Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 29

Chapter 29

River: Missed our afternoon joyride. Hope Knox didn’t bore you to tears on the way home.

Me: Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting? Pay attention.

River: So you asked about me, huh? 😉

I shook my head and shoved my phone back into my pocket. Unlocking the door, I stepped inside and listened. There were no muted strains of a television show filtering down the hall. My stomach lurched as I set my backpack down. I took two steps towards my parents‘ bedroom when my mom appeared from the kitchen.

“Where have you been?” Her voice cracked like a whip, and I almost stumbled back.

“At school.”

Mom drew her robe tighter around her. “Shouldn’t you have been home earlier?”

“We get out at 3:15.”

“It’s 3:45,” she said, as if that proved I was up to no good.

“I had to get my books and wait for my ride. Are you okay?”

She looked freshly showered, yet she hadn’t put on real clothes. It was still a pair of pajamas and that bathrobe, but at least they looked clean.

Her eyes narrowed on me. “I’m fine. And I don’t appreciate you alluding to your father that I’m otherwise.”

The pieces began to fall into place. He must’ve called, trying to figure out what he needed to do for damage control

“You didn’t leave your room for over a week. You weren’t eating. I was worried.”

Mom brushed an invisible hair away from her face. “You’ve always been so dramatic. I’m tired and grieving. I don’t need you

creating strife with my husband on top of it.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Okay.”

“I ordered takeout. It’s in the fridge. I trust you can reheat your dinner without burning the house down?”

I didn’t bother answering. I simply nodded.

“I’ve had a trying day after your father’s call. I’m going to rest for a while. Please don’t interrupt me. And for God’s sake, don’t bother him while he’s working again. Am I understood?”

“Yes.” My voice was void of any emotion. I was systematically turning it all off, piece by piece.

My mother brushed by me, heading for her room.

16:59

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

25.0%

Chapter 29

I started moving. Through the kitchen and out the back door. I was heading towards the forest without really thinking about it. I was deep into the trees before I remembered the warning about wolves, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. If they wanted to rip me limb from limb, I just hoped they’d make it quick.

I made my way through the trees. There were a few times I worried I’d made a wrong turn, but then I heard the water. It was soft at first, almost like a white noise machine, but it grew the farther I went. Louder and louder, until it roared in my ears.

I wanted to drown in the sound, to let it wash over me and erase the past ten minutes. I pulled air into my lungs, the scent easing something in me. As the raging creek came into view, a little more of the anxiety and hurt slipped away.

I moved closer to the water and almost stumbled back when ice–blue eyes met mine.

“I thought I told you not to wander around these woods.”

My jaw worked back and forth. “And I thought I told you I don’t listen to strangers.”

He returned his focus to the water as he leaned back against the tree. “Sometimes the warnings from strangers are the best gifts you’ll ever get.”

“Maybe you could make them silent warnings.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up the barest amount, making the scar on his lip stand out. “Fair enough.”

I gave Mr. Dark and Brooding his space, picking a spot by another tree. I lowered myself to the ground and leaned against the rough bark of the tall pine. I pressed my hands into the moss at my sides. It was grounding, as if I could simply let the earth swallow me whole.

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