Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall

Reid’s POV

Deciding to leave the diner, I mind linked Zane. “I want everyone on the lookout for Aria and Lily.”

“Everything okay, Boss?”

“Yes, I just need answers. I had an interesting conversation with Zoe, the owner. She told me a few things that aren’t making any sense, but she won’t say anything else. I will explain when I see you. Just find them and bring them back to the Pack house. Is there any news on which Pack they belong to or last names?”

“No, Boss, whoever Aria is, someone has gone to great lengths to keep her hidden. Same goes for Lily. There are no birth records for Aria, not even banking information. Zoe must pay her in cash, and Lily’s records are sealed seeing as she is a minor. Public records wouldn’t hand out her information when we visited. It was weird, though. When we went to the school, they said they could not find her files.”

“Hmm that is interesting, keep looking.”

“Yes, Boss. Want me to come grab you?”

“No, I’m almost back at the office, anyway.”

Cutting the mind link and walking to the elevator, I hit the button to my office floor. When the doors opened, I went straight to my office. My secretary was still sitting at her desk when I walked in.

“Why are you still here, Ellie? Go home.”

“Just had some filing to do. I'm about to leave, Boss.”

Nodding my head at her, I walked into my office. Ryder was lingering just below my skin, agitated. His feelings were starting to mix with my own, making me angrier. “What are you hiding, Ryder? What do you know that you’re not telling me?”

He didn’t answer. Having a wolf doesn’t mean we share everything, but we do feel everything together, and I could tell he was hiding something. Something he was worried about me knowing. Something to do with Aria. A few hours later, I was still in my office looking over some documents. My bad mood only got worse when one of my Pack warriors alerted me to two rogues running through my territory.

“They are running north of the office. They are running through the bush heading straight towards your location, Alpha.”

“Fine, keep following them. I will meet up with you.”

“What about the child, Boss?”

“There is a kid?”

“Yes, Boss, woman and child,”

“Don’t kill them, catch them.”

“Yes, Boss.” The mind link is cut off. Putting on my suit jacket, I decided to take the stairs, running down them 2 at a time, pumping my adrenaline in case they decide to put up a fight. Maybe this will settle Ryder down; he always loved a good chase. I felt him jumping forward, he was excited just as much as I was.

Once on the bottom floor, I sniffed the air. Nothing but the smell of rain. The sound of howls could be heard in the distance. Jogging slowly and turning at the corner of the street, I started to run up towards the outer parts of the city towards the housing estates. Just as I was running through a small industrial area, I cut through an alleyway. I could hear growling then footsteps running on the pavement towards me. Picking up my pace and turning another corner, I stopped dead in my tracks.

running like her life depended on it. Noticing me coming towards her, she stopped, her eyes going wide, fearing

and she ran at

looked around frantically. Aria would never leave Lily on her own, especially in

Help her please,” she

up ahead. I could hear Lily puffing and panting trying to keep up behind me. Turning into the dark alley, I could see Pack members circling around the intruder, and I caught sight of Aria being slammed onto the concrete. Just as one of the Pack members went to lunge for her throat, I was standing over her in a split second, moving with inhuman speed. My hand grasped around the grey wolf’s throat. Merle, his name was.

lifeless body at my feet. I stepped over him towards my men, growling.

clothes were torn, and her top half was completely bare except for her black torn bra. Bending down, I scooped her up, clutching her to my chest. I nuzzled her neck, breathing in her scent. Her body felt cold against my hot skin, my wolf instantly

kill

we will deal with them later. We need to

here now.” I

later, Zane turned up in his wolf form. Shifting into his human form, he quickly pulled on his jeans that were tied to his

staring at Aria’s limp body in my arms. Zane walked over, picking Lily up from under her arms before picking

“Where to, Boss?”

The Pack doctor is meeting us there. I already called

about Mark and the

and they

alleyway, opening the door of my black SUV. Throwing the door open, I climbed in,

was not red; it was black and thicker than normal blood.

isn’t she healing?” I asked out loud. Zane peered over the front seat looking at her before my glare made him turn around, quickly realising she was barely clothed. Pulling her closer, I looked over at Lily, who was rubbing Aria’s leg with the hand that was not

I asked her, “What’s in the bag that’s so important, Lil?” She clutched the bag tighter and looked at me but did not

Her red hair was a mess, telling me I had woken her. I could see she was still in her pyjamas under her coat, and she only had socks on and no shoes. Placing Aria on the gurney, Doc quickly started to

her head and sniffled. Her blonde curls were tinged red covered in blood, and some was dried on her face. “Are you hurt?” She shook

She was carrying me,” she stuttered, trying to hold her sobs in. I could tell it was Aria’s; I would know her scent

down at her drenched clothing, I noticed what looked like blisters along her hands. Pushing the sleeves of her shirt up her arms, I found more blisters and burns. I could smell wolfsbane on her clothes, which would be causing

look at

that why my mate isn’t healing?” She looked

cleaned up,,” she said, holding her hand out to Lily to take. Lily looked

you so quiet,

the hospital bed. The Doc was stapling her leg while another nurse was stitching her side. She was completely unconscious. If I couldn’t see her chest rise with each breath she took and hear the slow beating of her heart, I would have thought she was dead. A tall man in a white coat walked in before placing an IV

Mavis. I have known her for years,

“No, I’m fine here.”

should

second, glancing at Tom, the male doctor who had stepped into the

I’m afraid I need to insist you leave. Mavis or I will come see you soon. It’s for your mate’s safety,” said

hurt her. She is mine.” Tom wouldn’t budge,

to work more efficiently with

the room and slamming the door behind me, I made my way down the hallway to my study. The study was dark. Turning on the light, I looked around the room trying to find something to distract myself, looking over at the shelves of books. I didn’t feel like reading or working, instead deciding