Aria
I sprint to the deck of the ship like my life depends on it, legs trembling beneath me. The cold floor meets me hard when I collapse, and I let the tears come. The wind lashes against my skin, cutting deep, but it’s nothing compared to the ache clawing at my chest. My heart’s in pieces, sharp pain ripping me apart from the inside. How could he? How the fuck could Lucas say that about me?
I thought he was different. I thought he cared. Love? What a goddamn joke. Did the Moon Goddess just hate me or what? Maybe I was her personal fucking punching bag.
Gail, my wolf, howls mournfully in my head, her pain mingling with mine. It’s like we’re drowning in this together, spiraling down into some dark abyss where it feels impossible to fucking breathe.
“Aria. Aria.”
I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Mia’s voice. And yes, there’s Lily trailing behind her, no doubt worried as hell.
Mia reaches me first, arms wrapping around me tightly. I want to say something, anything, but my throat’s raw, and my lips just tremble uselessly.
“Aria, stop crying, please.” Lily crouches in front of me, her fingers brushing my tears away gently. Her eyes are wide and filled with concern, making me feel even shittier.
“It’s happened,” I finally choke out, voice hoarse as fuck. “What you were all worried about. It’s fucking happened.”
“Don’t say that,” Mia snaps. “This isn’t on you.”
“It is on me!” My chest heaves as I bury my face against her shoulder. “You warned me, Mia. You fucking warned me, and I didn’t listen. And now look at me. Did you see what he said? That I’m just a pack runt? Everyone’s called me that my whole damn life, but hearing it from Lucas…fuck, it hurts so much.” My voice cracks, and I’m sobbing again.
Lily frowns.”Maybe… maybe he said it because of his dad. Maybe he was forced to-”
“No!” I cut her off, shaking my head violently. “It doesn’t fucking matter. He lied to me! First about Serena being his fiancee-”
“What?” Mia looks like I just slapped her.
“And his dad…” My voice falters, but I push through. “His dad killed my parents.”
Mia blinks, her shock giving way to disbelief. “That can’t be right. Your parents… they died by accident, trying to help that traitor from Shadow Pang Pack. That arrow wasn’t even meant for them-”
“That’s not what Ethan told me,” I snap, cutting her off. My head pounds, and I squeeze my temples. “The so-called ‘traitor’ was Lucas’s mom.”
“This is some fucked-up shit. How could he keep that from you?” Mia mumbles.
“I’m cursed,” I whisper bitterly. “The Moon Goddess hates me, and she made damn sure I’d mate with the son of the bastard who murdered my parents.”
Lily rubs soothing circles on my back. “Don’t talk like that. We’re here for you, okay? Always.”
For what feels like forever, I just cry in their arms, letting the pain wring me dry. Eventually, I force myself to stand up. I know my eyes are puffy now, and my throat’s raw…but I can’t let this crush me completely.
“I need to grab my stuff from his suite.” My voice comes out hoarse, and I’m already dreading the walk.
“We’re coming with you,” Mia says, linking her arm with mine. “And if that asshole so much as looks at you wrong, we’ll kick his fucking dick.”
“But where are you supposed to stay now? Lily’s voice is soft, her brows pulling together as she glances at me.
I shrug. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just crash on the deck. Beats sharing a room with that bastard.” My words come out harsher than I mean them to, but I don’t care. The anger boiling inside me is the only thing keeping me upright right now.
The walk to Lucas’ suite feels like I’m dragging a boulder uphill. My stomach twists with nerves, and my wolf, Gail, is on edge. I’m praying to every deity out there that he’s not inside. I don’t think I can handle seeing him…not after everything.
Mia punches in the code at the door and steps aside. “You don’t have to go in. We’ll grab your stuff for you.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s fine. I’ll be faster doing it myself.”
Inside, the room is empty, thank fuck. But walking in hits me like a sucker punch to the gut. Memories flood my mind…the last time I did this, packing my things out of Ethan’s suite after finding him with Vanessa. Now here I am again. Maybe I really am cursed.
I go straight to the closet, yanking my clothes and shoes off the hangers and stuffing them into my bag with shaky hands.
“What about these?” Mia points to the dresses Lucas bought me, her voice tentative.
I glance at them, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “He bought those. I don’t want them.” My words are sharp, final, and I shove my bag across the floor before storming into the bathroom. Toiletries go into a paper bag, and I’m done. I can’t get out of here fast enough.
“Let’s go,” I mutter, motioning for Mia and Lily to follow. My hands grip the strap of my bag like it’s my lifeline.
We step out, but of course, my shitty luck strikes again. Lucas is right there, walking toward us with Serena clinging to his arm. My heart shatters all over again, and Gail snarls in my head, begging to be let loose. I fight to keep her down, even though every fiber of me wants to lash out.
It’s been what? An hour? And he’s already parading Serena around like a prize.
“Hello, Aria.” Serena’s voice drips with fake sweetness, her smug smile making me see red. “Going somewhere?”
Lucas’ eyes flick to the bag in my hand. His face is unreadable, but his silence screams louder than words.
I don’t even glance at Serena. My eyes are glued to Lucas, searching for the man I thought I loved. I can’t find him. All I see is cold indifference.
He sighs, shoving his hands into his pockets, and starts to walk past me like I’m nothing. Like I don’t even exist.
“Wait!” The word bursts out of me before I can stop it. He freezes but doesn’t turn around. “You had so much to say behind my back. What, now you can’t say it to my face? Is that how much of a coward you are?”
His shoulders tense, but he stays silent.
“How could you? After Ethan, you decide to break me even more? Why didn’t you tell me about my parents? About your father killing them? You bastard!”
Serena bristles, stepping forward. “Watch your mouth, Aria.”
I ignore her, my eyes never leaving Lucas. “You knew! You knew, and you kept it from me. Why? To make a fool of me? To piss off Ethan? What did I ever do to you?”
“Aria, please, let’s go.”Lily grabs my arm, but I yank free, shaking my head.
“No, Lily. I’m not done.” My voice rises, raw and broken. “You should’ve just left me alone! Why couldn’t you let me jump? Why did you have to save me…and then break me like this?”
Serena starts to speak, but Lucas raises a hand to stop her. He finally turns to face me, his eyes cold and empty. “I’m sorry,” he says flatly, and the words twist like a knife in my chest. “I thought I felt something for you. I really did. But it’s not enough. You’re not enough, Aria. We’re from different worlds. You’re just a poor, pitiful omega. It could never work.”
“So you just used me?” I choke out.
He shrugs.”You should’ve been smarter.”
“Alpha Lucas!” Mia steps forward, anger radiating off her. “That’s enough!”
He ignores her, his cold gaze still pinned on me. “You’re too easy to please, Aria. Grow a fucking spine and stop playing the victim. No one gives a fuck about your sob story.”
I shake my head, tears blurring my vision. “I hate you. I hate you more than I’ve ever hated anyone. You’re just like your father…heartless and cruel!” My voice breaks as I turn and run, the hallway spinning around me.
I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t care. All I know is I need to get away…away from him, from this pain, from everything. I’ll sleep on the damn deck if I have to. As long as I never have to see Lucas again.