CHAPTER 5

Zima's POV

MATE BOND

I strode into the dorm assigned to me. The walls were black like the rest of the building, the bricks old and cold. I paused at the doorway, scanning the room.

My eyes landed on her immediately, the blonde who had thrown her panties at me before, laughing as if I were nothing. The memory of that humiliation made my jaw tighten.

“No way the traitor girl is my roommate,” she said, standing from her bunk to face me.

“My name is Zima, not traitor girl,” I said, keeping my face hard and my fangs bared.

“Girl, put back your fangs. I don’t care what you are,” she said, laughing hysterically.

“That’s your side over there,” she said, pointing to the corner where my bags were. I moved over and sat down.

“Your panties stink, by the way,” I said, letting my hands flicker.

She threw her head back, laughing. “You lie too much. I’m Sophie,” she said, sitting.

“Whatever,” I muttered and brought down my bag to take out some dresses.

“I can’t believe you’re still mad about the panties,” she said between laughs. “Anyway, I’ll probably only talk to you in this room. I can’t be sent with you.”

“You should keep your words to yourself. I don’t care,” I replied.

“You’re way too stubborn,” she smirked. “What dress are you wearing for the Mate Bonding season? You need to look hot for Darius.”

“I don’t dress to impress anyone,” I said, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips.

Sophie laughed, clutching her stomach. “Well, the black dress you wore to seduce your sister’s husband says otherwise.”

“Just shut up,” I said, rolling my eyes.

A knock came at the door. Sophie went to open it and returned carrying a red rose.

“It’s for you,” she said, handing it over.

“Who sent it?”

I asked taking a quick intake of breath hoping it would be Aria.

She sat beside me. A letter was attached. It read:

“Can’t wait to dance with you, clumsy fighter. Love, Darius.”

“Woohoo! That guy is intentional. He loves you!” Sophie yelled, clapping her hands.

My chest skipped a beat. A warm flutter spread through me, making my heart race in a way I hadn’t expected.

***

The Mate Bonding night was outside. It wasn’t a full moon, so all the wolves were in their wolf forms. Everyone stood with their mates, holding hands. I lingered in the corner, scanning the crowd. Then a chill ran over me…the mate pull, stronger than ever. My eyes searched frantically… and then landed on him. Damon.

He stood there, holding up a glass, his dark eyes piercing mine.

A warm hand touched my shoulder. I turned to see Darius.

“Hey, clumsy fighter,” he said.

“You better stop calling me that.”

“I will,” he whispered, pulling me close and turning my back to him.

“Only when you get better at sword fighting,” he teased.

“You sent me a flower,” I murmured.

“Yes. And now a necklace.” He fastened it around my neck. “It matches your red dress. You look gorgeous.”

He turned me to face him, his eyes soft, warm, and full of something I couldn’t name.

“I’ve barely had anyone give me a gift in years,” I admitted.

Darius smirked. “Well, lucky for you, I’m full of surprises.”

I glanced back at Damon. He was dancing with a girl, but his eyes never left me.

“We should be dancing, not staring at him,” Darius said with a playful grin. “It’s a bonding night, remember?”

“He will make my life a living hell,” I whispered.

Darius lifted my chin gently, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Don’t look away,” he said softly.

His other hand settled on my waist, holding me as if I were fragile. “I will be with you from dusk till dawn, inside or outside this academy. I promise.”

“Those are just words,” I said doubtfully.

“I don’t speak empty words, Zima,” he said, his voice low and full of warmth.

“I’ve had everyone I love leave me, hate me, make me question everything. I doubt you’d be any different,” I said, voice shaky.

Darius tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there in the past to save you. I’ll have to make up for lost time, starting now.”

I chuckled softly, letting him hold me. His hands tightened around my waist, still holding my chin up, his dark eyes locked on mine.

“I hate that I have to be a replacement for your first mate,” I whispered.

He gently released my face. “You are never a replacement.”

“You had a mate before… one you lost,” I pressed.

“She is gone. Dead and erased,” he said quietly.

“Erased?”

“We shouldn’t speak of the dead, mate. It’s forbidden,” he murmured, pulling me closer. His lips traced from my cheek to my neck and pressed a soft kiss there. My body betrayed me; my legs quivered, and I could no longer control myself.

“Let me kiss you,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine.

“I don’t want to,” I breathed.

“But the rhythm of your heart betrays you,” he whispered, lifting my chin and covering my lips with his.

It was my first kiss, and it left me trembling, caught completely in him.

Maybe it was time I stopped fighting everything and just let this be. I wanted to savor every piece of this moment. His other hand slide to my waist, pressing me gently. The sound of our kiss seemed to fill the air. He was so gentle I didn’t want him to stop. But he did.

“I need to get us a drink,” he said with a smirk. I wished I could tell Aria how my first kiss felt, anyone who would listen. A smile broke across my face until my eyes landed on Damon, standing far away, staring at me.

“I wonder why he won’t stop staring,” I muttered.

Darius returned with two glasses of wine, handing me mine.

“We should dance,” he said, holding me by the waist.

“I’m not a dancer,” I said.

“I will teach you,” he replied.

“I don’t want to learn from you.”

“Liar,” he said, moving my body gently. I gulped down the wine and set the glass aside. His lips traced my neck to my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine. My legs felt clumsy, like I might fall.

“I think I need to sleep,” I murmured.

“This is only the beginning,” he teased.

“No. Take me to my room. I feel lightheaded,” I demanded.

“Okay,” he said, scooping me up effortlessly, holding me like I weighed nothing.

***

I woke up the next morning in my nightgown, my head heavy. I tried to recall everything from last night, but all I could remember was asking Darius to take me to my room.

“Murderer!”

Someone yelled from the doorway. That’s when I realized the door was crowded, and two soldiers were in the dorm. I stood up quickly, heart pounding, to see what was happening. On the other side of the room, the bed was soaked in blood.

I rushed over to see what had happened. There, lying in a pool of blood, was a body. The soldiers turned it over.

“Sophia?”

“You killed her!” someone yelled from the doorway.