Page 7

CHAPTER 7

ARIELLA

S inking onto the football field grass between Journey and Mila, I glanced up into the stadium seats to see Zaiden sitting in the same spot he was twenty minutes ago. The sun was bright and warm, and the sky was cloudless.

Journey nudged my shoulder and tilted her chin toward the stands. "Looks like you have a secret admirer."

Mila twisted a strand of dark hair around her finger. "With the way he's looking at her, I don't think it's a secret."

I dug my fingers into the turf. "Trust me. The only thing Zaiden admires is the thought of me losing everything."

"I've never seen Zaiden Knight at one of our practices," Journey smirked. Journey was a third-year dancing predator, and Zaiden was a second-year Predator. We all knew each other from high school. Even though Journey was two years ahead of Mila and me in college, she was the same age; she'd just opted to start college earlier than us.

"Then what's he out here for?" Journey asked, using the back of her hand to wipe away a bead of sweat dripping down the dark skin of her temple.

"To ruin my life," I muttered, reaching for my toes to stretch. Journey and Mila's gaze met and narrowed before turning to me. "He still blames me for Kacie and now my mom for breaking up his family."

"Kacie got into a car drunk and drove away from the party," Mila said. "How could that be your fault?"

I shrugged. "I don't know, but to make it worse. He has a video of me—" I lowered my voice. "Earning my scholarship."

"What?" Mila's voice lowered with mine as she leaned in. There wasn't a girl on the dance team who didn't know what I was talking about. Coach Ryan Palmer made it clear from the go what was required to make his winning dancing team with a full scholarship. "Where did he get that from?"

I shook my head. "I don't know."

"Does he have other videos?" Journey asked.

I shrugged. "If he does, I don't think he intends to use them. He wants to torture me for whatever it is he thinks that I did to Kacie."

"If the team finds out he's threatening you, it will cause a war." Mila's voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes scanning the field for eavesdroppers.

I grabbed her wrist. "They can't find out." My fingers tightened. "Not ever. If that video goes viral, I will lose my scholarship. The whole team could be at risk."

"Too bad he doesn't hate me," Journey said, staring up at him. "He's so fucking hot."

My gaze followed her line of sight, freezing on Zaiden. Zaiden was gorgeous, with dark hair and greyish-blue eyes. He was tall and tanned, with tattoos covering both arms, his neck, and one of his legs. I hadn't seen the tattoos on his leg before because he always wore pants, but today, he wore black shorts and a white Predator T-shirt.

"That's a wrap, ladies!" Coach Palmer's voice carried across the field.

Twenty dancers tensed. No one moved. No one breathed.

"Hit the showers." A pause that stretched too long. "And Laken? My office."

The team's collective exhale was audible, relief from everyone except me.

"What do you think will happen if EJ and the team ever find out about Coach Palmer?" Journey asked.

"I don't know," I sighed. "But how they would react would be the least of my worries."

"Let's go shower and change," Mila smiled. "We are meeting up with the team at Hurricane's."

In the stands, Zaiden rose to his feet, his eyes locked on mine with the kind of intensity that made my skin prickle. His hands disappeared into his pockets, but his message was coming through loud and clear: This isn't over.

I needed an out from the locker room, from Hurricane's tonight, from whatever confrontation he was planning. My phone chimed on the grass beside me, and I nearly lunged for it, desperate for any escape.

Mom: Family dinner at six tonight. Don't be late.

I rolled my eyes because that was the last thing I wanted to do, but it did give me an out for tonight.

"Sorry, guys," I frowned, pushing to my feet. "My mom wants to have a family dinner tonight." My gaze lifted, noticing Zaiden was on his phone. He'd probably gotten the same text.

"Well, you need to tell your mom that you belong to the team during football season."

I chuckled. "Yeah, I'll let her know." I leaned forward, snatching my bag off the ground. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"You're not coming back to change?" Journey narrowed her big brown eyes.

I flicked a glance up to the now empty stadium. Zaiden, without a doubt, would be waiting by the hockey locker room. I shook my head. "No, I'm heading home and changing for dinner tonight."

"Call if you need backup tonight," Mila chuckled as they headed towards the tunnel.

Luckily, my mom and his dad were home. I doubted he would do anything stupid with both of them in the house.