Get away from Her!!!!

My heart was already heavy from the strange, unrelenting pull Ryder and his brothers had over me. I didn’t need more drama, especially after yesterday. Without sparing him a glance, I moved quickly to an empty desk and settled in.

For a moment, I thought I was in the clear—until Alex approached.

Alex was kind, gentle, and normal—everything the Blackwood brothers weren’t. He gave me a friendly smile before sliding into the seat next to me without waiting for an invitation.

“Hope you don’t mind,” he said, brushing his dark brown hair out of his eyes. “The seat was empty, and you looked like you could use some company.”

I gave him a hesitant smile. “I don’t mind.”

“I was wondering…” Alex leaned in slightly, lowering his voice so the room’s chatter wouldn’t drown him out. “Do you have a boyfriend? Because if not, I’d like to—”

He didn’t get to finish.

The classroom door slammed open, crashing against the wall with a force that made everyone jump. Ryder strode in, his jaw clenched, his stormy eyes locked onto us like a predator sizing up prey. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, and the air felt heavy.

“Move,” Ryder growled, his voice low and dangerous as he stopped directly in front of our desk.

Alex glanced up, confused but not intimidated. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” Ryder’s eyes burned as they flicked to me, his gaze hard and unrelenting. “Get away from her. Now.”

“Ryder, don’t—” I started, my voice trembling slightly.

Alex stood his ground, his jaw tightening. “Amara’s not some object you own. If she doesn’t want me here, she can tell me herself.”

That was the wrong thing to say.

Before I could intervene, Ryder grabbed Alex by the front of his shirt and yanked him up, nearly toppling the desk in the process. Gasps echoed around the classroom, and the teacher froze mid-step at the front of the room.

“Stay away from her,” Ryder hissed through gritted teeth.

Alex, though visibly shaken, managed to find his voice. “What’s your problem, man? She doesn’t even like you.”

Something in Ryder snapped. He shoved Alex backward, sending him sprawling against the neighboring desk. The sound of the impact silenced the room entirely.

“Ryder, stop it!” I shouted, rushing to stand between them.

But Ryder didn’t listen. He was already closing in on Alex, who stumbled to his feet, his face red with anger and humiliation.

“Is this how you impress girls? By throwing tantrums?” Alex spat, his voice shaking but defiant.

“You don’t get to talk to her, look at her, or breathe near her,” Ryder snarled, his fists curling at his sides. “You don’t deserve to be in the same room as her.”

“Enough!” I yelled, stepping in front of Ryder and placing my hands on his chest to push him back. It was like trying to stop a freight train.

His heated gaze snapped to mine, and for a moment, I thought he might turn that rage on me. But instead, his eyes softened—barely—but his breathing remained harsh.

“Are you okay?” he asked me, his voice quieter but still laced with tension.

I stared at him, stunned by the question. “Am I—? You just attacked someone in the middle of class! What do you think?”

Behind me, Alex groaned, pulling himself up with the help of a desk. “You’re insane,” he muttered, glaring at Ryder.

Ryder’s eyes darkened again, but before he could move, the teacher finally snapped out of her shock.

“Enough, Mr. Blackwood!” she shouted. “Principal’s office, now!”

Ryder didn’t move at first, his gaze still locked on me as if daring me to look away. When I didn’t, he exhaled sharply, stepping back.

“This isn’t over,” he said quietly, the promise heavy in his tone.

He turned and stalked out of the room, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

Alex slumped into the chair, wincing as he rubbed his arm. “What’s his deal, Amara?”

I didn’t have an answer. My heart was still racing, my mind spinning from the chaos Ryder had unleashed. And yet, as much as I hated to admit it, a part of me couldn’t forget the way he had looked at me—as though he’d burn the world down just to keep me safe.

The classroom remained suffocatingly quiet long after Ryder left. The other students whispered, their voices sharp and accusing. I could feel their eyes on me, their hatred burning through my skin.

“She always causes trouble,” one girl muttered.

“She’s just a nobody. Why do they care about her?”

Their words stung, but I ignored them, focusing instead on Alex.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice low as I crouched by his desk.

“I’ll live,” he muttered, wincing as he rotated his shoulder. “But, Amara, seriously—what’s with him? Why does he act like he owns you?”

I didn’t have an answer that would make sense. “It’s…complicated,” I said weakly.

“Complicated?” He raised a brow, clearly not buying it.

Before I could respond, the bell rang, cutting through the tension in the room. Grateful for the excuse, I grabbed my bag and bolted for the door, leaving Alex and the rest of the class behind.

---

I barely made it out to the school courtyard before a hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.

I spun around, already knowing who it was. Ryder stood there, his expression a mix of frustration and something darker, something I didn’t want to name.

“What do you want?” I snapped, trying to pull my arm free.

“You,” he said simply, his voice low and rough.

I froze. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, stepping closer. His presence was overwhelming, and I instinctively backed up until my shoulders hit the cold stone wall of the school building.

“Ryder, stop it,” I warned, my voice trembling. “You can’t just—”

“Why were you letting him sit with you?” he demanded, cutting me off. His jaw was tight, his eyes blazing. “Why the hell would you let him talk to you like that?”

“Because he’s my friend,” I shot back, my voice rising. “Unlike you, he treats me like a human being!”

Ryder flinched, but his grip on my wrist didn’t loosen. “He’s not your friend. He’s a distraction. And I don’t like seeing anyone else near you.”

“You don’t get a say in who I talk to,” I spat, glaring up at him. “You’re not my boyfriend. You’re not anything to me, Ryder!”

His face hardened, and for a moment, I thought I’d gone too far. But then his expression shifted, softening in a way that caught me completely off guard.

“Maybe not yet,” he said quietly, his voice like a soft growl. “But you’re mine, Amara. Whether you like it or not.”

My heart pounded in my chest, and I hated how his words sent a thrill down my spine. I hated the way my body betrayed me, leaning slightly closer to him despite my better judgment.

“You’re insane,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“Maybe.” He smirked, leaning in until his breath brushed against my ear. “But you’ll see, sweetheart. No one else will ever come close to you. Not Alex. Not anyone.”

With that, he released my wrist and stepped back, leaving me shaken and furious.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I avoided Alex, ignored the whispers in the hallways, and pretended Ryder didn’t exist. But his words lingered, echoing in my mind long after I got home.

By the time night fell, I was exhausted—mentally and physically. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that Ryder’s possessive behavior didn’t affect me.

But it did.

It was past midnight when I heard the sound of my window creaking open.

I shot up in bed, my heart racing. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me,” came a familiar voice.

Ryder.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed, scrambling to cover myself with the blanket.

He stepped into the room like he belonged there, his tall frame silhouetted by the moonlight. “I needed to see you.”

“Have you lost your mind?” I whispered harshly, my voice barely above a whisper. “If anyone finds out you’re here—”

“Let them,” he interrupted, his gaze locking onto mine. “I don’t care.”

He crossed the room in three quick strides, stopping just short of my bed. His eyes softened, and for the first time, he looked…vulnerable.

“I can’t stop thinking about you, Amara,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “You’re all I see. All I want.”

“Ryder…” My voice faltered, my resolve crumbling under the intensity of his gaze.

“I know you hate me,” he continued, his jaw tightening. “And I know I’ve done nothing to deserve anything else. But I can’t stay away from you. I won’t.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding. Part of me wanted to push him away, to scream at him to leave and never come back. But another part—the part that terrified me—wanted him to stay.

“You should go,” I whispered, my voice shaking.

But Ryder didn’t move. Instead, he leaned down, his face inches from mine.

“Tell me to leave,” he said softly. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t feel it too.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Because I couldn’t.

And Ryder knew it.