Chapter 3

ZULEIKA’S POV

The kiss had lasted for barely a minute.

Almost sixty seconds of heat, confusion, and everything I didn’t want to feel.

The moment my brain caught up with what was happening, I pulled back fast—heart hammering, breath ragged—and slapped Lavin across the face.

Hard.

The sound echoed inside the sports lodge, loud and sharp. Silence followed, thick and suffocating.

His head turned slightly with the force of it. A red mark bloomed across his cheek. I stepped back, my chest rising and falling too quickly, lips parted in disbelief.

I couldn’t stop staring at him—waiting for him to flinch, react, shout.

Anything.

But Lavin didn’t say a word.

Just stood there, unreadable, like the slap hadn’t even phased him.

“You don’t get to do that,” I hissed, scrubbing at my lips with the back of my hand like they burned.“Don’t you ever come near me again.” I flicked my middle finger in his face, a weak attempt to hold my ground.

Still nothing. No smirk. No anger. Just that damn stare. The one that made my stomach twist.

The longer he stayed silent, the more I felt my emotions spiraling—rage, humiliation, and something else. Something I didn’t want to name.

I spun on my heel and stormed out of the lodge, breathing like I’d just run a marathon.

Every step I took away from him, my brain screamed louder.

Why did I kiss him back?

Why did it feel like my whole body had… shifted? He gave me a chance to leave, but I didn’t. What the hell came over me?

My fingers trembled as I shoved them into my hoodie pocket. I couldn’t ignore the way my skin still buzzed—like something deep inside me had been stirred awake.

Like my wolf had lifted its head. It didn’t make sense. None of this did.

Lavin Darkfire was my enemy. The arrogant jerk who taunted me, who barged into my room like he owned the place.

So why the hell was my heart still racing from a kiss I didn’t want?

To worsen it all, His look was neatly stamped in my head and the fact that I couldn't shake it off made me even more livid.  

I hated that he looked so calm. I hated that the kiss had… meant something and for that one stupid minute, I had wanted it.

Still raving with anger, I stormed towards the cafeteria but before I walked through the door, I had plastered the fakest smile I could muster.

Standing by the door, I allowed my eyes to scan the large room until I saw Freckles waving at me with a large smile plastered on her face which I returned.

She must have been waiting for me and so without wasting any more time, I rushed towards the table, trying to look normal.

Trying to forget the feel of Lanvin’s mouth on mine.

“Girl, you look like you just ran a marathon,” she said as I sank into the seat across from her.

I laughed—dry and empty—and flipped my hair to the side so she wouldn’t see too much of my face. “It’s nothing. Just… practice,” I lied, plastering on a smug look.

She popped a fry into her mouth and raised a brow. “You were gone for almost an hour. And you look like you’re ready to murder someone.”

I shoved a spoonful of mashed potatoes into my mouth just to avoid talking.

My cheeks were still hot. My fingers clenched around the fork. And every now and then, my mind replayed the way Lavin had grabbed me.

The way his eyes burned into mine—like he saw something inside me that even I didn’t understand.

Like he knew.

Leaning forward with her hands folded in front of her, Freckles narrowed her eyes at me, “What happened?”

“Nothing,” I lied through my teeth, forcing a smile to placate her and put an end to the questioning but I should have known better.

“Zuleika…” She called with a raised brow.

“I’m fine,” I snapped a little too fast as I was angry she was pushing forward with it.

With a softened look now, I mumbled, “I’m telling the truth.” I groaned and with a shrug, said, "I’m just tired.”

Freckles didn’t buy it. I could see it in her face and demeanour but she dropped it at least for now.

Later that evening, after our last class, I rushed home with the small hope that maybe—just maybe—my parents had come back.

Last night before going to bed and early this morning, I had tried to reach mom but she didn't pick her calls.

I had even texted her but still it was the same result. I bet she was so busy that she didn't even have time to check her phone.

But still she should have created time for me despite her busy schedule.

It had been over a week since they left for that so-called “urgent business trip.” I was used to them being distant, but this? This was different.

I needed someone to ask me how I was. Someone to sit next to me and remind me I wasn’t crazy for feeling this way.

But when I opened the front door, the house was cold. Silent.

Empty.

“Of course,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I tossed my bag on the couch. I pulled out my phone again and dialed Mom’s number for what felt like the hundredth time.

She picked up on the third ring.

My heart stupidly soared—until I heard her voice.

“Why are you calling?”

Not hello. Not sweetheart. Just that.

I’ve never had a mother and daughter relationship with my Mom. She’d rather drown herself in heaps of files, than spend time with me.

The tightness in my chest returned. “You’re still not home,” I said, trying to keep my tone steady.

There was a brief pause before she answered, “Things are a little complicated over here.”

Slowly, I lowered myself on the arm of the couch, hoping nothing had gone wrong, “What’s going on?”

There was another pause. Then a new voice filtered in—my father’s.

“Zuleika. Listen.” He started, his voice low and stern. “We won’t be coming home until after two months. We have a lot to handle here.”

“Two months?” I choked. “Are you serious?” My breath hitched in my throat and my heartbeat doubled.

“We know it’s not ideal,” Mom added flatly. “You’ll stay with Zade until we’re back.”

I blinked trying to wrap my head around what I had just heard, “Zade? As in, my brother?” I asked for confirmation.

“Yes.”

“And his best friend?”

“Yes,” she said.

They didn’t need to say it. I already knew.

“You mean Lavin. The same Lavin I slapped across the face this afternoon.”

“You what?” Mom snapped. “You’re becoming a brat, Leika. I won’t tolerate that behavior!”

“Never mind,” I quickly said. “Why can’t I just stay home? I’m not a child anymore, I can take care of myself.”

“For goodness sake, I’m in my second year in college." I huffed.

“We’ve made our decision.” Dad cuts in. “It’s all up to you. But just so you know, if anything happens to you while you’re alone, that’s on you. We won’t be responsible.”

I stared at the wall, my jaw clenched as anger boiled through my veins.

“So I don’t get a say?” I was barely keeping my anger in check now. I fear I was going to erupt soon.

“You don’t. You’ve always been an obedient child. Don’t change.” Mom responded, her voice edged with anger.

I didn’t respond. I just hung up. The phone dropped to the couch. I dropped next. And screamed into a cushion so hard my lungs burned.

Of all the things they could’ve decided, sending me to live with Lavin Darkfire was bottom tier.

After that kiss? That moment? That stare?

Hell no!

The more I thought of it, the more emptier the house felt. I thought of calling Freckles, but I couldn’t find the words to explain the mess I was in.

Why can't I stop thinking about Lavin’s mouth on mine?

Why am I remembering the way his hand had gently cupped the back of my neck, like he meant it?

And worse, what did it mean that I didn’t hate it?

I told myself over and over again that he was the enemy. The guy who always got under my skin, teased me, irritated me.

He was the guy who made me feel like I was always one second away from slapping or kissing him again.

I lay on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

If things went my parents way, in less than 24 hours, I would be packing up and moving in with the two people who drove me crazy in completely different ways.

Zade, the golden boy and his best friend, Lavin, the one person I didn't want to see ever again.