CHAPTER 232

**ZION**

We pulled into the campus parking lot like a damn motorcade.

Ro, Harry, and Clark flanked us like we were walking into enemy territory—because we didn’t know who the enemy was.

My hand was locked around Winter’s, my thumb brushing the back of it every now and then just to remind her—and myself—that she was here. Safe.

I wasn’t letting go.

Not today. 

Not with that bastard still out there.

She looked like herself—oversized sweater, hair falling soft around her face, bag slung over her shoulder—but I could feel the tension in her. 

Every faint tremor in her fingers. 

Every controlled breath she thought I didn’t notice.

My mind couldn’t rest—not for a damn second—as my eyes swept over the crowd.

I scanned everyone.

Every student walking past. Every head is turning. Every smile that lingered half a second too long. 

Every set of eyes that didn’t look away fast enough.

Cataloguing faces. 

Filing away expressions. 

Marking down anyone who so much as looked at her in a way I didn’t like, I’d know. 

And they’d regret it.

Ro kept glancing over his shoulder like he was ready for trouble. 

Harry’s eyes flicked to every exit, every shadow. Clark’s jaw was locked tight, a silent wall at our backs.

Winter didn’t speak until we reached the front steps.

“You’re squeezing my hand too tight,” she murmured, glancing up at me with a small, teasing smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I stopped dead in my tracks. 

“Fuck, Snowflake,” I muttered, loosening my grip and rubbing my thumb gently over the faint marks I’d left on her skin.

“I didn’t mean to.”

She shook her head, that almost-smile still there. 

“I know… but hey. Just relax, Zion. You look all tense and ready to bite someone’s head off—it’s kinda cute, but also a little terrifying.”

Relax. 

Right. 

Like I could.

Inside was worse—too many faces, too many blind spots, too many places someone could disappear. I already hated it.

I didn’t miss the way some guy in a hoodie kept glancing at her over his shoulder. Or how a group of girls near the quad whispered as we passed. 

Every face was a possible threat, and I was ready for all of them.

That’s when I heard her voice—syrupy sweet and laced with poison.

“Well, look who it is,” Cassie purred, sauntering up to us, her gaze sliding deliberately down to our joined hands before snapping back up to me with a smirk that screamed trouble.

“Z, baby… I missed you.” 

She leaned in, her perfume hitting me in a sickly-sweet wave. 

“Aren’t you bored yet? She’s… cute. But you and I both know you like a little more… experience.”

Winter stiffened beside me, the smallest flinch against my arm. 

I didn’t look at Cassie—didn’t even give her the satisfaction of meeting her eyes. 

My stare stayed fixed on the hallway ahead, jaw locked so hard it ached.

Cassie, of course, took my silence as permission.

She closed the distance, her heels clicking softly against the tile, until her perfume hit me—sickly sweet and cloying, wrapping around me like smoke I couldn’t get out of my lungs.

It made my stomach turn.

How the hell had I ever been near this? How had I ever fucked this bitch and thought it was worth my time? 

Stupid. 

I deserved to knock my own teeth out for it.

She leaned in, her hip brushing mine like she owned the right to touch me, her eyes locking on mine with that same practised hunger she’d always worn.

Her hand lifted slowly, deliberately, fingertips skimming the hem of my shirt before creeping higher—tracing along the fabric until they toyed with the top button of my jacket, twisting it between her fingers like she was testing how far she could push me.

That was enough.

My hand shot out, fingers wrapping around her wrist—not gentle, not cruel, just firm enough that she knew the line was no longer negotiable.

“Don’t,” I said, voice low and lethal, my eyes finally locking on hers.

Cassie smirked, but the spark in her eyes was gone this time.

“Still got that bite,” she whispered, letting me pull her hand away like I was swatting a fly.

She stepped back with a slow, deliberate pace, her perfume trailing behind her like toxic smoke I couldn’t wait to shake off.

“You never used to say no to me, Zion. Always made time to fuck me—any corner, any chance you got... but it’s okay. I’m a patient girl. My door, my pussy—they’re always open for you.”

Winter’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as the words sank in. Her eyes narrowed into sharp slits, ice flickering in their depths. 

Slowly, she stepped forward, every movement deliberate and cold, her voice dripping with icy sarcasm.

“Yeah, we all know your pussy’s public property. It’s like a damn free-for-all—no invitation needed, just show up and take a number.”

Cassie gasped, her face flushed a deep, angry red

"Why you....."

Winter’s smile turned wicked, 

“Cassie, your ‘open door’ policy isn’t exactly a secret — it’s more like a goddamn clearance sale. No wonder half the campus thinks your pussy’s the cheapest spot in town.”

The guys couldn’t help but chuckle, exchanging amused glances at her brutal honesty.

Cassie’s voice dropped to a whiny pitch as she spun back around, eyes wide and hopeful. 

“Z, did you hear what she just said? You’re not seriously going to let her talk to me like that, are you?”

I caught the fake hurt in her tone—and I let it slide right off me.

I stared back, my expression hardening. 

“Defend you? From what, Cassie? Your own slutty reputation?” I let out a slow, bitter laugh.

“If you’re so desperate to get fucked, go find someone else. And now? Get the fuck out of my way.”

She blinked, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, but I didn’t wait for her response. 

I took Winter’s hand tighter and started moving forward.

Clark muttered under his breath, loud enough for us to hear, 

“I bet it’s her—the psycho stalker. I mean, seriously, can anyone be more psycho than Cassie?”

Ro shot him a sideways look, voice dripping with sarcasm.

“You think Cassie’s clever enough to be the psycho stalker? Please. She’s got maybe five brain cells total—and half of those are probably asleep. She doesn’t use brain cells anyway. She thinks with that thing between her legs, and even that’s probably overworked.”

I glanced over at Winter, who stood stiff, eyes fixed straight ahead.

The fierce fire that had burned in her moments before was gone, replaced by a cold, unreadable calm—like she was steel, holding herself together by sheer force.

Her hand trembled slightly in mine.

I tightened my grip, sliding my thumb over the back of her hand. 

“Hey, I’m right here, okay? No need to be scared.”

She blinked, her lips parting in a small, shaky nod. That was all I needed—just to know she was still holding on.

.......

The rest of the morning passed without too much trouble—if you could call my constant surveillance “without trouble.” 

I sat outside every one of her classes, leaning against the wall, pretending to scroll my phone while I watched every person who walked by.

If they looked at her too long, I remembered their face.

After her last morning lecture, I was leaning against the far wall when she came out into the hallway, her backpack slung over one shoulder. 

I caught the start of her smile—small, tired, but real—right before Damien stepped into view.

“You do know,” he spat, voice sharp and mocking, 

“We have a fucking assignment to finish? And guess what—zero progress so far because you’ve been too damn busy doing God knows what instead of pulling your weight with me.”

Without thinking, my grip slammed tighter around Winter’s hand.

“Watch your fucking tone, you fucking asshole, or I’ll make you regret it.”

Damiens' sneer deepened as he stepped right up into my space. 

“This doesn’t concern you, Royal. My fucking grades are on the line, so unless you want me to drag your ass down too, keep out of it.”

I stepped in close, my voice cold and razor-sharp.

“If my presence drags you down, then maybe you’re already sinking too fucking low.”

A slow, hard smile curled on my lips.

“And if you ever use that fucking tone with Winter again, I’ll make sure your life becomes one long, painful lesson you won’t forget.”

“Back off, Royal, before I make you regret opening your fucking mouth.”

I stared him down, every nerve tight as steel.

“You wanna try?” I jabbed a finger hard into his chest, my eyes blazing fire.

“I’ll snap you in two before you even blink.

Winter’s got better shit to do right now—
So back the fuck off and finish that damn assignment yourself.”

He sneered, closing the distance. His eyes locked on Winter

“You always do what this fucker says? Or do you like playing the submissive slut?”

I snapped back, voice low and dangerous.

“Shut the fuck up......”

Every muscle in me coiled, ready to snap. I was about to say more when Winter’s voice cut through the chaos.

“Stop it. Both of you.”

I opened my mouth, about to tell Winter to stay out of it, but then her fingers squeezed my hand tightly—a silent command.

I swallowed the words, eyes flickering to hers. 

She didn’t need to make it worse.

She squared her shoulders, eyes sharp as knives.

“You’re right about the assignment. We’ll get it done today—no excuses, no delays.”

Damien smirked, pride dripping from his words. 

“’ Bout fucking time. Meet me at the library in ten.”

I tightened my grip on Winter’s hand, voice cold and firm. 

I shook my head, voice low and firm. 

“No. The assignments are at our place... or not at all.”

Not just because I wanted control, but because I couldn’t risk her being anywhere I couldn’t protect her.

Damien sneered, clearly pissed but biting back. 

“Fine.”

I took Winter’s hand and started walking toward the car park, Damien trailing behind us, muttering curses under his breath.

Just as we reached the cars, Harry came running up with Clark and Ro in tow, his face urgent.

“The guys we hired to monitor police frequencies just picked up an SOS. They’ve located Ethan—code red, possible critical situation.”

Ethan Wilde.

If he was the fucking stalker— the bastard scaring Snowflake— then I swear, I’d make sure he rotted in a cell so deep he’d forget what sunlight looked like.

No mercy. 

No second chances.

He’d pay for every second he put her through hell.

I glanced at Harry, eyes narrowing. 

“The location. Now.”

My grip on Winter’s hand tightened. This wasn’t just about protecting her anymore—this was war.

And I was ready to bury anyone who tried to come between us.

I barely caught Damien shouting,

“Hey, what the fuck now? Winter, the assignment—”

But honestly, I couldn’t give a fuck.