One

Aria’s POV

“Tell me you love it,” those words came out husky and breathy from my boyfriend. And to worsen my shock, the feminine voice replied in the most sensual moan.

“I love it. I love you, Jaxon.”

What?

That’s my step-sister, Ivy. What’s she…what’s he…please tell me it’s not what I’m thinking.

My shaky grip touched the doorknob of her bedroom and I pushed it open. I stepped inside and I lost my breath instantly.

Jaxon, my boyfriend, was on top of my half-sister, on her bed. They look like they can’t get enough of each other. Ivy has her hands wrapped around his neck, begging him to go faster. Jaxon had his hands braced at her sides while he shoved himself inside her. They’re both sweating and moaning and grunting.

The sight made me lose my strength instantly. Tears clouded my vision and when I blinked them away, they dropped.

“Jaxon…” The hurt in my almost inaudible voice was clear as day. I feared he wouldn’t hear me but he did.

His head snapped in my direction. Irritation took over his face instantly, and then he hissed.

HE HISSED! Seriously?

With so much reluctance, he rolled off Ivy who looked just as nonchalant and irritated as him. Jaxon grabbed the sheets and covered his front with them. Ivy didn’t try for any bit of modesty. She just sat there, glaring at me.

“What are you doing here, Aria?” Jaxon asked in a pissed-off tone.

Was he being serious? This is my Father’s house.

“I should be asking you that, Jaxon,” I replied between tears and a shaky voice. “The mating ceremony is happening right outside. We should be together under the full moon. Why are you in Ivy’s room? And also, why…” I couldn’t say it. Voicing it out was gonna break my heart even more.

“Why was I fucking her?” He added coldly. And then he snorted. “Well, that’s because she’s my fated mate.”

“What?” My gaze danced from him to Ivy and back to him. None of them looked like he’d just told the biggest joke in a century.

But that’s what it was. A joke. He couldn’t have meant that. He can’t be Ivy’s fated mate.

“You can’t be serious,” I said, with a heart knotted in pain. He’s kidding. He can’t mean that. There’s no way he’s Ivy’s fated mate.

He’s my boyfriend. He’s been my boyfriend since I turned eighteen. Today’s my 23rd birthday. According to the laws of my Pack, today is the day I become legal enough to be formally chosen as a mate. Also, I finally get to have sex with my boyfriend.

We’ve never done it because of the laws. And he swore he understood and was ready to wait. So that’s why turning 23 has always been a dream of mine. Because then, we’d finally get to commemorate our love and we’ll do it right, under the full moon. And we’ll officially have our mating ceremony.

I’ve had a lot of daydreaming and wishful thinking about today. I’ve pictured it as the best day of my life. I never imagined it would turn out this messy. I’m struggling to stomach what’s happening right now.

“Why would I waste my time lying to you, huh?” Jaxon scoffed, standing to his feet. His perfect, ripped body has streaks of sweat on it. He ran a hand through his hair. “If I say it, then you should know it’s true.”

I struggled to find the right words. He seriously can’t mean that. “You’re…we’re dating. You’re my boyfriend. You can’t be mated to Ivy. She’s my sister…”

“Are you dumb or what?” Ivy snapped, getting out of bed. She stood next to Jaxon and placed a hand on his shoulder with a smug look.

My heart squeezed and turned in agony. She has his hand placed on his shoulder like she owns him.

“Seriously. Are you stupid? What does being my sister have to do with Jaxon being my fated mate?”

I wanted to reply immediately but she got me good. She silenced me so effortlessly that all I could do was just stand there and stare at her.

“Jaxon is my mate. He’s mine. So what you caught us doing is what we should do as mates. Don’t stand there demanding an explanation, as we owe you one. Because we don’t.”

Hearing that from her paralyzed me. I opened my mouth to speak but tears rolled down my face instead. Never have I felt so pathetic.

“Also, Aria, c’mon.” Jaxon snorted. “There’s no way you thought I would have chosen you as my mate. If I hadn’t met Ivy, it would have definitely been someone else. Someone more…petite. More easy to look at.”

Jaxon just shaded me for being chubby. I’ve always known in the back of my mind that he didn’t like chubby girls. His backhanded compliments to me every time were enough clues. It got me obsessed with losing weight. But I never thought he loathed me this much.

“You’re too chubby to be my mate. What are my friends gonnathink of me if I take you as my mate? I’m gonna become a laughingstock to them. You think I’m capable of taking such a risk?”

His harsh words and Ivy’s wicked snickering broke whatever restraint I had going on. I couldn’t control my tears anymore so I turned around and ran off.

I ran through the hallways and left the premises through a back gate, unnoticed. I wasn’t sure where I was headed and just kept running into the woods.

When I eventually stopped running, I was almost out of breath. Thankfully there’s a tavern a few distances away from me. I headed towards it.

There were a couple of people inside. I didn’t expect it to be crowded. I mean, it’s in the middle of the woods. Why would anyone come this far just to have a drink?

The slow funk music coming from the speakers made the ambiance a bit soothing.

I went to the bar and slid into a stool. The bartender quickly came over to me.

“What can I get you, Ma’am?” He was a tall guy, probably a few years older than me with sandy blond hair and a welcoming smile.

I thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Just give me anything strong enough to shut my mind out.”

“Be right back.”

It took him roughly two minutes to bring my order. And it took me roughly a minute to swallow the whole drink.

I asked for another shot and it was quickly given to me. And another, until my vision became too blurry and my head became hazy.

A firm hand held my waist from behind, making me flinch. Just at the same second, a deep voice whispered into my ears.

“Mine.”.