Amelia stopped at the next gate. They were all wondering why so much precautions; all except Arya. She knew it was to prevent any slave from escaping and any outsider from just waltzing in.
Arya got out and a man walked toward her, and she handed him the letter. He read it and said, "So you're also zoologist working for WIAR."
The word also didn't go unnoticed by Arya.
"Welcome, Miss Hunter. I'm Sinclair, and you can say I manage things around here," the tall man said, putting his hand out to shake hers. Arya hesitantly shook his hand, and said, "Thank you, Mr Sinclair."
"Why don't you and your team rest and we'll have lunch together in an hour, at the pa... I mean our village leaders house," the man said. He was about to say something else... pa... pack?
"Thank you sir. I was hoping you could show us to where our previous team are staying. I'm sure they'll be thrilled to see us," Arya said, hoping to get some information on her friend.
"Sure, Miss Hunter. Why don't you follow my car with yours, and we'll reach there in no time."
"Yes, we will."
Amelia followed the black car, and soon they entered a place with small houses, some small shops, and a park. All this was nothing compared to one massive house, with three floors, and right beside it, another massive house.
There were people walking around, and stopped to stare at the van that was following their 'manager's' car.
Amelia followed the black car to a small cabin, that looked strangely familiar.
Getting out of his car, Sinclair strode over to the van. Arya and her team got out, and looked at the little old cabin, which looked like no one cleaned it up.
"Miss Hunter, this is where Miss Wells and her team worked from. You can go inside and get comfortable, and I'll personally come to pick you all for lunch," the tall man said, smiling.
Arya forced a smile, and thanked him before entering the old house. Her heart beat faster as every step felt nostalgic. Then it hit her, the smell of the old woods behind the house.
She ran out to the old tree, a broken swing hung on its branch. Tears threatened to run out, but Arya knew tears would mean explaining. Explaining would mean telling the werewolves who she really was.
Besides, how would she explain to her team that this was her grandpa's house? Her house? For all they know, this was the first time they all came here!
Then another realization hit her; this could be a trap. As soon as Aria Moonstone enters this house, she'll recognize it and boom, these people catch her.
But she's Arya Hunter. This is the first time she has come here. She has to remember that.
"A...Dr Hunter, we were setting up our equipment. Could you come have a look?" Maryann said from the doorway.
"Taking a deep breath, she nodded, and followed her colleague to where the sitting room one was. Her team had already taken out all the equipment from the van and set it up. They had been trained well and could set a research facility within minutes.
"Looks fine. Did any of you find anything belonging to Rebecca?"
"No, but hear this, this cabin has only two bedrooms, belonging to an adult and a child," Alex said, making Arya swallow a lump in her throat. "And look," he said, holding up some drawing and old wooden toys. "Looks like the child was made to live in such bad conditions."
Before Arya could say anything, Darian added, "who knows, maybe some old man kidnapped a child."
They all gasped, and Arya clenched her jaws. She wanted to scream at them, but knew better. "This is a damn village. This house looks so old, older than any other, so maybe the people living here back then couldn't afford luxurious items," she said, as calmly as she could, when in fact, she felt like giving them a good beating.
Before anyone could say anything else, there was a knock on the door. Before they could react, Sinclair walked in. "I see you have set everything up," he said, surprised.
"Well, yeah..." Darian replied.
"Mr Sinclair, we couldn't find anything that belongs to our previous team members. Do you know where their equipment is?" Arya asked, glad to cut the topic of the house.
"I don't, but I'll ask the cleaners if they have put anything away. Why don't I take you all to meet Alfa Flowerew?" He said, too cheerfully.
Alex snorted. All eyes went to him. "What?" He asked, looking around. "You all are thinking the same thing... I mean what kind of name is that?"
This guy just had no filter. If they get killed, it will definitely be his fault.
"You think my alfa has a funny name?" Sinclair's demeanor change. He suddenly turned cold, and his voice was very low, and threatening.
"Forgive him, Mr Sinclair. He just doesn't know when when to talk and when to close his mouth," Arya said, saying the last part looking at Alex. "And Alex, will you please not forget that we're guests here, and there's always boundaries."
"I'm sorry, Mr Sinclair," Alex mumbled a half hearted apology.
Sinclair stared at him a few more minutes, then turning to Arya, said, "Well then, let's not keep the host waiting."
The look he gave Alex the rest of the way didn't go unnoticed by Arya, who was panicking at what might happen if Alex kept up this behavior.
The car that Alfa Flowerew had sent stopped near the entrance to the three storey mansion. A guard opened the door of the car, and then the door of the house and they all followed Sinclair to a huge dining table.
The mansion was elegant, with wonderful chandeliers and a sofa set that would cost a fortune.
There were exotic paintings on the walls and the sitting room was so huge Arya's whole house could fit into it twice.
They sat at the table lined with food that one would consider a buffet. Fresh fruits and vegetables and meat, they all smelt so delicious.
Alex rubbed his hands together and was about to serve himself, when Arya shot a warning glance at him. They all knew they had to wait for the host.
"Here he is, Alfa Flowerew," Sinclair sang.
Everyone's eyes went to the door, and in walked the most handsome man Arya had ever seen. Dark blue eyes, six packs ab and a smile to die for. It must have been a few days since he shaved, as there was a little beard.
Arya felt her heart beat stop, before everything rushed back to her, the reason she's here. To kill them.
He walked straight to Arya, and asked, "Have we met before?"