Aria's POV

Ever been in love with someone you can't be with? Crazy, right? Because that's actually my reality. I'm in love with my foster brother, Lucien.

And as if it doesn't get any better, I'm sitting in the VIP lounge with Lucien in Luxe and Velvet boutique, helping him pick out a dress for his girlfriend, Mara's birthday. My number one biggest hater and the queen of fake smiles.

He hands me a brown mini gown, one of the latest designer dresses on the resale market. It is dripping in luxury-the kind of drama Mara lives for. Definitely her type. She wouldn't dare trade a designer dress for anything in the world.

He brings it closer, surveying all its beauty before showing the dress to me.

"What do you think about the dress?" His questioning gaze meets mine.

His hazel eyes narrow in on me effortlessly, blinding and seductive. I can't ignore the fact that it makes me weak to my knees. I try not to look bothered that those eyes are piercing deep into my soul, and I can't get enough of it.

"It is magnificent, definitely the latest design on the market," I say, catching my breath before proceeding. "She will definitely love it. You should go with this."

"Definitely. I'll just put this aside while I go through the rest of them."

"You should. It's indeed a lovely dress," I say, and he turns towards the sales attendant.

"Show us some more dresses." His alpha tone is commanding and, at the same time, alluring.

I sip from my champagne glass while I watch as she parades some more dresses. While this is going on, I can't help but wish he knew about the romantic feelings I harbor for him. I know he shouldn't; Mara seems to be all he thinks about right now. I mean, why wouldn't he? She is from a beta bloodline and also one of the strongest high-ranking wolves. While I, on the other hand, am no more than a low-ranking Omega. Mara never fails to remind me about this whenever we get into heated altercations.

Lucien, on the other hand, only encourages me in his own way, but somehow his focus always drifts toward Mara. This alone makes my heart ache. Mom and Dad also encourage me, telling me to strive to be better. Though adopted, I never felt or was treated as inferior, but always showered with love and care.

Lucien relaxes into the sofa. Just then, something catches his fancy; a pink mini gown at the rear end of the rack. He calls out to the sales attendant to bring it nearer. She removes the dress from the rack and takes it to him.

The dress is even better than the last, I know once I glance at it. He observes the dress, then holds it out in midair just enough for me to see and give my thoughts on it.

"What do you think about this color?" he says.

"Oh come on, Lucien. Every girl loves a pink dress. It's totally the best one out of them."

"So you suggest I get this for her?"

"Definitely. I'm very sure she would like this."

"I think it's actually a good idea. It looks more like her style," he says with a satisfied look plastered on his face. "I guess we'll go with this." He hands the dress over to the sales attendant. She pauses, awaiting his next instruction.

"Pack this dress up specially and also the rest of the dresses we've selected earlier."

She nods and takes the dress, returning it to the rack while pushing the rack out of the lounge until she's out of sight. Lucien's face lights up in excitement. I can tell he's pleased with his choice.

We wait for a few minutes before Lucien stands to his feet. I stare at him in confusion while rising from the sofa.

"Let's go over to the counter. I need them to process the orders fast," he says, and I put down my glass to follow him. We approach the counter, and he proceeds to request his orders.

While he's on that, my eyes catch a gleam of a beautiful bag. Mom and I just went shopping for an outfit, and I can't seem to find the right bag to go with it. This bag looks just perfect for the dress. I move over the counter, approaching the sales attendant.

"Good afternoon, Miss. How may I help you?" she says, wearing a smile on her face.

"I would like to have a close look at that bag."

I point to the bag while she steps away from the counter to get it.

"Wow! Lucien has to see this."

I turn towards Lucien, still speaking with the receptionist. His jaw tenses, fingers drumming in no particular rhythm. He is starting to get frustrated... his packages might be delayed.

Brushing off the frustrated look on his face, I proceed to make him get me the bag. I tilt the bag in such a way it draws his attention as he whirls in my direction.

"Lucien, don't you think this bag looks good on me?" I say, and he turns towards me, face etched with frustration.

"Aria, we're here to get a dress for Mara, not you," he says, and everyone's attention drifts toward me.

Heat rushes to my cheeks, my face heavy with embarrassment. I can't believe he just said that to me, after buying a large collection of clothes for Mara. It's so unbelievable that he would discard my request over a bag as though I was doing too much.

I turn to the sales attendant. I can tell a lot is going through her mind. I don't say a word and place the bag on the counter before exiting the scene.

I inch closer towards Lucien. His orders are now ready and neatly seated on the countertop. He clears the bill and whirls to grace my presence. But I don't look in his direction, just ignoring him while making my way out.

On reaching the car, Lucien cracks the door open, and I settle into the back seat. With my arms folded across each other, I sink into my seat and remain there, ignoring that he's calling out to me. He gives up trying to get me to sit in front and fires the engine, hitting our ride home.

Once we arrive at the pack house, I don't speak to him. He really doesn't give a care in this world about me, just Mara. How pathetic. I crack the door open, totally ghosting him as I make my way in. Once inside, I sink into a sofa nearby, and the door comes flying open with a bang. Lucien storms in, his face tight with anger coursing through it.

"Aria. What the hell did you do all that for?" he snaps.

Aria’s POV

" You know exactly why I did that,'' I say, standing to my feet as I move past him, to the dining room, but Lucien follows suit.

" You can't blame me for what happened, my package was delayed. Okay," he says, but I ignore him, twisting off the cap of a bottle of water.

" Why don't we just put all this behind us? " My finger twitches, I let out a soft huff. Put all this behind us, like seriously.

" You humiliate me, Lucien, in front of the sales attendant and everyone else in the boutique. Are you kidding me?"

He comes closer, trying to explain further. " I was angry, okay. I didn't mean to.... Now please let's just drop it already. I still need your help for today.'' He blurts out.

Well, I don't blame him for that, he'll move mountains for Mara, but my feelings....none existence. And to think that I missed my lectures to be on this with him, says a lot about my feelings for him. Or else I would never lend a helping hand to him, to go about impressing his brat of a girlfriend.

I inhale, then exhale to release tension before uttering. "Help you say. I’m so done for today."

I try to walk away from our conversation, but he stops me right in time, grabbing me by my wrist, halting me from taking further steps.

I whirl around and can finally see his face. Our eyes lock in and no matter how many times this happens, it always gets me every time. My gaze drifts away from him, not wanting to stare longer than necessary... it falls on a frame in the background of the house.

"Aria.... Remember, our sibling’s code of conduct."

Just when he mentions the words code of conduct, a laugh catches in my throat. Sibling’s code of conduct, some lame concept we came up with in our much younger days. It never gets old… maybe it won’t. A good manipulative strategy that always gets us every time.

I flash him a stare before muttering, my tone low, uneven and unsure. "No matter what happens, we always have each other’s back." Lucien’s lips curl into a wide smile, while I suck in my lips in defeat. We can’t deny the other help, that’s what the conduct implies. And now, I have to follow through with helping Mr. lover boy win over his girlfriend. I feel so sick even thinking about it.

"Okay, just this time. Any case of Mara, I don’t want to get involved anymore." He nods in agreement, but I know all to well it wasn't possible. Lucien is smart, and he will always find a way to squeeze me into his love affair with Mara. Crazy.

He excitedly pulls me into a hug and we pull out. "Good Aria. We are making progress and all you have to do is write the speech I get to say during Mara’s party."

A speech? Are you kidding me? As if humiliating me isn’t enough, now I get to write a love letter for Mara in my own words.

He finds a sheet of paper and hands it over to me. I grab the paper from his hand and take a seat by the dinning table. I begin to scribble down the speech, raining praise on Mara, while knowing how much of a bitch she can be on a daily basis. It's either Lucien doesn’t know about this, or he just pretends not to. As I keep writing, Lucien walks over to the bar to help himself to a shot.

"Care for some?" He says, raising his glass to his lips as he sips from it.

"No, thanks. Not like I enjoy drinking anyway."

"Come on now. It’s just a drink, what can possibly go wrong?"

He closes in on me with two glasses of whiskey in hand.

"Here you go. Alcohol helps you think better," he teases, while he hands over a glass to me. I hesitate, but he doesn’t budge and presses it into my palm. I take a sip and place the glass on the table.

"You know you’re wrong about that. Alcohol doesn’t make you think better."

He drops into a seat beside me and snatches the paper I have the speech scribbled on. ‘‘You tell me. All I know is, when I have a rough day, a drink or two fixes me right up. " His eyes skim through the paper and a light smile tugs on his lips, showing his satisfaction.

"You know, you’re very good at this, Aria."

I let out a soft huff while he places the paper by my side.

"And at the next party, you get to write your speech yourself. Mr Alpha," I say while he chuckles at my words. My hands fold the paper into a smaller size, extending it towards him.

He takes in his whiskey in one swift gulp, collecting the paper. His index finger and middle finger intersecting the paper, sliding it away from my grip.

"Thanks," he says, leaning forward, tilting my head upward to plant a peck on it, as his lips pressed against my forehead. I close my eyes trying to ignore how good it feels when he does that.

He stands to his feet, sliding the paper into the right pocket of his trousers.

"See you at the party." He turns towards the door and begins making his way out of the pack house.

"And about the party." I say, causing him to halt at his step and whirl in my direction,

"What about it?''

"I'm sorry, Lucien… I don't think I'll be able to come," I blurt out before even thinking. If I am going to lie, I guess my mouth doesn’t get the memo.

Lucien lets out a very sarcastic laugh while he returns, closing in on the exit.

“No excuse, Aria. You’re coming. Mara needs to thank you for helping me out. No ifs or buts. ”

My fingers clench into a fist, his words cut razor sharp through the air, and they don’t leave any room for debate. As much as I don’t want to go, I just can’t help it either. Mara is still like a family to us and, of course, it would sound absurd that I'd miss out on the birthday celebration of the Beta’s daughter of the Silver Moon Pack.

I hate that my family will always have a tie to hers. This also makes it almost impossible to sit out this one.

Lucien halts midway and turns to glare at me, noticing my silence. “You should be happy for me, Aria. Who knows, maybe the moon goddess will make her my mate tonight.”

I sip from my glass of whiskey but cough immediately at his words, because… what the actual hell?

Aria's POV

"Are you okay?" Lucien spins in my direction, asking with concern rimmed in his tone.

I nod, reassuring him there’s nothing to worry about.

"Get ready, Aria, I’m expecting you at the party. Okay." He turns in my direction to confirm my answer, but I stare at him with pursed lips before retorting.

"Why must I be there, Lucien?" Mara doesn't even like me to begin with. "

"No more excuses, Aria. You are coming and that's final," he says, flashing me a stare. Jeez, he is such a control freak, always making sure things go his way.

"Whatever." I roll my eyes, seeing it was a losing game, and I wasn't winning at any time, while Lucien takes his leave.

I feel a shiver run up my spine. I can't comprehend how I'll do all this, only for Mara to end up as Lucien’s mate. This thought settles in my head, but I wave it off immediately. That isn’t going to happen. Lucien always makes up crazy scenarios in his head and this isn’t anything far from it.

There is so much I can take, like their public display of affection, watching him play doting boyfriend to her, while I hope on the side he becomes mine. But finding out she is his mate is not one of them. I would rather die than watch Lucien become Mara’s mate.

I snap my eyes shut, while I whisper a silent prayer to the moon goddess. If anything, just don’t make her his mate. I wouldn't bear to see that happen.

It flickers right open, and I head upstairs towards my room. My door shut at my back while I collapse into my bed. I need to clear my head. I give my last conversation with Lucien a quick run through....but slowly drift into sleep before I know it.

In the evening,

I wake up to a knock on my door, my hand clumsily searching my dressing table for my phone to look up what the time says. It’s 6:30 pm and the party starts at 7:30 pm. I still have like an hour to prepare, I think in my head. The knocking continues, with the person at the other end pushing so hard, but somehow the door won’t budge. Then it dawned on me, I had locked the door from inside before going in for a nap.

"Aria…..dear. Are you in?" I hear Mum’s voice against the steel door. I immediately get myself out of bed, my legs sliding into my flip-flops beside my bed frame. I dash towards the door, turning the knob and cracking the door open.

Mum’s worried look is what greets me at first glance.

"Hey Mum, sorry I didn’t hear a thing the whole time. I was fast asleep," I say, stretching out, while my fingers encircle the knob.

"I can see my love. Just wanted to check up on you. Now get dressed, you don’t want to be late to Mara’s party, okay."

"Okay Mum. I'll." She smiles and pecks me on my cheek before heading out. I close the door behind me and head to the bathroom to freshen up.

Once out, I go into my wardrobe, my eyes fall on the sheer red dress that I set aside for today’s party. I slip into it, throw on light makeup, while accessoring the look with some gold jewelry.

Satisfied with my look, I run a fit check, and I’m in love with my look already. I head downstairs, making my way into the car. As I sink into the seat, I can finally inhale and exhale freely.

These past few days have been nothing but… Mara, Mara, Mara. After tonight, her damn party will finally be over. Lucien is so obsessed with her, it’s sickening; I honestly don’t know what kind of spell she has on him.

Speaking of Lucien, I don’t see his car around. How great, he gets to arrive early for his girlfriend’s party. Punctual Alpha boyfriend, I guess, not him making it in time for an occasion when it has to do with Mara.

I pull my seatbelt across and click it in place. On the other hand, the driver fires the engine before I know it, we’re hitting the open road with Mum and Dad’s car in front of mine.

We pull up at the venue where the party is taking place. Music, people’s chatters and the clinking sound of glass welcome us as we make our way in.

Everything is beautiful, just like I envision it to be. Lots of people, a big tower cake, champagne glass tower, music playing in the background. Very typical of Mara, I don’t call her queen of highlights for nothing.

"Nice to have you here, Alpha Gales, Luna Kate and Aria." Beta Maverick’s voice catches our attention. Just at the same time, Mum and Dad step forward to greet him.

"Beta Maverick, what a lovely party you have going on. It’s indeed beautiful," Mum compliments. The parents chuckle, while I can only force a smile.

"Please, over here, if you don’t mind." Mum and Dad follow suit, but I just stand there just surveying the entire building. If not for anything, maybe for a familiar face I might know.

"Aria," Mum calls out to me. She gestures for me to follow suit, but I decline.

"You guys go on without me. I’m okay right here." They return their gaze to where Beta Maverick is taking them, while I slip into the crowd, and then I see some familiar faces from college. Chloe had told me earlier that she was going to be at the party. While Raymond bails out on the party, it sucks. I just wish Chloe doesn’t bail out on me at the last minute.

Chloe and Raymond are my very close friends. Chloe is my best friend. We have been friends since elementary school and have been inseparable since then. Raymond, on the other hand, is part of our little circle, the only guy in our clique, that just makes everyone pop. He is friendly and has a great love for basketball.

While my eyes are on the lookout for Chloe, I help myself to a drink. Funny enough, I don’t see Lucien anywhere either. Strange, I think to myself, if he wasn’t at the party where could he possibly be? My thoughts run wide while I calmly sip from my drink.

At the moment, I can’t help but notice a figure hovering over me. I try to brush it off, but then I hear a familiar voice from behind that catches me off guard.

"Just look who we have here, if it’s not Aria."