Their Hidden Princess (Zora) novel Chapter 71

Words escaped me as I stood there, caught in the gaze of Amara, who wore a smirk that could only be described as triumphant.

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Around me, several students, including Loren, bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgment of Amara’s presence. But I felt rooted to the spot, unable to break free from her amused stare. She tilted her chin, a playful eyebrow arched high, and with a soft tut, she began to speak.

“Come on, Zora,” she taunted, her voice dripping with mockery. “You know how to treat a Princess better than anyone else, don’t you?”

My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage like a wild animal desperate to escape. Was she about to unveil my secret to this gathering? The thought sent a chill down my spine—exposure loomed like a dark cloud overhead. Just then, Loren nudged me, breaking the trance that Amara had cast upon me. I could see her expression souring as my moment of silence dragged on. I quickly dipped my head in a half-hearted bow, forcing my jaw back into place.

“How do you know the Luna Princess?” Loren’s voice was a whisper-yell, urgent and filled with disbelief. Amara caught her words, a chuckle escaping her lips as she turned her bemused gaze back to me.

“Zora and I go way back,” she drawled, her tone teasing. “Don’t we, Zora?”

“You do?” Loren’s voice was laced with hurt, and I understood why.

Taking a deep breath, I felt the weight of the moment press down on me. “When that woman picked me up,” I began, turning to Loren, “she brought me to this castle. I think it was the Queen’s castle. I’ve seen Princess Amara in passing, but I didn’t realize who she was until now.”

Loren shot me a look that screamed skepticism. “You only figured out she was the Princess of the Luna Throne as she strutted onto our campus?”

I shrugged, trying to deflect the scrutiny. “I guess so.”

“Oh, stop being so silly, Zora,” Amara interjected, her arm draping around my shoulders. She towered over me by a few inches, her ridiculous shoes adding to her height. I couldn’t help but feel dwarfed in her presence. It seemed fitting, given the next words she uttered.

“Zora was my housekeeper,” she announced, the words echoing through the crowd.

A wave of hushed whispers and gasps rippled among the onlookers. I glanced back at Loren, who wore an expression of pure disappointment. Once again, I understood the reason behind her dismay.

“Loren, I promise I—”

“Hush, hush,” Amara interrupted, patting my arm dismissively. She turned her attention back to Loren. “Moonbeam, right? Your sister and I go way back.”

Loren’s jaw tightened as she forced a smile. “So, I’ve heard.” I made a mental note to ask her about that later.

“Right then. Well, Moonbeam,” Amara waved her hand dismissively, “Zora was under lock and key, you know? They were worried about her attacking someone, considering she was just a child in the eyes of the wolves. Unpredictable. You can’t possibly think we’d let her know she was attending royalty, could we?”

Loren’s expression softened a bit, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that Amara’s intentions were far from genuine. I sensed the snickers and snide remarks rising from the crowd, and it dawned on me—she was not helping me; she was mocking me. Turning my gaze to Loren, I saw her leering down at me, a wicked grin plastered across her face, as if daring me to challenge her. It was a silent battle of wills—one that posed the question: “Would you rather be embarrassed or honest?”

“Don’t give into it,” Mona growled in the recesses of my mind. “She knows who the true next Alpha is. She’s trying to provoke you.”

“It’s working,” I gritted back, feeling the frustration bubble within me. I was fed up with the relentless trials life was throwing my way. With a sudden burst of determination, I shrugged off Amara’s arm and turned to step back beside Loren when Amara called my name again.

“Zora, darling,” she drawled, her tone dripping with insincerity. It was as if a snake was coiling up for a strike. She gestured toward the bags being unloaded from the back of the car.

“Do me a favor and help me bring these to my rooms?” Her sickly sweet smile sent shivers down my spine. “For old time’s sake.”

I was on the verge of losing my temper when I felt a shoulder brush against mine, jolting me back to reality. I turned to see Maximus standing by my side, his jaw clenched as he surveyed Amara’s pile of luggage.

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