unheard

Aria’s POV

“Tell me, Aria... how long were you standing there?”

His voice sliced through the air like a blade—sharp, angry, venom-laced.

I stood frozen near the poolside, the shadows dancing across my face as if trying to shield me from the truth I’d just heard. But it was too late. Lucan’s eyes were on me now, and I could feel the malice radiating off him like heat.

Before I could respond, a hand cracked across my face.

Pain exploded across my cheek, white-hot and dizzying. My knees buckled but I stayed standing—barely.

“How much did you hear?” Lucan growled, storming toward me. His hand twisted in my hair before I could back away, yanking me forward until our faces were inches apart. “Speak!”

“Long enough to know you’re a liar,” I spat through gritted teeth, my voice shaking. “You’re selling out our pack. You’re betraying my father.”

His nostrils flared. “You think you can sneak around and spy on me now?”

“I wasn’t spying! I was looking for you!” I shoved against his chest, but he didn’t budge. My limbs were trembling, not from fear, but from something uglier. Rage. “How could you say those things about me? How could you—?”

“You want the truth?” His voice dropped to a near-whisper, deadly calm. “You’re weak. Pathetic. You always have been.”

His words cut deeper than any slap ever could.

I’d loved him.

I had chosen him.

When we first met at the annual sparring contest, I was seventeen. He was the unstoppable favorite, knocking down challengers like it was child’s play. My heart had thundered in my chest watching him move—so powerful, so confident. I thought he was the strongest man alive. The kind of male who could protect me from everything, even my father.

But I was wrong.

All this time, he was the second monster in my life—just a smoother one with a crueler edge.

Lucan leaned in again, eyes dark. “You’re an Omega, Aria. You were lucky I ever claimed you. I did your father a favor, and now I’m done.”

“You’re done?” I hissed, shoving him again. “You think you can use me, use this pack, and walk away clean? You’re disgusting.”

“Careful,” he warned, and when I didn’t back down, his hand snapped forward again.

Another slap. My head reeled from the force.

This time, something inside me snapped.

I launched at him, fists flying, fueled by months of bruises, silent tears, and tonight’s final betrayal. “You bastard! You selfish, heartless—”

He caught my wrists midair, squeezing until I cried out. “Don’t push me, Aria.”

I yanked myself free and stumbled back, breath ragged. “I’m going to tell Father.”

He laughed, not even trying to hide it. “Go ahead. Like he’ll ever believe you.”

“I’ll make him listen,” I swore, voice shaking but loud. “Even if he hates me, he’s still my father.”

“That’s the saddest thing I’ve heard tonight.” His smirk widened. “The Alpha can’t even stand the sight of you. And yet here you are, defending his honor.”

I turned and ran. My legs carried me faster than my mind could catch up.

The party still raged inside the ballroom, all golden chandeliers and forced smiles. I scanned the room until I found him—Alpha Morven. Laughing with his fellow Alphas, completely unaware that his most trusted ally had just plotted to destroy him.

I hesitated only a second.

Then I stepped forward and touched his shoulder.

He turned slowly, his smile vanishing the moment he saw me. “What now?”

“I need to speak with you,” I whispered. “Privately.”

He sneered. “Whatever it is, I’m not interested.”

“It’s about Lucan.”

That got his attention.

He muttered a quick apology to the other Alphas and grabbed my arm, yanking me down one of the private hallways. When we were alone, he slammed the door shut.

“You better have a damn good reason for embarrassing me,” he growled.

I forced myself to meet his eyes. “I heard Lucan and Alpha Jared speaking near the pool. Lucan plans to betray you. He’s selling the pack out to Whitemoon.”

Father’s silence stretched like a blade. Then—

“You’ve lost your mind,” he said coldly.

“I swear I’m telling the truth—”

SLAP.

My head jerked sideways, and I tasted blood on my tongue.

“If you think lying will earn my attention, you’re even dumber than I thought,” he spat. “You’re an embarrassment.”

I blinked back tears. “I’m not lying. Please—”

He grabbed the water glass off the side table and flung it in my face. The cold soaked my dress, clinging to my skin like a second shame.

“Go change,” he snapped. “You look like trash.”

He stormed out of the room, leaving the door wide open and my heart hanging by threads.

I pressed my back to the wall, shivering. I’d done it. I’d told him.

And he didn’t care.

A soft laugh echoed from the hallway. I looked up.

Lucan leaned against the doorframe, watching me like I was the punchline of a cruel joke.

“Told you,” he said, grinning. “No one believes the Omega.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. “You’re a monster.”

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But I’m a clever monster. And when I’m done with this pack, your father will have no throne to sit on.”

“I won’t let you,” I whispered.

His smirk faded slightly, but he didn’t stop me as I brushed past him. He didn’t need to.