Chapter 7
The moment I got home, I shut the door and leaned against it, heart pounding like a drum in my chest.
What had just happened?
Ian Dawson—Alpha’s son, heartbreaker, danger wrapped in perfection—had kissed me. Not fully. Not deeply. But enough to ignite something wild and confusing in me.
I barely heard my mom asking about my day. I just mumbled something about class and hurried to my room.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at myself. Same oversized sweater. Same plain face. Same big glasses. But everything felt different. Like something inside had cracked open, and now there was light seeping through.
I didn’t know if it was good or bad.
The next few days were a blur. Ian didn’t show up in any of my classes, and I couldn’t tell if I was relieved or disappointed. Abigail noticed something was up.
“You’ve been floating like a balloon,” she said, poking me with her straw at lunch. “What happened? Don’t tell me it’s Ian again.”
I didn’t respond.
“Oh my goddess,” she gasped. “He kissed you, didn’t he?”
I nearly choked on my water.
She leaned closer, eyes wide with disbelief. “He did!”
“Abby,” I hissed, glancing around. “Please. Not so loud.”
“I knew something was happening between you two,” she whispered. “So what now? Are you guys like… together?”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t know what we are. He’s confusing. One moment he’s everywhere, the next he disappears like smoke.”
Abigail’s excitement dimmed. “Just be careful, Ava. Guys like Ian… they’re hurricanes. And girls like us? We’re not built to survive that kind of storm.”
I knew she was right. But knowing didn’t stop my heart from beating faster every time I thought of him.
That weekend, something unexpected happened.
Luke invited me and Abigail to a bonfire party near the river. It was a rare chance to relax, and after everything that had happened, I figured I needed a distraction.
I wore jeans and a soft blue hoodie. Nothing fancy. Just enough to blend in.
But when we arrived, the first person I locked eyes with was Ian.
He was leaning against a tree, surrounded by his usual group. Girls hovered near him like moths to a flame, laughing too loudly and flipping their hair.
I tried to avoid him. I really did.
But the second he saw me, he left the group and walked straight to me.
“Didn’t think you’d come,” he said, eyes scanning my face.
“I wasn’t planning to,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “Luke invited us.”
“I’m glad you did.”
Before I could respond, a girl I didn’t recognize sauntered up beside him. She looped her arm around his, smirking at me.
“Hey, Ian,” she purred. “Missed you.”
I froze.
Ian looked down at her arm, then back at me. “Let go.”
She laughed like he was joking. “Why? You weren’t complaining last week.”
That stung.
I turned to walk away, but Ian caught my wrist gently. “Ava, wait.”
“Don’t,” I said, voice shaking. “This is exactly why I didn’t want anything to do with you.”
He stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “She means nothing.”
“Then why was she touching you like that?”
“Because I let her,” he admitted. “Before I knew you mattered.”
My breath hitched.
“I didn’t expect to feel this way,” he said, quieter now. “But I do. And it’s messy. And it scares the hell out of me.”
I stared at him, torn between believing him and protecting myself.
“I’m not some game, Ian,” I whispered. “I’ve been broken enough times. I won’t survive another one.”
He nodded slowly. “I’m not asking you to trust me all at once. Just… don’t walk away yet.”
We stood in the glow of the bonfire, the heat flickering between us, unsure of what we were—or what we could become.