Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23

“Hey, Senna,” Caspian said, cutting River off mid–sentence as he poked his head around the corner.

I let out a little shriek, stumbling back a step. “Don’t do that.”

He grinned, but there was something sharp in his pale eyes. “Sorry. I saw your reflection in the glass.” He pointed to the doors where my guilty

face stared back at me.

Knox and River appeared behind him.

“Perfect timing,” Knox said, his voice carefully casual. “We were just finishing up. Want a ride home?”

“That’s all right. I’m fine walking.”

River and Knox exchanged a look–quick, but loaded with meaning I couldn’t decipher.

“But you don’t have to,” Knox insisted, stepping closer. “Your house is on my way home.”

“Really, it’s fine-”

River slipped the backpack from my shoulders. “This thing weighs about a ton. You really shouldn’t be carrying it home.”

Caspian shook his head. “Just give up now. They’re both stubborn assholes when they’re determined to help.”

“And what about you? Are you only a stubborn asshole when you’re staring me down in cafeterias, or did I pass your weird test?”

River barked out a laugh as he swung my backpack onto his own shoulder. “She already knows you so well.”

A hint of pink touched Caspian’s cheeks. “I needed to see what you were about.”

“Worried I’m a serial killer?”

The corner of his mouth twitched, making those pale blue eyes of his almost seem to sparkle. “You might be, or some sort of other evil mastermind. That cute and innocent thing you have going on would be a good cover.”

Now it was my turn to blush. “Don’t go exposing me now. How will I go on my murderous rampage of the football team and cheer squad, if you do?”

Caspian smiled fully and it had my stomach doing gymnastics. “I think I like you.”

Knox shook his head and looked at River. “It’s truly a miracle. Do you have a camera? We should mark this moment for posterity.”

River pulled out his cell phone and snapped a picture of Caspian. Caspian dove for the phone, doing his best to yank it out of River‘ hand. “You’re such a douche,”

Knox moved closer to me. “Sorry about all this. We’re not usually such a mess.”

“That’s all right. It’s nice that guys are so at ease with each other.”

He chuckled. “At ease is one way to describe it.”

I shuffled my feet as River and Caspian continued to struggle for the phone. “What were you guys talking about when I walked up?”

Knox went very still.“What do you mean?”

11:45

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

19.6%

Chapter 23

“You said something about someone being powerful, not knowing what they were.“I tried to keep my voice light, more curious than suspicious.

Knox’s shoulders relaxed just a fraction, but his eyes stayed guarded. He shot River a look, and River gave him the tiniest nod back.

“Oh, that.” Knox ran his hand through his hair, “River‘ little sister is studying martial arts with my dad and River. She has no idea how powerful she is or what she can do. Dad needs to have a talk with her because she kicked some poor kid’s ass at the middle school last week.”

“Right,” I said, though the word came out uncertain.

“She’s going through a phase,” River added quickly. “Thinks she’s tougher than she is.”

“Anyway, it’s boring family drama. Nothing interesting.”

But the tension radiating from all three of them suggested it was anything but boring.

“Got it,” Caspian cheered, holding up the device.

River snatched it from his grasp. “And now you don’t.”

“Come on, knuckleheads.” Knox motioned us towards the doors. “Let’s get Senna home. I don’t want her mom to worry.”

I could’ve told them that her worrying was an impossibility, that she probably wouldn’t notice if I didn’t come home for weeks, but I kept my

mouth closed.

Caspian bumped my shoulder with his. “Let’s go, evil mastermind.”

“Careful, I could be plotting your demise.”

“Naw, you like me too much.”

I snorted. “It’s a shame you have such a lack of confidence.”

River fell into step on my other side. “It really is.”

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