Chapter 109 Aria
The parking lot smelled like rain and engine oil as I leaned against Max’s truck trying to keep the wind from cutting through my hoodie. He stood beside me, hands in his pockets, staring at the cracked asphalt like it might give him answers.
“You’re really not going to tell anyone else?” I asked for the third time.
Max shook his head. “Not a soul. Not even my mom. She already thinks I’m stressed about college apps.”
He gave a tired smile. “Besides, who would believe me? ‘Hey, my new friend’s boyfriend is a werewolf and her best friend tried to kill him with silver traps’? Sounds like a bad fanfic.”
I let out a shaky laugh. It felt good to laugh, even if it hurt. For weeks I’d been carrying everything alone and Max had become the only person I could talk to without feeling like I was losing my mind.
He kicked a loose pebble. “I still can’t believe Sienna was the hunter. How do you even process that?”
“I don’t,” I admitted. “I keep thinking about the night we stayed up talking about our moms’ divorces. She shed real tears and now I wonder if any of it was real or just part of the act.”
Max turned to face me. “It was real to you. That counts for something. You’re allowed to be messed up about it. You don’t have to pick a side and stick to it forever.”
I’d spent so long trying to be strong, keeping secrets, and pretending I was okay that hearing someone say it was okay to be confused felt like permission to breathe.
“You’re a good friend, Max,” I said quietly. “I don’t know what I’d do without you right now.”
He bumped my shoulder with his. “Same. I mean, I’ve got chess and grades and my little sister’s soccer games, but none of that feels real anymore. Not after you told me the truth. It’s like I’m living in two worlds now. The normal one and the one where werewolves and hunters are fighting over the same town.”
We stood there in comfortable silence for a minute. Max had become my safe space. He didn’t look at me like I was breakable or like I was the key to some ancient bond. He just listened.
His phone buzzed. He glanced at it and frowned. “Nora is looking for you. Something about a group project deadline.”
I groaned. “Tell her I’m coming. I just need one more minute of not thinking about silver traps or werewolf packs.”
Max smiled in understanding. “Take all the minutes you need. I’ve got your back, Aria.”
I was about to thank him again when the air behind me changed. I felt Luca before I saw him. I turned just as he stepped out from between two cars his eyes locked on Max with a look that could’ve melted steel.
“Luca,” I started, but he was already moving.
He didn’t stop until he was right in front of me. His hand came up sliding into my hair, and then his mouth was on mine hard like he’d been holding back for hours and finally snapped.
It wasn’t gentle nor sweet. It was pure jealousy poured straight into a kiss. His other hand gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him so fast my back arched. I gasped against his lips and he took the opening, his tongue sliding against mine tasting like mint and anger and that smoky pine scent that always made my head spin. His fingers tightened in my hair, tilting my head exactly how he wanted, and I felt the low growl vibrate through his chest.
Max cleared his throat awkwardly somewhere behind us. “Uh, I’ll just go find Nora.”
I heard his footsteps retreat but Luca didn’t stop. If anything, the kiss deepened. His hand slipped under the hem of my hoodie, his palm hot against the bare skin of my lower back and thumb tracing slow circles that sent sparks straight down my spine. I clutched his shirt, my nails digging into his skin, and kissed him back just as fiercely.
He pulled back only far enough to speak against my mouth, rough and low. “You were smiling at him. Laughing with him like he’s the one who gets to be there for you when everything’s falling apart.”
“Luca—”
“No.” He kissed me again, his teeth grazing my bottom lip. “I saw you two out here bonding while I’m losing my mind trying to keep you safe from hunters who want me dead.”
His hand slid higher under my hoodie, fingertips brushing the edge of my bra, and I shivered hard. The parking lot was mostly empty, but anyone could walk by. The thought should have made me pull away instead it made heat pool low in my stomach.
“You’re mine,” he said against my jaw, lips trailing hot down my neck. “Not his but mine.”
I tilted my head, giving him more access, and he took it, sucking lightly at the spot where my pulse hammered. My knees weakened and I grabbed his shoulders to stay upright.
“Luca, we’re in the parking lot—”
“I don’t care.” His voice was wrecked. He pressed me back against the side of Max’s truck, thigh sliding between mine, and the pressure made me gasp.
His hand was everywhere now, my back, waist, ribs, possessive and desperate like he needed to touch every inch of me to remind himself I was still here. I kissed him again slower this time, trying to pour everything I couldn’t say into it. I’m scared. I’m confused but I still choose you.
He made a low sound in his throat and kissed me harder, like he heard every word I didn’t say.
Then his phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it first but it buzzed again. Luca pulled back with a frustrated growl, his forehead still pressed to mine, breathing hard. His eyes were pure silver, wolf right at the surface.
“It’s Rafe,” he said, voice hoarse. “Hunter movement near the east border. They found another trap and this one had your scent on it.”
My stomach dropped. Luca’s hand stayed under my hoodie, his thumb still tracing slow circles against my skin . His eyes searched mine, wild and protective and terrified all at once.
“They’re coming for you now, Aria,” he whispered. “Not just me. You.”
The wind picked up carrying the distant sound of voices from the school building. Footsteps crunched on gravel somewhere behind the row of cars and Luca’s grip tightened. I just realized in time that we weren’t alone in the parking lot anymore.