Aria
“I don’t understand… What do you mean your cabin? Why the fuck would you stay in a place like this, Aria?”
I sigh, shaking my head. The way he’s looking at me like he suddenly gives a damn is driving me insane. Why the fuck is he acting like he cares now? He’s the reason I’m in this shitty situation to begin with.
“Just leave,” I mutter, turning away from him, trying to hold onto the last shred of my composure.
“Aria, I’m not gonna let you stay here. It’s fucking dangerous,” he says.
“Why the fuck do you care, huh?” I snap, whipping around to face him. “Have you forgotten? I’m Aria, the pack runt. The one who’s not worth fighting for. So leave me the fuck alone!”
“It’s not like that!” he yells, his fists clenched at his sides. “And even if we’re not…anymore-” his voice softens, like he’s trying to calm himself, “-can’t I worry about you? Can’t I want to protect you?”
“No, you can’t, Lucas! I’m not your responsibility!” My voice cracks, but I push through it, not caring how much it hurts. “So stop it. Stop this bullshit because I’m fucking tired. I’m tired of everything… of the insults, of this damn ache in my chest. You’re not going to protect me. You’ve already shown that. So just leave me alone.”
The tears start falling before I even realize it, hot and relentless, running down my neck and soaking into my dress. My voice shakes, but I keep going, desperate to get it all out. “I’m begging you Lucas. I’m fucking begging. I just want it to stop.”
His eyes widen, and he takes a small step forward. “Aria… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-”
“I don’t want to hear it!” I cut him off harshly, despite the fire burning inside me. I see the hurt flash in his eyes, but I force myself not to care. I can’t care. “You’ve done enough, Lucas. Let’s just end this. Right now.”
“Aria, you’re drunk,” he says softly, his brows furrowed like he’s holding himself back.
“Does it fucking matter?!” I shout, throwing my hands up. “Stop stalling and just accept the rejection, Lucas! Stop being so selfish and let me go! Or what, is your pride too big to take it because it’s coming from me?”
“It’s not like that!” he snaps, but I’m too far gone to hear him.
“Fine,” I breathe, squaring my shoulders and lifting my chin, even though I’m barely holding myself together. “Reject me, and I’ll accept it. I don’t care anymore.”
His chest rises and falls as he takes a heavy breath, and his gaze drops to the floor like he’s searching for answers there. But all I see is hesitation, that same damn hesitation that’s been breaking me piece by piece.
I let out a bitter laugh. “You’re a fucking coward,” I say, shaking my head as I turn away. “You can leave now.”
I expect him to argue, to protest like he always does, but the silence stretches behind me. A part of me is relieved. Another part of me feels like I’ve just been stabbed in the chest.
When I get back to that shitty excuse for a cabin, I collapse onto the bed and let it all out. The tears come fast and hard, soaking the pillow as sobs wrack my body. Gosh, it fucking hurts. My heart feels like someone ripped it out and stomped on it, and the worst part? My wolf, Gail, is no help. She’s hurting just as much as I am, her pitiful whimpers only making it worse.
I shouldn’t have gone to that club. I shouldn’t have let Lily and Mia drag me there, thinking it’d be a good distraction. And I definitely shouldn’t have let myself look at Lucas. Now I’m paying the price, hurting everywhere.
Why the hell won’t he just accept my rejection?
Tomorrow is New Year’s, which means I’ve got exactly one day until we dock and my life goes to hell. Literally. Ethan’s been giving me those “I’ll destroy your life” eyes every time we pass each other. If I don’t apologize for whatever he’s convinced I’ve done wrong, he’s gonna make sure my life back at the pack is a living nightmare.
So yeah, I’m officially over it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I grab my phone, take a deep breath, and dial the number. My hands are shaking so much it’s a miracle I don’t accidentally FaceTime someone else instead.
When the video call connects, Aunt Esther’s face pops up on the screen, all smiles and chaos like she’s been waiting for me to call her my entire life. She’s standing behind a reception desk, looking like she just stepped out of a fashion ad in her crisp uniform.
“Aria, is that really you?” she gasps, her eyes practically bugging out of her head.
I can’t help but roll my eyes even as I sniffle. “Yeah, it’s me, Aunt Esther.”
Her face lights up. “Oh, my goddess, baby! Look at you! And you dyed your hair back to blonde-finally! You look amazing! Just glowing! Glad you didn’t listen to Ethan again.” She’s rambling now, her voice full of that trademark Esther excitement that always makes me feel like a happy pup.
My lips press together, and I fight back the tears already stinging my eyes. She doesn’t even know yet. Doesn’t know how bad things have gotten.
Her smile falters when she catches the way my shoulders slump. “Aria… what’s wrong? Oh, goddess, baby, why are you crying?”
The tears spill out like the floodgates have officially broken. I swipe at my face, but it’s useless. Where do I even start?
“I wanna go rogue like you,” I blurt out before my brain can catch up to my mouth.
“What?” she half-yells, leaning closer to the camera like she didn’t hear me right.
I take a shaky breath and meet her wide eyes. “I said, I wanna go rogue like you. I need to get the hell out of here, Aunt Esther. After New Year’s, I want to leave and come stay with you. Please. I need your help. Please….. save me.”