Chapter 140: Better world

Aria

The day feels like it has lasted an entire lifetime.

Between the traitor Beta, the sick Hunter in the dungeons and the new that the Hunters were about to turn on the Assembly members we had spent the rest of the day going over information and settling the people to let them know all was well now.

Every muscle in my body aches as I make my way through the tunnels. My boots drag against the floor as I pass by our packs rooms and head to my brothers room to find Hazel.

There is something bothering me about what Kendrick said. Well, several somethings, in fact.

My wolf has been on my ass about it too so I need some more information.

Rick's words float around in my head. Syphers are keepers of balance.

But does that balance stop at shifters or are we just servants of our world and are meant to help every living creature on it.

I stop outside Liam's bedroom door and lift my hand to knock.

Before my knuckles touch the wood, I hear laughter followed by a sharp intake of breath.

I knock once before opening the door.

“Hazel I need you real—”

The words die in my throat.

Liam has Hazel pinned against the wall beside his bed, one hand locked around her jaw controlling their kiss and the other under the unfastened button of her pants.

Both of them freeze.

I want to gag but I swallow it down. There is never a moment when I wanted to know the logistics of what they do together.

Hazel's eyes snap open first.

Liam groans dramatically.

“Oh, come on,” he mutters, resting his forehead against Hazel's. “Seriously? Aria. Get out!”

Heat rushes into my cheeks but I'm not sure if it's more frustration or embarrassment. “No thanks. I need Hazel then you can do whatever with her after.”

“Can't it wait?"

Hazel hits his chest, wiggling away from him and buttoning her pants. “I'll meet you back in the room after. It sounds important.”

The groan Liam lets out sounds like a petulant child. “I'm going to die of blue balls,” he tosses himself back on the bed.

“That’s so fucking gross,” I say.

He laughs as I walk out of the room with Hazel behind me.

“Sorry about that,” she says as she closes the door.

“Eww no. It's fine we can just forget it happened,” I wave her apology away. “Come one. We need somewhere quiet to talk.”

Her expression turns serious. “Something is wrong.”

I keep my pace even as we walk towards the garden. “Not exactly but I have a lot of things to consider.”

We get to the garden and take a seat on one of the stools.

“What's on your mind?” She asks.

Crap how do I start this. I watch her face closely as I speak.

“Well I was in the interrogation room with Kendrick and I had some questions.”

“Oh.” The words gives nothing away. “Look whatever you heard, I can only tell my story, the rest is for Ransom to share.”

Her answer is clear. She won't give me anything she thinks will hurt Ransom.

“I won't ask you to,” I promise.

She exhales. “What do you want to know?”

“Are there others, like you and Ransom, who might not want to be there. Who might not want to do this?”

“It's hard to say. I don't doubt that there are those who hate that life, but some are used to it so I don't know if they'll want to leave or even have the desire to try.”

It strikes me as odd. Who would choose to be forced to kill? To stay in a place that hurts them?

“But if they are being forced to be there, why would they stay?” I ask.

Hazel's look is both grateful and sympathetic. It makes me feel like a sheltered child.

She runs her hand through her hair. “That's just how it is, Aria. We aren't children. We're tools, heirs. Soldiers. And anything else they need us to be. Their goal is to break us down depending on our role. Soldiers are stripped of their personhood, desensitized to violence. Non ranking members are held by fear and trauma. And us, people like Ransom and me, were taught bow before we rule. They do things, horrible things so we can lose our sense of humanity. So that we can cross every line for the good of the organization.”

Hazel.

Her voice is far away, as if she is listening watching the events happen again and again. The distance and dispassion in which she speaks of these things makes me wonder how many times she had to disassociate to survive.

“I won't ask for details,” I say softly, “ But I need to know if you think we can save other hunters. I just wouldn't feel right if we killed people who could change their mind and live a different life if they had the chance.”

“I— you want to save them.”

“I do but only if you think it's worth it. I want a better world for all of us.”

I realize how much I want it as the words leave my mouth.

She looks out as the blooming onions. “Do you think the others will agree?”

“I think we're all realizing this new world is going to be different for all of us and everyone needs a chance to redeem themselves and reinvent who they are.”

Her green eyes widen with awe and pride. “You're right. I'm not sure how many will come but I know there are some who are little more than prisoners themselves.”

“Then we'll speak to Ransom and the Alpha’s and figure out how we can make this happen,” I say wrapping and arm around her shoulders.

We look out into the garden, as I think about the parallels between these budding plants and us.

It's not just about taking out the assembly and hunters, it's about creating a world that will allow all of us to bloom.