Chapter 4

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. PDA’s part of the plan. Gotta make that loser jealous, and trust me, it’ll work.”

I almost trip over my own feet. Me, in some fake relationship with Lucas-the-Resident-Player? Yeah, that’d go over great. The judgment I’d get from my friends? Yikes. I can practically hear them already: Aria, really? Lucas?

But honestly? It’s worth it to see Ethan’s stupid, smug face crumble.

When we finally reach Ethan’s door, Lucas leans against the frame like this is just another Tuesday for him. “Need help packing, babe?” he asks, that annoying little grin plastered on his face.

“Nope. I don’t even have much,” I say, bracing myself as I open the door.

And bam, there it is. That stench I used to like…Ethan’s scent or whatever—hits me like a truck. But now? Now it makes me wanna gag. I don’t even bother looking for him. Dude’s probably in the bathroom, preening like a damn peacock. I start shoving my stuff into my bag, laser-focused on getting out of there.

And then I hear it.

Wet, slurpy sounds.

I freeze as the bathroom door creaks open. And there they are…Ethan and Vanessa, mid-makeout, stumbling out like two stupid horny teenagers.

Honestly, I’ve never felt more disgusted in my life. Vanessa’s red lipstick is smeared halfway across her stupid cheek, and Ethan looks like he just won the fucking lottery. Gross.

“Oh, look who it is,” Ethan sneers, his arm still wrapped around Vanessa like she’s some kind of property. “If you hadn’t come, I’d have tossed your crap into the trash.”

Classy, right?

I don’t say anything. I just grab my bag and head for the door, but of course, Mr. Ego won’t let me go without one last dig.

“Are you ignoring me, Aria?” he snaps. “Have you forgotten I’m your alpha? Stop right there!”

I stop, but I refuse to look at him. I’m done playing his stupid games.

“So, where are you gonna stay, huh? You don’t even have a room,” he jeers, and Vanessa snickers like the knockoff Barbie she is. “They’ll probably throw you overboard soon.”

I spin around, my eyes blazing. “Better than staying here and looking at your pathetic loser face.”

You should see him. His jaw set so hard. “What did you just say?” he growls, stepping closer. “You’re seriously gonna insult your alpha?”

Oh, he’s fucking pissed, alright. But I didn’t flinch. Not anymore. He shoves me, barking something about lowering my eyes, but before I can even respond, the door slams open.

Lucas walks in.

“Yo, what the hell are you doing?” Lucas’s voice is ice-cold, but his smirk is all fire.

Ethan looks like he’s seen a ghost. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Lucas slings an arm around my shoulder like he’s been doing it for years. “I’m here to get my girlfriend. Problem?”

Ethan blinks like he’s been slapped. “Girlfriend?!”

“Yup,” Lucas says, popping the p like he’s chewing gum. “Aria’s my girlfriend now. Crazy how things work out, huh?”

Ethan’s face? Priceless. Vanessa’s jaw is almost on the floor.

“That’s absurd,” she sputters, like the idea of me being with someone hot is a crime against nature.

Lucas casually slides his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. “Yeah. My mate, actually. Got a problem with that?”

Ethan laughs, his face twitching like he’s fighting the urge to punch someone—Lucas probably. “This is bullshit. You’re just doing this to piss me off.”

“And?” Lucas tilts his head, all smug confidence. “Is it working?”

Ethan’s eyes narrow, but he steps back. “You can have her. She’s trash anyway.”

My chest tightens, but before I can spiral, Lucas leans down and whispers, just loud enough for them to hear, “Bet she’s the best trash you’ve ever seen, huh?” He winks at Ethan, grabs my bag, and steers me toward the door.

As we leave, I glance back. Vanessa looks ready to burst into flames, and Ethan? His fake indifference is cracking at the edges. I can’t help but smirk. Seeing their faces twist like they’ve sucked on bitter lemons? Chef’s kiss.

We walk until we’re halfway down the hall. Lucas starts laughing under his breath, and, against all odds, I find myself laughing too.

“That was fun,” he says, grinning at me. “Did you see their faces?”

“Oh, I saw,” I admit, still laughing a little despite myself. “But this is insane.”

“Insane is my specialty,” he shoots back. “Now, come on, girlfriend. Let’s get you to my suite.”

And that’s when it hits me. I’m about to spend the night in Lucas’s suite. Alone. With Lucas. The guy who has a reputation as the school’s biggest whore.

Oh, fuck my life.

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 snarks, clearly unimpressed with my attitude.

‘Yeah, well, the Moon Goddess needs better matchmaking skills,’ I shoot back, effectively earning myself an eye roll from my own fucking wolf. Great.

We don’t even make it halfway to Lucas’s suite before a guy in a hockey jersey…a teammate of Lucas’s, I think—comes strolling up. His black hair is a mess, and he’s got that “just got off the rink” look.

“Alpha Lucas, where the fuck have you been? Coach is losing his mind,” the guy says, but his eyes immediately land on me. And then on the bag Lucas is holding. The confusion on his face is priceless.

“Oh, come on, Damon,” Lucas groans, rolling his eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell him I was sleeping or something?”

The guy, Damon, looks unimpressed. “Dude, you know Beta John is stubborn as hell. He said it’s important. Message from the Alpha.”

Lucas’s entire vibe changes. His eyes narrow, jaw clenching. “My dad?” he mutters, not sounding thrilled.