CHAPTER 57. -Gabby's POV-

I groaned and turned in the bed. Something felt weird, it felt like I was rested which I hadn't been for weeks. I turned and looked at the clock. It was ten o'clock and my eyes widened. I rolled over and there he was. Last night rushed back to me and I couldn't help but

smile.

Aiden had his hand on my thigh and when he felt me moving he leaned over and wrapped his arms around me. He pulled me into his body and snuggled up close to me.

Good morning." I said and stroked his cheek.

Good morning indeed," he said and smiled. It had been a long time since I had seen him smile. It was nice.

I winced when I felt the pain in my neck and I dragged my finger over the side.

The mark. Aiden marked me.

I saw the hint of uncertainty in his eyes and looked over at him.

"How does it feel?" He asked and leaned upon his arm.

I shrugged a shoulder.

"I like it," I said.

His shoulder relaxed and he smiled again.

I hadn't been sure before about Aiden. Whether or not I would want to be with him but yesterday everything just felt so natural. Like it was meant to be, which technically it was considering the fact that we were mates. But still, I wanted him, I was just still unsure of

whether or not I could trust him.

Aiden must've sensed my worry. He grabbed my chin and gently turned my head. We locked eyes and he sat up.

"I'm not thinking that this makes everything okay. Everything that has happened, everything I have done, I will as I said earlier spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Sex doesn't make me think that you have forgiven me or that you trust me again. I will earn it. 1 promise you, Gabriella Santos, that I will earn your trust back."

There was a lot of noise coming from downstairs as we walked out of the room.

People were yelling and one voice was louder than the others. A voice I didn't t feel like interacting with. I groaned as we stepped down. Aiden looked down and saw my pout. He smirked and placed his hand on my lower back.

"You let him go alone?!"

"Could you lower your f*cking voice?"

"Yeah honestly, it's kind of annoying to hear you when you speak at a regular volume but this high-pitched scream you got going on just kind of makes me want to rip your tung out. Kind of sounds like a cat being choked or something."

"Noah!" Marie scolded. We walked into the communal hall and saw everyone. Sam was standing there with her friend clique. They all looked at Aiden and said hello. He tossed his head but didn't say anything. Sam's eyes cast down on my neck and then they narrowed to slits. Daggers shot out from her eyeballs and I knew what she was

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CHAPTER 57.

watching.

"You marked her?" She seethed,

"You need to watch your tone." Aiden said and stepped around me.

"How chivalrous, protecting your mate," She spat.

"I cannot believe you let Cole go to Asher's alone! We all know what he's capable of!" She stepped closer and looked up at Aiden. Noah wasn't wrong, Sam's voice did make your ears bleed. "You just sent him to his death." She said.

"I gave him a chance to restore his name." He answered.

The others weren't reacting, it seemed they didn't want to get more on Aidens bad side than they already had. They just stood idly by and watched as everything unfolded.

"I heard your parents visited last night," She said and looked at me with a raised brow. My breath hitched and I nodded my head.

"They did." Edmund stepped forward and she sensed it. She rolled her eyes and walked out of the room. The others stayed, however. She stopped by the door frame and glared at them. "Come on let's go!" She shricked.

looked small.

Her

fer friends were looking at Aiden. One of the fiddl

fiddled nervously with her hands and the others

"Are you-" Sam started but her friends walked up to Aiden,

"We're really sorry about everything we did and we miss you...We didn't mean for everything to go this far and we, we f*cked up, Aiden." One of the girls said. Aiden tilted his head back. Whenever he drew to his fullest size, he wasn't just big; he was huge. The girl

sank in front of him.

"I heard you cornered Gabby and Cassy a few weeks back. Did your epiphany come before or after stepped closer. He pushed his chest out and glared at her.

She gulped and nodded her head.

that i

interaction?" He asked and

"I'm sorry, Gabby, for everything. You didn't deserve it," She said and looked at me. She st incredibly sincere.

stepped around Aiden and her face looked

She came up to me and cupped her hands.

"You honestly deserved none of it. We took the gossip we heard about you to heart and then after that, we just made a series of misinterpretations. We treated you horribly and I honestly hope that you can forgive us someday. And Aiden-

We really do miss you," She said and smiled. She walked out of the room followed by the others. They passed Sam who was seething. The only one who scoffed and didn't follow their lead was Amanda. One of the girls I had gone shopping with when I first arrived. She walked over and stood by Sam.

I knew tension was high outside the pack, I was just hoping it would've been calmer inside.

But it wasn't, there were a lot of things happening on this side as well. We didn't know who could be trusted.

"How are you feeling, sis? Edmund asked and wrapped his arms around me.

He pulled back and smirked. His fingers gently removed my hair from my front and his eyes trailed down my neck.

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CHAPTER 57.

"Congrats by the way." He said.

"I'm feeling...odd, I guess. Our parents are dead, Edmund," he pressed under my chin and tilted my head back. His eyes bored into mine with such an intense and serious gaze.

"And the world is better for it." He said with the utmost sincerity.

I nodded my head and laid my head on his chest.

Nick stepped toward Aiden.

"You marked her?" He asked. Aiden bowed his head in response.

Aiden looked at me.

"And you're happy?" He asked and I smiled.

"More than before," I said. His eyes went back to Aiden's and they shared a silent message. I furrowed my brows and looked between

them both.

"Congratulations then," Nick said and smiled at me. I felt good and having my brothers here was starting to make this place feel like home. I hope they're aware that they're never allowed to leave. took of

We heard a rumble outside and everyone off running toward the door. 1 felt a hand take a Aiden stepped in front of me followed by Nick. Three men came up on the road to the house.

hold

I of me and I was pulled back

I gasped

and Aiden pulled my a

harder, keeping me at his side.

The man in the middle was holding someone. Her legs dangled and her head hung. His face was beaten and bruised. The two men on his side were walking with straight backs, dried blood covering them and my first thought was that five warriors had left. And by the time they had left, Aiden had already sent several warriors to search around Asher's borders.

But only three were walking up to the house.

The closer they got the clearer I could see that something was wrong.

"Cassy!" I ran down but Aiden tightened his grip and I was pulled back.

"Those aren't our warriors." Aiden growled. He and Nick stepped down the stairs.

"Stay here." He ordered and looked me deep in the eyes.

They stepped down and awaited the men to clo

"Alpha Aiden!" C

One of the men gleed.

I could hear a shallow heartbeat.

The three men stopped, Cole was in the middle, holding Cassy and she looked lifeless but I co

"Speak." Aiden demanded.

"Here is how this is going to work. Your warriors, they're all dead. We spared this one so that he could bring your pack member back and pass along a message. But then we figured, why don't we just accompany him?" He said and laughed. The smile turned to a scowl and he continued.

"Here's the message. You will either step down as Alpha willingly, you will hand over your mate and not much more blood must be

CHAPTER 57.

spilled. Or he will come for you, you will all either kneel for him or you will die."

"Pass along this message to my brother." Aiden said and stepped up in

his face.

"What mess-" his lips rounded and his eyes widened.

His heart was ripped from his chest and as I looked to the side I saw Nick standing with the other messenger's heart in his hand. They dropped their hearts over the dead bodies and looked at each other, sharing a silent message. The men fell to their knees, I guess they were the first to kneel,

Cole was getting fi

fixed

he still hadn't u

uttered a single word. Ca*sy was in the infirmary and her father was right by her side.

"Are y

you ready to tell us what happened?" Aiden asked.

Cole looked up, his eyes were fuming and his jaw clicked as he bit together.

"They were waiting for us. They knew we were coming." He spat.

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