MiaI can’t fucking believe what I’ve done. Like, seriously, what the actual fuck, Mia? I slept with Damon. DAMON.As I put on my shoes and throw on my gown, I feel my cheeks burn hotter than a stove. I bolt out of his room before he can even open his damn mouth to say anything. Nope, not today, Satan. No way I’m sticking around for his silly explanations or that infuriating smirk.By the time I reach my suite, I’m practically yanking at my hair. How am I gonna explain this to Lily? She’ll never let me live this down. I pause at the door, punching in the code and taking a deep breath. I just hope she’s still asleep…or, I don’t know, passed out drunk.The door slides open, and of course, the universe hates me because there they are… Lily and Aria, sitting on the bed, staring at me like they’re on the goddamn Supreme Court.“And she makes an appearance,” Lily chirps, crossing her arms. Aria? She looks like she’s trying not to laugh.“Alright, I can explain, so don’t give me that look.”
Aria"Okay, everyone calm the hell down," I mutter, resting my elbow on the table and glancing around. The room’s buzzing with chatter, forks clinking against plates, and nobody seems to notice the chaos brewing at our table. “We have to be careful. The culprit might be here.”Mia leans forward, her eyes wide like fucking saucer. “That’s why this is so fucking crazy! We can’t just keep quiet about it, Aria. We need to report it.”“She’s right,” Lily adds, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. “This is insane. I mean, it’s you. Aren’t you scared?”I let out a breath, running my hand through my hair. “Of course I’m scared! But I wanna figure out who did this shit first.” My voice drops to a whisper. “This isn’t just some prank.”“Uh, what about the finger? Like, what if someone finds it in the trash?” Lily sips her coffee like she didn’t just say the most horrifying thing ever.“Great,” Mia groans, pushing her plate away. “Now I’m imagining someone opening the trash and finding
Aria It's so fucking beautiful! I spin around in the middle of the suite Ethan booked for us. The luxurious carpet, velvet curtains, sparkling chandeliers—is something straight out of a magazine. The annual Christmas cruise ship tour hosted by my school, Crescent Wolves Academy, is everything I’ve ever dreamed of but never thought I’d experience. Me, Aria Whitlock, standing here on a freaking cruise ship? No way. I’m an eighteen-year-old, lowly omega scraping by in a world that couldn’t care less about me. But tonight? Tonight, I’m not a nobody. Nope. Tonight, I’m Alpha Ethan’s mate. My Ethan, the future Alpha of the Full Moon Pack, my personal knight in shining armor. The Moon Goddess must’ve finally stopped ignoring me. “Aria, move your ass! We're going to miss the welcome party at this point.” Mia’s voice yanks me out of my thoughts. She barges in, her wild auburn curls bouncing, looking like a fiery storm in her emerald-green dress. Right behind her is Lily, the complete op
Aria My stomach drops. The same fucking hands that held me last night, the same damn lips that whispered I love you and kissed me like I was his world are now all over Vanessa’s face. “Ethan, how could you,” I choke out, my chest splitting open with a pain so sharp it steals my breath. He freezes, pulling back just enough to look at me. For a split second, I think I see guilt flash in his eyes. But then, he smirks. Smirks. “Aria,” he says nonchalantly, like he wasn’t just caught red-handed. “What are you doing here? Go away.” My wolf growls low in my mind, her anger and heartbreak twisting with mine. He lied, she snarls. He lied to us. Vanessa, of course, looks smug as hell. She leans into him, her perfectly manicured nails trailing down his chest like she’s marking her territory. “Oh, sweetheart,” she purrs with a fake smile. “You didn’t really think he’d pick you, did you?” Ethan laughs cruelly, and his smirk stretches wider. “You’re such a goddamn joke,” he begins, like I’
Aria “What the actual hell?” I yank myself out of his hold, shaking my head like he’s lost his damn mind. “You’re lying. I don’t even feel a bond or smell your scent.” A lie. A huge lie. He smells like heaven dipped in sin, and being this close to him makes my wolf stir like she’s been on a three-shot espresso bender. But no way. Nope. Not happening. He can’t be my mate. “Why…” My voice rises with each word. “Why the hell would the Moon Goddess saddle me with someone like you as my second-chance mate?” I throw my hands in the air, completely done with this cosmic joke. Lucas looks amused, which only pisses me off more. Of course, he’s amused. The guy’s the king of our school, the golden boy every girl worships, and oh yeah, a fucking young billionaire. Me? I’m just Aria Whitlock, professional doormat. We’re not even the same species as far as the social ladder is concerned. “No, seriously,” I add, throwing him a dirty look. “Why would the Goddess waste a perfectly good mate
Aria I give him a side-eye. “Girlfriend? You’re laying it on thick already, huh?” He smirks, not even missing a beat. “Oh, you’ll see. PDA’s part of the plan. Gotta make that loser jealous, and trust me, it’ll work.” I almost trip over my own feet. Me, in some fake relationship with Lucas-the-Resident-Player? Yeah, that’d go over great. The judgment I’d get from my friends? Yikes. I can practically hear them already: Aria, really? Lucas? But honestly? It’s worth it to see Ethan’s stupid, smug face crumble. When we finally reach Ethan’s door, Lucas leans against the frame like this is just another Tuesday for him. “Need help packing, babe?” he asks, that annoying little grin plastered on his face. “Nope. I don’t even have much,” I say, bracing myself as I open the door. And bam, there it is. That stench I used to like…Ethan’s scent or whatever—hits me like a truck. But now? Now it makes me wanna gag. I don’t even bother looking for him. Dude’s probably in the bathroom
Aria My heart’s pounding like a bass drum in a bad EDM track as Lucas and I walk toward his suite. Gail, my wolf, is practically doing cartwheels in my head, and I can’t help but groan internally. Seriously, Gail? Haven’t we learned our lesson about "mates"? ‘It’s the Moon Goddess, not me,’Gail snarks, clearly unimpressed with my attitude. ‘Yeah, well, the Moon Goddess needs better matchmaking skills,’ I shoot back, effectively earning myself an eye roll from my own fucking wolf. Great. We don’t even make it halfway to Lucas’s suite before a guy in a hockey jersey…a teammate of Lucas’s, I think—comes strolling up. His black hair is a mess, and he’s got that “just got off the rink” look. “Alpha Lucas, where the fuck have you been? Coach is losing his mind,” the guy says, but his eyes immediately land on me. And then on the bag Lucas is holding. The confusion on his face is priceless. “Oh, come on, Damon,” Lucas groans, rolling his eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell him I was sleepin
AriaOkay, I’ll admit it, Lucas’s suite is freaking ridiculous. Like, who needs this much luxury on a damn cruise ship? The elegant carpet feels like walking on clouds, the furniture looks like it was handpicked by a billionaire..which, duh, he probably is—and the bed? It’s freaking massive. I’m pretty sure the moon goddess herself would curl up here."You like what you see?" Lucas smirks, standing by the door with that smug expression he probably practiced in front of a damn mirror.I clear my throat, trying not to let my awe show too much. "Your suite is… great. Actually, it’s amazing. Better than Ethan’s."His smirk deepens. "Well, as the son of the chairman of Crescent Wolf Academy, I deserve only the fucking best." He winks like he’s in some cheap perfume ad. "I could buy this ship if I wanted."I roll my eyes so hard they almost fall out of my face. What the fuck, Moon Goddess? First, Ethan the dirty cheater, and now this cocky, out-of-my-league Alpha as a second chance-mate? It
Aria"Okay, everyone calm the hell down," I mutter, resting my elbow on the table and glancing around. The room’s buzzing with chatter, forks clinking against plates, and nobody seems to notice the chaos brewing at our table. “We have to be careful. The culprit might be here.”Mia leans forward, her eyes wide like fucking saucer. “That’s why this is so fucking crazy! We can’t just keep quiet about it, Aria. We need to report it.”“She’s right,” Lily adds, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. “This is insane. I mean, it’s you. Aren’t you scared?”I let out a breath, running my hand through my hair. “Of course I’m scared! But I wanna figure out who did this shit first.” My voice drops to a whisper. “This isn’t just some prank.”“Uh, what about the finger? Like, what if someone finds it in the trash?” Lily sips her coffee like she didn’t just say the most horrifying thing ever.“Great,” Mia groans, pushing her plate away. “Now I’m imagining someone opening the trash and finding
MiaI can’t fucking believe what I’ve done. Like, seriously, what the actual fuck, Mia? I slept with Damon. DAMON.As I put on my shoes and throw on my gown, I feel my cheeks burn hotter than a stove. I bolt out of his room before he can even open his damn mouth to say anything. Nope, not today, Satan. No way I’m sticking around for his silly explanations or that infuriating smirk.By the time I reach my suite, I’m practically yanking at my hair. How am I gonna explain this to Lily? She’ll never let me live this down. I pause at the door, punching in the code and taking a deep breath. I just hope she’s still asleep…or, I don’t know, passed out drunk.The door slides open, and of course, the universe hates me because there they are… Lily and Aria, sitting on the bed, staring at me like they’re on the goddamn Supreme Court.“And she makes an appearance,” Lily chirps, crossing her arms. Aria? She looks like she’s trying not to laugh.“Alright, I can explain, so don’t give me that look.”
Aria The moment I see Lucas walking toward me, I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. A few minutes ago, he rushed in just as Ethan stormed off, looking pissed as all hell. Then Lily told him everything, what Ethan said, what he did….and Lucas didn’t even think twice before stomping off to confront him. We begged him not to, but you know Lucas. He never listens when he’s angry“Thank goddess you’re—” My words get cut off as Lucas pulls me into one of those hugs that melts your bones. His arms wrap around me like I’m the only thing anchoring him to Earth, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.“Lucas... are you okay?”He doesn’t answer right away, just buries his face in my neck. “Just a second,” he mutters, his voice muffled against my skin.I don’t argue. Instead, I wrap my arms around him, taking in his familiar scent, something warm and woodsy, like cedar and home.When he finally pulls back, he brushes a strand of hair out of my face, his gray eyes softer tha
Ethan Aria’s looking at me like she’s just waiting for me to explode, her green eyes burning with a fire that’s almost impressive. Almost. Has she lost her goddamn mind? Telling me to fight her….a fucking omega? But hell, she’s not backing down. It’s like she thinks she’s the queen of this little showdown."What are you waiting for? Cold feet already?" Her voice is sharp, mocking, and her eyes don’t leave mine for a second. "You’re nothing but a piece of shit, Ethan. Just look at her." She points to Vanessa, who’s still sprawled on the floor, looking like a kicked puppy. "You shoved your girlfriend. Real classy."My eyes flick to Vanessa, and yeah, she looks embarrassed as hell. I’d almost forgotten she was there. Not my fault...she should’ve left me alone when I warned her. I don’t do clingy.Aria kneels and extends a hand to Vanessa, but Vanessa bats it away and scrambles up on her own, her face red as a damn tomato."You have no right to talk about Alpha Ethan like that," Vanessa
Aria One minute, I’m on cloud nine…Lucas spinning me around the dance floor like I’m the damn queen of the world. The next? Some girl strolls in, a walking, talking buzzkill, and decides to ruin everything. I don’t know who the hell she is, but from the look in Lucas’s eyes, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.I let out a frustrated growl, and just as I’m about to calm down, that bastard Ethan strides over to where I’m standing.I sigh, sipping my cocktail, trying to push the irritation down. Gail, my wolf, isn’t having it, though. She’s growling in my head, pacing like she’s ready to pounce, and honestly? I’m proud of her. That’s the energy I need for this fucking prick.“Wow, you must think you’re Cinderella or something,” he says, all smug and condescending. “You think this is gonna last forever? You really think Lucas will be there to save you when we get back to the pack?”I almost choke on my drink. “Shut the fuck up, you bastard.” I set my glass down with a thunk, glaring at hi
Lucas I freeze, my brain short-circuiting like someone yanked the Wi-Fi router mid-download. Things were going so well…Aria was smiling, laughing, trusting me. And then Serena. Fucking Serena. She just has to show up and ruin it.“Do you know her, Lucas?” Aria’s voice cuts through my mental meltdown sharply.I glance at her. She doesn’t look impressed. At all. In fact, she looks like she’s five seconds from shoving me off this ship, and, honestly, I’d probably deserve it. My chest tightens.“She’s nobody serious,” I mutter, my eyes still glued to Serena. But Aria? She scoffs, crossing her arms, and my heart sinks like a lead balloon.“Are you sure about that, Alpha Lucas?” Serena pipes up, her voice sugary sweet but sharp enough to upset me.My fists clench by my sides as I shoot Aria a pleading look. “Give me a second, okay? I’ll be right back.”Aria doesn’t answer. Her lips press into a thin, unimpressed line, and I know I’m walking on the thinnest of ice.“Aria,” I say softly, “pl
Aria“Come on,” he says, scooping me up bridal style. “Let’s go shower.”And let’s just say the shower is far from innocent. We end up going another round before finally cleaning up.Back in the room, wrapped in towels, I grab my ruined dress with a sigh. No way I can wear this again.A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Lucas answers, cracking it open just enough to take something from whoever’s outside. When he turns around, he’s holding a cloth bag.“Who was that?” I ask.“Max,” he says, handing me the bag. “I asked him to bring you a new dress.”Wow! I pull the dress out of the bag, and my jaw just about hits the floor. It’s a pink ball gown, glittering with sequins and stones, catching the light like it’s straight out of a Disney princess movie. Like, I might as well be Cinderella, except I’m not rocking a glass slippers.“This is so fucking beautiful,” I breathe, running my fingers over the fabric like it’s made of literal magic.Lucas leans casually against the wall, arm
Aria "Aria... if you're not ready—""I'm ready," I cut him off firmly. "I mean, it's been days since we found out we're mates. Soon it's going to hurt if we don't mark each other."The second I tell Lucas I’m ready, something changes in his eyes. His gray gaze darkens, flickering with something intense, something raw. He strokes my cheek softly, making my heart flutter even though the back of my mind is screaming with doubt. What happens if he changes his mind later? If he rejects me? I’d be wrecked…shattered.But right now, I don’t care. I want this. I want him.The sharp sting of his teeth sinking into my neck snaps me out of my thoughts. The pain is fiery, but it’s so damn sweet. A shudder tears through my body, and I feel it…this undeniable, electrifying connection. It’s like we’re tied together now, bonded in a way that’s more than just physical. Wrapping my arms and legs around him, I pull him closer, wanting more, needing more.“I’m gonna mark you now,” I whisper in a shaky vo
Aria By the time we pull away from the kiss, my heart’s thumping so hard I swear it’s trying to break out of my chest. My whole body? Yeah, it’s officially on fire. Desire is a bitch like that.“That was… lovely,” Lucas murmurs, brushing a strand of hair out of my face smoothly. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”Great. Just great. Now my thighs are wet, and I’m officially pissed at my own body for reacting this way from just a fucking kiss. Why is this bastard so good at seduction? Like, did he take lessons or something?“Thanks,” I manage, but my voice comes out shaky, which is so not the vibe I was going for. “Did you… really mean it? That you like me?”He smiles….one of those confident, panty-dropping smiles that should be illegal. “Wasn’t it obvious?”Obvious? No, sir. Sometimes he’s hot, sometimes he’s cold. He’s like Katy Perry on steroids.“Aria,” he says seriously, his gray eyes locking onto mine, “I really like you. But I’m scared. I don’t want to hurt you like Ethan did.”“The