Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall
Chapter 33

Aria's POV

Once in the kitchen, I started making coffee with Wendy. The atmosphere was a little tense notknowing how to react to having someone that wasn't a Pack member in the Pack house. Davidlooked extremely uncomfortable, and he and Reid sat across from each other at the table watchingeach other closely. Neither of them trusting the other. Walking over, I placed a coffee in front ofboth of them. I don't know who's as more shocked Lily or myself when David thanked me for hiscup.

I stared speechlessly, so did Lily, the words sounded alien coming out of his mouth. Quickly maskingmy shock, I took a seat between both Alpha's, my own cup in hand and watched as Lily and Ambermunched on their breakfast. Wendy offered everyone pancakes, but Alpha David declined, and Isuddenly lost my appetite. How could I eat when everything felt uncomfortable? I didn't trust myselfto not choke on my food.

When Lily finished eating, she grabbed her bag, chucking it over her shoulder. I stood up andreached for her hand. She grasped it tightly, I could sense she was nervous. I just didn't know if itwas about starting a new school or the fact that David was following behind her. Reaching the foyer,Reid stopped in front of us

"I have to go to the office. When you're done at the school head over if you like, Mitch will drive youwherever you want to go" He told me, placing a kiss on my lips before stepping back. Just as he wasabout to bend down to talk to Lily. David stepped forward.

"Actually, is it alright if after I have some time with Aria? I have a few things I would like to discusswith her?" I was once again left speechless. The man I had always feared asking permission like achild and using manners too. What happened while I was out, he was like a completely differentperson.

Reid glanced at me quickly, and I shrugged my shoulders before he looked back at David.

"Fine but Mitch stays with her, wherever you take her, he is to stay with her understood." Davidnodded and thanked him. Agreeing to the terms.

"Okay, let's get Lily to school" I announced, drawing everyone's attention to what we were meant tobe doing. Reid bent down and placed a kiss on Lily's head.

"Everyone will love you and have fun kiddo,” he told her before walking out the front door. Davidlooked down at Lily and smiled. The smile seemed genuine and held no malice, it was weird seeinghim smile. I hadn't seen the man smile since my mother was alive. Oh, how things were changing.Walking out behind Reid, I watched as he jumped into his car with Zane following behind him,before jumping in the driver's side and leaving. We watched the car go down the driveway, Mitchpulled up out the front in a black SUV, I walked over and opened the back door for Lily. Lily climbedin, placing the seat belt on while I slid in next to her. David stood awkwardly. I could tell he wasunsure whether or not he was supposed to come with us or follow.

"Just jump in the front, we can drop you back to your car when we are finished at the school.” Iyelled out to him. David made his way to the front passenger seat climbing in and buckling himselfup. The drive to school was silent and luckily a quick drive, the school was only ten minutes from thePack house.

Jumping out of the car, the school was only small, compared to the ones I went too. One hugebuilding surrounded by high fences. Kids were talking and hanging around in groups, there wereeven older teenagers. I looked at Mitch, confused. Noticing my confusion, he stepped closer.

"The school is K to twelve. There are only around 200 students that attend the school, so instead ofhaving two separate schools, we joined them into one. Makes it easier for the warriors to watch overeveryone. The classes are smaller, so the students get a lot of one-on-one time with their teachers.First half of the day is spent doing your normal human sort of education, maths, English, science,etc. The other half of the day is spent learning about werewolf history and training,” I nodded myhead in understanding, it was a lot different than the schools I went to.

I went to a mixed school, with a mainly human population that was unaware of the werewolfpopulation walking the halls of the school. This seemed more practical, the kids didn't need to hidewhat they were and were amongst those they have grown up with, they also got the best ofeducations into both worlds. By the time Mitch had finished showing David and I around, we hadstopped in front of a colourfully decorated classroom. The windows were covered in different artpieces the kids had drawn one window was covered in painted handprints that I'm assuming wereLily's classmates.

Stopping, I noticed we had quite the following of kids, they were crowded around us, staring up atAlpha David and myself curiously. Lily was talking animatedly to Amber, and another little girl who'sname I learned was Tara. She had red hair and freckles wearing her navy-blue school uniformproudly.

"Is your sister our Luna?" I heard Tara ask, staring up at me excitedly. I smiled back, Lily just noddedher head and introduced us.

"This is Ari, my sister and this..." She stopped unsure of what to say when it came time to introduceDavid. Luckily, David didn't freeze, in fact, he looked quite proud. He waved at the children thatwere huddled around. I see a few kids sniff the air realising he wasn't a Pack member before theystepped closer to Mitch and myself. David seemed unfazed and introduced himself.

"I'm David, Lily's father,” he said before looking at my face to see if I would deny him. I just smiled,and Lily did too. She looked relieved but also unsure of his new attitude towards her. I couldn'tblame her; I was actually proud of how she was carrying herself; she really had come a long wayfrom being the frightened little girl she once was. Now she was more confident and sure of herself,she still had a long way to go, but I now knew she would get there.

David watched Lily talk amongst her newfound friends, Mitch stuck close, never leaving my side justlike Reid had told him. When the bell finally rang signalling the start of class, kids ran in all differentdirections to their classrooms and lined up. Lily took her place next to Amber in line and waitedpatiently.

A woman walked over to us. She eyed David warily before relaxing when she spotted Mitch andmyself standing with him.

"Hi, you must be Luna Aria,” she stated, giving me her hand to shake. Her handshake was gentle.She had soft features and caramel coloured skin and bright brown eyes with curly black shoulderlength hair.

"I don't think I have met you yet. I'm Mrs. Tatt, but you can call me Nadia.” She spoke softly. I said aquick hello before her gaze looked over my shoulder to the Alpha standing behind me.

"Ah, I'm David, Lily's father,” he said, offering his hand to her. She quickly nodded and shook hishand. I could tell she was slightly confused. David Alpha Aura was strong, not as strong as Reid's butdefinitely strong. I was shocked he didn't introduce himself as an Alpha, instead just giving his firstname like he was any normal person. I could tell she thought it was weird that a non-Pack memberand Alpha was on Pack territory and that his daughter wasn't a part of his own Pack. I didn't havetime to explain the very strange situation right now. So, for now, Nadia will just have to wait until Iexplain the unusual family situation to her.

Lily raced into class and put her bag at her desk. I watched her run back and wrap her tiny armsaround me and give me a hug. She pulled away, and Mitch ruffled her hair while she swatted hishand away. She looked up at her father, not knowing whether to just walk away or shake his hand. Isaw her raise her hand like she was going to wave when Alpha David placed a hand on her shoulderand lightly squeezed. I could tell he was just as unsure as she was. "Have a good day, Lily,” he toldher with a gentle voice.

She smiled and nodded her head before walking off to go back to her desk.

Walking out, I heard Mrs. Tatt calling out "Luna, Luna." I stopped quickly remembering I was, in fact,the Luna. That was still going to take some getting used to.

Turning around, I faced her. "School finishes at three as I'm sure you are aware but if you don't mindwould you be able to stop by the class at 2:30 the kids would love to meet and get to know you,""Of course, I will see you then.” She smiled excitedly, and I could see many faces pressed against theglass peering out at us. I waved at them before following Mitch back to the car. Alpha David walkingbeside me.

"I would like to speak to the principal here one day if that's okay. I like the idea of this wholewerewolf populated school. The kids look a lot more relaxed when they aren't surrounded byhumans,” I raised an eyebrow, that had to be the most Alpha thing I have heard come out of hismouth. He did seem quite interested when Mitch was explaining the way the school was set up.Mitch answered for me.

"You will have to discuss that with the Alpha assuming Luna Aria is okay with that, I don't thinkAlpha Reid will have a problem": It was weird hearing Mitch address me so formally. I knew he wasonly doing it out of respect, and because Alpha David was with us. I really hope it doesn't stickthough; I like being myself around everyone back home. But I feel it might change if everyone keepscalling me Luna. I didn't mind the title, but I also liked just being Aria.

"That's fine with me, we can discuss it later, now where did you want to have this talk at?"

"We can head back to your Pack house if you would be more comfortable there” Mitches mind-linkpushed through to me. "Luna I would prefer if it was done at home, it is a lot safer there with thewarriors, and I don't think Reid would like it very much if we left the territory.”

I nodded in Mitch's direction. "Yes, we can head back to the Pack house and discuss things." I toldDavid. Getting back to the car we made the short trip back to the Pack house.