The Luna Awakening

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."