Aria"I don’t understand… What do you mean your cabin? Why the fuck would you stay in a place like this, Aria?" I sigh, shaking my head. The way he’s looking at me like he suddenly gives a damn is driving me insane. Why the fuck is he acting like he cares now? He’s the reason I’m in this shitty situation to begin with.“Just leave,” I mutter, turning away from him, trying to hold onto the last shred of my composure.“Aria, I’m not gonna let you stay here. It’s fucking dangerous,” he says.“Why the fuck do you care, huh?” I snap, whipping around to face him. “Have you forgotten? I’m Aria, the pack runt. The one who’s not worth fighting for. So leave me the fuck alone!”“It’s not like that!” he yells, his fists clenched at his sides. “And even if we’re not…anymore-” his voice softens, like he’s trying to calm himself, “-can’t I worry about you? Can’t I want to protect you?”“No, you can’t, Lucas! I’m not your responsibility!” My voice cracks, but I push through it, not caring how much
Lucas Seeing her like that…hurting, broken, and barely holding herself together, it fucking wrecks me. And yeah, I know it’s my fault. Every ounce of her pain? That’s on me. It’s all on me.And now, here she is, stuck in this shithole surrounded by the lowest scum on earth. I glance down at the bald bastard bleeding out on the floor, his face already a Picasso painting of bruises. The urge to finish him off? Strong. Too fucking strong. My fists clench, but I force myself to step back. I can’t lose control now, not when I’m already a goddamn mess.I walk away, gritting my teeth, trying to calm down. If I don’t, I’m gonna barge into that cabin, toss her over my shoulder, and drag her the hell out of there. And knowing Aria? She’d probably claw my eyes out for it.By the time I make it to the hallway near the game room, I can already hear the yelling. Fantastic. Just what I need…a migraine on top of my guilt.I step inside, and it’s chaos, of course. Theo’s perched on the pool table lik
AriaI barely got any damn sleep. My brain was on overdrive, replaying everything. Aunt Esther’s face kept popping up…did I really do the right thing calling her? I mean, I’m not one to eat my words, so I’m sticking to the plan. Aunt Esther used to be part of the Full Moon Pack and one of the only people who ever cared about me. But she was banished after a fallout with the Alpha of our pack.Truly, Screw the Full Moon pack… I’m moving on also. Fresh start. But then there’s Lucas.Ugh. Lucas. It took every ounce of willpower not to throw myself into his stupid, muscular arms when he apologized. But nah, I’m not falling for that crap again. He’ll never fight for me when it actually counts.“Aria, what are you thinking about?” Mia’s voice yanks me out of my pity party.We’re at this outdoor spot, slurping on ice cream. It’s better than the cafeteria…at least we don’t have to deal with Lucas and his entourage of drama queens.“Nothing,” I mutter, stabbing my spoon into the sad, half-melt
AriaI feel my heart shatter into a million tiny pieces, and before I can blink, the waterworks are in full force. Ugh, I’m like a human Niagara Falls.Ethan, the smug asshole, leans in, clearly enjoying my misery. “Oh, poor girl,” he says, pouting dramatically. “Don’t tell me you actually thought Lucas wouldn’t cheat on you. You didn’t, right?” He pauses for dramatic effect, then smirks as his eyes flick over my shoulder. “Oh, speak of the devil.”I spin around so fast I almost give myself whiplash. And there he is—Lucas, looking all confused, like he just walked into the wrong movie. My blood boils instantly. Nah, I don’t wanna hear whatever bullshit excuse he’s about to pull out of his ass. I take off running because, honestly, I don’t trust myself not to deck him right in his lying face.From the corner of my eye, I see him chasing me. Great. “Aria! Wait!” he yells, his footsteps echoing in the hall. I pick up the pace like I’m running from the cops in a GTA heist, but the bastard
Aria “Why? So you can lie for your asshole brother?” I shoot back, crossing my arms.“Aria, you know I’d never support Lucas’s bad behavior.”“Then why are you here, huh?”“Because you’re mistaken,” she says, taking a step closer. “Lucas didn’t do it. Serena and Ethan—”“Stop,” I cut her off, holding up a hand. “I don’t wanna hear it.”She sighs, her shoulders slumping. “I know you hate my family... hell, even I do sometimes. But I’m begging you. Just hear him out. He made a mistake, but he’s truly sorry.”I laugh, cold and bitter. “Yeah, sure. Message received. You can leave now.”Sarita stares at me for a second, then turns and walks away, her shoulders hunched like she’s carrying the weight of the world.I shut the door and lean against it, guilt swirling in my chest. Sarita doesn’t deserve this. She really doesn’t. But damn it, I can’t let my guard down. Not now.I flop back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Thank Goddess after tomorrow, I’ll be free of all this bullshit. No
Aria The moment I step forward, every eye in the room lands on me. The air shifts like everyone’s holding their breath, waiting to see if I’ve finally lost my mind. Joke’s on them—maybe I have. But I’m done playing the quiet little omega everyone can step on. Tonight, it’s my turn to speak, and they’re damn well gonna listen.I take a deep breath, my palms clammy as hell, but I don’t let it show. “Ethan,” I say, my voice slicing through the room like a knife. “I’ve got something to say to you and to everyone here. Just because the Moon Goddess decided to bless you with a position of power doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re better than the rest of us. It doesn’t mean you get to treat people like trash just ‘cause they’re of lower rank.”Ethan’s eyebrows shoot up, his mouth opening to interrupt, but I don’t let him. I throw a hand up like I’m shutting down a toddler mid-tantrum. “Nah, don’t even start. I’m not done.”I take a step forward, my hands trembling but clenched into fist
Aria “Aria, I want to publicly apologize to you,” Lucas says, his voice shaking just enough to make me wonder if he’s about to cry in front of everyone. And honestly? I wouldn’t mind if he did.He clears his throat and continues, gripping the mic like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. “For everything I’ve put you through—because of my incompetence, my cowardice. All the hurtful things I said to you? Yeah, I didn’t mean a single damn word. I said those things because I was scared. Scared of fighting for you. Scared of losing you. Scared of…” His voice falters, and he looks down at his shoes like they have the answers he’s struggling to find.Meanwhile, I’m standing there, trying to keep my breathing steady. My chest feels tight, like I’ve just run a marathon in heels, and I have no idea if I want to slap him or hug him. Probably both.He looks back up at me, his eyes glistening, and holy shit, he’s really about to go there. “The reason I was afraid… of fighting for you, of brin
Lucas The fireworks light up the night sky, painting it in streaks of red, gold, and blue. Aria stares up, her face glowing like she’s just been kissed by the gods themselves. “This is so beautiful,” she whispers, her voice soft and awestruck. “We’re officially in 2025. I can’t fucking believe this.”“Yup,” I slide my arms around her waist from behind. “We’re gonna be twenty. Old as fuck now.” I bury my face in her neck, inhaling that familiar vanilla scent that drives me wild. Goddess, I’ve missed this. Missed her. It’s like the universe finally stopped screwing with me and gave me this one perfect moment.“I missed you so much,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her neck.She tilts her head up, her soft hand grazing my cheek. The way she touches me, man, it’s like she’s piecing me back together. “I missed you too,” she says. “These past few days without you? Pure hell.”She steps out of my arms, turning to face me, and my chest aches at the loss of contact. Her eyes lock on mine,
Aria The drive to the mansion is a short ten minutes, but it feels like hours. I’ve never been here before…not once. Ethan didn’t want anyone knowing we were mates, especially his dear old daddy, Alpha Stevens. At the time, I didn’t see the problem. Ethan fed me some bullshit about needing to "sort things out" with his father first, and I bought it like a fool. I was stupidly in love with him, head over heels for a guy who clearly didn’t love me.The mansion is massive and crawling with warriors stationed like they’re guarding the goddamn White House. My anxiety spikes just looking at them. As soon as the car stops, the door swings open, and one of the warriors yanks me out, practically dragging me toward the building. My heart’s pounding, and I silently beg the Moon Goddess that Mia and Lily managed to reach Lucas. I need to know he’s okay.The iron doors creak open, and I’m hauled inside like a damn criminal. The living room is huge and obnoxiously luxurious. And there he is, Alpha
Aria I wake up, and the sun is literally stabbing me in the face like it has a personal vendetta. No curtain, no mercy…just straight-up blinding me. Groaning, I sit up, stretch out my arms, and let out this big, dramatic yawn. I look around the room, and yeah, it’s a shoebox. But it’s my shoebox, you know? I’ve been living here since I turned sixteen, scraping by with a bunch of part-time jobs because, well, being an orphan doesn’t exactly come with a trust fund. The room’s got the basics: a bed, a desk shoved in the corner, and this sad little pile of my belongings that I like to call "organized chaos."Dragging myself out of bed, I head to my makeshift kitchen…which is really just a counter with a hot plate, and grab the kettle. Coffee is the only thing keeping me from becoming a walking zombie, so yeah, priorities. A few minutes later, I’m back on my bed, clutching my mug like it’s a lifeline and scrolling through my phone.No messages. No missed calls. Nothing from Lucas. Seriou
Lucas We finally pull up to the Shadow Pang Pack, and my heart’s racing like I’ve just run a damn marathon. The entire ride, I sat there like a statue, staring out the window, thinking about Aria. Her face, her laugh, the way she looks at me like I’m her whole damn world. Yeah, I already miss her. It’s pathetic, but whatever. Now, though? Now, reality is smacking me in the face. Time to deal with my father. Yay for family reunions, right?The car cruises into the estate, and as usual, it’s over-the-top as hell. Beautiful lawns, fountains, high-end restaurants, even a goddamn shopping mall. This isn’t just an estate…it’s a playground for the rich and ruthless of the pack. My dad’s told me a million times, “This will all be yours someday, Lucas.” Yeah, sure. Except now, I feel like I’m standing on the edge of losing it all. And guess what? I don’t fucking give a shit. It’s Aria or this so-called empire. And I’ll pick Aria every damn time.The car slows, and Damon hops out first, mumbli
Aria I can’t believe this is my last night on this damn ship. Tomorrow, it’s back to land and real life, and man, I am not ready. Reality’s gonna hit harder than the Wi-Fi on this floating tin can. I stroll into the cafeteria, scanning the place, and there they are—Lily and Mia, waving at me like I’m a celebrity or something. I flash them a grin and make my way over.“You guys got us some ice cream,” I say, plopping into a seat. But they’re just sitting there, giving me these cheeky-ass grins like they know something I don’t. I narrow my eyes. “Okay, why the hell are you two looking at me like that?”“Nothing…” Mia singsongs, her smirk growing wider. “It’s just that we haven’t seen you since, oh, the crack of dawn when you disappeared with Alpha Lucas.”“Don’t tell me you’ve been fucking all day.”“Lily!” I fake pout, trying to act all innocent, but then I break into a grin. “Okay, fine. You’re not wrong. We’ve been, uh… busy. Different positions, different styles.”They both squeal
Aria I help Lucas tug off his pants, my hands trembling slightly from anticipation as I climb on top of him. My fingers work on his briefs next, sliding them down to reveal him in all his glory. We're both naked now, and I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when I see him—thick and already painfully hard. And I haven’t even touched him yet.He watches me with hooded eyes, his voice a husky growl. “So, how are you going to punish me, my lady?”A smug grin tugs at my lips as my hand wraps around his cock. The second I start stroking him, his head tips back, and a guttural groan escapes his throat, raw and desperate. He sounds like an animal, wild and unrestrained.“Fuck... fuck... ahh... Aria,” he gasps, his chest heaving.I bite my lip, savoring the way my touch drives him insane. His reactions are intoxicating. The tension in his body, the way he grips the sheets, the way he groans—it’s all for me.“Faster,” he growls, his knuckles white as he clutches the sheets.I obl
Lucas The fireworks light up the night sky, painting it in streaks of red, gold, and blue. Aria stares up, her face glowing like she’s just been kissed by the gods themselves. “This is so beautiful,” she whispers, her voice soft and awestruck. “We’re officially in 2025. I can’t fucking believe this.”“Yup,” I slide my arms around her waist from behind. “We’re gonna be twenty. Old as fuck now.” I bury my face in her neck, inhaling that familiar vanilla scent that drives me wild. Goddess, I’ve missed this. Missed her. It’s like the universe finally stopped screwing with me and gave me this one perfect moment.“I missed you so much,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her neck.She tilts her head up, her soft hand grazing my cheek. The way she touches me, man, it’s like she’s piecing me back together. “I missed you too,” she says. “These past few days without you? Pure hell.”She steps out of my arms, turning to face me, and my chest aches at the loss of contact. Her eyes lock on mine,
Aria “Aria, I want to publicly apologize to you,” Lucas says, his voice shaking just enough to make me wonder if he’s about to cry in front of everyone. And honestly? I wouldn’t mind if he did.He clears his throat and continues, gripping the mic like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. “For everything I’ve put you through—because of my incompetence, my cowardice. All the hurtful things I said to you? Yeah, I didn’t mean a single damn word. I said those things because I was scared. Scared of fighting for you. Scared of losing you. Scared of…” His voice falters, and he looks down at his shoes like they have the answers he’s struggling to find.Meanwhile, I’m standing there, trying to keep my breathing steady. My chest feels tight, like I’ve just run a marathon in heels, and I have no idea if I want to slap him or hug him. Probably both.He looks back up at me, his eyes glistening, and holy shit, he’s really about to go there. “The reason I was afraid… of fighting for you, of brin
Aria The moment I step forward, every eye in the room lands on me. The air shifts like everyone’s holding their breath, waiting to see if I’ve finally lost my mind. Joke’s on them—maybe I have. But I’m done playing the quiet little omega everyone can step on. Tonight, it’s my turn to speak, and they’re damn well gonna listen.I take a deep breath, my palms clammy as hell, but I don’t let it show. “Ethan,” I say, my voice slicing through the room like a knife. “I’ve got something to say to you and to everyone here. Just because the Moon Goddess decided to bless you with a position of power doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re better than the rest of us. It doesn’t mean you get to treat people like trash just ‘cause they’re of lower rank.”Ethan’s eyebrows shoot up, his mouth opening to interrupt, but I don’t let him. I throw a hand up like I’m shutting down a toddler mid-tantrum. “Nah, don’t even start. I’m not done.”I take a step forward, my hands trembling but clenched into fist
Aria “Why? So you can lie for your asshole brother?” I shoot back, crossing my arms.“Aria, you know I’d never support Lucas’s bad behavior.”“Then why are you here, huh?”“Because you’re mistaken,” she says, taking a step closer. “Lucas didn’t do it. Serena and Ethan—”“Stop,” I cut her off, holding up a hand. “I don’t wanna hear it.”She sighs, her shoulders slumping. “I know you hate my family... hell, even I do sometimes. But I’m begging you. Just hear him out. He made a mistake, but he’s truly sorry.”I laugh, cold and bitter. “Yeah, sure. Message received. You can leave now.”Sarita stares at me for a second, then turns and walks away, her shoulders hunched like she’s carrying the weight of the world.I shut the door and lean against it, guilt swirling in my chest. Sarita doesn’t deserve this. She really doesn’t. But damn it, I can’t let my guard down. Not now.I flop back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Thank Goddess after tomorrow, I’ll be free of all this bullshit. No