Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall
Chapter 58

Aria's POV

The blast from the explosion shattered the windows of our glass cage. Kade being thrown backwoods and into Lily's cage. I still had hold of the woman's hand, that was no longer attached to her arm as a huge shard of glass sliced her arm off, from just below her elbow. The woman is screaming trying to stem the bleeding. I tossed her hand on the ground before undoing my ankle cuffs. Complete and utter chaos ensued. Wolves coming in from everywhere ripping apart anyone they found. Wendy was in battle with a man, still weak, she couldn't put up much of a fight, and I noticed his eyes changing to that of Christine's only he seemed to have more control. Lily was unconscious in the cage, the blast must have knocked her out as her cage was damaged. Kade stood up dusting himself off, I jumped up when he moved with so much speed, I knew he wasn't just a human at least not anymore.

Running at me, I stepped out of reach before shoving the gurney between us, the only problem was that left Lily trapped in the cage on the side he was on. But clearly, I was his target as he paid no attention to her whatsoever. The table David was on was thrown on its side, and I could hear him struggling to get loose before I heard him yell.

“Aria, duck,” My body dropped instantly as the table was thrown at Kade and smashing into the brick wall behind him and landing awkwardly covering Lily's cage. Kade shifted just in time and David launched himself at him shifting mid-jump, his claws and teeth sinking into his chest and neck. Kade punched David's wolf, knocking him to the side.

I ran towards him, hitting him before he could stab David with the needle he had grabbed from the floor knocking us both through the brick wall and into the main part of the building where wolves and Hunters were fighting. I groaned having the wind knocked out me, Kade elbowed me in the face and shoved me off.

His eyes changing to a fluorescent blue. What the fuck was he? I had never seen eyes like his before. He stood up, the needle still clutched in his hand, I watched horrified as his fangs protruded from his mouth and claws like a tiger came through, hair sprouting from his arms as he half shifted. Only he wasn't a wolf; he still stood on two legs, and his face remained the same besides the fangs and eyes. He had the making of a wolf yet wasn't one.

We circled each other, trying to get an advantage. Glancing around, I noticed he wasn't the only one that had partly shifted into a wolf. The man Wendy was fighting was the same. The building caught alight. I could hear what sounded like chemicals or gases blowing up bursting and sending sparks everywhere, catching whatever it touches alight.

My attention being diverted, when I see David run from the room, heading towards the new door that had been blown out on the side of the building, he had Lily in arms. I noticed Amber's limp body over his shoulder. I wondered how he found Amber as she wasn't in the same room with us. That distraction cost me, as Kade saw it as an opportunity to get the advantage as he plunged the needle into my arm.

I felt the poison enter my bloodstream and an agonised howl ripping through the room, I looked at the needle, then at Kade who had a triumphant grin, which was soon destroyed as I see Ryder launch himself from the floor above us biting down on Kade's face.

I felt the room shake but not from an explosion but from whatever it was that I was poisoned with. I wobbled on my feet as extreme vertigo washed over me. I felt drunk and stumbled around deliriously, grabbing anything I could to remain upright. Then I saw my father's face next to mine. Where did he come from? I drunkenly thought he caught me as I fell to the ground, my eyes looking up at the ceiling. My entire body going numb, as I am paralysed. I hear people talking before I hear my father scream at Ryder.

“Leave him, take my daughter, that bastard is mine.” I heard a savage growl, my father’s shirt ripping from his body like he was on steroids. His eyes blazing almost red before he left my line of vision, my head rolling to the side. My eyes searching for anything in the smoke and chaos. I could smell the lingering smell of burning plastic and feel the heat of the flames as they got nearer.

The entire building was on fire, and I couldn't move just watch as the flames got closer. “Reid,” I coughed out as I started choking on the smoke that was filling the air. What had he given me, it didn't seem to do anything but paralyse me and make me feel sick?

Then I see Reid's face hovering above mine, I could tell he was naked by his bare chest.

“Let's get you out of here,” he said, scooping me up, my head falling backwards before he adjusted me, so it was resting on his shoulder heavily. He turned around, looking back at my father, who was still fighting Kade. Flames were everywhere destroying the entire building; parts of the roof were falling, and Reid sang out to all the wolves and humans present.

“Humans?” I mumbled my tongue, starting to go numb.

“I will explain everything later.”

“Everyone get out, the building is going to collapse.” His Alpha voice rolling over me, I could feel the power behind his words as everyone ran from the building. Reid carried me outside, leaving me on the grass before running back into the burning building. All I could see was the sky, which was black with smoke, it was night-time. I couldn't move, I just lay there. I felt a hand brush my hair from my face, my eyes looking up to see David sitting next to my head, it was his hand I felt.

"Where did Reid go?”

“To help your father and Zane, they are still inside.” I felt my heart rate increase, fear taking over. They were in there while I lay paralysed, not able to help. “What about Lily?"

“I'm here,” she said, grabbing my hand and leaning over the top of me.

“Amber too, she is awake as well,” I listened carefully and could hear her sobbing somewhere off to my side.

I don't know how long passed but Reid and my father finally came out with Zane. I heard Amber start screaming hysterically, wailing. I heard Zane pick her up and whisper soothingly to her.

“I know baby girl, I know.” Hearing them made tears fall from my eyes. I killed her, I killed my friend, killed their loved one. The guilt was eating at me, I hope they will forgive me.

“Reid?” I called out, my voice breaking. He came into my line of vision and knelt beside me, pulling me up, so I was leaning on him.

"Why can't I move?”

“It's the drug, I think your body is rejecting it.”

“What was it?"

"We aren't sure, we think it was some mutated gene of your own blood, but your father got him The Crescent Pack are helping your father move him to their cells for questioning.”

The Crescent Pack, that was a name I hadn't heard in years, no one really had an alliance with them, they tended to stick to themselves. I wondered why they suddenly wanted to help.

“Let's get you home,” he said, picking me up. I started to get feeling back in my legs when we got to the car, but nausea rolled over me, and Reid helped me manoeuvre, so I didn't throw up all over him, instead emptying the contents of my stomach next to the car.

“Better?”

“A little,” My gums tingled and my fangs protruded.

“Where's Lily?"

"Already in the car with David. Zane has Wendy and Amber in the other car.”

He pulled me into the back, so I was sitting across his lap. Lily touched my back softly with her small hand. I managed to turn my head, getting enough mobility back to turn slightly. Reid, seeing I wanted to turn to face the front, placed me on his lap, my back pressing against his chest. I felt his hand go to my stomach before going underneath my shirt and rubbing my belly. His hand felt warm on my stomach as he rubbed my belly in circles.

We drove back to our Pack house. By the time we got back, I had full movement back. Whatever he gave me must have been a dud luckily, maybe the Moon Goddess was watching over us after all. The drive home was quiet but peaceful. It was so strange sitting in a car with David in comfortable silence. Going back to when we were still part of the Black Moon Pack, I would have laughed if someone told me Lily would have her father back wanting to parent and that we would all become a family again. Seeing it with my own eyes now, I knew things were going to be good between us, we just have to mourn those we lost first and rebuild our Packs, but I had no doubt that David was going to step up for his daughter and be the father she deserved all along.

I looked at Lily and smiled sadly. Her blue and yellow eyes looking back at me. I was so proud of her, and I knew that Lily was strong enough to endure it no matter what happens in the future, strong enough to move past what happened and any new challenges. Which I knew we would have them, because her wolf and her had been altered and I could tell it was permanent. But we would get over these obstacles too when they arise. We finally made it home, it was a sombre feeling as we all got out of the cars. Not all of us made it back and the weight of that hung heavily in the air.

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