Chapter 35: Goodbyes

**ARIA**

Early the next morning, the house is quieter than it's been in days. No sudden threats. No snarls in the distance. No screams or hunters. Just stillness and peace.

And the low sound of the kettle whistling in the kitchen and the thumps of Mara's boots as she moves through the hallway for the last time. 

I stand by the window, watching the mist slowly rise off the treetops. Everything outside looks so different now. I suppose because there's no longer any danger lurking around. 

"I hate goodbyes," Mara says as she comes up behind me. "But at the same time, they aren't permanent. So it doesn't hurt as much."

She gives me a quick hug before pulling back. Jamie stands behind her, giving her a brief moment with me before coming up to her.

"You'll visit?" she asks me as we walk to the door.

I nod at her, "Of course." 

"God, I'll miss you." 

Mara and Jamie will be taking the car that we travelled all the way. It was hers' to begin with, anyway. I'll miss her company around here. She was one of the few people who understood me and made sense of what I'd been through.

"Call me when you're on the road. We'll talk." I tell her before giving her another hug. 

"I will." 

"Bye Aria," Jamie tells me.

I wave at them, and the moment they get in the car, they leave. Reversing onto the main road and then disappearing into the mist like they'd never been here in the first place. I wait a few seconds outside, in the cold before turning around. 

Right at the front door, I find Darius looking at me.

"You're going to be fine?" he asks. 

I don't really know what to say, but I nod. 

"I think so." 

We walk back into the house. Unfortunately, Henry's already at school so he didn't get to see them go, but that's alright, it saves the time from saying another set of goodbyes. He really liked Mara, and when he knew that she had been with me all these three years away, he really admired the hounds even further than before.

I walk back into the living room and kettle continues its loud whistling and just as I make a mental note to go shut it off, Darius goes to the kitchen and ends its ear-piercing sounds.

"I'll be heading to the packhouse in a bit. You're going to be fine on your own? Ally won't be home until a while." he comments, and I really think he's being way too cautious about this. 

It's not like the first time I've ever been alone in the house before. 

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine. Plus, I've some of my own things to go." I assure him and wave a dismissive hand at his concerns.

I take a cup of tea from him as he offers. "Alright, then. If there's something, anything that you might need or want to discuss or just—talk, you let me know, alright." His eyes are intent on my own, and I feel something inside that warms up at his genuine concern and kindness.

He was always so caring about everyone.

"I will," I assure him once more.

A few moments later, and he leaves the house to the packhouse. And the silence only grows. 

I take my tea back to the kitchen counter and sit on a stool, my fingers curling around the warm mug.

Mara's gone. Henry is away.

I don't know where Ally is. She went off early morning to visit a friend of hers' that lost her partner last night.

I'm on my own, for at least a little while. 

Back in the South, it wasn't like this—not at all. There, I had a purpose, and I would spend my days fighting, training, and working on new things to better myself and protect myself.

But here, I feel—lost. 

I've to constantly remind myself that I'm here for my brother and he needs me, at least for these few years while he's growing up. Which isn't long. After that, he'll be eighteen and all grown up. 

I take the cup of my tea and step outside. The mist has mostly lifted, and the sky is a perfect, cloudless blue. A cool wind lifts the hair off my shoulder, and for once in days, I feel the air brushing my skin without any worry. 

Until a car stops right in front of the house. 

At first, my mind goes straight to Lucian. It looks like he'd own one of these cars, but then, I see someone else step out. Three different people. They approach the house, or me. I can't really tell. 

"Aria Vale," The man in the front of the other two says. The way he says my name, it makes my insides twist because regardless of everything, I still carry my father's name. "We need you to come with us."

My brows furrow instantly. I lower my cup of tea onto the table that's nearby and look back at the man. 

It took me a moment, but I recognized him from the council. He's one of the councilmen. 

"What for?" I question. 

"We both know what it is for. It's better if you comply and come with us, or we'll have to use other measures of making you cooperate." He continues in a threatening tone. 

"What's going on? Did L—the alpha send you?" My heartbeat picks up in my throat as my wolf pushes at me to stay on my feet. She's ready, just like I am. All she knows right now is that these people, they aren't allies.

"Lucian?" he asks. He seems rather amused by this as the smirk that was there on his lips grows further. "No. Not at all."

"Then?" 

He doesn't answer. Instead, he turns and gestures the two men standing behind. One of the grabs me from the arm and forces me into walking but I resist.

My wolf growls as I try to yank my hand back, but then the man twists, and I have to move to avoid hurting myself. "Come on."

"Let me go," I say through clenched teeth.

My heart races as I struggle against the men who grab my arm. I kick at one of them, but he simply dodges it before grabbing the back of my neck and slamming my head against the table in a swift motion that drives me straight into *black*.

And I don't feel or think much after that.