Chapter

222

Elyra carefully balanced her lunch tray as she walked through the crowded cafeteria, keeping her head down to avoid attention. The whispers and stares followed her anyway-most days, she could ignore them. But Jason Collins wasn't so easy to ignore.

He stepped in front of her with a smug grin, holding a juice box in one hand. "Hey, Moon Freak," he sneered. "Nice hair-does it glow in the dark too?"

Elyra tried to sidestep him, but Jason moved with her, his friends snickering behind him.

"I'm talking to you," he said, his tone sharper now. Then, without warning, he tipped the juice box over her tray, the orange liquid spilling across her food and dripping onto the floor.

The cafeteria erupted in laughter as Elyra froze, her face burning with humiliation. Jason's grin widened, clearly enjoying the reaction.

"Oops," he said mockingly. "Guess you'll have to eat moonlight for lunch."

Elyra clenched her fists, fighting the urge to retaliate. She turned and walked away, her vision blurring with unshed tears.

From across the cafeteria, Dain saw everything. His orange eyes darkened, his muscles tensing as he rose from his seat.

Jason leaned against the lockers later that day, still basking in the attention his stunt had earned. He didn't notice Dain until it was too late. "Collins."

Jason turned, his smirk faltering when he saw Dain's expression. "What do you want, freak boy?"

Before he could react, Dain grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the lockers with enough force to rattle them.

"You stay away from her," Dain growled, his voice low and dangerous. "If you ever touch her again-hell, if you even look at her wrong-I'll make you regret it."

Jason's eyes widened, his cocky demeanor crumbling under Dain's intense gaze. "Okay, okay! Chill out, man!" he stammered.

Dain released him with a shove, turning and walking away without another word.noveldrama

That night, Jason lay awake in his room, his mind racing. There was something about Elyra that he couldn't shake. Her golden eyes haunted him, pulling at something primal and inexplicable within him. "She's not like the others," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. His attraction to her burned hotter with every encounter, and he hated how it made him feel-weak, obsessed, consumed.

Somewhere deep down, he knew he couldn't stop. If anything, Dain's warning only made him want her more.