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

After orientation ended , I stood at the school entrance for twenty minutes . I pulled out my phone to check the time , looked at Mom's number , but never hit call . I knew she wouldn't come anyway . Five miles wasn't much for me anymore . Since we moved here , I walk everywhere . I started the slow trek home , but my mind was stuck on that blonde guy . Those deep blue eyes , and that weird burning sensation ... My face went bright red , shame washing over me . Lacey's only been gone six months , and here I am crushing on some random guy at school .

Jesus , Senna , you're seriously disgusting . Two hours later , I finally reached the front door . I took a deep breath , grabbed the handle , and right as I pushed it open , I heard- The TV from the living room , Mom's heavy sighs , even the soft clink of her setting her wine glass on the coffee table . I could hear her uneven breathing , like she'd just been crying , or maybe never stopped . This freakishly sharp hearing started after the accident . The doctors said it was trauma response . Problem is , it makes coming home feel like walking through a minefield .

Every tiny sound tells me exactly how Mom's doing , and it's usually not good . I gripped the handle tighter and forced myself inside . Mom was on the couch with a glass of red wine . Four in the afternoon and she was already drinking , " Mom , I'm home . " She didn't even look up . I went to the kitchen to drop my bag , trying to make conversation : " The new school seems pretty nice , teachers are friendly ... " " Friendly ? " She let out a bitter laugh , voice dripping with sarcasm . " Of course they are . They don't know ... " I stopped what I was doing .

She turned to look at me , eyes ice cold . " Happy? The life you're living now ? That should've been Lacey's . " The words hit me like a knife . " Mom ... " " Don't call me that . " She shot up , slamming her wine glass down with a dull thud . Suffocating silence . She just stared at me , her eyes burning with undisguised pain and hatred . 11:44 Screw My Childhood Sweetheart - His Alpha Brother Marked Me First ! 11.6 % Chapter 14 " You know what ? " she finally spoke after what felt like forever , voice so quiet it was almost a whisper , but every word crystal clear .

" Every morning when I wake up , the first thing I think about is Lacey . Then I see you ... " She stopped , but we both knew what she was going to say . The house went deathly quiet . The neighbor chopping vegetables next door , dishes clinking , Mom's choked breathing - everything got amplified , making my head throb . The hypersensitive hearing from after the crash just made everything hurt worse . " Why ? " Her voice started shaking , barely holding back a complete breakdown . " Why did you have to go see that damn band ?

" My breathing got faster , that familiar burning in my chest spreading . I'd asked myself the same thing thousands of times - why wasn't it me who died ? I wish it had been me , not Lacey . " I ... " I forced out two hoarse words with everything I had , " I'm sorry ... " Tears rolled down her face and she didn't even wipe them away . She just looked at me with a despair I'd never seen before . " I wish it had been you , " she said . Quiet words , but each one was like a dull blade , slowly cutting into my heart , one slice at a time . I couldn't take it anymore .

I spun around and bolted out of the living room , out of the house . I ran like hell . Out of the house , across the yard , straight into the woods . Branches scratched my arms but I didn't slow down . The deeper I went , the quieter it became . No birds . No rustling leaves . Just unnatural stillness pressing against my skin . When I finally stopped , gasping , I realized I was lost . The trees looked different here . Older . Their branches twisted overhead , blocking out the light . Then I heard it - footsteps . Deliberate and unhurried , coming through the trees behind me .

( 0 ) ( 0 ) 11:44 Sara Lili Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland's breathtaking cold.