TESSA.

My hands were still shaking on the handlebars, but I refused to let anyone see it. When I pulled off my helmet, silence fell like I had just slapped the whole damn club in the face.

I knew I was going to lose. He was faster, smoother, and everyone knew it. The thought of eating his dust in front of the whole Serpents crowd made my stomach twist. I couldn't let that happen. 

So I baited him. I bent low, pushed my ass up, and threw one look over my shoulder. The kind of look no man like him could ignore. And I saw the tiny twitch in his grip, the way his focus cracked. That half-second of weakness was all I needed. While he stared, I took the win.

I let the rush of cold air hit my face, the taste of gasoline and smoke still clinging to my tongue. Then I smirked, lifting my chin just enough to make it sting.

"Didn't expect to lose to a girl, did you?"

A ripple tore through the crowd. Some laughed, some cursed under their breath. A couple of guys shouted, "No way in hell!" while others just stared at me like I had broken some sacred law.

Jaxson sat there on his bike, helmet still on, shoulders stiff. When he finally ripped it off, his jaw was tight, his eyes locked on me with that dangerous, pissed-off gleam that made most people fold. But I didn't.

"Holy shit," someone muttered behind me. "She actually beat him."

"Girl's crazy," another voice added, followed by rough laughter.

I swung one leg off my bike, planting my boots firmly on the pavement, pretending my knees weren't jelly from the adrenaline still crashing through me. My smirk didn't falter as I tilted my head at Jaxson.

"Guess that scratch on your face wasn't enough warning."

That got another roar from the crowd, half in disbelief, half hyped at the show.

Jaxson's brothers were there in seconds, Ryder, cold as ice, and Cole grinning like he had just found his favorite kind of trouble. And me? I stood tall, heart still racing, already knowing I'd just set fire to something I couldn't put out.

Ryder's eyes swept over me, slow and sharp, like he was deciding whether I was worth breathing the same air. "She beat you?" His tone wasn't like he was shocked. It was more like he'd just been handed a problem.

Cole, on the other hand, couldn't stop laughing. He doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Oh my God, Jax-she smoked you." His laugh carried across the lot. "This is the best night of my life. Looks like little brother's got a new problem."

Jaxson swung off his bike, tossing his helmet onto the seat so hard it rattled. He walked toward me, every step dripping with fury. The crowd pulled back just enough to give him space, like they knew something ugly was about to happen.

I didn't move. I just smirked wider.

"A deal's a deal," I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I won. I'm in."

"No," Jaxson snapped, voice low and sharp. "Not happening."

"Funny," I shot back. "Didn't sound like an option when you agreed."

That made the crowd stir again. A few bikers whistled. One guy shouted, "She's got more balls than you, Jax!" which made Cole laugh even harder.

Nova appeared at my side, eyes bright, grin wide. She looked like Christmas came early. "Damn, Tessa, you didn't just win, you buried him." She slapped my back and turned to her brother. "Jax, I never thought I'd see the day. Big brother, beaten by a girl in front of the whole club? That's history."

"Shut up, Nova," Jaxson growled.

She only leaned closer, still smiling. "What's wrong? Cat got your pride?"

Cole barked a laugh, pointing at her. "That's my sister. Savage."

Jaxson's glare cut to him. "You shut the hell up too."

But Cole just smirked. "What? Are you mad? You got cocky, she burned you. Own it, bro."

Ryder's hand lifted, silencing them all. His voice carried steady, calm, but with enough weight to press the air down. "The Serpents don't back out of bets. You said if she won, she'd join."

"She doesn't belong here," Jaxson snapped, eyes locked on me like he could set me on fire.

"Then maybe you should've ridden faster," Ryder said flatly.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Jaxson's jaw flexed, his fists clenching at his sides. For a second I thought he might swing at me just to prove a point.

Nova leaned against my shoulder, loud enough for him to hear. "Relax, Jax. She's not gonna steal your bike."

The crowd laughed again, and I could almost see the vein in his temple about to burst.

I folded my arms, matching his glare with a calm I didn't actually feel. "You lost, Jaxson. Don't be a sore loser. Or is that what you're known for?"

Cole whistled low. "Ooooh, she's got a bite."

Ryder stepped closer, eyes never leaving me. "You want in the Serpents? You're in. But understand this isn't a game. You bleed for this club. You fight for it. And if you can't handle that-" He tilted his head toward Jaxson. "He'll be the first one to run you out."

"I can handle it," I said, voice steady.

Nova grinned like a kid watching fireworks. "Told you she wasn't bluffing."

Jaxson's lip curled. "You won't last a week."

"Guess we'll see," I shot back.

The standoff stretched, the crowd buzzing like electricity. Then Ryder turned, walking back toward his bike without another word. Cole followed, still laughing under his breath. "Our baby brother's never gonna live this down," he sang.

The crowd slowly scattered, chatter rising again, but I felt Jaxson's eyes burning into me like knives. He stepped close enough that only I could hear, his breath hot against my ear.

"You think you made a point tonight? You didn't win shit. I'll make sure this club chews you up and spits you out."

I tilted my head, meeting his stare with a smirk I didn't feel. "You can try."

His eyes narrowed, jaw so tight I thought his teeth might crack. Then he turned, shoving through the crowd, barking orders for everyone to clear out.

Nova slipped her arm through mine, beaming. "I can't believe you just did that. You're officially my favorite person."

My knees still felt like they might give out, but I forced myself to walk steadily beside her. "Guess I'm a Serpent now."

"Hell yeah, you are," she said, grinning widely. Then she looked back at her brother storming off, and laughed so hard she almost doubled over. "Oh my God, Jax is never gonna recover."

I let out a breath, a smirk still plastered on my face even though my heart was still racing. "Good. Let him. I'm not leaving."

The whispers started before the bell even rang.

I slipped into my seat in the back row, dropped my bag on the floor, and pulled out my notebook like nothing was different. But the way people stared at me told another story. Heads tilted. Mouths moved in low, buzzing tones. Eyes lingered like I'd suddenly grown a second head.

"That's her," someone hissed as I brought out my notebook.

"She beat Viper last night."

"No way, Jaxson Kane doesn't lose-"

"Tell that to her."

My stomach knotted, but I didn't let it show. I leaned back in my chair, flipped my pen between my fingers, and forced myself to look bored. That was the trick, I wasn't going to give them what they wanted. 

Still, every word crawled down my spine. Jaxson "Viper" Kane wasn't just a guy at school. He was the golden boy of the Serpents, the one who had been untouchable for years. And I'd beaten him.

I should not have won, not really. My body still ached from the way I'd pushed that bike. My mind kept replaying the moment I bent low, ass in the air, throwing him that look I knew would distract him. Cocky bastard couldn't resist, and that second of hesitation was all I needed to fly past. Risky? Stupid, maybe. But it was worth it when I saw his face crack.

The teacher droned on, scribbling equations on the board. I didn't hear a single number. I was too busy counting the whispers, the stolen glances, the way every eye in the room kept darting back to me like I was some kind of circus act.

By the time the bell rang, my patience was thread-thin.

Nova slid into step beside me as we headed toward the canteen, her grin wicked. "You hear them? You're officially a legend, Tessa. My brother's probably hiding in the bathroom pissing in his pants right now."

I snorted, shoving her playfully with my shoulder. "I doubt Jaxson cries. He just looks like he wants to strangle me."

"Same thing." She winked.

The canteen was loud, packed with students, but as soon as I walked in, the air shifted. Conversations dipped, then spiked louder as people started pointing. I caught words, crazy, badass, slut, hero. My name tangled with Jaxson's nickname, passed around like smoke.

I grabbed a tray, tried to play it cool, but I was buzzing inside, my heart was racing. I wasn't used to this kind of attention, not at school. Being invisible was easier. But now? Everyone wanted to see the girl who had knocked the crown off Viper's head.

And then, like the universe wanted to test me, Jaxson himself walked in.

The canteen seemed to bend around him. Tall, broad shoulders cutting through the crowd, black shirt clinging to muscles he damn well knew he had. His Serpents jacket was thrown over one arm, his helmet dangling from his hand like a warning. The smirk on his face wasn't for anyone in particular-it was the kind that said he owned the place.

Every girl turned to watch him. Half the guys straightened in their seats like they wanted to copy him. Jaxson Kane wasn't just popular. He was a gravity that pulled the whole room to him.

And the second his eyes found me, the smirk sharpened.

Nova muttered under her breath, "Here we go."

I kept walking, tray balanced in my hand, pretending not to notice. If he wanted a reaction, he wasn't getting it. Not from me.

But as I passed his table, his hand shot out, catching my wrist. The tray wobbled, food nearly spilling, and he tugged me just close enough for everyone to see. His grin was sharp and mocking.

"Well, well," Jaxson drawled, voice smooth as venom. "If it isn't the girl of the hour. Are you enjoying the spotlight?"

I yanked my wrist free, set my tray down on the nearest table, and met his eyes head-on. "If you're asking if I enjoy beating you, then yeah. I did."

Gasps scattered through the room. Whispers flared up. Nova nearly choked on her laughter.

Jaxson's smirk twitched, but he leaned back in his chair, spreading his arms like a king on his throne. "Cute. You really think one lucky win makes you special?" His gaze slid down me, slow, deliberate, like he was undressing me with his eyes in front of the whole canteen. "Don't let it get to your head, sweetheart. Serpents chew up little girls like you."

I tilted my chin, refusing to flinch. "Maybe. But last night, the Serpents' golden boy choked because he couldn't keep his eyes off my ass. So tell me, Viper-" I leaned in just enough for only him to hear. "Was it worth it?"

His jaw flexed, eyes narrowing, but instead of snapping, his lips curved into something darker. A dangerous grin that made heat crawl up my neck. "Careful, babe. Keep talking like that, and people might think you like me."

"I don't."

"Sure you don't."

The tension between us was thick enough to choke on. The whole canteen was eating it up, phones out, recording. Nova clapped her hands together and sighed dramatically. "God, this is better than Netflix."

I grabbed my tray again, a smirk plastered on even though my pulse was hammering. "Enjoy your lunch, Viper. Maybe next time you'll actually finish a race."

I walked off, Nova at my side, leaving Jaxson's table buzzing with low laughter and sharp mutters. But I felt his eyes burning into my back the entire way.

The rest of the day crawled by, but the whispers never stopped. By the time the final bell rang, I was ready to scream.

Nova and I headed toward the gate together, the late sun painting the pavement gold. I was halfway through telling her I needed a burger the size of my head when a group of guys stepped into our path.

At the front was someone I hadn't seen before.

He was tall, leaner than Jaxson but sharp-edged, with dirty blond hair falling into stormy eyes. His smirk was colder, crueler, the kind that said he enjoyed breaking things. His crew fanned out behind him, their jackets stitched with a different emblem, dark red, twisted like fangs.

"So," he said, voice dripping with arrogance. "You're the girl who beat Jaxson 'Viper' Kane."

His crew laughs. He steps closer, smirking curling. "Can't decide if I should shake your hand or drag you to the track myself."

Nova stiffened beside me. I just crossed my arms. "And you are?"

He chuckled, stepping closer, his boys following like shadows. "Damien 'Venom' Cross. And unlike Kane, I don't lose. How about we see what you've really got?" He gestured toward the street beyond the gate. "Race me."

I raised a brow. "That's cute."

His smirk sharpened. "Scared?"

"No," I said flatly. "I don't get challenged. I do the challenging. Learn the difference."

Gasps rippled through his crew. Nova's hand shot to her mouth to hide her laugh. Damien's smirk faltered for half a second before twisting into something uglier.

"You'll regret that," he said, voice low.

"Maybe," I said, brushing past him. "But not today."

Damien laughs, but there's an edge. "Careful, princess. You just made yourself my favorite game."

Nova hurried to catch up with me, eyes wide, a grin stretched across her face. "Holy shit, Tessa. Do you even know who that was?"

"Some guy with a bruised ego?"

She barked out a laugh. "That 'guy' is Damien 'Venom' Cross. He's the Vice President of the Red Fangs. Basically Jaxson's opposite number. He hates the Serpents. And he really, really hates my brother."

"Good to know," I said, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "Guess I just added another name to the list of people who want me gone."

Nova shook her head, still laughing. "Girl, you don't know what you just did. You started trouble with a monster."

"Good," I smirked, heart pounding with tension running through my veins. "Monsters don't scare me."

TESSA.

I walked into the lecture hall the next morning, earlier than usual.

Scanning the rows, I spotted Nova in the middle column, headphones on, bobbing her head slightly to whatever track she was drowning in. A smile tugged at my lips as I slid into the seat beside her and tapped her shoulder.

She tugged one earbud free, with a surprise look on her face. "You came early."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because I passed out immediately I got home yesterday and didn't wake up until five this morning. Yesterday drained me."

Nova smirked. "Not easy being a campus celebrity."

"Don't even start," I muttered, pulling out my phone. "I hate the attention. I just want to be invisible again."

Her grin widened. "You made it worse yesterday. Damien's never gonna let that slide-"

The room fell silent before she could finish.

I glanced around, confused, and found every pair of eyes fixed on the door. Before I turned, Nova nudged my leg and murmured, "Speak of the Devil."

A hand landed on my shoulder, casual, like he owned the right to touch me. My skin crawled instantly. I hated it-hated when anyone thought they could put their hands on me without permission.

I turned my head, eyes narrowing. "Hands off."

He chuckled, not moving his hand. His voice was low and dripping with mockery. "You need to understand something, sweetheart. I'm not Jaxson, the clown you humiliated. I don't get shown up. I don't get cut. I came to give you a warning, and maybe an offer."

Before he could continue, I shoved his hand off me and stood, fire burning in my chest. "Get lost, asshole." My voice carried across the room. "A warning? Who the fuck do you think you are?"

A few gasps rippled through the lecture hall. Some students leaned forward, hungry for drama; others hid behind their phones, already recording.

Nova tugged at my wrist under the desk, her fingers tight like a plea, but I didn't look at her. My eyes were locked on Damien's.

His jaw flexed as he leaned closer, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. "What makes you think you're untouchable? Just because I didn't crush you yesterday doesn't mean you get to mouth off. I'll burn that ego of yours to the ground. And not even those wannabe Serpents you just joined will save you from me. So watch your mouth, little girl."

My pulse kicked hard against my throat. Fear licked the edges of my chest, but I refused to give him the satisfaction. I stepped closer until only inches separated us. "You came here for trouble, and you're pissed I won't hand it to you? You're sulking because I refused to race? Because you can't handle rejection and now you're throwing a tantrum?" I tilted my head, lips curling. "Pathetic. Get the fuck out of my face."

A ripple of murmurs broke through the class. Someone whispered, "She's insane." Someone else muttered, "She's dead."

Damien's smirk became razor-sharp, and his eyes were darker than before. He didn't care about the audience; he wanted me to feel it.

And I did. My body was tense, my fists curled, but I stood my ground.

Before he could respond, the professor strode in. "Class, sit down."

Damien straightened, that slow grin never leaving his face. He leaned down until his lips brushed my ear. His whisper was ice and venom. "You just made yourself my business. See you after class, princess."

He pulled away and strolled out of the class, his crew trailing behind him like shadows, laughing low.

I sat down hard, anger boiling in my veins. Who the hell did he think he was?

The room buzzed with tension. Whispers, phones tapping, eyes darting my way. Nova's hand clamped on mine under the desk, her nails digging in. She mouthed, You okay? Her eyes held a storm of fear and disbelief.

I nodded stiffly, jaw tight. My hands trembled, but I forced a shrug. "Don't worry. He's full of air. He won't get to me."

Nova's lips pressed thin. Her eyes flicked to the entrance. "He didn't come to scare you," she whispered. "He came to mark you."

A chill crawled down my spine. "What do you mean?"

"He doesn't forgive slights," she said. "He collects them. You just made his list."

I swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling heavily in my chest.

The professor's voice blurred in and out after that. My mind was stuck on Damien's words, on the dark promise in his eyes.

When the class finally ended, Nova nudged me. "You looked lost the whole time."

"I just hate when someone tries to get a reaction out of me on purpose," I muttered. My shoulders slumped. "I feel drained. I should go home."

"It's okay," she said. "Just avoid him. Don't feed into it. But know this, he won't stop until he gets what he wants. So don't say anything next time. Just walk away."

I nodded. "I'll try. But my anger issues might not let me."

We headed out to the parking lot, and my stomach dropped. Damien was leaning against my bike, a lollipop stick hanging from his lips.

"Fucking hell," Nova muttered. "He's not going to stop."

Damien's head lifted as we approached. His smirk widened, slow and taunting. He pulled the sweet from his mouth and pointed it at me. "You took your damn time. I don't like waiting."

I walked closer, forcing calm. "Get off my bike."

He laughed, sharp and mocking. "You're cocky, I'll give you that. But you really don't know who you're poking at. You don't know me, sweetheart. Not yet." His voice dropped, colder than steel.

I stepped right up to him, my patience gone. "And you don't know me, Damien. So get off while I'm asking nicely."

His grin vanished. The lollipop stick hit the ground.

Without warning, his hand shot around my throat. His grip clamped down, squeezing until my air thinned.

I clawed at his arm, my lungs burning. Nova's scream tore through the lot. "Let her go! What the hell, Damien? You're gonna kill her!"

I kicked, pushed, and fought, but my strength bled fast. My head spun, vision blurring at the edges.

Then-CRACK.

A fist smashed against Damien's cheek, the sound sickening and sharp. His grip snapped open, and he stumbled back, crashing to the ground.

My knees buckled, but a hand caught me before I could fall. Strong and Unyielding.

Blinking through the haze, I lifted my head and met Jaxson's eyes. His face was twisted with rage, jaw tight, knuckles bloody from the punch.

He pulled me upright, his voice low and furious. "Are you okay?"