They were almost something once.

And that almost ruined her life.

Freshman year at Royal Oaks Prep, Tristan Vail was untouchable.
Old money. Old blood. A last name that opened doors before he knocked.
Golden boy with a razor smile and eyes that never apologized.

Stella Cortez was the scholarship girl.
Latina. Brilliant. Built from grit and late nights and a mother who worked doubles.
Too sharp. Too proud. Too easy to break.

Their chemistry was instant.
The fallout was brutal.

When the school turned on her, Tristan didn’t step in.

He just watched.

Six months later, Stella disappeared.

Years later, she’s reborn.

Division-1 volleyball star.
On a full ride to Stanford University.
Stronger. Colder. Untouchable in a whole new way.

She doesn’t need saving anymore.

She’s the storm.

Then Tristan walks onto campus like he still owns the world.

Same wicked mouth.
Same dark, messy hair.
Same look that once made her knees weak.

Only now?

She hates him.

And hate burns hotter than anything they had before.

Because this time, she isn’t the girl who bleeds.

She’s the one who makes him ache.

Some love stories are soft.

Theirs comes with teeth.

A Royal Oaks Prep Novel