Aria
I take a shaky step back as Vanessa stalks toward me, her sharp heels clicking against the floor like a damn countdown to my doom. Her smile isn’t even a smile…it’s a fucking sneer, and her perfectly manicured nails, tap against her folded arms.
“What do I want?” she repeats, mocking my earlier question. “Let’s see… what the fuck do you think you’re doing, Aria? Have you forgotten your place in the pack, you little shit?”
I instinctively step back again, hitting the cold wall behind me. Great, nowhere to go. “What are you talking about, Vanessa?” I manage to say, though my voice sounds smaller than I want it to.
Vanessa rolls her eyes dramatically, flipping her glossy hair over her shoulder. “You’re such a joke,” she spits, stepping closer and jabbing her finger into my chest, hard. “Who gave you the right to join my cheerleading team?”
“Why can’t I?” My voice rises, shaky but defiant. “Why can’t I fucking join? Am I not a person like you?”
Her laugh is sharp, cutting. “No, you’re not,” she snaps, jabbing me again for emphasis. “You’re not even in the same league as a pack rat. You think just because Alpha Lucas is giving you his attention…attention that’ll last, oh, maybe five minutes-you’ve somehow risen above your pathetic station? Newsflash, you’re still nothing. Less than nothing.”
I glare at her, anger bubbling up. “So why are you telling me this? If I’m so beneath you, why do you fucking care?”
Vanessa’s sneer deepens, her lips curling back like she’s baring her teeth. “Because I want you out of my way, you slimy bitch. Get out of my team. And stop trying to get Ethan’s attention.”
“I don’t fucking care about you or that bastard-”
SLAP.
The sting of her hand across my cheek echoes in the cold room. My head snaps to the side, and for a moment, I see stars.
“You don’t speak to me like that, you swine,” she growls, grabbing my arm and shoving me to the ground. Her stupid minions are laughing now, the sound fucking annoying.
I push myself up, trembling with rage. “I’m not taking this anymore-”
She cuts me off with another shove, this time sending me sprawling. “Since when do you think you can match me, huh?” she taunts. “You’re an omega. A filthy pack rat. And me? I’m a Beta’s daughter. You’re dirt under my Louboutin heels.”
I clench my fists, biting back the tears threatening to spill. I hate her. I hate her so fucking much.
She crouches down, gripping my face with her sharp nails and forcing me to look at her. “Poor, pathetic Aria,” she coos mockingly. “You actually thought you had a chance, didn’t you? Alpha Lucas’s mate?” She snorts. “That’ll never happen. Do you honestly think his father, Alpha Marcus, will ever allow a nobody like you to become Luna? You’re dreaming.”
Her words hurt so much . I’ve heard this several times today, but it still feels like a fresh wound every time.
“I’m not backing down,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Leave me alone you witch!”
Vanessa’s eyes narrow. “Wrong answer.”
The next slap sends me crashing back down, and before I can even react, her friends join in. Kicks rain down on me, each one sharper, harder than the last. I curl up, trying to shield myself, but it’s no use.
“You pathetic runt,” Vanessa hisses, delivering a particularly hard kick to my ribs. “You’re nothing. You’ll always be nothing.”
I can’t even fight back. My body aches, and my head is spinning from the pain. I want to scream, but my voice is caught in my throat.
Finally, the kicking stops, and I feel Vanessa’s nails dig into my chin, forcing my head up. Her face is inches from mine, her eyes filled with cruel delight. “If you even think about calling Alpha Lucas through the mind-link, I’ll make you pay double when we get back to the pack,” she snarls. “You don’t want to know what will happen when I finally become Luna. I’ll make you my little slave.”
“Fuck off, you bitch,” I spit weakly, the words tasting like blood on my tongue.
Her eyes flash red with rage. Before I can even process it, she yanks my hair so fucking hard my neck snaps back painfully.
“Give it to me,” she orders.
I barely have time to register her words before I feel the sharp sting of a syringe pierce my neck. Ice spreads through my veins, and my body goes weak almost instantly.
My legs buckle as she shoves me again, and my head smacks against the cold, hard floor.
“That’ll teach her,” Vanessa sneers, standing over me like I’m nothing but trash. “Let’s go.”
I hear their footsteps retreating, their laughter echoing as they leave me in the room.
Pain flares through every inch of my body, like fire. My limbs feel heavy, useless, and the cold seeps deep into my bones. I try to crawl, dragging myself inch by agonizing inch toward the door, but when I reach it, I find it locked.
“Help… me…” I croak, my voice barely above a whisper. I try to scream, but it’s pointless. No one will hear me.
I collapse on the floor, my cheek pressing against the freezing concrete. Tears spill down my face, hot against my icy skin. I need to fucking get out of here. If I stay, I’ll freeze to death.
I don’t want to call Lucas. This is his fault…he’s the reason this is happening. I try reaching out through the mind-link, first to Mia, then to Lily. Nothing. My wolf, Gail, is silent.
“Gail… are you there?” I whisper, desperate. But she doesn’t answer. She’s too weak.
Wolfbane. That’s what they injected me with. I’m sure of it now.
This is it. Maybe it’s better this way. Maybe everyone will finally be happy if the pack runt just… disappears.
Tears fall freely as I curl into myself, shivering uncontrollably. I’m worthless. The Moon Goddess hates me. This was always how it was going to end.
The cold sinks deeper, and I feel myself slipping away. My vision darkens, and death’s icy grip feels closer than ever.
Suddenly, the door bursts open with a crash.
I try to look up, my body barely responding, and see a tall figure standing in the doorway.
“Aria!”
That voice-Lucas.
I blink, and his face comes into focus, full of panic and something I can’t name. He’s at my side in seconds, dropping to his knees and scooping me up as if I weigh nothing.
“Aria, can you hear me?” His voice is frantic, raw with worry.
I try to speak, but no sound comes out.
“Fuck,” he mutters, tightening his arms around me. His warmth is a lifeline, chasing away the cold clawing at my soul. “Stay with me, Aria. Don’t you dare give up on me.”
I feel his heartbeat pounding against my cheek. It’s the last thing I register before the darkness completely takes over.