Page 3

Gabriel POV

“Should we ditch today?” Axel asked me from the passenger seat of my old truck. “Maybe hit up a casino?”

I was driving us to school, and like every other day, we passed by Val's Diner, a small grocery store, and the car repair shop that ate up most of the money I got from my side job fixing up my friend’s computers at school. The route to Brindle Creek High was as familiar to me as my name. Pride washed over me as my brother and I coasted through our small town. The Alpha King's daughter was wrong yesterday. Brindle Creek wasn't a dump. Sure, some of the buildings could use a new coat of paint or some landscaping, but our pack members were good, hard-working shifters. The people of Brindle Creek made the town what it was.

“No, man,” I answered as I stopped at a light. “Today's our last day of exams.”

Axel chuckled and lightly punched me on the arm.

“I was just kidding, dude. Relax.”

I tried to smile, but it probably looked more like a grimace. Ever since Axel turned eighteen two months ago, he'd been going to the small casino in town every so often. I'd been with him twice, and each time, he spent more than five hundred dollars. Sometimes he won big, but other times he would lose it all. Axel had a part-time job at the car repair shop, but he didn't make enough money to blow a paycheck in one night. I was worried that it might become a problem and tried to keep a close eye on him.

“Did you study for your history exam?” I asked as I put my blinker on to turn.

“Yes, Dad,” Axel joked and rolled his eyes.

This was our ongoing joke. He thought I worried about him too much. And maybe I did. But after his parents passed away so young, I had assumed the role of a protective brother. Axel was too reckless for his own good.

If you're so protective of him, why do you keep thinking about his girlfriend?

I shoved that thought into the back of my mind.

“If you get an A on your test, I'll give you a gold star,” I said sarcastically.

“Can I have a pony, too?”

“Only if you eat all your vegetables at dinner,” I quipped.

I flashed him a sardonic grin as I drove into our school's parking lot. Brindle Creek High was a small red brick building with a faded yellow lawn. With graduation only a month away, handmade posters reminding seniors to purchase their caps, gowns, and tickets were hung up on the bulletin board by the parking lot. Part of me couldn't believe Axel, Summer, and I were about to graduate soon.

Last night, I dreamed of a long-forgotten memory of the three of us starting first grade. That was only a year after Axel's parents died in a car crash. He was quiet that first day of class, even when the teacher asked him a question. Summer and I would do all his talking for him. Eventually, Axel started speaking up little by little.

First grade was when the three of us became a tightly knit group. But when Axel and Summer started dating, I gave them their space. Over the past two years, I’d been avoiding spending any time alone with Summer. I had this irrational fear that I would confess my feelings for her. Then, the thought of Axel would shove itself into my mind, and my guilt would pound me over the head with a hammer.

I shook my head and quietly sighed as I turned off my car. Why was I overthinking everything lately? Maybe since high school was ending and everything felt like it was about to change? I needed to get a grip. My Computer Science exam started in fifteen minutes, and I had to have a clear head so that I could focus on difficult questions about programming, algorithms, and databases.

I opened my door, but Axel cleared his throat before I stepped out.

“There's actually, uh, something I wanted to talk to you about.” There was a nervous edge to his voice.

My mouth became as dry as a bone. Did this have something to do with Summer?

The door creaked as I closed it, shutting Axel and me into the truck again.

“What's up?” I asked. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah, things are great, actually.” Axel smiled and rummaged in the pocket of his jeans for something. “I just wanted you to be the first one to know.”

“Know what?”

He pulled out a little black velvet box, and my stomach lurched with horror.

No!

“I’m proposing to Summer after graduation.”

My entire body tensed like I was bracing myself to be hit head-on by a semi.

This had to be a dream that turned into a nightmare, right? This couldn't be happening. I was about to wake up in my bed and realize this was all just some sick joke my subconscious was playing on me. My brother couldn't be proposing to the only girl I'd ever loved.

Was it childish if I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming?

Axel opened the lid and revealed a modest diamond with a gold band. “I know it isn't much, but it's all I can afford with my job right now. Do you think Summer will like it?”

“Of course,” I lied.

One time, before Summer and Axel started dating, she told us that she preferred silver jewelry over gold. How could Axel not remember that?

If he can’t remember such a simple detail about her, he shouldn’t be proposing to her!

I smoothed my hands down my jeans, trying to stay present in the moment. I was having a strange out-of-body experience, like I was floating above my body and staring down at myself.

Axel still had the ring out, and I wished he would just put it back in his pocket. I couldn't look away from the damn thing.

“Why aren't you saying anything?” he asked, closing the box with a snap. “Do you think Summer and I are too young to get married? Do you think her parents will be against it? Just say something, dude, please.”

Now that the ring was gone, I could think straight.

“Oh, no…that's not it. I'm just surprised,” I said. “It's just, um…quick.”

Well, at least that was the truth.

“Yeah, I know we're young, but I love her. I'm pretty sure I do.”

My head whipped to the side.

“You're pretty sure? Axel, asking someone to spend the rest of their life with you is a huge deal. You have to be certain that you love her before you ask her,” I warned him.

“Chill out, Dad,” he joked, grabbed his red backpack, and swung open his door. “I do love her. Why else would I buy a ring?”

I grabbed my own backpack and rushed after him. A couple of people greeted me, and I nodded back at them. Summer was already finished with her finals, so she wouldn't be at school today.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked when I caught up to him. “Graduation is in a month. You still have a little while to think about proposing to her. I'm just looking out for you, man. I want to make sure you aren't rushing things for both yours and Summer's sake.”

There was also a selfish third reason that I was trying to talk him out of proposing to Summer, but I would never say it out loud.

“I promise to think about whether this is what I truly want. I'll take a month and really consider it,” Axel promised me.

I studied his expression, trying to see if he was just trying to placate me.

“That's all I ask, man. I swear that if you decide to ask her, I'll be happy for you,” I said, hoping I sounded believable.

“Thanks, dude.” He patted my shoulder. “Come on, we're going to be late.”

And just like that, the subject was dropped.

We walked through the busy courtyard in silence. My head was so full of thoughts that I didn't know which one to concentrate on first.

“Oh, hey, I never asked you how the meeting went with the Alpha King and his daughter,” Axel said while he adjusted the strap of his backpack.

“Not well,” I admitted, glad to be talking about something that didn't have to do with the ring in Axel's pocket.

Quickly, I told him about how the four of us couldn't agree on the terms of the arranged marriage while also revealing my fears of the Alpha King being corrupt in some way.

Axel's eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't read, and then he shrugged.

“Well, I looked Olivia up online, and at least she's hot. If your dad can cough up the cash, at least you’ll be married to a blonde bombshell. And you'll be Alpha,” Axel said with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

What the hell?

My body burned with an anger so intense it felt like someone had lit me on fire.

“I can't believe you just said that,” I told him through gritted teeth. “Comments like those just show you aren't ready to be engaged.”

Axel took a step back and raised his hands.

“Woah, calm down. I was just joking.”

You don't deserve Summer.

Sadly, that wasn't the first time that the thought had crossed my mind. But was I thinking it because I wanted Summer for myself? Did that mean that I didn't deserve her either?

“Are you coming to Joshua's party tonight?” Axel asked after a moment, probably trying to break the tension between us. “His parents are out of town, and he says he's going to raid their liquor cabinet.”

“Nah,” I answered, still seething about Axel's disrespect of Summer. “Why is he even having a party tonight? It's a Tuesday.”

“It's the last day of exams! We have to celebrate.”

“No, I'm good. I'll see you later. Good luck on your test,” I said and walked away from him, headed toward the science building.

Part of my mind was still fuming about what Axel had said. The other half was wondering if Summer was going to go to the party. She probably was, since Axel was going. I was bummed not to be in the same space as Summer. But, honestly, I was even more afraid of spending time with her. Who knew what could happen when alcohol was involved?

I might say something I could never take back.