Chapter 4

Zorya

The sunlight was brutal. Sharp, blinding rays sliced through the thin curtains of the small apartment like punishment. My head throbbed with every heartbeat, a dull drum pounding behind my eyes. The taste of cheap vodka clung to my tongue, and when I sat up, the room spun twice before settling into focus.

I groaned, clutching my temples. “Oh, moon above… What the hell did I drink?”

From the tiny kitchen, I heard a familiar, way-too-cheerful voice hum to a pop song. “Enough to make a silverback wolf tap-dance, that’s what!” Vivia appeared with a plate in hand; eggs, toast, and something that smelled faintly of mint and herbs. Her pink hair was a chaotic bun of defiance, her smile far too bright for this hour.

“Eat,” she said, thrusting the plate toward me like it was medicine. “Before your brain leaks out of your ears.”

I took the food with a grateful groan. The first bite nearly made me weep. “Bless you.”

Vivia plopped onto the couch beside me, watching me chew with far too much amusement. “So… Do you remember what happened last night?”

I froze mid-bite. “At the club?”

She grinned. “Oh, good. You remember there was a club.”

Pieces of memory flickered like broken glass. All I could think of were strobe lights, music, and laughter. “We were dancing… then?”

“Then you decided to challenge an Alpha,” she interrupted, emphasizing each word like a slap. “In front of half the city.”

I choked on the toast. “What?”

Vivia rolled her eyes dramatically. “You heard me. The fight broke out near the bar between two drunk wolves, and then the crowd parted like the sea because he walked in. Alpha Ares. The Crimson Fang Alpha.” She paused, watching the color drain from my face. “And you, my sweet, broken, brave disaster, decided to lecture him on fairness and abuse of power.”

I blinked. “No. I didn’t.”

“Oh, you did. You told him, and I quote, ‘if you’re going to lead, at least have the decency to look before you decide.’” Vivia laughed into her hand. “The entire club went silent. I thought I was going to die of secondhand embarrassment.”

I buried my face in my hands. “Tell me I didn’t say that.”

“Oh, it gets better.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “When he grabbed your arm to stop you from walking away, you growled at him.”

My head snapped up. “I did what?”

“Growled,” she said with relish. “Like a full, low warning growl. And then you…” She paused, frowning slightly, as if replaying the memory. “then you just… froze. He did too. It was weird. Like something snapped between you two for a second.”

My breath hitched. My wolf stirred faintly at the back of my mind, stretching, whispering a word I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Mates. Why was the word even pluralized?

I shook my head violently, forcing the thought out. “That’s impossible. I barely know him.”

Vivia shrugged. “Well, your reaction said otherwise. The whole room saw it. But don’t worry,” she added, patting my knee, “you passed out before you could make it worse. His men carried you outside, and I dragged you home before the paparazzi could sniff blood.”

“Perfect,” I muttered, sinking deeper into the couch. “Just perfect. Day two in Lunaris and I’ve already insulted the most powerful Alpha in the city.”

“Correction,” Vivia said with mock seriousness, “you insulted and challenged him. Alpha Ares isn’t exactly known for letting things slide. He runs Crimson Fang like an army in order, control, there’s no mercy for disrespect.”

I felt my stomach twist. “And you’re just telling me this now?”

“You didn’t give me a chance last night! You were too busy declaring yourself ‘the voice of justice for the voiceless.’”

I groaned, shoving a pillow over my face. “Kill me now.”

“I wish I could, but I can’t. You have an orientation to attend,” Vivia said brightly. “Check your email.”

I peeked out from under the pillow. “What?”

She tossed me my phone. The screen lit up with a new message:

Congratulations, Miss Zorya Veylor. You have been accepted into the School of Lunar Law and Governance at Lunaris City University, under the special admission for unique students with unique circumstances. Orientation begins tonight at 6 PM.

For a moment, the world quieted. I stared at the words, the weight of them pressing against my chest. I got accepted. It wasn’t just a university. It was a doorway, a path to reclaim my child, to rebuild what was stolen from me.

A smile cracked through the haze of my hangover. “I got in.”

Vivia squealed, throwing her arms around me. “I told you! I told you you’d make it!” She pulled back, her eyes shining. “This is it, Zorya. The start of everything new.”

I nodded, a small laugh escaping me. “Yeah. It is.”

But her expression dimmed slightly as she looked at me, her grin turning serious. “Just… be careful tonight.”

“Why?”

“Because the School of Lunar Law is specially under the Crimson Fang’s protection,” she said quietly. “And that means Alpha Ares will be there.”

My smile faltered. “You’re kidding.”

“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Vivia folded her arms. “You’re going to walk straight into his territory. And after what happened last night…”

My heart thudded. The memory of his touch, brief but electric, replayed in my head. The way my wolf had surged, fierce and undeniable. The way his dark eyes had widened, as if he’d felt it too.

Mates, my wolf whispered again, soft but certain. I shook my head, not understanding it one bit.

“No,” I whispered back, shaking my head. “It was the alcohol. The music. I was hallucinating.”

Vivia arched her brow. “Are you sure about that?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Instead, I got up, heading toward the bathroom. The mirror reflected a tired woman with wild hair and eyes that still held a glint of pain, pride, maybe even defiance.

As I splashed cold water on my face, I muttered, “I didn’t come here for mates. I came here for justice.”

From the other room, Vivia called, “You better come for survival too!”

I let out a shaky breath, watching droplets roll down my chin. The city outside was alive with engines, howls, neon promises. Somewhere out there, the Alpha I had publicly defied ruled from his throne of iron and law.

And tonight, I would walk straight into his world.