Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Lucas
The moment she steps out, I’m fucking floored. Is this Aria? The same girl who’s always drowning in oversized hoodies and ripped jeans? Because right now, she looks like she just walked off a damn red carpet. That fitted red dress is a problem- low–cut, short as hell, and clinging to her like it was made for her.
Her black hair falls in these soft waves, framing her face perfectly. And her face? Beautiful. Oval, smooth skin, and those green eyes are practically glowing. But it’s the rest of her that’s got me fucked up. Her legs aren’t long, but they’re smooth, toned, and straight, and all I can think about is them wrapped around my neck while I pound Into her relentlessly.
Stop it. Pull it together.
But then my eyes wander to her boobs–round, perky, full. Where the hell has she been hiding that under all those baggy hoodies? And her hips? Perfectly proportioned, leading to that round ass and tiny waist. Damn.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. Had she always been this hot? Or am I just horny? Probably boin.
Her green eyes light up when she catches sight of herself in the mirror, and for a second, she looks like a kid on Christmas morning.
“You like what you see?” Max asks, smiling like a proud mom. “You look beautiful, darling.”
“I look… different,” Aria mutters, like she doesn’t believe it.
“What do you think, Alpha Lucas?” Max turns to me with this smug grin, waiting for my reaction.
“Eh. She’s okay, I guess,” I say with a shrug, fighting to keep a straight face.
Her head snaps up, and that flash of disappointment on her face is hilarious. Too easy.
“Just kidding,” I smirk. “Max, you’ve outdone yourself. She looks breathtaking.”
Her lips twitch, like she’s trying hard not to smile, and she quickly looks elsewhere. Is she shy? Cute.
“I want you to pack some more clothes for her,” I tell Max. “Make sure they fit her style and send them to my suite.”
“You got it, Alpha Lucas.”
I turn to Aria and motion for her to follow me. She hesitates. “Wait. How much is this dress?” she whispers.
“More than you can ever imagine.”
Her eyes widen like saucers. “And you’re buying more? How am I supposed to pay you
back?”
“I didn’t say you had to.”
She crosses her arms. “I don’t like being indebted to people.”
“Well, if you’re so worried about it, you could always pay me back in a way I like.. I promise you’re gonna love it.”
“You’re a fucking asshole!” Her cheeks turn pink, and the glare she shoots me is priceless.
“And you’re adorable when you’re mad,” I tease. “Now come on, it’s showtime.”
As we walk, I notice she’s breathing all weird, like she’s trying not to freak out.
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Chapter 9
“Listen,” I lean closer. “Chin up. You look fucking stunning right now. Own it.”
She exhales sharply and nods.
“See? You totally look like my girlfriend.”
Her glare comes back, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“You’re never serious, are you?” she grumbles.
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“Not when you’re this fun to mess with,” I smirk and then assume a more serious tone. “Come on now, don’t let anyone intimidate you–especially Ethan and Vanessa. We have to show them that this is real if we really want to piss them off.”
“Okay.”
“Great. We’re here.”
We stop just outside the doors to the hall, and she freezes. “Wait.” She takes a deep breath, her] is trembling slightly. “Okay. I’m ready.”
I take her hand and link it with mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Let’s do this.”
We step inside, and instantly, the entire room goes quiet. Every set of eyes snaps to us.
Aria
The second we step into the room, I want the ground to open up and swallow me whole. Every single pair of eyes is on us..on me. Some people look stunned, others confused, but the majority of the girls? They’re glaring at me like I personally stole their fucking prom date.
I can feel it. The judgment, the disbelief, the whispers already starting. They’re shocked, no doubt, to see me here with Lucas, especially after what Ethan did to me last night.
“Don’t forget to breathe,” Lucas whispers, leaning close like we’re sharing some inside joke. “Chin up, head high. Follow my lead.”
Easier said than done, but I try. He’s got this bright, confident smile plastered on, like he doesn’t notice… or care—that half the room looks ready to eat me alive. The place is packed, decked out in mesmerizing Christmas lights and trees, with soft- carols playing in the background. It’s festive, sure, but the vibe feels more like a scene from Mean Girls than a Hallmark .Christmas movie.
We pass my friends, and I catch their expressions. Lily and Mia look like they’ve seen a ghost. Their jaws are practically on the floor. I want to stop, sit with them, and pretend none of this is happening, but Lucas keeps moving.
“Where are we going?” I hiss, tugging at his arm while trying to keep a fake smile glued to my face.
“To the VIP section, duh,” he says casually, like it’s no big deal. “You didn’t think we’d sit there, did you?”
My stomach drops as my eyes snap to the VIP area. The popular table. The one where the jock alphas and their wannabe lunas hang out. Even at school, I avoided that table like the plague. It’s not for people like me.
I’m about to argue when I see him–Ethan. His arm is draped around Vanessa, but his face? He looks like someone just slapped him. His jaw is on the floor, and for a second, my heart clenches. He still looks… good. Too good. But then I remember last night, and the knot in my chest hardens.
Oh, he’ll fucking see.
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Chapter 9
We reach the table, and Lucas pulls out a chair for me like some kind of Prince Charming.
“Thanks,” I mutter, but before I can sit, Ethan’s voice cuts through the noise.
“What do you think you’re doing here?”
I freeze mid–motion, the question hitting me like a blow.
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“Does this look like the kind of place for fucking stink–ass, lowlife omegas?” His voice drips with venom, and my face burns as every head turns toward me.
Shame rushes in like a tidal wave. What the hell was 1 thinking? Coming here, pretending to belong…
Fuck!
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