Chapter Nine: Fury and Fragility

The tension in the air was suffocating as Cassian’s voice cut through the hallway like a blade. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he growled, his voice low but filled with an edge that made the hairs on the back of Savannah’s neck stand up.

Derek turned, his hand still gripping Savannah’s wrist tightly, his expression dark and wild. “This doesn’t concern you, Black,” he sneered. “She’s my girlfriend. Stay out of it.”

Cassian’s eyes flickered to Savannah’s face, pale and tear-streaked, and then down to her wrist, red and raw from Derek’s bruising grip. Something inside him snapped. His jaw clenched, and his hands curled into fists at his sides.

“She’s not your anything,” Cassian bit out, his voice cold and dangerous. Before Derek could react, Cassian closed the distance between them, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him away from Savannah. “And if you ever touch her again, you’ll regret it.”

“Let go of me, you bastard!” Derek spat, struggling against Cassian’s hold. But Cassian was stronger, his anger fueling him as he slammed Derek against the wall.

Students began to gather, drawn by the commotion. Whispers filled the hallway, but Savannah barely registered them. Her vision blurred with tears, and her chest tightened with panic as the two boys clashed.

“Cassian, please,” she choked out, her voice trembling.

Cassian paused, his knuckles white as he held Derek against the wall. He turned his head to look at Savannah, his expression softening for a brief moment as he saw the tears streaming down her face. But when his gaze dropped to her red, swollen wrist, the softness vanished, replaced by a cold fury.

Without another word, Cassian drew back his fist and delivered one final, bone-crunching punch to Derek’s jaw. Derek crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain, as the crowd around them gasped.

Cassian didn’t look at Derek again. Instead, he stepped over him and approached Savannah. “Come here,” he said softly, opening his arms.

Savannah hesitated for only a second before collapsing into his embrace. She clung to him tightly, her body trembling against his as she let out a broken sob. Cassian held her close, his hand resting gently on the back of her head as he murmured, “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, but Cassian ignored them. He guided Savannah toward the exit, shielding her from the prying eyes of their classmates. When they reached his car, he opened the door and helped her inside, making sure she was settled before walking around to the driver’s seat.

As he started the engine, he glanced back at the hallway, where Derek was still on the ground, glaring daggers at them. Cassian met his gaze with a cold, dead glare of his own, a silent warning that promised more pain if Derek dared to cross the line again.

The drive was silent, save for the soft hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle from Savannah. Cassian kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, his chest tightening every time he saw her wiping her tears with trembling hands.

Eventually, he pulled into a secluded area, far from the prying eyes of their classmates. He turned off the car and shifted to face Savannah, who was curled up in the passenger seat, her face buried in her hands.

“I was so scared,” she whispered, her voice muffled by her palms.

Cassian’s heart ached at the sound. He reached over and gently pulled her hands away from her face, his eyes searching hers. “It’s alright,” he said softly. “I’m here. You’re safe now.”

Savannah let out a shaky breath before leaning into him, her arms wrapping around his torso as she cried against his chest. Cassian held her tightly, his hand stroking her hair as he whispered soothing words.

“It’s over,” he murmured. “I won’t let him hurt you again.”

Her sobs gradually subsided, and her breathing evened out. Cassian glanced down to find her fast asleep, her face pressed against his chest, her hands clutching his shirt as if afraid he would disappear.

“Please don’t go,” she mumbled in her sleep, her voice barely audible. “I need you.”

Cassian’s breath caught in his throat. For a moment, all he could do was stare at her, his chest tightening with a feeling he couldn’t quite name. Gently, he shifted her in his arms and stepped out of the car, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.

When they arrived at his house, he carried her upstairs to his room. The space was quiet and warm, the soft hum of a heater filling the silence. Cassian placed Savannah carefully on the bed, tucking her under the blanket. He pulled the heater closer to ensure she wouldn’t catch a chill, then crouched beside her, his gaze lingering on her peaceful face.

A soft strand of her damp hair clung to her cheek, and he reached out, brushing it aside with a tenderness that surprised even himself. His fingers lingered for a moment, his expression unreadable.

“I hope you forgive me someday for dragging you into this,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

For a long moment, he sat there, watching her as she slept, the weight of everything that had happened pressing heavily on his shoulders. But even in the chaos, one thought remained clear—he would do anything to protect her.