#Chapter 4: First Kiss

Aria

My father’s house was far bigger and grander on the inside than it appeared on the outside—and that was saying something, because the outside was fucking incredible.

Inside, polished hardwood floors gave way to walls with beautifully intricate wallpaper and ornate stained glass windows. The spiral staircase in the large foyer stretched high above, spanning three floors with circular balconies looking down over where we stood.

The entire space was lavishly furnished, with lifelike artwork depicting various scenes hanging on the walls—still lifes, nature scenes, abstract art, and even portraits.

One portrait in particular caught my eye. It depicted a man with dark hair and even darker eyes. He was handsome in an otherworldly kind of way, which I supposed made sense, because he wasn’t a human. He was a werewolf; I could tell because I recognized him, even without ever having seen him, as my father.

Because he looked like me.

I supposed that was why my mother never truly loved me. With my dark brown hair and nearly black eyes and my brow that always seemed to furrow a little in the middle, I looked too much like the man who had left her with a little girl to raise all on her own.

And, as I had just learned today, he’d left her for another woman.

His “mate”.

The word sent a jolt of bitterness through me. I’d discovered today that werewolves were real, but instead of joy and awe, I mostly just felt angry. Angry because these creatures cared more about “fated mates” than the humans who fell for them.

“Do you have a mate?” I asked, glancing at Ethan, who was standing beside me with his hands in his pockets. I was still wearing his jacket, still surrounded by that oddly comforting scent.

He tore his gaze away from my father’s portrait for the briefest moment to curtly say, “Yes.”

For some reason, a sour feeling washed over me, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable wearing his jacket. Ethan cleared his throat and gestured to the stairs. “Your room is on the second floor. Eighth door on the right.”

“That’s a lot of rooms.”

“You’ll memorize them all in no time. There are clothes for you in the wardrobe—they should be your size, although we can get things tailored over time if you need. For now, just try to find something suitable for tonight’s rally. A nice dress should suffice. Just don’t take too long, because it’s starting soon.”

I nodded and handed Ethan back his jacket. He hesitated for a moment then took it, our fingers brushing briefly before I turned and quickly made my way upstairs.

I was halfway down the second-floor hall, which was just as vast and lavish as the first floor, when I heard a door open behind me. I heard footsteps, and when I glanced over my shoulder, I noticed that a young man with dark hair pulled back into a bun at the back of his head was wandering down the hall.

Or at least, he was wandering down the hall with his hands in his pockets, whistling to himself like he was on a stroll. But really, I knew he was following me—because he stopped when I stopped and moved when I moved.

“If you’re going to follow me,” I called out, “you could be a little less obvious. Or at least tell me which door I should go through.” There really were a lot of rooms, and I couldn’t remember if Ethan had said the right side or the left.

The man seemed a little surprised, then beamed and closed the distance between us. “You must be Aria.” He tilted his head, gray eyes studying me briefly before he stuck his hand out. “I’m Lucas Ashford. Son of Gamma Marlowe Ashford.”

I didn’t comment on the fact that I had little idea what a “Gamma” was and instead forced a smile and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Lucas. Do you know which room is mine?”

Lucas pointed to a door a little ways down, and I thanked him and hurried in that direction. But he followed me the entire way, and before I could enter, he stepped in my way and blocked the door.

“Aria, darling, I ask this with the utmost respect, and please forgive me for overstepping, but I must know: are you my mate?”

I pulled my head back in surprise. “What?”

“I’m still looking for my fated one. You’re new here, so I thought I’d ask if it could be you.” He leaned closer, nostrils flaring as he… sniffed me. “I don’t sense your wolf yet, though…”

“Why does it matter?” I asked, wrapping my arms around my midsection as if that could shield me.

Lucas shrugged. “I’m hoping to run in the Alpha campaign soon. But I need a mate to do so.”

“And you think it’s me.”

“No harm in asking, right?”

I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or tell this guy off. Maybe both. Finally, I settled on saying coolly, “I’m not interested in finding a ‘mate’.” I moved to walk past him. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to find a dress—”

“Wait.” Lucas’s arm shot out before I could walk away, and suddenly, he was pulling me close. I gasped as my hands came up to press flat against the broad planes of his chest.

This close, with our bodies pressed flush together, his scent washed over me just as Ethan’s coat’s scent had. He smelled like spearmint and cologne and something that I could only describe as him—just as Ethan’s coat had smelled like Ethan.

It was a heady mixture that made my head spin but my body also want to instinctively lean into him.

“A kiss would answer the question for both of us,” Lucas said, dipping his head as if to kiss me. “You have had your first kiss, right?”

My lips parted, heart pounding as this man I’d only just met tried to kiss me. Kiss me!

It was absurd, and yet at the same time… Utterly entrancing.

Daniel was my first boyfriend, and he had never kissed me. We’d been together for such a short time before he cheated on me with Sophie… So no, I had never had a first kiss.

And for a moment, I almost let Lucas do the honors.

But then logic returned; I was in a strange place, surrounded by strange people who only spoke of ‘mates’ and ‘Alphas’, and I had no idea who this guy was. With a grimace, I shoved him away as hard as I could.

“Absolutely not,” I said, dusting myself off. “I don’t even know you, and frankly, I already think you’re a creep.”

Lucas’s lips curved, although I could see the faint flicker of fear in his eyes. “I was only joking.”

“If it were a joke, then at least one of us would be laughing, Lucas.” We both turned at the sound of a male voice. There, at the end of the hall, approached another young man—this one with a buzzed head and a spiraling tattoo peeking out of the collar of his shirt.

Lucas stiffened. “Rowan.”

“If you want to win the new girl over, Lucas, then maybe give her some space to breathe,” Rowan said, moving toward us with long, unhurried strides. As he came closer, the scent of whiskey washed over me. “And she hasn’t even acquired her wolf yet, so there’s no knowing if she’s your mate or not.”

The tips of Lucas’s ears reddened, but he puffed out his chest and replied, “Yes, well, forgive me for being serious about finding my mate.”

“And what makes you think that my betrothed is your mate?” Rowan asked. Green eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite read as he glanced at me.

“Sorry.” I took a step back and shook my head. “Did you just say betrothed?”