Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Adrian

The hood over my face stops me from seeing exactly where I am, though I know it's probably the basement of the fraternity. At least, that's what I guess it is, and I'm proven right when the hood is yanked off my head, taking some of my dark hairs with it. Are they trying to make me bald?

I flex my muscles—my hands are tied together in front of me—and look around. There are candles everywhere, creating a dark ambience in the room. The fraternity brothers to whom I pledged, are standing in front of me and four others. We are the five that are being pledged to join. The new brothers.

The Alpha Omega Phi .

The candles trigger so many memories. Ones that I wish were long buried.

Noah.

I compartmentalize as best I can. I need to be present at the moment. This is something I've been waiting for since I can remember. This fraternity was chosen for me before the day I picked up a football. My stepfather, an Alpha Omega Phi alumni, knew exactly what he wanted for me when he married my mother.

Something he wanted for Noah as well. But Noah is a free spirit. He follows his own path. It must be nice to have that kind of luxury, that kind of freedom from pressure. So many things are expected from me, and I can't help but think about how unfair it is. I am the stepson, yet it's me who has to live out our father's dreams.

"You are here today to pledge to Alpha Omega Phi , the greatest of the West University fraternities," Declan says. He's our president, and we bid to him during a rush to make it in. As a legacy student and football star, I am welcomed with open arms, and my brothers knew I would be initiated.

"You will now recite the pledge and spend the next week with a big brother to learn the ropes of how we work. After that, we'll throw the best house party anyone has ever had. The entire campus is invited, even our archenemies, the Kappa Delta Order . We need to show them how it's done, and it's a great time to pick them off." He chuckles. "Right, say the pledge."

We all repeat what we had learn, inserting our own names. "I, Adrian, pledge my loyalty to Alpha Omega Phi . I will make my fraternity proud. I will uphold its values and morals, and I will not bring shame to my brothers. I will strive to excel in all aspects of my life so that the name of Alpha Omega Phi continues to be associated with greatness. Should I fail at this, I will be cast out from the brotherhood and into loneliness from which I will not return."

Rather ominous if you ask me, but I didn't choose the wording.

Declan claps his hands. "Welcome, brothers. You will be shown to your rooms where you can rest easy and prepare for an eventful orientation week."

Everyone clapped and shook hands—except for us. Howard, an older member, comes directly to me. "I'll be your big brother for this week. So anything you need, you run it by me. Don't be a smartass, or you'll be out before you blink. Got it?"

I nod. "Got it."

"Follow me to your room. Your stuff's already been taken there." Howard cuts my bindings and leads me out of the basement. I rub my wrists.

"Were the bindings really necessary?" I ask.

"It's tradition." That's all Howard offers in terms of an answer.

Noah would scoff at that. Tradition. He went to the opposing fraternity, Kappa Delta Order , just to spite our father, probably. I wish I could've had my pick of fraternities.

Howard leads me to a bedroom and looks around. "This is it. We don't share rooms in the house, that's one reason we're so exclusive. As five brothers leave, so another five are brought in." Howard gestures around. "You can buy fraternity merch from Jamie downstairs to decorate your room, and, of course, you'll be expected to wear the fraternity shirts. You can also get a fraternity letterman jacket since you're on a sports scholarship."

"Thank you, Howard."

Howard nods. "Just shout if you need anything. I'm down the hall. My name is on the door." He leaves, and I unpack.

I wonder what Noah is doing. I shouldn't care, but since it happened, I can't stop thinking about it.

Noah.

Noah and his perfect little life. Only, I know a secret about Noah.

Noah has been paying girls, blackmailing them, really, to say they slept with him. To maintain a manly image. To put on a front for my father because he knows what he did.

That kiss.

My stepbrother shared a forbidden kiss... with me.

And while I would like to say I knocked his lights out and never spoke to him again, I didn't. In fact, I'm not entirely sure I didn't kiss him back, and that scares me. It terrifies me. I can still taste him on my lips. It's like a moment ago we were yelling at each other, and then he gathered me in his arms and we were kissing. Our tongues rolling over each other's, a soft stirring in the pit of my stomach.

He had done this to me. He messed with me, messed with my head, and now I can't stop thinking about him or that damn kiss.

I grab my things in an effort to distract myself and unpack my clothes. I need to throw myself into football. I need to focus on my classes, and I need to get my own back. Noah is the enemy. The opposing fraternity. He will bring upon himself whatever he deserves, at my hands or someone else's. Though I hope it's at mine.

I could tell the world about Noah. I could tell everyone he's blackmailing those girls to keep his secret. But then I would have to out myself. I would need to admit to my own feelings and my own vices. My stepfather would never forgive that.

If homophobia were a person, it would be John Bennett, and he would proudly proclaim it to anyone who asked. He certainly made it very clear in our family that he wouldn't be having any homosexuals for children.

Anyone who swings that way would be instantly disowned and tossed out onto the street. There was no room for people like that in our family.

No, sir.

I finish packing away my things and go downstairs again. Some brothers are playing pool in the recreational room while others are lounging around in the living room. I go to the kitchen and grab a beer, opening it and sipping. The afternoon sun is setting slowly in the west, and I watch it through the kitchen window.

"Hey Ace, you okay?" Declan asks as he comes into the kitchen to grab his own beer.

"Yeah, everything is perfect. Thank you." I give him a smile. "I'm excited to be here."

"Good, because we're going to get to our first order of business soon, which is terrorizing the Delta Kappa Order ." He eyes me out. "I know your stepbrother bid there. Is that going to be a problem?"

"He's a little traitor and a loser. It won't be a problem. He'll get what he deserves." I take a big sip of beer.

Declan nods. "That's what I like to hear, Ace. You're going to fit in perfectly here. Our last school quarterback was also in our fraternity. It's where all the rising stars are. Here, you'll meet people who can make or break your future. Make sure you let them make it all it's worth."

I nod. "That's why I'm here." Declan claps a hand on my shoulder, squeezes, and then leaves.

I feel dirty. I'm a fraud. I don't want to be here. I'm doing this because it's what's expected of me. It's what I must do.