Cassian Blackthorn wasn’t finished yet.
Aria’s POV
It was hours later, but my heart hadn’t stopped racing.
I could still hear the sickening crunch of bone under Rylan Blackthorn’s fists.
Still feel the heat of his breath on my face.
Still see the cruel, gleaming smirk he wore as he watched me cower.
And yet—I’d moved. I’d stepped between him and that Beta. I hadn’t run. Even though every fiber in my body screamed at me to.
Now I was walking alone down one of Bloodrose Academy’s colder, darker corridors. The kind that seemed to twist too far from the main halls, where torches flickered a little too low and the air seemed to breathe down your neck.
I shouldn’t have gone this way.
But I needed a shortcut to the infirmary. I’d left my bag there in the rush to help Cai and hadn’t seen him since. He was unconscious when the nurse rushed in. The memory of his blood smeared across my hands hadn’t left me.
Neither had the look in Rylan’s eyes.
I turned a corner—
And froze.
He was waiting for me.
Rylan Blackthorn. Leaning against the wall like he knew I’d come this way. Like a panther lounging in the shadows, not asleep—just patient.
The moment he saw me, that same wicked grin curled on his lips.
“Well, well,” he drawled, straightening. “If it isn’t the little hero.”
My stomach dropped.
I took a step back instinctively.
He stepped forward.
Another step back.
Another step forward.
He was enjoying this.
“What's the matter?” he asked, voice low, mockingly soft. “Don’t tell me you're scared? You weren’t so brave earlier, standing between me and that useless mutt.”
“He wasn’t useless,” I said, trying to steady my voice.
“Oh, right,” he sneered. “He was screaming. That’s very useful. Impressive, even.”
He took another step, close enough now that I could smell him—leather, smoke, and blood. His silver eyes glinted like razors under the torchlight.
“You got in my way,” he growled. “No one does that.”
“I was trying to stop you from killing someone!” I snapped.
“And why the fuck would you care?” His tone shifted, dark and biting. “You think you're some kind of savior? Some golden little stray that’ll come in and fix us all?”
I swallowed hard.
He circled me slowly, predator-still, his shoulder brushing mine deliberately.
“You don’t belong here,” he whispered near my ear. “You smell like fear. Like charity. Like something weak the Council scraped off the streets.”
I flinched.
He laughed.
“And now,” he continued, “you’ve got my attention.”
I turned to face him, fists clenched. “You want everyone to be afraid of you? Fine. But I’m not.”
He tilted his head, amused. “No? You look like you're about to piss yourself.”
“I’d rather piss myself than be you,” I snapped. “Cruel, entitled, pathetic—”
SLAM.
He slammed his palm into the wall beside my head, and I jolted. The impact echoed down the hall.
“You’ve got a sharp mouth,” he hissed. “But here’s the thing, Aria. You can throw words all day. It won’t protect you.”
I tried to move past him, but he blocked me, stepping into my path.
“Get out of my way,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“What will you do?” he mocked. “Cry again?”
The tears were already burning behind my eyes—but not from fear.
From rage.
“You think this is over?” he asked. “That you get to play protector, then go skipping off into the sunset?”
He leaned closer, lips curling. “Wrong. You’re on my list now.”
I stiffened. “You don’t scare me.”
“Lie better, little wolf,” he whispered.
And then—just like that—he stepped back, hands raised like he was innocent.
But the look in his eyes?
Pure poison.
“Oh, and one more thing,” he added as he turned his back. “Next time I hit someone... it might not be Cai.”
I didn’t breathe again until his footsteps vanished down the corridor.
And even then…
I couldn’t stop shaking.
After the longest, most exhausting day of my life, all I wanted was a moment of peace. One moment—just one—where I didn’t feel like prey walking into a den of monsters.
The dormitory halls had gone quiet, students tucked away in their luxury suites or gathered in exclusive lounges, bragging about bloodlines and battles. I didn’t belong in any of those spaces.
So I slipped away. I needed a breather. Somewhere quiet.
I wandered into the east wing, where the lights flickered and the air was cooler, damp with old stone and secrets. I pushed open the heavy wooden door to the girls’ washroom—
And froze.
The sounds hit me first.
Wet. Gasping. Animalistic.
Sloppy kisses. The rustle of fabric. Skin slapping against stone.
My breath hitched in my throat.
They didn’t even notice me.
She was pressed up against the marble counter, her blouse falling off her perfect shoulders, head thrown back in a moan. Long platinum blonde curls clung to her damp neck. Her skin gleamed like porcelain under the low light, and her crimson lips were parted in pleasure.
She was stunning. Dangerous. The kind of girl who’d step on you in heels and laugh.
And the boy—
Gods.
He was beautiful in the worst way.
Dark tousled hair. Jaw sharp enough to cut glass. A smirk etched into his face like it was born there. Shirt unbuttoned, sculpted chest on display, hand gripping her thigh as he leaned in to whisper something against her throat.
He oozed confidence. Power. And cruelty.
I couldn’t look away.
Until she saw me.
Her eyes—bright, cold, vicious—snapped open.
A heartbeat of silence.
Then—
“You filthy little rat!”
She shoved him back with a hiss and stormed toward me, heels clicking like gunshots.
I stumbled back. “I—I didn’t mean to—I didn’t know anyone—”
SLAP.
Her hand cracked across my cheek so hard my vision blurred.
Pain exploded down my jaw. I stumbled into the sink behind me, gripping the edge for balance.
“You disgusting little creep!” she shrieked. “Lurking in the shadows like some pathetic pervert!”
“I wasn’t—I swear—” I tried, but my voice was trembling.
The boy chuckled darkly behind her. Unbothered. Amused. Entertained.
“Damn, Liana,” he drawled. “You’ve got a hell of a swing.”
She ignored him, eyes locked on me like a predator about to kill.
“You think this is funny?” she snarled. “You think you can spy on me? On Cassian Blackthorn?”
My stomach dropped.
Cassian.
The third-born Alpha.
The name I’d only heard in whispers. Not as ruthless as Rylan, not as cold as Zayne—but cruel in a different way. A sadist with a smile. The one who enjoyed the fall of the weak.
“Oh, look at her face,” he said behind her with a slow grin. “Didn’t even mean to walk in? Aw, Liana. You broke her little heart.”
She turned to him. “She was staring. Watching us. She’s probably some disgusting little virgin who touches herself to the thought of Alpha bloodlines.”
They both laughed.
Tears stung my eyes. My cheek burned.
“I didn’t mean to see anything,” I whispered. “I just—I just needed to use the washroom.”
“Well, maybe use a mirror while you’re at it,” Liana snapped. “Your face is offensive.”
I took a step back.
Cassian’s eyes met mine. That smirk deepened.
“You’re Aria, right?” he asked, cocking his head. “The cursed mutt the Council dumped here like garbage.”
I froze.
“I’ve heard about you,” he said slowly, stalking closer. “Little stray thinks she’s brave. Thinks she can stand up to Alphas.” His eyes glittered. “Rylan told me about your stunt in class.”
“She was trembling,” Liana added mockingly. “Trying to play hero. It was pathetic.”
I wanted to run. To disappear.
But my feet wouldn’t move.
Cassian stepped closer.
I stepped back.
He followed.
One step. Then another.
Until my back hit the wall.
“Scared?” he whispered, eyes gleaming with dark delight.
I didn’t answer.
“I like that,” he said. “Fear suits you.”
“You’re both sick,” I managed to choke.
Liana’s face twisted. “What did you just say?”
Cassian laughed. “Careful, Aria. You’re already one step away from being ripped apart.”
“Come near us again,” Liana hissed, “and I’ll make sure Rylan breaks every bone in your body. Or maybe Cassian will do it first. He loves training the weak.”
He leaned closer, voice like velvet over venom. “And if you think Zayne didn’t notice you staring at him like a bitch in heat… well, don’t flatter yourself, stray. He doesn’t touch trash.”
I turned and ran.
I didn’t even care about the tears on my face or the laughter behind me. I ran until I was back in the dorm, the door locked, my breath ragged.
And then I crumbled.
Because somehow, this place kept finding new ways to break me.
And I had a feeling—
Cassian Blackthorn wasn’t finished yet.