Chapter 1 One

Alexa's POV

The sky looks like it's about to collapse on top of us. Heavy, swollen clouds sag so low I swear they could scrape the rooftops.

I tug my jacket tighter and mutter under my breath for leaving late again. Typical me. If I get soaked, it's no one's fault but mine. The air already smells like wet pavement, damp, with that gross wormy undertone that always comes right before a storm.

School drained the life out of me today. Not just the pile of homework, though that's bad enough but the way every class dragged like someone stretched time on purpose.

My calculus teacher spent half the period talking about his "college glory days." He always leans against the desk like he's giving some kind of war speech, while I sat there trying not to scream, just explain the formulas, please. By the time the bell rang, my brain felt wrung out like a wet rag.

I cut through the alley behind the corner store. Saves me ten minutes, which means maybe I beat the rain.

Mom always said shortcuts are trouble, but ten minutes feels worth the risk.

Halfway through, I hear footsteps.

At first, whatever. People use this alley. But when I pick up my pace, the steps behind me do too, matching me, perfectly.

My stomach twists at that.

"Don't panic, Alexa. Just walk faster." I mutter quietly to myself

I glance back. Two guys. Definitely not from school. They are older and they're not chatting or laughing. They're just... staring. Straight at me.

My throat goes dry.

I walk faster, sneakers smacking against the damp ground. Their pace quickens too.

Nope. Not today.

I break into a run and slam straight into something solid. The impact jolts through me, and I stagger back, ready to spit out an apology until I see who it is.

"Alexa Smith."

The voice freezes me in place.

I look up. Jace.

My stomach drops so fast I swear it hits the pavement.

If Westview High has a boogeyman, it's him. His reputation isn't just a rumor, it's fact. Fights, threats, shady stuff whispered about in bathrooms.

Shadows shift behind him. More figures step forward, all in black like some bargain-bin gang movie. His crew. They spread out, cutting me off.

I press back, pulse hammering. "What do you want, Jace?"

His grin is sharp enough to slice. "What do you think? You embarrassed me."

My brows knit. "What?"

He twirls a stick in his hand, slapping it against his palm with a steady crack. "Last week. Calc test. You wouldn't give me the answers."

My heart stutters. "I told you, I couldn't. If I got caught, I'd lose everything. My spot, my grades, my record. I couldn't-"

He laughs. It's not a funny laugh but a cruel and angry one. His guys follow like hyenas, and the sound bounces off the alley walls until my chest squeezes tight.

"You think you're special, Alexa?" He steps closer, dragging the stick along the ground. "You're not. I told you what would happen if you crossed me. Now you're gonna learn."

The air feels like it's pressing down on me. I step back, but the wall catches me. Nowhere left to go. My heart bangs so hard it hurts.

And then a voice fills the air, "Touch her, and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

The voice slices through the alley. Calm, even and dangerously deadly.

Everyone turns to the sound.

A figure leans against the far wall, shadows slicing his face. He looks like he's got all the time in the world, like Jace isn't even worth his attention.

Jace bristles. "And who the hell are you?"

The guy doesn't answer him, like he's nearly a speck on his shoes, his eyes bores holes into Jace silently watching him.

That's enough to piss Jace off. He lunges at me, arm stretched out-

But he never makes it.

One second he's upright, the next he's flat on the ground, gasping.

The alley explodes into pure chaos.

I press myself against the wall, frozen, as fists fly and bodies crash. The stranger moves like nothing I've ever seen, he's fast, sharp, three steps ahead of every swing. Jace's guys drop one by one. Bone cracks. Bodies thud on the floor, It's brutal.

Jace stumbles up with a knife glinting in his hand. My breath catches.

The stranger sidesteps like it's nothing, twists Jace's wrist until the knife clatters to the pavement. A few brutal blows later, Jace is on the ground, wheezing.

Silence follows just their groans echoing.

The stranger straightens and finally looks at me.

I freeze again. Gratitude mixed with sharp nerves in my chest. He saved me, yes but something about him is too controlled and intense. Like danger doesn't leave with him, it follows.

"Thank you," I whisper, because I have to.

He doesn't answer, he just turns around to leave

"Wait!" The word blurts out before I can stop it. "At least... tell me your name."

He pauses. For a second I think he'll ignore me. Then his steady and cold voice cuts throughout the dark alley

"Baron."

And then he's gone.

I glance at the bodies littering the alley, panic sparking all over again. If anyone ties me to this, I'm screwed.

So I run.

By the next morning, the storm has passed, but last night clings to me. Every slam of a locker makes me flinch expecting Jace to jump out of somewhere, every shout in the hallway jolts my nerves after last night.

I tell myself to blend in, keep quiet, forget Baron. Forget Jace.

But of course, the universe hates me.

Classroom chatter buzzes until the teacher claps his hands. "Alright, settle down. We've got a new student today." He gestures at the door. "Come on in."

The door swings open.

And there he is.

Baron.

He walks in like he owns the place, like he didn't leave a trail of broken bodies just hours ago. His gaze sweeps the room, lands on me. His mouth curves just slightly, like he knows exactly what I'm thinking.

"This is Baron Jackson, he just moved here," the teacher says. "Make him feel welcome. Seat's over there."

Of course the empty seat is right next to me.

I glue my eyes to my notebook, scribbling nonsense. But I feel him sit and I feel the weight of him beside me. Every movement, every breath of his is loud, sharp and dangerously impossible to ignore.

Why does he have this effect on me? He's just a guy. A terrifying, unreadable guy, but still. Just a guy.

When the bell rings, girls swarm him instantly, all bright smiles and questions. He brushes them off with a small shake of his head, not interested.

I stay frozen in my seat, arguing with myself. I owe him thanks. But every word tangles in my head.

Finally, I force myself up. "Uh, hey." My voice cracks. Perfect. "I'm Alexa. I... I wanted to thank you. For yesterday."

For a second he just looks at me, unreadable. The silence drags so long my cheeks burn. I grab my bag, ready to flee.

And then he speaks, his voice low and even, his warm breath brushes my skin, close enough to stop my cold.

"You're welcome."