Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 103

**Zora**

I spent my first week back on campus wrapped in a cocoon of blissful normalcy. Well, as normal as it could possibly be for someone like me—a hidden wolf Princess with five fated mates, who had recently been kidnapped and, oh yes, was also tasked with saving the world from the clutches of vampires.

Completely ordinary, right?

What remained unchanged after my harrowing experience was the incessant chatter about me. Whispers trailed behind me like shadows as I walked through the throngs of students. It was as if a light had flickered on in the minds of those around me, illuminating the fact that I was not just any ordinary girl. After all, the vampires had chosen to abduct me for a reason. I wasn’t merely a wolfless nobody; I was someone significant.

The weight of that realization sent chills down my spine.

I still yearned for secrecy regarding my identity as the Princess. The unsettling knowledge that vampires had returned for “unknown” reasons was mine alone to bear. I had no intention of letting it slip. I could still vividly remember the moment in the auditorium when Valentin had made the announcement. The color had drained from my face as gasps of shock rippled through the crowd. Loren had sat beside me, her fingers gnawing nervously as if she might inadvertently reveal the truth. And then, Valentin had declared it to the world: I had been kidnapped. Loren had made a squeaking sound so loud that heads turned our way, eyes wide with curiosity.

And then the whispers began.

Wednesday arrived, marking the return of Basics class, and Loren and I navigated the campus with an air of determination, the murmurs fading into the background. Bubba trailed behind us, attempting to blend in despite his size. We entered the gym a bit late, finding the rest of the class already set up and ready to go. As expected, Kairos, Maximus, and Thorne were still the Teaching Assistants for Basics, standing at the front, their gazes sharp as they landed on Loren and me.

To my surprise, Coach called on me to demonstrate instead of them.

“What?” I exclaimed, my voice a mixture of disbelief and confusion.

“You heard me, Smith,” Coach barked, gesturing toward the sparring mat that stood at the forefront of the crowd. “I’ve seen your kicks. You’re the best in the class, aside from Wolfham. So, get up there.”

A moment of hesitation washed over me. The weight of every gaze in the room fell upon me, but the intensity of Maximus’s and Kairos’s stares was particularly overwhelming. With a deep breath, I stepped onto the sparring mat, feeling their eyes bore into me like twin suns.

I dropped into my stance and executed the jumping spin kick that Maximus had taught me at the end of last semester. My feet landed firmly on the mat, and the sound echoed off the walls of the otherwise silent gym. When I turned to look at Coach, he nodded in approval. A quick glance at Maximus and Kairos revealed their astonishment; their pupils were wide, and Kairos’s jaw was clenched tightly.

“Good,” Coach murmured. “Very good. Alright now, pair up. Smith, you’re with Wolfham.”

I jerked my head to glance at Maximus, whose eyes were still locked onto me with an intensity that made my heart race. I nodded at him, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling that churned in my stomach.

I hadn’t spoken to him since he had left me with my mother in the infirmary following my attack. The silence between us felt heavy, especially considering that the last person he had seen me with was someone he had made it clear he didn’t want me associating with—Valentin.

As we approached our mat, an almost palpable tension hung in the air. Maximus remained silent, settling into his sparring stance. I exhaled sharply, breaking the silence.

“How was your break?” My voice cracked awkwardly, betraying my nerves.

Maximus blinked at me, and then, without further ado, demonstrated just how skilled he was at kicks. He spun his heel so close to my face that I felt a rush of air graze my nose as I barely dodged it. I grunted, throwing my body back in response.

“That good, huh?” I muttered, frustration bubbling beneath the surface as I prepared to retaliate.

I launched my fist in his direction, but he sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a punch of his own. I jerked back to avoid it and raised my palm to block his next attack. Despite my newfound strength, Maximus’s punch still sent me staggering. He didn’t seem to care, throwing another kick at me.

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