Zinnia felt it before she saw her.
That kind of presence didn't need an introduction.
It announced itself.
The hallway was louder than usual.
Students gathered in small groups, whispers spreading like wildfire.
But the moment Zinnia stepped in—
Everything shifted.
Not silence.
Not completely.
But attention.
And then—
The crowd parted.
Zinnia's steps slowed.
Because she saw her.
Charlotte.
Standing in the middle of the hallway like she owned it.
Like everyone else was just… background.
She was beautiful.
But not in a soft way.
Sharp.
Perfect.
Cold.
Her eyes locked onto Zinnia instantly.
And she smiled.
Not kindly.
Zinnia didn't stop walking.
She didn't lower her gaze.
She didn't turn away.
She walked straight toward her.
And stopped.
Right in front of her.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Then Charlotte tilted her head slightly.
"So… you're the one."
Zinnia's expression didn't change.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Charlotte's smile widened.
"You will."
A small pause.
Then—
"I've been hearing a lot about you."
Zinnia crossed her arms slightly.
"People talk too much."
Charlotte stepped closer.
"And you don't talk enough."
Their eyes locked.
Tension.
Sharp.
Immediate.
"You went to their floor," Charlotte said quietly.
Not a question.
A statement.
Zinnia didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
Charlotte already knew.
"And you came back," Charlotte continued.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"Alive."
Zinnia frowned slightly.
"Is that supposed to mean something?"
Charlotte laughed softly.
"It means… you're interesting."
Zinnia didn't like that word anymore.
Not from people like them.
"Stay away from them."
The words came suddenly.
Sharp.
Clear.
Zinnia blinked once.
Then smiled faintly.
"No."
The hallway froze.
Students stopped pretending not to listen.
Charlotte's expression didn't change.
But her eyes did.
Colder.
"Let me say it again," Charlotte said slowly.
"Stay. Away. From. Them."
Zinnia leaned slightly closer.
"And let me say it again."
Her voice dropped.
"No."
That was it.
The line had been crossed.
Charlotte's hand moved—
Fast.
Zinnia barely saw it.
But she felt it.
The sharp sting across her cheek.
Gasps echoed around them.
The sound was loud.
Clear.
Undeniable.
Zinnia's head turned slightly from the impact.
For a second—
Everything went quiet.
Then slowly—
She looked back at Charlotte.
Her eyes weren't soft anymore.
They weren't calm.
They weren't neutral.
They were sharp.
Dangerous.
"You shouldn't have done that."
Charlotte smirked.
"Or what?"
Silence.
Then—
Zinnia stepped forward.
And slapped her back.
Hard.
The sound echoed louder than before.
The hallway erupted.
Gasps.
Whispers.
Shock.
Charlotte froze.
Not from the pain.
From the audacity.
Zinnia lowered her hand slowly.
"I don't take warnings."
The tension snapped.
Charlotte's friends rushed forward immediately.
"You're dead—"
But before anything else could happen—
A voice cut through the chaos.
"Enough."
Everything stopped.
Instantly.
Zinnia didn't turn.
She didn't need to.
She knew that voice.
Roman.
The crowd parted again.
And the Alpha Boys walked in.
Roman.
Jordan.
Chance.
Charles.
The atmosphere changed completely.
Fear replaced noise.
Control replaced chaos.
Roman's gaze went straight to Zinnia.
Then—
To her cheek.
Red.
Marked.
Something dark flickered in his eyes.
Then—
He looked at Charlotte.
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"Did you do that?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Charlotte straightened slightly.
"She disrespected me."
Roman took a step forward.
"And?"
A pause.
Charlotte hesitated.
Just for a second.
"She's getting too close—"
"I didn't ask for an explanation."
Silence.
Complete.
Jordan smirked slightly.
Charles looked interested.
Chance remained still.
Watching.
Roman's gaze hardened.
"You touched her."
Charlotte swallowed.
"She hit me first."
Zinnia spoke calmly.
"She's lying."
Roman didn't look at Charlotte again.
His attention shifted—
Back to Zinnia.
"Come here."
Zinnia didn't move.
Not immediately.
The entire hallway watched.
Waiting.
She exhaled slowly.
Then walked toward him.
Stopping just in front of him.
Close.
Roman's hand lifted slightly.
Not touching.
But close to her cheek.
His eyes studied it.
Carefully.
Like he was memorizing it.
Then—
His hand dropped.
And he turned.
"Charlotte."
Her name sounded like a warning.
"Don't touch what's mine."
The words hit harder than anything else.
The hallway froze.
Charlotte's face changed.
Shock.
Anger.
Disbelief.
"She's not yours—"
Roman looked at her.
And that was enough.
She stopped talking.
Because the look in his eyes said everything.
Final.
Decided.
Dangerous.
Zinnia's heart skipped.
Not because of what he said.
But because of how he said it.
Like it wasn't a claim.
But a fact.
Roman turned back to her.
"Come."
And this time—
She followed.
Without arguing.
Without questioning.
And that—
Scared her more than anything else.