The cafeteria smelled gross. I was relieved when I spotted the salad bar. At least they had another option other than whatever stinky food they made today.

As I made a salad, one guy passed me with what looked to be meatloaf and mashed potatoes. He must've been starving because there were at least two helpings loaded on his tray.

With my salad in hand, I searched for a seat and was shocked at how fast the seating in the enormous lunchroom had filled up. Nearly every table was already taken.

"Ember!" Some guy yelled from a back table. I glanced over to see my worst nightmare.

Tyler, Lucas, and Justin all had their eyes directed at me. They were wearing their hoodies, and it wasn't even cold. Tyler stood near the wall with his arms crossed. Lucas was standing next to him with his hands in his pockets, and Justin leaned on the wall next to Tyler with one leg propped up. Why weren't they eating?

A bunch of guys laughed and guffawed nearby. My hate club and the rest of what I assumed to be the so-called popular girls sat at the table near them. The three guys staring at me didn't appear to care about the other people, but that didn't change the fact that they had a gigantic following.

I'm not sure who it was that yelled my name, but I couldn't overlook Missy's glare. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest as she silently wished for me to drop dead. Maybe if she smiled every once in a while, more guys would give her the attention she wanted.

Yeah. There was no way that I was going over there. Eating alone sounded like a much better plan. Making my way to one of the last empty tables in a corner, I pulled out my script and studied as I ate.

Suddenly, something bounced off my table. I jumped in response, nearly spilling water on my script.

An apple. Someone threw a fucking apple at me. What the hell?

Glancing in the direction the apple came from, Jenny smiled wickedly before Tyler yelled at her.

Everyone who saw the apple fly across the lunchroom watched and waited for me to blow up, but I didn't. I was oddly comfortable, and I didn't feel like walking all the way over there at the moment.

That's when I noticed Lucy walk out of the restroom.

"Lucy!" I stood, waving her over.

Lucy smiled and pointed to another table, gesturing for me to join.

I analyzed the table, and a bunch of people smiled at me, but there was only one spot left and it was Lucy's spot. I shook my head with a grin and sat back down.

I wasn't possessive or selfish. Lucy obviously had a life and other friends before she met me. Plus, her friends weren't assholes, which was a big deal. I'd meet them later, but for now, I'd be fine on my own.

After finishing my salad, I continued studying until someone pulled out a chair and sat down across from me. I didn't look up.

"You look lonely over here all by yourself." Said a guy with a low, raspy voice.

I hated when people said crap like that. Why couldn't people understand that I enjoyed hanging out by myself?

"I'm not lonely." I glanced up to see a gorgeous guy seated across from me. He wore a black hoodie with a brown wolf on the front.

His almond-shaped dark blue eyes were to die for while his brown crew cut was perfectly styled. He was insanely muscular with stocky shoulders that had football written all over them. And yeah, this dude was another nightmare waiting to happen.

Cocking his head to the side, his gaze wandered over me. "Why don't you come sit at my table? I can introduce you to some people."

"Nah. I have a lot to do, but thanks." I pointed at my script.

He chuckled. "Come on, honey. I can show you a good time. Hate to say it, but watching you study alone makes me sad. Studying is for the library."

My lips pressed into a thin line as I nodded. "Very good, and this is the lunchroom where people eat. Are there any other fascinating facts you'd like to point out before you leave?"

The guy's grin fell flat in annoyance before he eyed me suspiciously. "Now, I get it."

"Get what?" My tone remained bored, hoping he would just go.

"Why Stacy and Tiff don't like you." His chair moved back with an ear-piercing screech.

I glanced around and found dozens of people looking our way. "I've never said one word to Stacy or Tiffany. How can people not like me if they don't even know me?"

Rounding the table, he got way too close and leaned over me. I wanted to gag at his awful smell. I couldn't put my finger on his stench, but he needed to change up his brand of cologne, because ew.

Stiff with discomfort, I didn't look up at him as I forcibly held my breath.

"You don't know me either, but you made assumptions about me pretty damn quick, didn't you?" He whispered, causing my hair to stand on end.

His proximity and tone of voice made me want to claw his gorgeous eyes out, but somehow I stayed still.

"Griffin!" Someone hollered from across the lunchroom.

I glanced up to see Tyler weaving around tables toward me. I never thought I'd say this, but I was happy as shit to see Tyler. Justin and Lucas were right behind him, which put me even more at ease.

"What do we have here?" Suddenly, Griffin pulled out the chair next to me and sat. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, yanking me into his side.

As I prepared to attack this prick, Tyler made eye contact with me and shook his head. It was just a slight movement, but somehow he knew what I was about to do. I actually listened for once and held off.

Lucas's icy glare stayed on Griffin's arm imprisoning me as a muscle in his jaw ticked.

My gaze shot to Justin. His golden gaze met with mine and flared to a full-on glow as pain crossed his face.

"So... you got friends in high places, huh?" Griffin's raspy voice was in my ear. "I wonder how you got his attention. He's never wanted anyone, but he obviously wants you. All hail the king."

What the fuck was he saying? Barely able to concentrate, I began to tremble under his hold. I desperately wanted to kick this fucker's ass as my gut began to burn with rage.

"Hey, calm down. I'm not gonna hurt you. You're the sexiest girl I've ever seen. Just tell them to leave, and we can have one hell of a time, honey. You can be mine forever. I'll take good care of you." When Griffin's lip barely grazed my ear, I saw red as darkness filled my heart. The fire in my belly sizzled its way over my skin.

I didn't have any strength to tell him to fuck off as the heat intensified. Something was definitely wrong here. The energy surging over me didn't stop until it engulfed me entirely with invisible flames.

I glanced down to see if I looked any different, but I looked normal.

When I looked back up, three pairs of glowing eyes were wide with shock and rage as the guys continued in my direction, practically knocking people out of the way.

"Tell them to turn around. They'll just throw you away. They'll never care about you. You're nothing to them. Just a toy they want to toss around and rip apart." Griffin whispered.

The way he talked to me like I was dispensable made the invisible flames on my skin lash out and slap Griffin across the face.

Griffin's head whipped to the side. He jolted back, immediately releasing me as his eyes went wild. "What the fuck? Did you just... slap me?"

Knitting my brow in confusion, I released a heavy breath and shook my head as the raging heat eased, pulling itself inward and balling up in my belly. "Leave me alone and keep your fu—"

"Ember." My name coming off Tyler's lips wasn't a request. It was a command to shut the hell up, and I did.

"Why didn't you say anything about this?" Griffin's fists pulsed as he moved in Tyler's direction. "It's happening, and we all have a right to her."

"Last time I checked, I don't report to you. She obviously wants nothing to do with you, so back the fuck off before this gets dirty." Tyler stood to his full height while Lucas and Justin did the same.

What in the hell were they talking about?

Lucas's green eyes roamed over my body and nodded. "Get your stuff. You're sitting with us from now on."

Suffocating under his gaze, I did as Lucas said. Had they seen the flames or energy or whatever that was?

A violent migraine suddenly came to life, causing the room to spin. Damn. I couldn't seem to catch my breath. There was way too much testosterone hovering around me, and I wanted to get away from it. Leaving my trash, I quickly packed up.

Just as I stood to leave, Griffin shot to my side and wrapped his arm around me again, pulling me into him. Didn't we already do this?

The weird hot energy that I felt inside before was missing as the guys grew furious.

My gaze connected with Justin's as his brow furrowed. I'm not sure what exchange happened at that moment, but somehow I knew Justin could feel my fear.

Get down. The voice in my head wasn't mine. It was Justin's.

I dropped to my knees as Justin moved toward me.

"Keep your fucking hands off her." In one swift movement, Justin wrenched back his fist and punched Griffin's face so hard that his feet left the floor. Griffin flew backward, hitting the wall. The back of Griffin's head left a bloody mark on the block wall. Holy shit.

Crawling out of the way, I noticed Lucas reaching for me. I hurried to him and took his outstretched hand, which sent rolling waves of comfort through me and eased my pounding head.

Holding his hand like a lifeline, I got to my feet and folded into Lucas's side. There was something very wrong here, and I had no idea what it was, but it scared me.

Getting to his feet, Griffin didn't move to retaliate against Justin. Instead, Griffin's brow narrowed as he glared daggers at me. "You're mine, and you know it."

"She'll never be yours." Tyler took off at full speed, tackling Griffin to the ground.

"Tyler!" I tried to help, but Lucas wouldn't let me go.

"He'll be fine," Lucas whispered.

"Justin, help him!" I watched Tyler and Griffin struggle on the floor.

Justin sent me a quick look before moving to my other side, looping his arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry, Angel. Ty's got this."

Lucas and Justin made eye contact for a moment until Tyler finally got to his feet and punched Griffin in the face. Just like before, Griffin pummeled into the wall.

Holy hell. What kind of steroids were these guys putting in their Wheaties?

Justin and Lucas burst out laughing when blood poured out of Griffin's nose.

Shaking off Lucas's hand and Justin's arm, I turned to leave and found the entire student body surrounding us. What the hell? Where were the teachers?

Tyler startled me when he threw his arm around me, tucking me into his side. "You're not going anywhere, Shortie."

I don't know why, but I let Tyler hold me close. Maybe it was all the people staring or just that I liked when he called me Shortie.

Dipping his head, Tyler's lips grazed over my ear as he spun me back toward Lucas and Justin. "You need to stay with one of us at all times. Griffin knows."

Narrowing my brow, I glanced at him. "Knows what?"

Justin, Lucas, and Tyler all stared at me, waiting for me to magically catch on to whatever I was missing.

The three of them scrutinized me for a long moment until I got pissed. "I'm totally lost, and you guys are making no sense."

Justin studied my confusion and shook his head. "I told you. She's completely in the dark."

"Ember, are you okay?" Lucy pushed through the crowd, interrupting our weird conversation.

I tried to go to her, but Tyler tugged me tighter into him. "Stay with one of us at all times."

"One of who?" I asked angrily.

"Us." Lucas gestured to the three of them. "It's the only way we can protect you."

"I don't know what gibberish you're speaking, but I have to go." I ducked and pushed Tyler's arm off, looping my arm through Lucy's. "I'm okay. Just a lot of assholery going on here."

Lucy didn't laugh at my crappy joke as concern etched over her face. "I've never seen Griffin act like that before. He's not exactly perfect, but he never treats girls like that. Are you okay?"

I really didn't know what to think about Griffin. The entire situation was freaking surreal, to say the least, and I had a lot to think about.

Nodding at Lucy, I started toward my locker. "I'm fine."

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