Aria
I’m so fucking pissed. That bald asshole is still sitting there, staring at me like a damn fool. My blood is boiling as I snatch my nightgown from the chair and pull it on, practically vibrating with anger.
Then, as if he hasn’t already overstayed his welcome, the idiot has the nerve to get up and walk toward me. I see his hand reaching out like I’m gonna let him touch me. Yeah, right. My body moves before my brain even catches up, and I kick him right in the balls. Hard.
He doubles over, groaning like a wounded animal. “You fucking bitch!” he growls, trying to straighten up.
Gail, my wolf, is practically clawing at me, begging to be let out, but I don’t even need her for this. My fist flies, landing square on his nose. Blood spurts out as he staggers back, looking more shocked than hurt.
I grab one of my heels off the floor and aim it right at his dumb, bald head. “Try me, asshole. I’ll crack your stupid skull open with this.”
That gets him moving. He mutters some curse under his breath, but the glare he shoots me is weak as hell. He stumbles toward the door, clutching his crotch, and slams it shut behind him.
Finally, I let out a shaky breath and flop onto the bed like a sack of potatoes. “This is so fucking bad,” I mutter to no one. What if another creep tries to pull this shit? I can’t deal with that right now. And if Mia or Lily finds out? Oh, they’d lose their shit.
I close my eyes, praying to the Moon Goddess to just let me survive this nightmare. If she wants me to die at the hands of one of these losers, so be it. But not tonight, okay? With that thought, I fall asleep.
—
The cafeteria is a madhouse, buzzing with noise, but I’m off in my own little world. Mia and Lily are sitting across from me, talking, but I’m not paying attention.
Instead, I’m thinking about my train wreck of a life. The cruise is almost over, and I need to make some big decisions. Except… I’ve already made one. I’m rejecting Lucas. Tonight.
But where do I even go from here? I’m broke as hell, and it’s not like I can count on Mia or Lily. Mia’s mom works at a diner, and Lily’s dad is a carpenter. They’re struggling just as much as I am.
“Ugh, there they go again,” Mia snaps, dragging me out of my thoughts.
I follow her glare to the counter, and yep…there they are. Lucas and Serena. She’s latched onto his arm like a damn leech, smiling like a damn fool. Lucas looks like he’s plotting her murder while waiting for his coffee.
That stupid knot in my stomach tightens again. No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop feeling something when I see them together.
“Have you and Alpha Lucas rejected each other yet?” Lily asks, her tone cautious, like she’s afraid I’ll snap.
I shake my head, remembering the hallway incident two days ago. He’d stopped me, said he needed to talk. I knew what was coming, a rejection, and I panicked. So, I bolted. Yep, I ran like a fucking damn coward. But not this time.
“I’ll do it tonight,” I say quietly, my eyes glued to my coffee.
Mia perks up, a grin spreading across her face. “Oh, at the ‘Find Your Mate’ event? That’s so poetic. I love it!”
“Maybe I’ll find my mate tonight,” Lily says with a dreamy sigh.
Mia makes a face. “Really? After what Aria’s going through, you still want that fairytale bullshit?”
I shake my head, sighing. “Don’t be like that, Mia. Just because my mate’s a dick doesn’t mean Lily’s will be.”
“Oh, come on. Lily’s hoping Theo ends up being her mate. You know it.”
“I am not!” Lily snaps, glaring at her.
“Whatever,” Mia says, rolling her eyes. “I see the way you look at him. We’re supposed to be giving Lucas and his friends stink eyes, not goo-goo eyes.”
They’re bickering again, but I’m zoning out. My eyes betray me, drifting back to Lucas and Serena. She’s talking his ear off, and he looks like he’d rather drown in his coffee than listen.
Then, his gaze snaps up. Shit. He catches me looking, and I immediately glance away, my heart doing this stupid little flip. No way he read into that… right?
Tonight. It ends tonight.
“Aria, no one’s been bothering you in that cabin, right?” Mia asks, snapping a piece of her pancake.
“Nope. It’s been great,” I lie smoothly. There’s no way I’m telling them about Baldy.
When I glance back at Lucas’s table, it’s empty. He’s gone, and Serena’s gone with him. My chest feels tight, like I should be relieved, but deep down? I’m disappointed. Did he even like me at all?
I slam my coffee down on the table. “Enough is enough. Tonight, I’m rejecting him. No more waiting around, letting him stomp all over me.”
Mia beams like a fucking proud mom. “Atta girl, Aria.”
Lily looks worried, but I don’t care. Tonight, Lucas is gonna know exactly how done I am.
…….
The ship’s deck is lit up like a damn Christmas wonderland, bright lights and colorful decorations everywhere. The full moon’s doing its thing, casting this warm glow over the place. It’s supposed to feel magical or whatever, but all I feel is annoyance. The crowd is buzzing, people all hyped up to find their “destined mates.”
I’m standing with Mia and Lily, trying not to roll my eyes as Coach John rambles into the mic about the “find your mate” ritual.
“Everyone, please wear your glowing necklace!” he announces, holding up one of those stupid things like it’s the Holy Grail. “The Moon Goddess will guide you to your mate. When the glow steadies, you’ve found them.”
Bullshit. Absolute bullshit.
“This is fucking absurd,” Mia scoffs, crossing her arms like she’s about to storm the stage and call him out.
“Seriously, Mia, why didn’t you just stay in our suite if you’re gonna be this pissy?” Lily groans, clearly at the end of her rope.
“Relax. I’m only here because Aria’s gonna give that bastard Alpha Lucas a taste of his own medicine.” She smirks, nudging me. “Right, Aria?”
“Yeah,” I mutter, scanning the crowd. “But I don’t even see him.”
“Good point.” Mia frowns, looking around too.
“I mean, he’s got a chosen mate, right? Maybe he didn’t feel the need to show up,” Lily says with a shrug. “His friends are here, though.”
We all glance over to see Damon and Theo lurking in a corner, looking as smug as ever.
“Those assholes,” Mia grumbles. “Bet they’re just here to find more people to treat like trash. You can’t make this shit up.”
Meanwhile, I’m starting to get worried. Lucas is the whole reason I came tonight. I need to end things with him, and it has to be here. Don’t ask me why, it just feels right.
Coach John’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts. “Alright, folks, the ritual begins now!” he announces, and the crowd bursts into applause.
People start moving instantly, like sheep being herded. I stand there, rolling my eyes so hard I might sprain something.
“What are you waiting for? Come on!” Lily beams, practically bouncing off to follow her necklace like it’s leading her to treasure.
“This is so stupid,” Mia mutters. “Mates are overrated anyway.” But after a moment, she sighs. “Well, here goes nothing.” She shrugs and heads off too.
Now I’m alone. Great.
I glance around, still searching for Lucas. He’s nowhere to be seen, not even Serena’s annoying ass is here. Maybe I should just move around, see what happens. But what if this thing actually works, and I find another mate? I’m so over this whole mate crap.
With a deep breath, I start walking. The necklace around my neck blinks like a damn Christmas ornament, and I pass people jumping up and down, all excited about finding their mates. Wait, this thing actually works? What kind of witchcraft is this?
I keep going, the blinking getting faster. My heart’s pounding now, and I’m starting to feel… anxious. Nervous. This is nonsense, I tell myself. But my feet don’t listen, and before I know it, I’m off the deck and wandering down some hallway near the ship’s cinema.
Then it happens. The necklace glow steadies, bright and solid. My stomach drops.
I stop dead in my tracks, just as a familiar scent hits me like a punch to the gut. My eyes widen, and I round the corner, my body moving on autopilot.
And there he is.
Lucas Russo.
Of course, it’s him. Because why the hell wouldn’t it be? The Moon Goddess must really get a kick out of screwing with my life.
He’s sitting on the floor, back against the wall, a bottle of whiskey in his hand. His stormy gray eyes meet mine, and for a moment, time stops. Just long enough for me to realize how completely, utterly screwed I am.
“This can’t be happening,” I mutter, shaking my head like I can shake off fate itself. Tonight, of all nights, the night I’m supposed to reject him…the Moon Goddess decides to shove us back together? Perfect. Just fucking perfect.
He blinks at me, clearly drunk as hell. Then, with a slurred chuckle, he waves the whiskey bottle. “Hello, girlfriend.”
Just fucking great.