Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 115

Chapter 115

“Good.” River ran his fingers through my hair, tipping my head back so he could take my mouth in a kiss. It was light, gentle. The barest of touches. Yet there was so much love in it.

Anson cleared his throat. “Don’t go feeding the light pool.”

River released me with a grumble. “I know. I know.”

“Are you ready?” Knox asked.

“I need a few minutes.” None of them moved. “Alone,” I pushed.

“No,” Vaughn said.

I made a face at him. “We have three times the patrols right now. I’ll be fine. I need a minute to breathe and center myself.”

River studied me for a moment. “It could help.”

Caspian tapped the side of his head. “Keep the mind link open to us, so we know if you need us.”

“I can do that.” Keeping that door open didn’t mean that they could read my thoughts, simply that we could communicate instantly.

The guys slowly headed away from the clearing. Vaughn was the last to go, pinning me with a stare I would’ve found threatening before I knew him. Now, it was a comfort.

“I’ll be okay.”

He jerked his head in a nod and took off after the rest of the guys.

I let out a long breath, tipping my head back to look at the sky. The first streaks of light were painting the clouds with a pink hue. “What would you make of all this if you were here, Lace?” A pang lit along my sternum. I would’ve given anything for an hour with my big sister to sort all this out.

No one could figure out a problem quite like Lacey. She could see every angle and possible outcome. And she had been the best at getting me out of my head once I’d decided a course of action.

But I didn’t have her to do that with anymore. I had to trust that all of those conversations lived in me somewhere. That because I’d known and loved her, I was a better and stronger person.

A tear slipped from my eye. “I miss you. I wish you could meet the guys. You’d love them.” My mouth curved. “You’d have so much fun messing with Vaughn.”

I ran my fingers along the rose gold beads in my bracelet. They glinted in the morning light. “Will you be with me when I have to go do these tests?” Silence greeted me. I hadn’t expected an answer, but I needed something. The faintest breeze picked up, rustling the leaves and pine needles.

I pressed my hand to my chest. “Always here when I need you. Love you, Lace.”

I forced the thoughts from my mind and with one more cleansing breath, started down the path towards the lodge. The worn dirt made the trip silent, so when I stepped out of the trees and someone said my name, I jolted.

Chapter 113

My head snapped in the direction of the sound. Ivan’s lips twitched for the briefest of seconds before that impassive mask was back. “Sit.” He gestured to a spot next to him on the bench.

I sent a message to the guys. I ran into Ivan at the benches by the woods.

What does he want?Vaughn barked.

I don’t know yet, but I need to focus.

Leave yourself open to us, River said.

I will.

I lowered myself to the worn wooden seat.

“Do your bond mates think I’m going to kidnap you?”

I turned to face the white–haired man. “It’s crossed their minds. Do you blame them?”

“No, I don’t.” He looked me dead in the eyes. “Many will come for you, Senna. You must find a way to survive.”

There was something in Ivan’s gaze. An intensity and certainty. There was no doubt in his mind that his words were the truth.

I swallowed hard, moving my focus to my hands. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I can heal but that’s it. I’m not the shifter in your prophecy.”

Ivan’s lips pressed into a firm line. “You’ll need to be a better liar if you want to get through this unscathed.”

I let loose a stream of expletives in my head. I’d never been an especially good liar, and I was sure the Quad had faced down the best.

I shrugged, as if I couldn’t care less what he thought. “I’ll never change your und But maybe the tests will.”

His eyes narrowed on me. “What are you up to?”

‘Nothing. I just want this over as soon as possible so I can get back to my life. I’m trying to make it through my senior year in one piece. That’s hard to do when there are mean girls, parents that don’t give a shit, and finding out that you turn into a wolf.”

van burst out laughing. “Mean girls? That was first on your list?”

‘Have you ever met a Queen Bee who thinks the entire school should worship at her feet?” I gave an exaggerated shiver. “Much carier than this council business. Especially when her ex is one of your mates.”

I’m so glad I’m not in high school,” he muttered.

‘Rub it in, why don’t you?”