Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Protector in the Shadows

As I walked through the bustling hallway with Alex, approaching my classroom, a strange mix of excitement and nerves danced in my chest. That’s when I saw Peter—the six-foot basketball star who had haunted my dreams for what felt like forever.

His brown eyes and chiseled features made my heart stutter, but I forced myself to stay calm. After all, he was still Tiffany’s boyfriend, and the last thing I wanted was to reignite our long-standing feud.

“Hey, how’s it going? How was your summer break?” Peter asked, flashing a charming smile that could make anyone weak in the knees.

“Um, it was good. Just me and my art,” I replied, trying to keep my cool, even though my heart was racing.

“Uh… would you like to be my date for the Festival tonight?” Peter asked, his voice low and full of intent.

“What about Tiffany?” I asked, suspicion bubbling up. “Isn’t she your girlfriend? Wouldn’t it make more sense to go with her?”

“Nah, I don’t want her tantrum ruining the night,” Peter said, waving the thought away. “I just want to be with someone who’ll actually let me enjoy the festival. That person is you.”

Without thinking, I found myself saying, “Okay, I’ll go with you.”

I entered my classroom with a spring in my step, already daydreaming about the evening ahead. But my mood quickly soured when I saw Tiffany, flanked by her usual entourage—my stepsisters—who always seemed to find joy in making my life miserable.

“Oh, look who’s here,” Tiffany sneered. “The self-proclaimed art goddess has finally graced us with her presence.”

I rolled my eyes and tried to focus on the lesson, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Peter. The thought of our sort-of date made me feel as though I was floating on air.

Later, as I gathered my things after class, Tiffany cornered me near the lockers.

“Hey, Aurora,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “I heard Peter asked you to the Medford Gala Festival tonight.”

My heart pounded as I tried to think of a reply. Before I could say anything, Peter appeared again, his eyes locking on mine with a mischievous glint.

“Hey, Rory. Just checking again—would you like to be my date for the festival tonight?” he asked casually, completely ignoring Tiffany, who stood beside me fuming.

“Yes,” I replied, maybe a little too fast, my voice barely hiding my excitement.

Tiffany’s glare could have cut through steel. “You think you can just steal Peter from me?” she hissed.

“Tiffany, it’s not like that,” I tried to explain. “He just asked me as a friend.”

She wasn’t having any of it. “You’ll regret this, Aurora,” she snarled before storming off, her words echoing like a dark promise.

The rest of the day dragged on, every minute bringing me closer to what could either be the best or worst night of my life.

By the time I got home, I could hardly contain my excitement. The house was blissfully empty—Mom was working late, and my stepsisters were nowhere to be found. I put on my favorite dress and did my hair. When the knock finally came, I opened the door to find Peter standing there, effortlessly handsome.

“You look amazing,” he said, handing me a bouquet of flowers.

“Thanks,” I blushed, accepting them. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”

We walked to the festival together, the vibrant lights and lively music wrapping around us like a dream. Everything felt perfect. We laughed, danced, and lost ourselves in the moment. I felt like I was on top of the world—until Peter’s phone kept buzzing.

“Everything okay?” I asked, worry creeping into my voice.

“It’s nothing,” Peter replied with a smile, slipping his phone into his pocket. “I’m here with you. That’s all that matters.”

Despite his words, something didn’t sit right with me. My unease only grew when, while sipping on a smoothie, I accidentally bumped into someone—and spilled it all over him.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I gasped.

The guy turned, his cold expression and piercing blue eyes sending a shiver down my spine. Without saying a word, he brushed past me and disappeared into the crowd, his aura leaving a strange tension behind.

“Forget him. He’s just a jerk,” Peter said, waving it off.

But I couldn’t forget him. Those eyes… that face. There was something oddly familiar about him, though I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before.

When the festival ended, Peter walked me home. His focus was completely on me, but my thoughts kept drifting to the man with the icy gaze.

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The night air was crisp as I walked the last few blocks home alone. The festival had been magical, but that uneasy feeling returned—the sense that I was being watched. I glanced over my shoulder and froze.

A group of men stepped out from the shadows.

Their eyes roamed me with malicious intent, their lewd comments chilling me to the bone. Panic surged through me. I turned to run, but they quickly surrounded me, blocking every escape route.

“Get away from me!” I screamed, struggling against their grip.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, he appeared.

The man from the festival. The one I had spilled my drink on.

He moved like a shadow—swift, silent, deadly. One by one, he took them down with practiced ease, his strikes precise and powerful. My attackers scrambled, fleeing into the night.

He turned to me, his icy blue eyes locking onto mine. “Take a taxi home,” he said, his deep voice like gravel and thunder. “It’s not safe here.”

I could only stare, stunned. It was definitely him. And he had just saved my life.

Before I could ask his name or even thank him, he disappeared into the darkness as quickly as he had arrived.

But his presence lingered—in my mind and somewhere deeper.

Who was he, really? And why had he come to my rescue?

As I finally made it home, my thoughts raced. Something told me this wasn’t the last time I would see him. And as I drifted off to sleep, I had no idea that my simple high school crush was about to collide with a world far more dangerous than I could have ever imagined.

Because the man with the piercing blue eyes?

He wasn’t just anyone.

He was part of something darker…

And I was about to be caught right in the middle of it.

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