Chapter 1

Gawin

Some nights you lose a race and you just feel like shit. Other nights you lose and then the universe decides to drop the biggest “fuck you” right on your head while you’re still angry. Tonight was that kind of night.

I was in the changing room pulling my jacket on when Boston started yapping like he always does.

“Gawin, you ready or what? We’re up soon and I don’t wanna look like idiots again.”

“Shut up, I’m coming,” I snapped back, zipping the jacket so hard the zipper almost broke. “It’s not like the track is gonna run away if we’re two minutes late.”

Coach walked in right then, face all tight and serious. He pointed at us. “Listen, you two. Joss and Arnold are racing dirty tonight. They drift like they don’t give a damn about crashing or killing someone. Be careful out there. Don’t let them bait you into something stupid.”

Boston rolled his eyes. “Coach, we know. Those two are ruthless pricks. Arnold pushes like he owns the road and Joss just laughs while he does it.”

“Yeah, well laughing pricks still win races,” I said under my breath.

Coach gave me that look. “Exactly. So keep your cool. No fighting on the track.”

We headed out. The annual event was full of teams and sponsors everywhere. Our whole team was there, talking loud and acting like we already won something. The race was two against two, same as always. Me and Boston versus Joss and that asshole Arnold.

When we lined up, Joss pulled up next to me. Even through the window I could see that stupid smirk on his face. The race started and right away they played dirty. Arnold cut Boston off so close I thought he was gonna flip the car. Joss drifted hard, almost scraping my side, laughing the whole time like it was a game. They didn’t care about anything except winning. No rules, no respect, just pure ruthlessness.

They won.

Of course they fucking won.

I slammed my door so hard when I got out that Boston jumped. “Those cheating pieces of shit!” he yelled, marching over to me. “Did you see Arnold? He tried to run me off the track! And Joss was smiling like he just fucked someone’s mom!”

“I saw,” I growled, fists clenched. “Joss looked at me the whole time like he already knew he was gonna beat us. I hate that bastard.”

Our team came running over, all talking at once.

“Man, they race like animals!”

“Next time we’ll get them, don’t worry.”

“Bullshit,” I said loud. “They don’t race clean ever. They just push and cheat and everyone lets them because they bring in the sponsors.”

Boston kicked the tire of his car. “I swear if I see Arnold again tonight I’m punching him in the mouth.”

From across the field Joss and Arnold were standing with their team, laughing and high-fiving. Joss looked over at us and gave this slow, fake little wave, like he was saying “better luck next time losers.” My blood boiled. I took a step toward them but Boston grabbed my arm.

“Don’t. Not here. Coach will kill us.”

“Fuck Coach,” I muttered, but I stayed put. For now.

Later at the annual gala, everything was loud and bright with people drinking and talking about the races. Our team stuck together in one corner, still pissed. I grabbed a couple drinks, just enough to take the edge off. The anger was still sitting heavy in my stomach.

I saw Joss across the room with Arnold and a few others from their team. They were laughing loud, acting like kings. Joss caught my eye and smirked again. That same smirk from when we were kids. It made me want to throw my glass at his head.

I couldn’t hold it anymore. I walked straight over, Boston following behind me muttering “this is a bad idea.”

Joss saw me coming and crossed his arms, still smiling. “Well well, if it isn’t the losers. Come to congratulate us?”

“Congratulate you for cheating?” I said, voice low but sharp. “You drifted like a maniac and almost took us out. You always race like you don’t care if someone dies.”

Arnold laughed. “Cry about it. That’s how we win. You two are too soft.”

Boston stepped up fast. “Soft? Say that again and I’ll show you soft when I break your nose.”

Joss put a hand on Arnold’s shoulder but his eyes stayed on me. “Still mad about old times, Gawin? Grow up. We were kids. Shit happens.”

“Shit happens?” I laughed but there was no humor in it. “You swapped our cars that day so you could win. You betrayed me and then acted like it was nothing. Our parents hated each other but we still tried to be friends. And you ruined it because you’re a selfish prick.”

Joss shrugged like it didn’t matter. “And look at us now. I’m still winning and you’re still crying about it. Same old Gawin. Stop making up these fake stories, you and I know that’s never what happened.”

My hands shook. I wanted to hit him so bad. “One day that smirk is gonna get wiped off your face. And I hope I’m the one who does it.”

Arnold stepped closer. “Big words from someone who lost tonight. Go drink your tears somewhere else.”

Boston pulled me back before I did something stupid. “Come on, man. He’s not worth it. Not here with all these sponsors watching.”

We walked away but I could still hear them laughing behind us. It burned.

I drank a little more after that, just enough to make the anger fuzzy. After a while I needed to go to the bathroom. My head was spinning a bit from the drinks and the fight that almost happened.

That’s when the smell hit me.

Strong. Way too strong. Pheromones. They slammed into me like a truck. As an alpha I should’ve been able to push it back easy, but this was different. It made my chest tight and my legs feel weird. It was coming from down the hall, not the bathroom.

I followed it without thinking, heart beating fast. Then I heard crying. Low, sounds like someone was hurting bad.

I pushed the door open quickly.

Joss was inside.

I could barely see but he had some girl pinned against the wall, face wet with tears, body shaking. Joss was breathing hard, eyes wild, clearly in heat. The pheromones were pouring off him like crazy, thick and heavy, trying to force the other girl to submit. She was clearly an Alpha. What sort of behavior was this? The girl was crying quietly, pushing weakly at Joss’s chest.

“Stop… please… I don’t want this,” she whispered, voice cracking.

Joss didn’t listen. He leaned in closer, voice low and rough. “Come on, you know you feel it. Just give in.”

Rage exploded in my head. “Get the fuck off her !” I yelled, rushing in and shoving Joss hard away from the guy.

Joss stumbled back, eyes flashing with anger and heat. “Who the fuck are you ? What the hell are you doing here? This doesn’t concern you.”

“The fuck it doesn’t!” I snapped, standing between them. “She’s crying and telling you no, you selfish piece of shit. You’re in heat and you’re trying to force her? After everything, you’re still the same asshole who only thinks about himself.”

The girl’s face behind me was still shaking, tears running down his face. He looked so scared and broken it made my stomach twist.

Joss laughed but it sounded messed up because of the rut. “ playing hero, huh? Mind your own business. She wants it. They always do when it gets this strong.”

“She said stop!” I shouted, stepping closer, fists ready. “No means no. Whether you’re in rut or not? Control your fricking pheromones they may be pure breed humans in here.”

Joss’s eyes were dark, pheromones still pouring out, making it hard for me to think straight. But I held it. “Stop before I call security and tell everyone what kind of monster you really are.”

For a second Joss looked like he might fight me, he couldn’t even stand straight. Then he smirked that same old smirk, even through the rut, he pushed the girl outside and dragged me in.