Page 8 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

I take a long, hot shower alone while Caden attends his family dinner. I’m not ready for this week. Being strong is tiring, and it’s easier when I have my mother in my corner. Part of me wishes we could just go back to the beginning of the school year. The last day of summer.

Before they claimed me. Before they loved me. Before all this bullshit that comes with being theirs. At first, it was only them against me, but even then I knew others wouldn’t like this. Maybe if I hadn’t put up a fight. Maybe if I’d just given in like everyone else before me, none of this would have happened.

No one would be after me. No one would be targeting me. All my mom and dad’s secrets would have remained buried, and I would have blissfully cruised through my senior year and went on to college.

I sigh and shut off the water, grabbing a towel. This whole thing has taken such weird turns. Especially with parents entering the fray. It doesn’t feel wrong to be in Caden’s bathroom, but it does feel a little lonely without the others.

Tucking the towel around me, I step into the bedroom and startle before I realize the figure on the couch is Jack. I cover my racing heart and release my breath.

“You scared me.” I chuckle a little, but the sound cuts off when he lifts somber blue eyes to mine. I step toward him. “Are you okay?”

“Get dressed first, sweetheart.” He runs a hand through his hair.

My heart picks up speed again, but I nod and head into the closet. I pick out comfy pajamas because we’ve had our fun this weekend and now it’s time to get serious. We’re facing off against monsters as fierce as my guys. It feels like I need a little armor.

When I come out, Jack pats the couch cushion next to him, and I sit down cross-legged facing him.

“What happened?”

“First off, I love you and while I promised not to touch another girl, Emma was hurting.”

I hold my breath.

“I touched her arm and gave her a hug.”

That’s it? I release my breath. Technically it’s touching, but comforting isn’t the same as trying to put the moves on someone.

He runs a hand through his hair. I take his other hand in mine and hold it on my lap. He’s obviously agitated by whatever he learned. I should have pressed harder to go with him, to be there for him.

“It’s okay. I’m not backing out of this relationship over a technicality.” I lift his hand to my lips and kiss it.

“Emma and I have been friends more than anything else.” His blue eyes search mine. “She was the first person I told about being bi. She was super supportive. Some of the girls were possessive, but never Emma. She wanted to explore her sexuality too. We were comfortable with each other.”

I smile encouragingly at him. “I’m glad you have a friend like her.”

He smiles, but his hand tightens in mine. “Last night at the party, she went off with a few guys, but then more joined in. It didn’t go how she expected it to.”

My eyes widen, imagining how that must have felt. The level of trust I have with my guys wouldn’t be there with those boys.

“Zach coordinated it, but didn’t participate. And she got out before it could get too far out of hand.” Jack blows out a breath. “She thought he was practicing.”

My breath catches as Jack draws me into his arms. Practicing? My heart stutters as my mind stalls. We know he has plans for me and has no issue with rape, but it really hasn’t sunk in. And to do that to Emma. For what reason? To try it out? Did he think she’d be willing to be his little experiment?

“We won’t let him hurt you, Harper,” Jack says against my neck. He inhales, and I breathe again. The scent of crisp apples fills my nose. I put my arms around his neck and hold him close.

What happened to Emma never should have happened. This kind of thing can’t happen again. Yes, maybe Emma initially said yes, but what happens when she can’t say no. When they don’t let her say no.

“How is she doing?” I ask softly, toying with the ends of his hair.

“Coping. It was a lot, but she got out of there when Hannah realized something was wrong.” Jack rests his head against mine.

“Jack?” I whisper against his shoulder. My emotions finally catch up to me. I’ve been trying to keep them down, but this is too much. Everything is too much.

“Yeah?”

“I’m not sure I can do this.” Tears choke me as they spill down my cheeks onto his shirt. It’s all too much. Emma, my mom, even Nico. Finding out they were all targeted because of our relationship.

Jack draws me in tighter against his body, and the tears just flow out of me.