SHATTERED ROMANCE

CHAPTER TWO — THE WARNING SHE SHOULDN’T IGNORE

Ariana didn’t breathe until the cold night air hit her skin.

Kael’s hand stayed wrapped around her wrist as he guided her out of the club’s back exit, away from the noise, away from the eyes, away from him. But even outside, even with the street quiet and the night breeze brushing her cheeks, she could still feel Adrian’s gaze on her.

Chasing her.

Claiming her.

Burning into her spine.

Her heart thudded painfully as Kael led her toward the alley that opened into the main road.

“You shouldn’t have come alone,” he said quietly.

Ariana swallowed, finally pulling her hand from his. “I didn’t think he’d find me.”

Kael stopped walking. “Ariana…” His voice softened. “He always finds you.”

She flinched. Not because he was wrong—but because he was too right.

Kael watched her carefully, jaw tight, eyes searching. He’d always been like that—fierce when protecting others, especially her. A contrast to Adrian’s darker obsession.

“Ariana,” Kael murmured, “you need to tell me what happened between you two.”

“I can’t,” she whispered.

Not because she didn’t want to.

But because the truth was the one thing that could destroy everything—her safety, her sanity, her future.

Kael stepped closer. “You don’t trust me?”

“I do,” she said instantly. Too instantly.

“But some truths don’t stay quiet once you speak them.”

Kael clenched his jaw, but he didn’t push. He never pushed.

Unlike Adrian.

A shiver crawled down her spine.

Kael noticed instantly. “You’re cold.”

“No,” she breathed. “I’m scared.”

He reached for her shoulders, holding her still, grounding her. “You’re safe with me. I promise.”

She wanted to believe that. She wanted to let that be enough.

But then her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Ariana froze.

Kael’s hands dropped. “What is it?”

She took a shaky breath and pulled out the phone.

Unknown number.

Same one from earlier.

A message glowing on her screen:

“YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE WALKED AWAY.”

Her breath stopped.

Kael saw her expression and took the phone carefully from her hand. His eyes darkened instantly. “Ariana… who is this?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered.

It was the truth—and it wasn’t.

Kael stepped back, scanning the area like he expected someone to jump out of the shadows. “We need to get you home. Now.”

Ariana nodded numbly.

Kael wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her toward his motorcycle parked at the curb. He always drove too fast, but tonight she didn’t complain. She wanted distance. She wanted silence. She wanted—

“Ariana.”

Her blood froze.

That voice.

She didn’t need to turn around to know who it belonged to.

Kael reacted first, pushing her behind him. “Stay back,” he snapped.

Adrian stepped out of the shadows like he’d been carved from the night itself.

He wasn’t out of breath.

He wasn’t angry.

He wasn’t flustered.

He was calm.

Too calm.

And that terrified her more than anything.

“I gave you time,” Adrian said. “I gave you space. I even gave you distance. That’s over now.”

“You’re insane,” Kael spat. “Leave her alone.”

Adrian didn’t even acknowledge him.

His eyes were locked on Ariana.

Only her.

Always her.

“You shouldn’t have left,” he said quietly. “You know what happens when you try to run from me.”

Ariana took a shaky step back. “Adrian, please… don’t do this.”

He lifted his chin slightly, studying her like she was a puzzle only he had the right to solve.

“You think I’m here to hurt you?” He shook his head slowly. “I’m here because I’m the only one who knows what’s coming.”

Kael scoffed. “Right. And I’m the king of the universe.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “You have no idea what you’ve stepped into.”

Kael stepped forward. “Say another word—”

“Kael,” Ariana whispered, grabbing his arm. “Stop.”

He turned to her, frustrated. “You don’t have to fear him.”

“Yes,” Adrian murmured, “she does.”

Kael lunged at him.

Ariana gasped, but Adrian stepped back effortlessly, letting Kael’s fist cut through empty air. Kael swung again. Adrian dodged again, expression unchanged.

He wasn’t fighting back.

He didn’t need to.

And somehow, that made it worse.

Ariana grabbed Kael’s arm before he could strike again. “Kael, please!”

Kael stopped, chest heaving.

Adrian finally looked at him. “You’re in her way.”

Kael stepped forward anyway. “Good.”

A silence stretched between them, thick and sharp as wire.

Then Adrian turned to Ariana again, lowering his voice. “Someone else was in that club tonight.”

Her heart stuttered.

“What?”

“You felt it,” Adrian said. “I saw your face. You knew something was wrong before you even saw me.”

A chill crept down Ariana’s spine.

Because he was right.

She had felt watched long before Adrian stepped into the room.

And that message…

“Ariana,” Adrian murmured, stepping closer, “someone else is following you.”

Kael blocked him instantly. “You’re lying.”

Adrian’s expression didn’t change. “Protect her all you want. But you’re protecting her from the wrong person.”

Ariana’s breath trembled.

Kael glared. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

“And she’s not safe with you,” Adrian snapped back, for the first time letting emotion crack through.

“Ariana.” His voice dropped, softer than she’d ever heard. “You know I’m right.”

She opened her mouth—

But another message chimed on her phone.

Kael snatched it, reading it first.

His face drained of color.

“What is it?” Ariana whispered.

Kael slowly turned the screen toward her.

Another message.

Same unknown number.

“RUN WHILE YOU CAN.”

Ariana’s heart slammed into her ribs.

Kael looked at Adrian sharply. “Is this you? Is this some twisted game?”

Adrian stepped forward, eyes dark. “If I wanted to warn her, I’d do it to her face.”

Another vibration.

All three of them stared as a third message came through.

“HE’S LYING.”

Kael looked at Ariana.

Adrian looked at Ariana.

And Ariana looked at her shaking hands, realizing—

She wasn’t caught between two men anymore.

She was caught between two dangers.

And one of them…

was much closer than she ever realized.