“Don’t get lost, princess,” Mia teases, but I’m already walking away, trying to ignore the fact that I can still feel Lucas’s eyes on me. I spot Vanessa and her plastic posse as soon as I walk into the refreshment area. They’re in their obnoxious cheerleading outfits, acting like they own the plac
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 hel
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 vo
Aria “Alpha!” I gasp, but he silences me with a finger sliding between my wet folds. My body betrays me, a moan escaping as he pumps slowly, torturously. I'm on cloud nine. “Fuck…. don't stop.” “What was that you said?” His voice is a low rumble that sends shivers down my spine. “That your body
Aria Lucas studies me for a moment, his frown deepening. “I’ll give you some time to think about it.” Time? What for? I’ve already made up my mind, apparently in record-breaking poor judgment. "I don't need to think about it. Let’s do it," I say confidently, crossing my arms. "And no, you don’t
Lucas We step into the rink, and I’ve got my hockey stick in one hand and a head full of thoughts about Aria. Yeah, her. The girl who just told me she’s fine with being my fuck mate. Like, does she really mean that? Because if she does, damn, I’m in trouble. I can still feel her wetness on my fing
Aria As I approach Vanessa and her crew, I feel Mia practically vibrating beside me, like she’s gearing up for a battle. Her forced smile is so fake it could qualify as plastic, but hey, we all play the game differently. Vanessa and her pack of mean girls are laughing, probably over some dumbass j
Aria Christmas is just two days away, and the hall already smells like the season itself—peppermint, pine, and that cloyingly sweet sugar-cookie air freshener someone thought was a brilliant idea to pump through the vents. The air is crisp, carrying a slight chill, but the soft glow of Christmas li
Lucas “So what’s going on, what the hell’s happening with Aria right now?” I ask the moment we step into the living room. Theo, Damon, Mia, and Lily are already there, sitting around while Aria’s still lying on the couch, out cold like nothing in the world can wake her. Mark’s sitting on my couch
“Aria!” Lucas panics. “Aria, baby, what’s wrong?” He’s already at my side, holding me, but I can’t even speak. My lips feel numb, heavy like they’ve been stitched shut, and my head’s about to split from all the noise crashing through it. I hear someone’s voice… maybe Mia, maybe Lily…I can’t tell. E
Aria This isn’t right. This is fucking crazy. How the hell did that silver moon tattoo even show up on my neck? Is it real or am I just losing my damn mind? I’ve been pacing around in Lucas’s room like a crazy ass person while my friends sit there, arguing with each other like that’s gonna solve
And before I can even breathe properly, the voice comes again, sharper this time. “What are you waiting for? Go ahead. Go.” But I shake my head, staring at the ocean like it’s about to swallow me whole. “Go back where? There’s a whole ass ocean behind me, are you blind or what?” “Go back.” “I
Aria My eyes flutter open real slow, and the first thing I feel is the cold. It's dark, the wind's biting, and for a second, I can’t figure out where the hell I am. I push myself upright and realize I’m sitting on the damn ground, outside, in the middle of the night. What the actual fuck? How t
He reaches for my face, his hands cupping my cheeks so gently I almost forget how much this whole thing is messing with both of us. I want to argue, I want to tell him I’m not ready to let it go, but after what happened, knowing how hard he’s trying to keep me safe even when he’s barely got the stre
Aria So, everything’s finally starting to fall into place. Me and Lucas are cool now, Mia and Damon are back together, and I’ve been giving Mark the cold shoulder ever since, which honestly feels great. Life should be perfect, right? Except for this damn dream I had last night. It felt so real, li
“Hey, wait..” he says, reaching for my arm. His fingers brush against me, but I yank myself free like his touch might burn me. I cover my face with both hands, feeling way too embarrassed for him to see me right now, not after he heard me spill my guts like that. “Go away,” I mumble, my voice bare
Mia Lily’s sitting on the couch, all giggly, chatting with Theo, who just walked in like he didn’t just spend the last hour glued to his mate. And me? My damn brain’s on a whole rollercoaster. I keep thinking about Damon… his dumb, cocky face. Goddess, I miss that asshole, but I also wanna punch