Lucas
We burst into the public bathhouse, panting like we just ran a damn marathon. Which, technically, we kinda did. Ten minutes of non-stop running, ducking behind corners, and nearly knocking over a fruit stand…all to shake off my father’s warriors.
I scan the room, my chest still heaving. Doesn’t seem like anyone followed us. Just a few people scattered around, some on their phones, others chatting quietly, and a couple of homeless folks dozing off in the corners. Thank fuck.
Aria’s still gasping for air beside me. “Are you sure we lost them?” she asks between breaths.
I nod, still a little winded myself. “I think so. Come on, let’s find a spot to stay.”
I lead us to a quiet corner, and we drop down onto a mat. My heart’s still hammering, but at least we can finally breathe.
For a second, I think we’re good…until I hear a soft sniffle.
I glance over. Aria’s crying.
Fuck.
“Aria,” I say, shifting closer and wrapping an arm around her. “What’s wrong, baby? You okay?”
She shakes her head, refusing to meet my eyes. “It’s all my fault,” she murmurs. “This whole thing… it’s happening because of me.”
My chest tightens. “Aria, don’t say that.”
“No, Lucas… it is.” Her voice cracks, and more tears spill down her cheeks. “Because of me, Damon’s hurt.”
Damn it. Seeing her like this is fucking killing me.
I pull her into me, rubbing slow circles on her back. “It’s okay,” I whisper against her hair. “Damon will be fine, I promise.”
She hiccups a sob. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, baby. He’s a tough bastard, remember? He’s not going down that easy.” I kiss her forehead gently. “So stop blaming yourself. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I’m the reason all this shit is happening. So if you wanna be mad at someone, be mad at me.”
She doesn’t say anything, just buries her face deeper into my chest. I tighten my hold around her, letting her cry it out. I get it. This whole situation is fucked. But at this point, I don’t care about anything except keeping her safe.
After a while, her breathing evens out, and she finally relaxes. I ease her down onto the pillow beside me, then lay down next to her on the mat.
“You cold?” I ask, brushing my fingers across her cheek.
She nods, all small and innocent.
I don’t even hesitate, I wrap her up against my chest, pulling her in tight.
Then she laughs.
“What?” I frown down at her.
She grins, mischief twinkling in her tear-streaked eyes. “I was just kidding.”
I smirk. “Oh, you think that’s funny?” I squeeze her tighter, refusing to let go.
She giggles again, and damn if it doesn’t make my heart swell. That’s all I want, to hear her laugh, to see her smile again.
“Lucas,” she says after a moment.
“Mm?”
“Do you have a dream?”
I blink. That… catches me off guard.
“Uh… not really,” I admit.
Aria tilts her head up, staring at me like I just said the dumbest thing in the world. “How is that possible? How can you not have a dream?”
I chuckle, stroking her hair. “I guess I never thought about it.”
She huffs, poking my chest. “Well, you should think about it. Everybody should have a dream, Lucas.”
I just smile, watching her get all worked up. “I do have one,” I say eventually.
Her brows lift. “Oh yeah? What is it?”
I brush my lips against her forehead, holding her close. “You.”
Her breath catches, and for a moment, she just stares at me. Then she shakes her head with a small laugh, hiding her face against my chest.
“You’re such a flirt,” she mumbles.
“And you love it,” I tease, kissing the top of her head.
She doesn’t argue. Just snuggles closer.
“Well, I did have a dream,” I say, my voice turning more serious. “But after my mom died, it kinda flew out the window.”
Aria’s face shifts instantly, and she rests her head back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling.
Shit.
I run a hand through my hair. “Damn, I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to remind you of..”
She turns to face me with a soft smile. “It’s alright.”
Still, guilt tugs at me.
“I just… I don’t know much about them,” she murmurs.
I exhale, my fingers grazing over the edge of the pillow. “I wish I knew more too. But my mom remembered them fondly, especially your mother. She was her best friend.” I pause, watching her expression shift. “And your parents? They weren’t low-ranking omegas, Aria. They came from a well-respected family.”
She blinks in surprise before scoffing lightly. “And here I was, thinking I was just a pack runt all this time.” Then her eyes soften as she looks at me. “Your mom seemed like a good person.”
“She was,” I say, resting my head on my palm. “Kind, humble, sweet… my father didn’t deserve her.” My jaw tightens at the memories that surface. “Seeing her get abused…both physically and mentally, fucked me up, Aria. I felt so weak, so damn powerless that I couldn’t do anything to stop him. And when we got older, at least Sarita left. But me? I stayed. I was too much of a coward to leave.”
Aria shifts closer, her fingers tracing gently along my cheek. “You’re not a coward, Lucas,” she says, “you’re brave.”
I wish I believed that.
I lean into her touch, my eyes fluttering shut for a second before I sigh. “Anyway, back to your question. Seeing my mom so broken from all that trauma and pain… I wanted to be a doctor.”
Aria snorts.
I raise an eyebrow. “Yo, what the hell was that?”
She laughs, shaking her head. “You? A doctor?”
I scoff, pretending to be offended. “Have you forgotten? I’m top of the academy. Straight A’s and everything.”
Aria crosses her arms, smirking. “I thought that was mostly because your dad is the chairman of the academy.”
I gasp dramatically. “Wow. The disrespect.”
She shrugs. “Don’t blame me. You’re mostly known for being a fuckboy.”
I can’t help but laugh because… yeah, fair point.
“Alright, smartass,” I nudge her playfully. “What about you? What’s your dream?”
She sighs, resting on her palm as she faces me. “Honestly? I don’t know. I don’t know what I wanna be, but… maybe someone who can uplift people, you know?”
“So, like… a therapist?”
“Maybe,” she says with a small smile. “I thought about going to college for psychology or something. My friends and I actually planned to go to this university together-Long Range University. It’s in New York.”
I frown, thinking. “Never heard of it.”
She waves a hand. “It’s nothing fancy. Not your kind of rich-boy university.”
I chuckle, resting my head back on the pillow. “Damn. How great would it be to go to the same college as you?”
She snorts. “Except we’re broke.”
I laugh too, turning my head to look at her. But as soon as I do, I forget how to fucking breathe.
Her green eyes…. bright and warm, lock onto mine. And fuck, she’s so damn beautiful.
Aria rolls her eyes. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Staring at me like you wanna fuck me.”
I shrug, my smirk widening. “Well… I do.”
She smirks right back. “Too bad. You can’t do it in public.”
“Says who?” I whisper, leaning closer. “All I need is my fingers, baby. I’ll work that tight little pussy of yours until you cum undone. You’ll just have to bite your lip because, let’s be real, you scream when you cum.”
Aria’s jaw drops, and she glares at me, but her cheeks turn bright fucking red.
So. Damn. Cute.
I grin. “You’re adorable when you blush, you know that?”
Before she can respond, my phone starts ringing.
Aria immediately sits up. “Who’s calling? Is it Damon?”
I sit up too, staring at the screen. My stomach drops.
It is Damon’s number. And it’s a video call.
But something feels off.
Damon should be down after that hit.
Aria nudges me. “Maybe it wasn’t lethal. Come on, answer it.”
I sigh, hesitating for a second before swiping to accept the call.
The screen lights up… and my father’s face fills it.
Fuck.