LOGINAria’s voice echoed in my head.“They like each other.”“Guys,” Ryder cut in, his tone sharper now. “Give us a minute.”The room quieted slightly.“We’ll meet you on the field,” he added.There were a few nods, a couple of claps on my shoulder again, lighter this time, more careful.“Let me know if
Then I looked up.The mirror reflected it all back.The uniform with my last name at the back. BlackthonThe number. 1The image, perfect future alpha, quarterback, captain..The lie.I held my own gaze for a second longer.Then I turned away.I reached for the table beside me, where Coach had left
Kai.I stood in front of the mirror longer than I should have because I couldn’t quite believe what I looked like.The reflection staring back at me barely resembled the person I was supposed to be.My left eye was bloodshot, the red stark against the pale of my skin. A dark bruise spread across bot
The one Kai had taken from my bag.The one piece of home I still had.My chest tightened.I reached out slowly, brushing my fingers along its surface. The memory hit immediately, him handing it back to me, and lying to my face that he had bought it. I shook my head as a tear escaped my eyes.I swall
Aria.The phone rang longer than I expected.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor, my fingers gripping the device a little too tightly as I waited. For a second, I thought he wouldn’t pick up. Maybe I had called at the wrong time.Then the line clicked.“Hello?”I let out a small breath
She was calling me.My thumb moved before I could think.I answered on the first ring.“Kai—” Her voice was soft and something warm rushed through me so suddenly it almost hurt more than the pain. My chest tightened again, but this time it wasn’t just agony—it was something else.Relief mixed with d
Kai.By the five hours practice was over the rest of the team was leaving the field a minute later. West Oak field was bigger than Ravencrest and it made practice even tougher since we had more grounds to cover.One by one, the team peeled off the field, laughing and shoving each other toward the lo
Kai.I rode home on my motorcycle after practice. Coach had forced us to do drills after classes.The road curved the way it always had, the wind cutting against my cheeks, the engine’s low growl grounding me more than it probably should have. When I slowed at the gate and rolled into the drive, the
Aria.Finding my way back was not easy. I followed a narrow passage that curved twice, then split into three directions.I stopped.Great.I turned in a slow circle, my stomach tightening. Every hallway looked the same. Grey walls. Emergency exit signs. Heavy metal doors with pack symbols printed on
He studied my face again.“Have you found anything else?” he asked gently.My throat went dry.For a terrifying moment, I could almost feel the weight of my phone in my pocket. The email. The folder I hadn’t opened. The file sitting in my inbox like a ticking clock.“No,” I said.It came out too fas







