Kaid’s POV I fucking hated places like this. Too loud. Too chaotic. Too many bodies pressed together like animals pretending they were free. The stench of sweat, alcohol, and desperation clung to the air like rot. But I wasn’t here for pleasure. I was here to crush the syndicate that thought they could keep slipping of my fingers. We stood in front of the club, its neon lights flickering like a dying pulse. Thane had his phone to his ear, frown etched deep on his face. “She’s not picking up,” he muttered. “Probably can’t hear it in there,” Ryker said, stuffing his hands in his jacket and glancing at the line of people snaking around the building. “This place is loud as hell.” Exactly why I didn’t step foot in shitholes like this. Caspian cracked his neck, a grin already pulling at his mouth. “I’ll go in. Take a look around.” “Same,” Ryker said, already walking ahead. I turned to Thane. “I’m not stepping in there.” He looked at me, nodded once. “I’m going around the back,”
Aria’s POV I ignored the way his fingers toyed with the rim of his own glass and forced myself to stay composed. “Why did you call me here?” I asked, voice steady. “Isn’t Priscilla your girlfriend?” Damon leaned back with a lazy smirk, eyes sliding down my body like he was undressing me with his mind. “Jealous?” he drawled. “Upset that you won’t be the only one riding my dick?” Calm down, Aria. I’d heard the of how Damon was full of himself when it came to everything. I just didn’t realize it was this bad. He wasn’t cocky. He was clinically delusional. He leaned forward again, voice lowering to what he probably thought was seductive. “Where do you want us to start? Here on the floor? Against that wall?” He licked his lips. “Anywhere you want, baby. Just take a sip first—it’ll keep you in the mood all night. You’ll love it.” I pushed the glass farther away. “I said no.” Something dark flickered in his eyes. His smile thinned. “I can fuck you way better than Ryker does
Aria’s POV The clubhouse towered ahead like a glowing monument of everything wrong with this world. It wasn’t on academy grounds—this place was far too indulgent for that. No, it stood outside the strict walls of hierarchy and control. I adjusted the strap of my dress, the fabric sleek against my skin, violet with hints of silver. The parking lot surrounding the club was packed. And I was here to find out what Priscilla is up to, and stop her from harming anyone else. This party was the only time I’d ever seen the hierarchy dissolve like it didn’t exist. That kind of unity wasn’t natural here, it was manufactured. And someone always paid the price for it. I reached the door, where a huge bouncer stood with crossed arms and sunglasses on—at night, of course. He glanced at me once, then stepped aside and opened the velvet rope without a word. Inside, the air was thick and saturated with perfume, lust, and bass. It hit me like a slap. Everywhere I turned, there was something I
Eliza’s POV The moment that girl’s voice sliced through our conversation, I turned, expecting someone confused or maybe lost. But no. The girl approaching us wore what was clearly Delta attire: fake designer sneakers, a knockoff brand tracksuit trying its best to look like it belonged in the Beta section of the mall. Her confidence didn’t match her rank, though. I blinked. A Delta is volunteering. This couldn’t be real. Someone was actually joining this madness? I crossed my arms. “You’re joking.” The girl stopped in front of us, unfazed by my tone. “Nope. Not joking.” Aria looked thrilled, and I hated how much that stupid look of satisfaction lit up her whole face. She turned to me like she was trying not to smirk. Great. One person joined. Big deal. Still… I couldn’t ignore the shift in the air, subtle as it was. The way some students paused to watch. This was dangerous. Not in a knives-and-fangs kind of way. But in the kind that got people watching. Talking.
Aria’s POV Ryker's arms wrapped around me tightly, like he was afraid I’d slip away if he didn’t hold on hard enough. His entire body trembled against mine, and for I didn’t feel the cocky, ego-driven flirt I’d come to know. This wasn’t the same Ryker who strutted through hallways like he owned the world. This… this was a boy who’d never stopped being a boy, because he’d never been allowed to just be. And goddess,I knew that pain. I hugged him back, arms circling around his broad shoulders, anchoring him with the quiet strength I’d had to build in myself for years. He buried his face in the crook of my neck, and I didn’t speak. Not yet. Because sometimes silence was louder than words. I understood it—him. That ache of never being enough, no matter what you did. Of waiting for a kind word that never came. Of being told that love was earned, when it should’ve been unconditional. My pain had been both emotional and physical, and while Ryker’s wounds weren’t carved into his skin,
Ryker’s POV Just as I was about to kiss her again—just as her head leaned back on my chest like it belonged there—someone screamed. “Help! Someone’s drowning!” I cursed under my breath, frustration tightening my jaw. Of all moments, why this one? “I’ll be right back,” I told Aria, sliding off the horse with practiced ease. “Stay put.” She nodded, concern flickering in her eyes, but she stayed. I sprinted toward the water, peeling off my Jean, shirt and footwearas I ran. The ocean wasn’t calm anymore—waves lapped violently where a small figure struggled to stay afloat. A kid. Probably no more than seven or eight. Damn it. Where were this kid’s parents? Without hesitation, I dove into the water, slicing through it like it was nothing. I’d always been a strong swimmer, faster than most. Within seconds, I reached him—small body going limp in the waves, mouth opening uselessly under the surface. I grabbed him, pulling his tiny frame above the water, keeping his head up as I swam