The first mistake most prey made was believing the predator was joking.

~ Rebel Beast

---

"What happened to the four?" Aria asked just as the girls were about to break into their respective teams, their excitement abruptly halted.

Maverick’s brows lifted slightly in surprise.

It seemed not all of them were idiots.

He answered, "Two died. According to your chaperone here..." He gestured toward Abigail standing by the door. "I believe their names were Eloise and Sadie."

The moment the names left his mouth, a wail broke out from among the girls.

"Not Eloise!"

Aria recognized the speaker. Debra, or Debbie, whatever name she answered. It was almost strange watching her cry now when it had been obvious for hours that four girls were missing.

Then again, perhaps she had been holding on to hope that somehow her friend had survived.

"And Chelsea?" Aria asked.

"The one with the broken leg?" Maverick replied.

Aria nodded.

"Our healers did everything they could. They saved her life, but she’ll never fully recover. The same goes for the other candidate, Gloria. Both girls are being airlifted back to Nova City as we speak."

His gaze swept across the room.

"So yes. You are the lucky sixteen. For now."

The way he said those two words sent a chill through the room. The danger wasn’t over. Not even close.

As if she were speaking to an acquaintance rather than a professor she had met only hours ago, Aria continued.

"We were informed that you’re responsible for our safety here, sir."

Maverick folded his arms across his chest. Even with the long sleeves, the movement still drew attention to the thick muscle beneath.

Unfortunately, Aria’s traitorous eyes noticed.

Quick. Focus.

Now was hardly the time to be admiring a professor.

"Obviously," she breathed, forcing her attention back to the conversation, "I don’t blame you for what happened today. Coming here was our choice. But what measures are in place to ensure our safety moving forward?"

Then, after a brief pause, she added,

"Please, sir?"

Maverick was caught off guard by the practical question Aria Aspen asked, unlike the other girls who had spent most of their time whining and demanding special treatment.

His eyes sharpened with interest. The human girls irritated him more often than not, but this one...

Perhaps there was one worth saving after all.

It wasn’t just Maverick. Several of the other girls looked surprised by how naturally Aria communicated with him.

Karen especially didn’t like the attention Aria was receiving. She should have known the little opportunist was trying to get Maverick’s attention. The thought immediately soured her mood.

So she cut in.

"Yes, Maverick," Karen demanded with a smug expression. "Tell us exactly how you intend to protect us?"

One moment Maverick was standing before them. The next, he was right in front of Karen.

The movement happened so fast that none of them actually saw him cross the distance until he was towering over her. Sadly, Karen noticed at the last second.

"Ah!"

With a startled yelp, she stumbled backward over her own feet and landed hard on her ass.

Several girls gasped while others fought not to laugh.

Maverick loomed over her, his expression dark and unreadable.

"It’s Sir. Professor. Or Professor Maverick."

Each title was delivered with deliberate emphasis.

"Not Maverick." His gray eyes narrowed. "Am I clear?"

His voice boomed through the room with such force that Karen immediately found herself nodding.

"Speak it out."

The command cracked like a whip.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Karen practically shouted the words, her face burning red with humiliation.

At the side, Brittney snickered and Aria nudged her.

"Behave."

That only made Brittney bite her lip harder.

Then, as if nothing had happened, Maverick turned around and calmly walked back to the front.

"Here, let me help you." Charlotte offered Karen a hand.

Karen slapped it away with a glare sharp enough to draw blood.

"I don’t need your help."

She climbed back to her feet on her own. Then her gaze landed on Aria, the hostility in her eyes impossible to miss.

Aria lifted a brow in return.

She knew exactly how girls like Karen operated. The moment something went wrong, they immediately went hunting for a scapegoat.

Fine by her. But Karen had better think twice before trying anything stupid. She wasn’t some helpless damsel waiting to be bullied. If Karen wanted a fight, she would quickly discover that Aria gave back exactly what she received and then some.

"Now listen up."

Maverick’s voice drew her attention back to him.

The room quieted as expected in the face of authority.

"I need to make a few things clear if we’re going to have an amicable stay here. For starters, I am not your superhero. Nor am I your babysitter." He paused deliberately. "And especially not your errand boy."

"Such a disappointment." Brittney clicked her tongue.

Her eyes openly wandered over Maverick’s body. "He’d look devastating in one of those skin-tight superhero suits."

"Concentrate, Brittney."

Aria spoke through gritted teeth, not because Brittney was being ridiculous, but because the idiot had just planted a very dangerous image inside her head.

One that absolutely did not need to be there.

He informed them, "For the record, I didn’t volunteer for this assignment and babysitting a bunch of spoiled human brats ranks very high on my personal horror list."

That wasn’t supposed to be funny, however, Aria’s lips twitched anyway.

He had a horror list? Now she was curious.

What exactly occupied the number one spot?

Unfortunately, Maverick caught that tiny slip. His gray eyes found hers immediately and Aria stiffened.

Quickly, she cleared her throat and schooled her expression back into something respectable.

Nothing to see here.

Brittney caught the entire exchange and pinched her on the arm with a knowing look.

Aria shot her a warning glare. Don’t.

Brittney’s grin only widened.

"But most of all," Maverick continued, his voice hard as steel, "never lay a hand on me, not even by accident. Otherwise, you’re as good as dead. Am I clear?"