Snow’s Point of View

The morning started like any other. I walked through the school gates, adjusting the strap of my bag and trying not to think about the dull ache still lingering in my head.

The headache had lessened, but the tension hadn’t fully disappeared.

“Snow!”

I turned toward the voice, spotting Nia waving at me from across the courtyard. She wasn’t alone.

Standing beside her was a boy I didn’t recognize. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with messy dark hair and an easy grin that gave him a mischievous air.

“Hey,” I said as I approached them, glancing between Nia and the boy.

“This is Mason,” Nia said, gesturing toward him. “My boyfriend.”

I blinked, surprised. “Boyfriend?” I asked softly.

She nodded, smiling brightly as she linked her arm with his.

For some reason, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, though I wasn’t sure why. Did I really think Kingston was her boyfriend? I shook the thought away quickly, trying to focus on the present.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, offering Mason a small smile.

He tilted his head slightly, studying me in a way that made me feel a little self-conscious. Then, slowly, he raised his hand and waved it in front of my face.

“You can see me?” he asked, his tone curious.

I gave him a confused look, nodding. “Yeah... why wouldn’t I?”

I even had my glasses on, so why would he ask—

“Oh,” I mumbled, the realization hitting me. My eyes.

It wasn’t the first time someone had commented on them. Their unusual color—pale, almost silver—tended to make people pause.

Nia nudged him playfully. “Don’t mind Mason. He’s just nosy.”

Mason smirked, shrugging. “Fair enough.”

“Come on, let’s go meet the others,” Nia said, grabbing Mason’s arm and starting to lead him toward the far end of the courtyard.

“But class?” I asked hesitantly, glancing at the time.

“Skip it,” she replied with a grin, looking back at me.

I bit down on my lip, hesitating. I’d never skipped a class before—it just wasn’t something I did. But the way Nia said it made it sound so casual, like it wasn’t a big deal.

“Okay,” I said finally, following after them. Just this once, I told myself. It wouldn’t hurt, right?

“So, um, who are the others?” I asked as we walked.

“My brothers,” Mason replied easily.

I nodded, staying quiet. I didn’t want to ask too many questions and risk coming off as annoying.

“Their names are Cole and Xander,” Mason continued, his tone casual. “They’re a bit... much, but you’ll get used to them.”

I nodded again, not entirely sure what he meant by that.

“Also,” he added, glancing back at me. “Don’t act cute in front of them. Cole hates cute.”

I frowned slightly, confused by the warning, but didn’t press the issue.

As we turned the corner, my steps faltered. Standing against the wall were two men—no, they weren’t boys. They were massive, their presence almost overwhelming.

One of them had dark, piercing eyes and a smirk that screamed trouble. His arms were crossed over his chest, the tattoos snaking down his forearms only adding to his intimidating aura. The other had sharp features and an intense gaze, his expression unreadable as he leaned casually against the wall.

“Holy moly,” I mumbled under my breath.

Mason let out a laugh, nudging my shoulder. “Don’t worry. They’re harmless... mostly.”

Nia rolled her eyes. “Harmless is a stretch.”

As we approached, the two men straightened, their gazes shifting toward me.

“Who’s this?” the one with the smirk asked, his voice low and slightly rough.

“This is Snow,” Mason said, gesturing toward me. “Nia’s friend.”

The smirking one raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over me. “Snow, huh? You look... soft.”

“Don’t be rude,” Nia snapped, shooting him a glare.

He raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk widening. “Just saying.”

The other one, who I assumed was Xander, remained silent, his sharp eyes studying me with an intensity that made me squirm.

“Hi,” I said softly, feeling suddenly out of place.

Xander nodded slightly, but his expression didn’t change.

“You brought her here?” Cole asked, directing the question at Nia.

“Yeah,” Nia replied firmly, crossing her arms. “She’s with us, so be nice.”

Cole rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.

I shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to do or say.

The energy around these two was... heavy. It was like they carried an invisible weight that followed them everywhere.

“So, you’re the one everyone’s been talking about,” Cole said after a moment, his dark eyes locking onto mine.

I blinked, startled. “Everyone?”

“Yeah,” he said, his smirk returning. “The new girl. The sister of the Whites.”

I frowned slightly, not liking the way he said it.

“Don’t mind him,” Nia said quickly, stepping between us. “He likes to mess with people.”

Cole chuckled, but Xander finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. “Leave her alone, Cole.”

Cole shrugged, but his smirk didn’t fade.

“Come on,” Nia said, grabbing my arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

I nodded quickly, grateful for the escape.

As we walked away, I couldn’t help but glance back at Cole and Xander. They were still watching us.

“Are they always like that?” I asked softly.

“Pretty much,” Nia replied with a sigh. “But you’ll get used to them.”

I wasn’t so sure about that.