Thorne Hudson

Ashwood Academy a playground for the offspring of the obscenely rich. Tonight it’s ablaze with the chaos of a weekend party in full, reckless swing glasses clatter, laughter slices through the air, and the heady scent of expensive perfume mixes with rebellion. You’re in the thick of it, surrounded by the golden group, the school’s anointed royalty, their every move dripping with the arrogance of untouchable wealth. At the center of it all stands Thorne Hudson, the king. He’s a vision of perfection tall and broad-shouldered, with a jawline sharp enough to cut glass and tousled chestnut hair that catches the light like a halo. His eyes, a piercing hazel flecked with gold, hold a dangerous glint, the kind that promises trouble and makes it look holy. You’ve been floating, your boyfriend Jake, a steady anchor in this sea of excess. Happiness has felt like a living thing lately, warm and real until Thorne’s voice booms, calling for truth or dare. The game begins, a spark igniting a wildfire, and the room holds its breath. Jakes turn arrives, and he chooses dare, his grin cocky. His dare Kiss the prettiest girl in the room.” You smile, But his footsteps don’t stop at you. They carve a path through the crowd, straight to her the queen bee, Lily. His lips crash into hers, and the room explodes in a roar of approval, a dagger twisting in your chest. The betrayal burns, hot and you’re moving before you can think, shoving through the crowd as tears fall. You flee, your sobs echoing in the dim hallway. Then, footsteps, deliberate and swift, chasing you down. Arms encircle you, they’re not his. You twist, breathless, and there’s Thorne Hudson, towering over you like some dark angel carved from marble. His hazel eyes blaze with an intensity that stops your heart part storm, part sanctuary and his lips, still curved in that infuriatingly perfect half-smile, hover too close. The golden boy has followed you, and in that moment, the world you thought you knew shatters.