Chapter 2

The truth didn't matter anymore.

The helplessness rolled up and drowned me.

I crouched in the corner and sobbed.

My phone started filling up with harassing texts.

Disgusting words that made my stomach turn.

My hands shook as I blocked every number.

My mother told me she'd called the university and taken a long leave for me. I didn't have to go in.

I didn't want her to know I was leaving the territory. I'd have to go back once on my own to finish the paperwork.

She never paid attention to me anyway. She probably wouldn't even notice I was gone.

The photos had been deleted, but almost everyone I knew had seen them.

Their eyes followed me, sizing me up, mocking me. Whispering behind my back.

"She seems so quiet. Who knew she was sleeping around? No telling how many wolves she's had."

"Who knows what she's got. Don't stand too close. You could catch something."

Shame and fear wrapped around me like a weight.

My chest locked up. I barely remember how I left campus.

I was walking in a daze when a few men stepped in front of me.

The leader pulled out a phone with my private photos on it and looked me up and down, his eyes making my skin crawl.

"That's you in the photos, right? Nice body."

"How much a night? Playing around with Calloway, how about us next?"

"Let me taste what Nash's girlfriend is like."

I went stiff and took half a step back. "What do you want?"

They grinned at each other and dragged me into a dark alley no matter how I fought.

They pinned me down, laughing.

"Get off! Don't touch me!"

They had both my hands and feet and I couldn't even struggle. All I could do was watch their filthy hands move on me.

I heard fabric tearing.

"Stop fighting. No one's coming for you. Make it good for us and we'll go easy."

I bit down on my lip hard, the taste of blood in my mouth.

While they were pulling their clothes off, I yanked the knife out of my bag.

My hand shook. "Don't come any closer…"

The first time someone had cornered me as a kid, my mother had told me it was because I dressed like bait and I should stop wearing skirts.

I'd been in a school uniform.

If Kieran hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have known what to do.

After that I always carried a small blade.

The fear in me was at its peak.

They were still laughing. Still not scared. One of them reached for the knife.

In the struggle the blade went into my own chest.

The leader panicked. Worried they'd get blamed for a death, he let me go.

I slid to the ground, blood soaking through my clothes.

My vision kept going black.

But I could hear one of them make a low call.

"Kieran. Something happened. She stabbed herself."

Kieran's voice came through. "Is she dead?"

Then Nash. "Kieran, you sick bastard. You actually hired them to corner her."

Kieran gave a cold laugh. "I just told them to scare her. If she decides to kill herself, that's on her."

"If she's not dead, dump her at the hospital. Don't let her find out about today."

My heart felt like it was being crushed, a pain that made it hard to breathe.

So… he really wanted to destroy me.

A line he'd said a long time ago came back to me.

"Honestly, I know my mother wasn't killed by hers. I just don't want her to have a moment of peace."

"My father feels guilty over them. I don't."

Tears ran down without me meaning them to.

I passed out completely.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed.

Nash was sitting beside me. The moment he saw I was awake, he leaned in, all concern.

"Baby, you're awake. I was so worried."

When I didn't answer, his eyes flickered. "I saw the photos. I'm so sorry. I was drinking with friends and someone picked up my phone by mistake and sent them out."

"Don't worry, I've had every copy deleted. Don't overthink it, I don't mind any of it."

I looked at him quietly. Inside I felt nothing.

He was the one who'd done this, and he was playing the savior.

If he hadn't chased me so hard when I was at my lowest, we'd never have been together in the first place.

Before I could say anything, his phone rang.

Whatever was said on the other end, he answered softly and walked out without looking at me again.

The moment he was gone, Kieran came in.

He looked me over with disgust.

"Know what he's rushing off for? Camille just got back and she's having trouble sleeping. He's going to settle her in. He's not going to protect you anymore. Stop hoping."