Chapter 13

Jason's grip on my arm tightened slightly as I tried to pull away, and I spun back around, glaring at him.

"No," he said firmly, his eyes locking onto mine.

I frowned, confused. "No, what?"

"No, I'm not staying away from you."

Before I could respond, Joselle's angry voice cut through the tension between us. "Ryan's on his way to a coma, Jason! And here you are, playing games with her? I don't understand who you are right now." She practically spat the words, her voice rising in frustration.

I froze, my eyes widened as I looked between the two of them. What did she just say? Coma?

Okay this was not what I expected to get myself into. I already have my own shit to handle.

"Ryan's always been reckless," Jason said, sounding entirely unbothered. "He knew the risks he got what he deserved."

"Risks?" Joselle looked livid now, her voice trembling with rage. "You're talking about death, Jason! You don't even care. The Jason I know would be calling doctors to get Ryan treated yet…I don't…I don't understand."

I felt like I was standing in the middle of a storm that had nothing to do with me. The talk of comas, of death—it was all too much. I shifted uncomfortably, taking a step back, but Jason's hand was still on mine, grounding me in place.

"Joselle," Jason said, his tone suddenly sharper, more authoritative. "You're overreacting."

"I'm overreacting?" she shot back, her hazel eyes blazing with anger. "You're my boyfriend, Jason. We're supposed to be a team, and yet… this? I don't understand you anymore." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying a hint of vulnerability underneath her rage. I felt bad for her really.

Jason sighed, rubbing a hand through his hair. "Joselle, I can't with you right now."

Her eyes flicked to me again, filled with contempt. "So, what? You're just parading her around to make me jealous? Is that it? Did I do something wrong to deserve this?"

Jason didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze drifted to me, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his lips. I knew that look. I'd seen it before, and I didn't like where this was heading.

"No," he said softly, almost too softly. "But maybe that's not a bad idea."

Before I could even process what was happening, Jason's hand slid up to my neck, pulling me closer with an intensity that made my heart race. His lips crashed against mine, urgent and possessive. The world seemed to tilt on its axis for a moment, and I froze, caught completely off guard by the suddenness of it.

For a split second, I thought about pushing him away. But his mouth moved against mine with such purpose, such heat, that my body reacted before my mind could catch up. I kissed him back—just for a moment, just long enough for it to feel real.

When I finally snapped back to reality, I shoved him away, breathless and dazed. "What the hell, Jason?"

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Just proving a point."

Joselle stood there, stunned, her expression torn between disbelief and fury. Her fists clenched at her sides, and her face went pale with anger. "You—you—" she stammered, her voice shaking with rage.

"You're pathetic, Jason," she spat, turning on her heel and storming off without another word.

I blinked, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. My lips tingled where his had been, and my heart pounded in my chest. The air felt thick with tension, and I couldn't quite figure out if I was more angry at him or myself for not stopping it sooner.

"Jason," I hissed, finally finding my voice. "What the hell was that?"

He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving mine. "You wanted her to go, didn't you? Weren't you getting annoyed by her voice?"

I glared at him, wiping my lips with the back of my hand. "You didn't have to kiss me to make her jealous."

"Maybe not," he said, stepping closer again, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "But I wanted to."

I felt a sharp twist in my chest. There was something about Jason—something so infuriating and magnetic at the same time—that it made me want to scream. But tonight, he had crossed a line.

I raised my hand before I could think better of it and slapped him across the face.

Hard.

Jason's head jerked to the side, his cheek turning red from the impact. For a moment, he looked shocked, his eyes widening slightly. But then, that maddening smirk returned, as if I'd done exactly what he expected.

"Kiara—" he began, but I wasn't interested in hearing his excuses.

"Don't," I spat, shaking with anger. "Don't ever touch me like that again."

Before he could respond, I turned on my heel and stormed off. I could feel the heat of his gaze on my back, but I didn't stop. My heart pounded in my chest, and my mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. How had I ended up in this mess?

It was supposed to be a one night stand. But how come he keeps on sticking to me like a fucking leech?!

I pushed through the crowded street outside the club, still reeling from the kiss, from Joselle's anger, from everything. I was in such a rush to get away that I barely noticed the car speeding toward me.

A blaring horn jerked me out of my thoughts, and I froze as the vehicle screeched to a stop just inches away from me. My heart leapt into my throat, and I stumbled back, my breath coming in short gasps.

The driver stuck his head out of the window, his face twisted in irritation. "Watch where you're going, lady!"

I opened my mouth to snap back at him, but before I could, the back door of the car opened, and someone stepped out. My words died in my throat as I took him in.

He was tall, with sharp, handsome features that made my stomach flip. His dark hair was perfectly styled, his jaw strong, and his eyes… dark and cold looked at me like he could see right through me. There was something regal about him, something that made the air around him feel charged.

He approached me, his expression calm and composed. "Are you alright?" His voice was deep and smooth, and I could hear genuine concern in his tone.

I blinked, still caught off guard by his presence. "Uh, yeah… I'm fine. I think."

His gaze swept over me, assessing, and for a second, I felt my face flush under his scrutiny. Handsome didn't even begin to describe him.

But before I could say anything else, Jason was suddenly behind me, his hand gripping my arm and pulling me back. His eyes were dark, filled with a harshness I hadn't seen before.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jason snapped, his voice cold and threatening as he glared at the man in front of us.

The handsome stranger didn't seem fazed. In fact, he looked amused, his lips curling into a faint smile as he shifted his gaze to Jason.

"Oh?" The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by Jason's aggressive stance. "And what exactly are you doing in my territory?"

My stomach dropped. His territory?

What's he? A wolf?

This man, whoever he was, didn't just have confidence—he had authority. And Jason, despite his usual cockiness, seemed to hesitate.

"I wasn't aware this was your territory," Jason said, his voice lowering, but he didn't release his grip on me.

The man's eyes flickered to Jason's hand on my arm, and his smile vanished, replaced by something far more dangerous. "Now you know." His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it that made my skin prickle.

I glanced between them, the weight of the situation finally settling in. Whoever this guy was, he wasn't someone to mess with. And the fact that Jason, for once, wasn't pushing back… that scared me more than anything.