Aria

I stood frozen at the edge of the ballroom, watching Marcus kiss another woman. My chest felt like it was caving in, and every breath became harder to take.

Today was supposed to be different. Today, Marcus and I were meant to announce our engagement. I had chosen a pale silver gown that caught the light whenever I moved. I felt beautiful that morning. I felt ready.

Now, watching Marcus press his lips against Isabella's, I understood what betrayal truly meant.

Marcus had been the one constant in my life. We met as children, and as we grew older, I knew he was my fated mate. For two years, we had been inseparable. He marked me, and the mark on my neck was supposed to mean something sacred. It was supposed to mean forever.

But Marcus wanted to be Alpha.

The current Alpha of our pack had died three months ago. Every candidate was fighting for the position. Marcus was strong and clever, but there was a problem. The Lycans controlled everything, and the head of the Lycans was Leo Ashford. More importantly, Leo had a daughter named Isabella, and she was beautiful.

Marcus had made his choice, and I was not it.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see a bartender looking at me with concern.

"You look like you could use a drink," he said kindly.

"Whiskey," I replied.

He nodded and prepared my drink. I took it and found an empty stool at the bar, away from the dance floor. Away from Marcus. The whiskey burned as it went down, but it felt good. It numbed the sharp pain in my chest. I kept drinking, one sip after another, watching Marcus dance with Isabella through the mirrors.

"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders," a deep voice said beside me.

I turned to see a man sitting down next to me. He was tall, with dark hair and powerful presence. His suit was perfectly tailored, and everything about him screamed wealth and power. He ordered a drink with ease.

"Just not a party person," I answered.

"Neither am I," he said. "I am here because I have to be."

I recognized something in his voice, a weariness that matched my own. For a moment, I forgot about Marcus. I turned to look at this stranger more carefully, and I realized he was watching me with interest.

"I am Aria," I said, surprising myself.

"Leo," he replied, extending his hand.

I shook it, and warmth spread through my palm. There was something about him that made me feel less alone.

We talked for a while about nothing important. About the party, about the food, about how uncomfortable fancy events could be. He was funny and charming, and for the first time that night, I smiled without forcing it. My wolf, who had been silent and hurt all evening, began to stir inside me.

When my drink was finished, I decided to leave.

"I should go," I said, standing up.

As I moved, my dress caught on the corner of the bar stool. I heard fabric tearing and felt myself falling forward. Strong arms caught me instead. I opened my eyes to find Leo holding me, his muscular arms making me feel safe.

"Madam, are you falling for me?" he asked with a teasing smile, and a dimple appeared on his right cheek.

Despite everything, I laughed.

"Your dress is torn," he said, looking down at my ruined dress. "Let me take you to my room upstairs. I can find you something to wear."

Normally, I would have refused. But I was tired of being the girl who played it safe. I was tired of being rejected. What was one more mistake?

"Okay," I said, and let him lead me to the elevator.

His room was on the top floor, a luxury suite with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Once inside, Leo left me alone and went to find a shirt. I carefully removed my torn dress and stood in my undergarments, unsure what to do.

When Leo returned with a clean shirt, he froze. His eyes traveled down my body, taking in every detail. I watched his jaw clench, and his breathing became heavier. Instead of handing me the shirt immediately, he stepped closer to me, slowly, like a hunter approaching prey.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Aria," I whispered.

He continued walking toward me until I backed into the wall. He was so close now that I could smell his scent, something like pine trees and rain. It was intoxicating.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

I studied his face more carefully, and suddenly, I recognized him. My heart stopped.

"You are Leo Ashford," I breathed. "The Lycan chairman. You are Isabella's father."

His eyes darkened slightly. "And what do you know about me, Aria?"

"You are ruthless," I said. "You control everything. You have a new woman every week, and you never keep them around."

Instead of being angry, he smiled. "Tell me more, Aria. I want to know everything."

My heart was pounding. I should have been terrified of this man. He was dangerous and powerful. But standing there in my undergarments, with his eyes on me, I felt alive for the first time all night.

"Your eyes are like ice," I started, my voice shaking. "But right now they are warm when you look at me."

"What else?" he asked softly.

"When you smile, you have a dimple," I continued. "It makes you look less scary."

"And what about my lips?" he asked, moving closer.

Before I could answer, he kissed me. His mouth was firm and demanding. This was not sweet or gentle. This was claiming. This was possession. And I wanted it.

I kissed him back with all the anger and hurt inside me. My fingers found his tie, pulling at it desperately. He helped me remove it, and then his shirt, tossing them to the floor. His body was incredible, all hard muscle and power. We were moving toward the bed when my phone vibrated.

It was a message from my mother, and it was urgent.

"Aria, please come home immediately. Your father has been arrested by the guards. They took him away. Please come home now!"

My world stopped. The alcohol and passion drained out of me instantly.

"I have to go," I said breathlessly, pulling away.

He frowned, clearly annoyed.

"Stop joking," he said coldly. "I do not have patience for games."

"I am not joking," I said urgently. "My family needs me. I have to leave right now."

He sighed and grabbed his shirt, pulling it over my head. I breathed in his scent, which calmed my racing heart slightly.

"Thank you," I managed to say before I ran out of the room.

By the time I arrived home, my mother was sitting in the kitchen, her face streaked with tears. My father was gone, arrested by the pack guards for financial crimes I did not fully understand. All I knew was that he was in trouble, and we were running out of time to help him.