Chapter Two

ARIA’S POV

I couldn’t move.

My feet were still planted in the center of the ring, but my mind was floating somewhere else. I wanted to die at this point. Why me? What did I ever do wrong?

The screens were everywhere.

One behind Lucian. Two to my left. Another above the crowd. More lighting up in sequence, until there was nowhere to look without seeing myself.

My body.

My face.

My voice.

A video played. Then another. Then another.

Different angles. Different nights. Different clothes. Sometimes none at all.

But Lucian’s face was never fully visible. A shoulder here. A hand there. A blurry reflection in glass. But me?

There was no hiding me.

“Oh yes baby give me your cock.”

“I’m cumming baby—oh yes fuck.”

My stomach kept twisting in horror, I thought I would throw up right there on the mat. Those words were mine, not anyone else's.

The crowd went quiet at first. I was sure if I dropped a pin I would hear it. Everyone went silent, like they were deciding what kind of monster I was.

“She sure is a cocksucker.” Someone finally shouted from the crowd and the arena erupted in laughter.

“She’s wolfless and a slut. What a combo?”

“I'd like to see her beg for my own cock.”

“What a waste of existence.”

“If I was her I'd hang myself.”

“Slut!”

“And to think I was envious of her some minutes ago. Bleh. Go to hell slut.”

“Oh my God.”

Both my ears rang with the endless terrible words being thrown at me. I felt heat rush to my face, down my neck and into my chest. My hands shook so badly I had to fold them into fists just to stop myself from falling. Tears dropped from my eyes.

There was only one person who could have done this. There was only one person I had shared this sort of intimacy with.

Lucian.

I turned slowly back to Lucian. He was still on one knee, but this time the look on his face had changed.

The warmth was gone. The love in his eyes had disappeared. The person I thought I knew so well was gone.

His eyes were filled with mischief and satisfaction. His lips formed into a smug look. He was proud of himself.

He stood up smoothly, brushing imaginary dust off his knee. He leaned into the microphone again, locking eyes with me.

“So,” he said lightly. “Do you love your surprise?”

The arena was filled with laughter.

“I bet she does.”

“Book me a night, I want a feel of her on my cock.” Another person screamed.

“Lucian,” I whispered, and even with that my voice barely came out. “What is this?”

He tilted his head like I was a child asking a stupid question.

Before he could answer, a hand slid onto his shoulder.

A female hand. One I knew all too well.

I froze. Mara stepped forward and stood beside him. One hand on his shoulder, and the other caressing his face lovingly.

My best friend was caressing my boyfriend.

She didn’t look at me at first. She smiled at the crowd. Then at the cameras. Then Lucian turned and kissed her.

Right there. In the middle of the ring.

My best friend and boyfriend are together! My head went 360. I couldn't process the shock.

He pulled back, lifted her hand, and slid the ring onto her finger.

The same ring. The one I thought was meant for me. The one he used to propose to me minutes ago.

“This,” Lucian said, holding her hand up, “Is my mate.”

The word echoed in my head.

Mate.

“And my fiancée.”

I felt weak in my knees. Oh my God. Suddenly I felt like I couldn't breathe. I gasped for air. This was all too much. I looked up and saw Mara's fixed on me.

Her eyes were calm, but cold.

I forced a laugh. I just couldn’t help it. This should all be a fucking joke. “This is a joke,” I said. “You’re joking.”

Neither of them answered.

“Why?” My voice shook. “Why are you doing this? What did I do to deserve this?”

Lucian stepped closer to me, lowering his voice, but the microphone caught every word.

“You got too comfortable,” he said. “Someone needed to remind you of your place.”

“You really thought,” he continued, “that a wolfless girl like you could stand beside me?”

The crowd reacted to that statement. Some laughed. Some nodded.

“You should be grateful,” he said. “I took you in when no one else wanted you.”

My vision blurred.

“You were disowned, homeless and pathetic,” he went on. “I gave you a roof. A bed. Protection.”

Mara leaned closer to him. “And you repaid us by forgetting who you are.”

Lucian smiled at her, then turned back to me.

“Your mother is dead,” he said. “Your sister is dead. And your father threw you out.”

Memories of my mother and sister flooded my mind and I couldn't fight my tears.

“And you know why?” he asked. “Because you’re a curse.”

“A disgrace,” Mara added softly. “Just like your father said.”

The world tilted.

I remembered my father’s voice. The way he looked at me after my mother died. Hatred gradually grew, and it became worse after my sister died.

I never shifted. I was wolfless and useless to him.

Weak.

I remembered the rain the night he threw my bag at my feet. The way the door slammed shut behind me.

I remembered Lucian finding me. Offering me his hand and home. I remembered Mara holding me while I cried. Telling me I’d be okay and everything would be fine.

I stared at them now, standing together, shining under the lights.

“How could you,” I whispered.

Lucian shrugged. “This is the werewolf world, Aria. You don’t survive by being weak.”

More laughter went through the arena.

The screens were still playing. My voice could still be heard round the arena.

I couldn’t stand any of it anymore. I turned and ran.

I didn’t hear Lucian call after me. I didn’t hear Mara say my name. This was real. All I heard was laughter chasing me as I fled the ring.