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But I can’t rip my eyes from Maison as he smiles at nearly everyone who looks at him. He looks nice, approachable. His eyes are like deep chocolate and glow, and his body is generously tanned.

Maison’s eyes find mine and his smile shifts to a cute little grin when he catches me staring. He pauses and tilts his head and starts toward me.

“Oh my god,” Jade stammers. “He’s coming over here.”

My breath shallows as he approaches.

Fuck, London. Get it together.

He stops right in front of us, and I can’t help but notice the entire table shuts down their conversation to watch—though the opposite happens with Naomi’s table, and it seems we’ve caught the alphas’ attention. Nigel doesn’t seem too happy at Jade’s jaw nearly hitting the floor. Playing it cool, I avoid looking at him, even though my heart is hammering out of my chest.

I meet his eyes, and I’m drawn into them. The gold in his eyes is accentuated by his black uniform.

“Who are you?” he asks, his voice sexy, raspy, and deep.

“This is London King,” Jade answers as her cheeks fire red.

My mouth falls open, knowing I probably look exactly like her. I wasn’t expecting to react this way to anyone on my first day, and I seem to have lost my ability to speak.

“She’s new here, and joining our newspaper,” Jade continues.

He glances at Jade, but spans his attention back to me, trailing his eyes to my over-sized crumpled shirt and mascara-less eyes. I wish I put more effort into getting ready by the way he seems to scrutinize me.

It’s probably confusing to him, given the girls he hangs out with and how they present themselves—both of which are staring at us like a hawk.

I get my wits back and press my lips together, staring at his deep brown eyes for longer than I should, then arch a brow at his awkward silence. If I’m icy, hopefully he will leave me alone. I have enough to worry about with Naomi glaring at me all the time, and I certainly don’t need her to think I’m trying to grab the attention from one of her guys. Ezra hangs back and says nothing—just a stone-cold glare.

Maison merely smirks, and my eyes are drawn to his plump lips. He seems oblivious to the weird energy that surrounds us. “Nice to meet you… London King,” he says, annunciating the L and the K, then walks toward his hockey group.

God, his voice…

My head moves with him as he effortlessly jumps over the table and sits next to his brother, but he keeps his eyes on me the entire time.

Micah looks up from his laptop and his expression hardens as he follows his brother’s gaze toward me. Their simultaneous attention is the only vibration in the room. I feel their stare all over my skin as my stomach quivers from the unwanted attention, even if it’s for a moment.

Their eyes are penetrating—full of an emotion I can’t quite capture.

Jesus.

They start in on conversations among themselves, as if I’m quickly forgotten. Their focus moves to their friends and the two girls in front, and the moment passes as if it didn’t happen at all.

Jade’s watching me closely. “Stay away from them, London,” she warns. “They’re not worth it.”

Agreed. That interaction was intense. But I wonder why she is telling me this.

Nigel pokes his nose over Jade. “Causing a buzz in the school already, I see.”

Jade swipes his hand away. “Take it easy, Nigel.”

I remember my sandwich and take a small bite, forcing myself to eat and hoping it will distract me. Jade and Nigel obviously know something they’re not telling me.

I shake my head and a gleam hints in Nigel’s eyes. “I doubt they have any interest in me.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Jade scoffs. “This is the first time Maison Matei has stepped foot at this table or interacted with us. Although they’ve been gone a year, so maybe he’s changed.”

Nigel and Jade are both watching me now, and I bite the inside of my cheek.

Matei. Of course, I remember them. Their father was a rich investor of some sort and, if I recall correctly, is some billionaire. Their family was the richest in the whole area. They were always so mysterious. I only knew of them and never interacted with them, so I remember little about them, but damn, they aged well.