Relief swept through me. They hadn't noticed I'd been gone all night. "Yeah, woke up early." I replied with a small smile. Reed shot me a cold glare, and Cassius wasn't much better. I ignored them both as usual-and thankfully, they didn't linger. But then my attention shifted. Ronan He sat on his bed like it was a throne, calmly buttoning his shirt. His gaze locked on mine the moment our eyes met. My pulse stumbled. The memory of his touch the way his nearness had sent my heat spiraling out of control… it all surged back, unwelcome and far too vivid. I forced myself to look away, tearing my gaze from his. This Alpha.. I need to stay far away from him. He's more dangerous than I imagined. And now, only the two of us were left in the room. If I turned and left suddenly, it would look suspicious-maybe even cowardly. So instead. I walked to my bed, grabbed the dirty mattress, and headed for the exit under the guise of disposing of it Anything to escape those eyes. The rolled-up mattress was heavier than it looked, awkwardly pressing into my hip as I made my way toward the back of the Academy building. The air was thick with early heat, but the inner courtyard offered a small slice of calm. This was where old bedding and broken furniture were left for the Academy's cleaners, some unseen force that whisked it all away by morning. 1 dropped the mattress with a tired sigh, brushed my hands, and turned back toward the dormitory halls . But halfway through the walk. I hesitated. "Was it the left hallway or the one next to it?" I looked around confused. Wolves had a great sense of direction but this time I was not able to tell. The corridors looked identical same stone archways, same mossy corners, same rows of tall windows bleeding in slivers of golden light. Same pale walls, same torches flickering with enchanted flames, same sharp scent of cedar and fresh linen. I turned left instead of right, then veered down one corridor. And then another. Ten minutes passed. The air here felt, different. Quieter. Almost sacred. My boots echoed softly over the stone floor as I passed a row of polished wooden doors, all identical, all perfectly spaced and immaculately kept. No nameplates. No noise . No signs of life. A long line of doors ran along one side, each dark wood carved with ancient symbols. Dorms ? Alpha instructors, maybe? I wondered, slowing my pace. "Why is no one bere?" I wondered and looked around as if I could ask for someone's help to get back to where I belonged but there was no one My fingers skimmed along the wall as I passed door after door, until one caught my eye. The door was slightly ajar Was someone in there? I could ask them for directions. "Hello, is someone inside?" I called and got only silence. I knocked this time, "Hello!" I waited for a half of the minute and again no response. Chapter 30 Lost +8 Pearl: Looking around for a sign of life, I pushed the door open, "Hello, sorry for my intrusion. Curiosity tugged harder than caution but I was cautious as well. I peeked in and then slowly stepped in," I am lost. Can I…. My words caught in my throat and I gasped. It was beautiful. The room was absolutely stunning ! A large, sunlit bedroom unfolded before me, so unlike the bare-bones quarters we students shared. The stone walls were smooth and warmed with amber-toned lighting. A king -sized bed rested in the center, draped in rich navy linens. The scent here was clean but masculine-leather, forest. A private bath was visible through the archway on the side. This was someone powerful. Respected. High-ranking. It was luxurious. Silent. Sacred Whoever lived here wasn't just someone, they were important . But it was too clean and no one was here. "Could it be a guest room? " I wondered. My gaze swept over the space as I stepped deeper in , drawn toward the large desk near the window where an open ancient book rested. "What is this ?" 1 grew curious. Gold- scripted. Handwritten. I leaned in, scanning the odd language that stirred something oddly familiar in my chest. A name wasn't etched on the cover . No photos, no scent. Nothing gave away the identity. My fingers hovered over the spine, then unsuccessfully I tried to read it but I could read one word. 'Rogue" My hand froze. Rogues? The memory of those rogues in the ruins flashed in my mind. Was this book about rogues? Who were they? Why were they Then suddenly a voice came like smoke against my ear. "You like touching things that don't belong to you ?" I gasped, spine stiffening, heart leaping into my throat.. His scent hit me first-stormy, rich, dangerous. Ronan I spun around, eyes wide, and heat flaring all at once. I turned around my breasts bumping into his hard chest. Our eyes locked as he leaned down to whisper, "What are you doing in my room, little wolf?" The book dropped froin my hand. "Your room?" My heart skipped a beat. He leaned down towards my face even more, our breath mixing and our lips dangerously close as if they might touch any second, "Yes, my room ," he whispered. Send Gifts 回