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
AriaI lay still in the quiet, wrapped in warmth that should have felt foreign but didn’t. Kai’s breathing had evened out, soft and steady, like the storm inside him had finally gone quiet, for now.His arms were around me, loosely but protectively. I could feel the slow rise and fall of his chest a
He didn’t disagree.We sat on the couch again, a blanket draped over the side in case the cold crept in again. The fire crackled quietly from the corner, casting long shadows on the walls.I tried not to watch him. But I did.And it terrified me how easy this felt.He caught me looking once. I turne
I barged in.The room was quiet, darker than usual with the window blinds half-drawn. The sharp scent of cologne and sweat filled the air, along with something else, faint but familiar. Like pine and storms.Kai was sitting on the edge of the bench, his elbows resting on his knees, looking down at h
Aria. I stirred awake slowly, the weight of sleep still clinging to my limbs like a heavy blanket. My cheek was pressed against something warm, solid… Kai. His arms were around me, steady and calm, his breathing deep and even. I blinked at the ceiling for a moment, confused at how peaceful I felt.







