Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

Chapter 6 Dr. Hawthorne visibly wilted under Lucas's scorching glare, stammering an incoherent apology before practically fleeing the room.

Lucas stalked to Aria's bedside, his face twisted with barely contained rage: "When srandom guy hits on you like that, you're supposed to tell him I'm your mate. Is that so fucking hard? Or were you enjoying the attention?" Aria stared at him, finding his reaction darkly comical.

Just hours ago he'd sworn to his friends he'd never have feelings for her and never let her be his Luna "in this lifetime," yet here he was, bristling with jealousy like she was his prized possession. The hypocrisy was breathtaking.

When had he ever cared before? All those times she'd desperately wanted his attention, he'd been cold and distant. Now that she no longer cared, suddenly he was staking his claim? Too little, too late.

A few days after her discharge, Lucas unexpectedly suggested they attend a pack gathering at The Night.

She knew he typically avoided such events, dismissing them as "pathetic nostalgia fests for wolves who peaked in Elite Academy." His sudden interest was transparent-this wasn't about reconnecting with old friends.

Sure enough, the moment they arrived, Aria spotted Leila Blackwood across the room.

There she was-Miss Perfect herself. Designer dress, effortless beauty, commanding the attention of everyone around her without even trying. The woman Aria had spent years unknowingly competing against, and losing to, all along.

On the surface, Lucas maintained a cool distance from Leila, acting as if they barely knew each other.

But Aria recognized that look in his eyes now-the sone she'd given him for years. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, his gaze followed Leila across the room, lingering a moment too long whenever she laughed or spoke. Love was impossible to disguise, especially when it was real.

Halfway through the evening, Aria excused herself to use the restroom.

16:38 Chapter 6 When she returned, the gathering had devolved into a drunken gof Truth or Dare, with her former friends sprawled across couches, drinks in hand.

Leila had just lost a round and was being pressured to answer what appeared to be an embarrassing question. Looking uncomfortable, she hesitated, when suddenly Lucas stepped forward, snatching the card. from the holder. "I'll take the hit for her," he announced, voice cutting through the noise.

Tyler waved the card tically, reading with exaggerated flair: "Who's your ultimate mate fantasy? Not a celebrity-someone you actually know. Give us their initials." The group erupted in wolf whistles and catcalls.

"Ooooh, awkward!" Blake shouted, grinning. "But easy for you, right? It's gotta be your mate!" "Yeah, Lucas, tell us how much you fantasize about Aria!" Josh called out, winking at her mockingly.

Lucas fell silent for a moment, then spoke clearly, not looking in Aria's direction: "L.B." The air seemed to disappear from Aria's lungs, her fingers going numb.

L.B.- Leila Blackwood.

The revelation wasn't shocking-she'd known the truth for days now-but hearing him announce it publicly, with her standing right there, felt like being stabbed.

She couldn't bear another second of this farce. Without a word, she turned and walked out.

Outside, she texted Lucas: "Not feeling well. Going home." Aria stood at the curb, phone in hand to call an Uber, when footsteps pounded behind her.

"Aria! Wait!" She turned, surprised to see Lucas jogging toward her, actually looking concerned.

"Why did you leave?" she asked, genuinely confused.

His brow furrowed with what looked remarkably like genuine worry: "You said you weren't feeling well. What's wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?" 16:38 Chapter 6 For a fleeting moment, the concern in his eyes made her heart flutter traitorously. It looked so real-was it possible he actually cared? But then the memory of him sitting in that hospital room saying he'd never let her be his Luna crashed back, dousing any spark of hope.

She shook her head, keeping her voice level: "I'm fine, just a headache. Shouldn't you be back inside? With everyone? With Leila?" "You're my mate," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "If you're sick and leaving, why the hell would I stay?" He reached out, pressing his palm against her forehead to check for fever.

The gesture was so tender it hurt. How many times had she dreamed of him caring for her like this? And now that he was finally doing it, it was just another performance in his elaborate revenge scheme.

The cruel irony wasn't lost on her. He told his friends she meant nothing while treating her like she meant everything. Each kind gesture only deepened her confusion, making it harder to protect her heart.

But it didn't matter anymore. Just minutes earlier, her parents had messaged-the pack transfer ritual was nearly complete. In two days, she would board a plane to the Northern Alpine Pack, putting hundreds of miles between herself and this beautiful, toxic lie. Lucas, satisfied she wasn't feverish, relaxed slightly. Without further questions, he said quietly: "Con, let's go home." In the middle of the night, Aria stirred from her sleep, vaguely aware of voices coming from the balcony.

She opened her eyes, carefully slipping out of bed. Lucas stood outside smoking, his phone on speaker resting on the railing. Though the volwas low, she could clearly make out the conversation as she crept closer.

"Dude, for revenge ninety-nine, we need to go fucking nuclear!" Tyler's excited voice crackled through the speaker. "Isn't your anniversary of accepting her into the pack the day after tomorrow? Tell Aria you have this amazing surprise planned, blindfold her, then take her to my dad's abandoned hunting cabin upstate. Once inside, make sexcuse to step out. When you're clear, we'll lock all the exits, light the place up, and let her feel what it's like to be truly trapped. She'll lose her fucking mind!" 16.38 Chapter 6 "That's savage!" Blake chimed in, laughing. “She'll be pounding on the doors, screaming for help!" "We'll let her panic for a few minutes before the pack guards 'coincidentally' show up," Josh added. "No real danger, just pure psychological torture. The perfect finale!" Derek's voice rose above their laughter: "Ninety-nine revenge schemes, and we saved the best for last! After this, you're a free Alpha, Lucas. Leila will be so impressed." Aria watched Lucas's reaction, her heart hammering. His jaw clenched tightly, a vein visibly pulsing at his temple as his fist tightened around his cigarette.

"Absolutely fucking not," he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous level. "I'm not doing that. Find something else." 16:38