Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 16

I stared at the blood on my palm, then looked up to ask if he’d felt that strange electric shock too.

But he was already gone–vanished into the trees like some kind of ghost.

“Wait-“I called out, but only silence answered back.

I padded down the stairs in my thick socks, pausing to listen. The quiet murmur of TV still drifted from my parents‘ room–the same news channel that had been playing on repeat for months.

In the kitchen, I surveyed our nearly empty fridge. Some sandwich fixings, eggs, and barely enough milk for cereal. I whisked two eggs with cheese, eating mechanically while my mind drifted to those ice–blue eyes in the forest. That look of recognition, like he understood the pain I’d been drowning in.

The front door opened and closed. Sneakers squeaked against hardwood.

Dad appeared in the kitchen, startling when he saw me. “Senna, I didn’t know you were up.”

“I didn’t know you were home.” Or that you bothered coming upstairs to check.

He filled a glass with water, dressed in sleek workout gear I’d never seen before. “Got home late, went for an early run. Didn’t want to wake you.”

“I probably wasn’t asleep anyway.” The nightmares made sure of that.

His jaw tightened. “Well, I couldn’t have known that.”

You could have. You used to peek in on me and Lacey every night, saying you just wanted to make sure we were “alive and breathing.” Now one of us wasn’t, and the remaining daughter–the adopted one–apparently didn’t warrant a check–in.

Dad cleared his throat. “Tomorrow’s your first day at the new school. Do you have everything you need?”

Right. School. At least it would get me out of this haunted house. “We need groceries.”

He opened the fridge, frowning. “I thought your mom-”

“She barely leaves her room, Dad, Do you really think she’s grocery shopping?”

“You could have some compassion-”

“I cook for her every day,” I snapped. “I go into that bedroom even when she says she can’t bear to look at me. Don’t lecture me about compassion.”

Pain flashed across his face. “I’ll hit the store this afternoon before I head back to the city.”

My stomach dropped. “You’re leaving today?”

“Meeting first thing tomorrow morning.”

Of course. Everyone leaves eventually.

He grabbed the notepad by the phone. “Write down what you need for the week. I’ll leave cash for anything else.” He paused. “You can take Mom’s car if you need errands run.”

11:44

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

13.4%

Chapter 16

The keys might as well have been made of lead. I had my license, but hadn’t driven since before the accident. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t been behind the wheel that night–the fear still swamped me every time I tried.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify