Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175

I pulled my sandwich from my bag and methodically unwrapped it, not meeting anyone’s eyes. It was bad enough to admit this in front of my mates, but Cass, Ridge, and Jack were here too. “I’m failing religion,” I mumbled.

Caspian straightened. “What?”

“I haven’t been doing great in religion. Ms. Angler wants to meet with me after school on Monday.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Knox asked.

I opened my bag of chips and pulled one out. I flipped it back and forth between my fingers. “I didn’t know. I mean,

I knew I hadn’t done great on the last couple of quizzes…”

“We can study together for the next one,” Cass cut in. “I’m doing pretty well in that class.”

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River knocked his shoulder against mine. “We can quiz you.”

Anson waggled his eyebrows. “I’ll come up with creative rewards for every question you get right.”

“Gross,” Cass said, making a gagging noise.

“Like you don’t get up to the same thing with those two over there,” Anson shot back.

Cass grinned. “Fair point.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose where a headache was forming. I couldn’t remember the last reading I’d completely finished for religion. I’d need to go back weeks if I wanted to do well on the midterm. Thinking of adding that to my training had my eyes burning.

I stared down at my uneaten sandwich as I fought back tears. Caspian reached under the table and squeezed my

knee. “Sen?”

“It’s too much. I don’t think I can juggle any more.”

Knox’s jaw tightened. “Of course you can’t. You’re already seconds from dropping.”

Cass glared at him. “Not helping, buddy.”

“She’s going to hurt herself.” He turned to me, anger heating those dark blue eyes. “You’re falling asleep in classes, Anson told me you almost passed out in P.E. the other day, and there’s no life in your eyes anymore.”

It was the last one that had my throat constricting. “I’m doing the best I can.”

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

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Chapter 175

The fight went out of Knox at that. His shoulders slumped and he reached under the table to take my hand. “I know that. But I’m worried. We all are.”

“It won’t be for much longer. I’m close to breaking shields. I can feel it.” It was the first time I had outright lied to Knox. And he knew it.

He dropped my hand and pushed back from the table. He didn’t say a word as he walked away.

The house was quiet.Too quiet. The guys were physically present, but emotionally? I wasn’t so sure. I set down my religion textbook and stood. No one said a word as I headed for the stairs.

I made my way to our bedroom. Ducking into the closet, I quickly shed my school clothes and changed into workout shorts and a running tank. If a non–shifter saw me leaving the house like this in forty–degree weather, they’d think I had a screw loose, but my shifter heat combined with a run meant I wanted as few clothes as possible.

Slipping my feet into a pair of sneakers, I headed out of the space and came up short. Vaughn leaned against the doorjamb of the bedroom, his arms crossed over his chest. “Where are you going?”

“For a run.”

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This time it wasn’t simply in pursuit of training goals. I needed to burn off some of the guilt eating at my insides. The weight of the quiet stares of my bond.

Vaughn grunted, his eyes narrowing.

My mouth tightened. “Use your words if you have something to say.”

“Why? You wouldn’t listen to me anyway.”

That guilt churning inside me burned brighter. “I’ve done my homework, eaten–I don’t think it’s crazy to go for a run.” I left out the fact that I’d already done ten miles that morning.

“Fine, but you’re not going alone.”

I didn’t even bother arguing. It wouldn’t have mattered if I did. But hurt dug itself deep into my muscle and sinew at the thought that none of the guys might wantto be around me right now. And I didn’t especially blame them.

When I didn’t say anything, Vaughn disappeared into the room next door. I toyed with the strands on my bracelet. “Wish you were here, Lace.”

My sister had always had the best advice. She could find that balance between being honest and kind. She’d kicked my ass if I needed it, but she’d also understood me better than anyone and could see things from my perspective.

I had a feeling there would be more ass kicking than anything else if she were here. But maybe she’d have been able to help me find a new path too. I would’ve given anything for a couple of hours with her to sort it all out.

Movement caught my attention and I looked up. Vaughn had changed into workout shorts and sneakers, but he’d

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