My 4 Hot Stepbrothers Want a Taste of Me

ARIA'S POV

The suitcase handle dug deeply into my palm. I dragged it up the long, steep driveway, my arms aching with every step. I refused to ask for help. Not today. Not when everything in my life felt completely wrong.

"Aria, hurry up!" Mom called out from beside the expensive black car. Her voice had that annoying, high-pitched excitement I'd been hearing for weeks now.

"I'm coming!" I shouted back, grabbing the handle with both hands. "Just give me a second!"

"We don't have all day, Aria," Mom sighed, tapping her foot against the pavement.

"I know, I know," I huffed, pulling the heavy bag harder.

The driver finally walked over, taking pity on me. "Allow me, Miss."

"Thank you," I breathed out, letting go of the heavy bag and shaking out my sore hands.

He shoved my luggage into the trunk. I slid into the back seat and stared blankly out the window. We were leaving our tiny, cramped apartment. It was the only home I really knew.

Mom turned around in the front seat. Her eyes were wide and bright. "Aren't you excited, sweetheart? We're going to live in the Steel villa! Can you even imagine?"

"No, I can't," I said flatly. "And I don't really want to."

Moving into a massive mansion wouldn't change my reality. I was still a wolfless Omega. High school was a daily nightmare. For three long years, I was nothing but the campus joke. I had to watch everyone else shift, run, and be fiercely strong, while I stayed painfully human and completely invisible. I was so tired of just taking it, tired of hiding. A dark part of my mind didn't just want to blend in anymore; I craved the kind of power they all paraded around.

But lately, my own body felt completely out of my control. I woke up feverish every single night. My bedsheets were always damp with sweat. It felt like something wild was crawling right under my skin, aggressively begging to break free. The dreams were the absolute worst part. They were incredibly hot, vivid dreams. I would wake up feeling empty and aching, pressing my thighs firmly together just to stop the heavy, unbearable throbbing between my legs.

I had searched the internet endlessly at three in the morning. Early heat symptoms for late-blooming Omegas. The articles claimed it could happen even if you didn't have a wolf yet. My body was apparently getting ready for something my brain didn't understand.

And now, my timing couldn't be worse. I was moving into a house full of Alphas while my body was acting like this. It felt like walking right into a biological trap.

"I know this is a big change," Mom said, reaching back to squeeze my knee. "But Marcus is a wonderful man. You'll see. And his sons..."

"The Steel brothers," I cut her off. My stomach twisted into tight knots. "Yeah, everyone knows them."

Cole, Reed, Jasper, and Kai Steel. They were four Alpha brothers who ruled the school like absolute kings. They had all the power and status I secretly wanted. They were popular, dangerous, and completely out of my league. I was just an Omega-worse, an Omega with no wolf.

At least being a nobody let me watch people from a safe distance without any consequences. Like Zane Parker. I liked watching him at the ice hockey rink. He smelled sharply of cold ice and sweat. He was a hockey star, and he didn't even know I existed. But in my recent, crazy dreams, Zane's large hands were gripping my hips, and his intense eyes were burning into mine, making me wake up gasping and ashamed.

Why would he ever look my way? I thought. I'm nobody.

"We're here," the driver announced clearly.

I looked out the window. My breath caught in my throat. The Steel villa was absolutely huge. It was made of modern glass and dark stone, surrounded by perfect, endless gardens.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mom whispered happily.

"It's terrifying," I muttered.

Marcus Steel stood by the grand front doors. He wore a dark, expensive suit. He looked very tall and intimidating, but when he saw my mother, his sharp face softened completely.

"Welcome home," Marcus said warmly, pulling Mom into a tight hug. Then, he looked at me. "Aria. I'm so glad you're here. I really hope you'll be happy with us."

"Thank you, Mr. Steel," I managed to say politely.

"Please, call me Marcus." His voice was kind and genuine.

Maybe this won't be so bad, I thought.

Then, the front doors opened wider.

Cole, Reed, and Jasper walked out. Their faces were hard, cold, and full of clear hate.

My heart slammed violently against my ribs. A sudden, massive heat exploded inside my stomach. It felt like someone dropped a lit match into a dark room full of gasoline. My skin broke out in tight goosebumps. Every single nerve in my body was suddenly awake and screaming. Their scent hit me like a physical punch. Pine, dark leather, heavy smoke, and rain. It was a wild, purely male smell that made my knees shake weakly.

Oh god. No. Please, not right now.

My nipples turned into hard, painful peaks right against my bra. I quickly crossed my arms tightly over my chest to hide my traitorous body. Between my legs, a deep, heavy ache started to spread rapidly. It was the exact same needy feeling from my wet dreams, but a hundred times stronger and far more real. I could actually feel my pulse beating heavily down there. I was getting wet just standing in front of them, and my face burned hot with extreme shame.

Four fully grown Alphas. All of them staring right at me. And my stupid body was reacting like I had been starving for their touch my entire life. I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted dark copper blood, using the sharp pain to keep my mind clear through the heavy fog of arousal.

"Cole, Reed, Jasper, come say hello," Marcus called out smoothly.

"Why?" Cole asked, leaning casually against the doorframe. He glared at me like I was trash. "So, this is the little Omega moving in?"

His voice was incredibly deep and commanding. A fresh shiver ran straight down my spine. I hated that my body loved his dark tone. I had to force my thighs together so I wouldn't tremble.

"Be polite, Cole," Marcus warned him.

"I am being polite," Cole smirked. "I haven't told her to leave yet."

"Let me guess," Reed stepped forward, cutting his dad off. His dark eyes scanned me up and down with disgust. "She's just a gold digger, exactly like her mother? How much is this one costing you, Dad?"

"Reed! That is enough!" Marcus shouted, his face turning red.

But Jasper wasn't going to stop. He slowly walked around me in a tight circle, acting exactly like a predator sizing up a weak meal. "Just look at her. She's pathetic. An Omega with absolutely no wolf. What did you even see in her mother? Her amazing ability to swipe credit cards?"

Every cruel word felt like a sharp knife, but my body was too distracted by the raging fire inside me. Whenever they stepped closer, my skin felt way too tight and hot. My breathing turned short and shallow.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"I didn't ask for any of this," I said quietly, but my voice shook. I forced myself to look Jasper right in the eye, pulling on that tiny scrap of power I wanted. "I didn't want to come here. I don't want your money."

"Oh, wow. She speaks," Cole laughed loudly, crossing his thick arms. "How charming."

"Boys, go to your rooms right now," Marcus ordered sharply. His Alpha tone left zero room for argument.

They turned to leave, but Reed stopped and looked over his wide shoulder. His dark eyes locked onto mine. "Stay out of our way, Omega. You are not welcome in this house."

The heavy front door slammed shut loudly behind them.

Mom grabbed my hand. "Aria, honey, I'm so sorry. They will calm down, I promise."

I couldn't even hear her properly. My legs were shaking badly. I was so totally confused. Why did they make me feel so incredibly turned on when they were being so cruel to me?

I needed to escape immediately. I found my new bedroom, dropped my heavy bags on the floor, and walked straight into the attached bathroom.

I turned the shower on as hot as it would possibly go. I stood under the heavy spray until my fingers wrinkled like raisins. I scrubbed my skin hard with a soapy sponge, desperately trying to wash away the heavy scent of pine and smoke. I tried to wash away the memory of Reed's dark, judgmental eyes. It didn't work. The heavy, aching throb between my legs absolutely refused to go away.

I turned off the water and stepped out, shivering slightly. I wrapped a thick, white towel tightly around my body, tucking the end securely above my breasts. My dark hair was completely wet, leaving little dark water spots on the plush gray carpet as I walked back into my quiet bedroom.

I let out a long, shaky breath. Maybe I could just hide in here forever.

Then, the bedroom door opened.

I froze perfectly still.

Reed stood right in the doorway. He hadn't bothered to knock at all. He had changed into light gray sweatpants that hung very low on his hips, and a tight black t-shirt that stretched perfectly across his broad chest.

His dark eyes locked onto me instantly. That wild, stormy energy crashed right back into the room, hitting me ten times harder than outside.

"What are you doing in here?" I squeaked out. I gripped the top of my towel much tighter. "Get out of my room."

He didn't move an inch. His eyes slowly traveled over my body. It was a very slow, deliberate look. He stared at my bare, wet shoulders. He stared at the curve of my breasts pushing against the wet towel. He stared directly at my bare legs. His look wasn't bored or angry anymore. It was completely hungry. He looked like a starving predator.

The heat inside my belly roared back to life. A traitorous, heavy throb pulsed between my legs, making my knees feel totally weak.

"You just don't quit, do you?" Reed said. His voice was a low, rough rumble.

He stepped inside the room and kicked the heavy door shut behind him.

Click.

The sharp sound of the lock made my heart jump into my throat.

"I'm not doing anything!" I pleaded, taking a small step backward. "I just took a shower! Please, just leave me alone."

"Please," he mocked me softly. He took a slow step forward. Then another.

The distance between us vanished completely. He was standing right in front of me. I could literally feel the intense body heat rolling off his skin.

"You stand there," Reed whispered, leaning down slightly. "Dripping wet. Smelling like fucking ripe peaches and rain. Wearing nothing but a towel in my house. And you expect me to believe this isn't a calculated little Omega move?"

Before I could even blink, his hand shot out. He didn't hit me. Instead, his large hand gripped my waist tightly right through the thick towel. His long fingers were incredibly strong and branding.

A massive jolt of pure electric pleasure shot straight down to my core. A helpless little tremor shook my entire body, and I gasped out loud.

"See?" he whispered softly. His handsome face was only inches from mine. His warm breath fanned across my hot cheeks. He smelled so insanely good that it made my head spin. "You're trembling. Your little heart is going crazy. I can smell your arousal from all the way across the hall. It's sickening, Aria. You're so fucking transparent."

"Let go of me," I breathed out. But my voice was terribly weak. There was zero force behind it. My body actually leaned into his large hand, desperately chasing more of that shocking, delicious heat.

"Disgusting," he snarled. But instead of pushing me away, his grip tightened violently.

He yanked me forward, pulling my body completely flush against his. I gasped loudly again. I could easily feel the thick, rock-hard shape of his erection pressing right against my lower stomach through his soft sweatpants and my towel.

A sharp, wet pulse answered between my legs. My brain was loudly screaming at me to run away, but my body just arched instinctively, pressing closer to his hard length.

Reed looked down into my eyes. He looked totally wild and conflicted. I could see bright anger and deep revulsion in his dark eyes, but right beneath that... there was a blazing, totally out-of-control hunger. It perfectly mirrored my own feeling.

"I can't fucking stand you," he growled quietly, talking more to himself than to me. "I can't stand this... this crazy pull."

He shook his head quickly, like he was trying to snap out of a bad dream. But his strong hand on my waist only squeezed tighter. His free hand reached up fast. His thick fingers tangled roughly into my wet hair. He yanked my head back, fully exposing my neck to him.

He wasn't being gentle at all. It was completely possessive. It felt like he was claiming me, acting like he had every right in the world to touch me exactly like this.

"You're..." He stopped talking. His square jaw clenched hard. The words seemed to strangle him in his throat.

His dark eyes dropped down to my parted lips. I watched his pupils blow wide open. The black completely swallowed the color in his eyes.

"Fuck," he groaned loudly.

The curse word was guttural, torn from deep inside his heavy chest.

And then, his mouth crashed down hard onto mine.

It wasn't a kiss. It was an absolute claiming. It was a total assault on my senses. It was hard, desperate, and completely angry. He kissed me like he was severely punishing me for something I didn't even understand. His lips were rough and demanding, bruising my mouth. When his hot tongue swept past my lips and aggressively invaded my mouth, I couldn't even form a single thought to stop him. The truth was, I didn't want to stop him at all.

The entire world narrowed down to the amazing taste of him. Strong mint mixed with something dark, wild, and deeply male. There was only the feeling of his solid, muscular body pressing hard against my soft, damp curves.

Reed groaned deeply straight into my mouth. The rough sound vibrated right through my chest, raw and primal.

His hands slid down my wet back with bruising force. One massive palm gripped my ass firmly right through the towel. His long fingers dug into my flesh hard enough to leave dark marks. He lifted me slightly, pulling my hips even tighter against the thick, pulsing ridge of his erection.

His other hand slid around my throat. He wasn't squeezing enough to hurt me, just holding me firmly. It was controlling, a dark, silent reminder of exactly who was in charge right now.

God, he tastes so fucking good, I thought, my mind spinning into a messy haze of pure heat. This is wrong. This is so incredibly wrong. But I can't...

ARIA's POV

My body was on fire. My lips were swollen, throbbing from the brutality of his kiss. Every place he'd touched....my waist, my ass, my throat....burned like he'd branded me with his hands. The towel hung loose around me, barely covering anything, and I could still feel the ghost of his grip on my skin.

What is wrong with me?

I pressed my hands against my flushed cheeks, trying to calm down. But the ache between my legs only grew stronger, pulsing in time with my racing heartbeat. This wasn't normal. I'd never felt anything like this before....this desperate, clawing need that made me want to chase after him and beg him to finish what he'd started.

Reed had kissed me like he owned me, like he couldn't help himself. Then he'd looked at me with such disgust, called me a whore, told me I didn't belong here. The contradiction should have cooled my desire. Instead, it made me burn hotter.

No. Stop it.

I couldn't let this happen. I'd just gotten here. This was all wrong.

He was still standing there, breathing hard, his eyes raking over my barely-covered body one more time. That look....hungry and hateful all at once....sent another wave of heat through me. When he took a step forward again, his mouth claiming mine with that desperate hunger, something inside me snapped.

I shoved his hard chest with both of my hands, and my right hand flew fast across his cheek.

Smack.

The loud slap echoed sharply in the quiet, tense room.

Reed's head jerked hard to the side. The room went dead silent. But when he slowly turned his head to look back at me, there was absolutely no apology in his dark eyes. There was only a dark, twisted amusement and something else entirely. It looked dangerously close to pure satisfaction.

He didn't back away. Instead, he took a step closer, crowding me aggressively against the wall. His large hand slammed into the wood right beside my head, trapping me.

"Is that the best you can do, little Omega?" he taunted. His voice was a low, rough rumble that made my stomach flip.

"Get out of my room!" I yelled, though my chest was heaving and my voice shook terribly. "You're an arrogant, disgusting jerk!"

He let out a dark, cruel laugh. "I'm disgusting? I'm not the one standing here in a tiny towel, practically begging for an Alpha's touch. Don't act like you didn't enjoy every single second of that kiss."

"I hated it!" I lied loudly, pressing my back harder into the wall. "I hate you!"

"Bullshit," he growled, leaning in so close his nose brushed my damp hair. "I can literally smell how wet you are for me. Your sweet scent is choking the whole room. You want me to rip that towel off and show you exactly how a real Alpha treats a bratty Omega."

"You're completely delusional," I breathed out. My heart was hammering against my ribs as his intense body heat surrounded my bare skin.

"And you're a dirty little liar," he shot back instantly. His dark eyes dropped down to the heavy swell of my breasts pushing against the terrycloth. "You play the innocent, broken victim downstairs, but up here? You're just a desperate little slut who craves a heavy hand."

"I didn't ask you to touch me! You forced yourself on me!"

"If it was force, you would have pushed me away before my tongue was even down your throat," he sneered, his breath hot on my lips. "But you didn't. You moaned right into my mouth. You leaned into my hand. You want me to completely wreck you, Aria. You want me to bend you over that bed and make you scream my name."

"Fuck you, Reed," I whispered, hot tears of deep frustration burning the corners of my eyes.

"Maybe later," he smirked.

"Pathetic," he said softly, his voice turning ice-cold again. He reached one large hand up to touch his red cheek, and his lips curved into a very slow, cruel smile. "You can't even commit to what you actually want."

Then he turned around and walked out of my room, slamming the heavy wooden door shut behind him.

I stood there in the middle of the room, completely trembling. My towel was barely clinging to my chest. The heavy ache inside me hadn't gone away at all. If anything, it was so much worse now. It was a deep, insistent throb that made my knees feel like soft jelly.

Why am I still so amazingly aroused?

Thick heat waves rolled through my entire body, forcing my thighs to clench tightly together. My pussy was incredibly slick, swollen, and practically weeping with desperate need. This felt exactly like the heat symptoms I had read about online. It was the overwhelming, completely animalistic need that fully grown female wolves experienced during their mating cycle. But that was impossible for me.

I don't even have a wolf. I'm totally useless, remember?

My hands shook violently as I walked over and locked my bedroom door. I couldn't think straight at all. The heavy throbbing between my legs violently demanded my full attention, and I absolutely hated myself for it. I hated that Reed had easily reduced me to this messy state. I was desperate and aching for a guy who clearly despised my existence.

I had done this before, late at night when the deep loneliness crept into my old bedroom. But this time was very different. This feeling was desperate, urgent, and bordering on painful. It felt like my entire body would just burst into flames if I didn't find some kind of quick release.

I collapsed backward onto the soft mattress. The towel finally fell away completely, leaving me completely naked. My right hand slid slowly down my flat stomach. My fingers were trembling as they reached under my pillow and found the small pink vibrator I had hidden in my suitcase earlier. It was the one single thing I had been way too embarrassed to unpack while Mom was helping me.

Just this once, I told myself. Just to make this crazy throbbing stop.

The cool air conditioning in the bedroom blew across my bare skin, making my nipples instantly peak into hard, highly sensitive points. I reached up and touched one, gently rolling it between my thumb and index finger. I gasped out loud at how incredibly tender it was. Every single touch felt ten times more intense and raw than usual.

I brought the vibrating toy down between my wet legs. The very first touch of the smooth silicone against my swollen clit made my back arch completely off the bed.

Oh, fuck.

The pleasure was instant and electric. It was a bright, beautiful shock that made my toes curl hard into the sheets and my thighs shake. I bit down hard on my lower lip, desperately trying to stay quiet. The walls in this massive mansion were probably very thick, but what if someone actually heard me? What if he heard me?

That dirty thought sent a highly shameful thrill straight down to my core, making me even wetter. I squeezed my eyes shut and clearly imagined Reed standing right outside my locked door. I pictured him listening closely to every single gasp and soft whimper I made. I imagined him knowing exactly what I was doing in here, and knowing that I was doing it entirely because of him.

I pressed the small vibrator much harder against myself, moving it in quick, tight circles around my sensitive clit with a frantic rhythm. My other free hand aggressively cupped my bare breast. I pinched my hard nipple very roughly. I did it exactly the way I imagined he would do it to me. Not gentle at all. He would never be gentle with me.

Reed's handsome, angry face completely filled my mind. I saw those dark, cruel eyes staring down at me. I felt the clear memory of the way his large hand had gripped my throat-not squeezing to hurt, but simply owning me. I remembered his bruising hold on my ass, his long fingers digging into my soft flesh like he desperately wanted to leave permanent marks.

I heard his rough, hateful voice whispering directly in my ear, echoing the dirty argument we just had: "You want me to completely wreck you, Aria. You want me to bend you over that bed and make you scream. You want this. You want me."

Yes. God, yes.

I slid the vibrator lower, teasing my entrance. I was so wet it slipped inside easily, and I moaned into my pillow at the stretch. It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. I wanted something bigger, thicker. I wanted him, splitting me open, making me take every brutal inch while he called me pathetic and worthless and....

My hips bucked frantically, fucking myself with the toy while my thumb worked my clit. The dual sensation was overwhelming. My free hand clawed at the sheets, then moved back to my breast, pinching and twisting my nipple until it bordered on pain.

"You look like a whore," his voice echoed in my memory.

The degradation shouldn't turn me on. It shouldn't make my pussy clench around the vibrator, shouldn't make more wetness flood between my thighs. But it did. God help me, it did.

I imagined him watching me right now. Standing at the foot of my bed with that cruel smirk, arms crossed, eyes dark with lust he refused to act on. Watching me fall apart, desperate for him. Maybe he'd finally snap, crawl over me, shove my hands away and replace the toy with his cock....

The orgasm hit me like a lightning strike.

I bit down hard on the pillow to muffle my cry as my whole body convulsed. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through me, my pussy clamping down on the vibrator, my clit pulsing under my fingers. It was intense, overwhelming, white-hot.

But when it faded, the ache was still there. Dulled, but not gone.

I lay there panting, sweaty and trembling, staring at the ceiling. The vibrator slipped out of me, slick with my arousal. I felt empty. Hollow. Used up.

What have I become?

The shame crashed over me then, heavy and suffocating. I'd just masturbated thinking about someone who hated me. Someone who'd called me pathetic and told me I didn't belong. And not only had I gotten off on it....I'd gotten off on the cruelty itself.

I curled onto my side, pulling the sheets over my naked body. My skin still burned. Between my legs, that persistent ache hummed quietly, waiting.

This wasn't over. Whatever was happening to my body, one orgasm hadn't fixed it. If anything, it had made the hunger worse....shown me a glimpse of satisfaction only to snatch it away.

Morning came too soon. I'd barely slept, my body still humming with that strange, persistent need. Every time I'd drifted off, feverish dreams woke me....hands on my skin, lips on my throat, bodies pressing me into the mattress. I'd woken three times slick with sweat and arousal, my hand between my legs before I was fully conscious.

I got dressed carefully....jeans and an oversized hoodie that hid everything. Maybe if I made myself invisible, they'd leave me alone.

The smell of breakfast drew me downstairs. Voices drifted from the dining room, and I hesitated at the doorway.

All four Steel brothers sat at the table with Marcus and Mom. The moment I appeared, their heads turned.

Cole's eyes narrowed. Jasper smirked. Reed stared at me with an expression I couldn't read. Kai's dark gaze followed my every movement.

"Aria, come sit down," Mom called cheerfully.

I can't do this.

The weight of their hostile stares pinned me in place. My chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.

"I'm not hungry," I mumbled, backing away. "I'll just grab something later."

I practically ran outside, my heart pounding, desperate to escape their stares. The cool morning air hit my flushed face, but it did nothing to calm the heat still simmering under my skin.

"Need a ride?"

Aria's POV

I spun around. Kai Steel stood beside a sleek black motorcycle, helmet in hand. He was the fourth brother....quieter than the others, with dark hair that fell over his eyes and an intense, brooding presence that made my pulse quicken for reasons I didn't want to examine.

Unlike his brothers at breakfast, he wasn't glaring at me with open hostility. His expression was... neutral. Almost sympathetic.

Maybe he's different. Maybe not all of them hate me.

"I...." My voice came out shaky. "I don't want to be a problem."

"You'll miss first period if you wait for the bus." He held out a spare helmet. "Come on. I don't bite."

Relief flooded through me so intensely my knees felt weak. "Thank you. Really, thank you so much."

I took the helmet with trembling hands and put it on, fumbling with the strap. Kai watched me struggle for a moment before reaching over to help, his fingers brushing my jaw as he secured it.

That touch....barely anything....sent a jolt of electricity through me. My breath caught. His scent hit me then: leather and something darker, smoky and masculine. Different from Reed's but just as intoxicating.

No. Not again. Not with another one.

But my body didn't listen. Heat pooled low in my belly, that same ache from last night flaring back to life. My nipples tightened against my bra, and I was grateful for the thick hoodie hiding my body's betrayal.

Kai's eyes met mine for just a second....dark, unreadable....before he turned and straddled the motorcycle.

"Get on," he said simply.

I moved toward the bike, my heart hammering. This close to him, his scent was overwhelming. I could feel the heat radiating off his body even through his leather jacket. When I climbed on behind him, settling onto the seat, every nerve ending came alive with awareness.

Where do I put my hands?

"Hold on," Kai said, his voice rougher than before.

I hesitantly placed my hands on his waist, and even through the leather, I could feel the solid muscle beneath. My thighs pressed against his, and that persistent ache between my legs intensified into something almost painful.

This is so wrong. He's my stepbrother. They all are.

But my body didn't care about that. It only cared about the proximity, the warmth, the solid male presence that made every cell in me scream for more.

Kai revved the engine....and suddenly jerked the motorcycle forward.

I wasn't ready. My hands slipped from his waist and I fell backward, landing hard on the driveway. Pain exploded through my tailbone and up my spine. The helmet cracked against the pavement.

"What...." I gasped, breathless from the impact.

Kai looked back at me over his shoulder, and the sympathy was gone. In its place was cold amusement....the same cruel expression his brothers wore.

"Did you really think I was being nice?" He killed the engine for a moment, just so I could hear him clearly. "You're pathetic. Desperate enough to climb on behind any guy who shows you a scrap of attention."

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "You offered...."

"I know what I did." He started the engine again, that mocking smile still on his lips. "Consider it a lesson, step-sister. We're not your friends. We're not your family. And we're sure as hell not going to help you."

He peeled out, leaving me sitting on the cold ground, my body aching in all the wrong ways....bruised from the fall, but still burning with that shameful arousal from being so close to him.

Why do they hate me so much? And why does my body still want them even after this?

I limped to the bus stop, my pride as bruised as my tailbone, my hoodie doing nothing to hide the tears that finally spilled down my cheeks.

"Aria! Oh my God, there you are!"

Maya grabbed my arm the moment I walked through the school doors. Her excitement was infectious, even though I felt like crawling into a hole.

"Maya, not now...."

"Yes, now! This is important!" She pulled me aside, her eyes sparkling. "I heard something about Zane Parker."

My heart skipped. "What about him?"

"He likes bold girls. Like, really bold girls who aren't afraid to tell him what they want." Maya waggled her eyebrows. "Apparently, he's into girls who can match his... energy. You know what I mean?"

Heat rushed to my face. "Maya!"

"I'm serious! This is your chance, Aria. You've been crushing on him forever. Just go talk to him!"

I thought about the ache that still pulsed inside me, the need that hadn't gone away even after last night. Maybe Maya was right. Maybe someone like Zane could help me.

Maybe he could make this feeling go away.

"Okay," I heard myself say. "I'll do it."

By lunch, I'd psyched myself up a hundred times and chickened out ninety-nine. But Maya kept pushing me forward until I stood in front of Zane's usual table.

He sat surrounded by his hockey team and half the cheerleading squad. Everyone looked up as I approached.

Don't think. Just do it.

"Zane," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He glanced up, those gorgeous eyes finding mine. "Yeah?"

My mouth went dry. People were staring. I could feel dozens of eyes on me.

Bold. He likes bold.

"I need to talk to you," I managed.

"So talk." He leaned back in his chair, looking amused.

My heart hammered so hard I thought everyone could hear it. The words tumbled out before I could stop them.

"I want to have sex with you."

The cafeteria went silent.

Zane's eyebrows shot up. "What?"

Oh God. Oh God, what did I just say?

But I'd started, and I couldn't stop now. "I'm so wet and I need someone like you to be with me. You're experienced and I thought maybe...."

Zane started laughing. Not a small chuckle, but a full, loud laugh that echoed through the cafeteria.

"Wait, let me get this straight," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "You....Aria whatever-your-name-is....want to have sex with me because your pussy is wet?"

Laughter erupted around us. My face burned.

"I don't do Omegas, sweetheart," he continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "Especially inexperienced ones who probably don't even know what they're asking for. You're bold, I'll give you that. But bold and desperate aren't the same thing."

"She really said that?" someone whispered behind me.

"Can you believe her?"

"So pathetic."

The laughter grew louder. Phones came out, recording my humiliation.

"Thanks for the entertainment though," Zane called after me as I turned to run. "That was the best laugh I've had all week!"

I ran through the cafeteria, past the pointing fingers and cruel smiles, out into the hallway. Maya's voice called after me, but I didn't stop.

What have I done?

I'd never felt so small, so stupid, so utterly worthless.