Aria's POV

My eyes slowly flicker open, my vision is a blur of light at first glance.

"Where am I?" I ask as my vision slowly return back. My body feels weak, but I still try to sit up and someone pulls me into their embrace while rubbing my back soothingly.

"Aria, you're alright. Okay, I'm right here." Just then I detect Lucien's voice while his hands wrap around me. My head rests against his broad chest, with my hands holding onto my temple, trying to soothe the splitting sensation I feel inside.

A nauseous feeling weighs down on me and I feel unrest in my stomach making me sick. Lucien puts me back to rest, my body sinks back into the bed. My hands still hold my head in place.

In no time, I feel a glass of water pressed into my palm.

"Here, take this. It will help." I sit upright on the bed, take a sip and hand it over. Everything suddenly starts coming back, and it hits me all at once.

"Lucien..." I mutter, but he presses a finger to my lips.

"Don't speak, you're still weak from all that drinking. You know?"

I chuckle, pushing his finger away. "You really think so."

"No, I don't think so, I know so." He moves to my face with a damp cloth in hand and begins mopping. "Come to think of it, what made you drink so much tonight?" I watch as his hands move across my face, he's fully focused.

I trace every curve and every structure of his well-defined facial appearance with my eyes. His jawline, how it tenses when his attention is focused on me.

I just can't get enough of him, his details I'd catalog and register in my mind. Those hazel eyes of his that always leave a lasting impression on me, when they narrow in on mine.

I'm lost in thought, but I see his mouth move. He must be trying to mumble words to my hearing.

He calls out to me. "Aria..." And I snap back to reality.

"Jeez, have you suddenly gone deaf?"

"What?" I close my eyes, trying to remember the last statement he made. "I'm so sorry, what were you saying again?"

He shakes his head in disappointment and resumes mopping off the trickle of sweat still clinging to my arm.

"I was asking a question. What made you drink so much today? It's very much unlike you to drink. Remember, in your own words, alcohol is bad for you," he says, with a scrutinizing look plastered across his face. One that screams, you say it was bad, but look who is doing it now.

I let out a soft huff, "Oh come on, Lucien, you and I know I never said that."

"Yes, maybe, but you did say something close to that. You can't deny that." This time it isn't about scrutiny, he's mocking me to my face and I can't do anything about it. I sink back into the bed.

"Maybe I did, but you can't just blame me for what happened today. It wasn't my fault. I promise." I lie. And he doesn't even have the slightest idea; I have a meltdown all because of him.

I also feel a need to ask about his car gift to Mara, but I let it slide. I can't bear hearing him go back and forth on how she is so dear to him and how she deserves nothing less. Call me jealous if you may, but I'm not sticking around for that.

I glance around the room and ask the question that comes to my mind. "What about Mum and Dad? And how long have you been here?"

Lucien returns his gaze to me, gently patting my head, helping lure me back to sleep.

"I told them not to worry, I was going to look after you tonight. And for the second question, you seriously don't want to know how long I have been here. Do you?" he tilts his head.

"Awnn. That's so sweet of you," I tease, causing him to let out a chuckle.

"Lucien." His eyes narrow in on me. "Tell me the truth, I made a fool of myself today." I watch anxiously, as he confirms my suspicion.

"Not really," he says, sounding unsure, and I immediately feel a sigh of relief just before he adds, "But you crashed Mara's party."

I'm not shocked at this moment, not that I crashed Mara's party by accident, but that somehow all Lucien's conversations always lead to her. He always manages to squeeze her in one way or another. He really cares more about her party than if all those glasses of champagne came crashing down on my face.

"And you know what?" He says and I glare in his direction. "What?"

"She's really mad at you." I scoff at how unbelievable that sounds. I have more to worry about and all she cares about is her party. This really shows she's a bitch, nothing more.

"Like she should be." Lucien flashes me a stare, the kind that screams disappointment. "Lucien, I almost died out there, talk about bumping into champagne towers. I had more to lose than she did." I let out in a heartbeat, not holding back words.

"Aria, I know you almost got hurt; I was terrified. But... Mara worked so hard on that party. You could at least show a little sympathy." Now he is becoming more unbelievable, taking Mara's side again.

I chuckle. "Sympathy. You really think Mara had any sympathy for me? Talk about sympathy, way to go, brother. Mara didn't feel a thing when I crashed into that tower and worse....."

He cuts in angrily. "That's enough, Aria. Drop it. You clearly don't get it, do you?" I can't believe he just said that. He withdraws from patting my head. "Get some rest," he says, dismissing my complaints as though they are nothing to him.

He moves towards the door, his fingers reaching for the light switch. "Good night, Aria," he says, before turning off the light. I really don't know when he will finally see the bad in Mara, for real.

He exits the room and I can only close my eyes, trying to process the last moment of our conversation. He seriously can't be worried about me talking down on Mara, because it's about time.

She does this to me, and he doesn't even flinch. The thought of him dismissing our conversation settles in.

"Ugh." I let out in frustration while burying my head into a pillow.

He's just impossible and this is a fact undeniable. But as I cast my mind back, I can't help but feel like I did too much. I could have gone easier on him, I think. It's crazy how my feelings always get in the way, even if he is wrong. Gosh, love makes you think and do sickening things at times. I replay our conversation in my last minute before drifting into sleep.

In the Morning,

I open my eyes to rays of sunlight streaming through my window. I feel better, more relieved, unlike yesterday, which was much worse. I peel myself out of bed. I have training with Lucien early today. I always train with him any day I am free and that implies today. I recall our verbal altercation, but I wave it off.

Remembering my promise to Raymond to watch him practice with his team later today, I really don't know how it is going to turn out, but I am going regardless.

And to crown it up, today is the eve before my eighteenth birthday. I can't believe that by tomorrow, I am turning eighteen. A wave of excitement suddenly floods me from inside, making me forget my worries for a second. I throw in a little dance and just then I hear muffled voices with footsteps approaching.

Aria's POV

The footsteps settle at my door, then a knock follows. "Aria darling, are you up already?" Mum says and proceeds to turn the door knob, cracking the door open. She walks in with a maid carrying a tray, which I presume contains my breakfast.

"Good morning Mum," I say, and she pulls me in for a hug.

"Oh my darling. I was scared to death, seeing you in your helpless state yesterday. How're you faring now?"

I smile reassuringly. "I feel better, Mum." She places her hand at the side of my face.

"Here you go. Your breakfast." Her gaze shifts towards the maid while she proceeds to place the tray on the dressing table. "I feel you might still be weak, so I brought it up for you."

"Oh Mum, you shouldn't have. I would have come down for breakfast myself," I protest.

"You're still very weak, why let you bother with that?" She moves over to the tray, repositioning the fork and knife. Mum is a clean freak, always organizing at every chance she gets. I can't help it either. I have grown to love this aspect of her regardless.

"Now eat your breakfast and have your rest. I'll call Dr. Blake, the park doctor, to check up on you." I don't waste another second before retorting.

"No Mum. You don't have to. I'm perfectly fine." She surveys my appearance, but isn't quite sure about my claims. When I see she doesn't look convinced, I try to say something to shift her attention.

"I have a training session with Lucien today," I say, wishing she would let me off her hook.

She takes me by my hands. "Darling, I don't think Lucien would mind if you decide to sit out this session with him. What do you say I tell him to let you take a break?"

"No Mum," I retort. "Another thing; I promised Raymond I'd watch him practice today. Please Mum... pretty please." I swing her hands in opposite directions, hoping she buys into my plea this time around. Mum flashes me a smile.

"Okay Aria. But you must promise you won't come back late. We don't want you falling ill a day before your big day. Okay?" She cups my face into her palm.

"Okay Mum. I love you." I move her hands aside, embracing her as she mutters.

"Love you too darling." We pull away and she makes her way out.

I rush into the bathroom to freshen up, eat breakfast, and get dressed for training.

I make my way towards Lucien's training ground. It's an open space, more like a field; nothing really special apart from a few training weapons.

I see him engaging in physical combat, and he isn't alone. Adrian, his beta, is with him. They are going at each other, sparring like their lives depend on it. Lucien is fierce, sending his spear in every direction, but Adrian calculatively blocks him at every point.

"Good morning guys," I say, trying to draw in their attention. Adrian looks in my direction, but Lucien doesn't, using the opportunity to send a spear across Adrian's right arm. He barely misses, dodging the attack as the spear slightly cuts through his skin. He falls to the ground, holding onto his wounded arm as he lets out a whimper.

Lucien gives him his arm in a quest to help him up on his feet.

"Next time, focus. You can't afford to be distracted while on the battleground. Got it?" Adrian lets out a grunt as Lucien pulls him back up with his wounded arm.

"There's certainly no distractions over here, Lucien. It's just Aria," Adrian says as he tends to his wounds. Lucien glares in my direction and returns to practice. I can't believe he just ignores me like that.

Just as I'm about to give him a piece of my mind, Adrian steals my focus with his warm greetings. "Hi Aria, how is your day going?" I switch my attention over to him, tending to his injured arm.

"Hi Adrian. So sorry about that," I say.

"No problem, I'll just take care of this real quick." I move past him, making my way towards Lucien. As I close in on him, he stops training with the spear, halting his practice.

He picks up a cloth and cleans the spear. "Shouldn't you be resting? You're not strong enough to practice today," he says, not meeting my gaze, still cleaning the blood on the blade.

"You barely even responded to me, Lucien. Is there any problem?" He finally looks in my direction, his expression unreadable.

"That's not an answer." He puts the spear back in place and grabs a towel to clean the trickle of sweat rolling down his bare chest. He drags the towel slowly against his skin, his muscles flex in an attempt to mop his body clean. It's tempting, No... It's enticing. My stomach flips, my chest tightens, I bite the inside of my lip to fight the urge not to drool. My jaw tenses.... I have to look away. Just when I'm in need of a distraction.... There my eyes fall on a perfect distraction: a sword.

I go to it, pick it up and start surveying its beautiful design. It's intricate detailing, it's beautiful. Once he's done, Lucien moves towards a hanging support and drops the towel on it.

He inches closer, then l hear him say at my back, "I'm still waiting for an answer." I flinch, spinning towards him, forgetting the proximity that our bodies are at. My hand touches his bare chest and I pull away as though I've touched something hot.

I try to argue about his nonchalant response towards me, but I withdraw. It was pointless, he's probably still mad at me from yesterday's altercation.

I inhale, then exhale. "You're still angry at me from last night. Right?" He leans on a thick wooden pole, while he stares in my direction. "You bet I'm still angry," he says.

"OK, let's just put all that behind us," he smirks at me, like he totally agrees with me.

"That's not a problem, provided you apologize for yesterday. Remember you started it, so it's all your fault." I look at him, puzzled that he would even think of asking for an apology when I'm clearly right about Mara.

"Hell no, Lucien. Not when I know I'm right and definitely not over Mara; who wouldn't give a care if I lived or died." I say as I watch his expression turn sour, lips curl downward. He is about to say something but stops when we hear a familiar voice mutter from afar off.

"Hi Babe."

Aria's POV

I turn around to see Mara walking towards us. "Mara... What the hell is she doing here?" I mutter under my breath, but Lucien turns to flash me a stare.

"Mara is family, Aria, you don't need to be told that, or do you?" he says and walks away to welcome her. She closes in on him and stops right in front of him. His arms encircle her waist while he plants a peck on her cheek.

She blushes at the gesture, but it soon fades as her gaze lands on me. Way to go. Now she isn't going to let me hear the last of it after I crashed her party. They start making their way towards me, and I excuse myself to another part of the training ground.

I can't even imagine putting up with her. Ugh, she's so impossible. Sparring is my worst thing to do, but I'm in for something to keep my mind occupied. My eyes fall on a wooden staff, and I pick it up to practice sparring.

I step forward, spinning the staff with both hands, lunging it in all directions while pretending to block attacks. I duck my head as though someone is sending a spear over it, all in one swift move. Just then Adrian makes his way back to the training ground. He greets Mara and pulls Lucien away in a bid to tend to something important.

Mara moves her gaze towards me and begins walking in my direction. As she closes in on me, I remain focused on training.

She stops at my back, applauding as she utters, "Wow. Way to go, party wrecker. Such an impressive move you've got there." I pause at her words. Party wrecker. Now that's the height of it. Someone needs to call her out on her BS, and if no one is going to, then I am.

I whirl in her direction and meet her cold gaze. I know that look all too well, but sadly it doesn't scare me a bit. I push my staff onto the ground, pinning it in one place while my fingers encircle it.

"Party wrecker," I sigh. "You really think I'd sabotage your party on purpose?"

She picks up a staff beside her and directs its end at me. "Then what does it look like? Huh. You tell me, since you seem to know more than me." She replies with raised brows.

I push the end of her staff away with my hand. "Mara, I don't have all the time in the world for this. I was busy before you interrupted me. So if you don't mind, run along." I pick up my staff to return to training. But Mara does something unbelievable; she lifts her staff to hit against mine.

Shocked, I pause, my face drenched in anger. I grab hold of her staff, my knuckles white around it as I try to dislodge it from her hand, but she doesn't budge, fastening her grip around it.

"Have you lost it already?" I ask, my tone cutting through the air.

She smirks and dislodges the staff from my grip instead. "You bet I have. And you just wait and see how I ruin your big day tomorrow. I bet you can't tell what's coming for you." Her eyes widen, her breathing heavy against my skin. "You messed with the wrong person, Aria. You weak Omega." She proceeds to take her leave, but I pull her by her clothe.

My heart pounding, pupils dilating, knuckles white around her fabric. She spins around, and I point my staff directly at her.

"You think you've got what it takes? I dare you, Mara. I might be that weak Omega to you, but I bet you I don't take threats like this lightly."

She frees herself from my grip and tries to speak, but I cut her off before she can even utter a word.

"You better brace yourself, 'cause I'm not letting you have your way. Not so easily." My gaze pierces into her, and she is too surprised to respond. She wasn't expecting this side of me, and I really don't care what she's thinking right now. I launch my staff onto the ground and begin walking away from her.

As I close in on the exit, she lets out a mocking laugh and fires back, "Run away, you scary little wolf. Ooooh, I'm so scared." She quivers in false fear, her voice rimmed with mockery. I bite the inside of my lip to suppress my anger while making my way out without looking back.

On my way, I encounter Lucien and Adrian making their way back. Lucien flashes me a confused look as he approaches. "Where are you heading off to so early?" he says.

I suck in a breath and let it out at the same time, trying to calm myself in order not to transfer aggression. Once my head suddenly feels lighter, I reply, "I promised to watch Raymond practice, so I should be there." I observe his mood shift; his face suddenly wears a frown, which he tries to conceal with a quick, light smile.

Lucien also plays basketball. He's on the opposite team from Raymond. I know it sounds absurd, but I've never made an attempt to watch him practice. Shocking, considering the fact he's my brother-but it's not like he ever involves me in that part of his life either.

I move past them to make it in time for Raymond's practice. I arrive at the college basketball court, where the practice is taking place. As I go down the stairs to help myself to a seat, I sigh in relief, realizing I really need a breath of fresh air. And this practice works well. I spot Chloe already on standby. I draw closer to her, exchanging hugs and warm greetings.

Practice begins, and we settle into a seat, watching with keen interest as everyone on the team displays their incredible skill on the court. As the practice progressed, Chloe and I show our support by waving foam fingers in the air.

As they continue practicing, the coach draws in their attention by blowing his whistle. "Time out, boys. Take a quick break, then we'll continue," he says, and they halt their practice.

Raymond moves towards Chloe and me, seated in the spectators' section of the court. We smile, waving at him with the foam fingers, while he smiles back.

He approaches us and collapses into a nearby seat. His hand reaches into a cooler carrying refreshments like carbonated drinks and water.

He grabs a bottle of water, twists off the cap, and drenches his face with it before gulping down the remnants.

He lets out a heavy sigh and finally finds his voice. "Hi, girls. Glad you could make it," he says, exhausted, his hands dangling weightless by the sides of his seat.

"Anytime," Chloe and I chorus together. We stare at each other, smiling at the unison in our words.

"Jinx," Chloe blurts out, and we both simultaneously point to each other. "I said that first," she says and cuts my finger with hers, while we all giggle at the same time.

Just then Drake passes by and winks in Chloe's direction. She blushes. My eyes move fast, catching the drama from Drake and then back to Chloe. Raymond witnesses the scene as well, making us both let out a chuckle.

I spin in Raymond's direction,"Raymond," I say while he looks at me with a wide smile spread on his face.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I tease and he readjusts into his seat.

He replies, "You bet I am," Chloe nudges our shoulders in a playful manner, still blushing like she has just seen her prince charming.

Raymond doesn't stop there but proceeds to tease further.

"Tell us, Chloe, what is this chemistry I sense building up between you and Drake?"

I nod in agreement. "Yes, Chloe, please tell us."