Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall novel Chapter 10

Aria’s POV

Walking up the long driveway, Lily moved in my arms, waking up. I placed her on her feet. The night was cold, and the walk home took longer than usual since I was still in pain from the gash on my ribs. It was starting to get cold, and the breeze made it a little chillier than normal. I could smell an earthy aroma telling me it was going to rain later. When we were nearly all the way to the Pack house, Lily looked up at me tugging on my hand, I looked down at her.

“Can I run ahead please? I really need to pee.” I chuckled at her; she was wriggling around while she walked.

“Go on then.”

She looked relieved and took off running towards the Pack house, which was only about ten metres away now. I watched her run up the steps and into the Pack house. As I got closer to the Pack house, I pulled the duffle bag off my shoulder, about to climb the stairs, when a new sensation took over me, making me drop the bag on the ground. A horrid feeling churning in my stomach, overwhelming all my senses.

Fear. Pure fear. The sort of fear that makes your skin itch. When you can feel every hair on your body rise, when you feel like your skin is crawling. Fear that makes your body freeze paralysing you on the spot. That’s the sort of fear I felt when I heard her blood-curdling scream.

Only thing was, I was her big sister. I couldn’t run away. I had no choice but to move, go to her. I forced my legs up the front porch of the Pack house, running in the direction I could hear her screaming my name. My feet pounding on the floorboards in panic. I was moving so fast, I felt myself slipping on the hallway rug, making me skid along the floor and into the wall. My head and shoulder twisting at an awkward angle into the kitchen door frame with enough force that black dots danced in front of my vision. My collarbone and shoulder sending shooting pain through my body, as I feel my shoulder dislocate on impact.

“Aria! Aria!” Her petrified scream echoed through the house. Jumping to my feet, my head spun. I turned the corner into the kitchen to see the Alpha dragging my sister by her hair into the basement with a whip in his other hand. I start running to her, grabbing the basement door frame just in time for him to slam the door shut on my fingers. My own scream escaped my lips in agony. Reaching for the door handle, only to find it's been locked. I start trying to yank my hand free. I could hear her crying and screaming for me on the other side of the door.

“LEAVE HER ALONE!” I screamed at him, banging on the door with my fist. Slamming my body into the door, trying to free my fingers and get in. Not being able to get a run-up, I threw my body with all my might towards the side where my fingers were stuck. The door moved just enough for me to free my injured, bloody, mangled hand. My fingers were definitely broken.

Backing up into the kitchen, I ran full force into the door and bounced off, knocking the air out of my lungs. I stood up, backing up again and ran harder. I dropped my shoulder hitting the door with so much force it burst open. My feet hitting air as my body was thrown down the stairs landing at a weird angle and my head smashing into the basement’s concrete floor.

“Aria!”

“Aria!”

Her cries made me pull myself to my hands and knees. The Alpha was standing above Lily, who was cowering on the ground at his feet, tears staining her rosy cheeks. As he went to raise the whip, I threw my body over hers just as it came down, tearing the back of my blouse open. I could feel my flesh being torn. I screamed, shoving Lily out from under me and to the side. I turned over and kicked my leg up straight between his legs. The Alpha grunted in pain before kicking me in the stomach. I tried to get to my feet, but he grabbed me by my hair, forcing me to look at his rage-filled face.

This man is a monster. I tried to mind link Michael but was punched in the face, his fist connecting with my nose making blood spill everywhere on the floor. I could hear Lily’s frightened screams making my blood boil.

“I saw you today cosying up to Alpha Reid. You think you can betray me, girl?” His voice was menacing; I could smell his putrid whiskey breath on my face which just fuelled my anger. I felt my claws extend, and I didn’t think twice as I plunged them into his thigh, making him let me go.

“You’re fucking dead now, bitch,” he screamed. My eyes widened when I heard his bones snapping. He changed so quickly, jumping into his wolf form in a split second. He lunged at me, my body slamming violently into the shelving along the walls. Feeling his teeth sink into my side, I let out a strangled scream. My breathing was laboured, and I was fighting to stay conscious when I felt his teeth sink into my thigh, feeling my flesh being ripped away.

Black dots tried to take over my vision. I could hear Lily screaming and frantic footsteps above us.

“Ari,,” she said, her voice sounding so weak.

“Come on, Lil, I need you to wake up and repeat after me.” She was too weak to stand, her eyes fluttering closed again.

“Come on, Lil, stay awake for a few more minutes.” Her eyes opened, and she groggily repeated after me.

“I, Lily Violet Blackwood, reject the Black Moon Pack and understand by doing so I will become a rogue.” I felt her link snap just as she drifted off to sleep in my arms. Getting up, I did the same.

“I, Aria Rose Peyton, reject the Black Moon Pack and understand by doing so I will become a rogue.” I felt my teether to the Pack snap just as I heard vicious howls. He has told them to find us. Running as fast as I could with Lily in my arms, I listened to my surroundings. I could hear a car. If I could just get to the road before they found us, we might be able to escape.

Running was difficult because I felt like passing out. Seeing the brake lights up ahead through the trees, I ran faster. Branches and sticks were scratching up my legs. I could still see the brake lights when I realised the car must be stopped at the train crossing. I listened as much as I could, straining to hear over the thunder from the storm that was coming. I could just make out the sound of a train passing when I felt what felt like razors cutting through my skin.

Looking around, lantana bushes were everywhere, blocking our escape. I forced my way through the branches trying to shield Lily as much as possible. When I came out the other side, I was on the road. My clothes were in tatters. My legs were almost bare from the lantana stripping and scratching away my pants, leaving cuts everywhere they touched my skin. My blouse was only held on due to me holding Lily, and I could feel one of my bra straps hanging on my back.

I quickly looked over, and the train had passed. The ute was just waiting for the gate to lift before it could cross. Not wasting another second, I put Lily in the tray before climbing in behind her. There was an old tarp in the tray underneath a box. I quickly pulled it over us just as it started to belt down with rain. Only when I felt the ute move and start to accelerate did I let out the breath I was holding and closed my eyes.