Chapter 46 CHAPTER 46
The next day started… normal.
As normal as life could be when your boyfriend was Knox Hale and you were trying not to think about how he kissed you like he never wanted to stop.
I went to class with Maya and Jordan, pretending my heart wasn’t doing stupid tap dances every time my phone buzzed because I knew it was him checking in on me, telling me to eat, asking what I was wearing, sending me stupid selfies that made me want to bury my face in a pillow.
Class went fine.
Notes. Lectures. Jokes with Liam.
A text from Knox saying you look pretty today btw even though I haven’t seen you yet.
A blush that refused to go away.
By the time classes ended, I was floating down the hallway, half-distracted, half-happy, hugging my textbook and humming under my breath because for once everything felt soft and light and uncomplicated—
Until it didn’t.
Because when I turned the corner to exit the building, a voice called out:
“Heyyy snow bunny! Come here— lemme see that pretty ass—”
I froze.
My heart dropped.
I turned slightly and saw a tall guy leaning against the wall, a sneer on his face, eyes dragging over me in a way that made my skin crawl.
“No thanks,” I muttered, stepping away. “Move.”
He grabbed my arm.
Actually grabbed it.
His fingers dug into my skin.
“Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you—”
I didn’t even get the chance to react.
Because suddenly someone yanked him back so violently he slammed against the lockers.
Knox.
His face was pure fire — jaw tight, eyes cold, shoulders tense like he was ready to end someone.
He didn’t say a word.
He didn’t need to.
The guy barely had a second to breathe before Knox punched him.
Once.
Twice.
A third time that echoed like thunder.
The corridor erupted into chaos as people pulled out their phones, voices shouting, gasping, recording the whole thing.
The guy fell to the ground, clutching his face, but Knox didn’t stop — he grabbed him again, slamming him against the lockers so hard the building practically shook.
“You touch her again—” Knox growled, voice low and deadly, “and I’ll break every bone in your body.”
“K-Knox, stop—” I breathed, but he didn’t hear me.
He was gone.
Lost in that terrifying mix of protectiveness and rage.
Two security guards rushed in, grabbing him, pulling him back, shouting at him to calm down.
He fought their hold for a moment, eyes still locked on the guy like he was deciding whether or not to finish the job.
The guy coughed, blood on his lip, stumbling away as people whispered and filmed.
“What the hell, man? You’re crazy—”
Knox lunged again, but three guards held him back this time.
He shook them off eventually, chest heaving, face still carved in anger.
When his eyes finally snapped to me, everything in his expression softened instantly.
“Yael,” he breathed, moving toward me. “Did he hurt you?”
My heart stuttered.
“No— no, I’m fine, I just— Knox, people are staring—”
Because they were.
Whispering.
Recording.
Judging.
Dozens of eyes flicking back and forth between him and the crying, bruised guy on the floor.
“Someone get medical,” a guard said.
“Is Knox Hale insane?” someone whispered.
“This guy needs therapy—”
“Is he on something?”
“Why does he snap like this?”
“He’s dangerous.”
Every word stabbed me.
No one knew it was because of me.
No one knew he stepped in because someone tried to drag me away.
To them, he was just the campus menace losing control again.
And worst of all—
Aaron would see it.
The whole campus gossip page would explode in minutes.
And Aaron wasn’t stupid.
He’d put two and two together.
Maybe not immediately… but soon.
And then—
God.
I swallowed hard. “Knox, go before they take you in. Please.”
He didn’t move.
His eyes scanned my face, searching for any sign I was hurt.
“I’m fine,” I whispered. “Just— go. Now.”
His jaw clenched.
He nodded once, reluctantly, then turned and let the guards lead him away toward the administrative building.
People pressed to the side to make space, whispering louder.
The guy who harassed me looked terrified now, clutching his swollen cheek while security fussed around him.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
My hands were shaking.
Not because of Knox.
But because the entire campus was about to turn this into a circus.
And once the video hit the group chat, Aaron would see it.
And if he somehow found out I was involved—
He would kill him.
And kill me after.
Not literally.
But
close enough.
I turned and walked quickly down the hall, trying to breathe normally, trying not to burst into tears.