Mated To Sins

Chapter 13

Chapter 13.

ZIMA'S POV

Flickers of touch

I reached out and helped Asher up.

“Sorry you have to go through this as Beta,” I said.

Blood trickled down his face, but he laughed weakly. “It’s better to be in hell than stuck between two brothers. I’m tired.”

“I’m really sorry. No one should ever be treated like this,” I whispered.

He gave a bitter half-smile. “I’m more sorry for you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“It’s like standing in the waves,” he said quietly. “You can play with them, but don’t let them pull you under.”

“Why are you getting hit anyway?” I asked, even though I already sensed he wouldn’t tell me.

“Trust me,” he said, walking away. “You don’t want to know.”

I shook my head. “It must be painful, being someone’s puppet instead of a wolf,” I muttered, turning toward my dorm. Sword lessons were waiting, and with all that’s happened, I needed to push myself harder, to actually get good at it this time.

I walked slowly to my dorm, eyes tracing every inch of the academy walls. The air felt thick, the silence heavy like it was watching me.

My door was open. I hadn’t left it that way. I knew I locked it.

Heart pounding, I tiptoed inside, and froze. Damon stood there with another girl.

He didn’t even flinch when he saw me.

“Meet your new roommate. Try not to get her killed like the last one,” he said before walking out.

The girl’s eyes dragged over me from head to toe, sharp and cold.

“Name’s Betty,” she said, stepping closer. “I’m not someone you want to mess with. I don’t take nonsense, and I don’t waste time putting people in their place.”

I tilted my head, voice calm but cutting. “That’s fine. Same goes for me.”

“Don’t speak when I’m speaking,” she snapped, pride dripping from her tone. “I’m an Alpha’s daughter.”

“Well, so am I.”

“I don’t care. Just don’t overstep. I don’t forgive twice,” she said, final and cold, before turning back to her bed.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. I didn’t have time for her games. I went to my corner, grabbed my black coat, and got ready for sword lessons. I needed to get better.

***

At the training field, everyone stood in rows. The air buzzed with shouts and the clash of metal. Soldiers barked commands, their voices echoing across the ground.

My eyes moved over the field until they landed on a soldier who seemed free. I was about to walk toward him when a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“Here comes mine!”

Darius.

He stood at the far end, shirt half-open, chest glistening with sweat. His hair was messy, and his smile wicked. Heat crawled up my skin before I could stop it. I could picture every inch of him burned into the left side of my brain like a sin.

Now everyone’s eyes were on me.

“Hey, mine,” he said again, now closer. His steps were lazy but full of intent. He leaned in and pressed his lips against my neck. The kiss was slow and dangerous. His breath was warm, and his touch shameless.

“Darius, everyone is watching,” I whispered, my pulse racing.

“Good,” he murmured, lifting his head. “Let them. I like an audience.”

He smirked, eyes locked on me. “You taste like candy.”

“I came to train, not to flirt,” I said, trying to sound firm even as my voice shook.

He chuckled, the sound low and dark. “I love being your distraction, Zee.” His words brushed my ear, soft and taunting.

“Come on,” he added, stepping back. “I’ll train you myself. I can’t stand you taking orders from anyone else.”

“No, I should get a soldier,” I said.

“Wait, you think I can’t train you?”

“I just don’t think I can learn from you.”

“Why?” His eyes gleamed. “Because you think you’ll end up in my bed?”

“Darius…”

He laughed, the sound rough and teasing. “Fine, fine. Let’s be serious now.”

He nudged me forward until my back pressed against his chest, his warmth seeping into me. He handed me the sword, his hands brushing mine.

“Hold it firm,” he murmured, his breath grazing my neck. “Not too tight. Let it move with you.”

His voice sank lower, almost a whisper meant for my skin. I could feel every exhale in my ear, and a part of me wanted him to breathe closer to let that warmth touch every inch of me.

“My father’s hosting an event,” he whispered. “I want you to come with me.”

“I…” I stopped myself. I couldn’t tell him I already knew about it. Not after what his father said.

“Keep your grip steady,” he said softly, guiding my hands. His lips brushed my neck, slow and deep. My breath caught.

“Have you ever made love, Zee?”

“You can’t ask me that here,” I said, my voice barely steady as his hands slid to my waist.

“I want to know,” he said, his tone melting into something raw. “Have you ever been touched in a way that made you forget where you are?”

“No…”

He smiled against my skin. “Then let me be your first,” he whispered. “Not your first fight, but your first everything. But not here. Not in this place.”

I could feel eyes on me. The air shifted, heavy and thick. I lifted my head and looked around, and the first pair of eyes I met were Damon’s.

He stood a few steps away, dark eyes burning like a storm about to break. His face was calm, but something about him looked dangerous, and devilish. My chest tightened.

I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. Instead, I let Darius slide my sleeve down a little and press his lips to my skin. His kiss was slow, warm, claiming. He pulled me closer, and my breath hitched.

Damon didn’t move. He just watched. His stare felt sharp, cutting through me. Still, I didn’t look away.

“My room is comfier, Zee,” Darius whispered, his voice low and rough.

A shiver ran through me. My legs felt weak, trembling slightly, but I tried to keep them still. Inside me, my wolf whimpered, desperate for his touch, for the warmth of his hold. I clenched my fists, forcing her back, fighting to keep control. Damon’s eyes darkened even more, and I knew he saw everything, how close Darius held me, how my body responded.

“I think we should leave. Everyone’s staring,” I whispered.

“I’m not leaving because of them,” he said, pulling me closer as we started to walk away.

My body followed his, but my eyes stayed on Damon. He didn’t look away, not even once. And neither did I.

***

We reached his room. It was wide and spotless, the air calm like a secret garden. Only one bed, of course, he lived alone.

“Come in,” he said softly, closing the door behind me.

The walls were lined with pictures of him and his mother smiling in the sunlight. But there was none of Damon or their father.

“That’s your mum?” I asked, moving closer.

“Yeah,” he said, standing behind me.

“You have her eyes.”

He gave a short laugh. “Everyone says Damon does.”

“Well, I think it’s you,” I said quietly.

He smiled faintly, but I caught the sadness in his eyes.

“You miss her?”

“Every day,” he said, his voice low and aching.

“Will you tell me what happened?”

“Not now, Zee,” he said, stepping back, the distance between us suddenly heavy.

“Why don’t you have pictures of you and Damon?” I asked.

He sighed, his jaw tightening. “Nah,” he said after a pause, waving the question off. “Some things are better left unseen.”

Something flickered in his eyes, anger, maybe hurt, but he turned away before I could read it.

He reached for something on the table and handed me a dress. “You’ll wear this to the event,” he said.

Before I could even take a good look, there was a knock.

He turned to open the door, and Damon’s voice broke the air.

“Dad sends for you.”