LOGINCHAPTER 37Speak of the devil…ZIMA'S POV.I was sprawled on the bed, pulling him closer, my head spinning and burning like fever. I did not care. Not tonight. Not when I finally had the chance to try what I had seen Betty and Elijah doing.He lowered himself, his hands slipping away as his lips brushed over my breasts. The first touch sent a sharp jolt through me, waking every nerve in my body. He rolled his tongue on my nipples, slowly, tasting me carefully. Warmth rolled through me as another soft sound escaped my throat, and the moonlight stretched across my skin as if it wanted to watch everything.My hand drifted down, brushing over the fabric of his trousers. The shape beneath was firm and impossible to ignore."It is so strong," I whispered, breath catching.He went still for a moment. A low growl rumbled from his chest. His eyes darkened and he took a step back. Before I could say another word, he turned away and rushed out of the room, leaving the air trembling with everyth
CHAPTER 36 Long night ZIMA'S POV A letter and an invitation with a coded dress requirement had been delivered to all students, inviting us to the party hosted to celebrate the academy’s progress and to honor a student who had passed every reformity test placed against him. Everyone’s dress was plain red and mine was no different, the Nightowl Academy embroidery sitting neatly on the fabric. I had already worn the gown and now stood in front of the mirror beside my bed, staring at my reflection. There was nothing special about the dress. Nothing that truly stood out. “I hope you are considering getting laid today.” I turned sharply. Of course it was Betty. I had only one roommate. “Start by considering minding your business,” I said as I began to leave. “You should get touched, kissed, everything. You need it,” she said with a dry laugh. I kept wishing Darius was here. Maybe then I would feel a little more alive in this place. I stepped out and saw everyone clustered i
Chapter 35I want to feel it tooZima's POV My mother was not a wolf. She was a witch. And at the time, the lycan king and the witches were at war with the wolves. Everyone fought for dominance. Everyone fought to stand above the other. The witches had the upper hand. Their magic could wipe out a wide stretch of wolves in a single breath.But she married my father, a wolf, an alpha. He stood as her shield, her cover, the one who kept us safe. My mother had no choice but to live quietly. She hid her power, stayed in the shadows, and tried to survive.Until the day King Aiden came for her.A low sound broke from my throat as the memory hit me again. Not just a sound. A wound reopening. I could still see the flicker of her power trying to rise. I could still hear the way the world went silent before everything fell apart.“We are here,” the gamma said as he pulled the car to a stop. I looked out the window and saw the academy stretching wide in front of me. The moment I stepped out of t
CHAPTER 34ZIMA'S POV “Now, let’s fix that attitude of yours,” he said suddenly, his tone low but firm. He closed the distance between us, and before I could step back, I found myself pinned between him and the table. His hands, making its way into my thighs. My breath hitched as the air around us grew heavy.“I’m not making deals with Damon about you,” he said, his voice rough, threaded with frustration. “It was a near-death situation, Zee.”His words sank into me, sharp and trembling. I wanted to believe him, but the space between us burned too hot for reason. My heart raced, torn between fury and… I don't know.“But you never hesitate to make deals with your brother, and that surprises me,” I said quietly, my gaze shifting toward where Damon had been. “What was Damon making deals for? I want to know.”My eyes searched the room, but he was gone. Somehow, I hadn’t even noticed when he left.“Your eyes should be here, Zee,” Darius said softly, his hand lifting my chin until our eyes
Chapter 33Dinner dramaZima's POV The evening was cold, the air sharp as it brushed against my skin, raising goosebumps along my arms. I walked down the stairs in a simple gown, the guards’ eyes following me as I kept my gaze straight ahead, heading toward the dinner hall.When I arrived, my eyes immediately found Aria. She sat gracefully beside the monster, King Aiden, while her husband, Kael, sat on her other side. My gaze drifted around the table and caught Darius sitting at one end, with Damon directly opposite him. Guards stood stationed all around the room, their presence heavy and watchful.I quickened my steps the moment I spotted Aria. I knew Kael used to be Aiden’s beta, but what was she doing here?“Aria?” I called softly, but her face remained still, her eyes fixed on the table as if I didn’t exist.“Aria,” I called again, louder this time. Before she could answer, Darius rose from his seat and pulled out a chair for me, his eyes silently pleading. I hesitated, then walk
Chapter 32Don't know what to do.Zima's POV.“Who do you feel now?” I asked, keeping my eyes on Darius as he slurped the antidote, one hand clutching his chest while he struggled to take it in. Damon stepped back after speaking, his words still hanging in the air like a warning.“A man can make any promise on his deathbed,” Darius said with a faint smile.My gaze flicked between them, confusion twisting in my chest. Damon moved in a blur, seizing my hands and lifting me off the ground. The antidote slipped from my grasp, shattering against the floor. He pinned me to the wall, his eyes locked on mine. Slowly, he brushed a strand of hair from my face, his touch soft but charged with tension. Then he turned his gaze back to Darius.My heartbeat thundered, no matter how hard I tried to steady it. I hated that he could hear it, and feel it. And for some reason I couldn’t explain, my wolf wagged her tail.“Step away from me, Damon.”He glanced at Darius, who was still on the ground, weak a







