Aria
I’m standing in the restroom, staring at Serena like a fucking fool. How the hell does she know about Lucas hiding something from me? It’s like she’s in my head. Creepy.
She laughs, all smug, leaning her ass against the door like she owns the place. “Did you really buy that crap Lucas fed you? That I wasn’t relevant?”
I fold my arms and glare. “Cut the crap, Serena. What the hell do you want?”
She tilts her head, smirking. “Well, I’m his fiancee.”
Excuse me, WHAT? The word “fiancee” hits me like a slap to the face. Fiancee? Lucas? How? When? WHERE?
“My dad and Alpha Marcus are besties,” she continues like she’s narrating a Real Housewives episode. “And they’ve decided we’re getting married. Isn’t that adorable?”
I’m standing there, stunned, trying to process this fucking madness.
Her smirk fades, and she steps closer, crossing her arms. “Haven’t I been nice, Aria? I’ve let you have your fun, but enough is enough. Time for you to step aside. He’s mine.”
I scoff, shaking my head. “Yeah, no. I don’t believe you. Lucas isn’t engaged to anyone.”
Serena rolls her eyes, the condescension dripping from her like cheap perfume. “You’ve lost your mind. That little warning I gave you yesterday clearly didn’t stick.”
My jaw tightens. “That was you?”
Her laugh is pure evil. “Vanessa and I worked together, yes. Pathetic? Maybe. Effective? Definitely.”
“Wow,” I say, my voice flat. “You’re more pathetic than I thought.”
Her smug expression darkens, and she steps closer, practically in my face now. “Watch your mouth, omega. Do you even know who you’re fucking talking to?”
“Oh, I know exactly who I’m talking to,” I snap, meeting her glare head-on. “And guess what? I don’t give a fuck.”
Her eyes narrow as she towers over me, clearly trying to intimidate me. “What are you gonna do about it? Huh? Beat me up? Go ahead. Try me.”
I cross my arms, smirking. “If you’re done with your little drama scene, I’m leaving.”
She blocks my path. “You seriously didn’t hear a word I said?”
“Oh, I heard every word,” I say with a laugh. “You’re desperate, Serena. Lucas is only your ‘fiance’ in your wild-ass fantasies, and you know it. That’s why you’re trying so hard to scare me off.”
Her face falters just for a second, but I see it, the flicker of worry and anger. It’s enough to make me feel like I just won a round of Mario Kart.
I smile sweetly, walking past her. “Nice try, though.”
I step out of the restroom, slamming the door shut behind me like it owes me money. My heart’s racing so fucking hard. Serena’s words keep replaying in my head, like some bad pop song I can’t get out of my head. Lucas’s dad wants him to marry her? Is that why he’s been acting weird lately? My stomach twists, but I shake it off. If I dwell too much on Serena’s smug face, I might actually puke.
I make my way back to the hockey rink, spotting Mia and Lily in the stands. Mia shoves a bucket of popcorn in my lap the second I plop down between them.
“You took forever. What were you doing, solving world peace?” she asks, crunching loudly on a kernel.
I snort. “Something like that. Just needed to clear my head.”
Mia motions to the rink. “Well, while you were busy meditating or whatever, Alpha Lucas is killing it. Finals are totally gonna be him versus Alpha Ethan.”
Lily nods, eyes glued to the game. “Yeah, Alpha Lucas is unstoppable.”
Her words make me smile, despite the shitstorm swirling in my brain. Watching Lucas in his element always gives me this stupid sense of pride, like I’m the one out there crushing it. But the smile fades as fast as it comes. Serena’s voice creeps back in, and I can’t shake the thought of Lucas caving to his dad’s pressure. What the hell am I supposed to do if that happens?
“Aria.” Lily nudges me with her elbow. “You good?”
“Yeah, totally,” I lie, forcing a grin.
Mia eyes me suspiciously. “You sure? You’re quieter than usual. It’s weird.”
“I’m fine,” I insist, waving it off. “Just don’t wanna look like a psycho girlfriend cheering too loud, y’know?”
“If you say so,” Mia mutters, clearly not buying it.
For a second, I consider spilling everything to them. I open my mouth, but the words get stuck in my throat. What if they tell me to break things off with Lucas? I’m not ready to even think about that.
“Uh, Aria?” Lily’s voice snaps me back. “Lucas is looking at you. You’ve got that ‘daydreaming about Chris Hemsworth’ look again.”
I glance toward the rink and, sure enough, there’s Lucas. He’s grinning at me, his sweaty hair sticking to his forehead in a way that somehow still looks hot. I wave back, my heart doing that stupid flutter thing it always does around him.
Before I know it, the game’s over. I don’t even realize I’m moving until I’m on the rink floor, running straight into his arms.
“Whoa, easy,” Lucas chuckles, holding me steady. “I’m sweaty, you know.”
“Don’t care.” I bury my face in his chest, inhaling that ridiculously good mix of sweat and his woodsy scent. “Congrats, baby.”
His arms tighten around me. “Did you just call me baby?”
I pull back, feigning nonchalance. “Yeah. Problem?”
“Not at all,” he murmurs, leaning down so his lips brush my ear. “Just makes me wanna take you right here in front of everyone.”
My cheeks heat up like a damn toaster oven. I smack his chest, and he laughs. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re adorable when you’re flustered.” He grins, then steps back. “I gotta shower. Be back soon, okay?”
“Sure.” I nod, trying to keep the smile on my face.
He studies me for a second, his brows pulling together. “You sure you’re alright? You don’t look… I dunno, like yourself.”
“I’m fine,” I insist. “Go. I’ll wait for you.”
Lucas hesitates, then kisses me softly before jogging off with his team. I watch him go, trying to focus on literally anything but Serena. Twenty minutes later, though, I’m bored out of my mind, and the cheerleaders’ routine isn’t exactly helping.
Just as I’m about to head back to Mia and Lily, I spot Coach John striding toward me, his expression like he just ate something sour.
“Aria,” he says, his voice low but firm. “We need to talk.”
I take a deep breath. This can’t be good. “Alright.”
“Follow me.” He motions for me to walk with him. “There’s someone who’s been waiting to meet you.”
The pit in my stomach deepens as I follow him down the hallway. Whoever this is, I have a feeling my night’s about to get a lot worse.