Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 50

**Chapter 50**

**Valentin**

As the weight of fatigue settled over him, Valentin felt his eyelids growing heavy, threatening to shut against his will. Just when he thought he could surrender to the pull of sleep, a loud thud jolted him upright. His heart raced as he blinked rapidly, coming face-to-face with his fiancée, Bella. Her golden eyes burned into him with an intensity that made him squirm. The long, dark cascade of her hair swayed around her waist like a tempest, amplifying the storm brewing in her expression.

“Did you even hear a single word I just said?” she snapped, her voice sharp as a blade.

Valentin rubbed the fatigue from his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of his drowsiness. “No, I’m sorry. I—”

“I know I’m not your first choice,” Bella interrupted, her tone dripping with disdain. “But could you at least pretend to care?”

“What do you mean by that?” he shot back, gesturing toward the clutter of brochures and pamphlets strewn across his desk, evidence of her frantic attempts at wedding planning. He couldn’t help but notice how her skirt clung to her thighs, a sight that would have once sent a thrill through him. Now, however, it only served to irritate him further.

“You haven’t paid attention to anything I’ve said in the last hour,” Bella hissed, frustration radiating off her in waves. “It’s like you’re completely disinterested in this whole wedding planning fiasco. Don’t even try to deny it; we both know it’s because of her.”

A surge of anger coursed through Valentin, igniting a fire within him. He shot up from his chair abruptly, causing Bella to flinch back. With his chin held high, he glared down at her, the tension in the room palpable.

“I have made the choice to marry you,” he ground out, his voice low and fierce. “That should be enough for you. I am the Headmaster, for the love of all that is sacred. I don’t have the time or the inclination for wedding planning, nor do I give a damn about it.”

Bella gasped, her face twisting into a scowl that deepened with every moment. “But—”

“Enough!” he barked, sitting back down with finality. “Get out of my office before you embarrass yourself even more.”

She glared at him one last time, her eyes searching for any hint of remorse or softness. When none came, she turned on her heel, gathering the scattered brochures with a huff, and stormed out. The door slammed shut behind her, echoing in the silence that followed. Valentin sank back into his seat, the weight of the encounter pressing down on him.

He ran a weary hand over his face, exhaling a heavy sigh. What on earth was he doing with his life? His gaze fell longingly on his phone, half-hoping that Victoria would call, demanding he put an end to his engagement with Bella and instead claim her daughter as his own.

Her secret daughter.

A daughter whose existence was known to no one else.

The thought sent a jolt through his mind, and he grimaced, imagining the chaos that would ensue if the truth about Zora came to light. He could already picture the other suitors—those three arrogant sons of the High Alphas—flocking to her like moths to a flame, each one eager to win her favor. Anger bubbled within him at the thought of them.

He had never held any fondness for High Alpha Wolfham or High Alpha Moonraiser. Their arrogance was suffocating, and their confidence bordered on delusion. They had risen to their positions of power after the War, thanks to their unwavering loyalty to Victoria. Both packs had sent troops to fight for the Queen, and in return, she had bestowed upon them the coveted title of High Alpha, much like the honor granted to the Lunerly house. In doing so, she had shared a fragment of her power, elevating them above the other alphas. Victoria was the architect of the High Alphas’ rise.

He shrugged off his suit jacket, hanging it on a nearby post, and peeled away the elegant robes that clung to him. One by one, he shed his clothes until he stood bare, vulnerable, as he had been the day he was born. Taking a deep breath, he dove into the inviting waters, feeling the warmth envelop him like a lover’s caress.

The soothing sensation of the water washed over him, calming the storm within. He resurfaced, gliding toward the dials, pulling and twisting them until foamy bubbles began to fill the bath. With a graceful stroke, he swam to a ledge, sinking into its embrace.

In this moment, Valentin allowed himself to relax, a rare luxury in his chaotic life. Slowly, he closed his eyes, surrendering to the gentle caress of the bubbles and water against his shoulders. It felt as though the waves were kissing his collarbones, soft and tender, a sensation that stirred memories of another’s touch.

Her hands, delicate and unblemished, unmarked by the rigors of training. The curve of her arms resting against his own, the sweet pressure of her nails digging into his skin. He could almost feel the heat of her body as he pressed her down, their bodies entwined, the rhythm of their movements echoing in his mind.

“Fuck!” Valentin exclaimed, his eyes flying open. Frustration bubbled over as he slammed his fists into the water, sending splashes cascading over the edge of the bath. The serenity of the room shattered with his outburst.

Damn Zora. She had burrowed under his skin in the most infuriating way. His body throbbed with a mix of desire and annoyance at the vivid fantasy he had conjured. It was more than a mere fantasy; memories of their training sessions flooded back, those moments when he had put her in compromising positions, testing her limits.

Cursing himself for letting his thoughts wander, he leaned back against the rim of the bath, running a hand over his face in exasperation.

“Fuck,” he muttered again, this time directing his ire more towards himself than the memory that haunted him.