The next week felt heavier than usual.
Elena couldn't shake the feeling that someone was always watching. Even in class, even in the library. Her textbooks, her notes, her bag — all felt heavier, as if carrying the weight of a storm she couldn't see yet.
Raven noticed it immediately.
"You're on edge," he said one afternoon, appearing beside her desk as if he had materialized out of thin air.
"I'm fine," she replied, trying to sound confident.
"You're lying," he said bluntly.
She froze. He always knew.
"I'm just… tired," she whispered.
Raven's eyes darkened, sharper than usual. He didn't ask for details. He didn't need to.
Later that evening, the streets outside her neighborhood felt too quiet. She had walked home alone, trying to convince herself she wasn't afraid.
Then she heard the footsteps. Slow, deliberate.
Her chest tightened.
She turned a corner and froze. Three men — not from school — blocked the path.
"Evening, nerd girl," the tallest sneered.
"Stay back," Elena said, her voice shaking despite her effort to sound strong.
"You should have stayed away from him," another one said.
Elena's mind raced. She wasn't supposed to be involved. She shouldn't be here.
A shadow fell over them.
Raven.
He moved like lightning, placing himself between her and the men. His eyes were cold, dangerous, ready.
"You shouldn't have come here," he said.
One of the men lunged at him. Raven didn't flinch. His fists moved fast, precise, practiced. Elena's heart thumped painfully as she watched him take down two of the men effortlessly.
Her fear was mixed with awe — and something she didn't want to admit. Pride.
The last man froze, seeing Raven's stance, the way he was ready to strike at any moment. He ran.
Raven turned to Elena. His breathing was steady, but his jaw was tight.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I… I'm fine," she said shakily.
"You shouldn't have been here," he said quietly, almost to himself.
"I wanted to be safe," she said. "I thought I could handle it."
Raven's hand brushed against hers, gentle but firm. "You can't handle this. Not yet."
She swallowed, words caught in her throat. She wanted to argue, to tell him she could, but the truth settled over her like a cold shadow.
"I don't want to keep you away," he added softly, almost vulnerably. "But I can't let anything happen to you. Understand?"
"I… understand," she whispered.
They walked home together in silence. The streetlights cast long shadows, and for once, Elena didn't try to fill the silence with words. She didn't have to.
Somewhere between fear and relief, she realized she was starting to understand the world Raven lived in — dangerous, messy, impossible. And she also realized that being close to him meant she would always be at risk.
But she couldn't step back now.
Not when she already cared too much.
Not when he already had.
And somewhere, in the shadows, someone was already planning the next move — one that would push both of them to the edge.
To be continued…