ARDEN
The door to Mr. Winters’ office swung shut behind us with a heavy thud. He remained inside, and the moment Cade brought up the issue being addressed beyond the school walls, Mr. Winters immediately sided with him.
Figures. That man only cared about the school’s well-being.
As we stepped into the hallway, the tension didn’t dissipate; it trailed behind us, refusing to let go. Sienna hurried after Cade, her heels tapping frantically against the polished floor.
“Cade, wait—please. You can’t just kick me out of the faction like this.”
“You barely know who I am,” she added, her voice filled with urgency.
Cade halted and turned to face her. “Exactly,” he muttered, irritation heard in his tone. “Why would you choose me if that was the case?”
She bit her lip, and I watched as desperation clawed its way to the surface of her expression. “I… like you!” she exclaimed shyly. “I admire your faction very much, and I believe choosing you is for the best.”
Her gaze was innocent, the same
