The Warning

Lydia couldn’t sleep.

Not because of nightmares, but because of him.

Jake William’s voice echoed in her mind like a dark song: “You’re mine. Only mine.”

She had thought, naively, that ignoring him would make him disappear. But Jake wasn’t a man who vanished. He was a force that demanded attention—and submission.

The next morning, she walked to campus with her headphones in and her hood up, hoping to blend into the crowd. Her heart pounded at every turn, every black car that passed. She told herself she was overreacting. Surely he had better things to do.

But when she arrived at her literature class, there he was.

Not Jake—but his shadow.

A tall man in black leaned against the hallway wall, sunglasses on, arms crossed.

Marco.

She remembered him from the club, standing behind Jake like a loyal hound. Now he was here… watching.

Lydia turned to walk away, but he moved in front of her casually.

“You’re not in danger,” he said calmly. “The boss just wants to make sure you’re safe.”

“I don’t need his protection.”

Marco didn’t respond. Just held her gaze until she finally pushed past him and entered the classroom.

The eyes of the other students made her skin crawl. Had they seen him too? Were they whispering about her already?

She sank into her seat, trying to focus, but her nerves were on fire.

Jake was marking her like territory.

And people were beginning to notice.

---

Later that day, Lydia was walking through the quad when a guy named Ethan—her classmate from psychology—waved at her.

“Lydia!” he called out, jogging up beside her.

She smiled, relieved. “Hey! Didn’t expect to see you.”

“I was just heading to the cafe. You want to come?”

“Yes, actually. I could use some normal conversation.”

Ethan grinned. “Glad to be of service.”

They walked together, laughing about their shared hatred for midterms. For a moment, Lydia relaxed. She could almost pretend Jake didn’t exist.

Until Ethan’s smile faded, his eyes focusing on something behind her.

“Hey… who’s that?”

Lydia turned.

Jake stood across the courtyard, dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes locked on Ethan like a loaded gun.

“Oh no,” Lydia whispered.

Jake began walking toward them.

“Uh…” Ethan said, shifting uneasily. “Is that your boyfriend?”

“No,” Lydia said quickly. “Absolutely not.”

Jake stopped in front of them.

Ethan extended a hand, trying to keep it friendly. “Hey, man. I’m Ethan.”

Jake didn’t take his hand. He looked at it like it was something that needed to be removed.

“Leave,” Jake said flatly.

Ethan blinked. “What?”

Jake’s voice dropped. “Walk away. Now.”

“Okay, whoa. Chill. I was just—”

Jake stepped closer, eyes sharp. “You don’t talk to her. You don’t look at her. If I see you within five feet of her again, you won’t like what happens next.”

Ethan’s face paled. “Dude, what the hell is your problem?”

Jake didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink.

Ethan took the hint and walked away without another word.

Lydia spun on him. “Are you serious?!”

Jake turned his attention to her. “You don’t need boys like that sniffing around.”

“He’s just a friend!”

“I don’t care what he is.”

“You don’t own me!”

Jake’s jaw clenched. “You keep saying that like it matters.”

“It does! You can’t control me!”

Jake moved closer. “I already do.”

“You’re insane!”

He leaned down, his lips inches from hers. “You think I’d let anyone touch what’s mine? I’ll put a bullet in the head of every man who so much as smiles at you.”

Her breath caught. She wanted to slap him. Scream at him. But the fire in his eyes made her freeze.

“This isn’t love,” she whispered.

Jake’s gaze didn’t soften. “No. It’s obsession. Get used to it.”

Then he walked away, as if he hadn’t just declared war on her entire social life.

---

That night, Lydia’s phone buzzed.

Unknown Number:

“You looked beautiful today. I didn’t like the way he stared at you.”

She blocked the number instantly.

Then she locked her doors. Twice.

---

The next day, she tried to change her routine. She took different hallways. Sat at the back of class. Ate lunch alone.

Still, she felt his presence like a shadow draped over her skin.

After her shift at the bookstore, she found a single red rose lying on the counter.

No note.

Just the rose.

She gripped it tightly and stormed out, heart racing.

Jake was watching her, always.

She reached the corner of the street and paused—then turned.

And sure enough, across the road, under the streetlight, stood a tall figure in a black coat.

Jake.

She raised the rose and threw it into the trash can beside her. Slowly. Deliberately.

Then she turned her back on him and walked away.

But she could still feel him smiling.

---

Back in his penthouse, Jake poured himself a drink and stared at the city skyline.

“She’s testing you,” Marco said from the sofa.

“She’s fighting it,” Jake replied, sipping slowly.

“You could force it. You’ve done it before.”

Jake turned to him, expression cold. “She’s not like the others.”

Marco raised a brow. “You’re soft on her already.”

“I’m not soft,” Jake growled. “I’m focused.”

Marco smirked. “Then what happens when she keeps pushing back?”

Jake’s eyes narrowed. “She’ll break. They always do.”

---

Lydia didn’t sleep again that night.

Not because of fear, but because her heart was caught in a battle she didn’t understand.

Jake William was dangerous.

And worst of all… a part of her didn’t want to run anymore.

---

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