Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 15

“What are you doing out here? Don’t you know a boundary when you see one?”

My head snapped up, and I scrambled away from the deep voice. The sun piercing through the trees blinded me for a moment. I could only make out a form. Ripped jeans. A dark gray T–shirt pulled tight across a muscular chest. Tattoos that peeked out from underneath the sleeves.

“S–s–sorry. I didn’t know this was private property.”

He took a step forward, his face coming into view from behind the sunbeam. It was the kind of face that stole your breath and made you stupid. All sharp angles and hard planes. And eyes that were the lightest blue I’d ever seen. It was a complete juxtaposition to his hair that was so dark brown, it was almost black. Those almost angelic eyes sucker–punched me right in the chest. Because they held a pain that was so familiar, it felt like I was looking in a mirror.

“It’s not private property,” he gritted out.

“But you just said…”

His head tilted in a way similar to the blond guy’s, as if he were looking at a pile of puzzle pieces, trying to figure out how they all went together. “Who are you?”

I looked around the forest, searching for a phantom someone to save me from this handsome stranger’s questions. “I don’t think I should tell

you my name.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up. The action pulled on a scar on his lip just to the side of his cupid’s bow. “Don’t take candy out of the back of

vans either, I’m guessing?”

“Stranger danger and all that.”

Those ice–blue eyes lit as he took me in. “If you’re concerned about safety, you probably shouldn’t be out in the middle of the woods by yourself.”

He had a very solid point, yet even with him hulking over me, I didn’t want to leave. “Is it okay if I stay? Just for a little bit?”

The question seemed to take him by surprise. He took a half step back, eyes narrowing in on my face. They moved over my cheeks to my eyes and that was when he must’ve seen it, the remnants of my tears. I was sure my eyes were bloodshot and my cheeks red.

I didn’t let myself wipe the evidence away. I was so tired of hiding what I was feeling around everyone. It was exhausting. For one brief

moment, I simply wanted to be

I wanted to listen to the water and soak the peace of this place into my bones. To store it up so that I could carry it home with me. Maybe it would stay with me, tide me over until my mother had another outburst, or my father eventually forgot he had any daughters at all.

A muscle in his cheek ticked. “It’s not a good idea. There are wild animals out here, sometimes hunters too.”

“You’re out here.”

“I live here.”

“In the woods?” Images of a makeshift shelter filled my mind.

“In my cabin. I know my way around here, know what to look out for. You don’t.”

I didn’t know why I was trying to convince this rude guy to let me stay. Combative wasn’t my usual M.O., but as I stared at him, I realized that I felt a little less alone. Just for a minute, I wasn’t the girl who had lost her family six months ago. Lacey might’ve been dead, but Mom and Dad had pretty much left me by choice.

11:44

Screw My Childhood Sweetheart–His Alpha Brother Marked Me First!

12.5%

Chapter 15

That sting had dulled when this guy stepped out of the trees. The reason made no sense. I gave my head a little shake

“No, you refuse to leave?” he asked, his voice hardening around the edges.

That hardness cut. Again, the why made no sense. He was a stranger. I shouldn’t care what he thought about me at all

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify