Zinnia didn't realize how fast rumors could spread… until she became one.
By the time she stepped into the classroom, conversations had already started dying down. Not completely—but enough for her to notice.
Eyes followed her.
Some curious.
Some mocking.
Some… cautious.
"That's her…"
"The new girl…"
"She's the one…"
Zinnia tightened her grip on her bag but kept her face neutral. If there was one thing she had learned, it was this—never show weakness in a room full of strangers.
Especially not in a place like this.
Elite Alenjadro Academy wasn't just a school.
It was a battlefield.
And she could already feel it.
The classroom was nothing like she expected.
It was large, modern, almost too perfect. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed sunlight to pour in, reflecting off polished desks and marble floors. Everything looked expensive. Everything felt controlled.
Even the students.
They didn't behave like normal teenagers.
They sat with confidence.
Spoke with authority.
Dressed like they already owned companies.
Zinnia swallowed slightly.
Definitely not my world.
She scanned the room quickly, searching for an empty seat.
There.
Near the window.
Away from most people.
Perfect.
She walked over and sat down, placing her bag carefully on the desk. For a moment, she allowed herself to breathe.
Just stay quiet. Observe. Don't get involved.
Simple.
"You've got guts."
The voice came out of nowhere.
Zinnia turned her head.
A girl had dropped into the seat beside her like she'd been there all along.
She had bright eyes, warm brown skin, and a confident smile that felt… real. Not fake like the others.
"I'm Sophie," she said, extending her hand casually.
Zinnia hesitated for a split second, then shook it.
"Zinnia."
Sophie's smile widened. "Yeah, I figured. The whole school knows your name already."
Zinnia blinked. "That fast?"
Sophie let out a small laugh. "You bumped into Roman Alpha on your first day. That's not something people forget."
Zinnia exhaled slowly, leaning back slightly.
"Great. So I'm famous for the wrong reason."
"Very wrong," Sophie confirmed.
Sophie leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"Let me give you some advice… and you should listen carefully."
Zinnia raised a brow slightly. "I'm listening."
"Stay away from them."
Zinnia didn't need clarification.
"The Alpha Boys?" she asked quietly.
Sophie nodded immediately.
"They're not like us. Not even close. They don't follow rules. They don't answer to anyone. And most importantly…" she paused slightly, "…they don't care."
Zinnia's mind flickered back to last night.
The alley.
The sound.
The stillness.
That bat.
Her fingers curled slightly against the desk.
"I already noticed," she said under her breath.
Sophie studied her for a moment.
"You're not scared," she said slowly.
Zinnia didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was… she didn't fully understand what she felt.
Fear?
Yes.
But also…
Curiosity.
And something deeper she couldn't explain.
Before Sophie could ask anything else—
The classroom door opened.
And everything changed.
Silence.
Not the normal kind.
The heavy kind.
The kind that presses down on your chest and makes you forget how to breathe.
Zinnia felt it instantly.
Even before she looked.
But she did anyway.
Four figures walked in.
Slow.
Calm.
Untouchable.
Roman Cameo Alpha.
Jordan Alpha.
Chance Alpha.
Charles Alpha.
The Alpha Boys.
They didn't look around.
Didn't acknowledge anyone.
Didn't need to.
Their presence alone was enough.
Power followed them like a shadow.
Zinnia's heartbeat picked up slightly as her eyes locked onto him.
Roman.
No mask.
No darkness.
No shadows.
And yet…
He looked exactly the same.
Cold.
Distant.
Unreachable.
For a brief moment—
His eyes moved.
Across the room.
Across the students.
And then—
They landed on her.
Zinnia froze.
It wasn't long.
Barely a second.
But it felt longer.
Deeper.
Like he was seeing more than just her face.
Then—
Just like that—
He looked away.
Like she didn't exist.
Sophie leaned closer again.
"See what I mean?" she whispered. "They don't act normal. Even teachers avoid them."
Zinnia nodded slightly, still watching them.
The four of them walked to the back of the class and sat down.
Together.
But separate from everyone else.
Like they existed in a different world.
"They have their own space, their own rules, their own life," Sophie continued. "People don't mess with them… unless they want trouble."
Zinnia finally looked away.
But she could still feel it.
That presence.
That weight.
"Then I'll stay out of it," she said.
Sophie gave her a look.
"You already didn't."
Zinnia didn't respond.
Because Sophie was right.
A few minutes passed before the teacher entered.
The lesson started.
But barely anyone paid attention.
Not really.
Because everyone was aware of one thing—
The Alpha Boys were in the room.
Zinnia tried to focus.
She really did.
But her mind kept drifting.
Back to last night.
Back to him.
At the back of the class—
Roman sat still.
Silent.
Unmoving.
But his mind was far from quiet.
She saw.
He was certain now.
Most people in her position would have panicked.
Run.
Reported.
Broken.
But she didn't.
His fingers tapped once against the desk.
Soft.
Controlled.
Interesting.
"Zinnia."
Sophie's voice pulled her back.
"Hm?"
Sophie subtly tilted her head.
"Don't look now… but we've got another problem."
Zinnia frowned slightly.
"What?"
Sophie's voice dropped even lower.
"Charlotte."
Zinnia followed her gaze.
Four girls sat across the room.
Perfectly dressed.
Perfectly composed.
Perfectly dangerous.
At the center—
Charlotte.
Her beauty was sharp.
Cold.
Controlled.
Her eyes held something deeper than arrogance.
Possession.
Zinnia noticed immediately.
Charlotte wasn't looking at her.
She was looking at Roman.
The kind of look that said:
He's mine.
But Roman didn't look back.
Didn't react.
Didn't care.
And maybe…
That was the problem.
Because slowly…
Charlotte's gaze shifted.
And landed on Zinnia.
Zinnia felt it instantly.
Like a warning.
Sophie sighed softly.
"Yeah… she saw you."
"Why does that matter?" Zinnia asked quietly.
Sophie gave her a look.
"Because anyone Roman notices… becomes her problem."
Zinnia's brows furrowed.
"He doesn't notice me."
Sophie didn't even hesitate.
"You really believe that?"
Zinnia opened her mouth to respond—
But stopped.
Because deep down…
She wasn't sure anymore.
At the back of the class—
Roman's gaze lifted slightly.
Not toward Charlotte.
But toward Zinnia.
Just for a second.
And that was enough.
Because Charlotte saw it too.
And this time—
There was no doubt.
Zinnia had just become a target.