Chapter 4

The corridors buzzed with life, filled with the chatter and energy of the new students. Fresh faces glanced around in awe, taking in the grandeur of the University of Southern Valoria's sleek, luxurious infrastructure.

Some walked in groups, excitedly discussing their new environment, while others stood alone, scanning the signs, visibly lost and unsure of where to go.

"Now where's the lecture hall?" The blue haired girl asked her friend with blonde hairs who was busy glaring someone.

Amidst the crowd, Azura stood apart, leaning against the wall, her eyes narrowing as she observed the students. She was used to this—the stares, the whispers that followed her wherever she went. Today, though, she was in no mood for anyone’s curiosity.

Her keen hearing caught a conversation nearby.

"Do you know who that is?" one of the new students whispered to her friend. The speaker had wavy blonde hair, and her voice carried a nervous excitement. "That girl standing there... she's a demon. The only survivor of the war."

Her companion, a girl with striking blue hair, leaned in closer, her face twisting in fear. "I heard demons can suck the souls right out of people’s bodies."

Azura turned her head slightly, locking onto the two girls who were foolishly discussing her. Her eyes darkened with annoyance, a dangerous edge creeping into her aura. New students, she thought. They clearly had no idea who they were messing with.

Without warning, she pushed herself off the wall and faced them fully, her black eyes gleaming. Her presence alone was enough to drain the color from their faces.

The blonde one froze, her face pale as she met her gaze. The blue-haired girl stood just as still, terror clear in her eyes.

Azura smirked, her tone dripping with venom as she stepped closer. "Yes, I do suck the souls out of bodies. Any doubts?"

The transformation in her voice, the shift in her aura—it was enough to make their legs shake. They stammered, their earlier bravado gone, eyes wide with panic.

"W-We’re sorry," the blonde managed to choke out, her voice trembling.

"We didn’t mean anything by it," the blue-haired girl added quickly, both of them taking a step back as though the distance could protect them from her wrath.

Azura tilted her head slightly, her smirk widening. "You better be." She waved a hand dismissively in their direction, her eyes never leaving them. "By the way, the lecture hall is that way."

Without another word, the two girls turned on their heels and bolted down the hallway, desperate to escape her presence. She watched them disappear around the corner, her expression calm once again. She had no interest in chasing after them. They had learned their lesson well enough.

As the noise of the hallway returned, Azura stood there alone once more, unbothered by the stares she knew would follow her wherever she went. She had far bigger problems than dealing with new students. Let them talk, she thought. They had no idea what true danger looked like.

As Azura hurried to her next class on liquid magic, a strong hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, yanking her into a dark storage room. Stumbling slightly, she whirled around, her eyes widening in shock. Standing in front of her, with that same infuriating smirk, was none other than Rylan—the last person she wanted to see.

“Rylan?” she snapped, her voice dripping with irritation. “What now?”

Her mood, already sour from a ruined morning, worsened at the sight of his smug face. She couldn’t stand him—everything about him seemed to provoke her. His arrogance, his cocky attitude, and now, his unwanted intrusion into her day.

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his grin only growing wider. “What’s wrong, demon girl? You don’t look happy to see me.”

She rolled her eyes, scowling. “I wasn’t happy to see you last night, and I’m certainly not happy to see you now. What do you want?”

He stepped closer,  “Your face makes my mornings, you know?” sweetness dripping from his mouth while she seemed cringe at his tone.

Azura groaned, crossing her arms. “Are you serious right now? You think cheesy lines are going to get you anywhere with me?” She glared at him, her annoyance palpable.

“In case you haven’t noticed, Rylan, I hate you.” she announced clear cut.

Rylan chuckled, undeterred by her words. “Hate me all you want, sweetheart. But I bet I still cross your mind more than you care to admit.”

Azura’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Rylan's hand slid deliberately under her top, tracing the curve of her bare waist, his fingers igniting a trail of heat as they ventured dangerously lower. His lips found the sensitive skin along her jawline, kissing it slowly, each brush of his mouth sending sparks through her body. Azura's heart betrayed her, fluttering in response to his provocative touch, but she caught his wandering hand before it could move any further down her thigh.

With a sharp push, she tried to shove him away, but Rylan’s grip remained firm on her waist. His body pressed against hers, unyielding, and she could feel the raw power that emanated from him, a reminder of who he was—the future Alpha King.

"Hands off, Rylan!" Her voice was laced with warning, a storm brewing in her black eyes as she glared up at him.

But he only grinned, defiance flashing in his icy blue eyes. “Never, darling,” he murmured, his voice dangerously soft.

Azura’s eyes narrowed, her fury rising. “I’m not your property, Rylan Blackwood.”

The second those words left her lips, his demeanor shifted. The playful arrogance melted away, replaced by something darker, more primal. He gripped her waist tighter, his jaw clenching as her refusal struck a nerve deep within him. The atmosphere between them thickened, the air charged with tension as Rylan’s cold gaze bore into her.

He leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear as he hissed the words she despised most in this world. “You became my property the day my father spared you in that war. From that moment, demon girl, you were mine.”

Her blood boiled instantly, rage erupting within her like an uncontrollable fire. His words cut deeper than any blade ever could, dragging her back to the horrors of that fateful day—the day her family was butchered before her eyes. The screams, the blood, the devastation—it was all still fresh in her mind, a wound that would never heal. And now, standing here in the shadow of her worst nightmare, he dared to claim her like a trophy, as if she belonged to him.

Azura’s hands balled into fists, trembling with anger, but before she could lash out, Rylan stepped back, his expression cold and unyielding. Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the room, the door slamming shut behind him, leaving her standing alone in the darkened storeroom, her chest heaving with fury.

She would never forget that day. And she would never forgive him for reminding her of it.

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