Chapter 5 Four Brothers
CHAPTER Five — Aria’s POV
Four Brothers
My heart was still racing when the voices grew louder, steady, and full of purpose.
“This time… our gift is for Aria.”
The words hit me like a wave. My name… spoken so clearly, so firmly. Not Mina. Not someone else. Me. Aria.
The door burst open. Four tall, strong figures filled the room. My four brothers. Real, alive, protective, my family. Their eyes immediately found me. They took in my frail arms, the trembling hands, the haunted look in my eyes. My stomach twisted with a mix of fear and hope.
“Aria…” one of them whispered, his voice soft but commanding. “Is that… you?”
I could barely nod, my throat tight, my lips trembling.
They stepped closer, surrounding me with warmth I had never known. Each of them carried something—gifts meant for me.
The first brother knelt and laid a box in front of me. I opened it slowly. Inside, the glittering shine of jewelry—necklaces, rings, delicate bracelets. Tears pricked my eyes. I had never owned anything so beautiful.
The second brother handed me a pile of clothes. Soft, warm, lovely dresses, not like the coarse rags I had worn in the forest or at Caspian’s pack. He smiled gently. “You need comfort, warmth. Not scraps.”
The third brother, the tallest, a serious, strong man, stepped forward with several men following him. “These are for you,” he said. “Bodyguards and trainers. We’ll make sure no one harms you. You will learn, grow, and be strong.” His gaze was steady, protective.
The fourth brother knelt and handed me tiny clothes, delicate, soft, perfect for a baby. My stomach clenched as realization struck—he had heard, somehow, what had happened to me. His care made my throat burn with emotion.
I sank to my knees, my hands shaking. My body trembled, my heart racing. I looked up at them, tears flowing freely now.
“I… I… I don’t know what to say,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I… I’ve never… I’ve never had anyone care like this.”
They surrounded me, each hand touching mine, my shoulders, holding me steady. For the first time, I felt safe. Seen. Loved. Not just as someone’s daughter or a mistake—but as Aria.
Mina’s voice cut across the room like ice. “What is this? All this… for her?” She stepped forward, her face red with fury, her fists clenched. “This is my house! My birthday! My parents! And you’re… you’re—”
“Enough,” one of my brothers snapped, stepping forward, towering over her. His voice was sharp, commanding. “You will not touch her. Not a word. Not a hand. Stay back.”
Mina froze, eyes wide, realizing she was powerless. Her fury was visible, but the protection around me was unbreakable.
I buried my face in my hands, shaking. Tears streamed down my cheeks, hot and unrelenting. My body ached. My heart ached. But this… this was hope. This was love. This was family.
“I… I never thought… I could feel… this,” I whispered between sobs. “I… I’m not alone… anymore?”
One brother gently lifted my chin, forcing me to look at them. “No, Aria. Never again. You have us. Always.”
My hands reached for theirs, clutching them tightly. My knees trembled, my chest heaved, but a tiny spark of warmth spread through me. A spark of courage. A spark of belonging.
Mina glared at us, a storm of envy and anger in her eyes, but I didn’t care. For the first time in my life, I felt… something real. Something strong. Something I had never dared to dream.
“I… I… I am Aria,” I whispered, barely audible. “And… I… I will survive. I will… I will be strong.”
The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the TV, the shuffling of gifts, and the steady presence of my brothers around me. And for the first time, I didn’t feel small. I didn’t feel invisible.
I was Aria. And I had finally come home.