Page 1 of Did They Break You

PROLOGUE

REMI

ONE YEAR AGO

No,no, no.

Cortland’s mouth is on mine, his hand on my throat, and I taste the whiskey on his lips. It’s on my tongue, too, making my words slow. Sluggish.Stuck in my head.

“That’s fucking hot.” Chase’s voice, somewhere in the dark.

But I can’t see him. My eyes are closed, my fingers curled into fists by my side, my pulse thrumming too fast.

The humid air of North Carolina’s mid-July causes sweat to drip down my back, strands of hair that came free from my braids sticking to my face.

Cortland pushes me further against the tree, his body engulfing mine, my spine jammed against the bark.

Pulling back to catch his breath, he presses his temple to my own. “Come on, baby,” he whispers, the scent of alcohol flooding my nose, drowning out the way he usually smells like fall. Cedar.A good night.

This is not a good night.

“Let me fuck you.” One hand still on my throat, he trails the other down my black tank top.

Tonight’s the first night I’m wearing it.

For him.

Clothes hidden in a bag in the back of my closet, so my stepdad wouldn’t see.

Cortland’s hand comes to the button of my jeans as I knock my head back against the tree, my knees shaking beneath me, nails digging into my palms.

I should tell him no.

The zipper comes down.

He kisses my neck, tilting my head to the side with his hand. His teeth prick along my skin as he yanks my jeans down.

I shouldn’t have taken those shots.

I should have slowed down when he told me to.

I shouldn’t be here.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he whispers, his breath dancing along my neck, his hand down the front of my underwear.

I feel the others coming closer.

Wolves.

“Yeah, she is.” Brinklin’s words.

Cortland’s forearm pins me to the tree, barred across my chest.

I can’t breathe.

I keep my eyes closed as he curls his fingers up, pushing into me, groaning with his brow to mine, his breath dancing along my skin. My body reacts, and warmth floods my core, followed by chilling cold.

My stomach churns.

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