DANGEROUS ATTRACTION

CHAPTER 3

Aria watched Isabella disappear into the crowd.

The woman's words echoed in her mind.

"Sooner or later, she'll find out exactly what you are."

A chill ran down her spine.

She turned to Damien. The easy atmosphere they had shared moments ago was gone.

In its place was tension. Questions, Secrets

"Who exactly was she?" Aria asked.

Damien's jaw tightened.

"Someone I used to know."

Aria folded her arms."That answer doesn't tell me anything."

A faint smile appeared on Damien's lips.

"You're persistent."

"And you're avoiding the question."

For a moment, their eyes locked.

Then Damien sighed. "She's my ex-fiancée."

Aria blinked.

That was not the answer she had expected.

"Ex-fiancée?"

"Yes."

"And she clearly isn't over you."

"That's her problem."

Something about his tone made Aria laugh.

The sound surprised both of them.

_______

Across the rooftop, the crowd was thinning out.

Sophia had returned briefly from dancing but had gotten distracted again, laughing with a group of producers near the edge of the bar.

She hadn’t noticed Aria missing for a few minutes.

Which was exactly why Aria was still there.

Alone with Damien.

And that thought should have alarmed her more than it did.

For the first time all night, Damien looked genuinely relaxed.

His eyes were softened. And suddenly, Aria became aware of how close they were standing.

Too close , Close enough to notice every detail of his face.

The sharp line of his jaw.

The dark intensity in his eyes.

The faint scent that lingered around him.

Something wild. Something impossible to describe.

She could hear her headtbeat that she immediately looked away.

Bad idea.This was a very bad idea.

She had literally caught her boyfriend cheating a few hours ago.

The last thing she needed was another man.

Especially one as dangerous as Damien Blackwood.

"You're thinking too much." His deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

Aria frowned.

"How do you know?"

"Because your forehead wrinkles when you're worried."

Her eyes widened. "You noticed that?"

"I notice everything."

The answer sent unexpected warmth through her chest.

Jason had dated her for three years and never paid attention to little things like that.

Yet Damien had known her for only a few hours.

And somehow, he saw more.

"This is wrong , very wrong." Aria muttered quietly

Across the rooftop, Isabella watched them from the shadows.

Her fingernails dug into her palm. The sight made her blood boil.

Damien never looked at anyone that way.

Never. Not even her.

Something was wrong. The moment she arrived at the party, she had sensed it.

The Alpha King's wolf was reacting.

To a human, impossible unless....

Her eyes widened.

"No."

The realization hit her instantly.

Mate.

The human actress was Damien's mate.

Rage surged through her. After everything she had sacrificed.

After years spent securing her position beside Damien.

A human woman was going to take it all away?

Over her dead body.

Back on the rooftop, Aria's phone vibrated.

She glanced at the screen.

Jason.

Even though she had blocked him, he was using another number.

The text message made her stomach turn.

"Please talk to me. I made a mistake."

A mistake. As if betrayal could be reduced to a simple mistake.

Her expression darkened.

Damien noticed immediately , “ What happened?"

"Nothing."

His gaze remained fixed on her.

Clearly unconvinced. Aria sighed.

"My ex-boyfriend."

Understanding flashed across Damien's face.

"The one who hurt you." She nodded.

Anger flickered through Damien's eyes.

A strange reaction, considering he barely knew her .

Yet the thought of another man making his mate cry awakened something dark inside him.

His wolf growled. Mine.

Damien ignored it.

Barely.

"Block him again," he said.

Aria laughed. “You're very bossy."

"Only when necessary."

The corner of her mouth lifted. And Damien realized something alarming.

He liked making her smile. Far more than he should.

Hours later, the party finally began to die down.

Most guests had already left.

The city lights sparkled beneath them.

The night felt endless.

Neither of them seemed eager to leave.

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then Damien stood. "Come with me."

Aria looked up. "What?"

"I know a place."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “A secret location?"

"Something like that."

His mysterious smile did absolutely nothing to reassure her.

Yet strangely enough...

She trusted him. More than she probably should.

"Fine," she said.

"But if you're secretly a serial killer, I'm leaving."

Damien laughed. A genuine laugh.

Deep and warm.

The sound sent butterflies through her stomach.

Neither of them noticed the pair of glowing eyes watching from the darkness below.

Or the black SUV parked across the street.

Inside sat Isabella.

Her expression is cold and calculating and deadly.

As she watched Damien lead Aria away, she picked up her phone.

"It's me," she said.

Her voice was icy.

"Find out everything about Aria Johnson."

She ended the call. A cruel smile slowly appeared on her lips.

Because if Aria thought her biggest problem was a cheating boyfriend.

She was about to learn how wrong she was.