can’t wait to celebrate with you this evening.
Love, Gideon
Eat up? Aria lifted the box’s lid to find an assortment of freshly baked pastries from Le Crepe. There had to be at least two dozen cinnamon-swirled and jelly-filled delicacies. She took the entire box to the couch and began munching. The gooey, warm treats were delicious, but they did nothing to fill the ever-growing hole within. Her heart longed for a man she knew nothing about and couldn’t find. Well, couldn’t find on her own. There was someone she could ask for help, but she would have to be careful. It didn’t seem like a good idea to let the pack know her mate was a fugitive that they were actively seeking.
Sticky fingers hit cardboard and she looked down to realize all the pastries were gone. Her sigh rolled out on a sugary breath. Her figure wouldn’t suffer. She was a goddamn lycan. But the empty box did reflect a certain dichotomy back at her. It was empty just like her. She flopped down on her back and stared up at the ceiling. “Happy birthday to me.”
* * *
Aria strolled through the complex in the new pink leggings and matching sports bra set that Laurie had given her. The beautiful blonde showed up soon after the pastries had disappeared and gifted Aria with the new clothes. Laurie was such a good friend and a damn good Beta’s wife. She kept grouchy Lance levelheaded.
“Happy birthday!” was chanted by the lycans and employees as Aria strode by. Their greetings filled her with a modicum of joy, but she was on a mission. The training rooms and offices passed by in a blur as she made her way to the spot she was looking for.
A skinny metal door was nestled between two supply closets. It would be easy to miss if you didn’t know where to look. Aria approached and stared into the small black pit in the center of the structure. She knew Peyton could see out the tiny camera and was probably already watching her.
“Knock knock!” She smiled at the lens and held up a bag of donuts and a coffee. A soft thrumming sound was followed by several clicks and then the door swung open. Peyton stood in a pair of boxers and a torn band t-shirt. His silver eyes were sleepy and his usual shaggy black mohawk hung messily across his face. He gave her a lazy smile that pulled at the piercings around his mouth.
“What’s up, little Ulric?” He ran a tattooed hand over his neck and leaned his tall body against the doorframe.
