Navy's Sons: Bullied by Quadruplet Stepbrothers novel Chapter 1

Tabitha’s POV

A soccer ball rockets toward me just as I’m halfway through a passage, lounging cross-legged in the middle of the open field with my book resting comfortably on my thighs. I glance up and see it speeding straight at my face.

Oh shit!

My heart skips and slam the book shut. I jerk to the side, pressing my hands into the grass as I twist my body out of the way.

“Look out!”

Before the ball can reach me, Andrew appears in a blur of movement. He charges forward and throws himself in front of me, tilting his head just right to intercept the ball. It bounces off with a dull thud and rolls away across the grassy field.

“You okay?” he asks, catching his breath as he straightens up beside me.

I press a palm to my chest, feeling my pulse racing beneath my fingertips. That was close.

“Yeah. Although that ball almost broke my glasses.” I push the crooked frames back up the bridge of my nose. “I would’ve asked you to replace it, but it’s your lucky day, Kingston.”

Andrew lets out a quiet chuckle.

“Sorry about that. They got Ray all fired up.” He nods at Ray who is running across the field. “You know how he is when he gets into the game.”

Ray, the captain of the university’s soccer team waves at me apologetically and demands Andrew to give them back the ball.

“You might want to tell your buddies to work on their aim next time. Try not to give us poor people in the bleachers a black eye before summer vacation.”

He laughs again and lobs the ball back to his teammates in one sharp kick before walking away from the field to join me. Andrew gestures that he’ll pass in the next game. Ray and the others nod their heads and resume to the practice

“Why are you even practicing today?” I ask, shifting to sit properly again and picking up my book. “Summer vacation’s in three days. Varsity season’s over.”

Andrew shrugs his shoulders.

“It’s not all about competition. Soccer’s just a fun game. But Ray’s been obsessed with practice ever since we lost in the finals… so there’s also that.”

Andrew grabs his tumbler and takes a long swig. Andrew’s eyes drift down, and I catch him staring at my knee. He tilts his head slightly.

“I’ve been meaning to ask about that scar. How’d you get it?” he asks.

I glance down, my fingers brushing over the faint, jagged line just below my kneecap. It’s old, but still obvious against my skin.

"I fell off a cliff five years ago. I was being chased by a bunch of dumb high school bullies. I tripped, rolled, scraped up my knees, and hit my head pretty bad," I say, flipping a page in my book.

Andrew winces. “Damn. I know kids can be jerks, but that’s brutal. I didn’t think high schoolers were that ruthless.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Yeah… you’ve got no idea.”

If only he knew. Especially if you grew up around werewolves who shift just to terrorize the shit out of humans like me. Good thing I’m miles away from that hellhole now. I won’t have to see the smirking faces of my bullies… especially the particular four brothers who used to make my life miserable.

Noticing the shift in my mood, he quickly changes the topic. “Anyway, what’s your summer plans?” he asks while wiping his lips.

I close the book on my thumb and rest it on my knee. Summer plans, huh?

“I’ll probably just pick up some extra shifts at the café. Same as usual,” I say with a shrug.

He nods.

“Damn, you’re always working hard. If you want something different, my dad’s company is hiring. I could put in a word.”

I smile and shake my head slightly

“Thanks, but I like my job at the café. Although the pay isn’t exactly that big, at least I get to soak in the delicious scent of coffee all day. Plus, the boss is kind enough to give me leftover pastries during every shift.”

He’s kind enough to offer that, but I’d rather stick to my part-time job. And it’s not even about pride, it’s just about building something on my own. Maybe, I’ll take on his offer when I’m confident enough to do a good job… once I graduate. Hopefully.

“Well, if you say so…” Andrew tosses the tumbler back to his backpack and settles on the bleachers beside me. “You know what? You’re the most hardworking person I know. I can’t believe you’re spending the whole summer break just… working. Don’t you even have a plan to go on a vacation? Catch some rays? Hiking? Sightseeing? Beach?”

Beach. A sudden memory tickles at the back of my mind. The scent of salty air, the feel of grainy white sands against my skin… and the crystal blue water that greets my eyes every morning. Yeah, I used to live on a beach, alright. And I’ve had enough fill of that to last a lifetime. Now, I’m not excited to go back.

“Nah. I’m good. Working at the café is an exciting getaway too.” I take a deep breath and slide the bookmark onto the page before tucking the book back into my bag. I don’t really have the concentration to read anything right now.

“That’s not what you said last month when that guy asked you to remake his latte because the foam heart looked off.”

I snort, recalling the incident. “Yeah. Turns out he was ordering it for his girlfriend but she broke up with him the same day. They made quite a scene at the café that day. Poor guy had to order another drink. Had to give it to him though. He ordered a chamomile tea just to take the edge off.”

Andrew chuckles. “Yeah, and—” he trails off, his eyes flicking past me, narrowing slightly.

“What?”

I follow his gaze and see a man in a polished black suit walking toward us. He looks completely out of place in a university filled with students cramming their last projects and soccer jocks messing around on the field. He doesn’t look like faculty or anyone remotely connected to the school, and what unsettles me is the way his eyes stay fixed on me, like he’s not just passing through but heading here for something specific.

He’s probably just a parent or something… or maybe an investor at the school. He can’t possibly coming for me. Right?

Nope. The man is definitely walking in our direction, and still very much looking at me.

“Do you know that guy?” Andrew whispers, creasing his forehead.

“No.”

The man finally stops right in front of us. He briefly eyes Andrew before fixing his eyes back at me.

“Are you Tabitha Huxley?” the man in suit asks.

“Uh… ye—”

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