Chapter Two — His Territory
1025 Words
I avoided Alexander Kings for exactly six hours and thirty-two minutes.
That was how long I lasted before crashing into his world again—literally.
It happened after school. I was walking toward the back parking lot, headphones in, trying to find the quietest route to the bus stop. I’d just pulled up the hood of my jacket when I turned a corner… and slammed straight into a wall.
Only it wasn’t a wall.
It was him.
Alexander caught me by the waist, steadying me with hands that were way too firm, way too familiar. His touch burned through my jacket like electricity, and my heart leaped into my throat.
“You really need to watch where you're going, new girl,” he murmured, eyes darkening.
I yanked my earphones out, my cheeks flaming. “You scared the hell out of me!”
He didn’t apologize. Of course not. Instead, he looked me up and down like I was some kind of puzzle he couldn’t wait to take apart.
“Why are you back here alone?” he asked.
I frowned. “What does it matter?”
Alexander stepped closer, backing me up until my back hit the cold brick wall behind the gym. He smelled like spice and danger — like a storm just about to break.
“You’re walking through my territory,” he said.
I blinked. “What does that even mean? It’s just a school.”
He tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah. But there are places you should stay out of. Places where people like you get eaten alive.”
I lifted my chin. “And what exactly am I, Alexander?”
“Innocent,” he whispered, trailing a finger down my cheek. “Soft. And stupid enough to keep looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want me.”
My stomach dropped. I hated how he made everything feel like a challenge. I hated how every time he looked at me, I forgot how to breathe properly. But most of all, I hated that part of me did want him.
He leaned in so close, I could feel his breath against my ear.
“Be careful with those eyes, Ava,” he murmured. “They’re asking for trouble.”
And just like that, he walked off — his boots echoing down the hallway, leaving my pulse pounding in my throat.
---
By the time I made it home, I was a mess. I tossed my bag onto the floor of my bedroom and threw myself onto the bed, burying my face in my pillow.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Tessa’s warning rang in my ears: He doesn’t just notice people. He devours them.
So why was I secretly hoping he’d talk to me again tomorrow?
---
The next morning, the halls buzzed louder than usual.
Whispers followed me again — not just because I was new this time, but because I had become interesting. Because Alexander Kings had spoken to me twice in twenty-four hours, and apparently that was enough to paint a target on my back.
“You sat near his locker?” a girl sneered as I grabbed my books. “That’s bold for someone with such a plain face.”
I ignored her, but her words stung more than I cared to admit.
The day dragged. I avoided Alexander the best I could, but even in class, his gaze found me. Always watching. Always silent.
At lunch, I sat with Tessa again.
“You really need to stay away from him,” she said seriously, stabbing a piece of lettuce like it had personally offended her. “He’s not just a bad boy. He’s dangerous, Ava.”
“I didn’t ask for him to talk to me.”
“He doesn’t talk to anyone, babe. If he’s talking to you, it means something.”
I sighed. “I don’t want anything to do with him.”
Tessa gave me a look. “You sure? Because you’ve been looking over at his table for five minutes now.”
Crap.
I didn’t even realize I had.
Alexander wasn’t looking this time. Instead, he was laughing with his friends — an actual laugh. But even his laugh looked wicked. Everything about him screamed dark temptation.
I hated how drawn I was to him.
I hated even more that I didn’t want to stop.
---
It was after school when everything went sideways.
I was walking out with Tessa when it happened. A tall brunette stepped right into my path and shoved my shoulder — hard.
“What the hell?” I stumbled, clutching my bag.
She crossed her arms, eyes flashing. “You think just because you’re new, you can throw yourself at Alexander?”
I blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. Stay away from him.”
“Why do you care?” I snapped before I could stop myself.
Big mistake.
She lunged at me, grabbing my shirt. “Because he’s mine.”
Before I could even react, a hand caught her wrist and yanked her off me.
“Touch her again,” Alexander growled, “and I’ll break every nail on your fake-ass hands.”
I froze. So did everyone else. The entire parking lot went silent.
The girl stepped back, flustered. “Alex, I was just—”
“Leave,” he said, his voice like ice.
She looked between us and then stormed off, rage simmering in her glare.
Alexander turned to me. “Are you okay?”
I nodded slowly, heart hammering. “I was handling it.”
He smirked. “You were shaking.”
“I wasn’t.”
He leaned down, whispering, “You were.”
I shoved him away, breathless. “You’re such an asshole.”
“And you keep running into me,” he said, stepping back. “Starting to think you like it.”
I didn’t answer. I just walked away, refusing to look back.
But I felt it.
His eyes.
Always watching.
Always wanting.
And something told me — this was only the beginning.
- Writer
