Aria
My mind is a fucking mess. For the past hour, I’ve been stuck in a loop, thinking about Lucas. I hope he’s okay, wherever the hell he is. I fucking miss him, and it’s driving me insane. Worrying about him isn’t doing me any good, but try telling my brain that.
The door swings open, and Mark strolls in, dragging my bag behind him like it personally offended him. “Here, I got it,” he says, dropping it on the floor with a thud.
I exhale in relief. Thank the goddess. I needed my damn clothes. Mark had insisted on going to Lucas’ apartment to grab them, even when I told him not to bother. Now, I’m grateful he didn’t listen.
I push myself up from the couch, my mind snapping back to another, more pressing issue. “And the body… is it still there?”
Mark shrugs. “You don’t have to worry. It’s been taken care of.”
I narrow my eyes. “What do you mean, taken care of?”
He holds my gaze, completely unbothered. “I took care of it.”
Something about the way he says it sends a chill down my spine. It’s too casual, like this isn’t his first time cleaning up a mess like this. I don’t know whether to be grateful or freaked the hell out.
After a pause, I finally manage, “Thanks.”
I let my eyes roam around his apartment. It’s my first time actually paying attention, and damn, the place is nice. The living room is modern and sleek-expensive marble floors, recessed ceiling lights, and elegant furniture.
“Your apartment isn’t bad,” I note, crossing my arms.
Mark smirks, leaning against the wall. “My mom got it for me. She wanted me to be comfortable.”
Rich boy energy. Figures.
“I’ll just stay the night and leave tomorrow,” I say, trying to keep my voice firm.
Mark’s smirk grows into something else…something that makes my skin heat up. “I don’t mind you staying longer.”
I shoot him a glare.
He laughs, holding up his hands. “Relax. I’m just messing with you.” His eyes linger on me for a second longer than necessary before he sobers up. “But maybe you should actually think about what I said. You need to go home, Aria.”
I exhale, rubbing my temples. “You said my father sent my mom away when she was pregnant…to protect us. So why now? Why should I go back? What’s changed? I bet it’s still just as dangerous.”
Mark crosses his arms, watching me closely. “Because all your father’s enemies know you’re alive now. He’s the only one who can protect you.”
I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Protect me? I don’t even know this guy. Birth father or not, how do I trust him? What’s his name again?”
“Alpha Marcel,” Mark says.
“Yeah, Alpha Marcel,” I repeat, the name feeling foreign in my mouth. “Maybe it’s better if I don’t dig into the past.” I reach for a flower vase on the shelf, absentmindedly sniffing the petals. Anything to keep my hands busy.
Mark watches me, his gaze steady. “So you’re okay with just being an omega?” His voice is quieter now, but there’s something sharp in it. “I’ve heard about everything that happened to you, Aria. How you were treated. Even by my father.”
I stiffen.
“You’re the daughter of an alpha,” he continues. “You’re more than this. You’re strong.”
I scoff, setting the vase back down. “I don’t feel strong.”
“That’s why you need to come with me,” Mark says, stepping closer. “Your father will train you, unlock your potential. You’ll see how strong you are, how powerful you’re meant to be.”
“Alright… I’ll go. But only after telling Lucas. I’m not leaving without talking to him first.”
His jaw tightens. “And what if he doesn’t want you to go?”
“I’ll convince him. He won’t stop me,” I say, maybe a little too confidently. “I trust him.”
Mark doesn’t look convinced.
“Besides,” I add, crossing my arms, “why the hell were those hunters after me in the first place?”
“They’re hunters, Aria. They go after supernatural creatures. It’s what they do.”
“Yeah, no shit,” I mutter. “But how did they know what I was?”
Mark shrugs, already dragging my bag inside like the conversation is over. “They have their ways. You need to be more careful.”
I follow him, still not entirely convinced. Something about all of this feels… off. And something about him feels even more off. There’s a mystery there, just beneath the surface, and I can’t shake the feeling that he’s not telling me everything.
We step into a well-organized bedroom, and I stop dead in my tracks. “Wait. This is your room.”
Mark nods. “It is. You can stay here.”
I fold my arms. “And where exactly are you sleeping?”
He starts to say something, but I cut him off, raising a hand. “And don’t say ‘together.'”
His laugh is deep, a little too amused. “I was gonna say the couch, but now that you mention it…”
“Mark,” I warn.
“Relax.” He smirks. “I’ll stay in the living room. Unless, of course, you want me to stay here.”
I snatch my bag from his hands and glare at him. He just chuckles, clearly enjoying this.
“Why don’t you freshen up while I start dinner?” he suggests, eyes flicking over me for just a second too long.
I don’t argue. A hot shower sounds perfect right now.
By the time I come back, dressed in my comfiest PJs with my hair tied up in a bun, the apartment smells amazing. Mark’s at the kitchen counter, flipping an omelet like he actually knows what he’s doing.
“Wow, that smells good,” I say, inhaling the rich, buttery scent. “Didn’t know you could cook.”
Mark glances at me over his shoulder, flashing a cocky grin. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
He plates the omelet and slides it toward me, along with a cup of coffee. “Come sit.”
I take the seat across from him, aware of his eyes lingering on me as I grab my fork. Thank the goddess I wore my PJs and not one of my sexy nighties. I don’t trust Mark that much.
I take a bite, and damn, it’s good.
“This is really good,” I say, surprised. “Like, really good.”
Mark smirks. “I put my all into it. Glad you like it.”
We eat in silence for a while, but my mind is spinning too much to stay quiet. “Mark,” I say, setting down my fork. “My father. What’s he like?”
Mark exhales, leaning back slightly. “Alpha Marcel… he’s a great alpha. Moon River used to be one of the top three packs in North America, but after a war with a rival pack, it took a hit. When your father took over, he started rebuilding. The warriors are stronger, the pack’s growing again…”
I watch his expression closely. He believes in this man. That much is clear.
“Does he… have another family?” I ask, and I don’t miss the slight hesitation in Mark’s eyes.
He clears his throat. “He did. After your mother died, he remarried.”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. Of course, he did.
Mark sighs, running a hand through his hair. “He loved her, Aria. A lot. He waited a long time before he remarried.”
I cross my arms, not sure why this annoys me so much. Maybe because this is the first I’m hearing of it. Maybe because it makes him sound like a real person and not just the absent asshole in my head.
“And kids?” I ask. “Does he have any?”
Mark nods. “A son.”
I nearly choke on my coffee. “He has a son?”
“Yeah,” Mark says, watching me carefully. “But it doesn’t matter. You’re the true heir.”
I let out a short, bitter laugh. “That’s insane. I don’t wanna be part of some alpha throne bullshit. Especially not with all the weird tension between you and Lucas.”
Mark huffs. “Nothing’s going on between me and Lucas.”
I raise a brow. “Right. And I’m the fucking Tooth Fairy.”
He glares at me but doesn’t argue. Instead, he leans forward slightly, his voice dropping. “You’re special, Aria.”
“You keep saying that, but I don’t feel special, Mark. At all.”
“You will,” he says, eyes locked onto mine. There’s something about the way he’s looking at me, like he sees something I don’t. Like he wants something I haven’t figured out yet.
And that? That makes me nervous.
I push back from the table, suddenly needing distance. “I’m going to bed.”
Mark watches me as I grab my plate and take it to the sink. He doesn’t stop me, doesn’t say anything else.
But I can still feel his eyes on me, burning into my skin like a damn brand.
…
The next morning, Mark insists on driving me to campus. I insist I’d rather walk barefoot across broken glass.
Guess who wins?
The entire ride, I keep my arms crossed, glaring at the road like it personally offended me.
“Drop me off here,” I say just as we near my faculty block.
Mark frowns. “We’re not there yet.”
“Yeah, no shit. I don’t want anyone seeing us together. It’ll spark some stupid-ass, baseless rumor, and I don’t need that drama.”
He rolls his eyes but pulls over anyway. “You know, you shouldn’t give a fuck what people think…”
“I don’t,” I cut in. “I’m protecting my relationship with my mate.”
Something shifts in his expression, but he doesn’t argue. He just watches me for a second before gripping the wheel a little too tightly and driving off without another word.
No goodbye. No teasing remark. Not even a glance back.
What the fuck is his problem?
I shake it off and head toward the building, climbing the stairs to our usual spot in the hallway. Mia and Lily are already there, but they aren’t alone. Damon and Theo sit with them, looking way too comfortable.
“Aria!” Damon waves.
Theo nods in greeting. “Hey.”
Mia tilts her head at me. “You look… I don’t know…”
“Dull,” Lily supplies helpfully. “And your eyes are puffy.”
Mia narrows her eyes. “Have you been crying?”
Suddenly, I have four pairs of eyes locked onto me like they’re my personal intervention squad.
“What? No,” I say, rubbing my eyes, even though I totally was crying. They don’t look convinced, so I sigh and tell them about my conversation with Lucas last night.
Theo nods like that explains everything. “So that’s why he’s been ghosting us.” He frowns. “I don’t know, Aria… something’s off with him.”
“Yeah… he hasn’t seemed like himself these past few days,” Damon says, rubbing the back of his neck. “And he won’t tell us shit.”
I sigh, leaning back against the wall. “He says he needs some time alone… I don’t know, guys. I just wish I could make him happy.”
Mia gives me a soft look and places a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t blame yourself, Aria. Look at Lucas’s life right now…he’s dealing with a fucking lot. Just give him time, okay?”
“I hope so,” I murmur, nodding.
“So… you’re not going back to his father’s mansion?” Theo asks, tilting his head.
“It’d be weird since Lucas isn’t there,” Lily says.
“But Sarita’s there,” Damon points out.
“Doesn’t matter,” I shrug. “It’s not the same without him.”
Mia eyes me for a second, then arches a brow. “So you’re staying alone in his apartment?”
And just like that, my brain flashes back to last night. The attack. The fact that I’m at Mark’s place. Yeah, definitely not telling them that. They’d freak out, and the last thing I need is a full-blown intervention.
“Uh… no,” I say quickly. “I’m staying with Aunt Esther.”
Mia narrows her eyes. “But her place is far from campus.”
Fuck. She knows I’m lying. I can feel it.
Before I can dig myself a deeper hole, Damon suddenly jumps to his feet, eyes sharp with urgency. “We have a problem. Sarita just told me Lucas is in trouble.”
I shoot up quickly. “That’s impossible…I’d know if something happened to my mate.” My heart pounds as I focus. “I’ll try mind-linking him.”
I reach through our bond, pushing all my focus into finding him. But all I get is silence. Nothing. Like he doesn’t even exist.
Panic creeps in.
Lily watches me closely. “Did it work?” she asks, voice laced with worry.
Slowly, I shake my head. “No. It’s dead silent.”
And that? That scares the shit out of me.