Lucas
My head’s spinning like I’ve had one too many shots of tequila, except this time, the hangover’s coming from life itself. I’m stuck on this damn ship, no woods, no moonlit runs, no escape. Just me, my wolf, and this constant pressure like I’m holding up the goddamn sky.
I head to the game room, hoping for a distraction. Damon and Theo are already there, their eyes doing that cautious thing, like I’m a ticking time bomb. Well, congrats, boys, you’re not wrong.
I drop into a chair, digging out a cigarette. Before I can even light it, Theo leans over with a lighter, sparking it up for me.
“So, what’s eating you?” His tone is casual, but he knows I’m about two seconds from flipping a table.
I take a drag, the smoke scratching my throat in that oddly comforting way. “I’m losing my damn mind.”
Damon hops onto the table in front of me, folding his arms. “Yeah, no shit. What’s the deal?”
“Aria’s still asleep, right?” I ask, even though I already know the answer. I’d feel it if she woke up.
Theo nods, leaning back. “Yeah. She’s out cold. Maybe tomorrow morning.”
I blow out a cloud of smoke, watching it swirl like my chaotic thoughts. “When the hell does this stupid tour end?”
Theo shrugs. “After New Year’s. A week and some days.”
“That’s what I thought,” I mutter. “But Beta John says it’s less than a week.”
Damon raises an eyebrow. “And this matters why?”
I stare at the cigarette, the ember glowing brighter with each puff. “My father wants me to break up with Aria.”
Damon snorts. “Yeah, and water’s wet. What else is new?”
“This time, he’s dragging Serena into it. He’s already planning a mating ceremony for us. Like, legit setting up decorations as we speak.”
Theo shoots up from his chair. “What? What’s the rush? And what about Aria?”
“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Serena had the audacity to threaten Aria. And don’t even get me started on that prank with the box. I swear she’s behind it.”
Theo and Damon exchange a look that screams, we know something you don’t. My eyebrows shoot up. “What?”
“Mia and Lily think Serena’s in cahoots with Vanessa,” Theo says.
“And Ethan,” Damon adds. “We saw them talking right after Aria was taken to the medical center.”
“Are you kidding me?” I slam my fist on the armrest, making Theo flinch. “That bitch wasn’t lying. She told me Ethan was her ‘friend.’ And here I am, playing checkers while they’re over there playing 4D chess.”
“The hell are you gonna do, Lucas?” Theo leans against the wall, arms crossed like he’s some kind of therapist. “Shit’s heating up, and this tour is gonna end eventually. You need to make up your damn mind. If you don’t, Aria’s the one who’ll get hurt.”
“Just end it, man,” Damon groans from the table, like he’s tired of even being in this conversation. “Alpha Marcus isn’t someone you mess with. You know what your father’s capable of. Don’t act like you don’t.”
Their words drill into my brain, but they’re not telling me anything I don’t already know. I feel like a pressure cooker about to blow. Everything is closing in, and I need to do something…anything, before I lose my shit.
I stand up, tossing the half-smoked cigarette into the trash. Damon looks up, his brows pulling together. “Where are you going?”
I don’t bother answering. I’m out the door before he can say another word, my boots echoing in the hallway as I head to the rink.
I know Ethan will be there. His team’s practicing, and that asshole never misses a chance to show off. When I push through the doors, I see his teammates on the ice, but no sign of him.
“Where’s Ethan?” I bark, my eyes scanning the group. They glance at each other like I just asked them to solve a goddamn calculus problem. My patience snaps. “Are you fucking deaf? I said, where is he?”
One of them, probably the bravest or the dumbest…stutters, “H-he’s in the dressing room.”
Without another word, I storm off. I push through the locker room door, ignoring the guys inside who pause mid-conversation to stare at me like I’m a bomb about to go off. And I am.
When I get to Ethan’s locker, the first thing I notice is this scent, familiar, but I can’t place it. Then I see him, standing in front of the mirror, fixing his stupid hair. He spins around when he sees me, but he’s too slow. My hands grab him, and I slam him against the locker hard enough to make it rattle.
“You fucking bastard,” I growl. “Didn’t I tell you to stay the hell away from Aria? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Let me go, Lucas!” He struggles, but it’s pathetic. I punch him. Then I do it again. And again. His nose is bleeding, his breaths coming in sharp gasps, but I don’t care.
“You, Serena, and Vanessa, y’all planned that stupid prank, didn’t you?” I grab his collar, slamming his head back against the metal. “Answer me!”
He coughs, blood dripping from his split lip, but somehow, the asshole has the audacity to smirk. “Yeah, we did,” he sneers. “And we’ll do worse if you don’t get your shit together.”
My fist clenches tighter. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”
“Then do it!” Ethan shouts, his voice defiant despite the blood running down his chin. “Do it, Lucas. But you know what? Without your father, you’re nothing. You’re fucking powerless without him. So just leave Aria alone.”
“Why?” My voice drops, sharp and cold. “Why the hell are you doing this? You don’t even love her.”
Ethan laughs, and the sound makes my blood boil. “Love her? She’s just a lowly omega, not even worthy of being a Luna. She’s only good for fucking and probably sucking my cock with that smart mouth of hers. And if you don’t back off, maybe I’ll make her my bed slave. Every night, I’ll spread her across my bed until she’s screaming my name-“