28. Aria

28

ARIA

"Girl, you won't believe the day I had," I say, spinning my last client of the day around in her chair, a smile spreading from ear to ear. She is, ironically, my sparring partner, and I was delighted to see her walk in. "Girl, my life's turned into a soap opera lately," I continue, gesturing dramatically. "Between work drama and the Clarke pack alphas turning my world upside down, I feel like I'm living in an alternate reality."

I literally can't get the four delicious alphas out of my damn head.

"I look…" She trails off, her emerald eyes sparkling. She reminds me a lot of Ginger, with just a sprinkling of Cayenne.

"I'll tell you how you look." It's just the two of us in here, and night has already fallen. Unlike my pretentious client last week, Willow has been nothing but thankful, and I don't mind that we are here well after dark. "You look like you are about to put jaws on the floor. You look like you could make an alpha nut himself in the canned food aisle of the grocery store. You look?—"

"Okay." She giggles, her large brown curls tamed and lying beautifully around her face with just a sprinkling of highlights. "Okay, I get it." She rolls her smile inward, and teeny tiny dimples pop out on her cheeks. "I love it, Aria."

"Fucking right you do." I rip off her cape with a flourish. "Now all you have to do is leave a trail of hearts behind you."

"You think I can do that?" Willow asks, her eyes still locked on her reflection in the mirror. "Leave a trail of hearts behind me?"

These guys are starting to get to me, and I'm not sure how to handle it. Dash's playful smile makes my heart skip, Malachi's soulful eyes see right through me, Quinn's good vibes are infectious, and Zane... well, I can't get a read on Zane, but that doesn't stop my pulse from racing when he's near. One minute he is hot, the next he's cold, and dammit, I want to uncover his depths.

"Girl, please." I spin her chair around so she's facing me. "With looks like yours, you could have an entire army marching behind you, ready to do your bidding."

Like Malachi and how he can get everyone to do what he wants with a single look. As far as alpha traits go, that is hot as hell.

Willow laughs, the sound melodic and infectious. "I don't know about an army, but maybe a few good men wouldn't hurt."

Army. Military. Alpha Force. They have nothing on Zane.

"A few?" I raise an eyebrow. "Try a dozen. Two dozen. Hell, the whole damn town will be falling at your feet, as they fucking should."

I love being surrounded by alphas. Four particular alphas doing very naughty things. Which hole can fit two?

Wills stands up, jolting me out of my thoughts and smoothing out her dress. It hugs her curves in all the right places, the deep green making her eyes pop even more. "I guess there's only one way to find out."

"That's the spirit." I give her a playful slap on the ass. "Now go out there and break some hearts. If anyone gives you trouble, just remember what I taught you in our sparring sessions."

Or rather, what she taught me. Or how Malachi supports his whole pack with a pinkie. A sexy pinkie.

Willow nods, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "A swift kick to the balls usually does the trick."

Didn't Zane tell me to do that? Or did I think it? Either way, now all I can think about is Zane and his balls, which makes me naturally think about his knot. Stop!

"Sends them sprawling to the floor every time." I plop my ass in the receptionist's chair, crossing my legs and leaning back with a smirk.

I wouldn't mind them looking up at me from the floor.

"Do you have plans tomorrow?" she asks as she grabs her wallet and sits in the waiting chair to pay.

Yeah, to watch Dash onstage, singing, sweaty, and sexy as fuck.

"Tentative plans." I'm supposed to see Dash play at the Red Door. "Why?"

Willow leans forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, I was thinking… You know The Red Door, that exclusive club downtown? They're having a special event tomorrow night. VIP only, limited guest list, the whole shebang."

The guys will already be there. Maybe they will be in VIP and you can fu ? —

I whistle. "Sounds overstimulating, and let me guess, you scored an invite?"

How would Quinn handle that? Would he join?

She grins, pulling out two glossy black cards from her purse. "Not just one invite, but two, and I was hoping you'd be my plus one."

Would they steal me away from her and seduce me behind a curtain?

I lean back in the chair, considering the offer. A night out at an exclusive club with Willow could be just the distraction I need from my complicated love life. Plus, it would give me a chance to see her newfound confidence in action.

You can see the guys.

"I don't know, Willow. Clubs aren't really my scene." I hesitate, biting my lower lip. I can still recall the last bar I went to, and I'd rather forget.

You can do naughty things under a table.

I do need to forge new memories. I need to let go of the ones that no longer serve me. Do I dare?

She pouts, her full lips forming a perfect rosebud. "Come on, Aria. When was the last time you let loose and had some fun? Besides, you're the one who gave me this makeover. Don't you want to see the results in action?"

Dash will probably rip off his shirt.

"You play dirty." I snatch the ticket out of her hand. An entire side of the ticket is a big, glossy red door, and on the back, it's all black with raised lettering. "The Red Door."

Zane would watch.

It's like the universe is purposely taunting me with this damn club.

"You're thinking about it, aren't you?" She smirks.

I'm thinking about how Malachi looks like a giver, and I bet he'd crawl under the table.

"Gimme your phone." I wiggle my fingers and wait for her to hand me her phone. I put my number in and text myself. "I work until seven."

They invited me anyway.

She squeals. "I'll be here to pick you up." She damn near bounces in her seat as she pays for her hair. "We should totally eat first."

I'm their dinner, so I will need calories.

"Tacos?" I ask hopefully, because I am a slut for tacos. She laughs at me. She thinks I'm joking, but I'm so serious, it hurts.

"Wear something hot," Willow says with a wink as she grabs her purse and heads for the door. "And I mean smoking hot. We're going to make every head turn when we walk into that club."

I only want their attention.

I shake my head, laughing. "You got it, girl. I'll see you tomorrow night."

What the fuck is wrong with me?

The door chimes as she exits, leaving me alone in the salon. I lean back in the chair, staring at the glossy ticket in my hand. The Red Door. Of all the clubs in the city, it had to be this one.

Part of me wants to bail, make up some excuse, and spend the night curled up on my couch with a pint of ice cream and a sappy rom-com, but another part of me, a bigger part, knows I need this. I need a night out with a friend to forget my troubles and just let loose.

Not to mention I have no idea if my apartment is even safe.

I think back to what I told Willow earlier, about leaving a trail of hearts behind her. It's time I take my own advice…not that I didn't already commit to seeing where things could go with the Clarke pack.

I'm going to keep my omega identity a secret from the pack, for a little while longer at least. Quinn knows, but I've sworn him to secrecy. I want them all to want me, Aria, the woman, not just Aria the omega.

Or Aria their scent match. Something I think they with either be thrilled with, or they may absolutely hate me for keeping a secret.

I had all afternoon to think about it while working, and it's the only way I'm willing to see where things will go. Noah wanted Aria the omega, and he abused that relationship time and time again. With the Clarke pack, I want more, and while that should scare me, it also feels good.

As I start tidying up, the salon's usual comforting scents of shampoo and hair products mingle with a new, mysterious aroma. My eyes are drawn to a small, ornate box on the counter, its presence as unexpected as the sudden turn my life has taken. It's made of dark wood, intricately carved with patterns that almost seem…familiar. I pick it up, feeling a strange chill run down my spine. When I open it, it's empty, but there's an odd sense of déjà vu. I shake my head, dismissing it as just a long day playing tricks on me, and I set it back down just as the door opens.

I squeal, because dammit, I thought I locked it. As I spin around, I find Malachi leaning against the doorframe with a raised brow. Dressed in dark jeans and a simple, long-sleeved black shirt, he looks casual and absolutely mouthwatering.

He has no idea about the conversations and stories I spent the entire day making up in my head about this man, including very naughty fantasies, but beneath those fantasies, there's a genuine curiosity about who he is and what he wants.

All I can say is the scent suppressants that voodoo woman gave me are working, because I haven't slicked myself since this morning, and I've been playing in perm solution and bleach all day.

I smell like a chemical buffet.

I also have no idea what to say to him. "Sir, I'm so sorry, but we are closed for the evening." Why that's what pops into my head, I'll never know. Maybe it's the nervousness of wanting to make a good impression on someone who's becoming increasingly important to me.

He runs his tongue across his teeth, and I wish that tongue was running over parts of me. "What a shame," he says. "I could use a shaping."

Roleplay. All right, that makes this entire confrontation a little easier.

I appraise him with a raised eyebrow, a smirk playing on the corners of my lips. "Well, I suppose I could make an exception…for the right price, of course." My heart races in my chest.

Malachi pushes off the doorframe and saunters over, his movements fluid and predatory. "Name it. Money is no object."

"Oh, I'm not talking about money, sugar." Sugar? Who even am I? A horny omega. I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms under my breasts. "I require payment of a different kind."

His eyes darken as they rake over my body, taking in every curve. "Is that so? And what, pray tell, did you have in mind?"

If he keeps looking at me like I'm his midnight snack, then all of this beta bullshit will be over before it even begins.

I uncross my arms and crook a finger at him, beckoning him closer. He obliges, stopping mere inches from me, his breath hot against my skin. "First things first—lose the shirt."

A wicked grin spreads across his face as he reaches back and yanks his shirt over his head in one smooth motion. I have to bite my lip to keep from groaning at the sight of his chiseled chest and abs. The man is a work of art.

There is even a little scar on his shoulder that I want to lick.

Honestly, I just wanted to see if he'd do as I asked. He did. Now what? I started this game, and I am going to have to finish it.

"Like what you see?" he asks.

I nod slowly, drinking in every inch of his sculpted torso. "It's a start, but I'm going to need more than just a pretty view."

Malachi leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "Just tell me what you want, Aria. I'm all yours."

His words send a shiver down my spine. I want him, all of him, in every way imaginable, but I also want to savor this and make him work for it.

"Sit," I command, pointing to the salon chair. He obeys without hesitation, settling into the black leather seat.

I grab a cape and drape it around his shoulders, letting my fingers graze his skin as I secure it around his neck. His muscles tense beneath my touch, and I smile to myself.

"So tell me, Malachi, what brings you to my humble salon at this late hour?" I grab a metal comb and work through the section I plan to fade out.

He meets my gaze in the mirror, his eyes smoldering with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. "You," he says, his voice a low rumble that I can almost feel vibrating through the air between us.

"Little ole me?" I look away, because I very well might fucking swoon, and then we are all screwed…mainly because I'm holding clippers in my hands that are worth more than my rent. I focus my attention on his hair, running my fingers through the strands, feeling the silk slide across my skin. "And what about me brought you here tonight?"

Malachi's eyes meet mine in the mirror, a mix of determination and vulnerability in his gaze. "I know you might need some space, Aria," Malachi says, his voice low and hesitant. "But I couldn't stay away. There's something about you that keeps pulling me in. Your beauty, your fire… You've awakened something in me, in all of us."

His words make my breath catch in my throat. I set the clippers down, not trusting my suddenly shaking hands. "That's a lot to put on a girl you barely know."

"But I want to know you, Aria, in every way possible." He reaches up and catches my wrist, his touch searing my skin.

I know I should pull away and put some distance between us before this goes too far, but I can't seem to make myself move. "Malachi…"

"Tell me you don't feel it too," he murmurs, his thumb stroking the inside of my wrist. "This connection between us."

My mouth goes dry, and I can hear my heartbeat echoing in my ears. I find myself leaning towards him, as if an invisible thread is pulling us together. My body seems to have a mind of its own, responding to his presence in a way I've never experienced before.

Take a chance, Aria.

Malachi's words linger in the air, heavy with promise and possibility. My pulse quickens, a mix of excitement and trepidation coursing through my veins. This connection, this pull toward him, is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. It both thrills and terrifies me.

"I feel it," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the hammering of my heart. "But, Malachi, you have to understand, I'm not… I can't just…"

He stands abruptly, reaching up to unfasten the cape. It slides off his shoulders, pooling at his feet as he turns to face me. His hands come up to frame my face, his touch gentle yet insistent. "Say you will allow us to court you," he says, his eyes intense. I blink, momentarily thrown.

Do alphas even court betas in this world?

My heart beats so damn hard in my chest that I am pretty sure I'm having a heart attack and I'm about to keel over and die.

I meet his gaze, seeing my own longing and apprehension reflected back at me. "What if we crash and burn? What if we ruin everything?"

"What if we fly?" he counters, a small smile playing on his mouth. "What if this is the start of something amazing? Something real and true and once in a lifetime?"

His thumbs rub against my cheek, and his breath brushes across my lips. Unlike me, he smells like heaven and a dash of hell.

Cedarwood and amber.

My perfect match.

He has no idea.

Love me for me , I mentally beg him. "You want me?" Beta me? I think sarcastically. Oh honey, if only you knew the whole package you're signing up for. Omega surprise, coming right up!

His lips curl into a predatory smirk that makes my toes curl. "You are the brightest star in our sky, Aria," he whispers, his voice dripping with desire and hunger. "And we want you." His words linger in the air like a seductive spell, enticing me.

I already know when I allow myself to, I'm going to fall hard and fast. "What does that look like to you?" I murmur.

"Come to the house with me." His thumbs brush back and forth, calming me. "Have dinner and drinks, laugh with us, and maybe play a board game or two, then sleep in your own room with a lock and your own bathroom. Stay for a few days and get to know us, or just stay for the weekend."

I swallow. If I go, it will only be a matter of time before they learn I'm an omega.

Would that be so bad? Well, that's a question for future Aria.

"Okay," I whisper, my heart pounding so hard, I can hear it in my ears. This is it , I think. No turning back now. I'm taking a leap into the unknown, and I pray I won't regret it.

He leans in, waiting for me to move, and when I don't, his lips brush against mine in a featherlight touch that sends sparks racing through my body. I gasp, my lips parting, and he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his tongue sweeping into my mouth. I melt against him, my hands coming up to grip his shoulders as he pulls me flush against his hard body.

The kiss is electric, unlike anything I've ever experienced before. It's as if every nerve ending in my body is alight, buzzing with the intensity of our connection. I lose myself in his taste and the way his hands roam my back, pressing me closer.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Malachi rests his forehead against mine, his eyes dark with desire. "Aria," he murmurs, his voice rough. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

"I think I have some idea," I say, still reeling from the kiss. My hands slide from his shoulders to his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath my palms.

He chuckles, the sound low and sexy. "We should go, before I completely lose control and…take you right here on the salon floor."

His words send a shiver of desire through me, the image he conjures both thrilling and tempting. He's right, though, we need to slow down. As much as my body is screaming for his touch, I know I'm not ready for that yet. Not until I'm sure this is real, and that it's more than just physical attraction and alpha allure.

I force myself to step back, putting some much needed distance between us. "Let me just finish cleaning up and grab my things."

Malachi nods, bending to retrieve the forgotten cape from the floor, and his shirt. "Take your time. I'll wait."

I busy myself by putting away supplies and straightening the salon, acutely aware of his presence behind me. It's like every cell in my body is attuned to him, humming with anticipation and yearning. I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart.

When everything is in its place, I grab my purse from the backroom and return to find Malachi leaning against the reception desk, his dark eyes tracking my every movement. "All set?"

I nod, not quite trusting my voice.

"Good." He reaches for my hand. "Let's go home."

Home… It's been so long since I've felt like anyplace was home, but I get the feeling that home for me is Malachi, Dash, Zane, and Quinn.