Episode 11: The Hunt Begins
Jaden couldn't stop watching Blaine.
The bastard stood near the fence, arms crossed, eyes locked onto them like a predator who had just found a weakness.
Not Jaden. Abby.
Jaden's grip on his fork tightened, his body tensing even as Abby sat next to him, completely unaware.
She was still smiling softly, watching him eat, completely untouched by the filth of this place. And for a second, Jaden envied her—envied how she still saw the world as something good.
But Blaine was proof that Iron Stride was full of wolves.
And wolves hunted the weak.
Jaden's blood boiled.
If Blaine even looked at Abby the wrong way, Jaden would put him back in the dirt.
Again.
Unwanted Attention
"Jaden?"
Abby's voice pulled him back.
He blinked, forcing himself to look at her instead of Blaine. She was too close. The soft scent of her shampoo mixed with the cold air, and for a moment, Jaden felt like they weren't at Iron Stride anymore.
Like they were just them.
Her brows furrowed slightly. "You okay?"
Jaden forced a smirk. "Always."
Abby didn't buy it. She never did.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice softer now. "I know you don't like talking about it, but…" She hesitated, then carefully placed a hand on his bruised knuckles.
Jaden stiffened. Not because it hurt—but because she was touching him.
And for some reason, that was worse than the pain.
Abby looked at his hand, her fingers barely ghosting over his bruises. "This place is changing you."
Jaden exhaled through his nose. She wasn't wrong.
Before Iron Stride, Jaden fought because he had to. Now?
Now he fought because he liked it.
The rush. The anger. The feeling of power.
But looking at Abby, feeling her small, warm hand against his skin—it made him hate that part of himself.
So he did what he always did.
He pulled away.
"I'm fine," he muttered, standing up.
Abby frowned but didn't push.
She just sighed and stood, brushing the dirt from her jeans. She never tried to force Jaden to talk. She just let him be.
That's what scared him the most.
Lurking in the Shadows
As they walked back toward the facility, Jaden's senses stayed sharp. Watching. Listening.
Something felt off.
The other players had already seen Abby. And Leo was right. In a place full of killers, love was a weakness.
And Iron Stride thrived on weakness.
As they reached the hallway near Jaden's dorm, a voice rang out.
"Well, ain't this cute?"
Jaden's shoulders stiffened.
He turned slowly.
Blaine.
Leaning against the wall with that same cocky smirk.
Jaden saw red.
But before he could take a step, Abby touched his wrist.
A silent message. Not here. Not now.
Jaden gritted his teeth. Fine.
Abby looked at Blaine, polite but firm. "Excuse us."
Blaine's smirk widened. "Of course." He stepped aside, but as they walked past, he murmured something just loud enough for Jaden to hear.
"She smells nice."
Jaden moved before he even thought.
His fist slammed into Blaine's jaw.
The impact sent Blaine crashing into the lockers.
Abby gasped. "Jaden—"
Blaine chuckled, wiping the blood from his lip. "Touched a nerve, huh?"
Jaden didn't speak. He just stared.
A silent warning.
Blaine licked the blood from his lip. Enjoying this.
Leo's voice rang out from down the hall. "Carter, you really gotta stop throwing hands every time someone talks shit."
Jaden ignored him.
Blaine tilted his head, eyes gleaming with something dark. Excitement.
Like he wanted Jaden to lose control.
"I wonder how long she'll wait for you," Blaine mused, voice slow, taunting. "While you're in here. While she's out there. All alone."
Jaden took a step forward—
And Abby stepped in front of him.
She turned to Blaine, voice steady, controlled. Perfectly calm.
"Are you done?"
Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Abby met his gaze, unfazed. "You're trying to get under Jaden's skin. I get it. But it's not working."
Jaden blinked. What.
Abby tilted her head slightly. "So either you can move on, or you can keep embarrassing yourself. Your choice."
Silence.
Then—laughter.
Leo whistled low. "Damn. Carter, I think your girl just cooked his ass."
Blaine's smirk twitched. He was still cocky, but now? Now there was a flicker of something else.
Irritation.
Blaine's eyes flicked to Jaden. "She's got a mouth on her."
Jaden stepped forward, close enough that Blaine could feel the heat rolling off him.
"I don't give a fuck what you say to me," Jaden said, voice dangerously low. "But if you talk about her again?"
He leaned in.
"I'll end you."
Silence.
For the first time, Blaine's smirk faded.
Jaden grabbed Abby's hand—**gently—but firmly. Then he walked past Blaine without another glance.
Blaine didn't stop them.
But Jaden could feel his stare burning into his back.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
The Calm Before the Storm
Once they were safely away from prying eyes, Jaden finally let out a breath.
Abby was still holding his hand. Not tight. Just enough to remind him she was there.
He exhaled, glancing at her. "You didn't have to do that."
Abby just smiled. "Of course I did."
Jaden looked at her—really looked at her. She wasn't afraid.
He shook his head, smiling slightly. "You're kinda scary when you want to be."
Abby's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Good."
Jaden didn't know what he did to deserve her.
But he knew one thing.
If Blaine—or anyone else—so much as breathed near her the wrong way…
He was ready to burn this whole fucking place to the ground.