The Fake Luna: Marked By The Alpha King

Aria’s POV

Friday came faster than I expected.

I stood in front of my floor-length mirror, smoothing down the front of my white Chanel skirt suit. The tailored tweed jacket with its gold buttons sat perfectly on my frame, the fabric rich and structure.—professional enough for a business summit, but with enough edge to remind everyone I wasn’t here to play nice.

The International Future Industries Investment Summit was being held at the Capitol Grand Hotel, just fifteen minutes from my apartment. Every major pack Alpha would be there. Every corporate shark looking to expand their territory. Every investor with money burning holes in their pockets.

And I’d be walking in as the head of V&A Group.

My stomach did a complicated flip—half excitement, half nerves.

This was it. My chance to prove that I wasn’t just Vincent Smith’s illegitimate daughter. That I was worth more than the inheritance everyone thought I’d stolen.

"You look stunning."

I turned.

Damian stood in the doorway of my bedroom, arms crossed, leaning against the frame like he owned the place. Which, technically, he kind of did—we were married.

"Thanks," I said, grabbing my leather portfolio off the dresser. "I’m aiming for ’don’t mess with me or I’ll buy your company out from under you.’"

His mouth curved. "You’ve already got that down."

I felt heat crawl up my neck and forced it down. Focus, Aria.

"I should get going," I said, checking my watch. "Rick’s waiting downstairs with the car."

"I’ll come with you."

I froze mid-step. "What?"

Damian pushed off the doorframe, closing the distance between us in two strides. "The summit. I’ll attend with you."

"No."

His brows lifted. "No?"

"You’re still recovering, Damian." I kept my voice firm, even though my pulse was doing something stupid and fluttery. "The doctors cleared you for light activity. Not for sitting in a conference hall surrounded by hundreds of wolves who’d love nothing more than to see the Alpha King show weakness."

"I’m fine."

"You were thrown into the sea less than two weeks ago."

"And I healed."

"That’s not the point." I stepped closer, jabbing a finger into his chest. He didn’t even flinch. Bastard. "That summit is going to be crawling with Alphas from every major pack in North America. Some of them are allies. Some of them are barely civil. And someone at that attack knew exactly where you’d be and when."

His jaw tightened. "You think there’s a security risk."

"I *know* there’s a security risk." I held his gaze, refusing to back down. "These summits are a nightmare for security. Too many people. Too many entry points. Too many opportunities for someone to take another shot at you."

"Which is exactly why I should be there." His hand came up, fingers curling gently around my wrist. "If someone’s planning another move, I’d rather face it head-on than sit here wondering."

God, he was infuriating.

"Damian—"

"I’m not some fragile human, Aria." His thumb stroked along the inside of my wrist, and I felt my knees go just slightly weak. Traitor body. "I can handle myself."

"I know you can." I pulled my hand back, putting space between us before I did something stupid like give in.

"But you’re also the Alpha King. Which means you’re a target. And I’m not risking you getting hurt again just because you’re too stubborn to stay home for one day."

His eyes darkened. "You’re ordering me to stay?"

"Yes."

Silence stretched between us, heavy and electric.

Then, slowly, his mouth curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. Something dangerous. Predatory.

"Fine."

I blinked. "Fine?"

"I’ll stay." He stepped closer, backing me up against the dresser. "But I’m charging interest."

My breath caught. "Interest?"

"Mm." His hands landed on either side of me, caging me in. "You’re about to walk into a room full of wolves. Alphas. Males who’ll take one look at you in that suit and start circling."

Heat flared low in my belly. I swallowed hard. "I can handle them."

"I know you can." His head dipped, lips brushing just below my ear. "But I want them to know you’re mine before they even think about trying."

Oh God.

"Damian—"

"You’re going to smell like me, little wolf." His voice dropped, rough and possessive. "Every Alpha in that room is going to catch my scent on you and know exactly who you belong to."

My pulse hammered. "I’m not a wolf. I don’t have a scent."

"No." His mouth grazed my neck, and I felt my knees go liquid. "But you will when I’m done with you."

Before I could respond, his hands slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him. I gasped—he was already hard, the thick length of him pressing insistent against my stomach through his pants.

"This is—" My voice came out breathless, shaky. "This is not a good idea. I have to leave in twenty minutes."

"Then we’d better make it quick." His hands moved to my blazer, fingers working the buttons with practiced ease. "Unless you want to walk in there without my mark?"

I should stop this. I should push him away and leave right now before this got out of hand.

Instead, I tilted my head back, giving him better access to my throat.

His growl of approval vibrated against my skin.

"That’s my girl."

The blazer hit the floor. Then my blouse. His mouth was on me—hot, possessive, claiming every inch of skin he could reach. I gripped his shoulders, nails digging in as he backed me up against the wall.

"Need you out of these," he muttered, fingers sliding under the hem of my skirt.

"Damian—"

"Now, Aria."

The command in his voice sent heat straight between my legs.

I reached for the zipper at the side of the skirt, hands shaking, and he helped me shove the fabric up over my hips until it bunched around my waist.

My underwear followed, pushed down just far enough, and then his hand was there—sliding between my thighs, finding me already wet.

"Fuck." His forehead dropped against mine, eyes gone completely black. "You’re soaked, baby."

I couldn’t answer. Could barely breathe. His fingers moved in slow, maddening circles, and I felt my entire body go tight with need.

"Please—"

"Please what?" His thumb found my clit, pressing just hard enough to make me whimper. "Use your words."

"Please—I need—" I couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus on anything except the pressure building between my legs. "I need you inside me."

He didn’t give me what I was silently begging for. Instead, he stepped back just enough to look at me, then dropped to his knees right there in front of the dresser.