Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Abe
The pain in my temples blinds me. No, that’s backwards–it’s my eyes that cause the pain. I could have sworn I caught Lauren’s scent in the wind, and my wolf went haywire. I lost focus on the game.
It’s the first time I’ve ever been tackled without letting it happen. I try to climb to my feet but stagger backward and then fall to my knees.
My teammates pay no attention. Hopefully they think I’m faking it. Of course, for appearances, they should also fake concern. Instead, it’s a player from the Cave Hills team who puts a hand on my back and leans over. “You okay, man?”
“Yeah,” I lie. “I just need a minute.”
I still can’t see a fucking thing. I suck in deep breaths, trying to get my eyes to focus. And then my dad is suddenly out on the field, holding the sides of my helmet and pulling me to my feet. “I got it. I’m a doctor,” he says to the Cave Hills player. To me, he murmurs, “It’s okay, son.” He leans his forehead against my helmet. “Deep breaths.” His voice is so low I almost can’t hear it. Of course, my dad’s biggest fear is that our family's dirty secret will be found out. That our tainted DNA will come to light, and he’ll lose his position on the council.
“I’m trying!” I growl back.
“Okay,” he soothes me. “Now, shift to human form.” He uses alpha command in his voice to force my body into compliance. I’m already in human form, obviously, but my eyes don’t seem to know that.
It works, at least partially. Some of my vision returns at the periphery. Until I catch another sweet note of Lauren’s scent, and my wolf goes berserk.
I barely stifle the cry of agony that rockets from my mouth.
“Human. Form.” Once more, the alpha command shimmers around my body, sending shivers down my spine, ricocheting out my limbs to my fingers and toes. My joints crack, and my vision resets.
“I’m good.” I bob my head to show my dad that I’m back.
“Atta boy. You got this, Abe. Shake it off and kick some ass out there.”
“We’re not supposed to kick ass today,” I mutter.
Coach Jamison and Wilde decided that we should lose this game. Wolf Ridge High can’t always be undefeated, or it would draw too much attention to our little town. The coaches let us know right before the game how they want us to play. The outcome remains a secret to the community, so they will still show up to watch the games.
“Well, do it with style, then. And then I want you at my clinic after the game. I need to run tests on you.” My dad thumps the side of my helmet and jogs off.
Fuck. More tests. That’s my entire relationship with my dad these days.
Still, to make him happy, I turn to the stands and pump my fist in the air. I have to show the school I’m all right. The applause is tepid. Wolf Ridge High and the rest of the community must know that was a real hit because I wasn’t paying attention. They want showmanship whether we win or lose. They’re here for entertainment, and I let them down.
I will make it up to them later. Right now, I’m scanning the stands.
There. In the back.
I spot Lauren with her twin, Lincoln, along with Rayne the Runt. Except, I’m not supposed to call her that anymore. Wilde has become super protective of his new stepsister. He cornered me in the locker room and told me I have to make sure everyone votes her in as Homecoming Queen.
As if I don’t have my own bullshit to spread around and make stick at school. Now I have to figure out how to make his fly, too.
Lauren’s looking my way, too. The moment we lock gazes, it’s like lightning striking my body. My eye starts to twitch.
Fuck.
I quickly look away. I can’t have another episode. Not here. Not in front of everyone, like this.
“Abe, what’s up?” Now Wilde is in my face.
I shake my head, trying to shake off the changes Lauren brought over me.
I shrug, even though he won’t notice the movement under my shoulder pads. “Just fucking around.” I give him my cockiest grin.
He gets in my face. “Well, you look like an asshole. Show a little more grace if you’re going to get knocked to your ass, for fucks’ sake.”
“Come on,” I add a massive dose of swagger to my voice. “That was crazy realistic, was it not?”
J. J. snorts.
“It was.” Markley fist-bumps me as we jog to our positions on the field.
I do my best to amp up the entertainment for the rest of the game–throwing passes that make my teammates have to do semi-miraculous moves to catch and doing back flips when we make a touchdown.