Luckily, Jack agreed to let me attend Matt’s game. As long as I sent him pictures with Fiona and came home well before midnight, I was free to go. A part of me wanted to argue further. It seemed silly that I had to prove to him I was with Fiona the whole time, but I didn’t want him to change his mind and try to stop me from going. Plus, I planned on defying him, anyway. I might have had plans to watch the game with Fiona, but I knew Matt wanted to take me out later, just the two of us.“I can’t believe you and Matt are dating!” Fiona gushed, not for the first time, as we neared the rink.My cheeks warmed. “We’re not offici
“Did something happen?” Matt repeated, his smile fading.After winning a tough game, Matt should have been celebrating, not dealing with my issues. It didn’t matter that I saw Alyx before the game. I knew mentioning it would just upset him, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.Fiona gave me a pointed look, but I ignored her. I didn’t want him to worry. He couldn’t do anything about Alyx. “No reason, we just found good seats over in the other section,” I said.Fiona’s disapproving gaze was like a brand, and, of course, Matt notic
I finished my drink, feeling it when I stood up to follow Matt over the pool tables. The floor swayed slightly, and my limbs felt loose. The nerves from earlier had gone too. A wide smile emerged on my face as Matt claimed one of the pool tables and handed me a cue.“Do you know the basic rules?” he asked, turning to me. He leaned against his pool cue, the muscles in his arms bulging around the edges of his short sleeves.“Um,” I said, too focused on admiring him.He chuckled. “Do you know anything about pool?”
After class ended the next day, I found myself blocked from leaving the room by Alyx’s tall frame. He had a smile on his face, but it seemed forced.“Hey, can we talk?” he asked.A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to him. I couldn’t stop feeling his hands all over me, and how he wouldn’t let go, no matter how hard I resisted. The thought of what might have happened if Matt hadn’t shown up made me feel sick.“I have nothing to say,” I muttered, stepping around him. His brow furrowed, but he d
Jack met me at our usual spot after school, leaning against the light post with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.“Ready?” he snapped.I was right on time, but I didn’t bother saying so. Anyway, he was the one who kept forgetting or being late.“You know you don’t need to walk me,” I mumbled. “I can get home on my own.” Now that I’d met our father, I didn’t see what the big threat was. He clearly wasn’t going to try to abduct me again. Still, Jack insisted on walking me to and from school.
Matt was waiting for me when I got out of class, leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed. He had on a pair of gray track pants and a form-fitting black t-shirt. He must have been at the gym or practice because his hair was still wet from the shower.His face brightened when our eyes met. “Hey,” he said, walking over to me.“Hey.” I couldn’t help but stare a little. He looked good like this, and not for the first time, I wondered what he was doing with me. Matt had to be one of the best-looking guys at our school, by far. I could see girls and guys alike sending him covert glances as they walked by.“Ready for lunch?” he asked, his eyes roving over my face.If he noticed people looking at him, he didn’t give any indication.“Yeah, ready.”Matt took my books from me and started down the hall. I hurried to catch up with him. “You don’t have to carry those.”He flashed me a grin. “I know.” I reached to take them back, but he didn’t hand them to me. “I want to.”“Oh.” I felt my
JackJack watched Matt and his sister walk away, his frown deepening at the sight of them together. Matt had his arm around her shoulders, and it took everything in him not to walk over there and shove him away from her. He’s a werewolf, he wanted to scream, but there was a reason he hadn’t told his sister. It would just put her in danger.No, he had to find a way to deal with Matt himself. It was the only way to keep Celeste safe. He knew she cared about him, but she didn’t know who he really was, or what he was capable of. Jack had to protect her.Even though Matt saved his life, he knew he was still dangerous. Some of his cousins never made it back, and he knew Matt was likely the one who killed them. They were out looking for him, after all, when they went ‘missing.’His grandfather was convinced Matt wasn’t working alone, and he had to agree. There was no way Matt was running without a pack. The Peacekeepers were generally a big unit, and since Matt used to be his best friend, it
I wiped off the counters for the second time, sweating glistening on my forehead. Jack wanted me to deep-clean the kitchen, so here I was, cleaning it for the millionth time in the last week. It wasn’t a very original punishment, but I figured it could be worse. He hadn’t mentioned my lunch date with Matt, and I was hoping I’d be allowed to go out again soon. He couldn’t keep me locked in the house forever.Eventually, Jack had to realize I was an adult and that I could make my own decisions. Matt wasn’t going anywhere. The more time we spent together, the less I could fathom ever being apart. I knew I should be more careful, that my heart was still a fragile thing, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from falling for him more and more.Jack and his friends were in the living room, drinking beer and playing video games. I had no idea what game they were playing, but they were really getting into it. At one point, they were even shouting at the screen.It looked fun, but I’d never been
EpilogueThe sounds of plates clinking together, and the low hum of chit-chat, merged into the background as I listened to Fiona describe her latest assignment. She was stuck in a geography class that she needed for distribution, and it was driving her nuts. Her professor was a mean, curmudgeonly old man, and a notoriously difficult marker.“He gave me a C–. A C–! That was not a C worthy paper.”Jack nodded. “I read it. It was pretty good.”She rounded on him. “Pretty good?”He put his hands up, a small smile on his lips. “Really pretty good?”She huffed but turned back to me. “Your brother is a pain in the ass.”I smiled. “You’re telling me.” They’d only been together for a few years, but they already bickered like an old married couple. Matt and I were actually married, but we didn’t even bicker like that. It was as endearing as it was exhausting.Matt sank into his seat beside me and slid me a cup of coffee. I threw him a grateful look. Our peacekeeping duties had kept us late the
MattThe nerves made me jittery, and I bounced my knee so hard it rattled the bench. Seth gave me a knowing look before bending over to finish tying his skates. I focused on taping my stick, letting muscle memory take over. All the guys knew what I planned to do tonight, and they kept throwing me knowing looks as I tried to stay calm.It was the last home game before playoffs started. A part of me kept thinking that I should wait, but an even greater part of me didn’t want to wait one more second. If life had taught me anything, it was that we didn’t know how much time we might have. I didn’t want to waste another second of it. I especially didn’t want to waste time just because I was afraid.“Dude, stop vibrating the bench,” our goalie James called. “I’m trying to focus.”“Sorry,” I answered. If there was one rule in hockey, it was to not mess with the goalie, especially right before a game. If he needed to focus, then I just needed to find a way to chill the fuck out.Enzo gave me a
The arena was buzzing with energy as Matt got the puck and darted forward to take advantage of the breakaway. He sent the puck into the corner of the net, and I jumped to my feet. Beside me Fiona screamed so loud, heads turned in our direction. Jack cringed slightly, throwing her a bemused look.It was the first home game of the year, and Matt was giving everything he had to make sure the team got a win. Around us, the school cheered as he skated by, knocking fists with his teammates. It was his second goal of the night, his first a tricky tip in after Seth’s initial shot rebounded. It was 3-1 with only four minutes left in the third period.“He’s playing great,” Nina said from my other side as the cheering died down, and we took our seats again.“He is.” Over on the bench, Enzo stood in a dark suit, his head bent as he talked to one of his players.He and Nina were staying one more year. Even though Nina graduated in the spring, her father was giving her the year to clean up the town
“Are you ready for this?” Jack asked, his eyes trailing over my face, looking for any signs of fear or hesitation. I schooled my features into a blank mask. Sure, I was nervous, but he didn’t need to see that. He already hated that he’d gotten me involved. Too bad I was the only one that could do this, and I’d do anything to get the Schreibers out of our town.I took a deep breath and gazed up at the towering mansion. It was on the outskirts of town, far enough away that I’d never seen it, but still close enough for the Schreibers to cause havoc. The house seemed quiet, but I knew our grandfather lurked inside. Him and whoever survived the fight.“I’m ready,” I said, keeping my voice steady. Matt and the rest of the Peacekeepers had already surrounded the house. They were keeping their distance but staying close enough just in case we needed them. It made me feel better knowing he was out there. I knew, without a doubt, that Matt would do anything to keep me safe. Just like I’d do any
Jack“Hey!” Jack called, running to catch up with Fiona. She stopped walking and turned to give him a curious look. “I’ll walk you home,” he said when he reached her side.She gave him a bemused look. Technically, her place was only five minutes from campus, but that didn’t mean she should walk alone at night. Plus, he hadn’t seen her since she moved back in with her roommate, and he wanted a moment alone with her.“Alright,” she said with a shrug. “If you insist.”He smiled. “Better safe than sorry.”“Bye,” Celeste called, waving at them. She gave him a knowing smile, and he glowered at her. She clearly knew something was going on, but it wasn’t her business. They needed to figure this out for themselves.She and Matt were headed in the opposite direction, back toward the house. Matt was still haunting the halls. Everywhere Jack went, there he was. In the bathroom, when he needed to piss. In the kitchen, when he was hungry. Even in the living room at night, making out with his sister
“I promise to protect this town,” Jack said, his hand over his heart. “I promise to fight for peace, and to not rest until it is achieved. I promise to treat all life as equal. I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath.”Nina dipped her head in acknowledgement, and Jack let his hand drop to his side. I stepped forward next and repeated the oath. It was the same words every person in this room had recited when they agreed to become a Peacekeeper. It wasn’t something to take lightly, and I didn’t plan to.“I devote myself to this cause from now until my last breath,” I said, stepping back beside my brother. Fiona stood at his other side. She took the oath first, saying the words with the utmost confidence.I locked eyes with Matt, and he gave me a proud smile, his eyes gleaming. Our friends sat around the room, and, as if given some invisible cue, they all began to hoot and clap. They stood up and slapped the three of us on the back. I got pulled into hugs, one after t
Matt closed my bedroom door behind us and leaned his crutches against the wall. He hobbled over to the bed and sank down onto the mattress with a soft groan. “Just as I remember it,” he said, jumping a little. “So soft.”Downstairs, Fiona, and Jack were rifling around in the kitchen. They offered to make us something, but neither of us were very hungry.Matt lay back and stretched his arms over his head, his shirt riding up just enough to reveal the smooth skin along his waistline. His hip bones dipped down into his cargo pants and I bit my lip, desperate to get my hands on him, but still worried about his wounds. Sure, he was up and moving around, but that didn’t mean he should be doing physical activity. I didn’t know a lot about werewolf healing, but I wasn’t willing to risk him.“I missed this room,” he continued, turning to look at me through hooded eyes.The purple bedspread brought back a flood of memories. I’d spent so much of my life in this room. I had so many memories, and
MattI held onto Celeste’s hand, leaning heavily on the two crutches I had propped under my opposite arm. A feeling of intense déjà vu swept through me as I watched Seth step forward and light the pyre. Around us, others did the same until dark smoke rose into the blue spring sky. I hoped this was the last funeral I ever had to go to, at least for a long while.Celeste had a blank expression on her face that worried me more than anything. Beside her, Jack and Fiona stood holding hands. Fiona was crying, and Jack had a stricken look on his face. As one, he and Celeste let go of our hands and stepped forward. They lit the last pyre.“Goodbye dad,” Celeste said, just loud enough for me to hear. My heart squeezed.Jack didn’t speak, he just lowered his gaze and stepped back beside Fiona. She immediately took his hand, but he didn’t look up from his shoes. I understood the warring emotions he was feeling. He hated his father for abandoning him, and he felt guilty that he got killed right i
Those of us still on our feet spent the rest of the day tending to the wounded. God, there were so many of them. Every wound I saw, every cry of pain I heard, felt like a knife to the gut. Everywhere I went, I saw pain, death, and gore.It was all too much.“Hey,” Jack said, giving me a concerned look. “Take a break if you need to.”He was still covered in blood, and I could barely stand to look at him. He’d taken a few minutes to wipe most of it off his face, but he hadn’t stopped to change his clothes. None of us had. There hadn’t been time.“I can’t.”I couldn’t get my father’s face out of my mind. Jack took me to his body shortly after the fight ended, tears in his eyes. I allowed myself to cry only for a minute before I helped him move the body to the small grassy area behind the church. That was where we were laying out the dead before we’d give them all proper funerals.There were already too many bodies out there. Seth had collapsed beside Jenna’s bloody form and hadn’t moved