Page 150 of Mark & Don't Tell

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I scream.

“Go. Yeah, baby! Goooooo!” Kai shouts.

Vic and Lincoln start cheering too, and soon, everyone in the stands around us is hooting and hollering as Marco’s team obliterates their competition. Marco isn’t one of the spotlight players, but he’s good, and it’s clear the team works well together.

The quarterback for his team passes the ball with thirty seconds left in the game, and the team manages one final touchdown, putting them more than twenty points ahead of the other team. I’m not a football fan, but I’m pretty sure they just kicked ass.

Jumping up and down, I cheer until a few parents give me a side-eye that tells me I’m being too loud. “Yeahhh, Tigers!” I scream even louder, because fuck them. I’m going to cheer my baby brother on as loud as I want.

We’re waiting for Marco in the parking lot when Ryan sends me a text.

Ryan

Can we talk?

I suck in a breath, drawing my pack’s attention. “Ryan texted me. He wants to talk.”

“Do you want to talk to him?” Lincoln asks.

“Not really. I don’t have any kind words for him. Honestly, I thought I blocked his number.”

Vic sighs. “Maybe tell him you don’t want to and to stop contacting you.”

“That won’t cause more issues?”

Kai scoffs. “You communicating is the least of our issues with our son, babe.”

I glance at Lincoln. “Are you okay if I text him?”

“Of course. I’d be jealous of another alpha texting you, but after hearing everything he said to you, I’m more mad than anything.”

No, we can’t talk. Please don’t contact me again. Your fathers love you, and if you ever get over yourself, I’m sure they’ll forgive you.

I read my message out loud to the guys and hit send.

Ryan’s reply is instant.

Ryan

Seriously? My fathers love me? Get fucked, Daria.

I’m half tempted to tell him that his daddies fuck me very well, but on the off-chance that Ryan grows up and wants to have a relationship with them, I decide it’s best to keep that thought to myself. Instead, I navigate to the block button and hit it, breathing out a sigh of relief.

“Who’s that talking to Marco?” Vic growls.

My head whips up, spotting my brother in the middle of a group of three teenagers. I swear, this kid can’t catch a break. I’m out of the car before the guys can say another word. Distantly, I hear their doors shut over the roar of blood in my ears as I stomp toward the jackasses who decided to fuck with my brother.

“Hey!”

Everyone turns at the sharp snap of my voice, and Marco’s eyes widen when he sees my face. The teenagers step aside, trading nervous glances and giving Marco a clear opening.

“That’s right, assholes. Leave him alone.”

“Daria,” Marco says, voice low and growly.

Why is he growling at me?

It’s then I notice how much closer the three teenagers have gotten, almost like they’re preparing to jump in to protect Marco, should he need it. I nearly trip over my feet when I see one of the guys brush his hand over the back of Marco’s, like a secret way of communicating.

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