Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 63

**Zora**

Had I really just slept with Maximus again?

Yes, I had.

Was it a wise decision?

No, it absolutely was not.

But was it, without a doubt, the most exhilarating experience of my life?

Yes, it was.

As I tiptoed back into my room, I felt a mixture of exhilaration and anxiety swirling within me. I had left in a frenzy, just as I had the night before, and the last thing I wanted was to linger with Maximus, caught up in whatever strange connection we were forging. I pushed the door shut behind me and turned, only to be met with an unexpected sight.

Loren stood in the middle of the room, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The expression on her face was one of profound disappointment, and it felt so palpable I could almost taste it in the air between us.

“How was ‘training’?” she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she made air quotes with her fingers.

“It was… fine,” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. “You startled me.”

Loren let out a low hum, her eyebrows arching in skepticism. “So, is sex now part of the workout plan?”

“I—What—I—” My words tangled in my throat, but before I could gather my thoughts, she interrupted me again.

“Unless that was someone else I should congratulate,” she said, pointing an accusing thumb toward the wall that separated our rooms from Maximus’s. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I instinctively raised my hands in defense.

“Loren, please, I can explain—”

She dropped her arms, letting them hang loosely at her sides, her voice sinking to a whisper. “When were you planning to tell me?” The hurt in her tone was evident, and it cut through me like a knife.

“I—I was going to!” I stammered, my heart racing. “I just felt so overwhelmed last night and then—”

“Last night?” Loren echoed, her voice rising in disbelief. “So you’ve kept this from me all day?”

“Yes! I’m really sorry! I was just so confused and—” I took a hesitant step toward her, but she instinctively shuffled backward, creating a chasm of distance between us. I winced at her retreat.

“Are we still friends?” she asked, her voice small and fragile.

“Of course we are!” I sighed heavily, pressing my fingers against my temples in frustration. “I genuinely meant to tell you. I just needed a moment to sort through everything, to understand what had happened and what it all meant.”

I exhaled deeply, my breath escaping in a rush. “I’m really sorry, Loren.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze flickering up to me beneath her lashes. “Friends don’t keep secrets,” she said softly, a hint of sadness lacing her words.

A wave of guilt washed over me, crashing against the walls I had built around my feelings. I was harboring so many secrets from Loren—secrets she deserved to know. I bit my tongue hard enough to taste blood, then sighed again, the weight of my silence heavy in the air.

“I know,” I admitted quietly. “I truly am sorry, Loren. I swear I was going to tell you.”

Her lips curled into a half-hearted smile. “Just don’t let it happen again,” she replied, her tone more playful now. “And you’d better spill everything.”

Ignoring her initial warning, I dove into the whirlwind of my story. As I recounted the moments leading to our first kiss, I watched her jaw drop, her eyes widening in disbelief. When I reached the part about our most recent escapade, she squealed, the sound echoing with a mix of excitement and shock. I finished my tale with a strange, sheepish grin.

Loren scrunched her nose, her expression shifting to one of playful teasing. “You totally have sex hair now that I’m looking at you.”

I instinctively smoothed a hand over my braid, and she burst into laughter, the sound infectious. When she finally calmed down, she rested her chin in her hands, her curiosity piqued. “So, do you like him?”

I fidgeted under her gaze, recalling her earlier comment about secrets. I huffed out a breath, feeling the weight of honesty pressing down on me. “Kind of,” I admitted. “It’s hard to explain. He feels like a piece of my puzzle that’s still missing. I like him, but he doesn’t quite fill the void.”

“Wow,” Loren breathed, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. “Maybe you really do have two fated mates.”

My heart raced at the thought. “About that,” I cleared my throat, the words tumbling out. “My wolf thinks I might have more than one fated mate.”

Loren’s eyes widened in shock. “How does she know that?”

“Four, maybe,” Mona chimed in, her voice playful as she groomed her paws like a cat.

“I don’t want that sociopath,” I shot back mentally. “I’m okay with three.”

“Suit yourself,” Mona mused, her judgment evident as she darted away into the recesses of my mind.

“Three fated mates,” I breathed, the reality of it settling in. “But I guess it’s only two now that Thorne severed the bond.”

“Maybe he can reinstate it,” Loren suggested thoughtfully. “If you can have three fated mates, maybe you can also fix broken bonds.”

I shook my head, unconvinced. “I don’t think so. What’s broken is broken, or so they always teach us in high magiks.”

Loren tilted her head, considering my words. “That’s true,” she conceded. “But they also teach us that you only have one fated mate… like, ever.”

I chuckled softly, shrugging. “Maybe they don’t know as much as they claim to know.”

Loren gasped, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Or, or, or,” she said, practically bouncing in her seat, “maybe you’re some super secret princess!”

I fought to keep my expression neutral, knowing I couldn’t share that truth with her yet. As wonderful as she had been, this secret could jeopardize everything at Alpha Academy. I nearly bit my tongue to keep from spilling the truth, swallowing hard as I forced a lukewarm smile.

“Maybe,” I replied cautiously. “But probably not. There’s nothing princess-like about me at all.”

Loren frowned, her concern evident. “Don’t say that!”

“It’s true,” I insisted, rising to my feet. I stretched and feigned a yawn. “Anyway, I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to hit the hay. Will you walk with me to Basics tomorrow?”

“Of course,” she replied, standing as well and pulling back the covers of her bed. She turned over her shoulder, a warm smile gracing her lips. “Goodnight, Zora. I’m really glad I met you.”

I smiled back, warmth flooding my chest. “I’m glad I met you too.”

As I climbed into bed, I was met with another sleepless night filled with thoughts of how many more lies I would have to weave for Loren. I couldn’t help but wonder if she would still be by my side after all of this, or if the first friend I had ever made would leave me just like everyone else had.