(POV - Marcus)

Ignoring Jaden's calls for him to stay,Marcus squeezed past the throng of people between him and the woman who reminded him so much of his dead mate that his soul ached.

He knew it was ridiculous, that there was no way that she could possibly be Helena, but it was the way she stood, the way her chestnut curls fell over her shoulder and exposed the smooth skin of her neck, and the way her shoulders lifted when she giggled. He finally reached her, unable to stop himself from wrapping a hand around her elbow and turning her around.

Of course, it wasn't Helena.

But this woman had such a strong resemblance to his mate....

"Hi?"

He blinked, trying to clear the disappointment and guilt from his mind. "Sorry," he murmured, clearing his throat and letting her go. His fingertips brushed the back of her arm, and his wolf raised his head in interest.

"That's okay," she giggled, obviously a little drunk. The bright pink cocktail in her hand was half finished and reeked of rum and tequila. "Are you okay?"

Was he? He couldn't understand the sudden tug he felt for this woman he'd never met before. He was even more confused by the interest his wolf was showing, considering he was usually so protective of Helena's memory.

"Uh, yeah, I think," he found himself saying. Some of the tension that had settled in his shoulders eased when she offered him a warm smile. She must have been a few years younger than he was, but she readily stuck her hand out.

"I'm Aria," she announced, leaning forward to shake his hand. He'd been a little too slow to respond, and his hand had stayed at his side while his brain tried to process all the things happening.

"Marcus," he said, goosebumps racing up his arm when she pulled him closer to hear him better.

"Nice to meet you!" she said, and she sounded so genuine that it actually made him smile.

"Nice to meet you, too, Aria," he said, trying to ignore the tiny pang in his chest when she released his hand.

"Do you come here a lot?" she asked, and it didn't sound like the cheesy pickup line Marcus had expected. She'd turned on her stool to face him, giving him a full view of her bare legs, the left hooked over the right and swinging idly.

"No, this isn't really my scene," he admitted, fighting to drag his gaze back to her face. "I've never been to one of these... things."

Aria hid a laugh behind her hand, and Marcus found himself so endeared by the simple gesture.

"It's my first time, too," she said, lowering her voice like any of the people around them were actually paying attention when their lips were melded to their partner's. "My best friend talked me into coming here because my love life is a wreck."

"You're too young for that, aren't you?" Marcus prompted, taking the seat next to her. Their knees bumped gently, and he found that he didn't mind the contact at all. "Who'd be dumb enough to break your heart?"

"You're one to talk," she pouted, her eyes a little glazed from the alcohol. It made her lids droop, darkening her bright eyes and doing too many things to Marcus' faltering self-restraint. "Why are you here?"

"My best friend dragged me here because my love life is nonexistent."

She laughed so hard that she almost fell off her seat, clinging onto him for balance. She wiped at the tears clinging to her long lashes and sniffled through her giggles.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," she wheezed, dabbing at her cheek with the back of her hand. "I really wasn't expecting you to say that."

"Just telling the truth," he chuckled softly. "I guess both our best friends are kind of idiots, huh?"

She nodded, taking a sip of her drink through her purple straw. "April put all this together and then just left me here at the bar. I haven't seen her in almost an hour."

Marcus raised both his brows. Whoever April was, she didn't sound like a solid friend. Although, he'd just up and left Jaden at the other end of the bar, so he couldn't really say much about the topic.

"Are you sure she's not one half of a make out somewhere around here?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if she was,"Ari sighed, glancing around like she really did expect to find her friend locking lips with a stranger. "Oh well, I guess you'll have to keep me company until she comes back."

Marcus would do so gladly, although he'd keep that to himself.

"So," he said instead, waving down a passing bartender and ordering them each another drink, offering her water, which she declined. "Tell me about this wreck of a love life of yours."

"It's really sad and pathetic," she frowned. "Full of unrequited love. What about yours?"

"Lost love," he said simply, finding it easy to tell her, even if it wasn't the whole truth.

"I'm so sorry," she said, laying a hand on his forearm. The skin beneath her palm warmed and their eyes met briefly, and Marcus was so sure she felt the same thing he had: a connection.

"It's okay," he said, his throat a little dry. "It's been a while. That's why my best friend dragged me out of the house."

"He sounds like mine," she hummed. "Stubborn and lecherous."

"Lecherous?" he chuckled, sliding her the drink she'd ordered. She took it with a smile and nodded.

"Yeah, you know?" she said, licking the sugar off the rim of the glass. The act alone shouldn't have stirred his wolf as much as it did, but he managed to suppress the urge to stare, at least. "They only really care about sex and just about every decision they make leads to more sex."

Yeah, that pretty much summed Jaden up as a person.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

He nodded ruefully, glancing down to hide the grin tugging at his lips. Before he could say anything else, a very tiny brunette appeared between him and Aria, her long dark hair pin straight and gleaming.

"I found them!" she announced, completely ignoring Marcus' presence. It bugged him, but it was manageable.

Aria tore her eyes from Marcus and looked at the brunette with wide eyes. "What?"

"Duh, I found some toys to play with!" she said, holding her hand out and motioning towards a pair of tall males that stood a few feet away. "They're exactly what we need to satisfy our urges."

"Ew," Aria grimaced, turning her nose up. "Don't say it like that. It's weird. It sounds like you're about to give us a seminar on intercourse."

"Us?"

"Oh," Aria said, taking the newcomer's hand and pointing at Marcus. "April, this is Marcus."

Ah, so this was April, the best friend. She was Jaden's clone, through and through. She turned and smiled widely, drinking in Marcus with a hint of interest.

"Hello, Marcus," she said, her eyes traveling the length of his body. "I'm afraid I have to steal my darling Aria. She's in need of a good back-breaking-"

"Why don't you come home with me?"

April's jaw dropped, and Aria stared openly. Even Marcus had to admit that he hadn't expected the words to leave his mouth. But he felt strangely possessive of Aria, this woman who had drawn him in so easily and kept him hooked on her every word.

But he figured, why not? Aria had turned his evening on its head with her presence alone and had awoken something inside him that he had long thought to be dormant. It wasn't just her uncanny resemblance to his dead mate, but her sincerity. There wasn't a hint of a trick in her words, no mischief in her eyes.

And it had Marcus hooked enough that he wanted more.

Aria glanced at April, and then at the two males who had inched closer as the conversation progressed. Swallowing a growl, Marcus waited for her answer.

"Okay," she said a little breathlessly. "I'd like that."

"Aria, are you sure-?" April began, concern clear in her voice, but Aria cut her off.

"I'm sure," she said, eyes on Marcus. "I'll be okay, I promise. And I'll text you tomorrow morning."

April nodded, looking a little apprehensive but happy nonetheless. Aria hopped off her stool, a little wobbly in her heels, and slipped her arm around Marcus' elbow.

Marcus steered them both towards Jaden, who smirked and threw the car keys to Marcus before wishing him a good night. His neck and lips were already smeared with lipstick, the first few buttons of his shirt undone. Both of the females from before sat in his lap, and Marcus couldn't help but compare him to April, who had both males on either side of her.

"We'll go back to my place," he said, opening the car door for her. "I have a private room we can use."

She smiled and got in, tossing her long curls over her shoulder.

When they reached the packhouse, it was already long after midnight, and the house was silent. He led her to the safe room he used to lock himself in during his ruts and opened the door for her again.

"After you," he said, finally allowing himself to breathe in her scent without the cloying presence of the entire club. His wolf growled impatiently.

The door swung shut behind him and he locked it, his eyes roving her curves like a man starved.

"You're an Alpha," she breathed, like it was something she'd only just noticed.

"And I'm about to devour you, gorgeous."