Aria’s POV.
Later that afternoon, as we walked back to our dorm rooms, Naomi finally decided to speak up. She had been quiet for most of the walk, which was unusual for her. But now, she broke the silence in the most straightforward way possible.
“You’re mad,” she said bluntly, shifting her backpack higher on her shoulder as she glanced sideways at me. Her tone wasn’t accusing, just matter-of-fact, like she was pointing out that the sky was blue or that water was wet.
I sighed deeply, not even bothering to look at her right away. “I’m not mad,” I said, my voice quieter than usual. I kept my eyes ahead, hoping she’d drop the subject.
Naomi let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You’re furious,” she corrected with absolute certainty, a small smirk forming on her lips. “And honestly, I don’t blame you one bit. He’s throwing some ridiculous Luna-hunting party, for crying out loud. That’s got to sting, no matter how much you try to ignore it.”
I stopped walking abruptly, turning to face her. The weight of her words hit me harder than I wanted to admit. “What am I supposed to do about it, huh? Crash his stupid party?” I asked, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. My voice was firm, but I could feel the frustration bubbling under the surface, ready to boil over. “No thanks,” I added, trying to sound indifferent, even though I wasn’t.
Naomi raised one eyebrow, giving me that familiar look that said she wasn’t buying it. “I didn’t say crash it,” she replied calmly. “I just said you’re mad-and, by the way, you have every right to be.” She shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I let out a bitter laugh that held no humor. “What’s the point of being mad?” I asked, my voice laced with resentment. “He’s already moved on, Naomi. Now he’s hosting these over-the-top parties to pick my replacement, like I was nothing more than a placeholder. Like I didn’t even matter.” The words felt heavy as they left my mouth, cutting deeper than I expected.
Naomi’s expression softened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes. But her tone stayed firm, even determined. “You weren’t nothing, Aria,” she said, her voice steady and full of conviction. “You were his Luna. Hell, you *still* could’ve been his Luna if he hadn’t been such a complete idiot about everything.”
I shook my head slowly, trying to swallow the lump that was rising in my throat. “It doesn’t matter anymore,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not part of his world now, Naomi. That chapter of my life is over.”
Naomi studied me closely for a long moment, her eyes narrowing like she was trying to figure something out. Then, suddenly, a slow, mischievous grin spread across her face. It was the kind of smile that always made me nervous because it meant she was up to something.
“You know what you need?” she asked, her tone light and playful.
“Please don’t say a drink,” I muttered, already rolling my eyes.
“No,” she replied quickly, grabbing my arm with a dramatic flair. “You need a distraction. Something-or better yet, someone-that will remind you there’s more to life than castle politics and brooding alpha males.”
I frowned, confused by where she was going with this. “What are you talking about?” I asked cautiously, unsure if I even wanted to know.
Naomi’s grin widened, her excitement practically bursting out of her. “Blind dating,” she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm like she had just come up with the greatest idea in the world.
I blinked at her, completely taken aback. “You’ve *got* to be kidding,” I said, staring at her like she had just grown a second head.
“I’m serious,” she insisted, waving her hand in the air as if to dismiss my skepticism. “Think about it-we’re at a human college, Aria. There are plenty of normal, cute guys here who don’t care one bit about werewolf hierarchies or your past. And since you haven’t shifted yet, there’s no risk of accidentally finding your mate or, worse, getting bonded to someone you don’t want. It’s perfect!”
I continued to stare at her, trying to process what she was saying. “You want me to date random humans just to… what? Prove some kind of point?” I asked, my tone flat and unimpressed.
“No,” she said firmly, looping her arm through mine as we started walking again. “I want you to date humans so you can have fun. So you can remind yourself that you’re more than just your past, more than just Zander’s ex. You’re Aria-smart, talented, and, let’s be honest, gorgeous. You deserve to have something good in your life. You deserve to enjoy yourself for once.”
I hesitated, her words bouncing around in my head. As much as I wanted to brush her off, I couldn’t deny that she had a point. I *did* need something to pull me out of this spiral of anger and heartbreak. Maybe she was right-maybe I needed a distraction.
“Fine,” I said finally, letting out a small sigh. “Set it up. But if it’s a disaster, I’m blaming you entirely.”
Naomi’s grin grew even wider, her excitement practically contagious. “Oh, don’t you worry,” she said confidently, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze. “I’ve got this. You just wait.”