Claimed On Campus

Chapter 3: Rules of Possession

Stacey stood frozen in the middle of Caleb Voss’s massive living room, the echo of their kiss still burning on her lips. The taste of him — mint and raw dominance — lingered. Her fingers brushed her mouth unconsciously, and the bracelet on her wrist pulsed once, as if approving.

Caleb watched her with dark satisfaction, his tall frame leaning against the kitchen island. Rain continued to lash against the floor-to-ceiling windows, turning the view of Ravenwood University’s Gothic towers into a blurred watercolor of gray and green.

“You look like you’re about to bolt,” he said, voice low and rough. “Don’t. You won’t make it far.”

“I’m not your prisoner,” Stacey shot back, though her voice lacked conviction.

Caleb pushed off the island and stalked toward her slowly, like a predator who had already cornered its prey. He stopped just inches away, tilting her chin up with two fingers. “You are exactly what I say you are. Mine to protect. Mine to keep. Get used to it, Stacey. Fighting me only makes me want you more.”

Before she could respond, the elevator to the private penthouse dinged. Vida Brooks stepped out, carrying two large shopping bags and a garment bag draped over his arm.

“Delivery from the boss’s personal shopper,” Vida announced with a cocky grin. “Clothes for classes, the gala, and everything in between. Size six, right? I guessed from the dorm laundry tags.”

Stacey’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger. “You went through my things?”

Vida shrugged. “Boss’s orders. Efficiency is key.”

Caleb took the garment bag and handed it to her. “Change. We have Intro to Business Ethics in forty minutes. You’re sitting with me.”

“I have Journalism lectures across campus,” she protested.

“Not anymore.” Caleb’s tone left no room for argument. “Your schedule has been adjusted. You’re with me for all overlapping classes. The rest, my driver will take you. End of discussion.”

Stacey wanted to scream, but the memory of the unknown text and Sophia’s worried face stopped her. Someone really had tried to kill her. Whether she liked it or not, Caleb was currently the strongest shield she had.

She changed in the master bathroom — a marble paradise bigger than her old dorm room. The new outfit was expensive: a fitted cream sweater that hugged her figure, dark jeans, and sleek ankle boots. When she emerged, Caleb’s eyes darkened with approval.

“Much better,” he murmured, pulling her close for a moment. His hand settled possessively on her lower back. “No more hiding that body. Everyone needs to see who you belong to.”

The walk across campus was surreal. Rain had eased into a drizzle, but students still hurried under umbrellas. The moment Stacey appeared at Caleb’s side, whispers exploded like wildfire. Phones came out. Group chats buzzed.

By the time they reached the lecture hall in the Voss Business Wing (yes, named after his family), the entire class was staring. Caleb guided her to the front row, his hand never leaving her waist. He pulled her chair out, then sat beside her, draping one arm across the back of her seat in a clear display of ownership.

Professor Langston, a stern older man, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. No one dared challenge Caleb Voss.

Halfway through the lecture, Stacey felt her bracelet grow warm again. A strange tingling spread through her veins. For a split second, she saw flashes — images of shadows moving between the rows of students, one figure in particular watching her with hatred. She gasped softly.

Caleb’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “What is it?” he whispered, leaning close enough that his breath brushed her ear.

“Nothing,” she lied, heart racing.

He didn’t believe her. His eyes narrowed, but he let it go for now.

After class, Sophia was waiting outside the building, arms crossed, looking ready for war. The moment she saw Stacey with Caleb, she marched over.

“Stacey! I’ve been texting you nonstop. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Caleb stepped slightly in front of Stacey, his presence imposing. “She’s fine. Better than fine. She’s protected.”

Sophia glared at him. “Protected? Or imprisoned? Stacey, you don’t have to do this. We can go to the Dean. There are rules against this kind of coercion.”

Vida appeared from the side, chuckling. “Rules don’t apply to Voss blood, drama queen. Run along before you cause problems.”

Sophia ignored him and grabbed Stacey’s hand. “Come with me. Please. This is crazy.”

For a moment, Stacey hesitated. The old her — the shy freshman who just wanted to write stories and survive college — screamed to go with her best friend.

But then Caleb’s hand settled on her hip, warm and steady. And the bracelet glowed faintly beneath her sleeve, as if reminding her of the blood oath.

“I… I need to figure this out, Soph,” Stacey said quietly. “Just give me time. I’ll text you later. Promise.”

Sophia looked heartbroken but nodded. “If you disappear, I’m burning this campus down to find you.” She shot Caleb one last glare before storming off.

Caleb pulled Stacey closer as they walked toward the dining hall. “Good choice.”

Lunch was another spectacle. Caleb’s crew occupied the best table near the windows. Vida and two other basketball players made space as Caleb guided Stacey to sit right beside him — practically on his lap. He piled food on her plate, cutting her steak himself when she hesitated.

“Eat,” he ordered softly. “You need strength. The gala is in six days, and things are going to get ugly.”

Jaden Reed and his rival fraternity group sat across the hall, shooting murderous looks. Jaden — tall, blond, with a permanent sneer — made a slashing motion across his throat when he caught Stacey’s eye.

Caleb noticed immediately. His body tensed like a coiled spring. “Vida.”

“Already on it,” his friend replied, cracking his knuckles.

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of classes and Caleb’s overwhelming presence. He skipped his own advanced seminar just to shadow her Journalism lecture, sitting in the back like a dark guardian. Every time a male student even glanced at her, Caleb’s glare sent them scurrying.

By evening, back in the apartment, Stacey felt exhausted. She collapsed on the huge sectional sofa, staring at the rain.

Caleb joined her, pulling her legs across his lap. His strong hands began massaging her calves, surprisingly gentle.

“Tell me what you saw in class,” he said quietly. No demand this time — almost a plea. “The bracelet reacted. I felt it.”

Stacey hesitated, then told him about the vision: the shadowy figures, the hatred.

Caleb’s expression darkened. “Your powers are waking faster than expected. The pact was supposed to give us time, but the crash accelerated everything.”

He pulled her closer until she was straddling his lap, facing him. His hands settled on her hips, holding her firmly.

“I know you hate this,” he murmured, forehead resting against hers. “But I’ve carried this burden since I was a kid. Our families bound us to keep the bloodlines strong. There are forces — old families, secret societies on campus — that want to break the pact and steal your power. They almost succeeded last night.”

Stacey searched his eyes. For the first time, she saw something beyond possession: genuine fear of losing her.

“Why me?” she whispered.

“Because your blood is special. Rare. And because the moment I saw your photo two years ago, something inside me knew.” His grip tightened. “You’re not just a duty, Stacey. You’re becoming an obsession.”

He kissed her again — slower this time, deeper, coaxing her lips apart. Stacey’s resistance cracked. Her hands slid up his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt. The bracelet glowed brightly between them, sending warmth through her entire body.

When they broke apart, both breathing heavily, Caleb rested his forehead against hers.

“Tomorrow we train,” he said. “You need to learn how to use what’s awakening in you. And I need to show you exactly how far I’ll go to keep you safe.”

A loud knock echoed through the apartment.

Vida’s voice came through the door, urgent. “Boss! We have a problem. Jaden’s crew just vandalized Stacey’s old dorm room. And there’s a letter — written in what looks like blood — saying ‘The Kane blood belongs to no Voss.’”

Caleb’s eyes turned lethal. He gently moved Stacey off his lap and stood, every inch the ruthless campus king.

“Stay here,” he told her. “Lock the doors. I’ll handle this.”

As he headed for the elevator with Vida, he paused and looked back at her, expression fierce.

“No one threatens what’s mine and lives to talk about it.”

The elevator doors closed.

Stacey sank back onto the couch, heart hammering. The bracelet continued to glow, warmer than ever.

Outside, thunder rolled over Ravenwood University.

And somewhere in the shadows of the Gothic campus, the real enemy was watching… and waiting.