Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall
Chapter 48

Reid's POV

I watched as she slept, I picked up her limp body. Guilt eating away at me, I could feel Ryderpressing against my skin. Itching to be released. I placed her on our bed, leaning down, I nuzzledinto her neck. God, I loved this woman, but damn she infuriated me. I sometimes have to remembershe didn't have the childhood she deserved, didn't have the support she craved. I inhaled her scent,Ryder instantly settling down. I placed my hand on her stomach, the slightest bump on her lowerabdomen. I could hear the steady heartbeat of the life she was carrying. I knew Aria would be agreat mother, I can't grasp why she would doubt her ability. Aria always puts her life second to Lily,no matter the consequences. I know she will be protective of our pup. I would lay my life down forall three of them. Lily was as much hers as she was David's, their bond was unbreakable. I know Ariafeared that I made the wrong choice, but I know she will come around. I can sense the change inDavid, the bitterness of the loss of his mate now leaving, and his love slowly being given to Lilywhere it should have gone in the first place. I was envious of the bond they had formed in the lastcouple of weeks.

How he was able to pull himself from whatever dark place he was in. My father was not so lucky, hecouldn't live without my mother, not even for me. I brushed her hair out of her face and tucked theblanket around her. I heard the front door; I knew instantly it was Zane. What I didn't understandwas why he was here. Something must have happened, for him to barge in when he was under strictorders to steer clear. I raced downstairs, Zane's appearance was dishevelled his clothes torn andbarely staying on him. “What's happened?”

Zane tried to catch his breath, his hands on his knees while he was bent over. I mind linked him,knowing he was too out of breath to talk.

"Zane?"

“They attacked, there were too many of them. They took them, oh god Reid, they took her.”

Panic coursed through my veins, my body tensing. I glanced up the stairs, knowing Aria was upthere sleeping, unaware of the shit storm that just blew in. The timing couldn't be worse.

“Took who? Who took them?”

“My mate, oh god they took Christine. They had tranquilisers, we couldn't do anything. They tookChristine and Wendy.”

“What about Amber?”

“She is fine. Mitch ran with her taking her to the Black Moon Pack, she is with Lily” I felt instant reliefknowing, the kids were at least safe.

“What happened?” I was already moving, my fingers moving a hundred miles an hour, texting theentire Pack to meet.

“The Hunters. They want Aria, Reid. They said they will kill them if we don’t hand her over. They werewatching the house as soon as we got inside the entire property was surrounded, they kicked thedoors in and let off Wolfsbane grenades. Mitch grabbed Amber when I told them to run, but Icouldn't stop them, I tried. I fucking Tried. But I WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH!" his voice screaming inmy head. His anger boiling over, before crushing him. He was dying inside with guilt, dying with thethought of what they could possibly be doing with his mate.

“This isn't your fault we will get them back, Zane. I won't let them hurt your mate or Wendy.”

Zane nodded, putting his complete faith in me. Ryder was hackled up in my head growling. “I amgoing to fucking slaughter the lot them” His growl ripping out of me before I felt the shift take over.I didn't fight it, I let him out. His instincts were to kill and take back what belonged to us. They werepart of my Pack, and nobody fucking takes from me. Not unless they have a death wish. I looked upthe stairs. I have to protect them, I will not let anyone touch what's mine.

"Go to the Black Moon Pack, take Aria with you. Warn them. Tell them to get ready, we are about togo to war.” I took off knowing Zane would get Aria out of here and to safety. I have complete trustin him. He feels like he failed them, but I know he would have fought until his last breath if given thechance. I know if he did, they would have killed him.