Episode 6

...Arya Narrating...

When I left my father's chambers, I went to my room. The night was beautiful, the sky more perfect than all the others. I got out of bed and walked cautiously, knowing I couldn't go out the gates, so I would use my secret passage. I left stealthily, and walked to the lake. With each step I took, I remembered my mother saying, "Don't do anything reckless."

Finally, I reached the lake. The moonlight illuminated the entire place; even the breeze that night was perfect. I took off my clothes and dived in; the water was delightful. I stayed for a few seconds until I smelled something that awakened all my senses.

I still didn't have a wolf, but even so, I wasn't a totally useless omega. The smell was delicious; I could barely breathe. I closed my eyes and looked around trying to figure out where it was coming from, but I only saw Hanna standing on the edge of the lake.

"Hanna?"

"I knew I'd find you here. Mom said not to leave." She said, crossing her arms.

"The smell is gone," I murmured.

"What smell? You know what, I don't want to hear it now. Get out of the lake, and let's go home."

I got out of the water and could still feel someone watching me. I got dressed and went back home without complaint; I knew Hanna wouldn't say anything; she was just as protective as our mother. When we got home, I went straight to my room. Hanna came in right behind me.

"Don't go out again, or I'll tell our parents," she said and left the room.

I didn't care what she said. When she left, I could finally breathe. I closed my legs tightly; I was feeling things, something that only happened to me in the mist, but still, this was different.

I only had two mists, and I always pulled myself together so as not to give in to temptation. I didn't want to give myself to just any wolf, and even if I wanted to, they would choose any she-wolf and not an omega. I would be the last option, and that's definitely not how I imagined my first time.

I got into the cold water, hoping this would pass, and thank Goddess, it was working. I got dressed soon after and lay down, struggling to fall asleep.

The next morning, I went to my father's room as soon as I woke up. He was already much better; his wound had healed, which surprised not only me but everyone.

"Good morning, Dad," I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning, little one," he returned the kiss.

"Let's go down and eat. Hellen and Hanna are already waiting for us," Mom said.

"Let's go. Today will be a busy day. After all, we still have a wedding to organize," Dad said, taking me by surprise.

"I thought there would be no more wedding. The attacks are back," I said.

"We can't stop our lives. This weekend your older sister will be married and will start her own family," Dad said, and I knew he wouldn't change his mind, so I just agreed.

We went downstairs and sat at the table. I ate in silence; there would be a wedding, and it would be the perfect time for me to act. I wanted to know why all these attacks were happening.

"Mom, did you know Arya went swimming last night?" Hellen said, eating a piece of bacon.

"What?" Mom said, and I knew this wasn't going to end well.

"I saw her arrive yesterday. Hanna was with her," Hellen completes, chewing.

"I-I..." Hanna could barely speak.

"I went alone. Hanna was walking through the village when she found me," I say, still staring at Hellen.

"No need to lie," Hellen says, taking another bite of her food.

"I asked you not to do anything reckless. Why don't you ever listen to me? Damn it, Arya," Mom said angrily.

"I just went for a swim."

"We're being attacked again, don't you think about the danger you're in?" Mom seemed more irritated than all the other times.

"I'm fine," I said, dropping the cutlery. All I didn't want at that moment was to eat.

My mother was beside herself. I think seeing the new alpha left her bewildered, not to mention that she must have been very afraid of losing my father. I kept my head down, and she didn't stop there.

"Didn't you think they could kidnap you and kill you, use you to get to us? I won't lose another child."

"Another child? What do you mean, another child?" I said, startled. That was news to me.

"Mom?" Hellen called to her.

"What are you talking about?" Hanna asks.

The silence stretched for a few minutes. I was surprised by what I heard. Did we lose a brother? How? When? Where? There were so many questions in my head now.

"They need to know, Helena, especially Arya," my father said, breaking the silence.

"Me?" My sisters looked at me; I felt something was wrong.

My parents looked at each other, and my father looked at her as if ordering her to tell us whatever it was.

"Mom, what is Dad talking about?" Hanna said impatiently.

My mother got up and walked to the window. The way she wrung her hands betrayed her nervousness. Then she began to speak.

"I am a daughter of the North; I came to the South with your grandfather. He had a brother here, and it was also the only place we had ever visited."

She pauses and then continues.

"Years ago, when I was young, I was rejected... by King Alpha Louis. I was his chosen one, but I was banished and replaced by Siena, the daughter of the chief of the royal guard. When I arrived here, your father was crowned just two days later. So, the Goddess gave me a second chance, making me Arthur's companion."

When the King found out, he cut ties with the South. I never hid anything that happened in the North from your father. He accepted me as a companion and Luna."

"We started our family; I was pregnant with my third child, already eight months pregnant, and I was bored. So, I went horseback riding with your father. We were coming back home when we were attacked. They were white wolves, wolves from the North. I was seriously injured, which precipitated my labor; right there in the middle of the trees, I gave birth to my third son... Aaron."

"Aaron?" I said confused; something still wasn't right.

"It wasn't time for him to be born. I was badly hurt; I wasn't strong enough to push him out. The cord wrapped around his neck, and..."

"He died?" Hellen asks with tears in her eyes.

"Y-yes. I was devastated, and by the Goddess, I never want to feel that pain again. I wanted to go there and rip the heads off all the Northmen, but I was too weak. We rode to the gates; it was dark and..."

"And what?" The three of us asked at the same time.

"Nothing, that's all! I just want you to understand that we only want what's best for you! Please obey me and stay within the walls," Mom says, but I know there's something else.

"There's something else, isn't there?" I ask, and my parents look at each other.

"Come on! I'm exhausted," my mother says and goes up to her room.

My sisters and I were speechless. After everyone left, I stayed there a while longer; my head wouldn't stop. I knew there was something else. I went to my parents' room. From outside, I could hear them arguing, which was a rarity.

"She needs to know," my father said.

"No, that's not your decision alone," my mother said.

"Arya needs to know," Dad retorted, and my mother said nothing more.

That was the last thing I heard, so I knocked on the door. My mother opened it.

"What do you want?"

"What were you talking about? What do I need to know?"

"Not today, Arya," Mom said and closed the door. Whatever it is, I'll find out.

I picked up my cell phone and called Lucio. He answered immediately, as if he was already waiting.

📱Lucio, I need to see you.

📱What happened?

📱I can't talk about it here. Can you meet me?

📱You know we can't go out!