The Ascendant Shadow

Chapter 3: Silk and Steel

Valentina's POV:

After classes, Veronica and I headed outside, ready to leave the chaos of the day behind. The crisp afternoon air felt refreshing, but our moment of peace was interrupted when we noticed a crowd gathering near the parking lot. People were shouting and cheering, creating a chaotic energy that sent my pulse racing. What the hell?

"Let's just go, Vale—" Veronica started, her voice laced with concern, but something inside me told me otherwise. Without thinking, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her with me as I pushed through the crowd, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Fuck them up, Xander!" someone shouted, and my stomach dropped. Xander?

I wasn't one to get easily flustered, but the moment I laid eyes on him, something shifted inside me. He stood just a few feet away, tall and broad-shouldered, towering over most of the people around him. The dim light of the room only added to his aura—dark, mysterious, and so striking it almost made my breath catch.

Alexander Knight.

He was everything the rumors said and more. Tall and muscular but lean in a way that made him look like a predator about to pounce. His dark eyes were intense, a storm brewing just behind them, and they locked onto mine, freezing me in place. He didn't smile...didn't need to. Just the way he held himself, so calm yet so dangerous, was enough to send a shiver down my spine.

I remember glancing at his short, dark, wavy hair that looked effortlessly tousled. It framed his sharp features perfectly. Every inch of him screamed control, strength, and something much darker lurking beneath the surface. He was too handsome for his own good, and yet, the look in his eyes warned me not to get too close.

But I couldn't look away. There was something about him—something pulling me in, making me want to unravel whatever secrets he was hiding behind those dark, smoldering eyes.

And just like that, I was hooked.

I pushed past the last few bodies just in time to see four guys ganging up on my brothers. My eyes locked onto one of them—Xander, the guy I had noticed earlier. Dark and imposing, his presence seemed to command attention effortlessly. Even now, in the middle of a fight, his brooding intensity was undeniable. But any attraction I felt was instantly overshadowed by the fury that surged through me.

Lucas was pinned to the ground, a guy on top of him, pummeling his face relentlessly. The sight of my brother in pain flipped a switch inside me. Without thinking, I lunged forward. There was no way I could pull the guy off Lucas, so I did the next best thing—I kicked him square in the face, hard.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and silence fell as the guy rolled off Lucas, clutching his nose in agony.

"Fucking asshole," I muttered under my breath, dropping to my knees beside Lucas. His face was bloodied, his nose clearly broken, but his eyes were open. "You, okay?" I whispered, my voice tight with concern.

Before Lucas could answer, I felt a presence looming over me. One of the guys—tall, muscular, and reeking of arrogance—stepped in front of me, flanked by none other than Xander. The dark-haired guy's gaze burned into me, unreadable, as if he was studying me. His strong jawline and piercing eyes were hard to ignore, and despite the situation, I couldn't help but acknowledge how damn attractive he was. But the fact that he was involved in this—hurting my brothers—set my blood boiling.

"Leave," the guy in front of me commanded, as if I wasn't even worth addressing directly. His voice dripped with authority, but I wasn't fazed. I glanced over to the side and saw another guy still on top of Owen, landing punches.