Chapter 3-You Don't Belong Here

ISLA’S POV

“Your…your house?”

The words left my mouth in a stunned whisper. Ryder stood in the doorway, filling it completely. His sharp green eyes were cold and assessing, moving over me like he was trying to figure out what the hell I was doing here.

Up close he looked even more intimidating.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

“What are you even talking about?” I managed. “The receptionist sent me here.”

He scoffed, a short, disbelieving sound. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Don’t tell me you were following me.”

I stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Following you? Please. If I was following you, how did I get the keycard? You’re not that dumb, are you?”

I raised the keycard between us like proof. His eyes flicked to it, then back to my face. Something unreadable moved behind those green eyes.

He took a step toward me.

I moved back on instinct, bringing my hand up. “Stay back.”

“You’re in my house,” he said, voice low. “In my room.”

“This is your room?” I glanced around the unused space again—the made bed, the empty closet, the clean desk. Confusion cut through the shock. “This doesn’t seem like anyone lives in it.”

“This is my house,” he answered flatly. “So technically every room belongs to me.”

“Well it isn’t my fault I got sent here.” The words came sharper than I meant. “Nobody wants to live with a stone face like you.”

Something flashed in his eyes. It was so small I almost missed it, but I saw it. A flicker. I'd gotten under his skin.

He took another step. The air between us tightened.

“Some minutes ago you were blocking my way,” he said, “and suddenly you ended up in my house. What a coincidence.”

I kept my chin up even though my pulse was hammering in my throat.

“Why the fuck did she send you here?” he muttered under his breath, almost to himself.

“Maybe you should take it up with the receptionist instead of asking me.”

I didn’t know what game the universe was playing, dumping me straight into Ryder’s house, but I wasn’t complaining. I came to Blackridge for him after all. Men like him hated it when someone didn't worship them. The more other girls threw themselves at him for attention, the more I pulled away.

Eventually curiosity would get the better of him. And once a man like Ryder becomes curious about you, you had his attention.

That was exactly what I wanted.

Ryder stared at me for a long second, jaw tight. “What pathetic excuse did you say to her to have her send you here?”

I almost laughed. “Wait. You actually think I begged to come live here? Hello, honey. I’m a new student. I don’t know anywhere or anyone here.”

His expression darkened. “You don’t get it, do you?”

The disgust in his voice was thick enough to choke on.

Silence settled between us. I could see the way he was looking at me…like he wanted nothing more than to throw me out onto the front steps and lock the door behind me.

“You don’t belong here,” he said suddenly.

I blinked. “I beg your finest pardon?”

“I said you don’t belong here.” His tone turned harder. Colder. Like I was dirt under his shoes.

“This university. This world. You don’t belong in it.”

My brows furrowed. “What are you going on about?”

He took another step. This time I didn’t move back. He stopped right in front of me, close enough that I could smell his cologne…clean, sharp, expensive. The space between us felt charged, I could barely breathe.

“If I were you,” he said quietly, “I’d pack my things and leave right this minute.”

My chin lifted. “Good thing you’re not me.”

The challenge left my mouth before I could stop it. His jaw tightened.

“Blackridge University isn’t a place for you,” he said firmly.

“That isn’t for you to decide.” My voice stayed steady even as my heart was beating too fast. “If I didn’t get the merit I wouldn’t even be in this school. So what is your fucking problem? I’m only staying here until my accommodation gets fixed.”

His hand shot out and closed around my wrist.

Not hard enough to hurt. Hard enough to make a point.

“Is that what they told you?”

A strange sound left his mouth. It wasn’t exactly a laugh. It was darker. Dangerous. It sent a cold ripple down my spine.

“Leave,” he said. “Leave this place.”

I pulled my hand away stubbornly. “I just got here. I just want a warm shower, to rest, and to start classes tomorrow. Stop being weird.”

I kept my face calm. Inside something was screaming. Did he threaten my sister the same way? Did he stand this close to her and tell her she didn't belong? What the hell did he do to her?

“I came here to study,” I spat.

He stared at me for a long second. Then his voice dropped even lower.

“You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, girl. You’ve got no idea.”

The words landed like a warning and a threat at the same time.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, utterly confused and far more curious than I wanted to admit.

He turned away from me and walked to the window. He stood there staring out for a long, torturous second. The late afternoon light cut across his profile, making the hard line of his jaw look even sharper.

When he finally turned back, those cold green eyes found mine again. There was something new in them now. Something strange. Something like looked almost like recognition.

My stomach twisted.

He took one step closer. Then another. The space between us disappeared until I had to tilt my head slightly to hold his gaze.

“I know exactly why you’re here.”