Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

YAEL

“Yeah, just—drop that box over there. No, not on the bed. Over there. Thank you.”

The mover gives me that look. You know, the one that says she’s bossy but kinda cute so I’ll let it slide. He sets the box down with a grunt and wipes his forehead dramatically, like he just finished building the pyramids.

I clap my hands together. “Perfect. You’ve done your country proud.”

He snorts but doesn’t say anything. His partner wheels in the last suitcase, and within seconds, my single dorm room officially looks like a storage unit.

Hartwell University.

Co-ed dorms.

New chapter of my life.

And somehow, Aaron actually pulled enough strings to get me a single room. Do you know how rare that is? I’d seen people online practically auctioning kidneys for this kind of privacy.

“Yael.”

I turn, and there he is—my big brother, Aaron Levi, in all his overprotective, broad-shouldered, six-foot-two glory. His brows are drawn together like he’s inspecting the room for hidden sniper rifles.

“You like it?” he asks, crossing his arms.

“I love it.” I grin, spinning around once. “It’s quiet. It’s mine. And no weird roommates who’ll eat my yogurt at 3 a.m.”

He raises an eyebrow. “You say that like you’re not the weird roommate in other scenarios.”

“First of all, I’m delightful.” I point at him with mock offense. “Second of all, this is perfect. Seriously, thank you.”

I walk over and hug him tight. Aaron’s arms come around me, solid and familiar. For a second, it hits me — this is real. I’m in college. Away from home. Away from the bubble.

Then he pulls back and launches into full big brother mode.

“Yael, listen. Co-ed dorm means you’re sharing a building with guys. Guys.” He says it like it’s a disease. “If anyone tries anything, you call me. Immediately. I don’t care if it’s 3 a.m. or if I’m in the middle of—”

“Okay, Liam Neeson.” I roll my eyes. “Got it. You’ll find them, you’ll kill them. Very macho. Very intimidating. But I’m a big girl.”

He doesn’t look convinced. “Yael.”

I mimic his voice, “Aaron.”

He narrows his eyes. I grin wider. This is our thing — him being a drama king, me making him twitch.

“Seriously,” he mutters. “Don’t talk to random guys. Don’t give your number to anyone. Don’t—”

I cover his mouth with my hand. “I got it. No boys. No trouble. Just me, my books, and my single room. You can stop sweating.”

He mumbles something against my palm, and I step back, laughing.

Aaron sighs and rubs his temple. “You’re going to give me gray hair before I graduate.”

“Good,” I say cheerfully. “Then people will finally believe you’re the boring sibling.”

His scandalized face is everything. “Excuse me?”

I hug Aaron again, squeezing like I can trap him here a little longer.

He pats my head like I’m twelve. “Alright, rugrat. I gotta bounce. Coach wants us back for conditioning. You set this place up. Don’t make it look like a tornado hit it, okay?”

I roll my eyes. “Please, I’m aesthetic. You should be thanking me for bringing class to this dorm.”

He snorts. “Yeah, sure. Just remember the rules—”

“Yes, yes. No boys, no parties, no summoning demons in my single room. Got it.”

“Yael—” His warning tone kicks in. I grin wider.

“Go, Aaron. Before your team starts crying because their captain’s too busy being my bodyguard.”

He shakes his head, muttering something about me being a menace, and heads down the hallway. He gives me one last look before disappearing around the corner.

The second the door closes behind me, the silence is so peaceful I could cry. Just me. No roommate. No noise. No—

Thud.

I freeze.

Another thud. Louder. Then muffled shouting.

“What the—”

I abandon my half-opened suitcase and bolt to the door barefoot, yanking it open.

Down by the stairwell, a crowd has formed. Phones are up, students buzzing with oh my god, a fight energy. And right in the center?

Aaron.

My idiot, overprotective, hot-headed brother.

He’s got someone pinned against the wall by the collar, punching like he’s auditioning for a boxing match. The other guy doesn’t look weak either—he’s shoving back, lips already split, but grinning.

“Are you insane?!” I scream, shoving through the crowd.

“Yael, stay back,” Aaron grunts without looking at me, throwing another punch.

“No!” I wedge myself between them, palms braced against Aaron’s chest. It’s like trying to stop a moving car. “Stop it! Aaron, stop!”

The other guy laughs—low, rough, like this is fun for him. “What’s wrong, captain? Need your little sister to bail you out?”

My head snaps toward him and—holy. Hell.

He’s leaning back against the wall, blood on his lip, hair tousled in that careless, I woke up like this and ruined lives before breakfast kind of way. His T-shirt clings to his chest, ink peeking from under the sleeve.

And those eyes. Stormy grey, sharp, and locked on me like I’m something worth memorizing.

Oh no. No no no.

He smirks. “Well. Didn’t expect this kind of welcome.”

My brain forgets English for a second.

Aaron lunges. I shove him back harder. “Aaron! I swear, if you get suspended before I unpack—”

“He threatened you” Aaron growls, jabbing a finger at the guy.

I blink. “What?”

The guy tilts his head lazily. “That’s a new one. Usually people hit me after I open my mouth.”

Aaron glares. “Knox Hale. Of course.”

The name clicks somewhere in my head. Football. Business major. Bad reputation. Girls whispering in the dining hall about him like he’s both a warning and a fantasy.

Knox wipes his lip with his thumb, eyes still on me. “So, princess, you got a name or should I keep calling you trouble?”

I stare. “Princess?”

“Yeah.” His grin widens, slow and dangerous. “Fits.”

My pulse trips over itself. “You’re bleeding. And weird.”

Aaron shoves my shoulder lightly. “Yael, move.”

“No! You’re not murdering people on my first day.”

“I’m not murdering him.”

Knox hums. “Could’ve fooled me.”

The tension crackles, loud enough you can practically taste it. The crowd eats it up, whispering, recording. Fantastic. My first day and I’m already trending on DormTok.

I step closer to Aaron and hiss under my breath, “You’re embarrassing me.”

“I’m protecting you.”

“From what? His face?”

Aaron’s jaw tightens. “Exactly.”

Knox’s laugh slides over my skin like smoke. “Wow. He’s got jokes and paranoia.”

Aaron lunges again. I slam my hand against his chest. “Aaron!”

He freezes. I give him my I will snitch to Mom glare.

Finally, he throws up his hands. “Fine. But I’m not apologizing.”

Knox whistles low. “Chivalry’s alive. Sort of.”

Aaron glares at him like he’s mentally setting him on fire, then turns and grabs my wrist. “Come on. Before this idiot tries anything else.”

I stumble after him, shooting Knox a glare over my shoulder.

He’s watching us go. Not the fight, not Aaron. Me.

And his smile isn’t mocking now. It’s sharper. Unreadable. Like he’s found something interesting and plans to take it apart slowly.

Something twists in my stomach.

Back in my room, Aaron slams the door. “Stay away from him,” he says, voice hard.

I flop on my bed. “Who even is he?”

“Knox Hale,” Aaron practically spits the name. “Quarterback. Arrogant. A walking problem. He’s my rival. And he’s not coming anywhere near you.”

I bite back a grin. “Sounds like someone’s jealous.”

“Yael.”

“Okay, okay.” I hold my hands up. “I’ll stay away. Promise.”

I don’t promise. I just say it.

He gives me one last warning look before leaving for real this time, still muttering curses about Knox.

The moment the door clicks shut, the room feels bigger. Too quiet.

I lean back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

I should be thinking about classes. Decorating. Laundry.

Instead, all I can see is that stupid grin. The way his lip curled when he called me princess. Those storm-cloud eyes that made i

t hard to breathe for a second.

I groan, dragging a pillow over my face. “Nope. Not happening. I’m not that girl.”

But his voice lingers in my head anyway.

See you around, princess.