Loving Young

Chapter XIV

The night air clung to my skin as I jogged up the winding path, the steady rhythm of my breathing cutting through the quiet. My calves burned, a dull ache settling into the muscle, but I welcomed it. Focused on it. Anything to keep my mind from spiraling.

The packhouse loomed ahead, its dark silhouette standing against the starlit sky. Warm light spilled from the windows, pooling onto the worn porch steps, stretching long shadows across the ground. The sight should have been comforting—homey—but instead, it made my chest feel tight.

Pushing open the heavy doors, I stepped inside; the shift in temperature wrapping around me like a second skin. The scent of pinewood and something richer—faint traces of food lingering from dinner—greeted me. Laughter carried through the open doorway, the noise tugged me toward the living room, where the hum of conversation filled the space.

The room was alive with energy, packed with bodies sprawled across couches, feet tucked beneath them or kicked up onto armrests in careless ease. Kyle, Nickolas, and Kaitlyn sat in the center of it all, their laughter bouncing off the walls. Kyle was perched on the arm of a couch, head thrown back mid-laugh, while Kaitlyn leaned toward Nickolas, her hair swaying as she tilted her head at something he murmured.

And then there was him.

Darius.

He sat on the loveseat, arms draped over the armrests, legs spread in that lazy confidence that came so naturally to him. A faint smudge of dirt streaked across his forearm, and his dark red t-shirt clung to his frame in a way that made my throat go dry. My gaze lingered before I could stop it, drawn by something I couldn't—wouldn't—name.

His gaze skimmed the room, disinterested, detached, until it landed on me.

My breath hitched, caught in my chest as the moment stretched, before he looked away, returning to his conversation. The smirk on his lips barely shifted.

Kyle spotted me first. His grin stretched wider, bright and unbothered. "Hey, Beta Alex! Done with your run already?"

I forced my gaze to stay on him. "Looks like it."

Kyle nudged Nickolas with his elbow, mischief sparking in his eyes. "Perfect timing. We were just about to head out. You should come."

I arched a brow. "Where?"

"To the amusement park." He spread his arms like he was announcing the greatest idea in the world. "You know—rides, overpriced snacks, losing at rigged games. What's not to love?"

I blinked, thrown off. "The amusement park?"

Kyle's grin faltered for a second, just a second, before bouncing back. "Yeah. After everything that's been going on, we figured it'd be good to blow off some steam. Take a break." He glanced at Nickolas, who lifted his half-empty soda can in agreement. "Besides, we've got space in the car."

Before I could answer, Kaitlyn's voice slid into the conversation.

"You should come, Beta. It's fun to let loose sometimes." She smiled, but her eyes flicked to Darius when she said it.

He didn't move. Didn't even glance her way. But his fingers flexed against the armrest, and his jaw ticked—barely.

They wanted me to come. Even Kaitlyn, who barely spoke to me before now, was suddenly invested. But stepping into their circle, into their easy laughter and effortless rhythm, felt... wrong. Like forcing myself into a space that didn't quite fit.

I crossed my arms, pretending to consider it. "Sounds... interesting."

The word felt foreign on my tongue.