CHAPTER 003: THE FIRST CRACK

The next day at school felt even heavier than the one before, Ashley walked through the halls of Stoneridge Academy with her head slightly lowered, but it didn’t help, the whispers were barely whispered now, everyone knew already, she was the new stepdaughter, she had somehow slipped into the Knight family.

She could feel the stares burning into her back as she moved between classes, some were curious, others were jealous or cruel mostly from the girls who shot her dirty looks, like she had stolen something precious from them. Ashley clutched her books tighter to her chest and tried to disappear into the crowd like she always did.

But Ryder made that impossible, he moved through the school campus, his presence commanded every room he entered, his teammates surrounded him, laughing and shoving each other, but his dark eyes kept finding her and every time their gazes met across the hallway she'd jolt back and look away.

Between second and third period, the hallway was packed with students rushing to their next classes. Ashley reached her locker and started swapping books, hoping to stay invisible for just a few more minutes but she didn’t hear him approach until it was too late.

A big hand pressed against the locker next to hers, caging her in, his tall frame blocked out the light, he stood so close she could feel the heat rolling off his body.

“Well, well,” Ryder said, voice low and rough. “Let’s welcome to the family properly, princess.”

Ashley’s heart slammed against her ribs. She turned slowly, forced to look up at him. He towered over her, his broad shoulders filling her vision. Up close, she could see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw and the way his dark eyes burned with intensity.

“This doesn’t change anything,” he murmured, leaning in closer. His breath brushed against her ear, warm and intimate. “Mind what you say to me here, there's obviously no bedroom to disappear into, and try not to get used to my nice words, you still do not belong anywhere around here.”

The words were cruel, the same kind he had thrown at her for years, his lips were inches from her ear, close enough that she could feel the ghost of them against her skin, other students stared openly now. She knew how things worked around here, especially when Ryder Knight was involved, phones would be out to record in seconds.

Ashley’s cheeks burned, she hated how her body reacted… nipples tightening under her sweater, a slow throb building between her thighs. “Leave me alone,” she whispered, her voice shaky.

Ryder didn’t move right away, his big frame stayed there, towering over her, for one dangerous second, his gaze dropped to her mouth then he straightened, that familiar cold mask sliding back into place. “See you at home, stepdaughter.”

He walked away, his powerful back straight, teammates falling in beside him like nothing had happened but Ashley felt the heat of his body lingering on her skin long after he disappeared into the crowd. Her legs felt weak. She slammed her locker shut and hurried to class, the whispers following her like shadows.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur of stolen glances and mounting tension, every time she saw Ryder in the distance… laughing with friends or dominating the game during practice, she remembered the way his breath had felt against her ear and the low rumble of his voice, the way his massive body had caged her without even touching her.

By the final bell, she was exhausted, nerves frayed, and secretly relieved when her mother picked her up instead of Ryder.

****

The evening dragged on, the tension almost solid during dinner, Ryder sat at the head of the long table, her mother chatting happily beside him, he barely spoke to Ashley, but she felt his eyes on her the whole time. Immediately after the meal, she escaped to her room, trying to lose herself in homework. But sleep wouldn’t come.

Hours later, the mansion was quiet again, she tossed and turned in her big bed, the soft gray sheets twisted around her legs. The new room still didn’t feel like hers, every creak of the house reminded her that Ryder was somewhere under the same roof. ‘Her stepfather’

Finally, she gave up, throwing back the covers, she slipped out of bed wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt that skimmed the tops of her thighs, it was old and soft, barely covering her, no bra, just panties underneath, she just needed to cool the restless heat building inside her.

Barefoot, she padded down the wide staircase and into the dimly lit kitchen, moonlight streamed through the large windows, casting soft shadows across the marble counters she opened the fridge, reaching for a bottle of cold water.

Then she felt it.

A presence behind her, Ashley turned slowly and froze.

Ryder stood in the kitchen doorway, fresh from what must have been a brutal late-night training session, once again he was shirtless, his powerful chest rising and falling with deep breaths. Sweat gleaming on his skin, highlighting every cut of muscle—broad shoulders, ripped abs, the sharp V-lines disappearing into low-slung gray sweatpants.

His knuckles were raw and bloody, like he had punched something hard enough to break skin, his tattoos swirled across his shoulder and chest, looking almost alive in the low light.

Their eyes met across the kitchen island and the air thickened instantly. Ryder’s dark gaze locked onto hers, intense then his eyes slowly dragged downward, over her messy hair, down the thin t-shirt that clung to her full breasts, lingering on the bare skin of her thighs and his jaw clenched tight.

He stepped closer, slowly, Ashley’s back pressed against the cool fridge her heart racing so fast she felt dizzy and she was suddenly so aware of how short and revealing the oversized shirt is.

“You shouldn’t wander around like that,” he said, his voice just above a whisper. “Not in my house, not looking like this.”

Ashley swallowed hard. Her nipples had hardened against the thin fabric, clearly visible. She crossed her arms, but it only pushed her breasts up more. “I… I was just getting water.”

He stayed right there, still breathing hard from his training, she could see a bead of sweat trail down between his pecs, sliding over the hard ridges of his abs her wolf stirred wildly inside her, drawn to him in a way that terrified her.

Yet her body didn’t care, the silence stretched on for what felt like forever and then he moved closer about to touch her but instead, he muttered a savage curse under his breath. “Fuck.”

He turned sharply and walked away, his broad back tense, muscles flexing with every step. Ashley stayed frozen against the fridge, legs trembling.

“Your knuckles…. They're bleeding… I could help.” She called out, voice a little higher. But he didn't flinch, or act like he heard.

“Mr. Grumpy,” she murmured, slid down to the floor, pressing her thighs together, trying to nurse the ache between her thighs.