CHAPTER 8

Zima's POV

Found him.

The soldier dragged me into the courtroom, my hands bound in chains and a heavy black robe fitted on me. As I entered, every student’s eyes cut into me. I forced myself to look away. The academic board sat in place, but the Alpha King’s chair remained empty. Damon sat in the other seat. My heart lurched when our eyes met, and I quickly looked away. His lips twitched, as if he wanted to laugh.

I stood on the execution post as Darius entered, his dark eyes locking on me while his messy hair framed his face. He moved toward me with unhurried steps, the room holding its breath as he came closer. When he reached me, he lowered his head gently to my neck.

“Have you thought about it, Zee? Or would you rather be exiled?”

Before I could answer, his lips brushed my neck. Gasps rippled through the room.

“Darius, you can’t do that,” I whispered. My chest tightened under Damon’s stare. I risked a glance and caught him watching us, his jaw clenched and my heart stuttered. I wanted to give in to Darius’s mark, yet my wolf still burned for Damon no matter how much he despised me.

“Oh, I can,” Darius murmured, dragging his tongue across my skin and sending chills through me.

“The Alpha King is my father,” he added with a sly smile. “Trust me, bailing you out is the easiest thing in the world.”

He straightened, gave me one last teasing look, and walked away.

“All rise!”

Rex’s command rang out, and the room shot to its feet.

“The king is here!”

A chorus of howls shook the air. I turned to the entrance, and there he was…tall, broad, his tattoo snaking across his right arm. For a moment, he looked like a blend of Damon and Darius, the same sharp features and presence.

Then my blood froze. I knew that face.

It was the man who had murdered my parents on my tenth birthday. The man who had stolen my twin sister. His image had haunted my mind for years, and now he stood alive before me.

My eyes locked on him, unwilling to look away. The memory hit sharp and cruel, him lifting his blade, my father’s head falling. Now those same eyes were fixed on me. He walked briskly to where I stood.

“You look familiar,” he said, his voice low and husky. “Do I know you?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. You don’t.” I blinked hard, forcing the tears back.

He said nothing more and took his seat. The room followed, sitting in silence as the air grew heavier.

“The CCTV footage is still missing,” Rex announced, bowing his head. I caught Damon’s restless gaze, searching the room as if hunting for answers.

“That’s fine. We should dismiss the case,” King Aiden said suddenly.

Gasps broke across the hall, but no one dared speak. My wolf leapt inside me, and I breathed out a shaky sigh of relief.

“When the footage is found, we will execute. But for now, there is nothing on her.”

“Her scent was found on…”

“Dismiss this case,” Aiden cut him off, his words sharp as steel.

The hall fell silent. My knees nearly gave way, and for the first time since it began, hope flickered in my chest.

I turned to Darius. He winked at me, and I guessed it was his doing. People began filing out, Damon among them, careful not to meet my eyes.

“I will see you soon,” Darius said with a smirk before leaving.

Then King Aiden rose and walked toward me. His presence pressed down on me, heavy and unshakable.

“My gut tells me I know you,” he said.

Each word stoked the fire in my chest. I wanted to tear his head from his body as he had done to my father. His eyes burned into me, bright and relentless, and I imagined ripping them out and feeding them to his sons. But I stayed still. My time would come. Step by step, I would count down to my revenge.

“You might have seen me in your dreams,” I said coldly.

“My dreams are not open to wolves. Only I decide who walks there.”

“No werewolf controls their dreams,” I whispered back.

“Except I do.” His thumb lifted to my cheek, brushing it with careless authority. I wanted to fling his hand away, but his smirk deepened. “I am the Alpha King. Remember that.”

“That must be a gift from the Moon Goddess,” I muttered.

“I think I like you,” he said, voice low and deliberate. “I would enjoy speaking to you but this stench… it offends my throne.”

Heat rushed to my face, humiliation burning my skin.

“Freshen up and meet me in my office. I will be waiting.”

He turned and strode away. At the door, I caught sight of someone watching through the crack. The eyes staring back at me were Damon’s.

***

When I came back, the room was spotless. No blood, no trace of Sophie, not even her things. It was as if she had never lived there at all.

I tugged at my dress, my heart heavy. How could fate be so cruel, tying me to the family that had taken everything from me? My parents, my peace, even my twin. Now all I had left was the fire in me to find her, and that meant facing King Aiden.

I hurried into the bathroom and let the water run over me, not caring if it soaked my skin or not. I only wanted to wash fast, to feel less like a mess.

“I better not stink after this,” I muttered, drying off quickly. I dropped the towel on the floor and rushed out of the bathroom naked, desperate to grab my clothes before I lost my nerve.

But then, in the room, he stood. Damon.

“What?!” I screamed. I was naked, with nothing to cover myself. His eyes roamed over me like a wolf howling at the moon. My hands flew to my chest, trying to shield myself, but my clothes were nowhere within reach.

He pulled off his coat and tossed it to me. I clutched it to my body, trembling with shame.

“What are you even doing in here? You can’t knock? You have no decency. What kind of man walks—”

“Your boobs are not the finest I’ve seen,” he cut in, his voice icy.

My eyes widened. My mouth opened, but no words came out.

“I just have some questions for you,” he said, calm and sharp as ever.