Aria
The moment I step forward, every eye in the room lands on me. The air shifts like everyone’s holding their breath, waiting to see if I’ve finally lost my mind. Joke’s on them-maybe I have. But I’m done playing the quiet little omega everyone can step on. Tonight, it’s my turn to speak, and they’re damn well gonna listen.
I take a deep breath, my palms clammy as hell, but I don’t let it show. “Ethan,” I say, my voice slicing through the room like a knife. “I’ve got something to say to you and to everyone here. Just because the Moon Goddess decided to bless you with a position of power doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re better than the rest of us. It doesn’t mean you get to treat people like trash just ’cause they’re of lower rank.”
Ethan’s eyebrows shoot up, his mouth opening to interrupt, but I don’t let him. I throw a hand up like I’m shutting down a toddler mid-tantrum. “Nah, don’t even start. I’m not done.”
I take a step forward, my hands trembling but clenched into fists. “You know what’s funny? I gave you my heart, Ethan. I fucking gave you everything I had. And what did you do? You cheated on me, humiliated me, and have been blackmailing me ever since. All because I’m a ‘lowly’ omega? Tell me, did I create myself? Did I ask to be born a so-called pack runt? Or was it the Moon Goddess? So why the hell are you acting like I chose this life?”
The crowd stares, wide-eyed and silent, like I just dropped an F-bomb during a Disney movie. Good. Let them squirm.
“I’m done with your shit,” I say, pointing directly at Ethan. “I’m done with your insults, your threats, and your fake-ass interest. You know what this cruise showed me? That you’re nothing but a pathetic, abusive, narcissistic bastard. So guess what? I want nothing to do with you anymore.”
Gasps ripple through the crowd, and Ethan looks like I just slapped him with a brick. I don’t stop there, though. Hell no.
“And as for the rest of you,” I say, turning to face the gawking crowd, “you can laugh all you want about me getting rejected by two alphas. Call me a pack runt, a traitor’s daughter, whatever the hell you want. But know this.. I’m not weak. I’m not worthless. I’m a wolf just like you, and if you can’t see that, then that’s your damn problem. Not mine.”
My chest heaves as I wipe away the single tear that betrays me, threatening to fall. I turn to leave, but then I pause, spinning back around with one final bomb to drop. “Oh, and before I forget,” I say, my voice loud and clear, “I, Aria Whitlock, officially renounce the Full Moon Pack. Fuck you, Ethan, and fuck that pack.”
The deck explodes with cheers, and to my surprise, some of them are actually chanting my name. Ethan looks like someone just kicked his puppy-or maybe his ego. Either way, he deserves it.
Before I can fully process the moment, Vanessa grabs a mic, her expression hard as steel. “I have something to say too,” she announces. “I, Vanessa James, reject Alpha Ethan Stevens as my mate. Fuck you, Ethan, and fuck the idea of being your Luna. You’re an abusive asshole, and I’m done!”
She slams the mic down with dramatic flair before storming off, leaving Ethan looking like he’s been hit by a truck. I feel a surge of pride for Vanessa. That took guts, especially considering her family’s ties to Ethan’s. She’s no coward…that’s for damn sure.
Mia and Lily rush to me, wrapping me in a group hug that nearly knocks the wind out of me. “That was epic,” Mia says, her voice thick with emotion.
“Yeah, we’re so damn proud of you,” Lily adds, her arms squeezing me tighter.
“Thanks, guys,” I manage to say. Tears stream down my face, but for once, they don’t feel like tears of defeat.
When they pull away, Mia gently wipes my face. “You were so brave,” she smiles.
I’m about to respond when I see him-Lucas. He’s walking toward me, looking like he just stepped out of a goddamn romance novel. His red button-down clings to his muscular chest, and those black pants? Let’s just say they’re doing him a favor. I feel my heart stumble, but I steel myself. Not tonight.
“Don’t worry, girl,” Mia whispers as Lucas stops in front of me. “We’re not leaving your side.”
“Aria,” Lucas says, his voice low and almost… pleading? “Can we talk?”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you, Alpha-” Mia starts, but I cut her off with a raised hand.
“It’s okay,” I say, surprising even myself.
“Are you sure?” Lily asks, concerned. I nod.
As they walk away, Mia throws a warning glance over her shoulder. “Call us if you need anything.”
I turn back to Lucas, my arms crossed. “Make it quick.”
“Aria… that night…” Lucas’s voice is low, almost like he’s scared I’ll bolt any second. Good instincts. “I was drunk because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I felt like I was suffocating without you.”
I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. “Get to the point, Lucas. I don’t have all night.” My voice is sharp, but honestly? I’m just trying not to cry. Not yet.
He hesitates, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up. “When we got back to my suite, I passed out on the bed. Then Serena got on top of me and kissed me-”
I hold up a hand to stop him. “Spare me the dramatic pause. I’m not stupid. Keep going.” My tone is ice, but my heart feels like it’s been shredded.
Lucas’s jaw tightens, and he nods. “I swear I pushed her off. I didn’t… I didn’t sleep with her. Nothing happened. She set up a damn camera to make it look worse, but I swear to you, Aria-”
“It’s fine,” I cut him off, forcing a laugh that sounds about as real as a unicorn existing. “Honestly, I didn’t even feel any pain, so yeah, nothing happened, right? We’re good.” My smile is so fake it hurts my cheeks.
He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve been more careful-”
“I hear you,” I interrupt again, lifting my brows. “Anything else, or is that it?”
Lucas stares at me like I just slapped him. “I… uh…”
“Got it. Thanks for sharing.” I turn and start walking away, my legs trembling with every step. My chest feels tight, like my ribs are caving in, but I keep moving. No way in hell am I letting him see me break. Not again.
“Aria!” His voice booms over the mic, stopping me dead in my tracks.
Oh, for fuck’s sake. I slowly turn around, and there he is, standing on stage with the mic in his hand. Everyone’s staring now. Great, just what I needed…a live audience for my personal soap opera.