Aria’s POV
"A deal?" I repeated, my voice filled with confusion.
Lucian nodded, not offering any further explanation.
I narrowed my eyes. "What kind of—"
Before I could finish, he grabbed my hand. I barely had time to react before he pulled me closer. So close that I could feel his breath against my skin, warm and steady.
My heart stammered. I tried to pull away, but Lucian’s grip was firm. Instead of letting go, he yanked me in further until my body slammed into his.
A small gasp escaped my lips.
“What are you doing?” I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucian’s gaze flickered with amusement. “Making you an offer.”
My pulse hammered. "I don't need to hear this—"
"Kian might have rejected you," he interrupted, his voice smooth and certain. "But that doesn't mean he wants to see you with someone else."
I blinked hard. What does he mean?
Lucian’s lips curled slightly. “He doesn’t hate you, Aria.” His fingers tightened around my wrist. “I know my brother. He hates that he wants you.”
My breath hitched. That… wasn’t true. Kian didn’t want me, he made that very clear when I confessed my feelings to him. He never liked me and he never will. I never stood a chance.
Lucian studied me like he could see the doubt swirling inside my head. "Maybe," he continued, his voice softer, "he just doesn’t know what he’s losing… yet."
I swallowed.
"And," he added, "he’ll see it when you take this deal."
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. “And what do you get from it? For sure there’s a catch.”
Lucian smirked. “You’re a smart girl. I like that.”
Then his next words sent my heart spiraling.
"Here’s the plan. I’ll make you my fake mate."
The world stopped. I blinked. “What?! Are joking with me? You’re mocking me aren’t you?”
He rolled his eyes at my reaction. "Relax, I don’t mean it like that. This isn’t about love or romance." He waved a hand dismissively. "It’s about strategy. Trust me, it’ll benefit us both.”
I folded my arms, forcing myself to ignore the lingering warmth from where he had just kissed me. "Then get straight to the point."
Lucian sighed, his expression turning more serious. "The elders are pushing for me to choose a mate."
I raised a brow. "So? You’re also the Alpha’s son. You don’t need to be forced into anything."
"Exactly," Lucian agreed. "And that’s the problem. My father is gone, and the elders don’t want me to choose. They want to choose for me. And the last thing I want is to be tied down to some she-wolf I have no connection with just because it's politically convenient for this pack."
I frowned. "So you want me to pretend to be your mate to get the elders off your back?"
Lucian’s lips twitched. "Exactly. And in return, you get something too."
I hesitated. "What exactly am I getting out of this except humiliation?"
Lucian laughed and leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "The chance to make Kian regret rejecting you."
A sharp breath escaped me.
"Think about it," Lucian continued. "Kian might have pushed you away, but that doesn’t mean he’s over you. He needs to see you with someone else. He needs to believe he’s lost you. And what better way than for you to be with me?"
"For so long, I had hoped Kian would change his mind—that one day he’d wake up and realize what we could have had together. That he’d finally feel it too—the way the Moon Goddess intended for us to be. But to him, I had always been a weakness.
Meanwhile, Lucian was offering me something different. An opportunity. He was an Alpha’s son too, and being with him might make the pack see me in a new light. Maybe it would be good for me.
But was this really going to work?
Before I could even think about backing away, Lucian’s gaze shifted past me, as if someone stood behind me. I started to turn, following his line of sight, but before I could, he pulled me closer—then leaned in and kissed me.
I stiffened.
The heat of his lips pressed against mine, stealing my breath and scattering my thoughts. My hands tensed against his chest, pushing slightly, but Lucian didn’t pull away immediately. His lips moved slowly, deliberate, and when I felt the warmth of his tongue, I melted into it, drowning in the sensation.
When he finally pulled back, I gasped, already longing for more. I bit my lower lip, feeling my cheeks flush with heat.
But Lucian? He looked completely satisfied.