6

Things didn't go as expected for Lucas the next day. He called his mother's phone continuously last night, still there was no response. Surely, she couldn't have been partying when a grave incident happened in the pack. Did she know what kind of image it gave her? Surprisingly, no one had asked after her yet. It was all a matter of time before people started asking. They were still caught up in the burial preparation and what not.

After Arianna announced the death of the Alpha to the whole pack. All activities stopped and everyone mourned the Alpha. One could practically taste grief in the air.

Everywhere you turned, people were talking about it. That was why he needed his mother to return now that people's attention was divided.

" How are you doing?" He asked Arianna when he reached her room. Where he used to enter freely before now became kind of forbidden.

He didn't expect the welcoming smile Arianna gave him. " Hey, babe." She continued smiling, and Lucas thought he entered an alternate universe.

" Hey..." He trailed off. What was going on? He expected her to still he in grief.

" You don't look happy to see me." She complained.

" I am. I am just wondering why you seem so excited, considering what happened."

"Yeah, a lot has happened and that has made me value life differently." She lied.

"Well I am happy to see you happy." Lucas replied warily.

"So, what other plans do you have?" The question had multiple meaning

" I don't have any at the moment, I just want my father to he buried properly and after that we can talk about other things. We will be having a meeting with rest of the pack tomorrow, the burial will hold in three days." She informed him.

" I'm sorry for your loss." Lucas replied.

Arianna smiled sadly. She was always sad everytime she remembered that her father was dead, and the culprits were walking scot-free.

"He was a good man." She muttered and closed her eyes as tears threatened to fall.

" Yeah, he didn't deserve to be killed in such manner." Lucas replied.

" I wish I could find his killer."

" Yeah, me too. We will deal with him."

" Do you think it was a male that did this?" Arianna queried.

" Uh.. I don't know. Maybe a female, I really do not know. Crime isn't gender specific you know?" He replied hurriedly.

Driving the nail in, she added." All I wish for is to find my father's killers and deal with them squarely."

Lucas was highly uncomfortable around her, a dangerous smile played on her lips.

"Well, we all want to find the bad guys. I really hope we do." He said. _I hope not, we will get rid of you sooner than you can find us.__

" You have to he strong this period. You are going to be the Luna. The pack can feel your energy."

"Really, what am I giving off right now?" She inquired.

" You are very calm, but there seems to be darkness within waiting to be unleashed. It would be epic." He answered truthfully.

" That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard about myself. Yeah, I'm hurt about my father's death, but darkness? Nah. The trackers are already on it. I can only wait and hope that the get a profitable answer. We get the culprit, and give them their appropriate punishment and life moves on. Right?"

She lost him when she said trackers were on the murderers trail. It was laughable. Now he knew that she didn't know what she was saying. He was standing in front of her and she was doing nothing about it. Well he would help her chase empty hair. If that would make her happy.

"I will support you in everything you want to do. Just tell me what to do." He said, and stroke her hands.

Arianna stopped herself from flinching as his hands touched hers. It would raise suspicions. She never refused his comfort before. How did she explain being uncomfortable now? She faked a coughed and tactically disengaged from his hand.

" Sorry, do I get you water?" Lucas offered and she nodded.

She stopped coughing immediately he walked out of her room.

Before he returned with water, she pretended to be asleep.

Lucas was confused. She was coughing the previous moment and all of a suddenly she falls asleep. He turned towards her again, and watched her hair sprawled beautifully on the pillow. If only she could die, so that everything could go easy. He covered her with the sheets.

She watched him from the corner of her eyes as he sat on the sofa in her room. He was pretending to be a caring lover.

She coughed in her sleep and Lucas was at her side instantly. It was laughable. Someone that didn't bat an eyelid at her death was fussing over her at an ordinary cough.

Lucas pat her back gently and she turned to the other side so that it could be more believable.

" Hey, it's okay." He whispered like he was talking to a sleeping baby.

" Thank you." Arianna muttered groggily. She snickered inwardly. She could give many actresses a run for their money.

She didn't turn until she heard the door close. She rose immediately and shut the door behind her in case he decided to return to check up on her.

Remembering her mom, she rushed quickly to her room to check how she was doing.

" Mom, how are you doing?" She inquired.

" Great." Her mom replied, she was sipping on a cup of warm chamomile tea which changed the scent of the room.

An image popped flashed to Arianna's mind." Mom, you were about to tell me something that day. What was it?";

"Really? I think I was in so much pain for me to remember. It should be probably be about calling you to help me." She replied sipping more of her tea. " Is there anything special?" She asked.

Arianna couldn't place her finger on it but she was sure that her mom wanted to tell her something important, and it wasn't like her survival wasn't. But since she said it was nothing, it was better to leave it that way. Maybe she misunderstood what she saw. " Alright, may be I saw a wrong thing."

Her mom shrugged. " So, have you been able to find anything yet?"

"No, not at all. I want them to trust me. See me as a harmless person, the same person they stabbed."

" Do you think they wouldn't figure this out just yet?" She asked.

"No, not if I play the game so well. I assure you that they will be eating out fo my palm soon. I will be the Luna and deal with them accordingly."

" Have you seen Zora?"

" She's dead."

" Good for that bitch." Brianna spat. She wanted to take her life away if not for Arianna's intervention.

" Great. Is it weird that I didn't feel any remorse?"

"No, she got what she deserved. If she were alive what gives you the confidence that she wouldn't try to kill you?" She asked.

" True, I never expected that woman to be so evil. Their mastermind was sick. How did they even come up with such idea?"

" It bests me." Brianna replied, and Ari shook her head at the thought. Both mother and child knew that they were in for a serious battle.

" Well, can you get another person to take care of the cooking since I can't really stand at the moment?"

" I'll do it myself. I don't trust any of them at the moment."

" Good, I had to make my tea myself which is not good. Is Lucas aware of his mother's passing?"

"Only if anyone tells him. For all he knows, she probably went out of town. I guess he will send some trackers, I don't care."

"He is in for some shock. I think Alice already figured it out. Play safe oh darling." Brianna advised. She didn't want her to be hurt in the revenge spree.

" I won't mom, I promise. I will be very careful." She replied.

" Good, then. I want to take a nap, my leg still aches."

" Has the doctor made rounds here?"

"Yes, he gave me some pills that's why I am a bit drowsy." She replied.

" Okay, I'll leave now." Arianna replied.

******

" She is oblivious." Lucas informed Alice.

"Are you sure? How did she wake up? We saw her die. What if she is our nemesis?" Alice spoke.

" Of course not, as long as we continue to make her feel that we are on her side, we are good. Arianna has always been dumb, she will never figure things out even when they are in front of her."

"Are you sure? I don't feel safe around her." Alice admitted. As a witch, they read energies and Arianna had the mind of a bull she was ready to charge and get everyone out of the way.

"A hundred and one per cent sure. She doesn't remember anything, she is just hell bent on getting justice for her dad, that's all." Lucas said drawing her closer to his arms, and planted a kiss on her head.

"What if she tries to..."

"Sshh, no one will tell her anything. She is dumb, I have missed you." He said and planted another kiss on her head.

Alice smiled in response, " Really? You're thinking of this right now?" She asked.

"Is there a specific time I should be interested in you?"He replied.

" No, I just thought."

Lucas silenced her with a kiss and she melted into his arms. They tumbled into bed together.

Arianna headed to Lucas' room and met his absence. She raised her brows and went to the next place she knew he would-be. Her instincts never failed her, and she heard the deep moaning coming from the room. She merely raised her brows. They didn't have the shame to reduce their voice.

She went to take apple juice in the fridge. She also used that opportunity to whip up something. The maid was surprised to see her attempting to cook.

" Do you need any help?"

" Just help me with the meat. That she didn't cook didn't mean that she didn't know how.

Several minutes later, the house was filled with the aroma.

" This smells so nice." Lucas walked inside the kitchen.

" Wait till you taste it." Arianna replied with a small smile. He was going to pretend that he had not just finished rolling in the hay with Alice.

" I can't wait to. It must taste lovely." He remarked.

" Wait till you taste it." She muttered.

"I can smell it already." He replied and went to sit at the dining table.

" Take this up to my mom." Arianna told Jenna.

" Where is Alice?"She inquired.

" Here." Alice spoke from the top of the stairs.

" Where have you been? Come seat." She beckoned.

Alice walked downstairs warily and shot a scared look at Lucas who assured her that everything was alright.

" Why are you stalling? It's really good." Arianna said.

" Okay, it smells so nice, I can't wait to taste it." Alice replied.

Alice dug into the food slowly, refusing to put the food in her mouth just yet.

" The food is not to your liking?" She asked.

" It is. I just .."

" It's good. I ate it." Lucas gave Alice a pointed look.

" Okay."

" You have been behaving weirdly for some days. Is there any problem?" Arianna asked innocently.

" No, I just have stomach upset." Alice lied.

" Oh, I'm sorry, you can stop eating if the curry will make your stomach run." Arianna said in concern.

" No it's okay, I will eat." She replied, and finally put the spoon in her mouth. It tasted nice.

" How do you feel now?" Arianna asked after they finished eating.

" Good, I just need to retire to bed." Alice lied. She was not at ease with Arianna's generosity.

" Are you pregnant?" Arianna asked.