Sixty one-Not Backing Down

Sixty one-Not Backing Down
Lev’s POV

Holding her this close only made the pain worse but I can't let go. The pain of knowing she isn’t mine and she isn't willing to decide to become mine is eating me alive. I hate her decision so damn much but yet I love her too much to stay angry at her.

The last few days have been hell for me coupled with whatever has been up with my parents. Each time I ask they would say it's nothing but when they think I am asleep or not paying attention they whisper to themselves. I have a feeling it has to do with Aria and me but I am not so sure and I hate the bad feeling I have about all this.

"What's wrong, Lev?" She spoke up again, probably getting impatient with the silence. She always knows even without saying anything.

"And don’t try lying to me because you only hesitate this way when you don't want to tell me the truth," she added, making me sigh.

It's pointless lying, "Something is up with my parents and I don't know what. They keep whispering between themselves and each time I asks they quickly cover up and act like it is nothing but it doesn't feel like anything" I admitted happily to finally talk about it.

"Maybe it is really nothing, it could be usual pack business talk or some inside gossip between them" she shrugged.

"No, I am sure something is up. It's about us, about you" I revealed. Aria froze in my arms, the tiny shift in the air confirmed that she knew something.

"About me?" She whispered her voice suddenly distant.

"What happened, Aria?" My stomach twists in fear and anticipation.

Seems like I am the only one who is left in the dark then.

"The board is handling it" She murmured in a shaky voice.

"The board?" What the actual fuck.

"What is the board handling Aria? What happened?" I questioned turning her properly so she could look at me.

My wolf stirred as anger slowly filled me, "Someone set me up to fight with Marissa on Monday at the Howl Games" Her eyes dropped to my chest as she spoke trying to avoid my eyes.

"What the hell do you mean by someone set you up?"

I don't show up at school for a few days and things get out of hand, great.

"I don't know but I just know I didn't do it"

"You never fight at the Howl Games, everyone knows that"

She let out a bitter laugh, "Well seems like I might have my first and probably last fight on Monday".

She shrugged her shoulders so casually like she didn't just tell me she was going to die on Monday.

"Don't ever say such to me, Ri. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever" I warned.

My voice broke as I continued, "How can you talk about dying like it doesn't mean anything, huh? What am I supposed to do without you?".

"I am sorry, Lev" She breathed. " It's just nothing that seems to be looking up, the board is yet to get back to me and Monday is only a day away, I may just end up having to fight Marissa and we both know Marissa already hates me. I am not as strong as you all, I don't heal just as fast Eutger. She could hurt me too badly to heal from"

"Then we make sure that doesn't happen" I stopped her rambling.

"And how do you plan on doing that? You want to talk with Marissa?” she asks, her tone tired, almost mocking.
"We both know if she backs out it would make her look weak in front of everyone and that threatens her position as the Gamma heir and it will affect her father too" she added.

"I don't care about this, all I know is no one is going to hurt you" I assured brushing her hair back.

"I really want to believe you, Lev," she admitted.

"You should, Ri. I have always protected you and I won't stop now"


"Dad" I called out as I knocked on his office door.

"Come in, Lev"

I pushed the door open and walked in. He was seated behind his desk, his face buried in the pile of papers in front of him.

I stood contemplating my next words before deciding to sit, small talk first would do.

"Hope the pack is going fine?" I asked, trying to take a peek at what he was doing.

He dropped his pen, closing the file that was open before looking up at me, "How are you?"

His lack of response to my question only grew my suspicion.

"Dad" I called out, my eyes fixed on the file in front of me, something was really up. Guess small talk won't work.

"Lev, please I am busy and I don't need any distractions"

"Understood, I am not here to distract you either, I just need answers to my questions" I responded, leaning back on the chair.

"Questions? What questions?" He cocked his head to the side watching me with a guarded look in his eyes.

"You know exactly what I want to ask, Dad"

He released a sigh, "I don't know what you are talking about Lev but if you are not ready to talk please let me work"

"What's with the whispers about Aria and me?" I went straight to the point.

"Your Mum already told you it was nothing Lev. Just let it be" he brushed off but he should know better. I never give up easily.

"You both knew about Arja being set up, yet none of you bothered to tell me and now you both still don't want to tell me whatever it is that is going on. I am sure there is something more to this that no one is talking about" I accused.

His eyes darkened, "Look Lev, I need you to stay as far away from that fight as you can. You are not to interfere, try to stop it, do you hear me?"

His words shocked me to my very core.
.
"Are you kidding me, Dad? My best friend, your late best friend's daughter, and a girl you call yours too is going to fight someone she clearly shouldn't fight and there is a high possibility that she might not even be able to make it out and you are seated here telling me to sit and do nothing?" I spat anger flooding my veins. So this is why they didn't want to mention it.

"Exactly Lev, I know things are really bad. We all love Aria, trust me and we will always protect her but this fight....it was to happen" he insisted. He used the tone he only used when he said something that cannot be altered, and right now I am willing to go against that.

"Hear me and hear me well, Dad. Aria means the world to me, I cannot just sit and let her get beaten to death all for nothing. I don't even want to know what the board or council is up to. I am not going to fold my hands and wait to know" I shot as I pushed myself up from where I sat. I glared at him before walking out already knowing I was going to pay for speaking to him that way later on but right now I couldn't care less.

I knew something was wrong and now I am going to make sure Aria stays safe.