Mia
“So that’s what happened,” Theo says thoughtfully. “Poor Aria.”
“We’ll tell her the truth,” Lily sighs. “She’ll be alright.”
“Is there even a point, though?” Damon chimes in, leaning back casually. “Maybe they’re just not meant to be together.”
Everyone glares at him, but honestly? The bastard has a point. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud.
“So now that you know what happened, we’re not the villains here,” Damon continues, flashing a grin that’s so cocky I want to wipe it off his face with a sledgehammer. “What do you say you make it up to us and buy us a drink?”
“You wish,” I snap, rolling my eyes.
“Uh, thank you so much, guys. We appreciate it,” Lily smiles at them like they’re knights in shining armor instead of the clowns they are. “Come on, Mia, let’s go.”
But of course, Damon can’t leave well enough alone. “Before you go,” he says, his grin turning into something straight out of a playboy handbook. “Do you have a date for the Christmas party tonight, Mia?”
“Even if you were the last guy standing on Earth, I’d still fucking say no,” I shoot back without missing a beat.
“Ouch!” Damon clutches his chest like I just stabbed him with a butter knife. “I thought you’d forgiven me, Mia.”
“Forgiven you?” Theo raises an eyebrow, looking genuinely curious. “What did you do to her?”
“It’s nothing serious,” I rush out, waving my hands like I’m trying to swat a fly. The last thing I need is Damon spilling the beans about that incident. God, it’s already haunting me like a bad Tinder date.
Theo doesn’t look convinced, though. His eyes dart suspiciously between me and Damon, like he’s trying to piece together a scandalous puzzle.
“Come on, Lil,” I grab her arm, practically dragging her away. Anything to escape this nightmare.
“I can’t believe this was the reason.” Lily’s voice is heavy with relief as we step out of the cafe, but honestly, I’m only half listening. My brain’s already spiraling into another galaxy, probably plotting our next move.
“I’m so glad you asked Damon and Theo about it,” Lily continues, her voice trailing after me like a lost puppy.
“Hmm?” I snap back to reality, blinking at her. “What’d you say?”
Lily stops dead in her tracks, hands on her hips like a mom about to deliver a lecture. “Mia, are you even listening to me?”
“What is it?” I huff. “I was thinking about something important.”
“Oh, really? What’s so important?”
“Nothing you’d understand,” I mutter, waving her off. But Lily isn’t buying it. She groans dramatically, like I’ve just told her we’re out of coffee.
“I’m talking about what Damon and Theo said,” she says, exasperated. “I’m just glad it wasn’t what we thought.”
“Yeah, sure,” I reply, though my tone’s flat. “But Alpha Lucas still didn’t run after her, did he?”
Lily’s eyebrows knit together. “What are you getting at?”
“All I’m saying,” I start, “is that we shouldn’t tell her anything.”
Lily’s jaw drops like I just suggested we rob a bank. “Wait a minute…what?! That’s fucking absurd! We can’t keep something like that from Aria. Can’t you see she’s already down?”
“Listen, Lil,” I grab her by the shoulders for dramatic effect. “This is for Aria’s own good. Haven’t you noticed? She’s head over heels for Alpha Lucas. And that? That’s dangerous territory. The guy’s a fucking manwhore, out of her league, and about as ready to commit as a cat is to a bath.”
Lily pouts, her inner softie clearly struggling to keep up. “But even so… not telling her feels kinda wrong.”
I let out a sharp breath, throwing my hands up. “Do you love Aria?”
“Of course I do.”
“Exactly.” I give her a pointed look. “And that’s why we have to do this. I think even Alpha Lucas wants this disaster of a bond to end. Didn’t you hear what Damon said? We keep our mouths shut, let whatever they’ve got going on fizzle out, and save her from heartbreak. Or have you forgotten that bastard Alpha Ethan’s threat?”
Lily shakes her head, slowly at first, then more firmly. I can tell her heart’s still fighting her brain on this one, but she’s coming around.
“Good,” I say, satisfied. “Now think about this…with all the rumors about how wicked and despicable Alpha Lucas’s dad is, our Aria doesn’t stand a chance. What if he doesn’t accept her as his son’s mate? What if she gets banished? That’s a fucking disaster waiting to happen, and I’m not here for it.”
Lily exhales deeply, her shoulders sagging in defeat. “I guess you’re right.”
“I’m always right, Lil.” I flash her a grin, earning an eye roll. “We’re doing this for her. She’s not letting go of Alpha Lucas on her own, so we’ll help her.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Now, come on,” I nod, tugging her forward. “Let’s go see Aria. And don’t let our conversation with Damon and Theo slip, got it?”
“It’s not like I’m a blabbermouth,” Lily huffs, glaring at me as we walk. “By the way, what happened between you and Damon?”
“What?”
“Damon. He said he apologized to you or something.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Nothing special. Just a little drama during the scavenger hunt.” A lie so smooth I should get an award.
“Alright. Is that why you didn’t accept his proposal to be his date for the party?”
I gag, loud and exaggerated, like I just chugged expired milk. “Fucking no. I’d rather set myself on fire. Did you not see him flirting with half the cafe earlier? The guy’s got less loyalty than a cheap Wi-Fi connection.”
Lily laughs, bright and amused. “I think he likes you, though.”
“Oh, please.” I wave her off firmly. “He’s no different from Alpha Lucas. They’re all the same.”
“I don’t know… Theo seems different.”
I scoff so hard it feels like a full-body workout. “Don’t let that innocent act fool you. Those types? They’re the ones you really have to watch out for.”
Lily nudges me with her elbow, her grin turning playful. “Do you like anyone, Mia?”
My lips tighten, and my brain being the asshole it is, drags me straight back to things I’d rather burn out of my memory. And don’t even get me started on this whole mate bullshit.
“Mia?” Lily’s voice softens, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay? You look like something’s bothering you.”
“I’m fine,” I lie, slapping on a fake smile. “Just thinking about stuff.”
We stop in front of Alpha Lucas’s door, and I take a deep breath like I’m about to do something crazy. “We’re here. Don’t forget we’re going in there to prep for the party. And, seriously, act normal. We don’t want Aria suspecting anything.”
Lily nods, but I can tell she’s nervous. Honestly? Same. But for Aria’s sake, we’re going to pull this off…or die trying.