Rise of the Underdogs: (Book 1) COLTON

Chapter 3

How do you describe it when your parents have you boxed in, cornered like a misbehaving puppy, and you’ve got no choice but to tune out their nonstop nagging? Oh, right. FML. Perfect.

“Colton, are you listening to me?” My dad’s voice sliced through the fog of my mental escape just as he shook his head, like he could physically eject his disappointment. “Colt!”

Or not.

“Sorry,” I said, deadpan. “I’m suffering from temporary tinnitus. My ears are still ringing from Mom’s lecture.”

He rubbed his temples, clearly over my laid-back attitude. That look on his face — the one that said I’ve reached the end of my patience and I’m considering exile — told me exactly how done he was. But let’s be honest: he’d been tired of my antics for a while now. I was the family’s walking headache with a punchline.

Still, only one person ever managed to see through all that bravado. And the brat was three years younger than me.

“Alpha Henry needs eyes on Neil all the time, Colt,” Dad said, his voice low and clipped. “He’s going down a dark path, and we need to stop it before it gets worse. If we can’t rein him in soon, the pack’s gonna fall apart without an Alpha to guide us.”

He wasn’t asking anymore. This was a command wrapped in concern. His tone was tight, his nerves frayed. Yeah, he’d officially hit the wall when it came to my crap.

“Dad, Neil hardly even talks to me at school now,” I said, trying not to sound defensive. “What do you want me to do? Strap a leash on him and drag him around campus?”

“It’s not that hard to come up with a solution, Colt. Ask Kaden. I’m sure the younger Cage brother has some ideas you might be able to use.”

Yay. More work. This free trial version of adulthood sucks. I want a refund.

“Dad, I’m not kidding,” I repeated, leaning against the counter. “He acts like Kaden and I don’t even exist. Ever since he started hanging out with the new kid, he’s been picking fights and ignoring everyone.”

“Look, all I’m saying is for you to figure it out, Colt. He promised you the Beta position when you came of age, so do your damn job. Your Alpha needs you, Colton.”

I winced. He really went there. He could’ve just given me an atomic wedgie and spared me the emotional whiplash. That would’ve hurt less than being ordered to spy on one of my best friends.

I stood up, walked into the kitchen, and grabbed the phone off the wall. (P.S. this was back when cell phones weren’t everywhere, and caller ID was just starting to show up on home phones. Ancient times, I know.)

Luckily, my go-to partner in crime picked up on the first ring.

“Hey, Colt,” Kaden said, voice bright and familiar.

“Kaden, my guy,” I said, flopping into the nearest chair like I was about to deliver a presidential address. “I’ve got a sweltering mission for us. Looks like our brat Alpha’s been acting out lately, and Alpha Henry wants someone keeping an eye on him. Think you can help?”

The line went quiet. Too quiet. I half-expected the click of him hanging up. Not many people can handle my brand of sarcasm when it shows up uninvited, especially when it’s masking something heavier.

“Kaden?” I prompted, already bracing for the worst.

“I heard,” he said finally, his voice low and hesitant. “Um… I’ve got a bit of a problem.”

That wasn’t the response I expected. Kaden rarely hesitated. He was the kind of kid who could deliver a joke mid-chaos and still land it. Hearing him sound unsure was… weird. Not bad, just unfamiliar.

“What kind?” I asked, sitting up straighter.

“It’s Dre,” he answered, softer than I’d ever heard him. That tone alone made my stomach twist.

“What about him?”

“He’s coming home early,” Kaden said, words slow and careful. “Challenging the testing so he can leave. Mom and Dad said he got bullied bad by Leroy and his crew. He’s coming back, but I don’t know when he’ll be at school again.”

Uh-oh. Stammering Kaden equals nervous Kaden. And nervous Kaden is never a good sign.

I took a breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “So, what’s the problem?”

“He, uh… h-he got blamed for the fight.”

I blinked. “Wait. He got blamed for starting it? That’s garbage. Dre doesn’t start fights, Kaden. He finishes them.”

My voice went flat, but the truth landed sharp. I meant every word. Dreson wasn’t the type to throw the first punch — he was the one who ended it, usually with precision and zero remorse.

Kaden fell quiet again, like something was still stuck behind his teeth. Not that he needed to say it — Dreson was a trash liar anyway. He’d always end up ratting himself out, usually without any prompting. Eventually, he’d crack and we’d all get a good laugh. At his expense. Or mine. Depends on the day.

“I know my brother ends them,” Kaden said, voice low and tired, “which is why Mom and Dad are losing their minds about this. I’ve gotta leave town for a few days, so you’re on your own till we get back.”

Every word bled worry. The kid was terrified they’d strip Dreson’s power, like the Sages could just walk in and unmake him. But that’s where people kept screwing it up — Dre wasn’t weak. If anything, he was terrifying without needing fists. He could wreck someone without getting within arm’s reach. That was when I started realizing he was built different. Not just strong — dangerous in a way that didn’t need explanation.

“Well, give him mine and Neil’s congrats,” I said, trying to keep it light. “I’ll survive without my sidekick for a few days.”

I was disappointed, sure. But I didn’t want to dump any more weight on Kaden. Stress hits full-blooded Wolves hard. Add Druid magic to the mix, and things can spiral fast.

“I’ll let him know,” he said, and the line went dead.

I stared at the phone for a moment, then leaned back and exhaled. I had to cook up a plan — something smart, something subtle, something that didn’t leave me bleeding out in a hallway. Neil probably wouldn’t put me in the dirt, but his new friend? Yeah, I didn’t trust that guy farther than I could throw a truck.

And I’m not exactly known for my upper body strength.