DRAWN TO MY SIRED VAMPIRE

chapter one

DIANNE'S POV

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The first day I saw Derek, it felt like time itself had paused. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I wondered if I was dreaming.

He was leaning against the old oak tree in the center of Clifford University’s campus, looking completely at ease. His dark hair fell perfectly into his eyes, and his lips were set in that serious expression that made him seem mysterious.

He looked like he had stepped out of a fairytale—a prince charming, but real. And from that moment on, I knew I was in trouble.

But Derek wasn’t just another handsome face on campus. He was the guy every girl wanted. The one who never paid attention to anyone, no matter how hard they tried. My heart always betrayed me by beating faster whenever I saw him, but I knew better than to hope. Girls like me didn’t end up with guys like him.

I wasn’t popular. In fact, I was the opposite. The weakling, the target. My name was never said with kindness. I was that girl you would pass by without a second thought. The one who got shoved into lockers or tripped in the hallway while people laughed. It was almost like a rule: if you were anyone important at Clifford University, you made my life miserable.

That day wasn’t supposed to be any different. I was trying to get to my next class, clutching my books tightly against my chest, when a familiar voice called out behind me.

“Hey, loser!”

I winced but kept walking, my heart racing. It was Amanda and her crew, the campus royalty. I made the mistake of hoping they’d leave me alone. They didn’t.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Amanda’s voice dripped with fake sweetness as she grabbed my arm. Her nails dug into my skin, and I had to bite my lip to keep from yelping.

“Just… to class,” I whispered, trying not to look her in the eyes. She loved it when people were scared, and showing fear only made things worse.

Amanda smirked. “Oh, class. How boring. Maybe we should teach you something more exciting.”

The girls around her giggled, and I knew what was coming. A shove. A push. Maybe worse. I braced myself, trying not to cry.

“Let her go.”

The voice cut through the laughter like a knife, and everything went quiet. Slowly, I opened my eyes and turned around. Derek was standing there, his eyes cold and focused on Amanda. It was like the whole world had changed. I’d never seen him get involved with anyone, let alone defend someone like me.

Amanda blinked, her confident smile faltering. “Oh, hey, Derek,” she said, trying to sound casual. “We were just having a little fun.”

Derek’s gaze didn’t waver. “Leave. Now.”

Amanda looked like she wanted to argue, but something in Derek’s expression made her think twice. She let go of my arm and backed away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Fine, whatever,” she muttered, turning on her heel. The other girls followed, glaring at me as they left.

For a few moments, I couldn’t move. Was this real? Had Derek Knight just stood up for me?

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft but steady.

I looked up at him, my cheeks burning. “Yeah, I’m… I’m fine.” My voice cracked, and I winced at how small I sounded. “Thank you.”

He nodded once, his expression unreadable, and then he was gone, walking away before I could say anything else. I watched him go, my heart still pounding. It felt like I was dreaming. Or maybe I was still in shock.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. People whispered about what had happened, about how Derek had defended me. I kept replaying the moment in my head, trying to understand why he would do that. Did he even know who I was?

I barely made it through my classes, and by the time I got back to my dorm room, I was exhausted. I dropped my books on my desk and collapsed onto my bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling. My heart wouldn’t stop racing.

Why did he help me? What made Derek Knight, the most untouchable guy on campus, notice me? The question twisted in my mind, and I hated how much hope it gave me. Because hoping was dangerous. It hurt.

I thought about him constantly after that. It was impossible not to. I noticed how he walked across campus, how he sat at the back of the library with a book in his hands, how he never seemed to smile. The more I watched him, the more I felt drawn to him, even though I knew it was a bad idea. He was perfect in every way I wasn’t.

Days turned into weeks, and I tried to keep my head down, but Derek was always there, somehow closer to me. He’d nod in my direction when we passed each other, and once, he even held the door open for me. Each time, my heart felt like it was going to burst. I was falling, and I couldn’t stop.

Then one afternoon, everything changed again. I was sitting under the oak tree, the same one where I’d first seen him, trying to focus on a textbook. The shadows were growing long, and the air felt heavy, like a storm was coming. I shivered, pulling my jacket closer around me.

“You look cold,” a voice said. I jumped, looking up to see Derek standing in front of me. His eyes were deep, almost too intense, and he was holding out his own jacket.

“N-no, I’m fine,” I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up.

He tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “Take it. You’re shivering.”

Reluctantly, I took the jacket, my fingers brushing against his. His skin was cool, and I shivered for a different reason. As I draped the jacket around my shoulders, I couldn’t help but breathe in the scent of him—like fresh rain and something darker.

“Thank you,” I whispered, looking up at him.

He studied me for a moment, his gaze piercing. “Why do you let them hurt you?” he asked.

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. “I… I don’t let them. It just… happens.”

He frowned, his jaw tightening. “It shouldn’t.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. The way he was looking at me made my heart race, and for a moment, I wondered if he could hear it. There was something different about him, something I couldn’t put into words.