The next morning at Crestwood Elite Academy was strangely quiet. Too quiet. Riley felt it the moment she stepped onto campus—eyes trailing her, whispers dying as she passed. Something was brewing.
Zayden waited by the fountain, leaning against his sleek black car, dressed in all black with a silver chain glinting against his chest. His eyes lit up the second he saw her.
"You look like trouble," he murmured as she walked over.
"I feel like it too." Her tone was low, laced with anxiety. "Zayden… something's off."
He tensed immediately. "Who said something to you?"
"No one. But everyone's watching."
"They're watching because they know I don't care about their rules anymore," he said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You've shaken this place. They weren't ready for someone like you."
"I'm not trying to shake anything. I just want to survive it."
Zayden's eyes darkened. "Then I'll make sure you do."
Before she could respond, a voice cut through the tension.
"Well, well… isn't this sweet?"
Riley turned.
No.
It was Aiden Romanoff—Zayden's cousin. Just as handsome, but colder, more calculating. He rarely showed up at Crestwood unless there was drama to be stirred.
"Didn't know you were babysitting these days, cousin," Aiden smirked.
Riley stiffened. Zayden moved in front of her protectively.
"Leave, Aiden."
"Why? Scared I'll tell her the truth?"
Riley's heart thumped wildly. "What truth?"
Aiden grinned like a wolf baring its teeth. "Ask your prince charming what really happened last summer. Ask him why he was almost expelled. Ask him—"
Zayden stepped forward, grabbing Aiden by the collar. "That's enough."
But Aiden only chuckled, pulling free. "Tick-tock, Riley. Eventually, you'll realize that love in this world? Comes at a price."
He walked away, leaving silence in his wake.
Riley turned to Zayden. "What is he talking about?"
He didn't answer at first.
Then—softly—he said, "There are things about me you don't know, Riley. Things I wanted to protect you from."
"I don't want protection," she snapped. "I want honesty."
He stared at her for a long moment.
"Then I'll tell you everything."
Her breath caught.
"But not here."
His hand reached for hers, fingers intertwining with hers. The contact was warm, grounding.
"Come with me."
And though her mind screamed caution, her heart whispered trust.
She followed.