Chapter 1: “Carried by My Archrival”

I had one goal.

Stay unconscious.

Fake it. Don’t move. Don’t breathe weird. Don’t flinch when someone pokes you. Just be deadweight and wait for this cursed, embarrassing situation to pass.

But no one told me being fake-unconscious meant being carried like a damn bride across the rooftop by none other than Caspian Emry.

The guy I just tongue-kissed in front of everyone.

The guy who, according to floating system messages, would’ve killed me if I’d kissed someone else.

And now?

Now I was in his arms, completely helpless. His scent—dark like rain hitting hot pavement—wrapped around me, triggering the part of my Alpha instincts that never should’ve reacted to him. But it did.

Don’t. You. Dare. Get. Turned. On.

“Make way,” Caspian’s voice cut through the chaos, deep and calm like this was just another Tuesday night.

“Is Easton okay?” someone whispered behind us.

“Yeah,” someone else muttered. “Drunk out of his mind. Guess that kiss was a mistake…”

Mistake. Mistake? I’ll have you know I SAVED MY OWN LIFE.

Sort of.

Probably.

I peeked one eye open as Caspian stepped into the elevator with me still in his arms, bridal-style. His jaw was tight. His gaze straight ahead. Silent.

Not angry. Not smug.

Just… unreadable.

The elevator doors closed behind us. It was just the two of us now. The quiet was suffocating.

Then his voice dropped, low and near my ear.

“You can drop the act. I know you’re awake.”

Crap.

I didn’t move.

“I can see your pulse,” he added, one hand pressing lightly to my neck. “It jumps every time I speak.”

Double crap.

Still, I didn’t open my eyes. Just went limp like a committed method actor.

Caspian chuckled—quiet, amused. “Fine. Keep pretending. But you’re mine now.”

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

The elevator dinged. I expected the dorm hallway.

But instead, I was carried into… marble floors. Chandeliers. Art on the walls.

This was not our dorm building.

This was his freaking mansion.

Why are we at his mansion?

I wanted to open my eyes, but I was already committed to the role. At this point, I’d rather die of fake alcohol poisoning than face him.

He laid me on a velvet couch like I was made of porcelain.

Then came the part that truly terrified me.

He touched my head.

His fingers brushed through my hair, slow and gentle, like I was something precious. Then he ran them down—my cheek, my neck. My shoulder.

I nearly flinched when he touched my ankle.

Why… why the ankle?

I peeked. Just a little.

The glowing comments had returned.

❝OMG HE’S TOUCHING HIS ANKLES—CLASSIC YANDERE BEHAVIOR!❞

❝He’s measuring them for chains. He wants to keep Easton forever!❞

❝We stan possessive kings. Kiss him again, coward!!❞

Chains?

I was this close to kicking him in the face—until he gently pressed something cold to my skin.

Ointment.

For my sprained ankle.

I had twisted it during basketball two days ago, but no one was supposed to know that.

Yet here he was… rubbing ointment into my ankle like it was a normal Tuesday.

How long had he been watching me?

I had too many questions. And no answers.

So naturally, I panicked again.

I kicked him off the couch.

Hard.

“Sh*t!” he gasped, crashing into the coffee table behind him.

I sat up instantly. “Sorry! Reflex! I was asleep! I mean—drunk! Very drunk!”

Silence.

Then laughter.

Soft, deep, and terrifying.

He stood up slowly, brushing back his hair. His eyes locked onto mine like a predator finally seeing his prey run.

“You’re not drunk,” he said.

I laughed awkwardly. “Haha. You’re right. I’m absolutely smashed.”

He stepped closer.

“You kissed me, Easton.”

“Technically you were the nearest mouth—”

“You kissed me, and now you’re in my house.”

I backed up toward the armrest. “I was trying to survive, okay?”

His expression didn’t change. If anything, it softened. He knelt before me again, this time holding my foot in place with a grip that was gentle… but unshakable.

“I’ve waited five years,” he whispered, “for that kiss.”

My breath hitched.

“You think I’ll let you run away now?”

I had no idea what to say.

So, I did what I do best.

I screamed internally.

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