AriaI swear, the moment Lucas fucking tells me to sit down, I forget how to breathe. It’s not like he hasn’t bossed me around before, but this? This feels different. His eyes flash gold…actual gold, before shifting back to their usual gray. I can see it..he’s wrestling with his wolf.“I said, sit the fuck down.”I don’t think twice. I drop into the chair next to him, my heart pounding. Lucas looks pissed, and trust me, no one wants to see him go full Alpha mode. I sure as hell don’t want to be the target.“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Lucas?” Ethan sneers, leaning forward. “Have you forgotten how we roll? We don’t let just anyone sit here.”Anyone? Really? My blood boils, but before I can throw out a snarky comeback, Lucas beats me to it.“And who says she’s just anyone?” His voice is colder than a January morning, and I shiver despite myself. “Didn’t I make it clear last night? Aria is my girlfriend.”Girlfriend. The word hangs in the air, and I swear, you could hear a p
AriaMy pulse spikes. “What main event?”“PDA,” he says casually, his eyes darting to my lips. “I’m gonna kiss you.”“What?” I practically choke.“Relax,” he says with a smirk. “You wanna piss them off, don’t you?”I glance at Ethan and Vanessa, who look like they’re about to implode. My wolf, Gail, is practically howling in my head, and I know this is dangerous territory. But I nod anyway, taking a deep breath. And because I’m clearly a masochist, I let him lean in.Holy. Shit.The second his lips touch mine, it’s like the Fourth of July goes off in my chest. Sparks, fireworks—hell, maybe even a nuclear explosion. His lips are soft but insistent, and when his tongue brushes against mine, it’s like my whole body goes up in flames. My hands clutch his shirt, and I forget about Ethan, Vanessa, the ship…everything.All I care about is the way his mouth moves against mine, confident and demanding, like he owns me.Fuck!When he finally pulls back, I’m a panting, blushing mess. Meanwhile,
Ethan I lean against the wall, arms crossed, glaring at Aria like she’s the reason my life’s gone to shit. And maybe she is. “I don’t have anything to do with you anymore, Ethan,” she spits angrily.It pisses me off how she looks at me like I’m some fucking beast. “You think I don’t know what you’re up to? Going around with Lucas like some desperate—” My eyes trail down her body, and, damn, that dress. It’s tight in all the right places, and her tits? Don’t get me started. “—and what’s this?” I gesture at her like I’m disgusted, but my cock twitches in betrayal. “Since when did you start dressing like a fucking whore? Were you hoping I’d come running back to your desperate ass?”Her eyes narrow, her chest rising and falling like she’s ready to explode. “I didn't’t do it for you.”I scoff. "You're lying, Aria. You'll always be my puppet—the one who'll do anything for my validation. I mean, you literally dyed your hair black just because I said I hated your blonde hair."“I don’t want
Aria I trail behind Lucas, trying to figure out what’s going on. My bruises aren’t even that bad, but here we are, standing in front of the medical center like I just lost a leg in battle. He doesn’t explain, just opens the door and strides in.The middle-aged woman at the desk spots us and immediately lights up. “Alpha Lucas! What brings you here?” her eyes darted to me like she’s trying to spot the emergency.“Everything’s fine,” Lucas says briskly. “Just get me a first aid box.”She scurries off to do his bidding like he’s the freaking wolf king. Meanwhile, I’m just standing there thinking, Really? A whole first aid box for one tiny bruise?“She’s the ship doctor,” Lucas explains as he pulls out a chair for me. “And part of my pack.”Great. Fantastic. But why am I here?The doc comes back with the box, ready to do her thing, but Lucas snatches it from her like he’s auditioning for Grey’s Anatomy- Werewolf Edition.“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it,” he nods, waving her off. She looks a
Lucas The second we step into the bar, I let out a long-ass sigh of relief. Finally, some breathing room away from all the party chaos and… Aria. Not that she was chaos, but the look she gave me earlier when I told her I was horny and bailed? Yeah, my wolf’s been pacing ever since. That tiny flicker of guilt keeps poking at me, like, what if she’s catching feelings? Goddess, I hope not. That wasn’t part of the plan.We grab a table, and Damon wastes no time ordering beers like the frat bro he is. Theo’s already clocked my mood as always.“Yo, man,” Theo leans in, eyebrows raised. “You good? Did Aria say something?”“Nah, we’re fine,” I sigh, taking a long swig of my beer. “I’m just so fucking horny right now.”Damon whistles, smirking. “How many days has it been?”“Days?” Theo scoffs, rolling his eyes. “It’s been, like, a single night for you, man. Calm down.”“One night or one year, it doesn’t matter,” I mutter, setting my beer down with a loud thunk. “I can’t do this. I need to fuc
Aria The moment Lucas steps closer, I smell it. The scent of another woman clings to him, and my stomach twists so hard it feels like I’m being stabbed. My wolf growls, and I clutch my stomach, trying to stop the pain. “Aria, are you okay?” His voice is softer than usual, which only pisses me off more. He reaches for my arm, but I yank it away. “Let go of me,” I snap, my voice shaking from a mix of pain and anger. “What’s wrong?” He crouches to meet my eyes. I finally look up, the pain easing, but the rage bubbling. “Why do you fucking care? You were too busy screwing someone else while I was in fucking pain.” His brows furrow. “Wait… was it the mate bond?” I glare. “Congratulations, Sherlock. Took you long enough.” “Aria, I didn’t know—” “And now you do,” I cut him off. “But guess what? I don’t give a shit.” My wolf, of course, is howling like a lunatic, but I ignore her. “Aria,” he sighs like I’m being dramatic. “This is just a game, remember? No strings attached.” “Whate
Aria"Who would’ve thought a cruise ship had a whole-ass salon?" Lily’s jaw is practically on the floor as she gawks at the sparkly sign of the salon."I swear, it’s magnificent." I nod, pretending not to feel my bank account screaming. But then reality hits. "But, uh, guys... this salon looks hella expensive."Mia just scoffs and waves her hand like she’s Beyoncé or something. "Puh-lease. Whatever the cost, we got you. You’re getting that blonde back, and you’re gonna look hot as hell while we do it.""Facts," Lily chimes in, and before I can argue, they drag me inside.And let me tell you, this place is ridiculous. Chandeliers, velvet chairs, mirrors that make you look like a goddess—like, why does a salon on a ship need to be this extra? Anyway, true to their word, Mia and Lily helped me cover the cost because I’m pretty sure my card would’ve bounced.An hour later, I’m staring at myself in the mirror, and damn. My hair is dirty blonde, soft waves cascading down my shoulders, and i
Aria For a moment, I froze. My brain short-circuits as I process what’s happening. Lucas? Here? What the actual hell. Jay’s still busy trailing kisses along my neck like a horny bee, but all I can think about is the storm brewing in Lucas’s eyes as he marches toward us. “What’s this?” His voice slices through the air, cold and sharp. Jay jerks away like someone poured ice water down his back, and I’m left standing there, blinking at Lucas. I should say something. Anything. Instead, I just glare at him, trying to ignore the way my heart feels like it’s attempting parkour in my chest. His friends are behind him, looking equally pissed. Like, what’s their fucking deal? Did they all decide to make my life a collective problem? “You’re… Alpha Lucas, right?” Jay starts, his voice shaking just a little. Lucas doesn’t let him finish. “What the fuck are you doing with my girlfriend?” Oh, for fuck’s sake. Girlfriend? Didn’t he just remind me like, yesterday, that this whole thing is fa
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