Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 86

That afternoon, I found myself reluctantly merging into the throng of students as we all made our way into the campus auditorium. Having returned Valentin’s robe to my dorm, I had opted for the comfort of a sweatsuit, pulling the hood snugly over my head to shield myself from prying eyes. The whispers and curses I had overheard during my walk felt like daggers, each one a reminder of the disdain some held for my very existence.

As I navigated through the crowd, a sudden, firm grip seized my arm, pulling me sharply from the masses and into the vestibule. I gasped, instinctively raising my hands in defense, only to be met by the intense gaze of Maximus.

There was something about his expression—an unyielding strength mixed with a protective warmth—that instantly calmed the storm inside me. Without hesitation, I flung my arms around his neck, seeking solace in his embrace. His hands found their way to my back, trailing down my spine in a comforting gesture. He leaned back just enough to press his forehead against mine, our breaths mingling in the small space between us.

“I’ll kill him,” he murmured against my cheek, his voice low and fierce. “I’ll kill every one of them.”

“Don’t,” I pulled away slightly, forcing him to meet my gaze. “You didn’t see Lunerly. He was furious. He’ll handle it. I can’t have you expelled on my account.”

Maximus nodded, though his expression hardened as he caught sight of something—or someone—behind me. I turned to see Thorne striding toward us, his scowl darkening the air around him.

“The hell are you two doing?” he spat, his tone dripping with disdain.

“Checking in on my protectorate,” Maximus shot back, his voice laced with defiance. “Something you clearly lack the ability to do.”

Thorne’s eyes widened, nostrils flaring as he puffed up like a peacock ready to fight. I felt the tension crackling between them and knew I had to intervene. Stepping between the two men, I pressed a hand firmly against each of their chests, hoping to diffuse the situation. Maximus relaxed at my touch, but Thorne flinched before settling down, albeit reluctantly.

“Stop it,” I said, my voice steady but firm. “The fighting is exactly why we’re in this mess. Just take a breath and think rationally.”

“Rationally isn’t a word Maximus knows,” Thorne retorted, his tone mocking.

“Go shove your dick back in a book, you knob,” Maximus countered, his eyes glinting with irritation. “Maybe then you’d learn what it means to be a better Knight.”

“Hard to be a good Knight when you’ve got a psychotic, feral puppy as a protectorate—”

“Enough!” I interjected, cutting through the escalating insults. “Jesus Christ, can you both just calm down for two seconds!?”

“I’m calm,” Maximus stated, and from the look on his face, I believed him. Thorne, on the other hand, seemed caught between the urge to throttle both of us and the desire to flee entirely.

He threw a dismissive hand in my direction. “Whatever,” he scoffed, turning to leave the vestibule. “Just don’t get into any more trouble, alright?”

“I’ll try,” I called after him, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. Maximus chuckled softly beside me, and I pulled my hood back up, which had slipped off during our little scuffle. Nodding at him, I said, “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

—

As we re-entered the bustling crowd, we maneuvered our way to the back of the auditorium, where we found a seat just as the room began to fill. Glancing toward the front, I spotted Thorne’s head looming over Amara, who still sported that ridiculous sling around her neck. I suppressed an eye roll, annoyed at the sight.

“Great warriors are also not weak!” he snapped, his voice rising with fervor. A few students cheered in response. “Weakness must be eliminated!” He slammed his fist into his palm, and more voices joined in the cheer.

Valentin offered him a tight-lipped smile. “Mr. Yvette,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Has your weakness in History of Wolves subsided? Last I checked, the registrar indicated you were failing that course.”

Laughter erupted from the crowd, mingled with low “oohs” of disapproval. The Alpha grunted and sank back into his seat, clearly defeated.

Valentin resumed his pacing, casting a keen gaze over the audience. “None of you wolves are ‘weak,’” he asserted. “You all possess unique talents that will make you formidable warriors. Even those who cannot shift, or those who struggle in sparring, or those with circumstances that some may mistakenly label as ‘weakness.’”

He paused, running his tongue over his teeth as if weighing his next words carefully. “There are threats beyond your comprehension lurking beyond the walls of this school,” he said solemnly, shaking his head. I knew he was referring to the vampires, even if the rest of the students remained oblivious. “If you wish to fight for your kind, stay and focus on what truly matters. If not, I suggest you leave. Or ignore my warning and face consequences like Miss Laitery, Miss Jones, and Miss McSilver.”

Another murmur rose among the crowd. The names sounded vaguely familiar, likely the three girls who had taken those photos of me. Guilt washed over me again, only to be swiftly countered by Mona’s voice in my mind.

“It’s what they deserved,” she whispered softly, her first words since that morning. I nodded to myself, agreeing with her sentiment.

“This session is dismissed,” Valentin concluded from the stage, his voice firm. “I will not be holding another.”

As the auditorium erupted into movement, students began to rise and vacate the room. I remained glued to my seat, feeling as though Alpha Academy was spiraling further into chaos with each passing day of my enrollment. Maximus, however, was having none of it. He gently hoisted me up, and together we stepped into the uncertain future that awaited us outside.