Chapter 12

The hot sun burned my exposed shoulders. From the bleachers, I watched my class playing soccer while other students ran around the field. I ran my fingers through my hair, irritated by the abnormal heat. The days seemed to be getting hotter, and on days like this, I hated sweating under the sun.

Little by little, some members of Hebi approached to rest, panting and sharing bottles of cold water. I listened to their lively conversation and joined them, catching up on a few things. Some even gathered the courage to ask about my time in the reformatory, and even though I hated remembering that place with every fiber of my being, I told them everything they wanted to know.

**"Aren’t you going to play?"** Kenji asked me when our group dispersed at the teacher’s orders.

**"No, I train too much at home to have to do the same here,"** I grumbled, drinking the cold water. Smiling, Kenji sat beside me, stretching his legs and pulling his shirt up to wipe his sweaty face.

**"You say that, but you still haven’t shown up for training,"** he pointed out, analyzing me.

**"You better get ready. Tomorrow, you’ll be the first to suffer at my hands,"** I shot back, amusing him.

I glanced at Artemis standing at the edge of the field. She wore short white shorts and a red shirt tied at the waist, revealing her smooth stomach. I had observed her at school, watching how she interacted with other students and teachers, and I came to the conclusion that she wasn’t a girl—she was a machine. A robot built to please everyone.

No matter who she talked to, everyone seemed enchanted by her, and I hated seeing some of the Lily boys doing everything they could to get her attention. The twins were right—Artemis was popular and didn’t even have to try to be the center of attention.

**"Fuck it,"** I muttered, looking away.

**"What’s up?"** Shin approached, shirtless, his platinum hair messy.

**"Nothing,"** I mumbled, shifting my gaze to Matias and his friends. He was sweaty and shirtless, exposing his defined body and various bruises. He was a beautiful sight, and everything was ruined by the arrival of the red-haired boy.

Smiling, Kaleo tied his hair back with an elastic band and then touched Matias’s exposed skin with a mix of intimacy and amusement. I blinked in surprise, feeling as if knives were stabbing my stomach. I licked my lips, my breathing heavy, as dark feelings took over every fiber of my body.

Matias pulled away from the touch before meeting my gaze, and I got lost in his brown eyes, embracing all the emotions that consumed me entirely.

***

Eager for lunch, the boys’ locker room quickly emptied. Leaning against the hallway wall, I opened my eyes at the faint sound of a metal locker being opened. I ignored the phone vibrating in my pocket and stepped inside, following the noise to the second row of lockers.

Kaleo was finishing drying his hair while listening to music through his headphones. Absorbed in the song, he flinched when he noticed the shadow. Reading too much into it, Kaleo tensed as I grabbed his damp hair and slammed his face against the locker with enough force to easily break his nose.

Scarlet blood stained his face, and the redhead fell to the floor, dazed.

**"Why?"** he whimpered with difficulty.

I crouched in front of him, studying the fine features of his face. Kaleo wasn’t an attractive boy.

**"You can’t,"** he murmured, his eyes watery, his teeth stained with blood.

I remained still, observing the damage to his once-perfect nose. Why was it so easy to break? He didn’t seem like a Lily.

**"Why?"** he demanded, his voice hardening despite still being on the floor.

**"Don’t get the wrong idea,"** I began, reaching for his face, but Kaleo recoiled in fear. Tilting my head, I offered him a smile and forced him to stay still. I touched his broken nose, staining my fingers. **"This isn’t about you being a Lily, believe me,"** I assured him before setting his nose back in place.

Kaleo roared in pain, the agonizing sound echoing through the empty locker room.

**"You son of a bitch!"** he shouted, breathing through his slightly parted lips, his wide eyes full of tears as he glared at me in fury.

I bit my lip, amused by his agony.

**"You know, I can’t control myself,"** I admitted, resting my chin on my palm. **"I really, really hate when people touch what’s mine. You understand that, don’t you?"** I asked, holding his gaze, finally feeling my heart calm down.

Kaleo shook his head slowly, fear dominating his face as if I might attack him again at any moment. But what fun is there in breaking glass?

**"No? Ah! That’s fine,"** I murmured, shrugging. **"Just tell Matias. He’ll understand,"** I requested, brushing a red strand from his eye before standing up and leaving the locker room, the hungry beast inside my chest vanishing quickly.

In the cafeteria, I bought a sandwich and a soda. I ended up finding the others outside, under the dense trees, shielding themselves from the unbearable sun.

**"Ryuuji,"** Tashi, a boy two years younger than me, called when I approached. **"Your uniform is stained with blood,"** he pointed out, motioning to the cuff of my white shirt, speckled with red, catching everyone’s attention.

**"It was just an annoying cockroach. I already took care of it,"** I replied, earning laughter. However, Artemis simply stood up and walked away.

**"Coward,"** I remarked, knowing she could still hear me.

It wasn’t long before the bell signaling the end of lunch echoed through the school, making me realize I had spent too much time waiting for the redhead to pretty himself up.

**"You didn’t waste any time,"** Kenji commented, glancing at the drops of blood on my uniform. **"The principal will be pissed if she finds out,"** he reminded me with a grin.

**"Why would they involve Bervely when they can come straight for me?"** I asked, excited.

**"I told you things would get more interesting with you around,"** he laughed, equally thrilled.

I stopped in the doorway as my phone vibrated in my pocket. I glanced at the screen, noticing the unknown number.

**"Go ahead,"** I told Kenji, saying goodbye. I left the hallway and headed for the stairwell. **"Who is this?"** I answered the call, wondering who it could be.

**"What the fuck do you think you’re doing?"** Matias snapped from the other end.

**"You need to be more specific,"** I warned, leaning against the railing.

**"Kaleo, you bastard,"** he fired back, not bothering to hide his irritation.

**"Oh, that,"** I teased, amused. **"I thought it would be more fun, but the kid is so fragile he broke right away. You guys should train him better,"** I mocked, laughing.

**"Listen here, you little shit. No one breaks the rules in the neutral zone and gets away with it. I’m going to fuck you up,"** he declared, impatient.

Looks like I caught him off guard. It was so good to hear him lose control. I wondered if his face was twisted with rage.

**"Fuck me?"** I repeated thoughtfully. **"I’d like that,"** I agreed, and the line went completely silent.

**"Hey, didn’t your little boy tell you anything? I didn’t do it because he’s a Lily, and I didn’t use Hebi’s name to hurt him,"** I explained, watching the blue sky through the windows in front of me.

**"What?"** Matias asked, confused.

**"It was personal,"** I finally confessed.

Silence lingered, and I knew he understood.

**"Personal?"** he murmured, pulling another smile from me. **"Do you really think you can have everything you want?"** he mocked.

**"I’ve already accepted that, Matias. Don’t you think it would be much easier and more pleasurable if you did the same?"** I asked, making him hesitate with my low, husky voice.

**"You broke the rules by hurting one of mine. I won’t let this slide,"** he said, dodging the subject. **"It’s blood for blood, Ryuuji,"** he warned, so serious it was almost cute.

**"Matias,"** I stopped him before he could hang up. **"You’re mine,"** I told him, getting lost in the soft sound of his breathing.

Long seconds passed before Matias ended the call without saying anything.

I let out a long sigh, running a hand behind my neck without wiping away my grin.

**"And they say girls are complicated,"** I murmured, saving his number in my contacts.

I lifted my head at the sound of the door opening and someone stopping at the top of the stairs.

Artemis stood there with her arms crossed, staring at me coldly.

**"It’s your first day, and you’re already causing problems for Hebi. What the hell is your problem?"** she accused.

**"Have you never picked a fight with the Lilies?"** I provoked with disdain. **"Have you even dirtied your delicate little hands since you got here?"** I asked, watching her hard expression.

**"Dad already knows what happened."**

"So that’s how it’s going to be? You’re going to run to Daddy every time I do something, hoping for a pat on the back like a good little girl?" I retorted, climbing the steps toward her and stopping right in front of her.

"In case you forgot, you’re under my supervision, kid. And nothing bothers me more than a Hebi causing trouble just because he’s too bored from having everything in life," she shot back, closing the distance between us.

We were so close I could feel the heat radiating from her body.

"And did you forget when I told you to stay out of my way?"

"Don’t give me that!" she snapped, narrowing her sharp eyes. "You might think you know me, but you have no idea what I’m capable of. Now, either you start controlling yourself, or I’ll control you," she ordered before turning her back and leaving the stairwell.

I remained still, listening to her footsteps fade down the hallway while her threat crawled over my skin like a snake ready to swallow me whole.

"The bitch really does seem like a Hataki," I whispered, smiling.