Lucas My heart is pounding so hard it feels like it’s trying to break out of my chest as I rush into the medical center with Aria in my arms. She’s limp, ice-cold, and way too pale, but her heartbeat is still there—thank the Moon Goddess.Where the fuck is Ethan? If that bastard locked her in that freezer, I swear I’ll rip him apart.The moment I burst through the door, Maria, the resident doctor, practically sprints toward me.“Alpha Lucas, what happened?” “I don’t know. I found her like this,” I growl, laying Aria down on one of the beds. Maria’s hands are already working as I speak, pulling out equipment and checking her over.Her lips are blue, her skin is icy, and her blonde hair is frosted at the edges like she’s been through a blizzard. The sight makes something primal and angry claw at my chest. How the hell did this happen?“Her body is cold… her temperature’s dangerously low,” Maria mutters, frowning as she checks Aria’s pulse.“I found her passed out in the cold room,” I
LucasAria stays tight-lipped, staring anywhere but at me. It’s like she’s deliberately trying to piss me off. And guess what? It’s fucking working. My blood’s boiling, my wolf’s pacing in my head, and I feel like I’m two seconds from snapping.“Aria,” I growl low, leaning in closer. “Don’t fucking make me search your head myself.”Her head snaps toward me, green eyes glaring so hard I’m pretty sure they could scorch steel. “Don’t you fucking dare,” she hisses. “That’s invasive as hell.”Good. At least now she’s looking at me. I wasn’t actually going to dig into her mind…she’s my mate, for fuck’s sake. I just needed her attention. But that glare? Yeah, it stings more than I care to admit.I take a deep breath, forcing my tone softer. “Just tell me. Who did this to you?”Her jaw tightens, and for a second, I think she’s going to tell me. But nope. Instead, she hits me with, “Why do you care? You’re not my real boyfriend.”Oh, that’s what we’re doing now? I rake a hand through my hair,
Lucas “Don’t worry,” she continues before I can respond. “I’ll handle my problems myself.”“I can protect you,” I blurt out.She shakes her head, looking exhausted. “No. I’ll handle it. Please… Can you leave? I just want to be alone.”I hesitate, but finally, I nod. “If you need anything, just call me.”She’s already lying down, her back to me. I sigh, running a hand through my hair, and walk out of the medical center.Lily, Mia, Damon, and Theo are waiting outside.“Is she alright?” Lily asks.“She just needs to rest,” I say, but my voice is ice. I turn to Damon and Theo. “Follow me.”They exchange a glance but obey.“Where’s Vanessa?” I bark as we walk.“I think she’s in the event hall,” Theo says.“They’re about to announce the winner of the scavenger hunt,” Damon adds.I stop and turn to Damon. “Get me a wolfsbane syringe.”“What for—”“Shut the fuck up and get it now.”“Yes, Alpha.” Damon scurries off, and I march to the hall, Theo trailing behind me.Inside, Beta John’s ramblin
Lucas I take a sharp breath, dragging myself inside Beta John's suite. My father's face appears on the TV screen, his gaze hard and unforgiving. He’s in his study, dressed in a sharp gray suit, papers cluttered across his desk..probably some fucking business deal he’s handling.John waves me over like this is some casual family meeting and not an ambush. I drop onto the couch, glaring at the screen. The old man doesn’t even say hi.“So, you’ve been ignoring my mind-links. What’s the meaning of this, Lucas? Have you lost your damn mind?”I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out. “I was busy. Practicing.”“Practicing?” He scoffs, leaning closer to the screen. “Or messing around with that… that pack runt?”That’s it. My anger flares up like gasoline on a bonfire. “Dad, she’s my fucking mate!”“Watch your mouth, Lucas. I’m your father and your Alpha.”“You started it!” I snap. “You talk about her like she’s nothing…like she’s trash”He laughs…a cold, humorless sound that
Aria It’s morning, and I’m fresh out of the medical center after my latest episode of "Let’s Beat Up the Weak Omega." Shocker, I survived. Barely. Gail’s still recovering, but at least I managed to shower and snag one of Lily’s dresses that doesn’t make me look like a librarian at a PTA meeting."I’m so hungry," I whine dramatically as we head down the hall. My stomach growls like I haven’t eaten in a decade."Yeah, no kidding. You’ve been running on vibes and misery since last night," Mia says, slinging an arm around me. "Let’s get you fed before you turn into a hangry gremlin.""Ugh, but I’m still freezing. I need my jacket," I grumble.We make a quick pit stop at Lucas’ suite, and I immediately feel my anxiety spike. Like, is he inside? I haven’t seen him since last night, and honestly? I’m not sure if I want to."You punching in the code, or are we just standing here freezing our asses off?" Lily raises a perfectly arched brow at me."I don’t know if I’m ready to see him," I mumb
Aria"Are you alright?" Lucas’s gray eyes soften as they linger on me, trailing slowly from my face to the outline of my boobs, then my hips. That’s when I remember…I’m still wearing Lily’s stupidly short gown. My face heats up, and my core pulses with a dangerous kind of awareness. I try, but I can’t pull my gaze from his ridiculously perfect body.“Aria... are you listening to me?”His voice jolts me out of my not-so-innocent thoughts. My mind was wandering, imagining those fucking tight muscles of his bending me in all sorts of ways and fucking me until my legs gave out.“Yes... I’m alright,” I blurt out, but my voice comes out sharper than I intend.His brows knit slightly. “Are you sure? You should’ve stayed at the medical center.”“I’m fucking fine.” The words tumble out, and they sound harsher than I meant.Lucas drops his gaze but doesn’t argue. Instead, he turns and heads to the bathroom, probably to shower.The second I hear the water running, I flop back on the bed, kicking
AriaThe rink is buzzing with energy when I arrive. Relief washes over me…I haven’t missed Lucas’s game.“Look who decided to show up,” a familiar voice sneers.I turn to see Vanessa’s minion pointing at me, her smirk full of malice.Vanessa strides over, her perfectly manicured nails tapping against her crossed arms. “You must have lost your mind, Aria,” she sneers. “What the fuck are you doing here?”I hold my ground, even though my knees are shaking like jelly. “I earned my spot on this team, Vanessa,” I snap. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”Oh, she doesn’t like that. Her nostrils flare like she’s about to breathe fire. But before she can roast me alive, a voice calls out behind me.“Aria, you doing okay there?”I spin around, and there he is. Lucas. Shirtless Lucas is great. Wet, towel-clad Lucas is better. But Lucas in his fucking hockey gear? Let’s just say my heart does a triple axel. He’s panting, sweat glistening on his forehead, his gray eyes softening just a fraction
AriaWhen we finally pull apart from the kiss, I’m panting like I just ran a damn marathon, and Lucas looks as stunned as hell. The problem? my panties are soaked, and my body feels like it’s on fire. Great. Just great.“That was... uh, great,” he mutters, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m going to the changing room.”“I’m coming with you,” I blurt out before I can stop myself. His eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but he nods anyway.I shoot a triumphant look at Ethan across the rink. He looks mad as hell, probably ready to blow a gasket. Stupid bastard. I mutter a curse under my breath as I rush to catch up with Lucas, linking my arm with his like it’s no big deal.When we step into the changing room, my eyes nearly pop out of my skull. Half-naked guys are everywhere…sweaty, muscled, toned abs glistening under the fluorescent lights. Holy fuck. It’s like stepping onto the set of a Calvin Klein commercial. But here’s the weird part…every time one of them glances my way, they immedia
Aria“So, what are we gonna do about this?” Mia glares at the box sitting like some cursed artifact in the trash can.I cross my arms, scowling at the damn thing. “I don’t know, but whoever’s doing this is seriously grinding my nerves.” I glance at the boutique behind us. “We were outside, then went in. Maybe they shoved it in there while we were distracted.”“Or when we stopped at the restaurant,” Lily chimes in, suspicious.I tug at my hair, frustration clawing at my scalp. “I don’t care where or when! All I know is this asshole is messing with us.”“No scent,’’ Mia sniffs the air like a bloodhound. “They definitely masked it. Smart, sneaky bastard.”Lily hugs herself, staring at the box like it’s a ticking bomb. “Aria, maybe we should just tell Alpha Lucas. Let him deal with this.”“No, not yet.” I grab the box and hug it to my chest. “We don’t need to bring him into this. I’ve got it under control.”Mia arches a brow so high it might’ve hit orbit. “Oh, yeah? How exactly, Einstein?
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