Chapter 16 – THANE
Chapter
Sixteen
THANE
Something's wrong with Wraith.
Our pack bond that usually hums steadily in my chest feels stretched thin, like guitar strings tuned too tight and about to snap.
Whatever he told us about Valek and the tunnels wasn't the full story. But when Whiskey questioned how my brother would know there was nothing in the maintenance tunnels, I backed him without hesitation.
The truth is more complicated.
Wraith spends more time in those tunnels than anyone.
Like a phantom haunting the arena's underbelly.
If there was an omega down there, he'd know.
And if anyone saw an omega down there, he'd deny it.
His latent feral nature is fiercely protective when triggered, and something about this situation has all the marks of Wraith in protection mode.
What's eating at me most is the shirt.
It wasn't just torn in the fight. It was gone. And Wraith would rather die than show his scars in public. So even though it makes zero fucking sense, I can only assume he gave it to someone.
Someone he's protecting.
My phone buzzes. Coach, demanding I come to his office. The guy's already called twice in the past hour, and I've been dodging him while I try to get my head straight.
Can't dodge him forever.
Coach is pacing behind his desk when I push through the door like an angry red crab. "Your brother," he spits, clearly remembering our earlier exchange about the word 'foster.' "What the fuck happened with Valek?"
"Like I said before. Valek was exploring the tunnels. Wraith was down there. They surprised each other, and shit escalated."
"Escalated." Coach's eyes narrow. "To the point where our brand-new winger ended up concussed before his first practice."
"Valek provoked him."
"Just like Daniels provoked him?"
"Exactly like that."
Coach stares at me for a long moment, then drops into his chair with a heavy sigh. "Cancel practice. And the press conference. I'm not parading what's left of this team in front of cameras today."
I don't argue. Just nod and turn to leave.
"Belmont."
I pause at the door.
"Get your house in order. Whatever's going on with Wraith… fix it. Before this team implodes."
I don't bother responding. Just walk out, letting the glass door swing shut behind me.
My knuckles are raw from punching walls. My brother won't answer my texts. And somewhere in those tunnels, there's a secret he’s protecting with his life.
I'm going to find out what it is.