Hybrid Aria 1-4

Lily POV

Tabitha’s house was not at all what I expected, stepping in I was shocked to see actually how homely and lived in it was, neutral colour scheme and warm tones filled her lounge room when I first stepped inside, pictures hung on the walls of who I assume must be her family and there were already quite a few of her and her daughter along with her mate. Tatum placed me on her couch and Trey walked out, yet he didn’t seem fazed that Tatum was standing close to his mate. Almost as if he accepted that he would be around more since he fathered her daughter. And I was happy that things were working out okay for Tabitha.

“I will go make you some tea” Tabitha said, when suddenly I heard the baby crying in the distance. Trey looked to Tatum, and he walked off. Only Trey left in the room with me along with Natalia. Looking at Trey, he had denim jeans on and a singlet. Since coming here he had filled out and no longer looked like a rogue.

I could also see the faint outline of Tabitha’s mark on his neck and smell her scent all over him. He smiled before sitting on the couch next to me. Tatum walked out with his daughter in his arms. She looked like Tatum, with her wispy hair and dimples.

“What’s her name?” I ask Tatum who gazes at his daughter lovingly making me think of my father.

“Tilly” He says before offering her to me and I hold my arms out for her. Tatum placed her in my arms and I smiled down at her. She yawned, her eyes fluttering. I caressed her little hand softly while she lay nestled in my arms, which I had to support on my knees.

“She is beautiful” I tell him just as Tabitha walks in.

“I see you finally met Tilly properly” Tabitha says with a nod.

“I blended our names. I hope that isn’t weird, I felt you deserved that after delivering her and everything I have put you through” She was sitting on the other side of me.

I feel my heart clench that she would add a piece of me in her name.

I hand Tilly to Tabitha and I notice Trey is gone before he returns with a bottle for her and hands it to Tabitha.

“I should head back to the Pack house Lily, you will be right here. I will let you know when the Alpha comes back if you like?” She says leaning down and hugging me. I nod and watch as she leaves. I feel a little awkward here. If anyone had said a few weeks ago, I would be sitting in Tabitha’s house with her, I would have laughed at the thought but she was proving to be quite a good friend despite our troubled and awkward past.

“What you said out there, about Damien. How do you know so much about his childhood?” I ask, turning to Tabitha who looks a little awkward at the topic change.

“We grew up together, Damien in the Packhouse and I lived two houses down with my parents. We used to play in the park together on the rare times he managed to sneak out. I knew he was the Alpha’s son, but every time I would see him, he would have new injuries. I knew things were bad at home for him. He always had broken bones and bruising or cuts like on his back” She said and I could see by the look in her eyes she was reliving those memories.

“He took a bad beating for me once, I snuck into the pack house wanting him to come play and his father caught me. I didn’t know then that they allowed no one in the pack house. We had just moved here and been accepted in the pack, when I saw him in the window and wanted to ask if he could play. I was four, Damien six, his father went to hit me with his belt but Damien ran out just in time and threw himself over me taking it so I didn’t have to. We became friends after that.” She said softly.

Her words reminded me of Aria and all the crap she copped at the hands of my father, I truly owed my sister my life and I knew if we could go back she would do it all again because that’s the sort of person and sister she is.

I smile sadly at her. “His father was horrible but despite the beating his mother was worse in my opinion”

“How so?” I ask,

“Might be best if he would tell you, I never witnessed any of it, but I have heard the stories”

“So is that why he is covered in scars from a belt?” I ask and instantly regret it.

“No, something far worse and the worst was watching it. After that day the pack changed, everyone could feel the power shifting and you could truly see the monster he was, I saw so many men break that day at what they did and even though Damien had forgiven them, and they had no choice. I know they will never forgive themselves, I also think that was when Damien first felt his wolf, things changed after that, Damien changed and he grew angry” She said.

Looking down in her arms, I notice Tilly had fallen asleep in her mother’s arms. Trey came over and gently picked her up. “I will go change her and put her to bed” He says kissing Tabitha on the head.

“And I should go,” Tatum said, hopping off the armchair.

“You’re not staying for dinner?” She asked, looking up at him.

“Depends, what are you and Trey making?” He asks.

“Taco’s,” says Trey, walking out and smiling at Tatum and I see Tabitha blush, making me wonder if there is more between the three of them then what meets the eye, as I not only see Trey looking at Tabitha with Lust filled eyes. I chuckle, making them look at me.

“What?” Tatum asks, sitting back down obviously deciding to stay.

“Nothing, just think it is interesting, that you three all have the same look in your eyes as you look at each other”

“And what look is that?” Trey asks, a smirk on his face.

“Are all of you sleeping together, I don’t care so no need to hide it” I ask, and I watch Tabitha’s face turn beet red and both Tatum and Trey smile at each other.

“That obvious?” Tatum says.

“I didn’t think you were bisexual, so honestly I am a little shocked” I tell them honestly.

“Well, I am going to make dinner” Tabitha dismisses herself, embarrassed as she walks out.

“Well, I am glad that is out because now I can stay without raising eyebrows” Tatum announces, then I realise the mark on his neck. I tilt my head to the side to get a better look.

“They both marked you?” Tatum nods his head before my eyes dart to Trey’s “and you them?”

“I haven’t marked Tabitha yet, but soon. She was a little busy planning a jailbreak” I nod in understanding. It wasn’t too strange that wolves gave up waiting for their mates. Some never find theirs because their mate dies, it also wasn’t too strange in today’s day and age that they were more open to having more than one mate.

I was more shocked that I hadn’t noticed earlier,

“Doesn’t help that we have been drugged off our faces for the last few days,” Says Layla and I realise she has been watching this entire time and feels calm and relaxed.

After dinner I notice I have more movement, and can walk without help. My muscles were sore, but I didn’t need any help to shower or walk up the stairs, and I was feeling more like myself as the hours ticked by. When everyone went to bed, though. I couldn’t sleep, instead walking over to the park and sitting on the swings.

Tonight was a full moon, and I felt invigorated sitting under the stars and moon, feeling the moonlight on my skin. The breeze softly caressed my skin.

I was on the swings for about ten minutes when I heard a noise. Looking up, I see Damien walking out of the pack house. He only had a pair of boxer shorts on, his beautifully sculpted body glistening under the moon. Seeing him walking down the long driveway, I go to get up and run for Tabitha’s when he speaks, his voice catching in the breeze washing over me, and I can’t help the longing I feel as I see him get nearer.

“Please don’t leave” He says and I stop but remain wary as he approaches. He holds his hands up.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“I have nothing I promise and I have no pockets” He says pulling on his boxer shorts. I let out a breath and sat back on the swing. Damien sits on the swing next to mine. Neither of us say anything. Just sit in silence. When I can’t handle the quiet anymore, I look to Damien.

“Where is my father?” I ask, knowing his funeral would have already been.

“Aria had his body transported back, and he was laid to rest alongside your mother” He says. I hold back my tears and swallow the lump in my throat, nodding my head.

“I’m sorry” Damien says before reaching his hand out to me. I look at it but turn my face away and he drops his hand.

“I know what I did was wrong, I know that now, please come home” He says and I can hear the desperation in his voice.

“Of all the things you did, do you know what hurt the most?” Damien looks at me and shakes his head.

“You called me unhinged, I hate that word. I have heard it from so many people and yet coming from you, the one person I didn’t think I would hear say it. Hurt the most” I feel his guilt seep into me.

I see Damien get off the swing. “I know you hate me, and I know I should never have listened to my mother. I should have listened to Ryker. Should have known the moment I saw her. She was up to no good. But she is my mother and I” He doesn’t finish, just shakes his head.

“I’m sorry Lily, if it makes you feel any better I have spent all afternoon, removing the door and all the padding from the room. I will even let you do what you want with it,” He says, wrapping his hand around mine, which is holding the chain of the swing.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask, looking at the house. He nods before sitting on the ground between my legs and resting his head on my thigh. I brush his hair with my fingers and I feel him shiver from my touch.

“Why do you live there?”

“What do you mean?” He asks, confused.

“I mean, after everything your parents put you through, why didn’t you tear it down?”

“It’s not the house’s fault, besides I have remodelled it, although the layout is still the same. Honestly, I don’t know why” He says, looking up at me and I trace my finger over his nose. Damien grabs my wrist before pressing it to his lips and running his nose over the inside of it inhaling my scent.

“Can I ask another?” I feel him nod before he looks up at me. “What did your mother do, Tabitha said she was worse than your father”

He shakes his head.

” In some ways, she was. She never hurt me like he did. But I can understand why Tabitha would say that”

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” He shakes his head and I sigh. Damien gets up and extends his hand to me, I look back at Tabitha’s house.

“I promise Lily, I won’t lock you up again,”

“Darian won’t let him Lily, you can trust him besides I have enough strength to shift, I can kick his ass if needed now” Layla tells me. I hesitantly grab his hand and let him pull me up. I hear him sigh before pulling me against his side, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as we walk back home.