“Aria, it’s okay… I’m okay,” Lucas whispers, rubbing my back so gently like he’s afraid I’ll break. “Please… it’s not your fault.” But I can't stop crying. “It is my fault. I’m so sorry, Lucas,” I sob, barely able to get the words out. Before he can say anything else, I hear someone behind us. “L
Aria Lucas is looking at me like I just told him I’m secretly a mermaid or some shit. His eyebrows shoot up, and then he slowly shakes his head. “Aria, you can’t possibly believe what that guy said, right?” Oh, here we freaking go. “Lucas, come on. You don’t even know what he told me or how he
Lucas looks between me and her, clearly picking up on the weird tension. “Is everything okay?” “Yeah, sure,” Mia lies with a smile so fake I want to throw a pillow at her. “I mean… with you and Damon? Something feels off,” Lucas says, raising a brow slightly. Mia lets out a sigh and shrugs. “I d
My damn body’s shaking like I just ran a mile in heels, and I start heading downstairs. I don’t even know why. Maybe it’s nerves, maybe it’s because Mark just dumped a load of bullshit on me, or maybe I’m losing my mind again . All I do know is that I’m not about to let Mark get in my head. Not when
Lucas “Hey man, how you holding up?” Damon says as he drops into the chair by my bed. “My whole body feels like I got hit by a truck,” I groan, adjusting slightly because even breathing hurts. “But I’m fine, I guess. Where’s Theo?” “He’s at his mate’s place. He’ll be back later.” “Alright.” I s
After a second, he calms down and looks at me, a bit more serious. “Man, I’m just glad you’re safe. Theo and I were about to head to campus when Beta John hit us with the mind-link that you’d been found. By the way, how the hell did Aria and Mark even find you there?” he asks, lifting a brow. “I do
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
“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
Aria So, Lucas slowly starts driving the car into the pack, and the people standing there just part like the damn Red Sea. The second we pass through, the gate shuts behind us with this loud-ass BOOM that nearly makes me jump out of my skin. I glance ahead and realize the only thing lighting up th
“Relax already,” he says with a soft laugh. “You’re turning into a damn yapper.” I smack his arm playfully. “I’m serious, Lucas.” “I know,” he says with a nod. “And I get you. But with Mark and me, just let it be. There’s no fixing shit there.” “He shouldn’t have brought up your mom... that wa
Aria Lucas grips the steering wheel tight, his knuckles damn near white, and lets out a deep breath. “It’s none of your fucking business.” Mark throws his head back and laughs like an idiot. A full-blown, body-shaking laugh. “Calm down, man. I was just curious. I just wanna know what she was li
Mark looks like he’s about to throw out some excuse. “No... I just feel like…” “Listen, Mark,” Before he can finish that sentence, I cut right in, already tired of their dumbass back-and-forth. “If you want, you can ride with us in Lucas' car.” “What?” Lucas snaps his head toward me, eyes wide an
Aria It’s finally morning, and Lucas and I are all set to head out. The air is calm and sharp with cold, the kind that bites through your clothes, so we both throw on our winter jackets for extra warmth. We didn’t pack much, just a school bag stuffed with a few essentials, and Lucas had said if we
“Yeah, but he already told us everything he claims to know.” “Not enough, though,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I wanna know what it looks like, the people, the way they live… all of it. I don’t trust that fucking jerk, Aria.” I glance up at him, raising a brow. “And you guys are supposed to b
Aria Aunt Esther has been staring at Lucas and me from the couch like I’ve completely lost my mind. For the past hour, she hasn’t stopped looking at us that way, ever since I barged into her apartment and told her everything that’s been going on. “I still can’t believe this,” she says for what f
He pauses for a second, like he’s trying to find the right thing to say, but then he just nods. "I get it... I understand." I watch his face closely, trying to read him. "I’m thinking tomorrow," I add, my voice soft but sure. I wait for his reaction, but he’s holding it together better than I expec
Aria "So you're telling me the man just disappeared? Like, poof, gone?" Mia’s eyes are still wide as hell, looking all sorts of shocked, even though this is like the tenth time she’s asked. "For the last damn time, Mia, that’s what they said," Lily mutters, rolling her eyes, but Mia still looks