I own this school

**Lily’s POV**

The rest of the day dragged on, but my mind was nowhere near my classes. My thoughts kept circling back to Ryder and what had happened in the cafeteria.

Why had he defended me? Since when did he stand up to Vanessa?

The questions gnawed at me, relentless and unyielding. Ryder had never been the protective type. If anything, he thrived on seeing me suffer. He’d always been Vanessa’s enabler, her partner in cruelty. So why had he stepped in today? Why had he stopped her?

And most importantly—why did Vanessa look scared of him?

That was the part that stuck with me the most. Vanessa, the queen of this twisted high school hierarchy, had looked... terrified. Her usual smug confidence had shattered in an instant, replaced by something raw and primal. Fear. Real fear.

I tapped my pen against my notebook, staring blankly at my notes. None of it made sense. Ryder had always been a storm, unpredictable and destructive, but this? This was different. This felt calculated, deliberate.

Something’s changed.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t know what it was, but I could feel it in the air, like the calm before a storm. And I had a sinking feeling it had everything to do with me.

When the final bell rang, I shoved my books into my bag and hurried toward the exit. I just wanted to get out of here, to breathe, to escape the suffocating weight of Ryder’s presence.

But, of course, peace wasn’t meant for me.

Just as I turned the corner, a strong hand gripped my wrist and yanked me into an empty classroom.

I gasped, my heart lurching as the door slammed shut behind me.

I twisted out of the grip, ready to throw a punch—until I saw who it was.

“Hunter?” I frowned, rubbing my wrist. “What the hell?”

He didn’t answer right away. His dark brown eyes—so much like Ryder’s, yet so different—were filled with something intense. His jaw was tight, his broad shoulders tense, as if he were holding something back.

Then, he finally spoke.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I blinked, my stomach dropping. Tell him what? Does he know?

I forced myself to keep my expression neutral, though my heart was racing. “Tell you what?”

His eyes flickered with frustration. “About Ryder.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. What does he know? What did he see?

“What about him?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

Hunter stepped closer, closing the space between us. He was tall—almost as tall as Ryder—but where Ryder’s presence felt suffocating, Hunter’s felt... different. Protective. Safe.

“I saw what happened at lunch,” he said, his voice low. “I saw how he stopped Vanessa.”

I looked away, my chest tightening. “So?”

Hunter narrowed his eyes. “So? That’s not something Ryder does. He never stops Vanessa. He’s always the one encouraging her. And now, suddenly, he’s protecting you?”

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “I don’t know why he did it.”

Hunter’s eyes stayed locked onto mine, searching for something I wasn’t ready to give. “You’re lying.”

The accusation stung, but I couldn’t let him see how much. “I’m not lying. I really don’t know, okay? Maybe he just wanted to piss Vanessa off.”

Hunter shook his head, his expression hardening. “No. It’s more than that.”

I hated the way his voice sounded—serious, concerned, like he was trying to piece together a puzzle I didn’t even understand.

He took another step closer, and I instinctively backed up, my back hitting the edge of a desk.

His expression softened slightly, but the intensity in his eyes didn’t waver. “Lily… if Ryder is messing with you—”

I scoffed, trying to ignore the way my heart was pounding. “Messing with me? That’s all he ever does, Hunter. This is nothing new.”

His jaw tightened, and I could see the frustration building in him. “No. This is different. He’s never interfered like this before. He’s never stopped Vanessa. And I don’t like it.”

I let out a shaky breath, my chest aching with the weight of his concern.

Because I didn’t like it either.

And I hated that I didn’t have answers.

I pushed past Hunter before he could say anything else. “I have to go.”

He didn’t stop me, but I could feel his gaze burning into my back as I walked out of the classroom.

__________

**Ryder’s POV**

Lily thought she could avoid me.

How cute.

Did she really think I’d let her walk away so easily? That I’d suddenly grown a conscience and decided to stop tormenting her?

No.

I wasn’t Hunter.

I didn’t save people.

I destroyed them.

And Lily? She was my favorite game.

She didn’t know it yet, but she had challenged me the moment she talked back to Vanessa. The moment she stood up for herself instead of curling up like a pathetic little coward.

That fire inside her… I wanted to snuff it out.

I wanted to see her break.

The next day, I watched as Lily walked into the academy like she was trying to be invisible. Head down, arms wrapped around her books, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

Pathetic.

But I wasn’t about to let her have a peaceful day.

I smirked as I caught up to her in the hallway, my voice dripping with amusement.

“Look who decided to show up.”

She flinched at my voice but didn’t stop walking.

Interesting.

I grabbed her wrist, yanking her to a stop. “What’s the rush? Running off to cry in the bathroom again?”

Her jaw clenched, but she didn’t respond.

That just made me grin wider. “What? No witty comeback? You seemed pretty confident when you threw that drink on Vanessa. Thought you were brave now, little Lily.”

She finally yanked her wrist free, glaring up at me. “Screw you, Ryder.”

I chuckled darkly. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Her face turned red, and I leaned in, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Or maybe you already did… since you seemed to enjoy that kiss so much.”

Her whole body tensed, and I could see the flicker of shame in her eyes.

Ah. There it is.

That vulnerability. That weakness.

I loved watching her break.

She shoved me away, her breathing unsteady. “You’re disgusting.”

I laughed, the sound echoing down the hallway. “And you’re a joke, Lily. Walking around like you matter. Like you belong here. Let me remind you—you don’t.”

Her hands clenched into fists, but I could see the hesitation in her eyes.

Good.

I stepped closer, caging her against the lockers, lowering my voice so only she could hear.

“You think Hunter’s going to save you?” I smirked. “He won’t. He’s too weak to stand up to me. And deep down, you know it.”

She swallowed hard, but I could see the flicker of doubt in her expression.

Perfect.

I leaned even closer, my lips almost brushing her ear. “I own this school, Lily. I own you.”

Then, I stepped back, flashing her a cruel smirk before walking away, leaving her standing there—shaken, vulnerable, and exactly where I wanted her.

This game was just getting started.

And I wasn’t going to stop until she was completely broken.