The Fake Luna: Marked By The Alpha King

Chapter 248: Chapter 248 I was a dead man

The private room was packed—probably twenty people crammed into a space meant for fifteen.

Music thumped from hidden speakers, loud enough to make conversation difficult.

Everyone was drinking, laughing, having the time of their lives.

I plastered on a smile and tried to blend in.

My friend introduced me to his wife—Sarah, a petite blonde with a warm smile and sharp eyes. She greeted me politely, already a little tipsy from the champagne.

"I heard you and Aria are taking a break," she said sympathetically. "That’s rough. She’s such a sweetheart."

"Yeah." I took a sip of my beer to avoid elaborating. "It’s been... difficult."

"Well, don’t worry. I’ll text her tomorrow. I’ve been meaning to reach out anyway."

"Thank you. Really."

She patted my arm and turned back to her other guests, leaving me to nurse my drink in relative peace.

I lasted about an hour before I needed air.

The room was too hot, too loud, too full of people asking questions I didn’t want to answer.

I slipped out into the hallway, heading toward the bathrooms.

That’s when I saw her.

Aria.

For a second, I thought I was hallucinating. That the alcohol and wishful thinking had conjured her out of thin air.

But no—that was definitely her. Moving through the crowd with that familiar grace, her light brown hair catching the dim lighting.

My wolf surged forward, desperate and demanding.

*Mate. Our mate. Go to her—*

"Aria?"

The name left my lips before I could stop it.

She didn’t hear me. The music was too loud, the crowd too thick.

I pushed through the people separating us, my heart hammering against my ribs.

This was it. This was my chance.

I could talk to her face-to-face, make her understand how sorry I was, how much I’d changed—

"Aria, wait—"

I reached for her wrist, catching it gently.

She spun around, her eyes going wide as she recognized me.

For a split second, I saw hope flicker across her face.

Then it died, replaced by cold fury.

"Let go of me."

"Please, just listen—"

"I said let go!"

She tried to pull away, but I held on. Couldn’t let her disappear again.