Lucas
I take a sharp breath, dragging myself inside Beta John’s suite. My father’s face appears on the TV screen, his gaze hard and unforgiving. He’s in his study, dressed in a sharp gray suit, papers cluttered across his desk.. probably some fucking business deal he’s handling.
John waves me over like this is some casual family meeting and not an ambush. I drop onto the couch, glaring at the screen. The old man doesn’t even say hi.
“So, you’ve been ignoring my mind-links. What’s the meaning of this, Lucas? Have you lost your damn mind?”
I roll my eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t fall out. “I was busy. Practicing.”
“Practicing?” He scoffs, leaning closer to the screen. “Or messing around with that… that pack runt?”
That’s it. My anger flares up like gasoline on a bonfire. “Dad, she’s my fucking mate!”
“Watch your mouth, Lucas. I’m your father and your Alpha.”
“You started it!” I snap. “You talk about her like she’s nothing…like she’s trash”
He laughs…a cold, humorless sound that makes my blood boil. “Don’t fucking kid yourself, boy. There’s no way I’m letting that girl into my pack. She’s a nobody.”
“Dad-”
“Silence!” he barks, cutting me off like I’m some errant pup. “I have something better for you. Serena James, daughter of the Alpha of Blue River Pack, is on that ship. Get familiar with her. You’re going to marry her.”
“What the fuck?!” I spring to my feet. “Dad, no! I’m not marrying anyone, least of all someone I don’t even know.”
“You don’t have a choice,” he barks. “This is about the pack, not your petty feelings. Alpha Alex is a strong ally, and marrying Serena will solidify our partnership.”
“I don’t give a damn about any of that!”
“Of course you don’t,” he sneers. “All because of that girl. You think I don’t know you’ve been sneaking around with her? Beta John keeps me informed. End it with her. Now. Or else.”
I swallow hard, trying to keep my fury in check. “There’s no need to act like this… It’s not real. We’re just messing around, like you said.”
His expression shifts, satisfied. “Good. If it wasn’t, I’d have no problem calling the Full Moon pack’s alpha and letting him deal with her… thoroughly.”
“Don’t you fucking touch her!” The words come out sharp, but my voice cracks with desperation. “Haven’t you done enough? Don’t you feel any remorse for what happened to Mom? Don’t you feel anything?”
His eyes narrow. “Your mother had it coming. She betrayed me.”
“How could you even say that?” My voice is barely a whisper now, disbelief drowning my rage.
“Enough of this dramatics,” he snaps. “If you won’t follow orders, you can leave the pack. Get out. Let’s see how long you survive without my protection, my wealth, my power. See how much respect you get without me.”
I drop my gaze, my fists trembling. He’s right, and I hate that he’s right. I’m too much of a coward to leave. The privilege, the power-it’s all I’ve ever known, and it’s all tied to him.
“I’m done here.” His voice turns cold and final. “End it with her. Get familiar with Serena. She’s your future Luna.” And just like that, the screen goes black.
“Fuck!” I explode, slamming my foot into a nearby vase. The ceramic shatters, pieces scattering across the floor like my thoughts.
“I warned you,” Beta John mutters from the corner, but I don’t even look at him. He doesn’t get it. He’s just another lap dog wagging his tail for my father. I storm out of the room, my chest heaving with rage.
I make my way to the games room, hoping to find some peace with my friends, but irritation flares the moment I see a group playing snooker like they own the place.
“All of you, get out!” I bark, and they scramble away without a word.
Turning to Damon, I stretch my hand out. He doesn’t need me to say anything… he knows exactly what I want. He pulls a cigarette from his pocket and hands it over. I place it between my lips, and Damon lights it for me without hesitation.
“Let me guess,” Theo says, lounging on the couch like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Daddy issues?”
I flip him off, blowing out a cloud of smoke. “He wants me to marry some chick.”
“Marry?” Damon snorts. “Dude, you’re eighteen.”
“Yeah, well, apparently that doesn’t matter when you’re the future Alpha,” Theo says with a dramatic eye roll. “Who is it, though?”
“Some chick… I don’t even remember her name,” I mutter, flicking the ash off my cigarette. “But she’s the daughter of the alpha of the Blue River Pack.”
“Serena James,” Damon says, catching both me and Theo off guard.
“You know her?” I ask.
“Yeah, man.” Damon nods. “Met her at a party. She doesn’t go to our academy, but she’s actually here. On this ship.”
“Just fucking great,” I mutter, taking another drag.
“She’s actually beautiful. A solid ten,” Damon adds with a grin.
I glare at him, and he raises his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry, man. Just kidding.”
Theo shifts uncomfortably, then asks the question I’ve been dreading. “So… what’s going to happen with Aria?”
I hesitate, looking away.
“What about her? Of course, they’re going to end things. They can’t be together,” Damon says matter-of-factly, shaking his head.
“I don’t know, man. After today… I think she’s hurting,” Theo adds.
Before I can respond, some kid from the academy bursts in, out of breath. “Alpha Lucas, Vanessa and her friends have been released. They’re in the lobby.”
“What the fuck? I told you guys to watch them,” Damon snaps, but the guy shakes his head.
“It was Beta John… he ordered-”
I don’t wait for him to finish. Rage propels me out of the room and straight to the lobby. When I reach there, Vanessa’s sitting there with her foolish friends, looking exhausted but smug as hell. “What’s the meaning of this?” I growl at Beta John.
“Relax,” he says, not even flinching. “Your father ordered it.”
“What? Why the fuck would he care about Vanessa and her friends?”
John sighs, like he’s already tired of the conversation. “Ethan made a complaint to his father, and his father called your father. Bam, that’s how it went. It wasn’t my decision.” With that, he walks away, leaving me seething.
My wolf claws at the surface, desperate to break free. Then Ethan strolls toward me, a smug grin plastered across his stupid face.
“How does it feel to not get your way?” he sneers.
“You fucking bastard!”
“What?” He laughs mockingly. “I didn’t do anything. Take it up with your father.” He starts to walk away but stops, turning back to throw one last punch. “Oh, and one more thing…your father already promised my father that Aria won’t leave our pack. If you keep this nonsense up, I’ll make sure she’s reduced to a slave… my slave.”
I clench my fists, trembling with suppressed rage, my chest rising and falling as I struggle to keep my wolf from breaking free while he walks away.
I hate this feeling. This helplessness. Maybe Theo’s right. Maybe I need to end things with Aria.