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

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 . " Why this spot ? " he asked . I watched as the blue and green swirled , capped in white . " Feels like you could drown out anything here . " He looked my way . " And what are you drowning out ?

" I met those piercing eyes , unable to look away . Something in me wanted to tell him . To lay my burdens at the foot of this stranger . " My sister died and my parents are assholes . " His lush mouth thinned . " Succinct . " " What about you ? What are you drowning out ? " He was quiet for so long I thought he might not answer . When he finally spoke , his voice was barely audible over the rushing water . " Ghosts . " ( 0 ) ⊙ ( 0) 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.