Aria It's so fucking beautiful! I spin around in the middle of the suite Ethan booked for us. The luxurious carpet, velvet curtains, sparkling chandeliers—is something straight out of a magazine. The annual Christmas cruise ship tour hosted by my school, Crescent Wolves Academy, is everything I’
Aria "She’s my mate and the future Luna of the Full Moon Pack," he announces blissfully. My stomach drops. The same fucking hands that held me last night, the same damn lips that whispered ‘I love you’ and kissed me like I was his world— are now all over Vanessa’s face, treating her as his Luna.
Aria “What the actual hell?” I yank myself out of his hold, shaking my head like he’s lost his damn mind. “You’re lying. I don’t even feel a bond or smell your scent.” A lie. A huge lie. He smells like heaven dipped in sin, and being this close to him makes my wolf stir like she’s been on a thre
Aria I give him a side-eye. “Girlfriend? You’re laying it on thick already, huh?” He smirks, not even missing a beat. “Oh, you’ll see. We're gonna make that bastard jealous, and trust me, it’ll work.” I almost trip over my own feet. Me, in some fake relationship with Lucas-the-Resident-Player
Aria My heart’s pounding like a bass drum in a bad EDM track as Lucas and I walk toward his suite. Gail, my wolf, is practically doing cartwheels in my head, and I can’t help but groan internally. Seriously, Gail? Haven’t we learned our lesson about "mates"? ‘It’s the Moon Goddess, not me,’Gail
Aria Okay, I’ll admit it, Lucas’s suite is freaking ridiculous. Like, who needs this much luxury on a damn cruise ship? The elegant carpet feels like walking on clouds, the furniture looks like it was handpicked by a billionaire..which, duh, he probably is—and the bed? It’s freaking massive. I’m pr
Lucas I stride out of the suite, grinning like a damn idiot. Aria’s hilarious, acting like she’s not fighting her own freaking desires. Like, hello? Does she not realize we’re mates? I can literally smell her arousal..sweet and intoxicating, but whatever. Let her pretend she’s not affected. This i
Aria I wake up to something warm and solid under my hand. My brain is still half-asleep, so I let it slide. But then my leg shifts, and—wait. Why does it feel like I’m touching something… hard? My eyes snap open, and holy fucking moon goddess, I’m sprawled on Lucas’s chest, my leg practically hugg
Lucas The second I hit the room, I just crash onto the bed like my body finally gave up. I yank the blanket over my face like that’s gonna block out the bullshit in my head. My skull feels like it’s about to explode, and my chest? Yeah, that shit’s not doing any better either. It’s like someone’s
But Lucas? Oh no. He’s not calming down one bit. “I can’t calm down, Aria. You need to say something right now. Tell this idiot you belong in Shadow Pang.” He’s practically barking it, and honestly, I’m about two seconds from losing it too. “Lucas,” I start, trying real hard to keep my voice soft a
Aria “Aria, I’m telling you, there’s nothing to be scared of. I mean, yeah, the Hollow sect are creepy as hell and all that, but Alpha Marcel’s got the resources. He’s got the people, the connections. You’re safe here,” Mark says the second we step into the living room, like he’s trying to sell me
Aria After I shower and get dressed, Lucas and I head downstairs for breakfast. Alpha Marcel’s not in the living room yet, and Mark... well, goddess knows where he is. Probably off being mysterious and annoying, as usual. We make our way to the dining room where the maid who called us is already
I turn to the side, my back pressed against his chest, and his arm slides around my waist like it belongs there. His body’s warm, grounding, and his scent…gosh it's so soothing. “Goodnight, baby,” he whispers, pressing a soft kiss to my shoulder. “Goodnight, baby,” I murmur back, letting my hand s
Aria “Oh yeah… they’re not here right now,” Alpha Marcel says, scratching his head like he’s trying to dig out the answer. “They went outta the country to visit a relative of my wife.” I nod, but honestly, it sounds like total bullshit. Like, really? In the middle of all this chaos? The pack’s cu
“Let me guess. He said, ‘Screw this fire crap’?” “Pretty much. Said it was barbaric and refused to keep sacrificing his people. And the moment he stopped? Curse hit us like a wrecking ball. No sunlight, no crops, no peace. Just rot and death. Now there’s some weird-ass illness spreading…werewolves
Aria Lola takes a deep breath, glancing over my shoulder like someone might be eavesdropping, then locks eyes with me. “Your mother... she was a beautiful and brave woman,” she says, and for a second, she looks like she’s about to cry or punch someone. “I used to wait on her.” Wait, what? “You did
Alpha Marcel groans like I just smacked him with nothing but facts duh. "You’re right," he mutters, rubbing his forehead. "I’m just, you know... skeptical. I’m scared because he grew up with his father, and I worry he’ll be like him." I shake my head and look straight at Lucas, feeling my heart do