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 fingers, and hear the way she moans my name. Shit. My wolf’s been growling in my head ever since. He wants her just as much as I do.
But feelings? No. Fuck that. Not happening. I’m not that guy. Never have been, never will be.
Damon smacks his hockey stick on the ice, snapping me out of my thoughts. “So, what the hell was that all about, man?”
I raise a brow, playing dumb. “What do you mean?”
“Aria,” Damon presses, smirking. “You were all worked up earlier, storming out like someone stole your beer. What gives?”
“Seriously dude,” Theo chimes in, leaning on his stick. “One second, we’re practicing, and the next, you’re out there hunting her down like a damn bloodhound. What’s up?”
I sigh, gripping my stick tighter. “She and her friends left the rink earlier, and something about the way she looked… I don’t know. It felt off.”
Damon and Theo exchange glances like I’ve just confessed to being a psychic.
“Dude, you felt it?” Theo asks, grinning like an idiot. “Was that your wolf? The mate bond doing its thing?”
“Shut the fuck up,” I snap, but yeah, that’s exactly what it was. My wolf was pacing like a caged animal, growling about how she was with some ‘stupid-ass dude.’ And damn it, he was right.
“Man, the mate bond’s insane,” Damon says, shaking his head. “Can’t wait to find mine.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, don’t hold your breath. And for the last time, Aria and I aren’t a thing. We’re just…” I pause, searching for the words. “Helping each other out.”
“Helping each other out?” Damon snickers. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Theo grins. “Lucas, you literally reeked of her scent when you came back. Don’t tell me you didn’t-”
“Shut up,” I cut him off, shooting him a look that could freeze lava.
Damon laughs. “Dude, you’re so protective. It’s kind of adorable.”
“Say that again, and I’ll break your fucking dick,” I growl, shaking my head. “In fact, I need a break.”
I head over to the bleachers and lean back, letting out a breath as I try to relax. My eyes drift to the team practicing on the rink, but my peace doesn’t last long.
Theo’s been pacing for the last five minutes-five minutes too long for my patience. Arms crossed, I sit there watching him, already bracing myself for whatever annoying thing he’s about to say.
“Have you heard from Beta John?” Theo finally asks, his tone more serious than I’ve heard in minutes.
I frown. “About what?”
“The Alpha King.” he stops pacing and looks at me like I’m supposed to magically know what he’s talking about. “I’m sure Beta John’s already told him you’ve found your mate.”
I blink, not immediately replying because my brain stalls out on the word mate.
“And then,” Theo continues, clearly on a roll now, “he’s gonna ask Beta John to run a fucking background check on Aria.”
There it is. The usual bullshit.
I stiffen, trying to play it cool. “Does it even matter? All this is gonna be over after the damn tour ends.”
Liar. The tug in my chest betrays me. It’s not like I can admit to Theo or… myself that the thought of ending it with Aria feels like ripping my own heart out. And my father is a fucking superficial bastard, it sucks. He’s the reason my mother is dead.
Theo squints at me. He knows me too well. “Man, I feel bad for Aria,” he says, shaking his head dramatically like he’s starring in some soap opera.
That gets my attention. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
He stops pacing, leans against the rail, and looks me dead in the eye. “Her former mate rejected her, bro. Rejected her and disgraced her. And then boom, you show up, and you’re her second-chance mate. Which is like, super bad. Practically unheard of.”
“Yeah, okay.” I shrug, acting casual. “And?”
“And,” Theo says, like he’s about to drop a bomb, “it probably won’t work out with you either. Your dad’s never gonna allow it. A poor omega from Full Moon Pack? Come on, man. You know how he is. Ruthless as hell.”
I snap. “Enough!” My voice cuts through the air like a whip, and a couple of the guys practicing on the rink glance over. “Stop talking about her.”
Theo doesn’t even flinch. He just smirks like I’ve proven his point.
“Touchy,” he says, dragging the word out like the asshole he is. “You’re really worked up for someone who’s ‘totally not into her.'”
I glare at him. “Shut up, Theo.”
Before he can push my buttons any further, Damon nudges him. “Yo, Aria’s back.”
I follow his gaze, and sure enough, there she is, walking in like a fucking queen. She’s swapped her outfit for a red tracksuit, and my wolf perks up immediately, growling in approval.
“Bro, did you just growl?” Theo asks, trying not to laugh.
“Shut it,” I mutter, but my eyes are glued to her.
“Damn, she looks good,” Damon says, and I snap my head toward him, narrowing my eyes.
“Watch yourself,” I warn, my voice low and deadly.
Damon raises his hands in mock surrender, grinning like the cocky asshole he is. “Relax, man. No need to go all Alpha on me.”
But I can’t relax. Not when she’s here, laughing with her friends, acting like she doesn’t have me tied up in fucking knots.
And then she glances over at me, her eyes locking onto mine for a split second before she and her friends start walking toward Vanessa and her crew. My gut twists. Alright, what the hell are they up to now? I frown, my suspicion kicking into high gear.