Chapter One

Kyle

I could feel the guys watching me the moment I stepped into the hallway. Their sharp and cruel laughter started before I even passed them, echoing off the lockers.

“Hey, we heard you fucked Collin last night at the club,” one of them called out, loud enough that a few people down the hall turned to stare.

I kept my head down, pretending not to hear, when suddenly a hand shoved hard against my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. My throat tightened.

They surrounded me so casually, like this was just another game to them. My palms were sweating. I tried to step around the guy in front, but he caught my chin in his fingers and forced me to look up.

“But you would make a good, sweet twink, won't you?” His grin was wide and mocking.

I swallowed hard, wishing I could disappear.

“Isn’t it obvious?” someone else muttered behind him.

“Can I leave? Please?” My voice came out thinner than I meant. I hated how it sounded—small, like I’d already given up.

“Just answer us,” the first one demanded. “Did you really fuck Collin?”

“I didn’t,” I said quickly. My heart was beating so fast it hurt. “I swear. We only danced and…”

I stopped. My mouth refused to go on.

“And what?” One of them stepped closer, his brow creasing in irritation. He'd been glaring at me the whole time, not smiling, and didn't join in when the others talked and laughed.

“We almost kissed,” I admitted. “That was all. We didn’t even…kiss.”

His expression twisted, rage and disgust fighting for space on his face.

“How dare you almost kiss my fucking brother?” He raised his hand, and for a second all I could think was how much it was going to hurt.

But the hit never came because a different hand shot out, catching his wrist mid-swing.

“You don’t want to do that.”

The voice was low and cold. I knew it instantly who it was. I could recognize that deep, rageful voice anywhere.

I lifted my eyes, and there Hayden was. My stepbrother. He was glaring at the guy, his jaw set like iron. Those dark eyes flicked briefly to me, then back to the others.

Who would have thought that the same person who tried to kill me this morning while we were getting ready for school would end up helping me later?

All I did was use a bit of his expensive hair gel, and he nearly choked me for it. Mom wasn’t even around to step in. She had left early that morning, saying she had an important date.

Hayden hates me so much that Mom eventually had to move us to a different place so we could have separate rooms.

It was honestly better for me. Living with a new stepbrother who had a fiery temper and attacked me over every little thing was definitely not worth it.

The guys turned around, and when they saw Hayden, they backed off. I mean, who wouldn’t? He didn’t even have to say much. He just took my hand and spoke calmly.

“I guess I’ll be taking my brother away from you.”

He led me out of the building, around to the back of the school garden, and as soon as we were alone, he let go of my hand like it disgusted him.

“Why were you being bullied again?” he asked.

“Wow. Can’t believe you actually care about me,” I muttered, rubbing my wrist. He had grabbed it so tightly it was still red.

Hayden glared at me, and I let out a sigh.

“I went to the party last night.”

“I told you not to go,” he snapped.

“And why not? I’m not a child. Besides, you don’t get to tell me what to do.”

His jaw tightened, but I kept going. “Anyway, I went because Collin kept calling me. Who would have thought his whole goal was to out me in front of everyone?”

“That’s why I said you should stay home. So what happened?”

“I met up with him. I was so drunk because he kept handing me more and more shots. Before I knew it, he asked if I was gay, and I… I said yes. We almost kissed, but he punched me in the face instead. I guess that’s why those guys knew about it. They kept—”

“Shit,” Hayden hissed, dragging a hand through his hair.

“What is it?” I asked, frowning.

“Now everyone knows my fucking brother is gay.”

“So what? I’m not the first guy to be gay in this damn college. Even Professor Kay is married to a man.”

“Yeah, that’s different,” he snapped, jabbing a finger into my chest and shoving me back against the wall. “Everyone is going to start thinking we’re fucking or something.”

I stared at Hayden and let out a short laugh.

“What’s funny?” he asked, glaring at me like he wanted to tear my head off.

“Why would anyone think that about us? You’re not even my type. I’d rather turn straight than ever look at you that way. Besides, everyone knows you’re straight. You’ve got a beautiful, smart girlfriend.”

He took a step back, his jaw tightening. “Consider this a warning. Stay away from me, whether we’re at school or at home.”

“Not like I even want to be around you,” I muttered. “And next time you see me with those bullies, look away.”

“Yeah, says a pretty weak omega.”

That one hit harder than I’d ever admit. Not that I had any desire to be wolfless. But in the Crimson Pack, being an omega past eighteen meant everyone treated you like trash. And here I was, already twenty-one.

He shot me one last cold look before turning and walking away.

I let out a long sigh and headed for the vending machine nearby. I bought a soda and just stood there, staring at the can in my hand. My thoughts drifted back to when Hayden became my stepbrother.

It hadn’t even been that long. Just a year ago, my mother married Hayden’s father. He was this wealthy, polished man who seemed like he could fix all her problems. But seven months later, he died. Everything fell apart after that.

My mother inherited everything he owned. But she was never the sensible or careful type, and within months, she’d managed to burn through almost all of it. Honestly, I couldn’t even pretend to respect her decisions.