Instead of running to hold her in his arms like she had previously intended, Casmir approached with rage in every inch of his body. Whatever tenderness they'd held each other with before was gone, and Aria shrunk back at his coming. He snarled, screeching into the night his anger and her betrayal. She didn't even think of where he had even gotten this information from. There was no way Lasher would betray her like that and as far as she was concerned... Behati... Her scent had lingered... The bitch had stayed behind and spied. No wonder she seemed so chipper when she arrived in the den. She knew of the shit storm that would occur. 

If the intelligence hadn't kicked in, Aria probably would've sunk into the snow and taken whatever anger he had to throw at her. Eventually she'd break out the old puppy-dog eyes and butter him up again. She'd meant to tell him she just didn't know how, and she wanted him to know that. But now? With the knowledge that Behati had all her cards against her? Especially after Aria had so graciously talked her up to Lasher?

Oh hell no. This bitch was going the fuck down.

Despite the awareness that her life was falling to pieces and she didn't know what to do about it, the white wolf fired back.

"Excuse me?" she snarled, her fur bristling. "Where the fuck did you get that load of bullshit?" she inquired, hoping he'd spill that it was indeed Behati through his fit of range. Regardless of what he said back, she'd probably tell him that yes Lasher had come onto her and yes she did find him rather cunning but she turned him down. For Casmir? Maybe that was too far. She'd leave that out.

Ouch. That hurt. And so did that. And that one. And the last one stung, more than anything. She stood rigid for a moment, taking every insult he threw her way and fought back an understandable amount of tears. Her anger could be described easily as livid, but as chaos ensued she found herself aware of the situation; unlike her petty denmate. He finished, and all at once the pretty wolf fired back every drop of 'fight me on this' she had in her. 

"Your father," she spat back at him, nearing him and snarling right beneath his jaw. "Is a kind soul and a wonderful alpha. He came onto me. I turned him down," she told him like it was. Had she accepted a small portion of his love? Sure, maybe she had. But she didn't tell him that and Behati didn't know about it. For now she'd keep it on the DL and refuse to ever tell him she actually enjoyed it. "It happened before us. I like you for you, Casmir. I didn't betray you for your father; I'm not a fucking animal." (irony bc wolf)

His final statement she didn't know how to respond to. However this conversation ended, she wanted nothing to do with that side of him. She felt she'd earned her position. She went out and spoke with Njal from Saltwinter, she had patrolled borders and hunted, she'd participated in the pack activities and even helped Dante with his sickness. She stared him dead in the eyes, her own white ones aflame with anger yet somehow cold as ice.

"You and I both know I earned this position, Casmir," came her response, and she backed away from him, her teeth now at a bigger gap from his throat.

Aria groaned.

"That isn't my fault, Casmir," she replied, shaking her head. But a realization suddenly hit her, and the girl found herself feeling like a side-hoe. "Did you not tell her about me?" she asked quietly, her gaze lightening to large, sad, sparkly diamonds. "I didn't care you saw her... I didn't tell you that you couldn't see her... Did you not even tell her that we had grown close when she abandoned you?" she asked, her voice cracking. The thought of being a second choice was heartbreaking. She was a secret. Perhaps Behati had her suspicions but Casmir hadn't even found it important enough to tell her about them.

She stared lowly to the ground, answering his question with a robot like voice. She felt betrayed almost, used. Maybe she really wasn't, but at this point she couldn't tell. "A week or two," she muttered, no longer looking up to meet his gaze. "And we didn't almost do it," she added with a hiss. "I'm just a much a virgin as you are, Casmir. I'm not giving it up just because someone asked."

Just as devastated as he was, Aria sat her tired ass on the ground and let out a soft sigh. "Why are we fighting this is stupid," she muttered, shaking her head. She knew he was probably still mad at her but she had nothing more to add to the conversation in response and was now just upset. He'd insulted her purity and her ability to serve the pack; two things she usually prided herself on. She remained silent, looking up at him with a sad gaze. 

"I'm sorry I didn't immediately tell you about Lasher. I really wanted us to happen and I thought if I sprung that on you you'd turn tail... I still really want us to happen," she added with a gentle shrug. She didn't know the two girls were watching, and truthfully didn't know what she'd do if they were. Behati had done enough, she was sick of it by now. "I haven't lied to you about anyone else, Casmir. You are the one and only person I've ever truly wanted to be with."

She moved closer to him, permitted he would let her, and nuzzled softly under his jaw and into his neck. "I stand by that."

But he still left. He had given her the response she wanted, regardless of how he had treated her, but he wanted to leave. She didn't want him to leave, she was too upset over the whole situation to have to go another night without him. Fuck Behati, she could be a part of this all she wanted, but just tonight she wished that he would forget the caramel bitch of a wolf and just be with her. "Casmir, wait," she whined, but before she could add on he had frozen in his tracks. 

In the instant after he did she scented the two mutts of wolves she called her denmates- although after tonight she would most likely be moving out. Where to? Hell, anywhere but there. The ground was still frozen and there was no way for her to dig a den. But she would anyway. Fuck being Beta. She would tell Lasher she couldn't stand this petty bitch and either send her out of the pack or tell him to pair her with Pearl. Who fucking cares. This was too much for her and she couldn't stand it anymore. 

"Are you fucking kidding me?" came the snarl, hackles rose and the sweet pale gaze turned once again to flames. This time, away from Casmir and towards Behati. "You followed me?"

 

Behati's reply did seem heated, but it came as obnoxious. Aria let out a low growl. "It doesn't seem like you play by the rules, Behati," she spat. In response to the comment on yelling, the white wolfess couldn't think of anything civil to say. "Yelling?" she retorted in fury. "Of course we were yelling. You're spreading rumors in a petty attempt to ruin my reputation." By reputation, it was obvious she meant a number of different things: Casmir, her virginity, her rank... pretty much everything she stood for was slandered. Aria was outraged and, now that Behati had actually followed her here, oh hot damn. 

"This is stupid," she finally muttered, her ears flattening. "This is so fucking stupid."

Casmir fled. She turned to see him running, but before she could crumble at his leaving them, leaving her, Behati said something that she couldn't stand. Pearl had attempted to intervene, but Aria had so little respect for her at this point that she completely disregarded her. Civil? Yeah fuck off, she had tried. Petty bullying was civil at this point, Behati had taken it too far. 

"Take. It. Back," she snarled, stepping towards the girl. Her teeth clicked, and her eyes were alive with fire. If she hadn't been so angry, she probably would've cried. It wasn't her fault really, but she felt like everyone was teaming up on her at this point. It was partially her fault, sure, but still. She didn't dare say something so personal to Behati. It was a low blow and both parties knew it. Aria was breaking, and she was pissed.

No. Did she just say no? Aria felt her whole body grow hot with anger. Casmir was gone, there was no longer a need for composure. No need to attempt any more 'lady-like' actions. If Pearl cared she could shove one up her ass and suck it the fuck up.

The white girl couldn't stand it anymore, she lashed out. She aimed a bite at her chin, not hard and surely not breaking skin, but it would show her seriousness in the situation. She wasn't fucking around anymore. 

"Know your place, Omega," she spat, standing taller over the girl. "I will make you eat your words," she finished, her voice holding nothing but hatred. Aria turned and left. If anything, Behati had done nothing but disrespect her and, being the higher rank she was, she showed her that she was not so special. If Behati went and whined to Lasher or Dante Aria had the upper hand. Fuck this black mailing shit, two could play at this game. 

She disappeared into the trees, moving as far from the den as she could before her anger and adrenaline faded and was replaced with heartbreak. When she could hold it in no longer, she curled up beneath a large tree and sobbed silently for a majority of the night. When she released all the tears she possibly could, the girl sobered up. She only had one thing on her mind now.