CHAPTER 265
**ZION**
I slung my bag over my shoulder and froze for a fraction of a second when I saw Winter, Claire, and Ariel coming down the stairs.
Wtf.
My chest tightened at the sight of her walking beside them, acting calm, but I knew better.
Every careful step, every subtle gesture, betrayed the tension she tried to mask—and it twisted something fierce in my gut.
I couldn’t stand the thought of her taking even a single step into the world without me watching, without knowing she was safe.
I watched her from across the room, and every muscle in my body coiled.
Never in my life had I wanted anyone like this. Just seeing her—so seemingly calm yet so fragile—made my blood roar, my skin feel too tight for my bones.
The idea of her being anywhere without me, even for a second, set a low, dangerous growl building deep in my chest.
Fuck.
Heat pooled low in my stomach, my body reacting before my brain even had a chance to think.
My cock throbbed against the fabric of my pants, and I shifted my stance, trying to disguise it, trying not to make it obvious.
Damn it.
She had no idea what she did to me.
No fuckung idea how every glance, every movement, twisted me inside out.
And yet… I couldn’t look away.
Not for a second.
“Snowflake,” I said, low, rough, a growl threading under the casual tone.
I stepped closer, just enough that she couldn’t pass without brushing against me
“Where are you going? You should’ve stayed in bed. You don’t need to go to classes today… You barely slept last night.”
She lifted her chin, meeting my gaze with that stubborn fire I knew all too well.
“I’m fine, Zion. I need to go. I can’t just… sit around all day. Besides, I need to go to the library,” she said, brushing past me.
“Damien’s pissed—I’ve rescheduled this assignment so many times already. He said I’ve slacked off enough… and he’s right. I’ve put it off too many times. Besides, it counts for ten per cent of my grade. I have to get it done. I’ll meet him there in the library.”
My chest tightened, my stomach knotting.
Damien. Right.
I wasn’t letting her go blindly. I grabbed her hand, my grip firm, refusing to let her pull away.
“Why the fuck can’t he just do it himself?” I snapped, low and rough.
“He can’t finish a damn assignment without you holding his hand?”
“He’s my partner in this assignment, remember?”
I already knew.
“Fine,” I growled, voice tight, frustration coiling around every word.
“But I’m coming with you. No way I’m letting you handle this alone.”
Winter lifted a hand, calm but firm, locking eyes with me.
“Zion… You can sit with me if you’re that worried, but no arguing with Damien. I don’t want any ego clashes, like last time. Got it?”
I exhaled sharply, tension coiling in my chest. Damn it, she never listened when I worried. But fine.
“Alright,” I said, jaw tight.
“While you finish your assignment, I’ll keep an eye on him… make sure he’s not hiding anything. Injuries, weaknesses, whatever. I’ve got it covered.”
Her brow furrowed, lips parting to protest, but I held up a hand.
"I just… need to make sure Damien isn’t hiding anything...alright?"
She nodded slowly.
“Fine,” she said, a reluctant acknowledgement.
I exhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm.
My mind was already racing through possibilities, worst-case scenarios spinning as I prepared to follow her to the library and make sure she stayed safe.
“And Snowflake, you’re not leaving my sight.”
She smirked faintly.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said, voice teasing but soft.
Turning to the rest of them, I shifted into business mode, forcing the worry down beneath the mask of authority.
“Everyone, stay sharp. Watch for anyone with an arm injury—or anyone who shouldn’t be here, skipping classes. Keep your eyes open.
Harry and Ariel....Check the science department,” I ordered.
“Clark, you take the tech labs. Keep it tight.
Winter and I will sweep the common areas, I added silently, letting her know I wasn’t letting her out of my sight.
“Ro, Claire, you two—arts department.”
\---
Claire crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at Ro.
“I can’t work with him. He’s arrogant, controlling, and can’t follow the simplest directions—and—”
“And I’m standing right here,” Ro cut in, voice calm but sharp, like a knife.
Claire’s glare sharpened further.
“I am completely aware of that fact,” she said through clenched teeth, eyes flicking to me with something almost pleading.
“Assign him to someone else. Anyone else.”
Her voice trembled slightly, frustration buried beneath it. She wasn’t just annoyed—she was wary.
“We’re probably going to be arguing all the time anyway,” Claire muttered.
“Ariel and I—we’ll handle the arts students.”
Ro smirked, sarcasm thick in his voice.
“Fantastic. Because I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the thought of sitting through a nonstop lecture on how I’m screwing everything up.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, letting out a sharp exhale.
My eyes flicked to Harry, who seemed entirely too pleased to be spending time with Ariel, who was completely unaware of his eagerness, which made my jaw tighten further.
“Is this because of the chocolate?” Ro’s low, gravelly voice rumbled from across the room.
Claire clenched her teeth, struggling not to grind them into dust.
“Those chocolates were mine!” she snapped.
“I can buy you more,” he shrugged casually, like it was no big deal.
“They were a gift from a date.” Her eyes shot daggers at him.
His dark gaze narrowed.
“You didn’t enjoy the date.” The words were clipped, precise.
“The box was full of milk chocolate treats—my absolute favourite. And how do you know I didn’t enjoy the date with Simon? I could’ve had the best time of my life!”
Roman shook his head slowly, that calm, knowing shake that made her want to scream.
“Heard you talking to Ariel.”
Claire froze.
“…Eavesdropping isn’t polite.”
“For f— sake,” I muttered under her breath.
“For clarification,” Claire hissed, leaning closer,
“Just because I didn’t like Simon, it doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to love my chocolates!”
“Not my fault… You left them there all alone, just sitting there, tempting me. What was a guy supposed to do? I took a few… big deal.”
“You ate an entire box of chocolates and then just left the empty box there like some kind of tease. That’s not cool. Not at all,” she said, voice low but with a hint of amusement creeping in.
“Hey! I didn’t eat it alone,” Ro interjected, waving a hand. “Clark helped.”
Clark shrugged like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“She’s my twin. What’s hers is mine.”
“Is not…” Claire began, eyes narrowing so much they might have pierced a hole through the wall.
“Let me get this straight,” Ro said, raising an eyebrow, arms crossed.
“You don’t want me to be your partner because you think I ate all your chocolates?”
“No,” Claire shot back, deadpan.
“I don’t want you as my partner because you don’t follow my directions.”
“Oh, right,” he said, tilting his head.
“Why would I follow your directions? Last I checked, you’re not my boss.”
“I technically don’t need to be your boss to tell you how to fail spectacularly,” she deadpanned, a sly grin forming.
“Spectacularly?!” he yelped.
“Excuse me?!”
Before she could finish, I couldn’t help it—I lost it.
I slammed my hands against my hips, letting every ounce of frustration burn through my voice.
“Are you serious right now?!” I barked.
“We’re heading out to find Winter’s stalker—a fucking killer—and you two are squabbling over chocolate like toddlers?!”
Claire froze, eyes wide, cheeks pink.
Ro just raised an eyebrow, silent, but I could see the thought running behind it—calculating, amused, not a word coming out.
“If you two want to act like children,” I continued, voice low and lethal,
“Then stay the fuck home. Stay safe at home while the rest of us deal with grown-up shit!”
Claire opened her mouth, looking like she was about to argue, but then her shoulders slumped.
“Okay…okay, sorry,” she mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck.
“I…got a little carried away.”
Ro didn’t say a word, but the smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth told me he thought the entire meltdown was hilarious.
I let out a rough exhale, turning my attention back to Winter.
My eyes drifted to Winter, and for a fraction of a second, the tension that had been coiling in my chest eased.
She was smiling—actually smiling—at their bickering, her lips tugging into that rare, fleeting curve that made everything else fade into the background.
I caught myself holding my breath, letting the moment settle in. It had been too long since I’d seen her like that—unguarded, warm, alive.
Something inside me softened, just a little, though the urge to keep her safe, to pull her into my arms and shield her from every possible danger, still throbbed beneath the surface.
Her eyes flicked toward me, and the smallest spark of amusement lingered there. I let a slow, almost imperceptible smile touch my own lips. Just seeing her smile, even like this, was enough to anchor me—if only for a heartbeat.
No chocolate argument, no teasing, no sarcasm mattered.
If anyone tried to hurt her, I’d make sure they regretted it. I wasn’t losing her.
Not now.
Not ever.
Forcing my voice back to the team mode I needed.
“Eyes open. Stick together. Watch each other. Anyone acting off, anyone missing classes, or someone hiding an injury—you report immediately.”
Harry and Ariel nodded without question. Clark’s jaw was tight, already scanning for anything unusual.
“Ro, Claire— no arguing. That’s final.”
I let my gaze sweep the group one last time, finally settling on Winter. Every flicker of tension in her hands, every tight line in her jaw, knotted my chest.
I wanted to pull her back and never let her out of my sight. She wouldn’t listen. She never did.
So I swallowed the worry and forced my voice steady.
“Let’s move.”
“But Ariel and I—” Claire started.
I cut her off before the argument could spiral.
“No. You two are not wandering the campus like sitting ducks.” I stepped closer, voice low, raw.
“This isn’t some punk prank—he’s dangerous. I won’t risk either of you. Ro and Harry are going with you; they train, they move, they cover exits. You’re safer with them than alone. End of discussion. Now let’s fucking move.”
I raked a hand through my hair, jaw tight, scanning the group before letting my gaze snap back to Winter.
She was trying to act normal, walking beside them, but her flexed hands, the tight line of her jaw—every subtle twitch had me keyed in. My chest ached.
I wanted to tell her to stay. Let me handle this. But she wouldn’t hear it. She’d never let me.
So I forced my worry down, kept my voice steady.
“Eyes open. Stick together. Anything—anything unusual—you report it immediately. Got it?”
They all nodded, tense but alert. I allowed myself the barest fraction of relief.
Every step she took beside me felt like a challenge to my control, a test I didn’t get to fail. And I wouldn’t. Not today. Not on my watch.
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