Behind the Dextros Gates

Chapter 5: The First Move

James

The Black Fangs didn't have an ordinary meeting place.

They had a building.

It stood behind the eastern wing of Dextros, separated from the main school by a tall iron fence and a narrow stone pathway most students never used.

From the outside, it looked old.

From the inside, it looked anything but.

James pushed open the heavy black doors.

The first thing that greeted him was silence.

Polished black marble covered the floor, reflecting the warm golden lights hanging from the ceiling. Dark leather sofas were arranged around low glass tables. Black-and-red banners stretched across the walls, each carrying the silver fang emblem of the faction.

A massive staircase curved toward the second floor.

Along the walls were framed photographs, awards, old school records, and trophies collected over years.

It didn't look like a student hideout.

It looked like a private club.

A place built for people who expected to be obeyed.

James walked through the entrance without slowing down.

Students standing in the hallway immediately stepped aside.

"James."

He didn't answer.

His expression was cold.

Adrian, who had been waiting near the staircase, noticed immediately.

"You're angry."

James stopped.

"Where is he?"

Adrian's expression became serious.

"Second room."

James continued walking.

Adrian followed.

"You know, you could at least tell me what happened."

"You already know."

"I know he approached her."

James stopped at the door.

"No."

He looked at Adrian.

"You know he approached her. You don't know why."

Adrian nodded.

"Fair."

James opened the door.

The boy from the library was standing inside.

His confidence disappeared the moment he saw James.

"Boss—"

"Why did you approach her?"

The boy swallowed.

"I wasn't trying to cause trouble."

"That wasn't my question."

"I just wanted to see what she was about."

James stared at him.

"You were told not to make unnecessary moves."

"I didn't think—"

"That's your problem."

The room went silent.

James stepped closer.

"You don't approach someone connected to me without permission."

The boy looked confused.

"But she isn't—"

James's eyes hardened.

"Finish that sentence."

The boy immediately lowered his head.

"No, sir."

James stood there for several seconds.

Then he pointed toward the door.

"Hand over your faction badge."

The boy froze.

"Boss…"

"Now."

Slowly, he removed the black badge from his uniform and placed it on the table.

James picked it up.

"For the next two weeks, you're off faction duties."

The boy's face fell.

"You'll report to the training room after classes. No meetings. No assignments. No privileges."

"Yes, sir."

"And if you approach her again without my permission?"

James placed the badge on the table.

"You're out."

The boy nodded quickly.

James turned toward the door.

He didn't feel guilty.

The Black Fangs survived because everyone understood one thing.

There were consequences for acting alone.

And nobody was going to turn Tasha into an excuse for disorder.

Even if James couldn't explain why the thought of someone else intimidating her bothered him so much.

---

James

The private room upstairs was different from the rest of the building.

It was larger.

Quieter.

A long black table occupied the center, surrounded by seven leather chairs.

James sat at the head.

His Top Six took their usual places.

Adrian to his right.

Marcus beside him.

Zane sat across from them, spinning a pen between his fingers.

Leo leaned back in his chair.

Ethan remained quiet, watching everyone.

Ryan sat closest to the door.

James looked around.

"What?"

Nobody spoke.

He frowned.

"You wanted a meeting."

Adrian exchanged a glance with the others.

Then he sighed.

"We think you're getting too involved."

James leaned back.

"With what?"

"Tasha."

The room went quiet.

James's jaw tightened.

Leo raised his hands.

"Don't look at me. Adrian said it."

Adrian ignored him.

"She got into your head."

"She didn't."

Zane smiled.

"You remembered her name after meeting her once."

James looked at him.

"That proves nothing."

"You noticed when she entered the cafeteria."

"Because she's new."

"You noticed when she left."

James's expression hardened.

Zane's smile grew.

"And you punished someone for bothering her."

Marcus crossed his arms.

"To be fair, the i***t deserved it."

Ethan finally spoke.

"That's not the point."

Everyone looked at him.

Ethan's gaze stayed on James.

"The point is that people are noticing."

James said nothing.

Ethan continued.

"The Red Crowns will notice."

A pause.

"The Silver Wolves already have."

James's fingers tapped once against the table.

Adrian leaned forward.

"If either faction realizes she matters to you, she becomes leverage."

James looked at him.

"She doesn't matter to me."

The words came too quickly.

Nobody spoke.

Leo slowly raised an eyebrow.

James glared at him.

Leo lowered it.

"Just saying."

James looked around the room.

"You've got nothing to worry about."

He leaned forward.

"Tasha is a student. Nothing more."

Zane tilted his head.

"And if she isn't?"

James's eyes became cold.

"Then I'll deal with it."

"How?"

James didn't hesitate.

"If I see one funny move from her, I'm cutting her off."

The room fell silent.

He leaned back.

"She gets one chance to prove she's not playing a game."

Adrian studied him.

"And if she isn't?"

James looked toward the window.

For some reason, he remembered her voice.

Are you threatening me?

Then her smile.

I've been told.

He looked away.

"Then there's nothing to discuss."

Adrian didn't look convinced.

But he let it go.

For now.

---

A few minutes later, the others began leaving.

Adrian remained behind.

James looked at him.

"You said there was something else."

Adrian closed the door.

"There is."

James waited.

"The guy you punished wasn't the only one involved."

James's expression changed.

"Go on."

"He told me something after you left."

Adrian leaned against the desk.

"Yesterday, when he confronted Tasha in the library…"

James already knew.

"Alex was there."

Silence.

James's eyes narrowed.

"What did he do?"

"He told him to let her go."

James sat back.

"Why?"

"That's what I'm wondering."

James looked toward the window.

Alex King didn't interfere without a reason.

Neither did James.

The Silver Wolves were disciplined.

Controlled.

Alex especially.

So why had he stepped in for Tasha?

Adrian watched him carefully.

"I think she might be a setup."

James looked at him.

"From Alex?"

"Maybe."

James didn't answer.

His mind immediately went back to the library.

Alex standing between Tasha and the Black Fangs.

Tasha looking at Alex with confusion.

Then James remembered something else.

The way Alex had looked at him afterward.

Like he knew something James didn't.

James's jaw tightened.

"Find out."

Adrian nodded.

"How far?"

"Everything."

---

Alex

I remembered her.

That was the annoying part.

I remembered her too easily.

Tasha Adeyemi.

The scholarship student who had somehow managed to turn her first week at Dextros into a problem.

I sat alone in my office, staring at the courtyard through the window.

The Silver Wolves' headquarters was quieter than the Black Fangs' building.

Everything had its place.

Books lined the shelves.

Documents were arranged neatly.

The walls carried silver wolf insignias, but there was no need for excessive decoration.

Discipline spoke for itself.

I leaned back.

I could still remember the library.

The way the Black Fangs boy had grabbed her bag.

The way she had looked at him.

She wasn't frightened.

Angry, yes.

But not frightened.

Most people at Dextros knew when to step away.

Tasha didn't.

That made her interesting.

I smiled faintly.

"Interesting girl."

My phone buzzed.

I glanced down.

A message from Samuel.

Samuel: James knows you interfered.

I stared at the message.

Then typed:

Alex: I expected him to.

Another message appeared.

Samuel: Why did you help her?

I didn't answer immediately.

Because I wasn't entirely sure myself.

Maybe because she needed help.

Maybe because I didn't like seeing someone use power simply because they could.

Or maybe...

I wanted to know what kind of person she was.

I locked my phone.

Whatever the reason, one thing was certain.

Tasha Adeyemi had caught the attention of people who didn't usually notice anyone.

And that was dangerous.

---

Damien

The Red Crowns' headquarters was the loudest of the three.

Music played softly through hidden speakers.

Students sat around expensive couches, talking and laughing.

The walls were decorated with red-and-gold banners.

Damien Cross sat comfortably in the center of the main lounge.

His Top Six surrounded him.

Kai dropped a folder onto the table.

"You were right."

Damien opened it.

"What?"

"She is becoming a problem."

Damien looked through the photographs.

Tasha.

James.

The library.

Alex.

His smile slowly appeared.

"So James is interested."

Zion nodded.

"And Alex interfered."

Damien leaned back.

"Interesting."

Caleb frowned.

"What do you want us to do?"

Damien closed the folder.

"Nothing."

Everyone stared at him.

"For now."

He smiled.

"If James wants to watch her, let him."

"And Alex?"

"Let him watch too."

Damien stood.

"People reveal themselves when they think they're in control."

He walked toward the window.

Outside, students were leaving the school grounds.

Tasha was among them.

Damien watched her disappear through the gates.

Then he smiled.

"We don't need to take her from them."

He turned back.

"We just need to make her notice us."

---

Tasha

The next morning, Tasha arrived earlier than usual.

She walked into History class and dropped her bag beside her desk.

Something caught her attention.

A small object sat on top of her notebook.

She picked it up.

A silver wolf.

Tiny.

Metallic.

Cold against her fingers.

Her eyebrows pulled together.

"What is this?"

She turned it over.

There was a folded piece of paper underneath.

Tasha opened it.

Three words were written inside.

You should know who your friends are.

Her heart skipped.

She looked around the classroom.

Nobody was watching.

Or at least, nobody seemed to be.

Tasha slowly closed her fingers around the silver wolf.

She didn't know who left it.

She didn't know what it meant.