Chapter Two: Absolutely Not, Alpha

Aria — POV

If someone had told me that dying would be the least dramatic part of my week, I would’ve laughed in their face.

But here I was — standing in my parents’ living room, dripping tea, staring at the most powerful Alpha in the region… while my entire family had a synchronized meltdown.

Lilith was screaming.

My mother was crying.

My father was sweating.

Damon was staring at me like I’d just rewritten his destiny.

And me?

I just wanted breakfast.

Lilith stomped her foot so hard the floor shook. “Damon, you can’t be serious! She spilled tea! On the rug!”

Damon didn’t blink. “I don’t care about the rug.”

My mother gasped like he’d confessed to murder. “But it’s imported!”

Damon’s eyes never left mine. “I said what I said.”

Lilith jabbed a finger at me like I was a demon. “She’s clumsy! She’s rude! She’s—”

“Standing right here,” I said. “Hi.”

Lilith ignored me. “She’s not Luna material!”

I snorted. “Trust me, I agree.”

Damon’s head snapped toward me. “You agree?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “I don’t want drama. I don’t want attention. I don’t want a mate. I want peace, snacks, and maybe a nap.”

Lilith shrieked. “See?! She’s ridiculous!”

Damon stepped closer. “Aria.”

“Nope,” I said, stepping back. “Don’t ‘Aria’ me. I’m not doing this.”

He blinked. “Doing what?”

“This!” I waved my arms. “The mate‑bond, the claiming, the dramatic declarations. I literally died last ni—”

My mother screamed. “WHAT?!”

Oops.

Damon froze. “You what?”

I cleared my throat. “Nothing. Ignore that. The point is—”

“No,” Damon said, voice low. “Explain.”

Lilith scoffed. “She’s lying for attention.”

“Trust me,” I said, “attention is the LAST thing I want.”

My father stepped forward, desperate to salvage the situation. “Alpha Damon, please. Aria is… confused. She says strange things.”

“I’m not confused,” I said. “I’m traumatized.”

My mother hissed, “Aria, shut your mouth!”

Damon growled.

A real growl.

The kind that made the windows vibrate.

“Don’t speak to her like that,” he said.

My mother stumbled back like she’d been slapped.

Lilith’s jaw dropped. “Damon, you’re defending her?!”

He didn’t look away from me. “I’m defending my mate.”

I held up both hands. “Okay, let’s slow down. I’m not your mate. I’m a girl who spilled tea and wants to go back to bed.”

Damon stepped closer again. “You felt it.”

My wolf stirred, uneasy.

I swallowed. “No, I felt embarrassment. A lot of it.”

His eyes softened — barely. “Aria, the bond is real.”

“Great,” I said. “So is my desire to avoid chaos.”

Lilith screamed into a pillow.

My father rubbed his temples. “Aria, please. Just… go to your room.”

“No,” Damon said immediately.

My father froze. “No?”

“No,” Damon repeated. “She’s not leaving my sight.”

I blinked. “That’s creepy.”

He blinked back. “That’s instinct.”

Lilith threw her hands up. “THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!”

My mother wailed. “We’ll lose everything!”

Damon turned to them, voice calm but sharp. “You’re not losing anything.”

Lilith pointed at me again. “Except your bride!”

“I was never yours,” Damon said.

Lilith gasped like he’d stabbed her.

I sighed. “Look, can everyone stop yelling? My head hurts.”

Damon stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Aria… come with me.”

“No.”

He blinked. “No?”

“No,” I repeated. “I don’t want drama. I don’t want pack politics. I don’t want to be Luna. I want to stay alive, eat breakfast, and avoid dying again.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re refusing me?”

“Not you,” I said. “The chaos.”

Lilith scoffed. “She’s insane.”

“Probably,” I said. “But at least I’m honest.”

Damon’s jaw tightened. “Aria, I’m not leaving without you.”

I crossed my arms. “Well, I’m not leaving with you.”

The room went silent.

My mother fainted again.

My father caught her.

Lilith screamed into another pillow.

Damon stared at me like I was the first puzzle he couldn’t solve.

Finally, he asked, “Why?”

I shrugged. “Because I don’t want drama.”

He blinked. “I’m not drama.”

I laughed. “You walked into my house, rejected your bride, declared me your mate, and threatened my mother in under ten minutes.”

He paused. “Okay. Maybe a little drama.”

“A little?” I said. “Sir, you’re a walking telenovela.”

Lilith shrieked. “STOP FLIRTING!”

“We’re not flirting,” I said.

“We’re not,” Damon echoed.

We both looked away at the same time.

Lilith screamed louder.

My father sighed. “Alpha Damon, please. Let’s discuss this calmly.”

“No,” Damon said. “I’ve made my decision.”

I groaned. “Of course you have.”

He stepped closer again — too close — and lowered his voice.

“Aria… I’m not asking you to be Luna today. I’m not asking you to leave your home today. I’m asking you to trust the bond.”

“I don’t trust anything,” I said. “Especially not fate.”

He studied me for a long moment.

Then he said something that made my stomach flip:

“I’m not fate. I’m Damon.”

Lilith gagged. “I’m going to be sick.”

My mother woke up just to faint again.

My father whispered, “This family is cursed.”

And me?

I stared at Damon.

At the Alpha who wanted me.

At the chaos I didn’t want.

At the bond I didn’t ask for.

And I said the only thing that made sense:

“…Can I at least eat breakfast first?”

Damon blinked.

Then — for the first time — he smiled.

A real smile.

“Of course,” he said. “I’ll wait.”

Lilith screamed into a third pillow.

---