June curled a finger around the strap of her backpack, twisting it absently as she stared out the window. The scenery blurred past, gold-tinted from the afternoon sun. It caught the edges of her hair, a soft glow that clashed with the shadowed scowl set deep into her brother’s face.

Neither of them spoke. They hadn’t for miles.

The wrought-iron gates of Stanwood University loomed in the distance, a declaration that their lives were about to change. The start of their freshman year. The first time they’d live apart. The first time June would breathe without the ever-watchful eyes of their overbearing foster parents. Or Jared.

Her twin brother’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles going white. He was built like a linebacker—because he was one—but his usual easy confidence had been replaced by something sharp. Unease. Resentment. Maybe even fear.

Jared had always been protective, but since their parents passed in a car crash their senior year, it had gotten worse. It was like he saw threats lurking in every shadow, every guy who so much as looked at her. And now? The idea of her living in a co-ed dorm? With a stranger? That had sent him into a spiral.

Too bad for him.

She’d spent her whole life under a microscope. First her parents, then her foster parents picked apart her choices, dictated what she could and couldn’t do. And Jared, whether he meant to or not, had done the same.

This was her chance.

She stepped out of the car, inhaling deep as she took in the massive brick buildings, the winding pathways filled with students. Excitement buzzed in her veins. She was ready for this. Ready to have fun, to live a little. To finally do things that had always been off-limits.

Jared wasn’t ready.

His gaze burned into her as she hoisted her bag over her shoulder. "Don’t do anything stupid, June."

She rolled her eyes. "Define stupid."

"Parties. Guys. Frat assholes. All of it."

A slow, knowing smile curved her lips. "So, all the fun stuff?

He muttered a curse, raking a hand through his hair. "I’m serious."

"Yeah, yeah. I’ll be fine, Mom."

His jaw locked. He didn’t like that. Good.

Because she was done letting him, or anyone, tell her what to do.

The first few weeks passed in a blur—lectures, assignments, endless coffee-fueled nights. Jared was just as busy with his classes and the beginning of football season. Freedom tasted as good as she’d imagined.

Rachel, her roommate, was the exact kind of trouble June had never been allowed to have. A cheerleader. Loud. Wild. With a closet full of tiny dresses and a relentless enthusiasm for frat parties.

"You’re coming," Rachel announced one Friday night, shoving a scandalously short dress into June’s hands. "No arguments."

June hesitated, fingers trailing over the silky fabric.

"Live a little," Rachel coaxed. "Your brother isn’t here to bite off any guy’s head."

That was exactly the problem.

Still, a thrill of rebellion flared in her chest. Jared had warned her against this. Told her frat parties were a breeding ground for assholes with bad intentions. Maybe he was right. Maybe she should care.

Or maybe she should prove she wasn’t the same helpless little sister he still saw her as.

So she slipped into the dress, let Rachel do her makeup, and stepped into the chaos of Sigma Phi Beta.

Music pounded, shaking the walls. The air was thick with sweat, booze, and bad decisions waiting to happen. Bodies pressed in tight, voices slurring as drinks sloshed over plastic cups.

Rachel squealed and vanished into the crowd, leaving June standing at the edge of something dangerous and new.

Then she felt it—a stare.

Her skin prickled.

She turned, scanning the room, and her stomach dipped when she spotted him.

Brad.

Jared’s football teammate. She had seen his eyes on her in their Spanish lit class a few times.

Tonight he stood Six-foot-something of muscle and cocky smiles, leaning against the wall like he owned the place. His eyes dragged over her, slow and deliberate, before he pushed off and strolled toward her.

"You look good, June." His voice was low, smooth. A little smug.

A flush crawled up her neck. Guilt twisted her gut.

Jared would lose his mind if he knew she was here.

If he knew Brad was looking at her like that.

But right now, she didn’t care.

Because for the first time in her life, no one was telling her no.

And she wasn’t about to stop herself. Which was exactly why she hadn't mentioned to her brother that she coming to this party when he'd checked in with her earlier in the day.

Brad offered her a cup of punch, the same punch that had everyone around her giggling and flirting with reckless abandon. She took it, a little thrill zipping through her as she sipped it. Sweet and potent, it warmed her throat and made her head swim. Rachel had said it was spiked with something extra, but June was too busy watching Brad’s eyes to care.

As the night deepened, the party grew wilder. She danced with Brad, the music’s bass thumping in time with her racing heart. His hand was hot and firm on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowded room. Each brush of his fingertips sent a shiver down her spine. It was exhilarating. Terrifying. Everything she’d been told not to do.

Her phone had been singing with texts she assumed were from her brother looking for her, but she ignored it. Each buzz was a reminder of the cage she’d left behind, the rules she’d discarded. The punch sloshed in her cup, the taste growing sweeter with each sip. Rachel’s warnings of Brad’s player reputation played in the back of her mind like a broken record, but she was too tipsy to care.

Brad’s hand slid to her waist, his thumb tracing a lazy pattern on her skin as they moved to the rhythm of the bass. It was a possessive touch, one that sent a thrill through her, but it also made her aware of the way his teammates watched them with narrowed eyes. The way they whispered when they thought she couldn’t hear. They didn’t know she was Jared’s sister. They didn’t know the unspoken rule that she was off-limits.

But someone did.

Her heart stuttered in her chest as she turned and her eyes locked onto Jared's, standing by the doorway, his expression a thunderstorm of rage. The music, the lights, the laughter—it all faded into a distant buzz.

Jared pushed through the crowd, his eyes never leaving hers. She felt the heat of his gaze, the weight of his disapproval, even as Brad's arms tightened around her.

And then the world tilted.

One moment, June was dancing, Brad’s hands on her hips, and the next, darkness swamped her vision. Her legs gave out, the floor rushing up to greet her, and suddenly, she was in Brad’s arms. He was saying something, his voice a distant murmur, but she couldn’t make out the words. The room spun, a dizzying carousel of colors and faces.

"June!"

The panic in Rachel's voice barely registered as the world swam back into focus. June's cheek was pressed to the cold, sticky floor, and she had the distinct sensation of someone's hands on her, hoisting her up. Brad's arms tightened around her as he whispered reassurances she didn’t want to hear.

But she wasn’t listening to Brad. She only wanted her brother. The safety that only he could bring.

Jared was there. Right there, pushing through the crowd like a bull in a china shop, his face a mask of fury. The room grew still, the music fading to a distant throb as he approached. His eyes, usually so warm and protective, were cold, narrowed into a glare that could cut glass.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.

Jared’s fist connected with Brad’s face with a sickening crunch, sending Brad staggering back. The room erupted into gasps and murmurs, the music stuttering to a stop as everyone turned to watch. June’s knees wobbled, the floor seeming to pitch beneath her as the world snapped back into focus. Brad’s eyes rolled back, and he dropped like a solid rock, his head hitting the floor with a thud that echoed through the room.

The music didn’t start again. The party-goers parted, creating a wide berth around the two of them. June’s hand flew to her mouth, the punch cup slipping from her numb fingers to shatter on the floor, the sticky liquid pooling around her.

"What the fuck, Jared?" Brad groaned, pushing himself up on one elbow, blood trickling from his nose.

Jared didn’t answer. His hand was clenched into a fist at his side, his jaw set like he was fighting the urge to hit Brad again. June's heart raced. She'd never seen him like this—so raw, so angry. So... scared?

Before she could say anything, the world tipped on its axis, and darkness claimed her again. The last thing she heard was Jared’s voice, gruff and pained. "I've got you, Junie."

The next thing she knew, she was being cradled in strong arms, the world swaying and blurring around her. She was too dizzy to protest, too confused to do anything but lean into the familiar warmth that surrounded her. It was Jared. He'd picked her up like a ragdoll, carrying her out of the party, his face tight with a mix of anger and concern.

When she woke up, the room was spinning, the light was too bright, and she was in a place she didn't immediately recognize. Blinking blearily, she took in the unfamiliar surroundings—the posters of football players on the walls, the messy desk laden with trophies, the faint scent of his cologne. Jared's room.

Her head throbbed in time with her racing heart as she realized she was wearing nothing but his oversized tee and her panties. She groaned and curled into herself, the fabric soft against her bare skin. The last thing she remembered was the party, Brad's hands on her, the punch... and Jared's furious face.

The door to the room creaked open, and Jared stepped in, a towel slung low around his hips. Water droplets clung to the muscles of his chest and shoulders, glinting in the harsh light. He looked like a warrior from a Renaissance painting—powerful, sculpted, and untouchable.

His eyes searched hers, full of worry, and she knew he hadn’t slept. Dark circles ringed them like bruises, a stark contrast to the fury she’d seen in them the night before.

"Jared-" she croaked, her voice raw.

He sighed and handed her a glass of water and some pain reliever. "Take this."

She did as he asked while he sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

"How are you feeling, Junie?" he finally asked, his voice gruff with concern.

Her head pounded, and she felt the sticky residue of the spiked punch coating her mouth. "Like shit," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

He nodded, his gaze flicking over her, taking in her disheveled state. "Do you remember what happened?"

June took a tentative sip of water, the coldness soothing her dry throat. The events of the night crashed into her mind in a jumble of images and sounds. The party, Rachel's insistence, Brad's smug smile, the punch that had tasted too good. And Jared’s rage-filled expression as he’d watched her from the doorway. "I... I remember dancing with Brad." She paused, the weight of the next confession heavy on her tongue. "And... I think I passed out."

Jared's jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white. He'd never hit anyone before, not unless they'd deserved it, but the sight of Brad’s hands on June had set something primal off inside him. "Yeah," he bit out. "You did."

The room was silent, filled only with the sound of her shallow breathing and the distant echo of his own heartbeat. Then, she whispered, "Are you mad at me?"

Her eyes searched his, a mix of fear and hope. Jared's throat tightened. Mad? He was beyond mad. He was furious. Terrified. But mostly, he was disappointed. In Brad. In himself for not being there to protect her. But most of all, in her for going to that party. For letting Brad's hands wander. But he couldn't bring himself to voice it. Not when she looked so small, so vulnerable.

He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "You scared the shit out of me, June. I've never seen you like that."

The silence between them grew thick, charged with unspoken accusations and fear. She knew he was upset, but she couldn't find the words to apologize. Instead, she nodded meekly, swallowing the bitter taste of regret.

He reached out, his hand warm as it cupped her cheek, gently pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're okay now," he murmured, the fierce protectiveness in his eyes giving way to something softer, something that made her stomach clench. "I've got you."

June nodded again, her eyes never leaving his. They were so close, the space between them crackling with an energy she didn’t understand.

"Jared..." she whispered, unsure of what she was about to say. But before she could form the words, he leaned in, his breath warm against her lips. And then he kissed her. It was confusing, yet comfortable.

It was nothing like the sloppy, fumbling kisses from the guys she'd been with before. It was gentle, yet firm, a silent promise wrapped in a storm of passion and protection. June's eyes fluttered shut, and she let herself be swept away by the sensation, the taste of mint from the toothpaste he’d used moments ago mingling with the faint salt of his skin. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, the fabric of his shirt rough against her bare skin.