The Top Boy Is My Mate

Chapter 20: The cracks begin

Zara’s POV

The hallway outside the East Dorm was darker than usual. The sconces that usually flickered with enchantment light barely glowed. I rubbed my arms, nerves crackling under my skin. My shoes were too loud on the marble, echoing like warning bells. Midnight felt heavier tonight, like the walls themselves were listening.

It started this morning.

The Academy newsletter, The Howl & Fang, plastered across every screen in the cafeteria. Their “Midterm Romance Rankings” was supposed to be a joke. Until I saw the names.

#1: Jace & Alex — Power Couple Goals

#2: Atlas & Zara — Reigniting the Flame?

I’d nearly choked on my water. Alex had looked ready to crawl under the table. Jace had remained calm, expression unreadable. Atlas? He smirked like it was hilarious. Like I hadn’t just been publicly paired with the most emotionally annoying confusing male in the entire school.

I’d tried to avoid them all day. Even skipped training. Hid out in the East Wing garden until curfew. But now…I had a note.

It slid under my door at 11:43PM. Neat handwriting.

“Come to the Hall of Lanterns. We need to talk. Both of us.”

No signature. Just that, both of us. I knew it meant Jace and Atlas.

I should have ignored it.

Instead, here I was, heart hammering, hoodie drawn tight, the corridor breathing cold against my neck. I turned the corner and stopped.

They were already there.

Atlas stood beneath the arched stone lantern, arms crossed, shadows sliding over his jaw. Jace leaned against the opposite wall, half in the dark, his gaze laser-focused on me like he’d been waiting hours. The tension was a living thing, coiled, waiting to snap.

“Zara,” Jace said first, voice even, too calm. “Thanks for coming.”

I nearly rolled my eyes.

I stayed a few paces away, eyes darting between them. “You left the note?”

He didn’t answer right away.

“I did,” Atlas said instead, stepping forward.

I blinked. “You—”

“Because someone had to put this in the open.” His tone cut through the silence. “Whatever this is.”

Jace’s jaw ticked. “You mean your obsession?”

Atlas turned his head slowly, neck muscles tight. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, I will,” Jace said, pushing off the wall, stepping into the lantern light. “You think no one notices the way you circle her like a damn sentinel?”

Atlas scoffed, “This coming from the guy interrogating professors about her bloodline?”

“Because I don’t trust coincidences!” Jace snapped, voice rising. “First Mira. Now her. You think I’d ignore the signs?”

I flinched at Mira’s name. My breath caught in my throat.

“Don’t bring her into this,” Atlas growled.

“She’s already in this,” Jace hissed. “You just don’t want to admit it.”

“I’m standing right here,” I cut in, voice sharp. “Maybe stop talking like I’m some artifact to fight over.”

They both fell silent. Jace’s gaze flicked toward me, and softened. “I’m not trying to—”

“Then what are you trying to do?” I snapped, arms folded. “Figure me out like a math problem? Drag me into your brother's war?”

Atlas’s jaw flexed. “You think he’s just curious? Zara, he’s not harmless.”

“I never said he was harmless.” My voice wavered.

“He’s not who you think he is.” Atlas stepped closer. “He’s asking too many questions. Tracking your class attendance. Showing up near your dorm after curfew—”

“So are you!” I shot back.

His eyes flashed. “Because I’m trying to protect you!”

“You’re suffocating me!”

“I’m keeping you alive!”

Jace’s voice came next, cold and clipped. “You sure that’s all it is?”

Atlas whipped toward him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jace tilted his head. “You don’t protect her like a Warden. You protect her like a mate.”

That word slammed into me like a thunderclap. My breath hitched. My blood ran cold.

Atlas stepped forward so fast I barely saw him move. “Say that again—”

Jace raised a hand, palm open. “Tell me I’m wrong. Go on.”

Atlas’s hands curled into fists.

“Hey, stop!” I stepped between them, pushing Atlas back.

He barely moved. His chest rose and fell fast, like he was holding back from shifting.

“Don’t fight over me,” I whispered.

Jace’s eyes locked with mine. “I’m not fighting over you. I’m fighting for answers.”

Yeah, right. I must’ve forgotten you have the love of your life.

Atlas moved. Just a twitch of his fingers, but I caught it. His hand grabbed my wrist.

“Zara,” he said, voice low, urgent. “I need you to believe me. He’s dangerous.”

I winced. “You’re hurting me.”

His eyes widened. Immediately, his grip loosened.

He looked down like his hand had betrayed him, then backed off completely. “I didn’t mean—”

“I know,” I said softly, rubbing my wrist.

A long silence fell over us. Wind curled through the corridor, swaying my hoodie strings. The lantern above flickered once, then steadied.

Then I felt it, eyes. Not theirs.

I turned slightly, gaze moving toward the far end of the hallway. There. A flicker of shadow. A glint of something metallic, phone lens?

Someone was watching.

“Wait,” I whispered, heart thudding. “We’re not alone.”

Atlas stiffened. Jace stepped past me, scanning the corridor.

A flash of movement, a cloak vanishing around the corner.

Atlas took off, sprinting, boots hitting stone like thunder.

Jace cursed under his breath. “I knew it.”

I stood frozen for a moment before I followed them, but by the time we reached the bend in the hallway, whoever had been there was gone.

Gone, and probably with footage.

Back in the light, I leaned against the cold wall, breath catching in my lungs. Atlas stood across from me, pacing. Jace looked pissed, hands in fists, teeth clenched.

“Think they recorded it?” I asked, voice raw.

“Yeah,” Jace said. “And they’ll use it.”

Atlas growled. “This was a trap.”

“No,” I said slowly. “This was a setup.” And I could’ve avoided this.

Jace’s brows furrowed. “You think someone wanted that argument?”

I nodded. “Two hot-headed alphas, one confused girl, in the middle of the night. It’s drama candy. They wanted this.”

Atlas cursed. “Who the hell would—”

“The same people that published the rankings,” I muttered. “The same ones stirring things all week.”

Jace’s voice dropped. “You think it’s about you.”

“It’s always been about me,” I whispered, and it wasn’t pride, it was dread.

Atlas stopped pacing. “We need to find out who recorded it.”

“And delete it before they spread it,” Jace added.

I stared at the hallway we’d just run down, my heart racing. I didn’t want to know who was behind the camera. Because deep down, I already had an idea.

And I wasn’t ready for what that would mean.

…

The next morning, the Academy was buzzing. Whisper trails followed me from the dining hall to the lecture wing. I didn’t need to see the video to know it had spread.

Talia caught up with me outside alchemy class. Her smile was tight. “Zara! Are you—”

“I’m fine,” I lied, cutting her off.

She glanced around. “People are talking.”

“I know.”

She hesitated, then said quietly, “You and Atlas…?”

I stopped walking. “There’s no me and Atlas.”

She bit her lip. “Jace is acting weird.”

“He usually is.”

She smiled faintly, but it faded quickly. “He cares. I mean…I think he does.”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t know what to say.

Later that day, I walked past the gym on my way to the dorm. From the wide archway, I spotted Atlas with his friends.

I ducked behind the door, but it was too late.

“Hey, King of Brooding,” The one beside him called. “That your girl they caught you fighting over?”

“Didn’t you almost expel her last month?” One laughed.

“I thought you hated her,” Another added.

Atlas rolled his eyes. “I do.”

“Sure,” one grinned. “You just accidentally risked your rep to defend her in the moonlight.”

Atlas grabbed a basketball, spinning it on one finger. “I want her to stay away.”

“Then why aren’t you?” The other teased.