Chapter 113 Aria
Her name flashed on the screen again and I stared at the message for a full five seconds before opening it.
Max leaned closer beside me, his shoulder brushing mine as he peered at the phone. “You going to open it or just let it haunt you?”
“It already is,” I muttered, then tapped the screen.
I found something I shouldn’t have. Meet me, now.
I exhaled slowly. “Of course she did.”
Max huffed under his breath. “That girl is either about to save us or get us all killed.”
“Or both,” I said quietly.
That was the worst part. With Sienna, it could always be both. I stood up from the edge of my bed, already reaching for my jacket even though every logical part of me was screaming not to go.
“You’re seriously leaving?” Max asked.
“She said it was important.”
“She always says that.”
I paused, my fingers hovering over the zipper. “Max…”
“No, seriously, Aria.” He stepped in front of me blocking my path. “Last time ‘important’ turned into your entire life getting dragged across the internet and a hunter army marching into town.”
I winced. “You don’t have to remind me.”
“Apparently I do.”
There was frustration in his voice, but underneath it was worry.
“I’m not going alone,” I said finally. “You’re coming with me.”
He blinked. “That wasn’t what I was arguing for.”
“Too bad.”
For a second, he just stared at me like he was deciding whether this was a hill worth dying on then he sighed.
“Fine. But if this turns into a trap, I reserve the right to say I told you so while we’re running for our lives.”
“Deal.”
We didn’t waste any more time. Ten minutes later, we were out the door and heading toward the edge of town where Sienna had dropped a location pin.
The place she chose didn’t help. It was the old records building behind the school. It hadn’t been used in years. Most of the archives had been moved to the main library but some older documents were still stored there. It was quiet easy to avoid unless you knew exactly where you were going which meant it was also the perfect place to meet if you didn’t want to be seen.
“Yeah, I hate this already,” Max muttered as we approached the side entrance.
“Same,” I said, pushing the door open anyway.
The inside smelled like dust and old paper. Dim lighting flickered overhead casting uneven shadows across rows of shelves and filing cabinets. Sienna stood near one of the long tables with a stack of folders spread out in front of her. She looked tired and there were eye bags under her eyes.
“You came.”
I folded my arms. “You sound surprised.”
Max stayed slightly behind me. “We like making bad decisions. It’s kind of our brand.”
Sienna didn’t smile. “I don’t have a lot of time,” she said quickly. “They’re moving faster than I thought.”
My patience snapped. “You don’t get to rush me like nothing happened.”
She flinched.
“You don’t get to call me after what you did.” I continued.
“I know,” she said quietly.
“I messed up,” she added. “I was angry and I wanted to hurt you.”
“You succeeded.”
“I know that too.”
Max stepped in cutting through the tension. “Okay, emotional accountability later. Why are we here?”
Sienna nodded and turned back to the table and pushed one of the folders toward us. “Because of this.”
I glanced down at the papers. “What is this?”
“Attack points.” Sienna said.
Max leaned in, his expression darkening. “Attack on what?”
“Silverpine.”
I looked up at her. “You’re saying your family is planning something bigger than scouting.”
“Yes.”
“How big?”
Her jaw tightened. “Not just wolves but anyone connected to them.”
Max cursed under his breath. “That’s a massacre.”
Sienna didn’t disagree. I forced myself to keep looking at the maps, even as dread started to build in my chest. “When?”
“Soon,” she said. “They’ve already sent scouts. This is just the next step.”
I swallowed. “And you found this where?”
“In their records,” she admitted. “I wasn’t supposed to access them.”
“Great,” Max muttered. “So now they’re definitely going to suspect you.”
“They already do.”
“What?” I was shocked.
Sienna met my eyes and I saw real fear there. “I wasn’t supposed to care,” she said.
“So what, you’re defecting now?” Max asked bluntly.
Sienna didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know what I am anymore.”
“You said you found something,” I said finally. “Is that it?”
She shook her head. “No that’s just the beginning.”
“There’s another file,” she continued. “Locked. I only got a glimpse of it but it had names.”
“Names?” Max repeated.
Sienna nodded. “Targets.”
“Whose names?” I asked.
She hesitated again. “Aria,” she said softly, “your name was on that list.”
The air left my lungs.
Max swore again. “Okay, yeah, we’re officially past bad.”
I stared at her, trying to process it. “Why me?”
“Because you’re connected,” she said. “To Luca and the pack.”
“They think I compromised you,” she added. “That you know too much.”
I let out a shaky breath. “So what are you saying? That they’re coming for me too?”
Sienna didn’t look away. “Yes.”
Max stepped closer to me. “We need to tell Luca.”
Sienna spoke again. “There’s more.”
Of course there was. I closed my eyes for half a second, bracing myself. “Just say it.”
“The attack isn’t just planned,” she said. “It’s already started.”
My eyes snapped open. “What do you mean?”
Sienna’s gaze flicked toward the door like she was listening for something we couldn’t hear yet. “I mean,” she said, “they’re not waiting anymore.”
Max looked at me. “I hate to break it to you, Aria but I think Chicago was best for you.”
I turned to Max. “I never felt like myself as I feel here back in Chicago, Max. Even with all these, I don’t regret moving here.”
Max was about to say something else but got interrupted by a loud sound outside. We all went still holding our breaths in fear.
Oh no!