Aria
I’ve been lying in bed for what feels like a century trying to sleep. But it’s not happening. My brain’s doing the Olympics of overthinking, and the main event is Lucas the Jerk. The fact that he didn’t even bother to check on me? Yeah, that stings more than I care to admit.
I’m mid-sulk when the door swings open without so much as a knock. My heart does this stupid leap, thinking maybe it’s Lucas, but nope, it’s Mia and Lily. Great.
I groan like a dying animal and yank the covers over my head. Maybe if I play dead, they’ll leave.
“Aria… you good?” Mia’s voice is way too chipper for my current mood. I feel the bed dip as she plops down, and before I can say, “Leave me alone,” she starts tugging at the covers.
“Aria, come on.”
“Go away!” I whine, clutching the blanket like my life depends on it. But Mia? That girl has the strength of a goddamn warrior, and she yanks the covers clean off. I glare at them both, looking like a pissed-off burrito.
“I thought you guys were eating,” I grumble, raising an eyebrow. “And where the hell is my breakfast? You didn’t even bring me a coffee? Rude.”
Lily shifts awkwardly, looking at Mia like she’s trying to telepathically pass the blame.
“Well…” Mia starts, her tone all fake-innocent. “You did say you didn’t have an appetite, so…”
“Yeah, and we couldn’t eat without you!” Lily chimes in, flashing a too-wide smile. “We came back to get you. You know, so we could all eat together.”
“Ugh, you shouldn’t have,” I mutter, sinking back against the headboard. “I’m not going out.”
Mia crosses her arms, determined. “You can’t stay here all day.”
“The hell I can,” I shoot back, rubbing my face. A beat of silence passes, and I finally cave. “Did you guys see him?”
“Who?” Lily asks, trying to sound casual, but she’s looking at Mia like Help me out here.
“Alpha Lucas.”
“Alpha Lucas?” Lily’s voice jumps a notch. “Uh…”
“Nope!” Mia cuts in, glaring at Lily like Don’t you dare. “Not at all. Haven’t seen him.”
I let out the loudest, most dramatic sigh of my life. “So he’s hiding like a coward after pulling that crap. Figures.”
Mia shrugs. “Maybe it’s for the best.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Look, all I’m saying is maybe you should, you know… forget him. Just end it. Reject him and move on.”
“No!” The word bursts out of me before I can stop it. They both stare at me like I just confessed to liking pineapple on pizza. I clear my throat, trying to play it cool. “I mean, it’s not time. We agreed to reject each other after the tour ends.”
Mia looks unimpressed. “Aria, it doesn’t matter.”
“It does,” I argue, crossing my arms. “I’ll end things, just like I did with Ethan.”
Lily chimes in, deadpan. “Alpha Ethan rejected you, Aria.”
“Yep,” Mia nods. “And that was after we warned you about him, but you didn’t listen. Sound familiar?”
I roll my eyes so hard. “Can you guys not? Like, stop judging me for five seconds. I didn’t choose this freak-ass mate drama, okay? Take it up with the Moon Goddess!”
Mia raises her hands like I’m a ticking bomb. “Alright, calm down, wolf. Let’s just go get some breakfast.”
“Wait,” I narrow my eyes, suspicious. “What about Theo and Damon? Did they say anything?”
Lily’s mouth twitches like she’s trying not to say something.
“Uh…” Mia jumps in, quick as lightning. “They’re at the cafe. Totally normal. No news. Definitely not hiding anything.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re both terrible liars. Spill.”
“What?” Mia lets out an awkward chuckle. “There’s nothing to spill!”
“Yeah, okay,” I scoff. “I’ve known you guys forever. You can’t hide anything from me.”
“Fine,” Mia sighs, defeated. “We saw them, but they didn’t say anything. Honestly, Aria, just forget that bastard.”
I swallow hard, nodding even though my chest feels like it’s caving in. “It’s fine.”
Mia hops up. “Good. Now, let’s grab some breakfast and figure out outfits for the party tonight.”
I grab my phone, holding it up like Exhibit A. “Can’t. Ethan texted. Said he changed his mind and doesn’t want me at the party.”
Mia’s jaw drops. “What the actual fuck? Who does he think he is?”
“Does it matter?” I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Honestly, it’s probably better. I don’t want to see either of my stupid mates anyway. Let’s just eat, and I’ll help you guys pick out something killer to wear.”
Mia pouts. “Maybe we shouldn’t go either.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I shake my head, forcing a smile. “It’s Christmas. You guys should go out and have fun.”
And just like that, my two best friends nod, trying to look cheerful as we head out. But I know them. They’re worried. Honestly? So am I.
…..
After scarfing down a breakfast that didn’t even taste like anything because I was too busy scanning the cafe for Lucas and his merry band of idiots, we headed back to Mia and Lily’s suite. They were nowhere to be found. Not Lucas, not Theo, not Damon…like they’d all vanished into some parallel universe where ghosting me is their full-time job.
I try to shove the thought of Lucas to the back of my mind while helping Mia and Lily pick out outfits. But honestly? It’s like trying to cram an elephant into a shoebox. The dude’s face is stuck in my head, and I hate how much space he’s renting in there.
Mia’s holding up this glittery silver dress like it’s the Holy Grail. “What do you think, Aria? Too much?”
I snort. “Girl, it’s Christmas. There’s no such thing as too much sparkle. Go full disco ball or go home.”
Lily grins, holding a red jumpsuit against her. “What about this one? Too casual?”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re about to steal Santa’s job in that thing. It’s perfect.”
They’re still giving me the side-eye about staying back, but after a lot of back-and-forth, I convince them to go. Barely. They finally agree but only after declaring they’d stay for, like, ten minutes before coming back to “babysit” me.
Fast-forward to me back in Lucas’ suite, sprawled on the bed like a rejected piece of pizza crust. Lucas still isn’t back. His scent…that stupid mix of cedarwood and something woody, is starting to fade, and it’s making my chest ache more than I care to admit.
I stare up at the ceiling, my mind going a hundred miles an hour. Maybe after this whole tour, I really should leave Full Moon pack and go rogue. No mates, no drama, no feelings. Just me and the wild, living my best wolf-girl life like a fucking badass loner. Sounds great in theory, right?
A knock on the door jolts me out of my pity party. I roll my eyes, assuming it’s Mia or Lily back already.
“Just use the code, guys!” I yell, not bothering to get up.
The knock comes again, louder this time.
Annoyed, I frown. “Who is it?”
Silence.
Oh, hell no. I drag myself off the bed and stomp to the door, yanking it open, ready to give whoever it is a piece of my mind.
My breath catches, and my eyes widen at the person standing on the other side.