Chased By The Light: Scion Series Book One

by L. P. Dillon

  He placed his hands on my cheeks, lifting my head slightly so our eyes met.

  "I will always be there for you, Aubrey. Whether that be as a friend, a boyfriend, or a knight in shining armor."

  We both chuckled at the same time. I don't know if it was the shock of everything, the fact that he had saved me from Kyle, or that impressive kiss, but I couldn't help it, I laughed like what he'd said was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. To my surprise, my laughter turned into tears. I tried to look away from him in embarrassment, but he placed his hands on my cheeks to turn my face back to his. I winced a little, so he lifted his hand off of my sore cheek and inspected it.

  "Is that where he hit you?" Chase delicately ran his thumb over my cheek, and I nodded in reply. "No one will ever lay their hands on you again; I promise you that. Not while I'm around, I swear!" His tone was confident, and I actually believed him when he said those words.

  I smiled at him, encasing his face in my palms. Dropping my hands from him, I leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Chase. Can we go and get drunk now?"

  Chase stood up and bowed. "Your wish is my command, my queen."

  Chase took out a blue shirt from his closet, threw it on, grabbed his keys and wallet off the table, and then buttoned his shirt, all in the time it took me to stroll from the bed to the door. The guy was super-fast and extremely excited.

  On my way to the door, he ran in front of me to open it first, then held his hand out for me to exit before him. I gave him a sweet smile and stepped into the hall. My eyes drifted to my door, and a twinge of guilt and worry hit me for what might have happened to Kyle.

  "Don't worry, he's fine. The boys and I just roughed him up a little." Chase placed his hands on my shoulders, spinning me around to face him. "Trust me, he will be fine. He's stronger than he looks. I had one of my boys drive him home, so don't worry. Just forget about him and enjoy tonight."

  I couldn’t stop it when my eyes drifted to my room again. I didn’t know why I was so worried, especially after what Kyle had done to me, but I couldn’t help it.

  He placed his fingers under my chin, tipping it up until our eyes met. "Please, Brie, for me?" Nodding my head, I linked arms with him and let him lead me down the hall.

  "I will forget about it on one condition. When your boy gets back, let me know how Kyle is. Okay?" I didn’t bother to look at him because I knew his sexy grin would make his emerald eyes sparkle and those gorgeous dimples would appear, and I’d probably agree to just about anything he asked of me. Sad, but definitely true.

  "Okay, I'll let you know. Now enough talk of that asshat, let's party!" he cried out, and shouts of excitement boomed down the college halls.

  I knew he shouted relatively loud, but how all of those people heard him and were able to reply was beyond me. Which got me thinking…a lot of strange things had happened today, all of which were completely unexplainable. But at the moment, I didn't have the brain capacity—or will, for that matter— to try to figure it all out. Tonight, I just wanted to have fun, and if that meant accepting the over-obsessed attention of the college’s own playboy, then so be it. I would tackle everything else tomorrow.

  When we met up with Payton, I dropped my arm from Chase’s and linked arms with my friend as we followed the guys out to the parking lot. We passed a bunch of cars, and soon the parking lot had grown scarce and only a few older cars sat around a black Land Rover. I glanced at Payton and raised my eyebrows, but the look on her face told me she was thinking the same thing I was. That couldn’t be their car, could it?

  With a shrug, she just grinned at me, and I couldn’t help the smirk that lifted the corners of my lips. Don't get me wrong, I don't judge a guy's worth by his car, but damn it is a turn on when they have an impressive car.

  Since we’d fallen a bit behind ogling the Land Rover, we walked a bit faster to try to catch up. Once we did, Connor pressed the button on his keys and unlocked the Land Rover, and as he did, Payton squeezed my arm, showing me her joy at his choice of vehicle.

  He held his hand out for her and she glimpsed at me with a questioning expression.

  With a grin, I told her, "It's okay, go."

  She kissed my cheek and ran over to Connor, who opened the passenger door and held her hand as she climbed up and got into the vehicle. I was elated for her. She always looked out for me and had been my best friend since Kindergarten, so it was about time she was treated like a princess. I wanted nothing but the best for her, and Connor seemed like a lovely guy. He was tall, dark, and handsome, had the kindest bright blue eyes, and clearly had money. Not that she would care if he didn't, but a lot of guys in high school tried to date her because she came from a wealthy family, and she was fed up of that being the only thing they saw. So, it was a nice change for her to meet a guy with his own money.

  I looked over to find Chase, but I didn’t see him. My heart pounded harder as Connor started up the engine and reversed. Nervous energy swam through my stomach. I didn't usually worry about being out by myself, but I was in a new place, and after what had just happened with Kyle, I was a little on edge. But as soon as Connor maneuvered out of the parking spot, there was Chase with his dimpled smile. I gasped as he pulled open the door to an emerald green 2019 Lotus Evora GT410. It was absolutely incredible and by far the sexiest looking car I'd ever seen. The fact that the car’s color matched his eyes was just an added bonus.

  I got into the car with a beaming smile on my face, not able to believe for a minute that I was sitting in this gorgeous car and waiting for this extraordinary guy to drive me to my first college party. Well, not really my first college party, but my first college party as a college student. It was nice to be looking forward to a great end to a horrific first day. If tonight went well, hopefully, this would be the only thing I remembered in the future about my first day of college.

  Chase got into the car, put his seatbelt on, and started the engine. It sounded impressive like we were about to go whizzing around a racetrack. I definitely felt like a goddess in his car. He glanced over to me, and I thought he could see the approval on my face because he chuckled and revved the engine, before speeding off. After driving for a while, we pulled up to a massive mansion. It had a large parking lot to the side, but there were so many vehicles there that some were parked on the grass. There were people everywhere, and I could hear the music even though the car windows were closed, and we were still pretty far away from the mansion.

  I expected Chase to try and find a parking spot somewhere on the grass, but he didn't. Instead, he drove right towards the mansion. I furrowed my brow, wondering where we were going. We slowed down as we approached the mansion, then he turned to the left and went down a gravel path. At the were eight garages. Chase pressed a button on his keys and the closest one to the building opened. He parked the car and then got out, coming around to my door to open it for me. I smiled and took his hand as he helped me out of the car.

  "Thank you," I said as he closed the door behind me and locked the car.

  "How'd you enjoy the ride?" he asked with a cheeky smile.

  "I don't usually condone speeding, but I won't lie. It was awesome." I let out a breathy chuckle. "So how come you have your own garage?"

  He walked up a couple of steps and opened a side door, holding his hand out for me. Placing my hand in his, I let him pull me up the steps.

  "I'm the president of Alpha Chi Omega, and each of the main officers has their own garage," he said casually like it was no big deal at all.

  I, on the other hand, was floored. So not only was this guy handsome as hell, but he also had money, was smart, and was the freaking president of a Fraternity. What else didn't I know about this guy? Right off the bat, he seemed like a total dick—Murston's resident fuckboy—but the more time I spent with him, the more he surprised me. I guessed the saying was right: Don't judge a book by its cover. But, in all honesty, I still wasn't ready for anything serious, even if that kiss was the most remarkable kiss I'd ever had.
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  He walked me into the kitchen and the whole house erupted in cheers and roars of excitement. Everyone we passed greeted Chase like he was a damn king, and it was sort of like old times. Whenever Kyle and I used to go to parties, the whole place would go crazy as soon as we arrived, everyone knew who we were and wanted to be around us. To be honest, I had missed the extra attention that being popular brought me. I looked around and saw a few girls scowling at me, but I knew that was just jealousy. I'd seen it so many times before that it didn't bother me in the slightest. I knew it wasn't personal. They just wished they were in my shoes and standing next to the hottest guy in the room, something I couldn't blame them for.

  Guys all around the room came swarming over to Chase and he greeted them all. He knew all of their names, and all of them had a special handshake. Must be a Frat brother thing. It made me start thinking about Sororities. Did I want to join one? I'd have to see if I got along with the girls first because right now, all I seemed to be doing was annoying them.

  When the guys hovering around Chase gestured to me, he said, "Guys, this is Aubrey, and she's a freshman, so be nice." He nudged me with his elbow.

  I held my hand up and wiggled my fingers nervously. They all began saying hello and shaking my hand, but then this huge guy came up to me and picked me up into the air. I was a little shocked at his friendliness, but once he'd finished squeezing the life out of me, he set me down again.

  "Hi Aubrey, I'm William, but they call me Bear. It's so nice to meet you. Can I get you a drink?"

  He sounded so posh and his accent really didn't match his build. He was a very large guy, probably around six-foot-seven, and very muscular. He wore a short-sleeved shirt that barely contained his bulging biceps, and he had tattoos crawling up both of his arms. A dark blond beard grew from his chin, and his hair matched the color of his beard, that he had pulled up in a man bun and shaved at the sides. The dark blue eyes beaming at me were the kindest I’d ever seen.

  I gave him a nod. "Yes, thank you, Bear, that would be great. Can I have a beer please?"

  He held his hand to his chest and sighed. "Ah, a girl after my own heart."

  I chuckled, but my laughter soon ceased when I saw Chase's face. With his features pulled into a tight scowl, he glared daggers at Bear, who was staring back at Chase with humor glinting in his eyes.

  Bear leaned into my ear and whispered, "Don't mind him, he's just a little protective of his girls."

  My eyes scrunched up as Kyle's words washed over me. “You belong to me,” he’d told me. I didn't need another guy acting like I was their property, not even allowing me to talk to other guys. What sort of life would that be?

  A low growl came from behind me, and I wondered at that moment why everyone around there seemed to growl. Glancing at Chase again, I noticed he was still scowling at Bear and not paying an ounce of attention to me, so I huffed in frustration.

  Linking arms with Bear, I told him, "Tell you what, seeing as Chase seems to be preoccupied right now, how about you show me where to get those drinks?"

  "My pleasure m' lady," Bear replied and then winked at Chase.

  Chase instantly lunged towards us, but the group of guys around him quickly held him back. I shook my head at his behavior. Did he not remember what had happened less than an hour ago? I was attacked by my ex, then he and his boys taught Kyle a lesson. Was that not enough violence for him for one day? Did he not think that the last thing I needed right now was to be treated like someone's possession, or to be fought over? It seems like he was too good to be true after all! I sighed as Bear walked me over to a giant tin bath full of ice, beer bottles, and cans.

  "Are you okay, Aubrey?" Bear asked as he grabbed two beers out of the bath.

  "Yeah, it's just been a rough day, and the last thing I need is another possessive guy getting jealous or violent around me." Taking the beer can out of Bear’s hand, I cracked it open.

  Chugging beer like my life depended on it seemed like a great idea, so I tipped it back and went to it. I wanted tonight to be great, and after that kiss, I thought it would be. Chase had seemed different, relaxed and sweet. Now, within minutes of being here, he turned back into the jerk I disliked so much earlier in the day. How could he be so nice one minute, and so horrible the next? I finished chugging my beer and crushed the can. Bear stood still, staring at me with a wide-eyed look.

  "What?"

  "Nothing. That was so freaking cool, I've never seen a girl chug a beer like that before. It just surprised me, that's all. Would you like another?" he asked in a polite tone.

  "Yeah, sure, but where can I get a chaser to go with that?" I asked with a smirk on my face.

  "If you tell me you like ribs, I'm going to have to propose to you right here and now," he said in a joking tone.

  "Well then, Bear, get down on your knees, because I love ribs!" I demanded as I pointed towards the floor.

  He fell to his knees, placing one hand over his heart. "Aubrey...um...Freshman. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" I didn’t expect him to shout so loud everyone could hear, but that was exactly what he did. So dramatic.

  I couldn't help myself when I burst out laughing at him. He looked so cute, and his theatrics were hilarious.

  "Oh wait, wait!"

  He leaned over and grabbed an onion ring off the table, holding it out to me like it was some sort of precious diamond. I cracked up even more as I let my finger extend, hovering in the air. He popped the ring on my finger, and as soon as it had been placed, he went flying out of my view and smashed into the food table beside us.

  I couldn't believe my eyes. Chase was hanging on to Bear’s back for dear life, while he thrashed and bucked around like a raging bull trying to throw Chase off. The guy had gone completely insane. One minute, I'm joking around with Bear, and the next, Chase tackled him, sending him hurtling into the food table, smashing the thing to pieces and making all the food fly into the air, like some invisible people’s food fight.

  Then, as Bear tried to get up, Chase jumped on his back, growling and snapping at his neck like some mad man. I shook my head at them while I watched them wrestling, and I decided right then and there that they were both as bad as each other.

  Connor and the guys that I'd seen earlier on campus came sprinting into the room, and it took twelve of them to pull the two apart. Chase had two people holding his arms, and one of the poor guys got flung across the room like a rag doll. Six of the others had pinned Bear to the floor and two of them were sitting on him like he was a deranged crocodile. Connor bent down and whispered something into his ear, and the huge guy went limp, completely calm and still. I couldn't believe that he was raging one minute and then quiet as a mouse the next. I watched as the guys removed themselves from him before they all strolled away as if nothing had happened.

  Bear stood up, turned to Chase, and held out his hand. "I'm so sorry dude. I didn't know."

  Chase calmed down instantly and the guys holding him let him go. I scrunched my nose up in confusion as I watched the pair of them shake hands, pulling each other into a hug. They both laughed like it had all been some kind of joke.

  Chase’s eyes fell on me and he flashed me his cheeky, dimpled smile. I scowled at him and shook my head, letting him know that I wasn't that easily won over. I tutted, then stormed out of the Frat house and into the garden. Once outside, I saw a bench further out on the grass, so I descended the concrete steps and followed the gravel path, taking a seat next to some guy. Dropping my head in my hands, I let out a heavy sigh.

  "Are you okay?" the guy asked, lighting a smoke.

  I met his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Can I have one of those please?"

  "Oh, yeah, of course," he said as he handed me the packet.

  I took one out and put it between my lips, and he flicked a zippo out and lit it. I leaned forward and puffed a few times, lighting up the end of the cigarette. Taking a prolonged drag, I let the smoke swirl around in my mouth before inhaling it into my lungs. I held my breath for
a bit, then exhaled heavily. I watched as the smoke weightlessly drifted away into the night's sky, and a part of me wished that I could go with it.

  "You looked like you needed that," the guy said as I handed him back the pack.

  "Yeah, thanks. Um...I'm, Aubrey," I replied and held my hand out for him to shake.

  "Hi, I'm Jesse. So, what are you running away from?" He sat back on the bench, puffing away on his cigarette.

  "What makes you think I'm running away from something?" I asked while leaning forward with my elbows on my knees.

  "Well, a pretty girl like you should be in there soaking up all the attention and having a good time. Not sitting out here bumming a smoke."

  I sighed and took another drag as I leaned back on the bench. "Not something, someone."

  "Huh?" Jesse asked.

  "I'm not running, per se. It's more like I'm hiding away from someone for a bit."

  "Ah, right. So, who are you hiding from?"

  "Chase," I replied simply.

  "Oh, well, if the president has an interest in you, you won't be able to hide for long. In fact, here he comes now. It was nice to meet you, Darlin’." I’d never seen someone get up so quickly to leave.

  The way he said darlin’ made his southern twang even more prominent, and it made my body tingle for some strange reason. I looked over towards the mansion, and sure enough, there Chase was, making his way over to us.

  Looking up at Jesse, I begged him with my eyes. "No, wait! Can't you stay for a bit?"

  He looked at me with an apologetic expression. I couldn't see his features that well in the dark, but I knew he had light blond hair and slightly tanned skin. The light from the moon shone on him lighting up his green eyes, but it was still too dark to be sure if they were green, blue, or hazel. I’d say he must have been around the same age as Chase, probably twenty-one.

  He shook his head at me. "I'm sorry Darlin’, but I can't save you from him. I wish I could. You're a strong girl, though. You can handle him."