Chapter 12 ARIA
Aria's POV
“What does one even wear to these things?” I groaned, staring helplessly at the mountain of clothes on my bed. “I’m losing my mind, Nyx. Completely.”
“Girl, you have to stop panicking,” Nyx said through the phone, her voice half-laughing, half-exasperated. “I’m stressed out, and I’m not even the one going on this date!”
She was supposed to come over and help me pick something out, but her mom, Aunty Selene, the Great Dictator of the Market had roped her into helping set up her stall. So, a phone pep talk was all I was getting. Not that it was helping.
I flopped down on the bed, letting out a dramatic sigh. “Nothing looks good. Nothing feels right. Why did I even agree to this?”
“Because he’s your mate, Aria. Your ridiculously hot, emotionally complex Alpha mate,” she reminded me. “Also, because if you cancel, I will personally drag you out of bed and dress you myself.”
I made a noise halfway between a growl and a whine. “This isn’t going to work. I should just call him and cancel.”
“For the love of the Goddess, Aria, relax,” Nyx said, for probably the tenth time.
“Oh dear!” I blurted suddenly, sitting upright.
“What? What happened?!” Nyx’s voice spiked in alarm.
“I-I don’t have his number!” I wailed, clutching my hair. “I forgot to ask for his number, Nyx! How am I supposed to call him now? I can’t cancel, I can’t text, I can’t–oh my Goddess, he’s going to think I stood him up!”
Nyx started laughing, hard. “You’re kidding. Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I wish I was joking!” I snapped. “What kind of idiot forgets to ask her mate for his number?”
“The same kind of idiot currently sitting in her underwear surrounded by half her closet, having a mental breakdown before lunch?”
“Exactly!” I said, pointing at the phone like she could see me. “That idiot is me!”
She giggled again, the sound light and teasing. “Okay, okay, calm down, drama queen. He’s an Alpha, remember? I’m pretty sure if he wants to find you, he’ll find you. And didn't you say you agreed to meet at Marty's."
I blinked. “Yh yh we did. Do you think so?”
“I know so. You think that man’s not already pacing his cabin trying to figure out what shirt to wear?”
That earned a laugh out of me. “Lucian? Please. He probably has a perfectly coordinated wardrobe. Alphas always do.”
Nyx hummed thoughtfully. “Hmm. Maybe. Or maybe he’s just as nervous as you are.”
That thought did weird things to my heart, the idea of him being nervous.
I sighed and glanced at the clock. 10:03 a.m. Two hours before our lunch date. “Okay, fine. I’ll stop panicking and just… pick something.”
“Good girl. Something that makes you feel you, not something that screams you’re trying too hard.”
I looked back at the mess of clothes and groaned again. “You’re no help.”
“I’m moral support, not a stylist. You’ll thank me later,” she said, smug. “Now go shower, do your hair, and pick something that says ‘effortlessly irresistible Omega.’”
“Effortlessly irresistible,” I repeated, snorting. “Got it.”
“Atta girl. Call me after the date, I want every detail.”
I hung up, took a deep breath, and looked back at my reflection.
“Okay, Aria,” I told myself. “It’s just lunch. With your mate. No big deal.”
My stomach fluttered.
Who was I kidding? It was a huge deal.
After Nyx hung up, I stood in front of my mirror for what felt like forever, staring at the chaos of my reflection — wild hair, rumpled tank top, panic written across my face.
“Okay,” I muttered to myself. “Effortlessly irresistible. Sure. No pressure.”
I finally settled on a halter-neck, short flared dress, pale lilac, soft enough to feel casual but pretty enough to make me feel like I’d actually tried. I tied my hair into a slick bun, leaving a few tendrils loose around my face. A swipe of gloss, a hint of blush. Simple. Manageable. Me, but upgraded.
Sandals. Comfortable, cute, safe.
As I was reaching for my small bag, my eyes fell on the small white bottle sitting on my dresser the suppressants.
I froze.
Nyra’s voice stirred instantly in the back of my mind, calm and firm. “Don’t even think about it.”
“He already knows,” she reminded me gently. “There’s no point hiding your scent from him now.”
“I know,” I murmured, chewing on my lip. “But we’ll be in public. I don’t want people sniffing around, Nyra. You know how Alphas can get.”
“He won’t let anyone bother you.”
“Strangely, It’s not him I’m worried about,” I said, fingers tightening around the bottle. “It’s everyone else.”
Silence. Then, a sigh. “You’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you?”
I hesitated for one more heartbeat before twisting the cap open and swallowing the pill dry. “I just want a peaceful lunch,” I whispered.
“Coward,” Nyra muttered but her tone was fond.
\---
The walk to Marty’s was longer than I remembered. The sun was warm but the breeze kept it pleasant, carrying scents of pine, roasted bread, and distant laughter. I tried not to think about what I was walking toward, or how fast my heart was beating.
When I finally reached the little restaurant, my stomach dropped.
Through the open window, I saw him.
Lucian sat at the bar, laughing an easy, genuine laugh that made his entire face light up. He was leaning forward slightly, elbows resting on the counter, talking to Marty like they were old friends. His shirt was loose, sleeves rolled up, a few buttons undone just enough to reveal the bronzed skin and hint of muscle beneath. His hair was tousled, artfully messy, and the sight of him made my knees threaten betrayal.
Then his head snapped up, sharply and instinctively the second I stepped through the door. His gaze locked onto me, and the laughter died on his lips.
He stared.
Gods, the way he stared. Like he was starving and I was the only thing on the menu.
For a heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe.
Then he rose, slow and deliberate, that predatory grace that made the room seem smaller somehow. He crossed the space between us in long, confident strides.
“You look…” he paused, eyes tracing me from head to toe, lingering a fraction too long on my bare shoulders, “beautiful.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “Thank you. You clean up pretty nicely yourself.”
He chuckled, the sound low and rough. “Didn’t want to be late. Got here early to catch up with Marty.”
I glanced toward the bar where Marty, a broad-shouldered man with kind eyes, gave me a friendly wave. “Hey, Aria! Long time no see.”
I smiled. “Hey, Marty. Still serving the best fries in town?”
“You know it,” he said with a grin. “You two go grab a booth. I’ll be right over.”
Lucian’s hand brushed the small of my back as he guided me toward a corner booth. The contact was brief but enough to make my pulse stutter. Nyra purred inside me, entirely unhelpful.
"He smells divine," she whispered dreamily.
"Behave." I hissed mentally.
Marty came over with a notepad. “What can I get the lady and her Alpha?” he teased lightly.
Lucian smiled but said nothing, waiting for me to order first. Gentlemanly, of course.
“Uh, I’ll have the cheeseburger and fries,” I said. “And an iced tea.”
“Make that two,” Lucian added.
Marty winked, scribbling it down. “Coming right up.”
When he left, Lucian leaned back, studying me with that unnerving intensity again.
“So,” he said, voice low. “Tell me something about you that isn’t in plain sight.”
I blinked. “That’s a weird way to start.”
“Humor me.”
I laughed softly. “Okay. Um… I love thunderstorms. I like how they make everything smell clean. And I can’t stand the taste of blueberries.”
“Thunderstorms and anti-blueberries,” he mused. “Interesting combination.”
“Your turn.”
He smiled faintly. “I like order. But I also like breaking it when the right person’s involved.”
My cheeks warmed. “That sounds suspiciously flirty.”
“Observation,” he corrected, eyes gleaming. “Not flirtation.”
“Sure,” I said, grinning despite myself.
The conversation flowed easier after that, about the pack, about old stories, about how Marty once kicked out a rogue for trying to flirt with his wife. But every time our hands brushed across the table, every time his gaze dropped to my lips, that spark ignited again, quiet but potent.
By the time our food arrived, I’d forgotten to be nervous. We ate, laughed, talked and at some point, the afternoon sun melted into gold, shadows stretching across the floor. Neither of us seemed to notice.
\---
When we finally stepped out, the air had cooled, the first hints of dusk settling over the town. Lucian immediately fell into step beside me.
“I’ll walk you home,” he said simply, leaving no room for argument.
“You don’t have to…”
“I want to.”
Nyra sighed dreamily in my head. “He wants to.”
I pretended not to smile as we started down the familiar path. After a few moments, he extended his hand toward me, palm up, silent invitation.
I hesitated only a second before sliding my hand into his. His fingers closed around mine warm, firm, grounding. Electricity shot up my arm.
“Oh, Goddess, he’s good at this,” Nyra murmured. “Can we keep him?”
“Nyra,” I warned, but I couldn’t fight the grin tugging at my lips.
We reached my house too soon. The sky was painted in dusky purples, the street quiet. Neither of us seemed ready to say goodbye.
“So,” I said softly, “I should probably get your number this time.”
He chuckled, pulling out his phone. “Probably smart.”
We exchanged numbers, our fingers brushing again. The air between us hummed with tension, soft, charged and dangerous.
He looked down at me, eyes darkening. For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me. My breath hitched, heart racing.
Then he leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead instead.
“Goodnight, Aria,” he murmured, voice rough against my skin.
By the time I opened my eyes, he was already walking away, hands in his pockets, the faintest smile on his lips.
I stood there, heart fluttering wildly, watching him disappear down the street.
Nyra sighed happily. “He’s going to ruin us.”
“Yeah,” I whispered, still smiling. “He is.”