Lucas
I freeze, my brain short-circuiting like someone yanked the Wi-Fi router mid-download. Things were going so well…Aria was smiling, laughing, trusting me. And then Serena. Fucking Serena. She just has to show up and ruin it.
“Do you know her, Lucas?” Aria’s voice cuts through my mental meltdown sharply.
I glance at her. She doesn’t look impressed. At all. In fact, she looks like she’s five seconds from shoving me off this ship, and, honestly, I’d probably deserve it. My chest tightens.
“She’s nobody serious,” I mutter, my eyes still glued to Serena. But Aria? She scoffs, crossing her arms, and my heart sinks like a lead balloon.
“Are you sure about that, Alpha Lucas?” Serena pipes up, her voice sugary sweet but sharp enough to upset me.
My fists clench by my sides as I shoot Aria a pleading look. “Give me a second, okay? I’ll be right back.”
Aria doesn’t answer. Her lips press into a thin, unimpressed line, and I know I’m walking on the thinnest of ice.
“Aria,” I say softly, “please trust me.”
She hesitates, then gives a reluctant nod. I exhale, motioning to Serena. “Follow me.”
I don’t wait to see if she does. I just storm out of the party, my patience hanging by a thread. Once we’re far enough away from the music and prying eyes, I spin around to face her.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snap. “Are you seriously trying to mess with me right now?”
She laughs. Not a normal, haha-this-is-funny laugh, but that obnoxious, fake giggle that makes me want to rip my hair out. “Mess with you? Alpha Lucas, I’m just getting acquainted with my future hubby.”
“Future hubby?” I bark out a laugh. “Don’t fucking delude yourself. That’s never happening.”
Her smile wavers, but she straightens her shoulders, her voice turning syrupy again. “It’s not up to us. Our fathers already decided.”
I take a step closer, my jaw tight. “And we don’t have to do it. I don’t give a shit about their decision” I tell her firmly, though inside I’m not even sure I believe my own words. Standing up to my father? Yeah, that’s a whole other beast I don’t know if I can take on yet.
“Why are you acting like this?” She tilts her head, all fake innocence. “Your father said you’d still sort me out. But instead, you’re all over this ship with that cheap omega.”
And that’s it. My wolf snaps, and before I can stop myself, I shove her back against the wall. My hand grips her neck…not enough to hurt, but enough to make my point. “Say that about my mate again, and I’ll fucking rip your heart out.”
Her eyes widen, and for the first time, I see a flicker of fear. “Relax,” she whispers in a shaky tone. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
I let her go, stepping back, my breathing heavy as I fight to keep my wolf under control. “Get the hell out of here, Serena. We’re done.”
She straightens her dress, her confidence slinking back in like an unwanted guest. “Why, Alpha Lucas? Don’t you like me? Am I not beautiful enough for you?”
I narrow my eyes slightly. She is beautiful…there’s no denying it. A perfect, curvaceous body that could make any man melt into a puddle, especially in that tight dress that’s barely keeping her boobs in place. And a face that screams I spent three hours on this.
But it’s obvious. She’s trying way too hard to impress me.
And she doesn’t.
Because she’s not Aria.
“You’re not my type,” I say flatly.
Her lips twitch, like she’s fighting the urge to slap me, and I smirk. “Now, get out of my sight.”
Her eyes narrow, practically blazing with fury. “You’ll regret this, Alpha Lucas,” she spits before stomping off like a toddler denied dessert.
I watch her go, my wolf pacing in my head. I don’t like the sound of that threat. Not one bit. But I’m not stupid, my father will not be happy about this…I know this isn’t over.
“Lucas!” Theo’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. I turn to see him and Damon striding over, looking elegant in their suits.
“What was that about?” Theo asks, his brow furrowed.
Damon grins. “Dude, did you see her? Serena’s smoking hot. Like, damn.”
Theo and I glare at him, and he raises his hands, laughing nervously. “Observation. Just an observation.”
Theo shakes his head, more serious now. “What did she want?”
“To stir shit,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “She dropped the whole ‘our fathers decided this’ crap and called Aria a ‘cheap omega.'”
Damon winces. “Oof. And you didn’t rip her head off?”
“Almost did,” I admit.
Theo claps a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t let her get to you, man. But I have a bad feeling about this man.”
I nod, but the knot in my gut won’t go away. And I’m not sure I’m ready for whatever is going to happen next…. I can feel it.