Lucas
The second I step into my suite, I feel like the walls are closing in. My hand scrapes down my face, and frustration claws at my chest. Goddamn it, that look in Aria’s eyes is gonna haunt me. Forever.
“Alpha Lucas, are you alright?” Serena’s voice slithers behind me, her hand landing on my shoulder like a weight I can’t fucking stand.
I yank away like she’s a goddamn snake. “Are you happy now? This is what you wanted, right? Well, get ready, because if I marry you, I’ll never love you. Not now, not ever. And I’ll make sure you feel every ounce of the pain Aria’s going through. Every. Damn. Ounce.”
“Lucas, I-”
“Save it,” I snap, cutting her off before she spews more bullshit. “I don’t wanna hear your excuses.” My feet are moving before my brain catches up, storming out of the suite like the whole place is on fire.
I need space, air, anything to stop this tightness in my chest. I head straight for the cabin at the far end of the ship, slamming the door behind me. But the second I step inside, I’m met with a fist to my face.
The blow sends me stumbling, and when I look up, Sarita’s standing there, eyes blazing like fire. She’s seething, practically trembling, her wolf clawing to the surface.
“How could you do that to her?” Her voice is sharp.
“What the hell did you expect me to do?” I snap back, rubbing my jaw. “Let them mark her as a traitor?”
“You should’ve fought for her! You should’ve stood by her side instead of pulling that… that cowardly stunt! When the fuck are you gonna grow a spine, Lucas? When are you gonna stop living in Dad’s shadow?”
“Do you even know who she is?” I laugh bitterly. “She’s Kane and Martha’s kid, Sarita. Mom’s best friend. The woman who helped her escape and paid for it with her life. Do you really think Aria would forgive Dad? Accept me?”
Sarita’s glare doesn’t waver. “You don’t know shit because you didn’t give her a chance, Lucas. You’re a fucking coward.”
“And subject her to what Mom went through? You think I want that for her?” My voice cracks, and it pisses me off even more.
“That’s why you need to stand up to him! You could’ve made it right. Instead, you humiliated her. Do you even realize what you’ve fucking done? The whole damn ship heard your cruel words!”
“There’s no point,” I mutter, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sarita freezes, her eyes narrowing. “No point? You’re okay with losing your mate? Are you seriously choosing this life over her?”
“Yes.” The word falls out of my mouth before I can stop it, heavy and final. “Yes, I can’t leave this life. I’m sorry, but she’s not worth it.”
Her face twists like I just slapped her. She doesn’t say anything else, just shakes her head and storms out, slamming the door behind her.
I drop onto the couch, my head in my hands. My chest feels like it’s caving in, the pain almost unbearable. This is the right choice, isn’t it?
The door creaks open again, and Theo and Damon walk in, their faces grim.
“You figure out who’s behind this?” My voice is sharp, demanding. “Who planted a fucking camera in here and broadcasted my private goddamn conversation to the whole ship?”
They exchange a look, and Damon steps forward. “It’s Beta John. He wanted to hurt Aria.”
Theo crosses his arms, eyes hard. “And let’s be real, Lucas…it wouldn’t have worked if you hadn’t said all that shit to her. You could’ve ended things differently.”
“Shut the fuck up, Theo,” I bark, cutting him off. “You think I need a lecture from you? Get the hell out.”
Neither of them moves.
“I said get the fuck out!” My voice thunders through the cabin. This time, they both turn on their heels and walk out, leaving me standing there, staring at the door like an idiot. The second it shuts, my knees give out, and I collapse to the floor, clutching my chest.
It fucking hurts. Gosh, it hurts so bad.
I know why. She’s hurting…. because of me. She’s in pain, and it’s all my fault. The tears prick at the corners of my eyes before I can stop them, hot and relentless as they slide down my face.
What kind of mate am I? A pathetic one, that’s for damn sure. A coward who swore not to hurt her but went ahead and ripped her apart anyway.
But this is better. Right?
It has to be. It’s better than putting Aria through the same hell Mom endured. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself, even as the pain twists in my chest, refusing to let go. This is for the best. At least my father is going to leave her alone… she won’t be marked as a traitor. That was the deal-if I let her go. Tomorrow, I’ll end it completely. I’ll reject her for good. It’s for the best…