Chapter six:

Ariana POV

“An alpha can’t mark a wolfless… not without losing everything?” That was the question burning in my mind, my heart racing as I stared directly into his deep, piercing eyes.

Before I could say anything, heavy footsteps echoed from outside. My pulse heightened as a voice rang out, sending a shiver of fear down my spine.

“Liam, I know you’re in there! Open the damn door!” Noah, my ex-mate, growled. My arms trembled.

“It’s bad enough that I slept with the alpha, but if my ex finds me naked in his brother’s bedroom…” Dread churned in my belly, my gaze fixed on him as the knocking became louder.

“Liam, you can’t let Noah in,” I whispered desperately, my voice breaking, tears pooling in my eyes filled with fear.

“Please, him and I,” I stammered, my face pale.

My breath hitched as Liam cast me a curious look,

“Ariana, it’s okay. If you really don’t want to see him, I will protect you,” Liam said gently, caressing my face. His touch was soft, sending a wave of electricity through me drawing attention to his eyes.

“Liam, I left my laptop in there! Class starts in five minutes!” Noah pressed his hand firmly against the door, banging it desperately.

Liam tiptoed to the bathroom with me trailing behind him.

“Stay here. Don’t make a sound,” Liam said as he walked out of the bathroom.

My heart hammered against my ribcage 

“Coming,” his voice echoed as he approached the door.

I bit my tongue ,my legs began to tremble and my head snapped up  at Noah's voice.

“What took you so long to open the door?”Noah asked with a frown stretched on his face.

“ Are you hiding a girl in there?” Noah questioned, a crease forming between his eyebrows as he stepped into the room.

“Yeah… the most beautiful girl in the school,” Liam complimented, which made my heart skip a beat.

Does he really mean that? I thought to myself, butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

“When are you going to mark her, bro? I’m gonna make her my Luna,” Noah asked, his lip parting slightly.

“He is a total playboy. Of course, he didn’t mean it. I can never be Alpha Liam’s Luna. He’s probably leading me on so he can humiliate me later,” I said, brushing the feelings off my mind.

“Whoever it is, I can’t wait to meet her,” Noah said as he focused on searching for his laptop in the room.

“ Found it “ Noah said, his eyes lingering on Liam and a heavy sigh escaped Liam's lips.

“ See you after school “ Noah whispered, tapping his brother on  his shoulders, shutting the door behind him.

I gasped in relief  as Noah left my nose flaring in both embarrassment and shrill crawling down my spine.

“Ariana, is Noah the reason you were so upset last night?” Liam asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

“The happiest day of my life was when Noah told me that we would be mates… it was all a lie,” I said to him, my eyes full of tears.

“You probably knew that, didn’t you?” I asked him.

“No, I didn’t,” Liam replied, his jaw set firm.

“So there wasn’t a bet to see how long it would take you to bag the rejected wolfless,” she said, her voice cracking. “Because that’s what your brother will do,” I completed her words, a bitter laugh escaping my lips.

“I’m not my brother,” he replied, his jaw flexed.

“I mean, why would you want someone like him to be your mate anyway?” he asked, his lips curling.

“I wouldn’t expect you to understand,” I said, turning my back to him as I rubbed my forehead slightly.

“I’m wolfless and untamable… good for one night, but not Luna material,” I said, tears streaming down my cheeks.

“Ariana, that’s not true,” Liam said softly. His hand tightened on my shoulder as he turned me to face him, wiping the tears from my cheeks with the back of his hand.

“I know what will happen if someone like you, or your brother, is mated to someone like me.” I folded my arms, nails biting into my palms.

“You would lose your alpha title, and the whole pack would turn against you.” The room went still, my gaze fixed on him, waiting for a reaction.

“Tell me if I’m wrong,” I said, staring straight into his eyes.

“You are not,” he replied, his eyes locked on mine.

“Enough. This won’t happen again,” I said, my voice steady cutting him off.

“ Ariana please don't leave” his voice cracked like a whip thundering in the room.

“Why does leaving him hurt more than being dumped by his brother?” I clenched my heart in pain which felt ripped apart as I dashed out of the bedroom with tears pooling in my eyes.