Chapter Five

Kia 

For a second, I just stared at him because my brain didn’t catch up fast enough. It was like everything around me slowed down, like the hallway got quieter even though I knew it didn’t. My chest felt tight and I couldn’t tell if I was breathing properly.

“You can’t…” I started, but my voice sounded wrong, like it didn’t belong to me.

“I already did,” he cut in, calm and cold, like this was just another decision he made over breakfast.

I shook my head because no, this wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be real. “You don’t get to decide this for me.”

Behind him, Liam stood there with his hands in his pockets, not even looking at me. That hurt more than it should have because at least when Ryder was cruel, it was direct. Liam just… erased me. Like I wasn’t worth reacting to.

Kratavak leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed, watching me like I was a show. He actually looked amused, like this was entertaining for him.

My stomach twisted.

“I’m not doing this,” I said, louder this time, even though my hands were shaking. “I’m not some thing you can just…”

Ryder moved so fast I didn’t even see it coming. His hand grabbed my wrist and slammed me back against the lockers. The metal rattled loudly behind me and a few doors down the hallway banged from the impact.

I gasped because it hurt and because it shocked me.

“You still don’t understand,” he said, leaning in close, his voice low and controlled. “So I’ll make it simple for you.”

His fingers tightened around my wrist and I could feel the pressure building, like he wanted me to feel it.

“You don’t have a say.”

My heart was racing so fast it made me dizzy. I tried to pull my hand free but it didn’t move at all.

“You don’t own me,” I snapped, even though my voice wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be.

Something dark flickered in his eyes.

“I do,” he said quietly.

The way he said it made my skin crawl.

“You embarrassed us today,” he said, his tone turning colder. “Running off, disappearing, making a scene in front of everyone… including him.”

I swallowed hard but didn’t answer his grip shifted and he tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him again.

“That doesn’t happen again.”

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” I said, my voice shaking now. “You don’t get to just decide what I am.”

His jaw tightened and for a second, I thought he was going to say something worse.

Instead, he let go.

Just like that.

I stumbled forward slightly, catching myself against the locker for one stupid second, I thought maybe… maybe he was done.

Then Liam stepped in front of me and Kratavak moved behind me.

Ryder didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.

“Take her home.”

I froze.

“No…” I started, but Liam’s hand grabbed my arm before I could even move.

“Let go of me,” I snapped, trying to yank away, but his grip tightened instantly.

“Kia, stop,” he said under his breath, like I was the problem here. “You’re making this worse.”

“Worse?” I let out a breathless laugh because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You’re dragging me like I’m nothing…”

Kratavak grabbed my other arm and pulled me back when I tried to twist away. “Relax,” he said lazily. “You’re not exactly helping yourself here.”

“I said let go of me!” I raised my voice this time and a few students nearby turned to look, but no one stepped in. Of course they didn’t.

No one ever did.

Ryder stepped closer and just looked at me, his expression completely blank now.

“Don’t force me to use Alpha command,” he said quietly and that was all it took.

My body went still before I could stop it and I hated that, I hated how even the threat of it was enough to shut me down.

“Good,” he murmured.

And then they moved, they didn’t drag me anymore because I stopped fighting, but they didn’t let go either. Liam’s grip stayed firm on my arm and Kratavak stayed close behind me like he expected me to try something again.

I didn’t not because I didn’t want to because I knew it wouldn’t work.

The walk out of the academy felt longer than usual. Every step felt heavy and every pair of eyes on me felt sharper, I kept my head down because I didn’t want to see their faces.

The car was already waiting and Ryder got in the front seat without looking back. Liam pushed me into the back and slid in beside me while Kratavak took the other side.

I was trapped between them…. Again.

I stared straight ahead, my hands clenched in my lap so tightly my fingers hurt, I didn’t cry… I wasn’t going to cry.

The gates of the manor opened when we pulled up and then closed behind us with a heavy sound that echoed in my chest.

It felt final.

They didn’t take me to my room, we walked down a different hallway, one I wasn’t used to. The air felt colder here and the lights were dimmer.

“Where are we going?” I asked, even though I already had a bad feeling.

No one answered and that made it worse we stopped in front of a door I had never been allowed near before.

Ryder pulled out a key.

“No,” I said, taking a step back. “No, I’m not staying here…”

Kratavak grabbed my shoulder and pushed me forward. “You are.”

“I’m not going in there,” I said, trying to pull away.

“Then we’ll put you in there,” he replied, not even bothering to hide the threat.

I struggled anyway as they pushed me inside the room was bigger than mine but it didn’t feel like it. It felt empty. 

The windows were high and when I looked up, I saw the bars.

The door slammed behind me, the lock clicked. I rushed forward and grabbed the handle, pulling hard.

“Open the door!” I yelled, banging my hand against it. “Ryder, this isn’t funny! Open it!”

I stood there for a second, my hand still on the handle, like maybe it would magically open if I waited long enough.

It didn’t slowly, I stepped back and looked around the room again. They weren’t just moving me tomorrow they were making sure I couldn’t run before then.

My legs gave out and I dropped onto the floor, my back hitting the wall.

“I can’t do this,” I whispered, pressing my hands against my face.

Time passed, I didn’t know how long and I just sat there, trying not to think too much because every time I did, it felt like I was going to panic.

Then I heard something… soft sound near the door, I froze.

The lock turned quietly.

My heart jumped and the door opened just enough for someone to slip inside a familiar face.