CHAPTER 2

Kieran Drew.

The name alone was enough to make half the campus flinch. Blackbridge’s heir, its crown prince. His family’s money had built the university brick by brick, and their influence still ran through every hallway. Professors bent the rules for him. Students stepped out of his way. Even the dean kept his voice low around him.

He was a crazy sociopath who didn’t care about anyone but himself and the worst part? He always got away with it.

Last year, Nate had heard the rumours how Kieran beat a sophomore so badly the guy ended up in the hospital. And nothing happened. No charges, no suspension. Covered up, like everything else when it came to Kieran Drew.

Because he wasn’t just feared. He was untouchable.

And apparently irresistible.

If the rumors were true, Kieran had slept his way through half the campus. Girls, guys it didn’t seem to matter. People lined up for him, even knowing he’d probably toss them aside the next day. Maybe it was the danger. Maybe it was the power. Or maybe people were just stupid enough to think they’d be the one to tame him.

Nate couldn’t decide if it was pathetic or terrifying. Probably both.

Behind him, like shadows at his back, stood the usual crew the guys who orbited Kieran like planets circling a sun.

There was Seb, Kieran’s best friend and partner-in-crime. Equally a menace, always smirking like he knew something you didn’t, and probably the first one to throw a punch just because .

Then the deadly twins, Asher and Felix. Asher, the quiet one calculating, watchful, the kind that got under your skin because you never knew what he was thinking. Felix was the opposite volatile, his glare sharp enough to cut, the kind of guy who looked like he woke up angry and stayed that way. Together, they were chaos in stereo.

And finally, Celeste the only girl in their so-called group. Gorgeous and sharp-tongued. Rumors said she and Kieran were dating. Rumors also said she’d dumped a guy once by threatening to slit his throat. Either way, nobody dared ask her for the truth.

They made one terrifying group of friends.

Everyone feared him.

Everyone except Nate, apparently, who had just body-slammed the guy in the middle of the hallway.

Up close, Kieran was worse. Taller than Nate expected, shoulders broad beneath a fitted black jacket, his presence overwhelming the kind that made people instinctively shrink back. Those icy blue eyes locked on Nate 

And for the first time all day, Nate forgot about his headache.

The hallway had gone deathly silent. Every pair of eyes was locked on the scene unfolding

“Fuck—sorry,” Nate blurted, unable to tear his gaze from Kieran’s icy stare. “I didn’t mean to hit you.”

For a beat, Kieran said nothing. Just watched him, expression unreadable.

Then Felix stepped forward, his voice dripping venom. “What, your eyes on your ass that you couldn’t see where you were going?”

Nate’s jaw clenched. His headache was pounding, his nerves shot, and now this? Perfect. 

“I just said I’m sorry,” Nate snapped, heat flashing through his chest. “You could’ve also moved out of the way, no?”

Gasps rippled through the hall. Nobody talked back to Felix. Nobody talked back to any of them.

Well—except Nate, who apparently had a fucking death wish.

Felix’s lip curled, his eyes flashing with something dangerous. He took another step forward, shoulders squared, like he was seconds away from making Nate regret every word.

Nate’s pulse hammered, but he refused to back down. His body screamed at him to look away, to shut up, but he was too angry to listen to reason.

And then Kieran finally moved.

He kept his gaze locked on Nate as he closed the distance, until they were face to face. Kieran had a few inches on him, enough that Nate had to tilt his chin up just to meet those piercing eyes.

Then Kieran’s nostrils flared. For a split second, Nate swore his eyes flashed a flicker of gold. His head tipped slightly, studying Nate like he’d just uncovered a secret no one else knew.

“What are you?” Kieran’s voice was smooth, deceptively calm, but it slid under Nate’s skin like a blade.

Nate blinked, thrown off. “What do you mean, what am I?”

Kieran didn’t answer, just kept staring,waiting for nate to answer.

“Look,” Nate said quickly, trying to keep his voice steady, “I don’t want trouble. I’m really sorry I slammed into you, but I’ve gotta get going.”

He tried to step past him, but he didn’t even make it two feet before a hand clamped around his wrist ,iron tight, unyielding.

“Hey—”

Kieran didn’t bother with words. He dragged Nate across the hall like he weighed nothing. The crowd scattered instantly, eyes averted, not a single person daring to intervene.

The door of an empty classroom slammed shut behind them. In the next breath, Nate’s back hit the door hard, Kieran pinning him there with a force that stole the air from his lungs.

Nate’s pulse spiked. Too close. Way too close.

Nate could smell his cologne sharp, expensive, sweet at first but edged with musk. Before he could even open his mouth, Kieran’s face dipped lower, his nose brushing against Nate’s neck.

Nate went rigid. Every nerve in his body lit up as Kieran inhaled slowly, deliberately, dragging his nose along the line of Nate’s throat. A low sound rumbled from the back of his throat sounding like a growl .

Then Kieran pulled back.

His eyes looked different now, brighter, wilder. That cold ice-blue gleam had shifted into something darker.

“I’m going to ask you one last time,” Kieran said softly, his voice almost too calm. “What are you?”

Nate stared at him like he’d sprouted a second head. “What do you mean what am I? What do you expect me to say ,alien?”

Anger flared hot in his chest, coursing through him so fast it nearly scared him. His whole body buzzed, like something inside him was trying to claw its way out.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Kieran studied him, unblinking, like Nate was some fascinating specimen under glass. Then, slowly, his mouth curved. It should have been a beautiful smile but the madness in his eyes ruined it.

“Hmm. Interesting,” he murmured. “Seems like you really don’t know.” His head tilted, almost amused. “It’s rare to find someone who actually catches my interest.”

“What’s your name?”

“N… Nate.” He was breathing too hard, trying to force calm back into his chest.

“Well, Nate…” Kieran’s smile sharpened. “We’re going to be seeing each other very often.”

And just like that, he released him. The weight of his presence vanished as Kieran turned and walked out of the classroom as if nothing had happened.

Leaving Nate pressed against the door, reeling, wondering what the actual hell had just happened.