It's Either You, Alpha, or the Rogue

010: Trouble Tina

Chapter 10

~ARIA~

I had never felt the way I was feeling now, not in my entire life. In the week since Lucien brought me here, he had treated me better than anyone ever had. I didn’t expect kindness from a rogue, especially after how things had started. But Lucien was different, and that confused me.

But not everyone here felt the same. Thane and the others, especially Tina, made it clear they didn’t like how Lucien treated me. To them, I was the enemy. A prisoner who didn’t deserve any special treatment. Thane had made it clear more than once that I should be locked up, not walking around freely. And Tina, she went out of her way to make my life miserable.

Tina was tough, strong, and always looking for ways to remind me of my place. She hated me, probably because of how Lucien treated me, and she wasn’t shy about showing it. Today, she took things too far.

I had been walking by the pool, trying to keep to myself when Tina showed up out of nowhere. Before I could react, she shoved me hard, sending me flying into the water. I became scared immediately.

I can’t swim.

I thrashed around in the water, trying to keep my head above the surface, but it was no use. The water felt like it was pulling me down, and I was struggling to breathe. My arms flailed, but I couldn’t find anything to grab onto. Fear gripped me as I started to sink.

Tina stood at the edge of the pool, just watching. She didn’t try to help. She didn’t even say a word. I could see the smug look on her face as she crossed her arms and waited, probably hoping I would drown.

I kicked my legs, desperate to stay afloat, but the water was too much. My lungs were burning, and I felt myself going under again. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out.

I felt like I was drowning, and I thought I was going to die. Then everything went black.

Suddenly, I found myself gasping for air. My eyes fluttered open, but everything was blurry. I could see a figure hovering over me, and as my vision cleared, I realized it was Lucien. He was there, his face tense with worry, and he was doing something I had only seen in movies... giving me mouth-to-mouth.

I coughed hard, water spilling from my lips. I felt weak, my body heavy and cold, but I was alive. As I sputtered and choked, I could see Lucien's concerned expression. He looked relieved when I finally took a deep breath and opened my eyes wider.

“Aria!” he said, his voice filled with urgency. “Are you okay?”

I nodded slowly, still trying to catch my breath. My heart raced, not just from the near-drowning but from the way he was looking at me, as if I mattered. He lifted me gently and carried me to his quarters.

When he laid me down on the bed, I felt a mix of fear and warmth. He was treating me so kindly, almost like I was something precious. But that made me scared. I had never experienced this kind of care before, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t last. Deep down, I wondered what he really wanted from me. Was it all an act?

I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. Lucien was different from everyone else. He genuinely cared about my well-being, and that scared me. In the Moonshadow Pack, I was always overlooked, always pushed aside. No one had ever fought for me, and now, here was this rogue treating me like I was important. It felt unreal.

“Aria?” Lucien’s voice pulled me back to reality. I turned my head to see him sitting beside me, concern etched on his face. “How do you feel?”

“I… I’m okay,” I managed to say, though I still felt weak. “Thank you for saving me.”

He shook his head. “You shouldn’t have been in the pool alone. Tina shouldn’t have pushed you like that.”

I looked away, guilt creeping in. “I shouldn’t have been here at all. I’m just a prisoner.”

Lucien sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “You’re not just a prisoner, Aria. You’re a person. You deserve better than what they’re giving you.”

His words struck me hard. No one had ever told me that. I had always been treated like I was worthless, like I didn’t matter. But here was Lucien, insisting that I was worth saving. I felt a flicker of hope, mixed with fear. What if this was just a moment? What if he grew tired of me?

“Why are you being so nice to me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He paused, studying my face. “Because I care. And I won’t let anyone hurt you, especially not Thane or Tina.”

“Why do you care so much about me?” I asked, my voice shaking a little. I searched his face for an answer, but Lucien just stared at me, looking a bit lost in thought.

It was frustrating. I didn’t understand why he was being so kind to me, a prisoner in his world. Was I really worth his concern? I was just an Omega from the Moonshadow Pack, someone who had always been pushed around and treated poorly.

“You need to get enough rest,” he finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was firm but gentle.

Maybe he was right. My body felt heavy, and my mind was still racing from everything that had happened. But a thought popped into my head, and before I could stop myself, I said, “Maybe it’s time for me to leave.”

The moment the words left my lips, I regretted them. I didn’t know why I said it. I could see Lucien’s expression change, his brows furrowing in disbelief.

“You cannot go,” he said sharply. “This place is safer for you.”

“But Thane, Tina, and the others don’t like me,” I protested, my heart racing. “I can’t stay here. I have to get far away from them.”

I had to leave. The idea of staying in a place where people hated me felt unbearable. But as I said those words, I felt a strange pull toward Lucien. Despite everything, I didn’t want to leave him.

Lucien’s eyes softened, and I could see the conflict in them. “Aria, it’s more than that. It’s not just that I like you,” he said, his voice low and serious. “It’s love.”