Chapter 174

Chapter 174
Rhea

The emergency bell shattered the morning quiet, its metallic clang drilling straight into my skull. I was reviewing tactics with Finn when it hit, and my wolf surged forward instantly, hackles raised.

"That's not a drill," Finn said, his face going pale as he grabbed his bag. Around us, the common room erupted—students moving fast, checking weapons, heading for the exits. But underneath the training, I could smell fear threading through the air.

My phone buzzed. Three messages at once.

Alex: Central quad. Now. Stay close to me.

Kael: Do not leave the building until I confirm it's safe.

Jax: On my way to you. Don't go anywhere alone.

My stomach dropped. Something was very, very wrong.

"Ray, come on!" Finn grabbed my arm, and I forced myself to move, joining the stream of students flooding the hallways. I kept my head down, cap pulled low, but my enhanced hearing caught fragments of conversation that made my blood freeze.

"—heard it's the Ironfang delegation—"

"—soldiers at the gates—"

Ironfang. The word hit me like a fist to the gut, and I stumbled. No. He couldn't have found me. Hadn't Tristan already confirmed last semester that I wasn't at Zenith University?

Finn steadied me, worry clear in his pale eyes behind his glasses. "You okay?"

I nodded, even though my wolf was screaming to run.

We burst into the central quad and my nightmare became real. Hundreds of students faced the main gates where Ironfang soldiers in charcoal-and-crimson uniforms formed an intimidating wall. Their wolves were barely leashed—I could see it in their eyes, that feral gleam. And at the front stood Crown Prince Tyrant himself, looking at the academy like he owned it.

My legs locked. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think past the memories—his hands on my throat, his teeth tearing my skin, his voice promising I'd never escape.

Then Kael was there, his hand firm on my back, his scent wrapping around me like a shield. "Breathe, Rhea," he murmured. "You are safe. I have you."

Jax appeared on my other side, positioning himself between me and Tyrant. "Stay behind me," he growled low. "If this goes sideways, you run. Understand?"

I wanted to argue but couldn't find my voice as Dean Ashford walked forward to meet Tyrant in the center of the quad. The elderly Alpha moved with calm authority, silver hair gleaming in the sun.

"Crown Prince Tyrant," Ashford said, his voice carrying easily. "This is highly irregular. Zenith University is neutral ground, protected by international treaty—"

"Save your lectures, Dean," Tyrant interrupted, smiling. "I'm well aware of the treaties. I'm also aware that your institution is currently harboring a fugitive—specifically, Princess Rhea Winterbourne of the Winterbourne Duchy, who is legally bound to me through a marriage contract witnessed and sealed by the Wolf Council."

The quad exploded. Voices rose in shock, students turning to each other, the noise building until it was deafening. I felt every eye searching, trying to figure out who could possibly be the runaway princess.

"Silence!" Kael's Alpha command cut through the chaos like a blade, and every wolf froze. The quad went dead quiet, only harsh breathing breaking the stillness. "You will remain quiet and you will listen. Anyone who speaks out of turn will answer to me."

Even Tyrant's smile faltered slightly.

"As I was saying," Tyrant continued into the silence, "Princess Rhea is my legal betrothed. Her presence here violates our marriage contract." His eyes swept the crowd. "Come out, my dear. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Whispers started again despite Kael's command. I heard my fake name being passed around—"Ray Winters"—heard someone say "but that's impossible, Ray's a guy."

My nails dug into Jax's arm as the world tilted.

"That's not possible," Graham's voice rang out. "Ray's just some kid from the border territories. He's not—" He stopped, and I felt his eyes land on me. "Holy shit. She's been pretending to be a guy this whole time?"

The whispers became a roar.

Ashford raised his hand, somehow restoring order. "Your Highness, if you have legal grievances, they can be addressed through the Council. But you will not remove any student from this campus without proper authorization."

"Even students who gained admission through fraud?" Tyrant shot back. "Because unless I'm mistaken, your academy is male-only. Yet somewhere in this crowd stands Princess Rhea, who is definitely female." His smile widened. "One might wonder what other rules she's broken."

"Enrollment status is an internal matter," Ashford said firmly. "Merit and performance are all that matter here."

Tyrant pulled out a document. "I have all the authorization I need. A binding marriage contract, signed by Grand Duke Winterbourne himself. Princess Rhea is mine by law, and I have every right to retrieve my property."

The word "property" ignited something inside me. Before I could think, I was stepping forward, pushing past Jax even as he tried to hold me back. "I am not your property."

Every head turned. I kept walking until I stood alone between Ashford and Tyrant, pulled off my cap, and met Tyrant's gaze.

"I never wanted this marriage. I never consented to it." My voice shook but carried. "You can wave that contract all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that my father signed it under duress, that you threatened war if he didn't hand me over like a bargaining chip." My wolf surged forward, steadying me. "I would rather die than spend one more second in your presence, and no piece of paper is going to change that."

Tyrant stared at me, then smiled that cold smile that made my skin crawl. "Brave words, my dear. But bravery won't save you. The law is on my side. You belong to me, whether you accept it or not."

He turned to Ashford. "Dean, I'm giving you twenty-four hours to resolve this. Either you hand over my bride voluntarily, or I will take more direct measures to ensure the treaty is honored." His eyes flicked back to me. "I suggest you use that time to say your goodbyes, Princess. Because one way or another, you're coming home with me."

He strode back to his soldiers, and they withdrew toward the gates—but didn't leave. Instead, they took up positions around the perimeter, at every exit, turning Zenith into a prison.

The quad erupted again. Students talking over each other, some angry, some scared, all shocked.

"She lied to all of us!" someone shouted.

"But she earned her place," Marcus called back. "She beat me fair and square. Princess or not, she's got skills."

"That doesn't matter! She broke the rules!"

"Maybe the rules are bullshit then!"

I stood frozen as arguments swirled around me. Then my knees buckled and Kael and Jax were there, holding me up.

"I've got you," Jax murmured. "We've got you."

"Everyone!" Ashford's voice cut through the noise. "All students, faculty, and staff report to the Grand Assembly Hall immediately. We need to discuss this, and we have very little time." His eyes found mine. "That includes you, Cadet Winters. Or should I say, Princess Winterbourne. I think it's time we told the students the truth."

---

The walk to the Assembly Hall felt like a death march. Kael and Jax flanked me, Alex and Caspian behind us, while hundreds of eyes bore into my back. Students whispered and pointed as we passed.

The hall was already filling when we arrived, thousands of voices trying to make sense of what just happened. Ashford waited on stage with the patience of someone who'd seen too many crises to be rattled.

"You don't have to do this," Kael said quietly at the entrance. "We can find another way."

"Yes, I do," I replied. "I've been lying to everyone here. They deserve to know why." I looked at him, then Jax, drawing strength from their eyes. "And I'm done running. I'm done letting Tyrant control my life through fear. If I'm going to fight him, I need to do it openly. No more secrets."

Jax's hand found mine, his grip almost painful. "Then we fight together. Whatever happens, we're with you."

We walked down the center aisle, every head turning to watch. I forced myself to keep moving until I stood on stage, looking out at an ocean of faces—some friendly, some hostile, most just confused.

"Princess Rhea Winterbourne," Ashford said. "You've been here under the name Ray Winters for several months. You've excelled in your studies and earned respect from many peers." He paused. "You've also violated one of our most fundamental rules. Before we proceed, everyone here deserves to hear your side. Why did you come here? What were you running from? And what do you want us to do now?"

Absolute silence. Thousands of wolves holding their breath.