Aria
School’s almost over, and Lucas is still a no-show. To make things worse, he’s completely ghosted the mind-link. The only thing he managed to do was send a half-assed text saying he’d “probably” be home late.
Probably? Seriously? What the fuck is his problem today?
Annoyed, I grab my bag and head outside. Mia and Lilly left hours ago since they didn’t have any other classes and needed to study for their test. Lucky them. Meanwhile, I’ve spent my entire day bored out of my fucking mind.
I make it downstairs and head straight to my car, sliding into the driver’s seat. Finally, I’m going home. I start the engine, already fantasizing about collapsing into bed, but because the universe fucking hates me, I barely make it a few miles before my car sputters twice and then…suddenly. Dead. Right in the middle of the fucking road.
You’ve gotta be kidding me.
I slam my hands against the steering wheel before stepping out. Pop the hood like I have a damn clue what I’m looking at. I don’t. It’s all just metal and wires. Yep. Totally useless.
“What the fuck do I do now?” I mutter to myself. It’s getting late, and standing around in the middle of nowhere isn’t exactly on my to-do list.
Lucas has to talk to me now. I know he’s blocking the mind-link, so I text him instead and lean against my car, waiting. Any second now…
Nothing.
I groan, rubbing my temples when suddenly…screech. A red sports car pulls up behind mine, tires kicking up dust like it’s making some dramatic movie entrance.
The door swings open, and out steps Mark.
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
I cross my arms, eyeing him. “What the hell, dude? Are you following me or something?”
Mark’s lips curl into that cocky smirk that I refuse to find attractive. “Now, now, don’t flatter yourself,” he drawls, stepping closer. “I was on my way home, saw you looking all helpless, figured I’d play the hero.”
I scoff. “Okay, well, you’ve seen me. You can leave now.”
He tsk-tsks, shaking his head like I just said something ridiculous. “And leave you stranded? Nah, sweetheart, that’s not my style.”
His voice is all smooth and teasing, and the way he’s looking at me? Like he’s enjoying this way too much.
I roll my eyes. “I am a werewolf, in case you forgot. I can handle myself.”
Mark’s eyes darken, and for a second, there’s something…intense there. Something unreadable before he smirks again. “You really haven’t heard, have you?”
I frown. “Heard what?”
He steps in closer. Close enough that I can feel the heat rolling off him. He tilts his head slightly, studying me like he’s debating whether or not to tell me something. And damn it, the way his gaze trails down my face, lingering just a second too long on my lips, makes me feel uncomfortable.
Not because I feel anything. Nope. It’s just…ugh, whatever. It doesn’t matter.
Mark notices, though. That stupid smirk grows. “Hunters. They’re in the city. On campus, actually. Looking for supernatural creatures to kill.”
My ears perk up. “Hunters?”
Mark nods, his expression serious. “Yeah. Not just any random ones, either. Skilled ones. They don’t go down easy. Once they sense you’re not human, they follow you…wait for the perfect moment, then strike.”
I snort, crossing my arms. “Well, don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”
His lips twitch like he’s amused. “So you want me to leave you here? No ride? Nothing?” He tilts his head, watching me way too closely.
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine. You can go now.”
“Alright.” He nods and turns back toward his car, his hand on the door handle.
I last about two seconds before sighing. “Wait.”
He glances over his shoulder, raising a brow, clearly waiting for me to admit what we both know.
I take a deep breath and mutter, “I need a fucking ride.”
Mark grins. “That’s what I thought.”
A moment later, I’m in his car, arms crossed, feeling very aware of the fact that if Lucas finds out about this, he’s going to lose his damn mind.
Mark finally breaks the silence. “Your car’s gonna be fine. I asked my guys to come tow it. They’ll fix it up.”
I nod. “Thanks. Just send me the bill when they’re done.”
He scoffs. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. You’re not my boyfriend or anything, so I’d feel weird if you just did stuff like this for free.”
Mark nods like he’s letting me win this one. “Fine. If that’s what you want.” He glances at me. “Speaking of boyfriends… where’s yours?”
I don’t answer. Not like it’s any of his damn business.
Mark chuckles, shaking his head. “Shouldn’t he be the one doing this? Coming to pick you up?”
I sigh. “Something came up. He’s busy.”
Mark scoffs. “That’s not an excuse. You’re his girlfriend. His mate. He should always protect you.”
That makes me pause. My eyes narrow. “How do you know about us? That we’re werewolves?”
He smirks but keeps his eyes on the road. “You’ll find out… soon enough.”
Before I can question him further, he pulls up in front of my apartment. It’s already dark, the streetlights casting long shadows.
We step out, and I turn to face him. “Thanks for everything. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”
Mark’s smile is slow, deliberate. “My pleasure. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.”
“Alright, see you-”
I don’t get to finish.
One second, I’m standing there, and the next, Mark grabs me, yanking me against his chest just as a car screeches past, nearly clipping me.
My hands clutch at his jacket instinctively, my heart thundering in my chest.
When I look up, his eyes are locked onto mine…intense, curious, like he’s searching for something. The moment stretches too long, heat creeping up my neck, but I shake it off.
And that’s when I hear it.
“What’s going on here?”
That voice.
I immediately shove myself away from Mark, spinning around to find Lucas standing there…jaw clenched, fists tight, looking fucking pissed.