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
Noah’s arrow embedded perfectly in the center of the target. Mine? Sitting in the dirt, poorly aimed. “Is this what you call training?” His deep voice rumbled and I stepped back a bit. “Noah?” My brother stopped forward slightly as I looked up at him with admiration. Noah never showed any fear of
Kai. I knew it was a dream. The air was too crisp and the sky was so blue in the same color as my eyes. The scent of pine and fresh cut grass carried a softness that didn’t exist in the real world anymore. But still, I remembered this day like it was yesterday, I stood there, smaller and lighter
Aria.By the time we reached the cabin, my legs felt like jelly and my shoulder ached from the cold seeping into my bones. The walk had only been fifteen minutes, but it felt longer with the silence between us and the weight of everything that had happened tonight.Kai pushed the door open and reach
I almost snorted but caught myself. Of course he would introduce himself that way. Even to a five year old. The boy turned his head slowly, tears clinging to his cheeks. His brown eyes were wide, swollen from crying. His lower lip trembled a little. “Hi future alpha,” he sniffled, wiping at his fa







