Aria’s POV
I needed a drink.
No. I needed TEN drinks.
I found the bar in the far corner of the ballroom. Away from the dance floor. Away from the lights. Away from HIM and his stupid face and his stupid dance with that stupid blonde woman.
I picked up something and drank.
The liquid burned down my throat like liquid fire. Made my eyes water. Made my chest feel like someone had lit a match inside it.
Good.
I needed to feel something other than... whatever THIS was.
I took another long sip.
The burn was getting easier. Or maybe my taste buds had just given up.
The ballroom spun slightly. Just a little. Nothing I couldn’t handle.
I was fine.
Totally fine.
Absolutely, completely, one hundred percent fine.
"Rough night?"
A voice. Male. Coming from somewhere to my left.
I didn’t turn.
"Go away."
"Ouch." The voice sounded amused. "That’s not very friendly."
"I’m not feeling friendly."
"I can see that." A figure appeared in my peripheral vision. Tall. Dark hair. Nice suit. "Mind if I join you anyway?"
"Yes. I mind very much."
He sat down anyway.
Of course he did.
"I’m Ethan," he said. Like I’d asked. Like I cared. "From the Northern territory."
I said nothing. Just stared at my empty glass.
"And you are...?"
"Not interested."
He laughed. The sound was warm. Practiced. The kind of laugh that probably worked on most women.
I wasn’t most women.
"Come on." He leaned closer. "A beautiful woman drinking alone at a party like this? There has to be a story."
"There isn’t."
"I don’t believe you."
I finally turned to look at him.
He was handsome. Objectively. Sharp jaw. Blue eyes. The kind of face that belonged on a romance novel cover.
Too bad I wasn’t in the mood for romance.
"Look," I said flatly. "I’m sure you’re very charming. I’m sure this approach works great at other parties. But I’m not here to socialize. I’m here to work. And right now, I’m taking a break. Alone. So if you could just—"
"Work?" His eyebrows rose. "You’re working tonight?"
"Yes."
"Doing what?"
"None of your business."
He held up his hands. Surrender pose.
"Fair enough. Fair enough." He signaled to the bartender. "Another round for the lady. And one for me."
"I didn’t ask you to—"
"Consider it an apology." He smiled. That practiced smile again. "For interrupting your alone time. No strings attached."
The bartender set down two glasses.
I stared at mine.
I should leave. Should get back to work. Should stop sitting here feeling sorry for myself while Kael danced with every eligible woman in the territory.
But my legs felt heavy.
And the whiskey was right there.
And honestly? Talking to this stranger was better than watching THAT.
I picked up the glass. Took a sip.
Ethan’s smile widened.
"So," he said conversationally. "What do you think of the ceremony so far?"
"It’s fine."
"Just fine?"
"The decorations are nice." I shrugged. "The music is good. The food is decent."
"You sound like you’re writing a review."
"Maybe I am."
He laughed again. This time it sounded more genuine.
"You’re funny," he said. "I like that."
"I’m not trying to be funny."
"That’s what makes it funny."
I rolled my eyes. Took another drink.
The warmth was spreading through my body now. Loosening my muscles. Making everything feel a little softer around the edges.
I reached for my glass. Realized it was empty.
When had I finished it?
The bartender appeared. Refilled it without being asked.
I took another sip. Then another.
The room was definitely spinning now. More than a little.
I grabbed the edge of the bar. Tried to steady myself.
"Whoa." Ethan’s hand appeared on my elbow. Warm. Steadying. "You okay there?"
No.
I was very much NOT okay.
My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton. My vision was blurring at the edges. My legs had turned to jelly.
What was happening?
"Maybe you should sit down." Ethan’s voice sounded far away. Echoing. "You look a little pale."
Sit down?
I was already sitting.
Wasn’t I?
I looked down. Realized I’d somehow ended up standing. When had that happened?
Alarm bells started ringing in my head.
Faint at first. Then louder. Then SCREAMING.
Something was wrong.
Something was very, very wrong.
I looked at my glass. At the amber liquid still swirling inside. At Ethan’s concerned face hovering nearby.
And suddenly, everything clicked.
"You drugged me." The words came out slurred. Accusatory.
Ethan’s eyes went wide.
"What?"
"You... you put something in my drink." I stumbled backward. Away from him. Away from the bar. "That’s why I feel like this. That’s why everything is spinning."
"No!" He held up his hands. Panic flashing across his face. "No, no, no. I didn’t drug you!"
"Liar!"
"I SWEAR!" He looked genuinely terrified now. "I would NEVER! This is the ALPHA’S ceremony! Do you think I’m insane? Do you think I’d risk drugging someone at a party hosted by the most powerful wolf in the territory?"
I swayed on my feet.
He reached out to steady me.
I shoved his hands away.
"Don’t TOUCH me!"
"That’s not—" He ran a hand through his hair. Frustrated. Desperate. "Look at the bottle! LOOK AT IT!"
He pointed at the bar.
At the bottle the bartender had been pouring from all night.
I squinted. Tried to focus my blurry vision.
The label swam into view.
And my blood ran cold.
The strongest liquor in the werewolf world.
The kind of alcohol that could knock out a full-grown Alpha after three glasses. The kind that humans weren’t even supposed to LOOK at, let alone drink.
I’d had...
How many had I had?
Four? Five? Six?
I couldn’t remember.
"See?" Ethan’s voice was desperate. "I didn’t drug you! You’ve been drinking THAT all night! That’s enough to put down a warrior wolf! And you’re..." He gestured at me helplessly. "You don’t even have a scent! Your wolf is probably too weak to process alcohol like this!"
My wolf.
No wonder the room was spinning.
I was lucky I was still conscious.
"Oh god." I pressed my hand against my forehead. "Oh god, oh god, oh god."
"You need to sit down."
"I need..." I swallowed hard. My stomach was churning. Rolling. "I need to..."
The nausea hit without warning.
Sudden. Violent. Overwhelming.
I clamped my hand over my mouth.
No. Not here. Not in the middle of the Alpha’s ceremony. Not in front of all these people.
"The bathroom." The words came out muffled. Desperate. "Where’s the bathroom?"
"Over there." Ethan pointed. "Through those doors, down the hall—"
I didn’t hear the rest.
I was already moving.
Stumbling. Staggering. Bouncing off walls and furniture and probably people too.
The world was a blur of colors and sounds. Lights too bright. Music too loud. Everything too much.
I just needed to make it to the bathroom.
Just needed to get there before—
My stomach lurched.