LOGINZANA’S POVThe arena was already full when we arrived, and the sheer size of the crowd hit me before I even fully stepped inside. By eight in the morning, every seat in the spectator tiers had been taken, and the sound of voices filled the space.It wasn’t just noise. The whole place was alive. The moment I crossed into the arena, I felt the energy. My wolf lifted her head inside me.It wasn’t just the volume that made it overwhelming. It was the emotion behind it. I could feel it moving through the crowd like a current. Everyone was anticipating. Everyone was excited.Today was the first day of the tournament games.The energy in this place was enough to make my chest tighten, not out of panic, but because it was so much at once. My wolf didn’t shrink from it. She leaned into it. she was curious to see what would happen.At the center of it all, raised above the rest of the arena, sat the viewing box where the court officials had already taken their places. Two older men sat slightly
DARREN’S POVI couldn't get her out of my head. No matter what I did, no matter where I went, I kept seeing it - Zana's hand in Caden's. I couldn’t stop thinking about the way they'd walked together. My wolf couldn’t stop thinking about the way she'd smiled at him.I'd actually thought something was changing between us. After the rain, after the janitor's closet, after she'd kissed me like she couldn't breathe without me - I'd thought maybe we had a chance.I was an idiot.My wolf was pissed, more than pissed. He was furious. Ever since then, he’d been pacing inside me like a caged animal, snarling at the memory of seeing Zana with another male. I felt the same way. I was angry and hurt. Still, I was confused about why I cared so damn much.I'd decided the problem was proximity. If I wasn't in the same rooms as Zana, my wolf couldn't drag my attention to wherever she was. It should have been a simple solution.Except I kept failing to execute it.This morning alone, I'd taken a differ
ZANA’S POVCaden and I walked across the academy grounds. He'd asked me to walk with him after classes, and I'd agreed without really thinking about it. Now I was regretting that decision. We hadn’t really talked since the date we had, where he confessed his feelings.Now, things were a bit awkward."The tournament starts the day after tomorrow," Caden said. His voice was a bit excited. "Are you nervous?""A little," I admitted with a chuckle."You shouldn't be. I've seen you fight. You're incredible." He smiled at me. His whole expression was warm and genuine. "Honestly, I think you might win the whole thing."I forced a smile back, but guilt twisted in my stomach. Caden was sweet. He'd been nothing but kind to me since we'd started spending time together. He didn't deserve what I was doing - leading him on while sleeping with Darren, while having feelings for all three brothers."I don't know about that," I said. "There are a lot of strong fighters competing.""But none of them have
ZANA’S POVI had to figure out what to do with the ring. That was the most immediate problem I could actually solve.Everything else was too big - the revelation about my father being a king, about Lucius murdering him, about the fact that the sons of my father's killer were the same men I was falling for.All of that was too big to process, too overwhelming to act on. Everything seemed to be happening all at once.But the ring? The ring was small. It was something I could control.I wore it on the chain inside my shirt like I always did. I had questions that I needed answers to.Rhea was the only person I could talk to about these things bothering me. This wasn't comfortable for me. I didn't fully trust her, and I suspected she knew more than she was sharing. But she was what I had.We met in the greenhouse each morning before morning. Rhea would help train me, but not in combat. I had enough combat training. She was teaching me something else entirely.Control.The ability to sense
ZANA’S POVThe morning passed with lots of classes. I couldn't focus. My mind kept drifting back to the book, to the words they will not be able to stay away.In Advanced Combat Theory, Professor Thorne called for sparring partners. I stood waiting to be assigned. Of course, I was expecting another brutal match designed to humiliate me."Zana," Thorne called out. "You're with Vivienne."I looked across the training mat and saw her. Vivienne was a senior. She was tall with perfect posture. She was Helena's closest ally, one of the girls who'd helped orchestrate the investigation into my presence at the academy.This wasn't random. Thorne was setting me up.Vivienne and I moved to the center of the mat. Her friends stood at the edge, whispering and giggling. One of them called out, "Don't go easy on her, Viv. Put the rogue in her place.""Oh, I intend to," Vivienne said sweetly.I flexed my fingers inside my wraps and said nothing.She tilted her head. “Silent today? I thought rogues we
ZANA’S POVI woke up before dawn the next morning. My body still ached pleasantly from what had happened with Darren. My wolf was content. She kept purring inside me. She actually satisfied in a way she hadn't been before.But my mind was restless. The name Romell Lunae kept echoing in my thoughts, mixing with everything Rhea had said about bloodlines, power and reasons Lucius might be afraid of me.I needed answers. I needed to understand what was happening to me.I dressed quickly then slipped out of my room. The academy was silent. Everyone else was still sleeping. I made my way to the greenhouse.When I pushed open the door, I immediately noticed something different. There was a book under the stone bench where Rhea and I usually sat. She did this occasionally. She left things for me to find without explanation or note. It could be herbs sometimes, or small crystals she said would help me sleep. But this time it was a book.I picked it up to look at. The cover was dark green lea







