CHAPTER ONE

NOAH’S POV

The scent of pancakes and eggs filled the air as I sat at the dining table, absently pushing my fork through my food. Gavin was already stuffing his face like a starving wolf, while Lucas, as usual, sat stiffly, barely eating.

Breakfast at our house was usually loud, filled with Gavin’s teasing and Lucas’ occasional grumbling. But today, the air was heavy.

Lucas finally cleared his throat, setting his fork down. “Noah,” he said firmly.

I paused, glancing up. “Yeah?”

He exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around his mug. “From today onward, you’ll be dressing as a guy.”

I blinked. For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him.

“What?”

Lucas met my gaze for half a second before looking away. “It’s for your safety.”

My stomach twisted. “My safety?” I scoffed. “How exactly does pretending to be a guy keep me safe?”

Neither of them answered immediately. Lucas simply cut into his pancake with calculated calmness, avoiding my eyes.

A cold, bitter feeling settled in my chest. “You’re not serious. Are you?.”

“We are.” Lucas said without hesitation.

Anger bubbled up inside me. “I’ve done everything you asked. I’ve hidden, I’ve followed every stupid rule you set, and now you want me to erase my identity too?” My voice rose. “Why? What are you not telling me?”

Lucas’ jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

That silence was worse than any lie.

My hands curled into fists. “Of course. As usual, you won't say anything” I shoved my chair back and stormed upstairs, ignoring the way Gavin sighed.

~~~

I sat on my bed, staring at the wall, my chest heaving with anger. This wasn’t fair.

What were they protecting me from?

I had spent my whole life in hiding, like a damn cage. Never allowed to go out unless they were with me. Always moving from town to town, never staying in one place long enough to make friends. I thought coming to Siege University would finally give me some freedom, but now, my brothers are shoving me into this ridiculous disguise.

Like I was some kind of criminal on the run.

Or worse..,like someone was hunting me.

I never even saw my father. He died before I was born. And my mother…

She only got to hold me just once.

She died giving birth to me, according to the story my brothers told me.

Gavin and Lucas never blamed me, but I always saw it in their eyes, the sadness, the pain. And now, instead of telling me the truth about why they were so desperate to keep me hidden, they were making me do this.

I pressed my fingers against my temples, trying to push away the frustration.

A soft knock echoed through my room.

I knew who it was before he even spoke.

“Pookie,” Gavin called from the other side. “Can I come in?”

I didn’t answer. He took that as a yes and walked in anyway, closing the door behind him.

“Look, I know you’re pissed,” he said, leaning against my dresser. “But you know we wouldn’t do this if it wasn’t for the best.”

I turned away. “Then tell me why.”

Gavin hesitated. “I… I can’t.”

I laughed bitterly. “Of course you can’t.”

He sighed, ruffling his already messy hair. “Listen, I get it. You feel like we’re taking away your choices, and maybe we are. But it’s because we love you and we're only looking out for your safety, Pookie.”

I stiffened.

“We’ll protect you with our lives,” he continued, his voice softer now. “Lucas may not know how to say it, but we’re scared. You mean everything to us.”

My throat tightened.

I hated this. I hated feeling like a burden. I hated being deprived of freedom 

I swallowed hard. “You swear it’s for my safety?”

“On my life,” he said without hesitation.

I closed my eyes, my chest aching. Then, finally, I let out a slow breath.

“Fine.”

A grin spread across his face. “Knew you’d come around. Come here” he said, opening his arms 

I rolled my eyes, hugging him but deep down, the uneasy feeling wouldn’t leave me.

~~~

Staring at my reflection, I barely recognized myself.

Sharp jawline. Flattened chest. Loose hoodie. My thick black hair tied into a low ponytail beneath my cap.

I swallowed.

I looked… nothing like me.

A bitter smile curled my lips.

The disguise was perfect.

I turned just as Gavin strolled into my room, his cocky grin in place. “Hey, dude.”

I shot him a glare.

He chuckled. “Relax, Pookie. Just act like me, and everything will go smoothly.”

My stomach twisted. I didn’t want to ‘act like him.’ But I had no choice.

He slung an arm over my shoulder, turning us toward the mirror.

“Damn. Handsomeness runs in the family.” He let out a low whistle.

I didn’t hesitate. My elbow slammed into his stomach.

“I hate you,” I muttered.

He coughed dramatically. “Love you too, Pookie.”

I rolled my eyes and headed downstairs. Gavin followed, still laughing.

Lucas was waiting, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“Took you long enough,” he said, his gaze flicking to Gavin.

“Pookie needed time to perfect the disguise,” Gavin teased.

Lucas ignored him and turned to me. “Let’s go.”

I frowned. “Wait. I thought Gavin was dropping me off?” I instinctively moved closer to Gavin. Between my brothers, Gavin was the only one who didn’t suffocate me with overprotection.

Gavin shot me a regretful smile. “I’d love to, Pookie. Watching the girls drool over you would be hilarious. But I’ve got somewhere to be.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Secret outing. Of course.”

Rolling my eyes, I huffed. “Fine.”

Lucas jingled his car keys, already heading for the door. “Noah. Now.”

I sighed and followed, but I didn’t miss Gavin’s playful wink behind my back.

This was going to be a long day.

SIEGE UNIVERSITY

The campus was huge, the buildings towering like silent giants. Students bustled around, laughter and chatter filling the air.

I swallowed, adjusting my cap.

I could do this.

Just blend in. For my safety.

Lucas dropped me off near the entrance, his sharp gaze scanning the area like he expected an ambush.

“Be careful,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m literally going to school, not a battlefield.”

Lucas didn’t answer.

I sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be careful.”

Satisfied, he nodded. “Call us if anything happens and we will be there before you know it.”

With that, he drove off.

Taking a deep breath, I took a chocolate lollipop from my backpack and turned toward the entrance

~~~

I walked through the university gates with a lazy smirk, an unusual rush of attention following me like a parade. Girls giggled and whispered, their eyes lighting up when I passed. A few of them are taking pictures.

“Woah! He's handsome."

 He's a freshman."

"A hot lecturer and a hot freshman. Can today get any juicy!"

 I smiled at them, flashing a wink. 

They gasped, faces turning red, and I walked away, grinning to myself. Acting like Gavin isn't a bad idea after all 

As I neared the lecture hall, I noticed a group of female students standing by the windows, whispering excitedly. Their voices a mix of excitement and dreamy sigh, their eyes fixed on something or someone inside the hall.

Curious, I slowed my steps. Who the hell has them acting like lovesick idiots?

Without caring whom it was, I stepped into the class with my usual confidence 

Then, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Standing at the front of the lecture hall was the most illegally gorgeous man I had ever seen. I thought I had seen it all with my brother's handsomeness, but my eyes had just been opened. This man was everything.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Effortlessly powerful aura.

The air around him felt different, heavier, charged with something I couldn’t name. His golden amber eyes were sharp, cutting through the space between us like a blade, as if he could see straight through me.

Chiseled jawline. Messy dark brown hair. A perfectly fitted black sleeve shirt, that stretched on his abs.

Damn.

Then, his gaze snapped up and locked onto mine.

Everything shifted.

I froze.

The air in the room thickened, pressing down on me like a weight. A strange heat crawled up my spine, unfamiliar and unsettling.

What the hell is this?

His eyes,deep,dark, and unreadable,held me captive. Like he was searching for something inside me, something only he could see.

A flicker of something crossed his face. Something I couldn’t place.

Recognition? Shock? Disbelief?

It was there for a split second. Then—gone.

Annoyance surged through me. Screw his gorgeous self.

I forced down whate

ver weird reaction my body was having and smirked, stepping further into the class with easy confidence, holding his gaze without hesitation.

I wasn’t about to let some ridiculously hot lecturer shake me on my first day.