Chapter 5

Drake's Pov

I had to test the theory.

I wasn’t crazy. I couldn’t be. Not after what happened the last few times I was around Betsy.

So I picked up the watch.

A purple wristwatch my father got me last year as a birthday gift. I didn't know why he chose purple, but I didn't ask. Father was always one to not be questioned.

To me, the watch had always looked pink. I never cared much. I was color blind. Nick knew that. Those who got to find out, knew but no one would dare spout it. 

But today?

I saw purple.

Not dull or washed out. Actual purple. 

Then I looked up and saw her walking toward me in a brown hoodie. I didn’t need anyone to tell me the color when I saw her again I could see it. Rich, deep brown. And her hair, golden brown, catching the light.

When I first saw her at the house, I thought my head was playing games with me. Maybe a bad night. Maybe I was tired. But now? I’d never been more awake. 

My theory was right. I'm not color blind around Betsy. What was different about her?

“Hi,” she said, waving her hand in front of my face. “I’m here.”

I blinked, pulled back into the moment. “Right. Sorry. You, uh—have you had any class in the last two hours?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Not really. Nick had his shenanigans pulled me into. Some girls asked me to join their skating team, and they have weird rules.”

She wasn't holding back to speak to me. I didn't try to either.

“Sierra?” I guessed.

She narrowed her eyes. “How do you know that?”

I gave a half-smile. “I’m the hockey captain. Trust me, there’s not much I don’t know about around here. Also, you saw the attention at the school gate this morning. That didn’t clue you in?”

She exhaled and nodded slightly. “Fair.”

I tapped my fingers on the table and leaned forward. “I called you here because not everyone in the pack recognizes you yet. You’re Nick’s sister, sure, but this pack…our pack, you'll be treated differently if they don't know you're from the Lanemoon pack.”

She cut me off with a dry look. “You’re not officially Alpha yet. Your father still is. And I've been having a good time, no one has bullied me and I don't think anyone does not know I'm from the Lanemoon pack. If I'm Nick's sister, I think that should have sold the gist off.”

I paused, mid-sentence. Unable to speak, marvelled at the way she speaks sharply. 

My phone pinged just as I was about to say something else. A message from Nick.

“On my way. Game on in 15.”

I glanced back at Betsy. Her hoodie was pulled up slightly at the neck, revealing the mark of our pack. The mark only blood borns carry. No wonder Sierra and the girls were swarming her like moths to a flame. That's how they knew she was from the Lanemoon pack. Or Nick told them?

“I have to go,” I said, standing. “Stay away from Sierra and her little fake secret society, alright? They’re not what they seem.”

She raised a brow. “Brotherly advice?”

I smirked. “Just stay away. I’ll be with Nick.”

I turned before she could get another word in. It was already hard enough pretending I wasn’t distracted by her scent, the sound of her voice, the way her lips curved when she was curious.

As soon as I slid into my car and shut the door, the pounding in my head hit.

Really hard. 

My grip tightened around the wheel, jaw clenched.

“Shit,” I muttered as a sharp pain tore through my shoulder. My wolf. He was scratching at the surface, wanting out, and my control was slipping. My hands began to shake, my veins bulging, my fingers twitching like claws were about to break through.

I fumbled for the pill bottle in the glove compartment. I nearly dropped it. My vision blurred for a second, the red haze covering everything. I popped two pills and forced them down dry. The bitterness stung my throat.

After five minutes of white knuckling the steering wheel and letting the meds settle in, the pain dulled. My claws retracted. My vision cleared. 

I pushed the thoughts of Betsy down and drove to the rink.

By the time I got there, the guys were already on the ice, warming up. Nick was in full gear, gliding with perfect form. He spotted me and waved me over, tapping his stick on the ice with that annoyingly cocky grin.

I laced up quickly and joined him.

The game started. Fast paced drills, our body checks and quick turns. But my head wasn’t in it.

It was on Betsy. The way she looked me in the eye like she could take me that—that was impossible though. 

Even Nick had boundaries. As my best friend, he respected the line. But Betsy… she walked right over it in heels and I couldn't do anything about it. Even when I tried to act cold to her earlier, I couldn't.

A whistle snapped me back to the present.

Nick’s stick smacked against mine. “Earth to Drake. Are you trying to lose us the game before it starts?”

I blinked, shaking it off. “I’m good.”

“We’re playing against those motherfuckers next. You think they’ll go easy?” he said, gliding next to me. He was right. The Darkmoon pack Alpha at the other school had cunning ways. 

“I’m good,” I repeated with a stern look.

He gave me a look but said nothing.

After another round, I skated off and pulled my helmet off, running a hand through my hair. “I need a break.”

Nick joined me at the bench. “You alright?”

“Yeah. Just…” I paused, debating. “Is the pack tension getting to you?”

He shrugged. “It’s been worse. Why?”

I hesitated. “Nothing. Just—” I trailed off, thinking again of Betsy’s hoodie, her scent, the way my wolf stilled around her yet those eyes troubled my heart. Like I had seen something I didn't realize I was looking for.

Nick wiped sweat from his brow with a towel. “This about my sister?”

I looked at him sharply. “What?”

“You were going to say something about her.”

“…She’s different,” I muttered.

He didn’t even look curious, which annoyed me.

“Like what?” he asked absently, grabbing a bottle of water.

“Forget it,” I said.

“No, go on,” he pressed, glancing sideways. “What’s so interesting about Betsy all of a sudden? You’ve known her for two minutes.”

I met his eyes. “Your sister's daring.”

Nick frowned slightly, the easygoing look fading. “Why? Because she talks back? Betsy's like that. She never really had time with a lot of people and she gets what she wants.”

“Hmm.” I nodded.

I thought again about the colors. The hoodie, the watch, and how my wolf calmed around her when normally, nothing could.

I contemplated on telling Nick that my color blindness shut off when his sister's around. But…

Nick narrowed his eyes. “Why are you so suddenly invested in my sister, huh?”