Chapter 4 YOU'LL DO AS I SAY

As Aria's gaze met Lyrien's, her heart skipped a beat. His eyes were pitch black-devoid of the usual golden warmth that signaled calm. Instead, they shimmered with raw, feral anger. A primal fear licked at her spine, but she refused to look away.

Lyrien's gaze bore into hers, his anger palpable. Aria could feel the weight of his displeasure, and she knew she was in grave danger.

Her instincts screamed for her to back down, to run. But Aria stood frozen, defiance clashing with fear. Her throat tightened, her voice caught somewhere between courage and trembling.

His gaze held her in place, seething with power. He was furious-no, livid-that a human, his mate, had publicly insulted him. No one dared speak to him like that, not even the boldest werewolves under his command. And here she was, a girl with no powers and a venomous tongue, striking at his pride.

Inside the car, Lyrien's eyes flashed with irritation as he waited for his warriors to bring Aria to him. The delay was unacceptable.

He turned his head slightly and growled, "Manson. Go see what's keeping them."

"Yes, Alpha," Manson replied, stepping out of the vehicle and scanning the scene.

As Manson stepped out of the car, Lyrien's gaze followed him. Where were they? Had they gotten the wrong house? No, he was certain this was the residence of his mate.

Manson's expression was puzzled as he watched one of the warriors emerge with Aria slung over his shoulder. She kicked and cursed, her fury undiminished even in their grip.

When they finally released her, Aria's eyes blazed with fury as she glared at every one of Lyrien's warriors, including Manson. And then, her voice dripping with venom, she spoke words that made Lyrien's blood boil.

"Where is your stupid Alpha?" She shouted, her voice laced with venom, sharp enough to cut through steel as she crossed her arms. "Let me give him a piece of my mind!"

Lyrien's jaw clenched, his face twisted in rage. His eyes narrowed "Did she dare call him stupid?" The audacity! His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, fighting the urge to burst out of the car and teach her a lesson. Inside the car, Rawon cringed.

"Oh no," Rawon whispered to himself and mind-linked Manson, [She just called him stupid. This is not good.]

Manson's reply was dry. [Better hope he doesn't choke her on sight.]

But Aria didn't back down. She stood her ground, her eyes flashing with defiance. And then, she seemed to stare right at him, her gaze piercing through the dark tinted glass as though she was seeing him but he knew she couldn't.

Lyrien's growl rumbled deep in his chest as he heard her insult him again. "Come out, dimwit!" Aria taunted, her voice scathing, unknowingly stoking the fire even further. "I know you can hear me, you f*cking coward!"

The final insult snapped something inside Lyrien.

Lyrien's eyes flashed from bright yellow to pitch black, his anger boiling over. No one had ever dared to speak to him like that, especially not a human. The insult was a slap in the face, and his pride demanded retribution.

As Aria turned to walk away, Lyrien's anger turned to fury. "Useless bunch of Werewolves and useless Alpha," she hissed, her words cutting deep.

Lyrien's scoff was a low, menacing growl. He wouldn't let Aria walk away, not after she'd wounded his pride so deeply. With a swift, fluid motion, he opened the car door and stepped out, his towering frame radiating fury.

His massive body seemed to vibrate with anger as he emerged from the car. Clenched fists, white-knuckled and trembling, hung at his sides. His pitch-black eyes blazed with fury, fixed intently on Aria.

Gasps erupted from the warriors as Lyrien stepped out. He was a vision of restrained fury-tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a fitted black suit that did nothing to hide his powerful frame. His dark aura poured out like a flood.

As she looked up at him, her lips parted in a mixture of fear and fascination. The Alpha she'd insulted now stood face-to-face with her, his imposing presence suffocating. Aria's courage faltered, and the words she'd planned to lash out at him died on her lips.

His pitch-black eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and she knew she'd crossed a line.

Aria took one step back despite herself.

Rawon, the Gamma, panicked. "Oh no, this isn't going well at all," he thought, quickly mind-linking Manson. "[Manson, intervene! Don't let Alpha hurt his mate!]"

Manson's response was swift. "[Are you insane? Lyrien won't harm his mate. That's like harming himself.]"

Rawon persisted, "[But their first meeting has turned out disastrously.]"

Manson's reply was laced with amusement. "[The girl has a sharp tongue, hasn't she?]"

Before Rawon could respond, Lyrien moved with lightning speed, rushing toward Aria. He grasped her fragile neck in a tight grip, his height towering over her. Aria's eyes widened in fear as Lyrien's face twisted in anger.

She gasped, eyes wide in shock, her toes barely brushing the ground. Her hands clawed at his wrist, struggling for air.

Rawon's eyes widened in alarm as Lyrien grasped Aria's neck. "F*ck... I thought you said he wouldn't hurt his mate," he exclaimed, rushing out of the car.

Manson's response was laced with sarcasm. "Jeez, Rawon, why don't you go separate him from his mate? I'm sure he'd appreciate your interference."

"You have no idea the line you've crossed," he snarled, his voice low and gravelly, brushing her skin like ice and fire.

Aria struggled to free herself, her hands futilely pushing against Lyrien's unyielding grip. She felt her airway constricting, her vision blurring. Was this how she'd die? Her sharp tongue had gotten her into trouble.

Lyrien's voice was a low, menacing growl. "The next time you open that mouth and insult me, I won't hesitate to rip it out of your face. Do you hear me?" His words vibrated through his chest, making Aria's body tremble.

Aria's lungs burned, her breath escaping in ragged gasps. If Lyrien didn't release her soon, she'd lose consciousness.

Rawon's eyes were wide with fear. "He's going to kill her if we don't stop him!"

Manson cursed under his breath. "Shit."

Rawon turned to Manson, panic in his voice. "Do something! You're the Beta; he'll listen to you."

Manson's response was laced with concern. "I hope so; he seems to have lost all sanity."

Rawon interjected, "His beast side won't let him hurt his mate."

Manson clarified, "I meant his human side, idiot. Just shut up and let me try to talk to him."

Aria's legs kicked weakly, as her body began to go limp and her vision fading to black. Her voice rasped out, "Let... me... go..."

Sandra screamed from the house. "Let her go! She's just a girl!"

Diamond was already halfway down the steps, fury in his face. "Alpha or not, touch my daughter again and-!"

But Manson raised a hand to stop them and strode quickly toward Lyrien. "Alpha," he said, voice calm but urgent. "You're killing her."

Lyrien didn't blink.

"Alpha," Manson tried again. "If she dies, so does your beast side. You'll break the bond before it's even formed."

That made Lyrien hesitate.

His jaw clenched tighter, eyes burning into Aria's tear-streaked face. Then slowly, reluctantly, his fingers loosened.

Aria collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, her voice gone. She coughed violently, eyes red, lips trembling. Her body curled into itself, her neck throbbing where his hand had been.

Rawon exhaled, deeply shaken. "Gods..."

Aria's neck ached, and tears streamed down her face. Lyrien's anger has not subsided. "Get into the car, now!"he ordered.

Aria's defiance wavered, her voice weak. "I don't take orders from you."

Lyrien's frustration boiled over. "You're my mate, and you'll do as I say."

Aria's defiance faltered, but she refused to back down. "You're not my Alpha, and I'm not your mate."

Her words were her last before she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Lyrien caught her before she hit the ground, his arms steady and sure. He looked down at her unconscious face, jaw tight.

In his arms, Aria stirred slightly, her fingers twitching against his chest. And in his black, furious eyes, something shifted-something uncertain. Something soft.

Lyrien's expression twisted in a mix of anger and concern. "Weak," he muttered, turning to Manson.

"Take her into the car; we're leaving," he ordered, striding away.

Manson hesitated. "But what about her family? Won't you tell them she's your mate?"

Lyrien's response was curt. "I think they already know. Tell Mark and Dante to let go of her parents."

Manson nodded, relaying the order. As Mark the silver haired and Dante black haired stepped back, Sandra ran to her daughter's side, only to see Manson carefully lifting her.

"Please don't take our daughter," she pleaded, tears running down her cheeks. "She's just a girl..."

Lyrien didn't answer.

Her husband tried to comfort her, holding her close as she knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face.

As the cars disappeared into the distance, Diamond guided Sandra back into the house, the dust settling behind them. Sandra's sobs still echoed through the hallway.

Just then, little Kai descended the stairs, his face etched with fear. "Are they gone?" he asked, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of the silver-haired Werewolf.

Sandra crouched down, arms open wide. "Come here, sweetie." Kai ran into her embrace, and she comforted him, patting his back.

"Mom, why are you crying?" Kai asked, his innocent voice trembling. Sandra's tears flowed anew as she pulled back to gaze at him.

"They're gone," she whispered. "But they took Aria away."

Kai's eyes widened, and tears welled up. "Where's Aria? Is she hurt?" he asked, his voice cracking.

Sandra's sobs intensified as she held Kai's soft cheeks. "I... I couldn't protect her, Kai. The Werewolves took her away, and I couldn't stop them... She's gone."

Kai's eyes welled up with tears. "They took my sister away? Where?"

Diamond's gentle voice intervened. "They took her to their pack, Kai. That's where she'll be staying now."

Kai's tears flowed freely. "But this is her home," he protested.

Sandra's expression was heartbreaking. "It isn't anymore, Kai. She's their Alpha's mate now."

Kai's small hands balled into fists. "She'll feel so alone and scared."

Sandra comforted him with a gentle kiss on the forehead, while Diamond ruffled his hair in support.

Kai's fears spilled out. "What if they hurt her? What if they kill her?" His body shook with sobs, and Diamond crouched down beside him.

"Hey, Kai, don't cry. They won't hurt her or kill her," Diamond reassured him. "It would harm themselves if they did. They need her."

Sandra added gently, "It wasn't our fault, Kai. Aria was taken because she's a mate to a Werewolf."

Diamond nodded firmly. "She'll come back to us soon, okay?" The trio nodded in unison, trying to find comfort in the promise.

Just then, a phone rang, breaking the silence. They traced the sound to the dining table and found Aria's phone.

"She left it behind?" Sandra wondered, checking the caller ID. "It's Ella."

A worried expression crossed Sandra's face. "Maybe she's discovered where Jason lives... and the spell to free him."