The morning mist clung to the school parking lot like a second skin, turning the world into a hazy dream—until the growl of a motorcycle engine cut through the silence like a knife. Students scattered automatically, creating a path as Zhan Xuan's matte black bike slid into its usual spot at the center of the lot, the space around it unconsciously kept empty by those who knew better.

He killed the engine but didn't dismount immediately, just sat there—legs spread, leather jacket open, gaze sweeping across the arriving students like a king surveying his domain. That's when he saw her.

New. Lost. Perfectly vulnerable. Standing frozen near the entrance, clutching her backpack straps like they might save her. Something primal stirred in him at the sight—something dark and hungry that hadn't been awakened in months.

Without hesitation, he dismounted, the heavy boots hitting the pavement with a sound that made several nearby conversations falter. He moved toward her with slow, deliberate steps that ate up the distance between them, each movement radiating controlled power. By the time he stopped in front of her, she was backing away instinctively, only to hit the brick wall behind her with a small gasp.

Trapped. Exactly how he wanted her.

Zhan Xuan leaned in, one arm braced against the wall beside her head, effectively caging her in with his body. His face was inches from hers now, close enough that she could feel the heat of his body and the faint scent of motor oil and citrus cologne. When he spoke, his voice was low, gravelly, and entirely without mercy.

"New girl," it wasn't a question. His eyes raked over her face, her body, assessing, calculating, before returning to her wide, frightened eyes. A corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk that held no warmth. "You're in my territory now."

She tried to speak, but only a small whimper escaped. His free hand came up, index finger brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with a touch that was almost gentle—but the pressure of his body against hers remained unyielding, a silent threat humming beneath the surface.

"You don't belong to anyone yet," he continued, his thumb grazing her lower lip before pressing just hard enough to make her gasp. "That makes you mine."