Chapter 75

Aria & Third Person

Aria

The week dragged on like an eternity, each day blending into the next. Darren and I spoke only when necessary—quick exchanges about work tasks or brief updates about Lucas. Nothing personal, nothing meaningful.

He kept his distance, and I let him, burying myself in my own responsibilities and pretending like I didn’t notice the way tension followed me wherever I went.

I knew I hit a nerve when I talked to him in his office on Monday, but I didn’t go back on what I said. Not this time. I needed him to understand that I wasn’t okay with him lying about me, with all of the constant hiding and jealousy and unexpected kisses.

And if he wasn’t going to find a way to break the mate bond anytime soon, then I needed him to know that there was only so much more of this I could take.

Honestly, I considered quitting a couple of times, just to remove myself from the bad situation.

But I couldn’t. I told myself that it was because I needed to finish my degree, or save up enough money to support myself while I was getting said degree.

But deep down, I think it was just that I couldn’t bear to work somewhere that I couldn’t see him every day. And knowing that just made the whole situation that much more difficult.

Friday night came with an unexpected invitation: Brandon’s birthday celebration at a nearby bar. I wasn’t particularly close with Brandon, but declining would only give my coworkers more reason to whisper about me. So I went.

The bar was crowded, the sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and music filling the air. My coworkers still didn’t seem keen on socializing with me despite Darren’s announcement on Monday, leaving me to linger near the bar like an outsider. I ordered a drink, not because I wanted one but because it gave me something to do with my hands.

I stirred the ice with my straw, watching it melt and swirl. I was sure I looked miserable.

“Hey, mind if I join you?”

I glanced up to see Tracy standing there, holding a drink and smiling warmly. At least there was one person in the office who still seemed to like me.

“Sure,” I said, gesturing to the empty seat beside me.

She slid onto the stool, setting her drink down with a soft clink. “Not much of a party-goer?”

“Depends on the party,” I admitted, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You?”

She shrugged. “I can be. But it depends on the company.”

I chuckled softly, the tension in my shoulders easing just a bit. For once, someone didn’t seem to be walking on eggshells around me.

“So,” Tracy began, swirling her drink, “how’ve you been holding up this week?”

I blinked at her, unsure of how to answer. “I’m fine,” I said, a little too quickly.

She raised an eyebrow but didn’t push. Instead, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. “You know, if you and Darren really are together, I think that’s great. You’d make a beautiful couple.”

My face flushed, and I shook my head. “We’re not. Together, I mean.”

Tracy’s lips quirked into a knowing smile. “You don’t have to hide it from me. I’m just saying, if it were true, it’s no one else’s business. Love is love, right?”

“It’s not like that,” I insisted, but my voice sounded small. “Darren and I… it’s complicated.”

“Well, complicated or not, your coworkers are the jerks here, not you,” she said firmly. “They’ve got no right to treat you the way they have.”

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to agree with her, to let her validation soothe all of my pent-up anger and disappointment. But another part of me—the part that felt like I deserved every glare, every whisper—couldn’t quite accept it.

“Maybe,” I finally murmured, my voice barely audible over the sound of the music.

Tracy smiled softly. “Trust me, Aria. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Just be you.”

Her words felt genuine, and for the first time in days, I felt a flicker of relief. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

“I’m gonna run to the restroom,” I said, sliding off my stool. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Take your time,” Tracy replied, lifting her glass in a mock toast.

I weaved through the crowd, grateful for the brief reprieve. The restroom was quiet, the hum of the bar muffled behind the thick door. I did my business and splashed a little cool water on my face. By the time I returned to the bar, Tracy was still there, her chin resting casually on her hand.

“Everything okay?” she asked as I slid back onto my stool.

“Yeah,” I said, picking up my drink. “Thanks for keeping me company.”

“Anytime,” she said with a smile.

I took a sip, the cool liquid sliding down my throat. For the first time in days, I let myself relax. Tracy’s presence was a small but welcome comfort, and I found myself opening up more than I usually would. We talked about work, the birthday party, even shared a laugh about how loud Brandon’s laugh was from across the room.

But as I sipped my drink, a strange haze began to settle over me. My thoughts felt slower, like they were swimming through molasses, and my limbs felt heavy.

“Are you okay?” Tracy asked, tilting her head.

“Yeah,” I said, blinking hard. “Just… tired, I guess.”

She nodded, her smile soft but unreadable. “You’ve had a rough week. It’s no wonder you’re feeling it.”

As the minutes passed, my inhibitions slipped further away, my words tumbling out more freely than usual. I didn’t even notice it at first, too caught up in the comforting lull of conversation.

“You know,” I said, my tongue thick and heavy in my mouth, “Lily’s been such a… ugh, I don’t even know. Cold? Distant? It’s like she’s mad at me for existing.”

Tracy hummed sympathetically. “She’s always been a little… intense, hasn’t she?”

I nodded, the words spilling out of me like a dam breaking. “I mean, what did I even do to her? She was my friend, sharing snacks with me at lunch like school kids, and now she won’t even look at me.”

“That’s not fair,” Tracy said, her voice smooth and comforting. “If she’s upset, that’s her problem, not yours.”

The haze deepened, and I found myself nodding along.“You’re right,” I slurred. “It’s not fair.”

“Exactly,” Tracy sai. “You don’t deserve this, Aria. Maybe it’s time to stand up for yourself.”

I blinked at her, the suggestion tugging at something deep inside of me. “You think so?”

“I do,” she said with a smile. “You’ve been too kind for too long. Maybe it’s time to let her know how you feel.”

A spark of anger flickered to life in my chest, fueled by the strange fog clouding my thoughts. “You know what? I think I will have words with her.”

Before I even realized what I was doing, I slid off the stool and started toward Lily. I reached her table, tapping her on the shoulder. She was in the middle of a conversation, but I didn’t care.

“Lily, we need to talk.”

…

Third Person

Tracy leaned back in her seat, a sly grin spreading across her face as she watched Aria storm across the bar. Her plan had worked perfectly.

The pill had dissolved quickly, undetectable in Aria’s drink, and now it was doing its job. Tracy rested her chin on her hand, her heart pounding with excitement as the human girl confronted Lily. The anger in Aria’s voice carried over the noise of the bar, and Tracy stifled a laugh.

Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her phone and angled it discreetly. “Oh, this is gonna be good,” she whispered, right before hitting record.