Chapter 53

Aria

I did not know where I was going. In the pitch-black darkness of the night, I could not realize anything. The silence of the night felt burdening as every little thing said by Hunter kept circling in a loop inside of my head, banging against my eardrums causing a sting of pain to cut through every time.

The fact that I was wearing his mark made it even more miserable for me. I'd sensed him trying to track me through the bond but due to my scent being masked and my thoughts I have blocked, he could not succeed.

Sierra went completely silent and hid herself in a corner of my mind.

The betrayal made our whole world come to a standstill. What he did to us was even harsher than rejection and he knew it very well. After all, how could he not know? He was the one who planned everything.

I wiped my tears for the umpteenth time, the pain kept increasing and I was unable to control myself. The overwhelming emotions were attacking me from every side.

I did not realize that I had gotten very close to entering the forest when a hand grabbed my wrist out of nowhere and pulled me back.

"Aria, where the hell are you going?" It was Drake.

It was hard to make out his expression in this darkness and my blurred vision but from the concern dripping from his voice, I knew he was indeed shocked.

"I-I..." I found it hard to speak, the sob fought to break through.

"Wait, why are you crying? He seemed to notice my tears, "What happened?" He cupped my face and gently wiped my tears.

This was it; I could not hold it anymore. The sob tore through my throat, "Hunter, he...." I was having a hard time to breath, the continuous sobs wouldn't stop.

"What happened to Hunter? Is something wrong?"

"He doesn't....h-he..."

"Aria, calm down," He pulled me in his embrace, rubbing my back in a soothing motion, "Take deep breaths."

I found myself burying my head into his chest to muffle my cries. My tears drenched his shirt but he held me there in his arms, giving me the comfort I needed the most.

"Hunter doesn't love me, Drake. He...used me." I finally let out.

"What?" He asked in disbelief.

"Yes, he doesn't love me. He used me because he did not want my dad to go against him and my help to keep the pack safe at this crucial moment. He does not care for me, it was all his plan and acting to keep me in the delusion," I sobbed, "He's a monster."

"Aria...there must be some misunderstanding between you too. You should try to talk to him."

I pulled away from him to look at him, a sudden anger came as an outburst because of what said, "I saw it with my own eyes, heard the shit he and his lover Ashley talked about me with my own ears. It was both of their plans. He betrayed me and had the guts to say it on my face," I shouted, "And you are saying that it's a misunderstanding and I should talk to him? What kind of friend are you?!"

"Aria...listen to me..." He tried to reach me.

"No, do not come near me. You are not my friend if all want is to blame me," I pushed him away, "Go away."

He did not listen to me, instead, he pulled me all the way closer so that I land in his embrace once again, "Shh...calm down."

"I am not blaming, you are not the one to be blamed here. You are just...trapped." He snaked his hands around my waist, "You trust me right?"

"Yes, I do," I nodded, resting my head against his chest, "I can't take this anymore, Drake. I loved that man with all my heart. I cared for him, forgave all his mistakes over and over again, and dreamt of a life with him but in return, all he has to offer was this pain...and suffering. I am feeling disgusted by myself that I gave my heart to someone like him."

"It's okay. We all make mistakes, what matters is what we learn from them." He tried to comfort me.

"It is the biggest mistake of my life that I loved someone like him. It is the biggest mistake, Drake."

He remain silent for a few seconds and then he spoke, "No. It's not the biggest mistake of your life, Aria." It was hard to tell if it was my hallucination, or if Drake's voice actually changed and turned deeper and darker.

"What?" I tried to pull away to look at him but it was then I realized how tight his hold was around me and as I tried to move he tightened it even more.

"You have never asked me my full name, Aria. What do you think it is?" The hair in my arms stood up at his sudden menace-filled tone, an unknown terror began permeating my nerves.

His nails began digging at the sides of my hips, and a burning sensation spread through, "Drake, You are...You are hurting me." I tried to free myself from his hold but he was too strong compared to me.

"I know, sweetheart. I know," He whispered, "But you don't know one thing yet."

Before I could speak or assume any meaning out of what he was saying, he spoke again, "Your biggest mistake is that....you trusted me."

He sounded demonic and acted. Like a completely different person than what I had seen him all these days.

"Drake, what are you talking about?" I was having a hard time believing what I was hearing, it all felt like a nightmare; Tonight indeed was a nightmare for me.

"You still don't understand?" He chuckled, it was sinister laughter that shook me to my soul, "I am the one you all are trying to save your pack members from. I am Drake or I could say, Drake Knight."

My eyes widened and the gasp slipped past my lips.

But before I could react, he grabbed the back of my neck to tilt my head and pressed a handkerchief over my nose and mouth; Within seconds my entire world started becoming hazy.

"Sleep, Sweet little Aria. We both have a long way to go." He smirked and soon I was sucked into the pitfall of darkness.