Aria
Standing in front of me, looking annoyingly perfect, is the last person I expect to see.
It’s her. The girl I caught with Lucas. You know, the one I’ve been rage-thinking about for hours. Yeah, her. Towering over me like some sort of supermodel sent straight from the heavens to remind me of all my insecurities.
I inhale sharply, straightening my spine. “What do you want?”
She opens her mouth, probably to say something dramatic, but I cut her off before she gets a word in. “Wait-don’t answer that. If you’re here to see Lucas, he’s not here. So, toodles.”
“Hello, Aria.”
I blink. “Who the hell told you my name?” I roll my eyes because, honestly, could this day get worse? “Anyway, as I said, Lucas isn’t here. Bye now.”
“That’s not why I’m here.” She smiles like she’s holding back a laugh, and it grates my nerves.
“Oh, I get it,” I snap. “You’re here to kick me out, right? Let me guess…. Lucas sent you. Typical. If he wants me gone, he can grow a pair and tell me himself. Freaking coward.”
“Aria!” she interrupts, her voice sharp enough to make me pause. “Take a damn breath, will you?”
I huff but humor her, inhaling dramatically. “Fine. There. Now spill it.”
“Can I at least come in?”
I hesitate but step aside, waving her in like the begrudging hostess I never wanted to be. She strolls in, glancing around like she’s on an episode of Cribs.
“Wow… Lucas’s suite is beautiful. Better than mine.” She runs her hand along the back of the couch and smirks. “I don’t like that.”
I roll my eyes. “What do you want?”
She turns to face me, her eyes sweeping over me from head to toe like she’s judging my life choices. “Not bad,” she mutters, nodding like she’s approving a resume.
I frown. “Okay, seriously, what’s your deal?”
She sighs. “About earlier… I’m sorry.”
I blink. Then laugh. Then laugh some more. “Wait. Hold up. Is that what this is about? Did Lucas send you here to grovel on his behalf? Pathetic.”
“Aria, it’s not like that,” she starts, but I cut her off again because I’m on a roll.
“Save it. Tell him I’m done. Over it. Totally fine. Not even mad.” My voice betrays me by cracking on the last word, but I power through. “Nope. Not mad at all.”
“Lucas and I are siblings,” she blurts out, exasperated.
My brain screeches to a halt. “Bullshit. Is this a new tactic? Did he bribe you to lie?”
She groans, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Just listen. Lucas is my brother, not my boyfriend or whatever ridiculous thing you’ve been imagining.”
I squint at her like she just claimed Bigfoot was her pet. “Wait. For real?”
“Yes.”
And just like that, shame slams into me like a ton of bricks. I look away, tugging at my hair because, oh my God, I’m a fucking idiot. “Shit. I’m so sorry.”
She laughs, soft and understanding, and steps closer. “It’s fine. You didn’t know. Don’t beat yourself up.”
“But still…”
She places her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up at her. “Seriously, it’s okay. Don’t be embarrassed.”
I shake my head, cheeks burning. This is, without a doubt, the most humiliating moment of my life.
“You’re adorable,” she says with a grin. “I can see why Lucas likes you.”
“What?!” My head snaps up so fast I nearly give myself whiplash.
“Got you,” she teases, her grin widening. “You totally like my brother, huh?”
“Nope. Not a chance,” I blurt out, waving my hands like I’m warding off bad juju.
“Sure, sure,” she says, fake pouting. “What’s next? Gonna blame it on the mate bond?”
I freeze because, well… yeah. That was exactly what I was about to do. But before I can deny it, she keeps talking.
“Anyway,” she continues, “I wanted to clear the air. My little brother’s been miserable since, well, you know.”
“Miserable?” I cross my arms. “Alpha Lucas? Yeah, right.”
“Look, Lucas can be a big, stupid dummy-”
“You’re not wrong.”
“-but I think he really likes you.”
I roll my eyes. “And yet he didn’t bother chasing after me.”
“That’s because he’s a stubborn wolf. Don’t mind him. He’s actually at the cabin sulking right now.”
I fold my arms and scoff. “Cool. Good for him. Not like it matters. This whole thing isn’t real anyway.” The words spill out before I can stop them, and I slap a hand over my mouth. “I mean…”
Her eyebrows lift. “I know you’re both fake dating.”
I blink, caught off guard. “Wait, he told you?”
She nods, looking all smug. “My brother and I tell each other everything.”
“Fantastic,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “Well, thanks for clearing the air, but there’s really no need. It’s fake, remember? No big deal.”
She tilts her head, studying me like she’s piecing together a puzzle. “It’s obvious you both have feelings for each other.”
I burst out laughing, loud and sharp. “Nope. Absolutely not. Your brother’s a fucking whore. No offense.”
She snickers, completely unfazed. “None taken. He’s just a coward, though. But if anyone can make him come to his senses, it’s you… his mate.”
My stomach flips, but I refuse to let it show. I stay silent, trying not to let her words crawl under my skin. Instead, I focus on how lucky Lucas is to have a sister like her. She’s warm, easy to talk to, nothing like him. How have I never heard about her before? Everyone says Lucas is an only child.
She snaps me out of my thoughts. “I’ll be expecting you at the party tonight.”
I shake my head quickly. “Yeah, no. Not happening.”
Her face falls. “Why not? I know you don’t want to see my annoying brother, but I’d really like you to come. Please? For me?”
Damn those puppy-dog eyes. I cave with a heavy sigh. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
Her smile lights up the room. “Perfect. I’ll see you tonight. You better come…or I’ll come drag you there myself” She moves toward the door but stops when I call after her.
“Wait. I didn’t get your name.”
“Sarita,” she replies, turning back with a smile.
“Lovely name,” I admit, feeling a genuine smile tug at my lips. “Nice meeting you, Sarita.”
“Likewise. I enjoyed talking to you, Aria. I can see why my brother likes you.” She winks before I can protest and slips out the door.
I drop onto the couch with a groan, staring at the ceiling. Lucas is nothing like Sarita. She’s an angel. He’s… well, a devil in disguise.
Wait a minute… Did I just promise to go to the party tonight?
Shit. Damn her and those puppy eyes.
What the fuck do I do now? Ethan specifically told me not to come, but suddenly I really want to go.
What the fuck is wrong with me?