Hybrid Aria by Jessica Hall novel Chapter 60

Lily’s POV

Nearly 12 years later

I watched as my sister chased after the kids. She was an excellent mother, a little overbearing at times and always so watchful of everything they did, including me. I couldn’t get anything past her. When she had her firstborn, a little boy, they named him Ryker. I could tell her life was moving on for the better. When the twins came along, Arial and Lana, I was ten and decided to move back in with my father. Aria had enough on her plate with running the Pack and looking after the kids.

I often felt guilty about her being forced to raise me, but at the same time, I’m glad she did. I knew I never would have made it to adulthood without her. My father and I have now built a bond the way it should have been in the beginning, although I also class Reid as my father, giving me two.

When the twins were born, I felt a little out of place. Life moved on, yet I stayed the same, only growing older. My life has been thrown into chaos since my wolf and I never had a chance to bond, having been forced to shift so young.

For years Aria, my father, and Reid tried to help me learn how to control her, but nothing we did worked, and eventually, we gave up trying. When she had control, it was hard taking it back from her. My wolf was completely altered, and I don’t think I will ever be able to let her out willingly. She can’t be trusted.

I knew I was a danger to my nieces and nephew, so I made the decision to leave. It was safer that way. Aria and Reid tried to get me to stay, but I couldn’t put that burden and worry on them. Aria thinks she owes it to me to fix me, but she doesn’t realise she doesn’t actually owe me anything, if anything, I owe her for throwing her life away for me. For everything she has done. I still occasionally stay with them. Still see them almost daily, I just hate not being at home.

Most of the wolves of my father’s Pack house are older, and if I lose control, I know they can take me down if needed. I won't risk that here with the kids present. I would never forgive myself if I hurt one of them.

As I walked through the clearing towards where Aria was playing on the swings with the kids, she looked up, a smile lighting up her face. I waved heading toward them.

Ryker, seeing me, jumped off the swing mid-air running towards me despite the panicked look his mother gave him. He was eleven now and looked so much like his father with his black hair and silver eyes. The girls had black curly hair, but their mother’s amber eyes. Ryker threw himself into my arms. Catching him, we tumbled backwards onto the grass.

“Aunty, Aunty,” he squealed. I hugged him tight, smelling his hair. He always smelt of cinnamon. Aria comes over, standing over the pair of us looking down at the pair of us on the grass.

“Ryker, what have I said about jumping off the swings like that? You could have hurt yourself.” Ryker rolled his eyes, and I smiled before giving him a wink. He was a wild child, always up to mischief. Maybe he gets that from me.

Aria held her hand out, and I grabbed it, letting her pull me to my feet. She embraced me in a hug before holding me at arm’s length, her judging eyes penetrating as she gave me the once over.

“You've been partying again. You know you need to stop this, you’re about to take over the Black Moon Pack. It's time to grow up, Lily.”

I sighed the same lecture every fucking time. Doesn’t she get sick of giving the same speech?

“Don’t roll your eyes, you know I’m right. You are about to meet the new Alpha of the Crescent Pack today, and you smell like a brewery,” she scolded.

“Fine, I will change, okay?” I left out the part that my father, Reid, and I had been in discussion already about me standing down. I don’t want the Alpha position. I know with my wolf, I can’t be Alpha. Aria doesn’t know this. I think she knows something is up. We have been waiting to let her know, deciding to come out at the meeting. I knew she would pitch a fit. But we have a plan, and today she will find out about it.

“I have already met Alpha Damien, and I don’t care what anyone thinks. My life, my body, I will do what I like, Aria,” I argued back. She went to say something, but I beat her to it.

“But if it makes you feel any better, I will change, okay?” She looked tired, the kids and I suppose the stress of me has caused her many sleepless nights. Yet she still looked the same, no different, never aging along with Reid. Even the other Pack members aged slower than most because of the link to her.

Aria having Vampire and Lycan blood had its advantages. My sister was a pure Hybrid. The second last of her kind, her father was born from an original Vampire and a Lycan, we only found all this out when her father came back into her life when I was six, when the Hunters attacked and destroyed everything including me.

As I walked back into the Blood Moon Pack house, I made my way upstairs to Aria’s room on the top floor. As I was walking up the stairs, I saw Amber, my best friend and accomplice, although I feel Zane sometimes wishes I weren’t such a bad influence on his daughter with my wild ways and partying.

“Lil, are you here for the meeting?” She called out to me.

“Yep, come upstairs with me, Aria wants me to change,” I said, rolling my eyes. She walked up the stairs a knowing smile on her face, she had also been scolded a few nights before for sneaking in late. Her father Zane and the Beta of the Blood Moon Pack gave us a stern talking to, then he rang my father like he was going to do anything. I only have to bat my lashes and dad was wrapped around my finger. I know he doesn’t like punishing me because of my childhood, so why not play on it.

“Where’s your father?” I asked nervously.

“Probably off with Wendy, doing something,,” she said.