Aria
“What the fuck is going on here?”
I spin around so fast I nearly trip over my own feet. Lucas is standing there, arms crossed, gray eyes burning a hole straight through Ethan’s head. For the first time since this fucking scavenger hunt started, Ethan’s grip on my arm loosens.
“It’s nothing. We were just talking,” Ethan says calmly. Then, he has the audacity to smirk at me. “Right, Aria?”
Silly bastard. My blood boils, and I jerk my arm free.
“What did you do to her, you bastard?” Lucas snaps, closing the distance between him and Ethan in two steps. His broad shoulders block out most of my view of Ethan, but I can see his smirk falter. “Why were your filthy hands on my girlfriend?”
Girlfriend? Again?!
Ethan holds up his hands like this is all some big misunderstanding. “Relax, man. Like I said, we were just talking.”
But Lucas doesn’t back off. He squares his jaw, towering over Ethan like he’s ready to throw him overboard. Honestly, I wouldn’t stop him.
I take a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Alpha Lucas, please…”
But Lucas ignores me, his glare locked on Ethan. “You know what? I’m done with this. Let’s get out of here, Aria. To hell with this scavenger hunt.” He reaches for my arm, but I step back, shaking my head.
“I’m not going anywhere. I wanna keep playing.”
“With him?” Lucas growls in disbelief. He looks at Ethan like he’s a cockroach that crawled out of a sewer.
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Yes. I really want to win.”
“It’s not safe with him. His hands were on-”
“I can take care of myself!” I snap, cutting him off. My voice echoes louder than I intended, but I’m too frustrated to care.
Lucas lets out a dry laugh, his eyes narrowing at me. “So, you’re choosing him over me, huh?”
“What? No! That’s not what I’m saying!”
“It’s fine,” Lucas bites out, stepping back. His face hardens like he’s putting on some emotional armor. “Stay with him. Have all the fun you want.”
“Alpha Lucas-” I call after him, but he storms off, his long strides eating up the lobby floor. Lily, standing off to the side, gives me this pitiful little smile before running after him.
And just like that, I’m alone. With Ethan. Again.
“Well, that was great,” Ethan says, breaking the silence. He crosses his arms, leaning casually against the wall like he didn’t just watch me and Lucas implode. “I must say, I’m glad you chose my side.”
“Don’t delude yourself. I would never pick you over him,” I snap, shoving the scavenger hunt clue in his face. “Now, where were we?”
Ethan glares at me from the corner of his eye, but I ignore him. He’s been doing this.. pushing my buttons all night. We’ve been arguing over the clue since the last stop, and I’m about two seconds away from strangling him.
The paper crinkles in my hand as I read it again: I sparkle and gleam, but I’m not gold. Find me where it’s cool but never cold.
“It’s definitely the poolside,” I say confidently.
“No, it’s the cold room,” Ethan argues, his voice dripping with mock patience, like I’m a child who can’t understand basic logic.
“It’s literally cold there,” I point out, narrowing my eyes.
“It’s not.”
“It is.”
“It’s not,” he repeats, and now I know he’s just trying to piss me off.
“Fine,” I snap, throwing my hands up. “Lead the way. Let’s see who’s right.”
“Whatever, Blondie.” He rolls his eyes like I’m wasting his precious time and starts walking.
As we head toward the cold room, he glances over his shoulder. “So, you’re really serious about this Lucas stuff?”
I ignore him, quickening my pace.
“Aria,” he says again, this time with that cocky, holier-than-thou tone that grates on my nerves. “Have you forgotten I’m your future Alpha?”
I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face him. “Yes, Ethan, I have. And, oh yeah, we’re serious. You got your answer. Anything else?”
He groans, rubbing his temples like I’m the one giving him a headache. “I can’t let that happen.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I hate seeing him with you.”
I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t fucking care, Ethan. Did you forget? You rejected me, cheated on me, embarrassed me. What more do you want?”
He steps closer, his jaw clenched. “I want you, Aria.”
“You’re despicable,” I hiss, backing up until my shoulders hit the wall. “You want me as what, huh?”
But he doesn’t answer. He just looks away, avoiding my eyes like the coward he is.
By the time we reach the cold room, I’m done. “So where is it?” I ask, throwing open the door. “Where’s the object, Ethan?” I flash him a fake smile.
“Fuck that,” he mutters, stepping inside and letting the door close behind us. “I just wanted alone time with you.”
Of course, he did. I roll my eyes so hard it hurts. “You’re pathetic. I’m out of here.”
I try to walk past him, but he grabs my arm, shoving me back against the wall. His eyes darken as he leans closer.
“Why can’t you just be mine?” he growls, his voice low and rough. “You used to be all over me, and now you’re with Lucas. You even dyed your hair blonde for him.”
“Yes, I did. Because I don’t want anything to do with you,” I bite out, shoving at his chest.
“You’re mine, Aria.”
“Fuck you,” I spit. “Go back to Vanessa.”
He laughs bitterly, shaking his head. “Don’t you get it? Vanessa will be my Luna. But you-you’ll be my little slut on the side.”
My stomach twists with rage, and I try to slap him, but he catches my wrist, holding it tight.
“Don’t act like you don’t want me,” he sneers, his breath hot against my ear. “Have you forgotten how loud you screamed my name when I fucked your tight cunt?”
“I hate you,” I choke out, tears burning my eyes.
“Oh, I know you do,” he says mockingly. “That’s why you’ll always be mine, no matter what. You’re not good enough to be anyone’s Luna-not mine, not Lucas’s.”
Those words cut deeper than I want to admit. I feel my heart splintering all over again.
“I’m not done, Blondie. You think Lucas’s dad would ever accept a pathetic Omega as his daughter-in-law?” Ethan sneers.. “You’re a joke, Aria. Unless, of course, you want to end up like Lucas’s mom.”
My brows furrow. What does he mean by that? What happened to Lucas’s mom?
He smirks, clearly enjoying the confusion on my face. “Anyway, here’s what’s going to happen. You’ve got until Christmas to reject Lucas and end things with him.”
“What?” The word barely leaves my lips.
“You heard me,” he snaps, “If you don’t, you’ll regret it. I’m certain Alpha Marcus will never accept you as his daughter-in-law. Just forget it. But if you don’t break it off with Lucas, I’ll have you banished from the pack. No pack, no protection. You’ll be fair game for rogues or worse-a pack slave.”
The floor feels like it’s slipping out from under me. Banished? The word echoes in my mind like a death sentence. No pack would take me in. No one. I’d be alone, vulnerable, and probably dead within weeks.
“Think about it, Aria,” he continues, crossing his arms as if he’s some goddamn king laying down an edict. “I know you thought Lucas would make you his Luna, but that’s a pipe dream. You and Lucas? Worlds apart.” His words slam into me like a brick wall. Worlds apart. That’s what Lucas said to me earlier today. Maybe Ethan’s right. Maybe Lucas will never see me as anything more than some fleeting infatuation.
“See ya later.” He chuckles, a sound so smug it makes my stomach turn. With that, he turns and walks away.
I sink to the ground, my legs folding under me like I’ve lost all strength. The tears come fast and hot, spilling down my cheeks as I choke back sobs. Why does the Moon Goddess hate me so much? First, she gives me Ethan-a mate who rejected me, cheated on me, and humiliated me. Now Lucas, who’s out of my fucking league. It’s like some foolish joke at my expense.
The cold starts to seep into my skin, snapping me out of my spiral. I can’t stay here. Wiping my face, I push myself up and head for the door. But the second I step out, I freeze. Vanessa.
“Well, well, well,” Vanessa’s voice cuts through the silence like nails on a chalkboard. “I’ve been dying to have a little one-on-one with you.”
She steps into the room, her two goons flanking her, and the door slams shut behind them.
Great. As if my night couldn’t get worse.
I take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. “Now what?”
She smirks, and it’s the kind of smirk that promises nothing good. “Oh, Blondie, you’re about to find out.”