Break your Face

Aria’s POV

“Why are you wasting your breath on an Omega, Caspian?”

I slowly stood up, my hands slipping away from the fender as I turned toward the voice that had cut through the air like ice.

He stood a few feet away—tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black like it was a second skin. His eyes were a piercing, unforgiving blue, the kind that didn’t blink often and didn’t miss much. His dark hair was neatly styled, but there was nothing polished about him.

I recognized him instantly.

He was the one from the car crash. The one I dragged out of an expensive suv.

Unconscious, bleeding. And now? He was staring at me like I was nothing more than a stain on his expensive boots.

Caspian let out a dramatic sigh beside me. “Kaid, relax. I was just having some fun.”

Kaid’s eyes didn’t move from mine.

“Get lost,” he said, his voice cold.

Like my presence personally offended him.

I arched a brow. “Not until I get my money.”

He scoffed—actually scoffed—and pulled out a thick wallet from his back pocket.

“All the same,” he muttered, mostly to himself. Then, without hesitation, he peeled off a few large bills and threw them at my feet.

The paper fluttered like leaves, landing in the dust near my shoes.

My heart slammed against my chest—not from fear, but fury.

I’d been insulted before. Mocked. Ignored.

But this?

This was new.

Did he really think I was following this so called Caspian around for money? That I wanted attention? That I was just another pathetic Omega who’d throw herself at their boots for a chance at scraps?

I stared at the bills on the ground.

Then up at him.

“I’m not picking that up,” I said, my voice low, trembling with restraint. “And if you ever throw money at me again, make sure it’s enough to cover dental repair—because that’s what you’ll need after I break your face.”

Kaid didn’t flinch. He didn’t blink.

He just… looked through me. Like I wasn’t even worth responding to.

“Let’s go,” he said to Caspian, already turning around.

Caspian scratched the back of his neck. “Why didn’t you come with one of your other cars?”

Kaid didn’t look back.

“It’s wrecked.”

“C’mon. You have many others you could have brought.”

I watched Kaid walk away like I didn’t exist.

Like I hadn’t just stood here, insulted and disrespected, then paid in crumpled bills like a joke.

And that’s when I snapped.

“You’re not just going to ignore me,” I called out, stepping forward.

Both of them paused.

Caspian turned with a crooked grin.

Kaid turned slower—his expression unreadable, his eyes still sharp, still distant.

I focused on Kaid.

“You know, I can’t believe I bothered dragging your spoiled ass out of that suv at the restaurant,” I said, arms crossed. “If I’d known you were this much of a brat, I would’ve left you there to bleed.”

Caspian blinked. “Wait—what?”

Kaid’s jaw ticked. His eyes narrowed. “How do you know about that?”

I smirked and turned away. “Figure it out.”

He took a step forward, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of flinching. I turned to Caspian instead.

“You owe me a new bike,” I said. “And I’ll be collecting tomorrow. Morning, preferably. While I’m still pretending not to hate everything.”

Caspian gave a short laugh, still clearly enjoying every second of this circus.

I turned and started walking, gripping the strap of my bag, head held high.

And then—

A hand closed around my arm.

I stopped instantly. My body locked up, every nerve buzzing. And not just with anger.

With something… else.

Electricity.

It shot through me like a live current, awakening something that had been buried.

I turned my head slowly, and Kaid was standing close. Too close.

His fingers still wrapped around my arm, but his eyes…

He was staring at me like he’d seen a ghost. Like he felt it too.

And then, I caught it—the scent.

The same one from the wreck.

But there was another one too, mixing with his.

From Caspian.

My heart stuttered.

Kaid let go of me like I’d burned him, his brows furrowed, his face caught between confusion and something dangerously close to alarm.

I didn’t wait around.

I turned and kept walking, pace brisk, refusing to let my head swirl with the heat crawling up my neck or the memory of that scent that felt like it recognized me.

Walking back to the dorms didn’t sound so bad after all.

It gave me time to think.

Or at least try to ignore the fact that the coldest brat had just touched me…

And left me shaking.