Mag-log inAria’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
Aria.The dining room felt the same as the last time I was here, maybe colder. The long table stretched forever, covered in dishes like we were feeding an army. Eggs, toast, waffles, pancakes, and tea pots.Kai pulled out a chair for me, smirking as if that made him charming.“Don’t act like a gentl
“No. You can’t leave.”One of her brows arched, sharp and unimpressed. “Excuse me?”My mind raced. I rubbed the back of my neck, scrambling for anything, before blurting, “My head. You have to wrap it up again. I can’t do it myself.”She started to rise again, her hand brushing mine away. “Get one o
KaiI stood in front of Noah’s room. The one on the left side of the hall. My head throbbed as the memories came back, pounding like a second heartbeat. I could still see it, like a ghost replaying itself, me running down this same hallway at night, chasing the glowing lights Noah had stuck on the f
His glare sharpened, like knives cutting into me. He hissed the words through his teeth. “It’s from fucking Luke Whitmore, isn’t it?”I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. The silence gave me away anyway.Kai’s growl was so deep it rattled the air. “That bastard. I told him not to come within five feet of you.







