The gates of Elite Alenjadro Academy stood tall and intimidating.
Zinnia paused for a second before stepping in.
Everything about this place screamed power.
Luxury cars. Expensive uniforms. Students who looked like they owned the world.
She adjusted her bag and walked in, trying not to look lost.
But she was.
Completely.
"Great… just my first day and I'm already lost," she muttered under her breath.
She turned a corner—
And walked straight into something solid.
No.
Someone.
The impact made her stumble back slightly.
Before she could even react—
The air changed.
Heavy.
Cold.
Dangerous.
A hand brushed against hers for the briefest second.
And instantly—
The person stepped back.
Sharp. Controlled. Almost like the contact disgusted him.
Zinnia frowned.
"What is wrong with—"
Her words stopped.
Slowly, she looked up.
And her heart skipped.
Him.
Even without the mask… even without the darkness of the night…
She knew.
Those eyes.
Cold.
Empty.
Terrifying.
Roman Cameo Alpha.
The hallway had gone silent.
Students who were walking before had suddenly stopped.
Watching.
Waiting.
Afraid.
Someone whispered behind her—
"Apologize… now…"
But Zinnia didn't move.
Didn't speak.
She just stared at him.
Trying to understand how someone could look so human…
And yet feel like something else entirely.
Roman said nothing.
Not a single word.
His gaze dropped briefly to where she had touched him.
His jaw tightened.
Then he stepped past her.
Like she didn't exist.
Like she was nothing.
And walked away.
Only when he was gone did the noise return.
Whispers.
Murmurs.
Fear.
"Are you crazy?" a girl rushed to her side. "Do you know who that is?"
Zinnia blinked slightly.
"I do."
The girl grabbed her arm.
"That's Roman Alpha. You're lucky he didn't do anything."
Zinnia glanced back in the direction he left.
Her heart was still beating fast.
Not from fear alone.
But something else she didn't understand.
Later that day…
Zinnia walked down the corridor, trying to find her class.
Her mind replayed the morning again and again.
His eyes.
That silence.
That coldness.
Then suddenly—
A hand grabbed her.
Hard.
She was pushed back against the wall.
A sharp gasp left her lips.
Her books almost fell.
And then—
He was there.
Roman.
Too close.
Way too close.
One hand beside her head, trapping her.
His presence swallowed the air around her.
"Stay away from me."
His voice was low.
Cold.
Dangerously calm.
Zinnia's breath hitched.
"What—"
"You don't look at me. You don't walk into me. You don't exist near me."
Each word was controlled.
Measured.
Like a warning.
For a moment…
She felt it.
Fear.
Real fear.
But then—
Something inside her pushed back.
Zinnia lifted her chin slightly.
"And what if I don't follow your rules?"
Silence.
Dangerous silence.
Roman's eyes darkened.
For the first time…
Something shifted in them.
Not emotion.
Not exactly.
But interest.
Then suddenly—
He let go.
Stepped back.
Like she wasn't worth it.
But as he turned away—
He said one thing.
"You will."
Zinnia stayed there for a few seconds after he left.
Her heart racing.
Her thoughts a mess.
She had seen him before.
Last night.
She was sure of it now.
And somehow…
She had just stepped directly into his world.