The shattering of glass and the groans of pain were all that were heard coming from training room. Aria picked herself up, wincing at the sensation of glass clattering on the ground as she moved. Her eyes focused onto a smirking Santiago.

"Move faster unless you like being thrown," Santiago barked.

Aria got to her feet, advancing forward swinging her arm in Santiago's direction. The guard side-stepped, grabbing Aria by her arm and pinning her to the mat. Santiago drew back his hand, bringing it down on Aria's face. Aria's head collided with the ground, dazing her for a moment. She blinked, trying to reach for Santiago's hand to stop him from hitting her again only to fail. The stronger guard struck the newborn once more causing a crack to form on her cheek.

Santiago flipped Aria, lifting her head by her hair causing her to hiss in pain. His cold breath hit her ear as he whispered, "I've fought prisoner with more fight in them than this."

Aria, as she struggled to get free herself from Santiago's iron hold, retorted, "I'm sorry to disappoint ya."

Santiago wrapped his free hand around Aria's neck, tightening his hold just under her jaw and began lifting her head even further back. Trying with all her might, Aria tried to remove the guards hand from her throat knowing he would not hesitate to remove her head from her body.

Santiago continued lifting to the point where Aria's neck couldn't bend anymore and smiled. He could count this as a lesson in his memories to later show Aro. His way of breaking a rebellious newborns streak. Aria closed her eyes, preparing for the feeling of being ripped apart.

Only, it never came.

Instead Aria could feel the weight of Santiago being lifted off of her and another familiar sound of glass breaking on the far side of the room. She jumped to her feet, spinning quickly to see not only Felix pinning Santiago to the floor with nothing more than his foot but also a very angry Alec.

Alec's attention was fully on the guard, his jet black eyes focusing on Santiago's terrified form in nothing but hatred. He and Felix had decided to train today, unknowingly stumbling across the almost decapitation of Aria.

"I got him," Felix stayed coldly as he picked Santiago up and placed him in a head lock, "check on her."

Alec turned as Felix ushered Santiago out of the soundproof room, his attention now on his mate. Aria stood still waiting for what felt like eternity for Alec to make the first move, but he never did.

"Babe-"

"-Are you hurt?" Alec asked, closing the space between the pair in a matter of seconds.

With a tenderness, Alec only showed to Aria, his trembling hands touched Aria searching for wounds or cracks that would only fuel the flames of his fury.

"N-no," Aria answered after a moment before falling into silence as Alec searches for any lasting damage.

Alec's hands came to a rest on her shoulders, his eyes returning to their normal red as they bore into Aria's fading eyes.

"I missed you," Aria whispered, her small hands reaching out to Alec.

"I missed you honeybee," Alec whispered back as he rested his forehead against his mates, "I missed you so much."

The pair fell into comfortable silence the only sound of their synchronized breathing filling the air between them. Aria's hands had managed to find their way around Alec's neck, her eyes closed just enjoying having the feeling of him close. Alec stood with his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

His anger was still present, both of them could feel it, but Alec had more pressing matters to tend to. For months he had tried in vain to find a way to Aria, but he was always met with a time consuming task or had guards that would keep an eye on him. He tried sneaking into her room at night but had to cut it as a loss, seeing he didn't know what room was exactly hers or even what part of the castle she was in. He could have easily figured it out if he had access to Demetri, but Aro has planned for that, making sure to send the tracker to the Amazon in order to find the hybrids that were hidden within the rainforest.

Alec pulled Aria closer, enjoying the familiar sense of calm wash over him just from her mere presence. He tried not to think of what diabolical things Santiago had put his precious mate through but it was no easy feat. Every fiber in his being said for him to go torture Santiago from sun up to sun down for every flaw he had caused onto Aria's delicate form.

"I got the message," Aria mumbled.

"Corin made it to you?"

"Hmph," Aria answered, "and I love you too."

Alec smiled leaning down more to seal his lips with his honeybee's. "I love you more," he murmured against Aria's lips before kissing them.

Their mouths moved in sync, each just enjoying the blissful feeling of being in the others presence once more. Alec pulled her closer, their bodies fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.

Aria was the first to pull back, out of habit, panting heavily though she didn't require air like she once did. Alec stood more relaxed than before staring into his lovers eyes. From one nights feeding, Alec could already see the small flakes of gold around the edges of Aria's iris but not enough to alert the masters to a change in her diet plan.

"Honeybee," Alec said, pausing for a moment.

"Yes darlin'?"

Alec looked deep into his mates eyes. "I need you to do something for me tonight."

Aria nodded, "What do ya need?"

Alec paused looking back at the door for a moment before turning back to Aria. "I need you to meet me in the garage tonight at 11."

Aria opened her mouth to ask a follow up question but the silent plea in Alec's eyes rendered her speechless. Aria nodded in response instead earning herself one last kiss from Alec before he left, leaving her alone with nothing more than broken glass and a longing heart.