Aria
What the fuck is this woman talking about? No ordinary werewolf?
I blink at her, trying to process the bullshit. “I don’t understand what you mean,” I say, folding my arms.
Jane opens her mouth like she’s about to spill some deep, dark secret-but then she snaps it shut the second Sarita and her mate, Kevin, step into the living room.
“I hope you’re not feeding Aria one of your delusional bedtime stories, Jane,” Sarita says, throwing her a sharp look.
Jane rolls her eyes. “Nonsense. Aria and I were just getting to know each other. You can ask her to confirm it.” She waves a hand, acting all casual.
Sarita crosses her arms. “Oh, so you’re not gonna ask me how my father is doing, huh? You didn’t even get up from that chair when he collapsed.”
Jane sighs dramatically. “I was angry, okay? I mean, your brother caused it. He pushed Marcus.”
Sarita’s jaw locks. “Watch your damn mouth and don’t talk nonsense about my brother, you shameless woman.”
“Sarita, please don’t speak to my mother like that,” Mark chimes in from the couch.
“I’ll speak to her however the fuck I want! Your mother is nothing but a home-wrecking, gold-digging bitch!”
Jane lets out a little scoff, followed by the fakest ha-ha-ha laugh I’ve ever heard, and honestly? It pisses Sarita off more.
“I didn’t do it alone, dear,” Jane drawls, smirking. “Your father kept coming back. He was the one saying he loved me, that he couldn’t live without me. Oh, and that your mother-” she leans in, eyes gleaming “-bored him to death.”
Oh. She did not just go there.
This fucking witch.
Sarita’s whole body tenses like she’s ready to pounce.
Jane gives a little shrug, all smug. “Don’t hate the player, honey. Hate the game.”
I swear, if Sarita could throw hands right now, she would. “You’re a fucking loser, you bitch! I bet you think you’ve already won, huh? Convinced my father to give you a piece of his wealth? Over my dead body!”
Jane sighs like she’s bored, then stands up, smoothing out her very expensive dress. “I don’t have time for this nonsense. I need some fresh air. My darling Marcus is dying, and this is all you have to say to me?”
Sarita snaps. “My father is not dying, you bitch!” she yells, but Jane just strides toward the door majestically.
Kevin steps in, wrapping his arms around Sarita. “Babe, please, calm down.”
“Did you hear what she said?” Sarita hisses, her eyes practically on fire.
Kevin sighs. “Yeah. And you just threatened to murder her. Let’s get some actual fresh air.”
Sarita groans but storms out of the house anyway, dragging Kevin with her.
Which leaves me…stuck here. With Mark.
I refuse to acknowledge his existence. Instead, I scan the massive, luxurious-ass living room, pretending the marble tiles and gold accents are way more interesting than his pathetic face.
After a long-ass silence, Mark finally speaks. “So… you’re just gonna ignore me forever?”
“Yes.” I don’t even hesitate. “And I suggest you do the same.”
“Aria… you’re right to not trust me,” he admits, voice low. “If I were in your shoes, I’d probably do the same thing. I mean, yeah…I knew you were with Lucas before I approached you.”
I snap my head toward him. “Oh my goddess, you did that on purpose, didn’t you? You bumped into me on purpose.”
Mark bites his lip and nods, looking guilty as hell.
I scoff. “You’re so pathetic. You did all that just to get under the skin of your half-brother, who…by the way…has done nothing to you?”
He looks away, jaw clenched. “You don’t understand, Aria.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Oh, please. Enlighten me.”
He exhales sharply. “All my life, I grew up without a father. And not because he was dead, no. He was alive. He just… chose not to be in my life. Meanwhile, Lucas had everything. He got to grow up with him. How is that fair?”
And there it is. The classic daddy issues.
“And what about his mom, huh?” I snap, narrowing my eyes at Mark. “Your mother is the reason Lucas didn’t grow up with his. She fucking died…because of all the pain Alpha Marcus and your mother put her through.”
Mark flinches like I just slapped him. “Aria, I’m sorry,” he mutters, his eyes practically begging me to listen.
But nah. Not happening.
Lucas is my mate. My man. There’s no fucking way I’d ever do anything to betray him.
I push off the couch. “Yeah, well, I don’t have shit left to say to you.”
Mark jumps up, too. “Wait…where are you going?”
“Anywhere but here.”
“Aria, please wait.” He moves to follow me.
I spin around, jabbing a finger at him. “Don’t follow me, Mark.”
“Just hear me out first.”
My patience is hanging by a damn thread. “What? What more could you possibly have to say that you haven’t already said?”
He hesitates for a second, then drops the bomb. “I… I haven’t told you the real reason I’m here. It’s actually because of you.”
I let out the biggest scoff and roll my eyes so fucking hard. “Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You are shameless, you know that? Lucas is supposed to be your brother.”
Mark shakes his head quickly. “No, you don’t get it. I mean… I came here for you. Because of who you are.” He takes a deep breath. “Aria, did you know your mother was originally from the Moon River Pack? Same as my mom?”
My brow furrows. “Moon River Pack?” I’ve never heard of it. But before I can process that, I fix him with a glare. “And why the fuck should I believe anything you say?”
“Because…” He exhales sharply. “We were sent here. By the Alpha. Your father.”
My brain short-circuits.
What the fuck did he just say?
My father is dead.
My heart slams against my ribs, but before I can demand an explanation, a voice cuts in from the stairs.
“Aria… you alright?”
I whip my head around.
Lucas.
His eyes are already cold the second they land on Mark.
“I’m fine,” I say quickly. “I’m just…”
Mark jumps in before I can even form a thought. “We were just clearing the air. I was actually apologizing for keeping this from her.”
I shoot him a look. Honestly, I’m kinda glad he spoke up because man, I’m still fucking flustered.
Lucas stays at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed, watching us with zero trust. “There’s no justification for your deceit. You can keep your apologies to yourself,” he tells Mark, voice flat. Then, he turns to me. “Come on, Aria. My father’s awake. He wants to speak to you.”
I freeze.
Because, holy shit, my brain is still catching up to what Mark just said.
My father isn’t Kane?
No. That’s fucking ridiculous. Mark’s a liar. That’s all he’s ever been.
Mark must see the hesitation on my face because he gives me this small, almost reassuring smile. “Go on, Aria. We’ll have time to talk later.”
I swallow hard, nodding before dragging myself toward the stairs.
But my mind? It’s a fucking mess.
Kane isn’t my real father? No, fuck that. I’m overthinking this.
Lucas walks beside me, and suddenly, his arm is wrapped around my waist. His warmth grounds me a little.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asks, voice softer now.
“Yeah,” I mumble.
He stops walking. “You look a little… flustered.”
I plaster on a forced-ass smile. “I’m fine. Come on.”
Lucas doesn’t look convinced, but he nods, leading the way up the steps.
“My dad says he has something urgent to tell you,” he adds, watching me closely.
I arch a brow. “Oh yeah?”
He nods.
A humorless laugh bubbles up in my chest. “I wonder what he wanna say.”
First Mark drops his insane bombshell, and now Lucas’s dad wants to drop another?
It’s like the whole damn world is conspiring to turn my life upside down.