Chapter 21

Cassian’s POV

I was stunned when the lecturer called my name. My eyes darted around the room. I hadn’t realized my voice had been that loud. Even the lecturer heard me?

I mumbled an apology, and She raised a brow before nodding.

“Alright,” She continued. “I assume everyone now knows their group members. I don’t want anyone coming to my office saying you don’t know your group. As soon as I leave this class, make sure each group picks a leader. That leader should create a group chat and add everyone so information can be passed around. Am I making sense?”

“Yes,” the class echoed.

But none of it was sinking in. My head wasn’t in that room. My eyes kept following Drasa. She was all over the place, restless. Her body couldn’t stay still for more than a few seconds. I didn’t hear a single word the lecturer said after that. My mind was just stuck on her.

The second the lecturer walked out, she moved like she was about to bolt too. I was faster. I reached out and grabbed her wrist.

She froze. The way she looked at me… like I’d just touched fire. Her eyes were cold with pure hatred.

“Sorry,” I said, loosening my grip. “I didn’t mean to grab you like that, but… we’re in the same group. Remember what the lecturer said?”

She blinked at me, confused, then slowly nodded.

I opened my mouth to say more, but then..

“Hi. We’re in the same group,” a voice cut in from behind.

I turned to see a girl with blonde hair, her expression blank. Just staring at me like I owed her something.

I raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”

I was about to go back to Drasa when other voices started popping up. One after the other, until I realized we were already seven standing together.

“Who’s going to be our group leader?” someone asked.

People exchanged glances.

“I guess we should make Cassian our leader,” the blonde girl said casually.

I turned to her, annoyed. “Repeat what you just said.”

She blinked, clearly surprised by my tone. “I said we should make you our leader.”

A sharp heat rose in my stomach. I didn’t like the way she said it. Like she was handing me some kind of leash.

“I don’t want to be any fucking leader,” I snapped, my glare sharp.

She shrunk back a little.

“Or maybe… we should make her our leader?” another girl offered, nodding toward Drasa.

Drasa stiffened instantly and shifted uncomfortably. “No, no, no. I don’t want to be the leader,” she stammered, waving her hands like she was swatting flies.

The other stared at her for a second. Then, just like that, they burst into laughter.

“We weren’t really gonna make you the leader anyway,” someone sneered. “No one wants a slut leading the group. Right?”

What?

“What do you mean?” I asked, my voice lower, tighter. My fists clenched.

“You heard me,” the girl snapped, her words venom laced.

Something in me cracked. I stepped toward her. She took a slight step back, but I didn’t care.

“Don’t you ever dare call her that again.”

She looked me straight in the eye. “I’m not bluffing. She’s just a stripper. Everyone knows that.”

And that was it. I grabbed her by the front of her shirt and pushed her back.

“Read my lips,” I said through gritted teeth. “Don’t you ever call her a stripper. Got it?”

Her eyes widened, and she nodded shakily. I let her go.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Drasa said softly beside me. She ran a hand through her hair. “There’s no need to threaten anyone. But just so we’re clear… I’m not going to be their leader. Slut or not, stripper or not— I’m a student. I belong to this group. But I’m not leading it. Alright?”

She crossed her arms, firm and unshaken.

I stared at her, and for some reason, I felt a twist in my chest. Maybe being a leader wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Without thinking, I reached for her wrist again and gently pulled her to my side. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, firm enough that she couldn’t slip away so easily.

“Fine. I’ll be the leader,” I said.

They all looked surprised, even Drasa, who tried to wriggle away, but I held her still.

“And she’s going to be my assistant. You know, just to balance the workload.”

They looked irritated. No one liked the idea. But when I narrowed my eyes at them, they all reluctantly nodded.

“Okay, okay. Cool, whatever,” one of them mumbled.

“Good. Someone brings out a paper, write your names and numbers, and hands it over. I’ll deal with it later.”

They scattered into the task. I slowly let go of Drasa’s wrist.

She turned to me, still visibly annoyed. “What are you trying to do?” she asked.

I took a step closer and smiled.

“Did you forget?” I asked.

She squinted, confused. “Forget what?”

“That you agreed to be my girlfriend.”

“What?” a voice suddenly barked from behind me.

I turned around to see Kai, he was standing with his arms crossed, eyes narrowed in disbelief.

“She’s your what?” he asked again. “Did I just mishear, or what the hell did you say? Girl what?”