Chapter 2: The Deal
1444 Words
Fiona’s POV
The party is still in full swing, but my heart hasn’t calmed since they left. Daniel, Tristan, and Xander — the Knight triplets. Three of the most infuriating, arrogant, and irritating people I’ve ever met. And yet, here I am, leaning against the wall like I’ve just walked out of a storm, trying to catch my breath.
“Game on,” Daniel had said. But I’m not playing.
I press my fingers against my temples, forcing myself to breathe slowly. My head feels foggy, like I’ve walked into a trap without realizing it. I shouldn’t have let them corner me like that. I shouldn’t have let them see me hesitate.
“Fiona!” Harper’s voice cuts through the crowd. She waves from across the room, grinning like she’s just heard the juiciest gossip. “Come over here!”
I glance in her direction, grateful for the distraction. Her excitement is like a lifeline. I push off the wall, walking over, trying to ignore the stares I can still feel on my back.
Harper pulls me into a tight hug, squeezing me so hard I nearly lose my breath. Her curly hair smells like coconut and vanilla, and for a second, I feel normal again.
“Why do you look like you just walked out of a showdown?” she asks, pulling back to study me. Her green eyes narrow with curiosity. “Wait… were you talking to them?” She waggles her eyebrows like it’s the most exciting thing she’s ever heard.
“Them?” I act like I don’t know who she’s talking about.
“Don’t play dumb, Fiona.” She swats my arm. “Daniel, Tristan, and Xander. The Knight triplets. Everyone saw them talking to you.”
I groan, rubbing my face with both hands. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Oh, it was exactly like that,” she teases, leaning in close. “Three Alphas and one girl under the mistletoe? If that’s not a scene straight out of a romance novel, I don’t know what is.”
“It wasn’t romantic,” I say, shaking my head. “It was… weird.”
“Weird can be good.” She gives me a playful nudge. “Or maybe you’re just scared.”
“Of what?” I scoff, crossing my arms.
“Of being seen,” she says, tilting her head like she’s figured out something I haven’t. “You’ve spent so much time blending into the background, Fi. But tonight? Everyone’s looking at you.”
Her words hit harder than they should. I glance around the room and, sure enough, a few eyes dart away as soon as I make eye contact. Great. Just great. Being invisible was easier.
Harper sees my face and sighs. “Look, I’m just saying, maybe this is your moment. Maybe you’re not supposed to blend in anymore.”
“Or maybe I’m supposed to stay far away from them,” I mutter, but Harper’s already been swept away by Ethan, who spins her around like she’s the only girl in the world.
I stand there for a second, watching them, feeling the ache of being alone again. It’s not like I want to be the center of attention. I just… I just want to matter.
“You already do.”
I spin around, my heart jumping into my throat. Xander is standing there, hands in his pockets, eyes on me like he can see right through every wall I’ve ever built.
“Stop doing that,” I snap, taking a step back.
“Doing what?” His voice is steady, calm, like he has all the time in the world.
“That,” I say, pointing at him. “Sneaking up on people like a shadow.”
He tilts his head slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. “Maybe you just weren’t paying attention.”
“Or maybe you’re just creepy,” I shoot back, arms crossed.
Xander’s lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile. "Fair enough."
Silence stretches between us, thick and heavy. I should walk away. I know I should. But something about Xander makes it hard to move. He doesn’t fill the space with noise like Daniel or jokes like Tristan. He just exists, steady and strong like stone.
“Why are you here, Xander?” I ask, narrowing my eyes. “Shouldn’t you be off with your brothers, causing trouble somewhere?”
“Maybe,” he says simply, stepping forward. He moves slowly, deliberately, like every step has a purpose. “Or maybe I’m exactly where I need to be.”
I roll my eyes. “Do you practice sounding mysterious, or does it just come naturally?”
“Both,” he says, and this time, he actually smiles. Not a grin, not a smirk. A real, genuine smile. It throws me off so badly, I almost forget to be annoyed.
“Whatever,” I mutter, turning away. “I’m not in the mood for games tonight.”
“Good,” he says from behind me. “Because I’m not playing.”
I stop walking but don’t turn around. The weight of his words settles over me like a blanket of snow — cold, sharp, and impossible to ignore.
“You should be careful, Fiona,” he says quietly, his voice closer now. “The party ends, but the game keeps going.”
I whip around to face him, ready to tell him off, but he’s already gone. Just… gone.
My heart races as I scan the crowd, searching for him. No sign of him. No sign of Daniel or Tristan either. It’s like they disappeared into thin air.
I swallow hard, rubbing the back of my neck. I’m not stupid. I know when I’m being warned.
But warned about what?
---
The party ends an hour later, but I’m still thinking about Xander’s words. Harper keeps telling me I should’ve danced with someone, but I’m too distracted. I tell her I’m tired, and she lets it go.
The walk home is quiet. Snowflakes drift down from the sky, soft and slow, like the world is being wrapped in a blanket. My boots crunch against the frozen ground. I hug my coat tighter around me, watching my breath fog up in front of me.
My house is only a few streets away from school, but tonight it feels farther. The streetlights flicker every so often, casting long, eerie shadows across the sidewalk. Normally, it wouldn’t bother me. Tonight, though, every shadow looks too long. Every sound is too sharp.
I glance over my shoulder, but no one’s there.
Calm down, Fiona. You’re just being paranoid.
But my feet move a little faster. My fingers curl into fists inside my pockets.
I hear footsteps behind me.
My heart jumps, and I whip around. Nothing. Just empty street. No one there.
“Get a grip,” I mutter to myself, turning back. I take three more steps before I hear it again.
Crunch. Crunch.
I spin around, eyes darting everywhere. Still nothing. No people. No figures in the shadows. But I know what I heard.
“Alright, very funny,” I call out, trying to sound braver than I feel. “If this is one of your games, you can stop now.”
No answer. Just silence.
I take a step back, eyes locked on the spot where I swear the sound came from. My heart is hammering so hard I can hear it in my ears.
“Daniel?” I say, my voice more uncertain now. “Tristan? Xander?”
Still nothing.
The cold wind cuts against my face, sharp and biting. I slowly turn back around, walking faster this time. My heart is in my throat, my eyes darting to every streetlight, every shadow.
By the time I reach my front door, I’m out of breath, even though I wasn’t running. My fingers are stiff as I fumble with my keys, heart pounding in my ears.
The second I step inside, I lock the door behind me.
My breathing is too fast. My heart won’t slow down.
I glance at the window. Nothing but snow and darkness outside.
You’re safe, I tell myself, pressing my forehead against the door. You’re safe.
But then, in the quiet, I hear it.
A knock.
Slow. Steady. Three taps.
Not at the front door.
At the window.
My breath catches. Slowly, I turn my head toward the window.
And there, standing on the other side of the glass, eyes locked on mine, is Xander.
He doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink.
Just watches.
And somehow, I know.
The game has already started.
- Writer
