Chapter Four – A Cold Alpha
Zarina’s POV When I woke up, my head hurt. My body felt sore, and for a moment, I didn’t understand why. Then, I realized I wasn’t in the forest anymore. I was in a room, lying on a bed. And I wasn’t alone. I turned my head and saw him—Asher. The man I met last night. The man I had slept with. My heart started beating fast. No. No. No. I sat up quickly, pulling the blanket over my chest. What had I done? How could I have been so careless? I didn’t even know this man! I wanted to scream, but before I could react, Asher moved. He opened his eyes, and instantly, everything about him changed. Last night, he had looked tired but kind. Now, his golden eyes were cold, emotionless. He sat up and looked at me like I was a problem he needed to deal with. Then, the first thing he said made my whole body freeze. “As the Alpha of this pack, I can’t be seen sleeping with just anyone. What do you want in return to keep quiet?” I blinked. My heart dropped. “What?” My voice came out weak. He sighed, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t like repeating myself. What do you want?” I couldn’t believe it. Was that all this was to him? A mistake? A problem to solve? I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. “I don’t want anything from you,” I said quietly. Asher stared at me for a long time, as if he didn’t believe me. Then he nodded. “Good. Then leave.” Leave. I felt my chest tighten. I didn’t know why, but hearing him say that made me feel worse. Like I was nothing. I had already been rejected once. And now, this man wanted to throw me away too? I gritted my teeth and was about to get out of bed when he suddenly spoke again. “Wait.” I looked at him, confused. He exhaled, staring at me like he was thinking about something important. “You helped heal my leg last night,” he said. “I should return the favor.” I frowned. “What do you mean?” His eyes darkened. “I need a mate. A fake one. Since you have nowhere to go, you can stay here and pretend to be mine.” I froze. Did I hear him correctly? “You want me to pretend to be your mate?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Yes.” His tone was firm. “It will be safer for you. Instead of wandering around like a lost pup, you’ll stay here.” I stared at him. He looked serious. Too serious. I didn’t know what to say. Last night, I had nothing. No pack, no home, no one to turn to. And now, this man—this cold Alpha—was offering me a place to stay. But there was something about him that scared me. He wasn’t like Kael. Kael had been cruel, but his cruelty was obvious. Asher was different. His coldness wasn’t loud. It was quiet. Dangerous. I swallowed hard and looked at him. “How do I know I’m safe with you?” Asher’s lips twitched slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. “You’re safe from others,” he said. “No one will touch you. No one will hurt you.” Then he leaned in slightly, his golden eyes staring deep into mine. “But from me?” He paused. “I don’t know.” A chill ran down my spine. I should have left. I should have run. But where would I go? I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.” I had no choiceChapter Five : Decision Regretted Kael’s POV I sat on the Alpha’s seat, my fingers clenching the wooden armrests as I listened to the news that made my blood run cold. “The battle must be redone,” the Head Elder announced, his voice deep and unwavering. “I was not present during the last fight, and now we have reason to believe that Darius was weakened by outside interference.” I felt my stomach drop. My hands turned clammy, and I struggled to keep my breathing steady. “A… a rematch?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes,” the Head Elder said firmly. “The battle will take place in three days. This time, no interference. The true Alpha will be decided in front of the entire pack.” I wanted to protest, to say I was already named Alpha, but I couldn’t. The Alpha Seal—the final mark that would make my leadership unquestionable—had not yet been given to me. Without it, my title was nothing but a word. I swallowed hard, trying to think of a way out, but there wa
Chapter Six : A Warrior Asher’s POV The training grounds were filled with warriors practicing their moves. Some sparred in pairs, their bodies moving fast as they dodged and struck. Others stood in groups, watching and learning. The air was thick with sweat, dust, and determination. I stood at the edge, arms crossed, observing everything. As the Alpha, I had to make sure my warriors were strong. If they were weak, the pack would be weak. And weakness was something I would never allow. My eyes swept over the warriors until I noticed someone struggling. An omega. She was smaller than the others, her movements sloppy and weak. She threw punches, but they barely landed. Each time she was knocked down, she got up again, but her frustration was clear. The warriors around her muttered among themselves, shaking their heads. I was about to turn away. Some wolves just weren’t meant to fight. But then Zarina moved. She had been standing nearby, watching. Now, she stepped forwar
Chapter Seven : Find Her Kael’s POV I sat in my chamber, my fingers clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn shut, but I could still hear the voices outside. My warriors. My pack. They were trying to reassure me. “Alpha, you don’t have to worry,” one of them said. “You won the last fight. You can do it again.” “Yes, Alpha,” another added. “Darius was weak then, and he’s still weak now. Be rest assured that the seal would be given to you even if they had to do countless times” I wanted to believe them. I wanted to hold onto their blind faith in me. But I couldn’t. Because I knew the truth. Darius wasn’t weak. The only reason I had won that fight was because he had been drugged. And now, the truth had come out. The head elder had returned, and he wasn’t pleased. He had ordered the battle to be redone. This time, in his presence. And this time, Darius would be at full strength. I could already imagine it—his
Chapter EightChapter Eight: The ContractZarina’s POVMy fingers tightened around the bathroom door handle, my body aching for a moment of peace. The exhaustion from the past few days weighed heavily on me. A long, hot bath—that was all I needed. Just a little time to forget everything, to escape, even if only for a while.But just as I was about to step inside, the door to the bedroom creaked open.My entire body tensed.I turned sharply, already knowing who it was. “Asher,” I snapped.He stood there, leaning against the doorframe, his tall frame filling the space. His skin was still damp from a shower, water droplets sliding down his toned chest, disappearing beneath the towel slung low around his hips. His muscles were carved, powerful, a silent display of dominance.A shiver ran down my spine.I tore my gaze away, my cheeks burning.“Knock next time,” I muttered, gripping the door handle tighter.His lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “Knock?” He steppe
Chapter Nine: The Contractor And The ContracteeZarina’s POVMy hands still shook as I passed the signed contract to Asher. The paper felt heavier than it should. It wasn’t just ink on a page—it was my fate, my future. Asher took it without a word, folding it neatly, his dark eyes never leaving mine.For a moment, the silence between us was suffocating. My heart pounded, and I could feel the tension building in the air. It was the calm before the storm.Then, Asher’s voice broke the silence, low and firm, his words like a command. “The contractee must satisfy the contractor,” he said, his gaze piercing through me.My breath caught. I knew exactly what he meant. I felt the blood rush to my face. My body tensed as I stood there, frozen in place.I wanted to scream at him, to tell him I would never do what he was asking, but I knew better. He wasn’t the kind of man who took no for an answer.His gaze hardened as he took a step closer. “Take off your clothes,” he ordered, his voice cool,
Chapter Ten: Tension and DesireZarina’s POVI woke up with a start. My heart raced as I realized I wasn’t alone. The warmth of someone’s body surrounded me. I blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light of the room. It took a moment for everything to come back to me—the contract, the strange and powerful bond between me and Asher, the alpha I’d never asked for.As I shifted slightly, I felt his arm around me, holding me close. My breath caught in my throat. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be feeling this way. But his touch was comforting in a strange, confusing way.I quickly tried to slip away from his embrace, but just as I moved, his arm tightened around me, pulling me back. I froze, my heart pounding. He stirred, his eyes still closed, but his voice was soft and low, “Where do you think you’re going?”“I—I’m sorry,” I stammered, trying to free myself. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”Asher didn’t let go. His grip on me was strong, possessive, and I couldn’t help but feel a strange ki
Chapter One – Shattered Zarina’s POV Today is the day. The day Kael would be announced as Alpha. The day he would finally claim me as his mate. The day he would prove that I hadn’t sacrificed everything for nothing. I smiled at my reflection, my chest swelling with pride. The deep blue gown Kael had chosen for me hugged my body perfectly, emphasizing every curve he used to admire. My black hair cascaded in soft waves down my back, and my emerald-green eyes shimmered with excitement. This is it. I walked away from my title, my family, and everything I had ever known because they said Kael wasn’t good enough for me. That I, the daughter of the strongest Alpha, deserved better than a low-ranked wolf with no real power. I had stood by Kael when no one else had. When his own pack doubted him, I had pushed him forward. I had fought for him. I had bled for him. I had betrayed my own family for him. Because I believed in him. I believed in us. Tonight, he would prove
Chapter Two : Some mates are not meant to be Zarina’s POV The night was cold, but I didn’t care. My feet dragged through the dirt as I walked deeper into the dark forest. I had no idea where I was going. I just wanted to get away. Away from him. Away from the pain. Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t bother wiping them. What was the point? My heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. “Some mates are not meant to be.” His words repeated in my head, cutting me like a sharp knife. A broken sob escaped my lips. I dropped to my knees, gripping my chest. It hurt. It hurt so much. My wolf whimpered inside me, but she was weak—just as broken as I was. I had done everything for him. I thought we would be together. I thought I was finally going to prove to everyone that he was worthy of me. That we were meant to be. But he chose someone else. The pack cheered for him while I stood there like a fool. He didn’t even look at me. He acted like I didn’t exist. I squee
Chapter Ten: Tension and DesireZarina’s POVI woke up with a start. My heart raced as I realized I wasn’t alone. The warmth of someone’s body surrounded me. I blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light of the room. It took a moment for everything to come back to me—the contract, the strange and powerful bond between me and Asher, the alpha I’d never asked for.As I shifted slightly, I felt his arm around me, holding me close. My breath caught in my throat. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be feeling this way. But his touch was comforting in a strange, confusing way.I quickly tried to slip away from his embrace, but just as I moved, his arm tightened around me, pulling me back. I froze, my heart pounding. He stirred, his eyes still closed, but his voice was soft and low, “Where do you think you’re going?”“I—I’m sorry,” I stammered, trying to free myself. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”Asher didn’t let go. His grip on me was strong, possessive, and I couldn’t help but feel a strange ki
Chapter Nine: The Contractor And The ContracteeZarina’s POVMy hands still shook as I passed the signed contract to Asher. The paper felt heavier than it should. It wasn’t just ink on a page—it was my fate, my future. Asher took it without a word, folding it neatly, his dark eyes never leaving mine.For a moment, the silence between us was suffocating. My heart pounded, and I could feel the tension building in the air. It was the calm before the storm.Then, Asher’s voice broke the silence, low and firm, his words like a command. “The contractee must satisfy the contractor,” he said, his gaze piercing through me.My breath caught. I knew exactly what he meant. I felt the blood rush to my face. My body tensed as I stood there, frozen in place.I wanted to scream at him, to tell him I would never do what he was asking, but I knew better. He wasn’t the kind of man who took no for an answer.His gaze hardened as he took a step closer. “Take off your clothes,” he ordered, his voice cool,
Chapter EightChapter Eight: The ContractZarina’s POVMy fingers tightened around the bathroom door handle, my body aching for a moment of peace. The exhaustion from the past few days weighed heavily on me. A long, hot bath—that was all I needed. Just a little time to forget everything, to escape, even if only for a while.But just as I was about to step inside, the door to the bedroom creaked open.My entire body tensed.I turned sharply, already knowing who it was. “Asher,” I snapped.He stood there, leaning against the doorframe, his tall frame filling the space. His skin was still damp from a shower, water droplets sliding down his toned chest, disappearing beneath the towel slung low around his hips. His muscles were carved, powerful, a silent display of dominance.A shiver ran down my spine.I tore my gaze away, my cheeks burning.“Knock next time,” I muttered, gripping the door handle tighter.His lips curled slightly, but there was no amusement in his eyes. “Knock?” He steppe
Chapter Seven : Find Her Kael’s POV I sat in my chamber, my fingers clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn shut, but I could still hear the voices outside. My warriors. My pack. They were trying to reassure me. “Alpha, you don’t have to worry,” one of them said. “You won the last fight. You can do it again.” “Yes, Alpha,” another added. “Darius was weak then, and he’s still weak now. Be rest assured that the seal would be given to you even if they had to do countless times” I wanted to believe them. I wanted to hold onto their blind faith in me. But I couldn’t. Because I knew the truth. Darius wasn’t weak. The only reason I had won that fight was because he had been drugged. And now, the truth had come out. The head elder had returned, and he wasn’t pleased. He had ordered the battle to be redone. This time, in his presence. And this time, Darius would be at full strength. I could already imagine it—his
Chapter Six : A Warrior Asher’s POV The training grounds were filled with warriors practicing their moves. Some sparred in pairs, their bodies moving fast as they dodged and struck. Others stood in groups, watching and learning. The air was thick with sweat, dust, and determination. I stood at the edge, arms crossed, observing everything. As the Alpha, I had to make sure my warriors were strong. If they were weak, the pack would be weak. And weakness was something I would never allow. My eyes swept over the warriors until I noticed someone struggling. An omega. She was smaller than the others, her movements sloppy and weak. She threw punches, but they barely landed. Each time she was knocked down, she got up again, but her frustration was clear. The warriors around her muttered among themselves, shaking their heads. I was about to turn away. Some wolves just weren’t meant to fight. But then Zarina moved. She had been standing nearby, watching. Now, she stepped forwar
Chapter Five : Decision Regretted Kael’s POV I sat on the Alpha’s seat, my fingers clenching the wooden armrests as I listened to the news that made my blood run cold. “The battle must be redone,” the Head Elder announced, his voice deep and unwavering. “I was not present during the last fight, and now we have reason to believe that Darius was weakened by outside interference.” I felt my stomach drop. My hands turned clammy, and I struggled to keep my breathing steady. “A… a rematch?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yes,” the Head Elder said firmly. “The battle will take place in three days. This time, no interference. The true Alpha will be decided in front of the entire pack.” I wanted to protest, to say I was already named Alpha, but I couldn’t. The Alpha Seal—the final mark that would make my leadership unquestionable—had not yet been given to me. Without it, my title was nothing but a word. I swallowed hard, trying to think of a way out, but there wa
Chapter Four – A Cold Alpha Zarina’s POV When I woke up, my head hurt. My body felt sore, and for a moment, I didn’t understand why. Then, I realized I wasn’t in the forest anymore. I was in a room, lying on a bed. And I wasn’t alone. I turned my head and saw him—Asher. The man I met last night. The man I had slept with. My heart started beating fast. No. No. No. I sat up quickly, pulling the blanket over my chest. What had I done? How could I have been so careless? I didn’t even know this man! I wanted to scream, but before I could react, Asher moved. He opened his eyes, and instantly, everything about him changed. Last night, he had looked tired but kind. Now, his golden eyes were cold, emotionless. He sat up and looked at me like I was a problem he needed to deal with. Then, the first thing he said made my whole body freeze. “As the Alpha of this pack, I can’t be seen sleeping with just anyone. What do you want in return to keep quiet?” I blinked. My heart dropped. “Wh
Chapter Three : One night with the stranger Asher’s POV Pain. That was the first thing I felt when my eyes opened. But then, something was different. My leg—it wasn’t aching anymore. I moved it slightly, expecting a sharp sting, but there was none. I frowned, sitting up on the bed. The last thing I remembered was collapsing in the forest, blood pooling beneath me. I had lost a lot of it, and I was sure I wouldn’t make it. But then... she came. Zarina. I glanced to the side and found her still asleep, her face turned slightly away. Even in rest, she looked troubled. Her dark lashes rested against her cheeks, and her lips were slightly parted, as if she had cried herself to sleep. I ran a hand over my face and exhaled. She was the one who helped me. I remembered now—she had pressed something against my wound, whispering words that I was too weak to hear. She must have used those leaves. I swung my legs over the bed and stood, testing my weight. I was stronger. Almost as if the
Chapter Two : Some mates are not meant to be Zarina’s POV The night was cold, but I didn’t care. My feet dragged through the dirt as I walked deeper into the dark forest. I had no idea where I was going. I just wanted to get away. Away from him. Away from the pain. Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t bother wiping them. What was the point? My heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. “Some mates are not meant to be.” His words repeated in my head, cutting me like a sharp knife. A broken sob escaped my lips. I dropped to my knees, gripping my chest. It hurt. It hurt so much. My wolf whimpered inside me, but she was weak—just as broken as I was. I had done everything for him. I thought we would be together. I thought I was finally going to prove to everyone that he was worthy of me. That we were meant to be. But he chose someone else. The pack cheered for him while I stood there like a fool. He didn’t even look at me. He acted like I didn’t exist. I squee