Gabriel’s POV
I kept glancing at Aria while driving. She was fidgeting nervously in her seat.
We have been driving for about four hours now. We stopped a few times to go to the bathroom and grab some coffee.
“Will you stop doing that?” I mumbled and placed my hand on Aria’s thigh.
She was in the passenger seat next to me. Nick and Annie were sitting in the back. Annie was sitting behind me and Nick behind Aria.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I am nervous.”
“It’s going to go great, A,” Annie said. “Don’t worry.”
“What if they are angry at me?” she said quietly, glancing out the passenger side window.
“Why would they be angry at you?” I asked, surprised.
“Well, I disappeared,” she sighed and turned to me. “I never got a chance to explain why. And I am pretty sure my grandma didn’t tell them anything. What if they are angry about me leaving without saying a word and they refuse to let me explain?”
Nick leaned in and wrapped his hands around Aria from behind. She calmed down slightly.
“First of all, please stop calling that woman grandma,” I said through my teeth. “Second of all, they are not angry. They will be so happy to see you.”
She gave me a small smile and looked back out the window.
I looked in the rearview mirror and saw how tense Nick was. He told me what Aria had said to him last night. That she won’t leave us, that she couldn’t leave him. But he and I both were still a little bit afraid she will change her mind when she sees Cassie and Jake.
I focused back on the road, giving Aria a side glance once in a while. Her nervousness grew by the minute.
About half an hour later, Aria straightened herself in her seat.
“We are here,” she said quietly.
Nick and Annie looked out their windows.
For miles, there was just forest surrounding us, but now I started to see houses on the side of the road. There were more houses the further we drove.
“Do you want to go to your old home first?” I asked Aria.
She shook her head as she looked outside.
“Jake and Cassie’s house first, please,” she said quietly, staring out the window.
There weren’t many people left in the village. The houses looked abandoned, and we passed only a few people while we drove to our destination.
Aria gave me directions while staring out the window with a nervous look on her face.
“I like it here,” Annie said quietly.
“It was much better before, trust me,” Aria mumbled. “It is abandoned now.”
The village was charming, I must admit. The houses were small and colorful. Each house had a garden in the front. I believe those gardens were very pretty when there were people here to take care of them. Now they were empty. Just dry soil and a few dead plants in some of them.
We drove past the main square. At least it looked like it.
There were buildings here that look like a school, hospital, and town hall. There was a fountain in the middle and the sidewalk was made out of stone.
Again, only a few people were outside. They all looked toward my car and narrowed their eyes in suspicion.
Aria continued to give me directions until she let out a quiet gasp.
“Stop here,” she said quietly, staring at the house on our left.
I looked at the house. It was as charming as the rest of them. The outside wall was painted in light peach color and there was a garden in the front. Small steps led up to the porch. Unlike the rest of the houses, it seemed like somebody was still living in this one. Actual flowers and plants were growing in the garden.
Aria’s eyes were roaming all over the house. I could hear her heart beating faster.
“It doesn’t look abandoned,” Annie said quietly.
“No,” Aria whispered. “They are still here.”
I looked at Nick through the rearview mirror. He was looking at Aria with a worried expression on his face. I guess he was hoping they wouldn’t be here. Just as I was.
I was terrified of losing her, even though she said she wouldn’t leave us.
Aria opened her door and stepped outside. We all followed her. She walked over to my side of the car, her eyes never leaving the house.
“Go, Aria,” Annie said and shoved her hands in her jacket pockets.
Nick and I both leaned on my car, our eyes never leaving Aria.
She walked slowly toward their house. Nick growled quietly and I could hear his heart starting to beat faster.
I tried to push my nervousness away and crossed my arms over my chest.
She walked up the steps and stood in front of the door. She turned around to look back at us and I gave her a small smile.
She turned back, and I saw her take a deep breath before she knocked on the front door.
For a few moments nothing happened, but then I saw the door slowly open.
A tall, muscular man with black hair and dark eyes stood at the door. He looked down at Aria and his eyes widened in shock.
For a few moments, he just stared at her, frozen in place.
“Mi… Minnie?” I heard him mutter in his deep voice.
Minnie?
“Hi, Jake,” Aria responded, her voice trembling.
He finally moved. He stepped toward Aria and pulled her to him. Even from here, I could see how tightly he held her.
Nick growled and started shaking. I placed my hand on his upper arm.
“Breathe, man,” I said quietly, not moving my eyes from Aria.
“Oh, my Goddess, Minnie!” Jake practically shouted. “Where were you? What happened to you? I tried to find you! Goddess, I missed you.”
Aria had her arms around him tightly and started sobbing into his chest.
Aria’s POV
It felt so good being back in Jake’s arms.
I was so relieved when I saw he wasn’t angry. He had even tried to find me. My heart broke for him. I just disappeared. My grandma took me away without any explanation. I could only imagine what he went through. If a person I loved just suddenly disappeared from my life, I would be broken.
Jake let me sob into his chest for a few minutes before he pulled away. He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. I could see he cried as well.
“Where were you, Aria?” he asked me, his voice trembling.
“I will tell you everything, I promise,” I said quietly. “It is a long story.”
He nodded and cupped my cheek before he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
A loud growl interrupted us. Nick.
Jake pulled me to him immediately. He wrapped his arms around me protectively and looked behind me.
Nick didn’t stop growling for a second. I could hear Gabriel and Annie quietly telling him to stop and trying to calm him down.
I looked up at Jake. He was glaring at my friends in anger.
“It’s okay, Jake,” I said softly. “They are my friends.”
He looked down at me and his expression softened.
Goddess, I forgot how beautiful he was. Even more, now that he was older. His face was chiseled to perfection. His cheekbones were high, and his lips were soft. His dark eyebrows and his dark hair were giving him a dangerous look. But I knew he was nothing but a big softie inside.
I stepped away from him and turned to my friends, waving them over.
Nick practically ran toward us, Gabriel and Annie following him with a frown on their faces.
Nick walked over to me and placed his arm around my waist, pulling me to him. Sparks flew all over my body.
Jake frowned as his eyes gazed at Nick’s arm on me.
“Guys, this is Jake,” I said, breaking the tense silence.
I could feel Nick’s chest rumbling. I placed my hand on his and rubbed small circles on the back of his hand. He instantly calmed down. It amazed me the effect I had on him.
“Hi, Jake,” Annie smiled at him. “I am Annie. Aria’s friend.”
“Hi, Annie,” he smiled back at her.
Jake turned to look at me, waiting for me to say something.
“This is Gabriel,” I said and pointed to him. “And this is Nick.”
“Hi,” Jake said and nodded to them.
Guys just nodded back at him.
Goddess, I wanted to punch them. Why do they have to be so tense?
“What are you two to Aria?” Jake said annoyed.
I looked at Jake nervously. How do I explain this to him? Especially about Gabriel.
“I am her mate,” Nick answered before I could, his voice cold.
Jake’s eyes widened and he looked at me.
“Mate?” he asked quietly. “As in, he is a werewolf, and you are his mate?”
I nodded without saying a word. I saw the pain in his eyes. I silently begged him to forgive me.
“I am a hybrid, actually,” Nick said. “Werewolf and warlock. And, yes, Aria is mine.”
I could hear a clear warning in Nick’s voice. I hit him with my elbow. He didn’t move or look at me. His gaze was stuck on Jake.
Jake looked away from me and nodded. He ran his hand through his hair and looked at Gabriel.
“How about you?” Jake said with clear sadness in his voice.
It broke my heart. Even after four years he still loved me. He still wanted me.
“I will tell you, Jake,” I answered before Gabriel could. “But not here. Can we come inside?”
Jake looked at me and nodded. He stepped away from the door and let us walk inside.
The place was just as I remember. The walls were covered in Jake and Cassie’s baby pictures. There were different kinds of plants all over the house and the space was very light and welcoming.
Jake led us to the living room. Other than the new couch and a new big-screen TV, nothing had changed. The piano was still here and behind it, there were shelves with piled-up books. It was always my favorite place in their house.
“Where is Cassie?” I asked, turning to Jake.
“She and Blake went to the farmer’s market,” Jake answered as he sat down on the couch. “They should be here soon.”
“Cassie and Blake are still together?” I asked with a big smile on my face.
Jake nodded, his eyes not leaving mine.
“Are your parents okay?” I asked and walked over to them.
Gabriel, Annie and Nick were already sitting on the couch, their eyes roaming around the room.
Jake nodded and a wave of relief washed over me. I always loved his mom and dad. They were always there for me when my grandma wasn’t.
“They are in hiding,” Jake said. “Cassie, Blake and I didn’t want to leave yet.”
I nodded and went to sit on the couch. The only free space was between Jake and Nick. I sighed internally. I hope Nick won’t do anything stupid.
I sat down and Nick’s hands immediately went around my waist, pulling me closer to him and away from Jake.
I sighed and Jake frowned, but he didn’t say anything. He looked up at me and gave me a small smile.
“Tell me everything, Minnie,” he said, using the nickname he gave me a long time ago. “What happened to you?”
Before I could answer we heard the front door open and the voice I missed so much filled the room.
“Jake?” Cassie called. “We are back.”
I stood up and turned to the living room door, just as Cassie walked inside. Her eyes widened and the bags she was holding fell to the floor.
Blake was standing behind her with an equally shocked expression on his face.
“Ari?” Cassie said quietly, tears rolling down her face.
I nodded and ran toward her, wrapping my arms around her neck. She held me tightly and sobbed.
“I missed you so much, Cass,” I said with a trembling voice.
“I missed you too,” she responded. “What happened to you?”
“She was just about to tell me that when you walked in,” Jake said.
Cassie looked at him over my shoulder and I saw her eyes widening when she saw my friends on her couch.
