CHAPTER 241

**WINTER**

The front door clicked shut behind the guys, leaving just the two of us in the quiet hum of the house.

Zion’s eyes met mine, dark and glinting in the dim light, and without warning, he pulled me close, pressing his lips to mine. 

The kiss was messy, needy, but soft enough that I could feel the warmth behind it. His hands slid down to my waist, tugging me flush against him.

I yanked back slightly, brushing a hand against his chest.

“Zion… behave. You’re drunk—”

He raised a hand, wiggling his fingers like a goofy little puppet, and grinned crookedly.

“Drunk? Me? Nah… only… only two bottles, I swear…” He squinted, then held up five fingers, frowning at them.

“See? Two.. Totally fine.”

I shook my head, exhaling a laugh. 

“You can’t even count right now.”

He ignored me, slipping his arms tight around my waist and tugging me against him, his lips brushing close to my ear. His voice dropped, low and slurred, but warm. 

“Don’t be scared, Snowflake. I’ll protect you. Always. That’s my job.”

I melted a little, but then he pulled back just enough to square his shoulders, his expression shifting to something cocky. 

“I’m Zion Royal. I own this city. No stalker, no cop, no wannabe hero—nobody lays a hand on my girl. If they try…Boom. Gone. Just like that.”

He snapped his fingers—or at least tried to, missing the sound completely.

I bit back a laugh. 

“That was… not very intimidating.”

He scowled at his hand, then buried his face into my neck, mumbling against my skin. 

“Shh… don’t ruin the moment. I’m being macho.”

I laughed softly, stroking his hair. 

“Macho, huh?”

“Mhm,” he hummed, tightening his arms around me. 

His bravado faded, replaced by a softer tone. 

“But… I mean it, Snowflake. I don’t care how messy it gets, how dangerous… I won’t let anything happen to you. Not while I’m breathing.”

His breath was warm against my collarbone, the words slurred but still sharp with conviction.

“Zion…” I whispered, my chest aching.

He leaned back just enough to look at me, his eyes glassy but startlingly honest. 

“You hear me? You’re safe with me. Always. Even if I’ve gotta fight the whole damn world, I’ll do it.” His lips quirked faintly, and he added in a hushed, almost boyish tone, 

“’Cause you’re mine… and I’m not letting go.”

I swallowed hard, brushing a thumb over his cheek. 

“I know.”

He leaned closer, squinting at me with a lazy grin, and cupped my face with both hands, thumbs brushing over my cheeks.

“Waot a minute...W-why… why are there… two of you?” His words slurred together, slow and soft. He blinked hard, like that would fix it, then frowned. 

“I coulda sworn… no twin… so… which one… which one is… my Snowflake?” He wiggled his eyebrows like it was the most important question in the world.

I laughed, shaking my head. 

“There’s only one of me, Zion.”

He leaned back a little, squinting harder, then pointed between me and… well, still me. 

“Nahhh… you’re trickin’ me. I see two. Two Snowflakes. Identical.” He gasped suddenly, eyes widening like he’d solved a grand mystery. 

“Wait… wait a second… is this… like… some kinda deal? Get one Snowflake, get one free?”

I snorted, covering my mouth. 

“Oh my God, you’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous? Nooo… genius!” he said, grinning proudly. 

“Two Snowflakes… double trouble… double pretty… double mine.” He pulled me closer again, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret. 

“But don’t worry… even if there are two… I’d still pick you.”

I laughed, brushing a strand of hair from my face. 

I shook my head, smiling, amused. 

“Right… not drunk at all,” I teased, rolling my eyes.

He blinked slowly, like he was trying to process it, then grinned again, completely satisfied. 

My expression sobered slightly.

“Zion… what you said out by the swimming pool… about the stalker and teaching him a lesson… please, don’t do anything foolish. Talking about killing him or dealing with him yourself—let the police do their jobs,” I scolded, though my voice wavered between irritation and something warmer.

He leaned back slightly, still holding my face, and a slow, crooked grin spread across his lips. 

“Foolish?” he slurred, voice soft but teasing. 

“Nuh-uh… me? Never… I’m… I’m careful… verrry careful… I protect… I protect what’s mine… my Snowflake… always…” His words stumbled over themselves, and he wiggled his fingers like he was emphasising the point.

“And those shitheads that call themselves detectives?” 

He laughed, a low, rumbling sound that tickled my chest. 

“Ha! Pathetic… clueless… bumbling… chasing shadows… barking up… up the wrong… uhh… tree… like… like they even know what’s going on… total… circus…” 

He shook his head, eyebrows knitting, lips twitching as if he was both annoyed and amused at the thought.

“But… now… now let’s not… not talk about those morons… or that… that fucking stalker… I’ve… I’ve heard enough of them for one night…”

I opened my mouth to warn him, but before I could, he leaned in again, lips hovering dangerously close.

“Give me a kiss… please… I need one… after today…” 

His voice was thick with alcohol, and his lips were pursed, jutting out slightly as he leaned closer, eyes half-lidded and fixed on mine, looking utterly helpless and adorable.

I grabbed the water bottle from the coffee table and pressed it firmly against his mouth.

“Drink this before you get any more ideas about doing something worse,” I said, narrowing my eyes, though I couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips.

He groaned around the bottle, tugging at it slightly, frustration written all over his face. 

“God… Snowflake… I want… your lips… not… not this… stupid… water bottle!” His words came out rough, frustrated, and slurred all at once.

I held it there, smirking. 

“Then behave. Or you’re getting nothing.”

He slumped back, pouting, glaring at me with mock indignation, but his eyes still sparkled with mischief. 

“Impossible… damn… impossible…” he grumbled, clearly torn between obeying me and wanting to ignore every rule I’d just set.

.....

Eventually, the struggle for kisses and water came to a lull. 

Zion slumped against the couch, and before I fully realised it, his head had found its way onto my lap. His body was warm, heavy, and exhausting in the best way, and his steady breathing slowly evened out as he drifted off to sleep.

A few hours passed, but I couldn’t bring myself to sleep, even if I wanted to. 

I kept replaying everything that had happened today—the chaos, the danger, the fear that still clung to me like a shadow.

Seeing Ethan’s body… being stuck in that cold interrogation room, questioned about evidence I had no part of… the helplessness that had knotted my stomach. 

And Zion—his anger, his rage, the way he’d wanted to protect me at any cost—it both scared and comforted me.

......

A soft touch on my cheek pulled me from the memory. I looked down to see Zion’s heavy-lidded eyes opening, meeting mine. 

For a moment, he blinked slowly, still half-asleep, and I felt a pang of tenderness at the sight of him so vulnerable yet still full of that fiery, protective energy.

“Hey…” I whispered, running a hand through his hair.

“Sobered up?”

He stirred slightly, blinking his heavy-lidded eyes as he leaned up, brushing a strand of hair from my face.

“Yes…” His fingers traced gently over my cheek, and his voice, thick but steady, carried a rare softness. 

“I know what you’re thinking, Snowflake… but I swear… everything… everything will be okay. I promise.”

A small, reassuring smile tugged at my lips, and I nodded.

“I believe you… But I need you to control that anger of yours. I’m scared… scared that you might do something—something you can’t take back… something that could cross a line… break the law…” 

My voice faltered for a moment. 

“I know you’re scared of losing me. I’m scared too… scared of everything that’s happening. But I also know you’re here, and the guys are here, and that makes me feel safe. So stop worrying, alright? We’ll figure this out. You’re Zion Royal… you own this town, this city. No one else is going to mess with your girlfriend and get away with it. So please… no more talk about killing, drunk or not, okay? I can't lose you.”

His gaze softened, and a real, unguarded smile tugged at his lips for the first time in hours. 

“Fuck… I love you,” he said, voice low and rough, arms tightening around me. He let out a shaky breath. 

“This whole stalker thing… It’s messing with my head.”

“I know,” I whispered against him, letting the words carry reassurance, comfort, and all the love I couldn’t put into anything else. 

For a few minutes, the world outside didn’t exist. 

Without another word, he gently pulled my face down toward his, pressing a soft, tentative kiss to my lips. It started slow, delicate, almost hesitant, but then—something shifted. 

The kiss was soft at first, a quiet promise, but then it deepened, desperate and frantic, as if both of us needed to anchor ourselves in the moment. 

My hands threaded through his hair, holding him close, feeling the tension in his body ease slightly as he buried his face against my shoulder.

The kiss grew more urgent, more frantic, as if he needed to feel me, anchor himself to me amidst all the chaos of the day. 

His hands moved to my waist, tugging me flush against him, while I wrapped my arms around his neck, matching the intensity, losing myself in the warmth and desperation of the moment.

The loud, sharp shout of,

“What the fuck is happening here?!” snapped me back to reality. 

Zion and I jumped apart, only to find Jenny and Dad standing in the doorway.

Dad’s eyes were dark, jaw tight, hands clenching at his sides. 

Every line of his body radiated anger.

Shit.

“Do either of you have something to tell us?” 
Jenny asked, folding her hands in front of her. 

Her gaze was steady, curious, but she didn’t carry the same storm as Dad.

Zion groaned, running a hand over his face, then straightened, a slow, confident grin spreading across his lips. 

“Ah… fuck it,” he muttered. 

He reached over and grasped my hand, eyes locking on Dad’s. 

Zion straightened, shoulders back, a slow, smug grin spreading across his face. 

“I’m in love with Winter,” he announced, voice clear, unwavering, and just a touch cocky. 

“Not a maybe. Not a little crush. Full-on… completely, hopelessly in love with her. And yeah… I don’t care who knows it.”

My head snapped to him, eyes wide, heart hammering in my chest. 

The bluntness of it, the confidence, the way he seemed to own the room just by saying it—it left me frozen, caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.

He said it like it was the simplest truth in the world, utterly unapologetic, completely unbothered by the storm of rage radiating from Dad.

Dad’s fists tightened, veins visible in his neck, eyes burning into Zion like he could incinerate him with a glare alone. 

But Zion didn’t flinch. 

He stood tall, smug, shoulders squared, and a faint, cocky smile tugged at his lips, as if my dad’s fury couldn’t touch him, as if he didn’t give a single fuck what he thought.