Enigma

Chapter 3- Arabella

“What happened? Is everything alright?” Mom said in a panicked voice.

“It’s nothing mom.” I wiped my eyes. “I just remembered that… that day.”

I shook my head to clear the images that were swirling in front of my eyes.

“Did anything trigger it?” Dad asked in a stern voice but I can sense the undertone of worry in his voice.

I saw Zeno looking at me with a weird expression on his face from the crowd around us. Everyone was

gathered around us. Shit! I didn’t want to go into full panic mode in front of them. They will bully me

even more.

“No dad. It just happened out of nowhere.” I lied.

Getting Zeno into trouble won’t be a good idea now. It will create even more problems than I already

have. He is their Alpha after all. They worship him like a god. I have been through this for so many

years, one more won’t be that much of a problem.

“Okay. Are you feeling alright? Do you want to go home sweetie? We can go right away.” Mom said

narrowing her eyes at me.

I don’t think she believed me. Ben and Ethan were looking at me with concern and so were Valentina

and Beth. Elliott was standing beside them with Eros holding his hand. Those two always had a close

bond from the beginning.

“Off course not mom. I am alright. I just freaked out a little. That’s all. You can continue the party. I will

need a minute to collect myself.” I said with a straight face.

In reality, I want to go home and curl up in my bed. I am glad Eros didn’t have to go through what I had.

“Steven we are leaving.” Mom said with authority.

My head snapped towards her in surprise.

“Off course love.”

“Why? We can stay. I promise I am okay.” I tried to convince them.

“You think I will care more about a party when my daughter is not feeling well? Well you are wrong.

Kids get in the cars. We are leaving.”

A pleasant warmth started to spread in my chest at her words. I know she is not my real mother but in

all these years, she never let me feel that. I smiled at her gratefully. She is a really great woman. I don’t

know what I would have done without her and dad.

“Mom how about I go visit uncle Ryder?” I suggested standing up on shaking legs. “You can still enjoy

the party. I don’t want to kill the fun.”

“Are you out of your mind? We are not leaving you alone when you just had a panic attack.” Ben

snapped.

“Yeah. I know how bad it gets. We are coming with you.” Valentina said firmly.

“But…”

“No. We are coming with you.” Elliot said.

Eros nodded looking determined. He looked really adorable. If this wasn’t a serious situation, I would

have pinched his cheek.

“We can’t make you forget it Aria but we can stay by your side when you need support.” Ethan said in a

soft tone.

He engulfed me in his arms. Soon another pair of arms joined us and then another. Their warmth

clamed me down to a great extent. It felt like I was at home. I buried my face in Ethan’s chest as he

squished me close and the others closed in as well.

After a while we separated.

“You are not alone Ari.” Beth told me.

I nodded gratefully. Mom and dad smiled at us with love shining in their eyes.

“I am sorry.”

“You don’t have to…” Ethan started but mom cut him off.

“Actually I am thinking of going to see Ryder. Aria you are coming with me. Ben, Ethan one of you drive

the other car. Be careful. No rash driving. We will come back tomorrow.” Mom said in a no argument Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

tone.

We know not to challenge her when she talks like that but I am having a feeling that I am screwed. She

will probably dig everything out of me.

“How will you go there mom if you are leaving the car behind?” Val asked confused.

“Ryder will pick us up. Come on Aria.”

And with that she turned around and started walking towards the houses of the pack members.

My siblings know we go see uncle Ryder every Sunday but they don’t know why or where. They don’t

know about the spirit wolves in the slightest. It was apparently an order from grandpa Hercules about

keeping everything from the new generation.

Mom and I go to the cabin every Sunday morning. She trains me there in the clearing in front of the

cabin. I have gotten quite good at fighting but my spirit powers haven’t showed up yet. Mom said hers

needed a trigger so I am not sweating on it. Mine could be the same way. I am already of age so it

scares me some times that maybe I don’t have any but mom believes otherwise. She says she knows I

am her heir.

Well in a way I am her daughter. Not by blood but by soul. I am happy with that.

When we reached near the stretch where the cars were parked, mom turned into the forest and I

followed her. The walk to the cabin was silent. She didn’t say a word nor did she once turn around to

look at me. That really sacred the shit out of me.