#Chapter 26: The Party’s Over

Aria’s POV I was worried about Piper, but I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Julia and Harold. After all, my curiosity over what Lucian might say was only part of the reason I came tonight. My main priority had been to say farewell to his parents, knowing this would likely be the last time that I saw them. “Oh, Aria,” Julia said, as I gave her a tight hug. “Are you sure you have to leave? You can’t stay and work things out with Lucian?” “I’m sorry,” I told her and meant it. In another life, maybe we could have all been happy together. As it was, Lucian and I felt doomed, and I was growing exhausted allowing myself to have glimmers of hope otherwise. Julia squeezed my shoulders. “It’s not your fault.” Gods, I loved this woman as much as if she’d been my own mother. As an orphan, she was the closest thing I’d ever had to one. I hated to lose her, but I didn’t see how I could keep her while distancing myself from the pack. It wouldn’t be right. I had to cut everyone o