Page 47

T he sky is darker up here. Not just night-dark but deeper than that. Like the stars know better than to shine on the shit we’re about to do.

Evan's been sniffing around for weeks, getting bold. He thinks he can catch us with our masks off and stash some dirt for leverage. Maybe he wants to blackmail us, or maybe he's doing it for clout. Either way, he crossed a line.

Initiation night is sacred. It's a night for fire, blood oaths, and secrets, and he fucking ruined it.

Him thinking he had something on us was his first mistake. So we did what we had to do and we lured him to Black Peak Mountain.

The dumbass followed—of course he did.

"Teach him a lesson," I say to my fellow Ice Lords. "Scare the shit out of him. Rough him up if you have to."

With our masks on, we spread out like wolves circling their prey. Some of us laugh while others toss out threats like knives.

Sebastian hangs back, his eyes cold and watching. He doesn’t like when things get messy, never has.

Callan hesitates too, always trying to be the moral compass of the family.

But I push forward because one of us has to.

Evan runs fast, his breath sharp, and even when his sweatshirt snags on a branch, he keeps going.

The ground up here is slick from last week’s rain, so I move cautiously, following behind my brothers with little restraint.

I'd love nothing more than to tear Evan Sanders to shreds, but then everyone would see what a monster I truly am.

We reach the cliff, and Evan skids to a stop just feet from the edge.

"Who's the fucking tough guy now, Sanders," I growl, stalking toward him with my mask still in place. "Let this night be a lesson. No one fucks with us and gets away with it."

The next thing I know, headlights are cutting through the darkness. Evan lifts his hands to shield his eyes and his feet nearly slip, but he catches himself.

I whip around just in time to see Noah’s Jeep flying toward us with the top down and the music blasting. Jeremiah’s standing through the roof bars like a damn lunatic, hooting and hollering like this is all a game.

Noah comes rolling up fast—too fast. "Slow the fuck down," I shout as panic rips through my chest.

He keeps coming, forcing me to jump out of the way, and then in the blink of an eye, Evan takes one step back. Just one, and he's fucking gone.

Silence swallows us as we listen to his scream fade away. Then, a thunderous smack echoes off the mountain.

"What the fuck?" I snap, turning on Noah and Jeremiah as they stumble toward us like drunken idiots. "Do you see what the hell you just did?"

"It was an accident!" Noah shouts, his mask pushed up onto his head, face pale. "I didn’t mean to ? —"

"Well, you fucking did," I seethe. "And now you better make damn sure none of us are connected to this mess."

Callan sprints to the cliff’s edge, looking over with shaking hands. "Shit," he breathes. "I can’t see him."

I step beside him, glance down, and scan the area. It’s dark, but when my eyes catch on something, it isn’t what I expected.

His mouth is moving, terror in his eyes as blood begins to coat his body. "Too late" he whispers over and over again as his body seems to grow closer, levitating in the air as if he were a ghost coming to haunt me.

"You were too late! Now who will keep her safe?"

I shoot awake, my entire body slick with sweat and my chest heaving.

The edge where Evan fell is still etched in my skull. No matter how many nights pass, I still see his body slipping and the flash of panic in his eyes.

Now, those eyes are like stone when I see them. His body paralyzed, blood dripping from his corpse.

Ever since we found Evan murdered in his bed two nights ago, it's all I see.

It's all I fucking see.

I shove the blanket off and swing my legs over the side of the bed, cursing under my breath. Sleep is a luxury I haven’t earned lately. The terrors that we embrace to become Ice Lords have haunted me for years. They still haunt my father. But the price for power is high, and I am willing to pay it.

I head downstairs, moving through the dim-lit hallway toward the kitchen.

The house is quiet. It's the punishment I deserve—being stuck in my own fucking thoughts. The only thing worse than nightmares is being awake with them crawling around in your head.

I throw open the fridge and pull out some leftover pasta, sitting to eat it straight from the container because fuck it, it’s 3 a.m.

The floor creaks, and when I turn my head, I see Avery moving like a ghost in Sebastian’s t-shirt. Actually, it’s my t-shirt that Sebastian must’ve stolen. Her hair is messy, eyes puffy with sleep. She doesn’t even look at me as she opens the fridge.

This girl loves ignoring me, and I love getting under her skin any chance I get.

I jab a finger at the bottom hem of her shirt and flick it upward.

"Nice choice," I mutter. "Tell Banks I want my shirt back."

She turns just enough to shoot me a glare. "Fuck off, Aidric. It's been a harsh couple days. Just lay off for once."

I smirk around a mouthful of cold pasta. "Fine. Don't tell him. How about if you just give it back to me right now."

"You want your shirt back?" she seethes, gripping the hem. But I know better. She's bold, but she's not that bold.

Nevertheless, I taunt her. "Fuck yeah, I do. At the very least, I don't want you wearing it."

In the next breath, she's peeling it over her head. My mouth drops open in shock. I watch as her breasts spring free and my cock twitches at the sight. Down boy. We don't want that one.

Or do we? Fuck. If my boys can share her, I should be able to partake, too. Right?

She tosses the shirt at me and I catch it against my chest, watching as she resumes filling her glass halfway with milk and slamming the door shut.

I lean against the counter, arms crossed over my chest. "Don’t spill that milk on yourself, Little Devil. It'd be a shame if I had to clean you up."

"In your fucking dreams,"she scoffs, turning just enough to cup her tits, giving them a taunting little jiggle that makes my mouth ache for a taste. "You’re just jealous your best friends can suck on these and you can’t."

I lick my lips, eyes locked on what she claims I’ll never have. That was her first mistake.

My boys refuse to let her go and if she won’t surrender to the leaders of the Ice Lords fully, I'll make her. She belongs to all three of us. Her body, her mind, every trembling breath.

"Keep telling yourself, that," I mutter as she turns and walks off, tits bouncing like an invitation.

She flips me off over her shoulder without glancing back.

I watch as her shadow retreats. Every step she takes away from me feels like a dare, a challenge meant to draw me into deep dark waters. But I've never been afraid of drowning.

I lift the shirt to my face, inhaling deeply as I breathe in her scent.

Avery Castle thinks she's untouchable, but she has no idea what's coming. I plan to strip our Little Devil down to the bone until there’s nothing left but the pieces I choose to keep. I’ve always had a soft spot for broken things, especially the ones I break myself.

When she finally begs, it won't be for mercy…It'll be for more.

The End.

I hope you enjoyed reading Bend The Pucking Rules.