A deal
Chapter Seven:
Aria watched Kael toss the wolf to a corner as he approached her. She looked down at the floor but didn’t move an inch.
She clenched her eyes shut, her lips trembling with every step she felt Kael take toward her. By the time he got to where she stood, he grabbed her arm to inspect it.
“You’re injured,” he stated, his lips pressed into a thin line. But Aria couldn’t say anything; his warm palm holding her left arm made her shudder.
“I-I’m sorry. My dress got stuck, and you disappeared before I could even get your attention. Then that wolf showed up while I was trying to rip the dress off,” Aria explained, but Kael just shook his head, displeased.
“Try to keep up next time, and don’t get hurt.” He grabbed her arm, pulling her to a corner. He pulled out the wooden bottle he used to store water and gently took care of the wound.
The skin on her arm was as pale as snow. With the large, fairy deep cut on her arm, it made the sight appealing, but Aria couldn’t even look at it.
“I covered more ground than expected and found something. Eat this.” He threw her an apple, which she caught and immediately started munching on. “When we get there, you’ll probably be placed with your kind, but I promise not to leave you.”
Kael’s voice was low but still firm. This action warmed Aria’s heart, and she found herself smiling up at him. He allowed her to finish the apple and rest for a while before they headed south once more.
They were so close to the border that separated Lucien’s pack from that of the neighboring pack. Kael stopped in front of a large tree that had pink and green leaves, which seemed slightly odd rare, but not impossible.
“Those warriors are quite sneaky,” he commented as he kicked the side of the tree. Nothing happened.
Aria looked at Kael like he had gone mad, but when he slammed his foot into another part of the tree, the tree slowly started to shake.
Kael turned to look around to make sure no one was watching them. The body of the tree slowly opened, and a narrow, dark passage came into view. Kael walked into it without hesitation.
“Aren’t you coming?” he asked Aria, confused that she wasn’t moving. Aria shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts as she followed behind him.
The passage was dark and dimly lit.
The scent of pinecones and lavender filled the air. It made Aria feel dizzy, but she kept her eyes open and continued following.
She could see light at the end of the passage. Whipping her head back to the path they had come from, she noticed the entrance leading out of the tree was gone.
“K..Kael?” Aria called out once she noticed it, but Kael ignored her. He pulled out his dagger as they finally reached an open space.
Beautiful green vines adorned the walls of the cave or whatever place they were in. Footsteps could be heard in the distance, and Kael turned swiftly, pushing Aria away from where she stood so she could move behind him.
“Identify yourself!” A group of four women surrounded Aria and Kael, swords pointed at them. The faces of the women were devoid of any emotions.
The grip on their swords was tight, determined to eliminate any intruders from discovering their hideout.
“I won’t ask you again. Identify yourself,” a woman demanded, staring at Kael. Her dark green eyes never left his. She was dressed in a white robe with her black hair pulled into a ponytail.
She looked so slim that one could assume she would be blown away by the wind.
“You should be able to identify us. After all, you placed the entrance of your base right in my eyes. What trees have green and pink leaves?” Kael threw a mocking sneer at the woman, who looked extremely cocky.
“Is she the one?” One of the women with brown curly hair poked Aria on the cheek with her fingers. “She’s so… spongy.”
The brown haired woman’s voice sounded soft and pleasing to the ears. She had basically called Aria fat, but it actually sounded gentler than mean.
“H...Hi, I’m Aria.” Aria smiled at the brown haired woman, who smiled back with a faint blush on her cheeks.
“Turn around.” The green aeyed woman pulled Aria toward her, ripping the clothes that covered her back.
Rude.
Aria thought but said nothing as the lady trailed the mark on her back. A tingly, electrifying feeling ran through her veins, making Aria shudder.
“She is one of us, just slightly ugly,” she spat without sugarcoating her words. “Welcome to our pack. We are those chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. I am Penelope,” Penelope said, turning to glare at Kael, who was staring at her like she was a rat.
“A name befitting quite a lady,” Kael said, his tone mocking as he watched Aria’s expression go from scared to admiration.
“I’m Anna,” the brown haired lady introduced herself with a large smile.
“I’m Gina,” a woman with short black hair and blue eyes said. No expression on her face just pure boredom.
“You can call me Stella. Welcome.” Stella grinned, pulling Aria into her arms as she practically tried to squeeze the life out of her.
“It’s nice to see you all get along, but Aria is here for a reason.” Kael broke their little introductions, bringing them back to reality. “She needs to fully utilize her power and go get what is truly hers.”
“I see, another rejected one,” Penelope spat. But Aria didn’t respond. She was nervous about fitting in. She was nothing like these beautiful and well fit women.
She was ugly. Smelly. Fat. And didn’t know how to do anything.
“We’d be glad to take her under our wings, as long as you agree to stay,” Stella smiled at Kael, who frowned at her but found himself nodding.
“Deal.”