A month had passed since the hospital.

A month of healing, of teasing, of Jae hovering around her like a human shield.

But that didn’t mean Ava had forgotten.

And it sure as hell didn’t mean she was going to let Section D get away with what they did.

“Come again?” One of the Section D boys, taller than her by at least a foot, cracked his knuckles, amusement dancing in his sharp gaze. “You’re saying you, all alone, want to fight us?”

Ava smirked, rolling her shoulders. “Was my message unclear?”

The entire Section D stood before her, a group of muscular guys who had clearly spent more time in the gym than the classroom. But that didn’t intimidate Ava.

If anything, it fueled her.

“You really don’t know when to back down, do you?” another boy sneered. “This time, there’s no one to save you.”

Ava cracked her neck, raising her fists. “Who said I need saving?”

The moment one of them lunged, she dodged effortlessly, spinning on her heel and landing a solid punch to his side. He stumbled, cursing.

“Damn it, she’s fast—”

Another came at her. She ducked, sending a sharp kick to his knee, making him collapse.

But numbers were against her.

A punch connected with her side, making her stagger.

Another grabbed her wrist, twisting it behind her back.

Ava grit her teeth. She refused to go down easily.

She bit the guy’s arm. Hard.

He yelped, releasing her just as another set of fists aimed her way—

But before they could touch her—

A foot collided with his jaw, sending him flying backward.

The fight stopped.

Ava turned, heart pounding, to find Jae and Kai standing behind her.

Jae cracked his knuckles, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. His eyes were dark. Lethal.

Kai scoffed, stretching his arms lazily. “You really thought you could take them all alone?”

Ava wiped the blood from her lip. “I had it handled.”

Jae stepped closer, his voice dangerously low. “Yeah? Then why the hell do you look like you were about to pass out?”

Ava opened her mouth to argue, but Kai cut her off.

“Whatever. Doesn’t matter.” He turned to Section D, his usual easy-going demeanor vanishing. “You wanna fight?” He grinned, cracking his neck. “Then let’s fight.”

Jae took a step forward, rolling his sleeves up. “I’ll make sure you never touch her again.”

And just like that—

The real fight began.