ZAREKAs Tania and Ziva walked away, the excitement bubbling in my mind began to fade. It was replaced with nervousness about facing Xander. I didn't know what to do or how to speak to him; he knew my identity as a thief and assassin. He could easily reveal my identity to Tania, and he's not someone who could be threatened or bought into silence.I cleared my throat and mustered enough courage.Then, I turned to Xander and said sweetly, “Hey, long time no see.”He replied, his eyes narrowing slightly, “Certainly, Tania is not aware of what you do for a living.”“Rude, but yes.” I continued, forcing a smile. “And it's not what I do for a living; it's what I did for a living. That is the past.”“Past?” Xander said, sarcasm dripping from his tone, “Yet, you think it's unnecessary to tell your girlfriend. How loving.” Calmly, he walked away, but I followed, walking right next to him.“I know I did a lot of terrible things,” I admitted, my voice softening. “But we can put it aside and
ZAREKAt dawn, I entered the gym in my apartment, ready for my daily workout. Tania was already there, dressed in fitted leggings and a supportive sports bra, focusing on her yoga poses. She had recently switched to exercising to maintain her figure, and I had encouraged her to pursue her goal. As I began my push-ups, I noticed Tania had stopped her routine and was rummaging through the storage cabinets. “What are you looking for?” I asked, my voice laced with concern.Tania replied, “My towel.” I approached her, and together, we searched for it. After a minute of searching, I found it and handed it over to her. As I turned back to the storage cabinets, my eyes landed on a black duffel bag. My heart sank, fearing the worst. I glanced back to ensure Tania was out of sight before unzipping the bag, my curiosity getting the better of me. As I opened it, my mind racing, I was met with a shocking discovery: an arsenal of guns lay inside. My heart skipped a beat as I realized the
ZAREK I couldn't believe what I saw. “Goddess, please, let these be fake images,” I whispered, my eyes scanning the photographs for any sign of photoshop.But the details in the photographs seemed too real - the angle of Bruce's arm, the look of shock on Ramirez's face. I recognized the background, too - the abandoned warehouse in Nikolas's pack, a place my boss often used for meetings. A chill ran down my spine as the truth began to sink in. Then, I turned to Jake, my gaze clashing with his. “What are these?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. Jake's response was laced with satisfaction. “Surprising, right?” he said, his tone dripping with smugness. I felt a surge of panic, my heart racing as my wolf stirred beneath the surface.But I knew. I knew it was true. The evidence was too convincing, the location too familiar. Ramirez and Bruce were really gone. I struggled to keep my composure, but my mind raced with questions. How could this be? Why would anyone...?
ZAREK Jake's eyes flashed with anger and hurt, but he knew better than to cross me.He took a deep breath, his face twisted in a scowl before spitting out his words.“Fine,” he spat, his voice venomous. “I'll tell you. I knew Lizzy was staying in an old warehouse in Nikolas's pack. I thought it would be easy to get to her, but when I arrived, I found chaos. Everything was destroyed, and then I saw them... Ramirez's and Bruce's corpses.”I shook him, my grip on his collar tightening. “What else?”Jake didn't respond and his eyes darted around the room. “What else?!” I growled.He let out a sigh of frustration and replied, “I took pictures as evidence since I knew you wouldn't believe me otherwise.”Then, I raised an eyebrow, sceptical. “And what makes you think I'll believe you now?”Jake's face twisted in desperation. “Screw you, Zarek. I have no reason to lie. I'm just asking for your help, not your trust. Lizzy's in danger, and I don't know how to protect her.”I narrowed my eyes.
ZAREK “I need those guns back,” I growled. But beneath my tough exterior, a pang of sorrow struck my chest. I pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.Meanwhile, Jake looked taken aback, his eyes wide with surprise.“Wait, what?” He stammered.I kept my expression neutral despite the grief threatening to surface. “I need those guns back, Jake,” I repeated.“Alright, Zarek, let's think this through,” Jake said, stepping forward to block my path. “We need to find Lizzy and keep her safe. You don't need to resort to violence yet.”“You're only interested in Lizzy's well-being,” I snapped, my eyes narrowing. “But the murderer is also after my life, and my boss's. Hopefully, he's still alive. I need to find him and take him down.”“You don't even know who the murderer is,” Jake countered, his voice calm and reasoning.I tried to walk away, but Jake blocked my path again. “What do you want, Jake?” I growled, trying to push past him.“I can help you,” he offered, his voice soft and
TANIA I contacted Zarek because I hadn't heard from him all day, and his absence at the bar was unusual. He was always reliable and punctual, but today, he was nowhere to be found. I recalled that the car had been malfunctioning, and Zarek had mentioned taking it to the mechanic. But when he didn't return after a few hours, I thought to myself, that wouldn't take all day. Something else must be going on, and my curiosity was piqued. So, I tried calling him, my concern growing with each ring. Finally, he answered, his gloomy voice sending a shiver down my spine. “Hey, where are you? You've been MIA all day,” I asked, trying to keep my tone gentle. He hesitated before responding, “I'm at a funeral home.” My heart sank as he added, “It's for Ramirez and Bruce.” I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, unable to process the news. I quickly made my way to the nearest funeral home, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions. As I entered the mourning room, I spotted Zarek standi
ZAREK I was boxing to temporarily escape the chaos in my mind. The murderer was still out there, and I knew he'd stop at nothing to hunt us down. Lizzy, my boss, and I were all in his crosshairs. To protect us, I needed to revive my fighting skills. For now, I just needed a distraction.Tania's loving food and concern filled the void. “Do you need anything?” she asked, her eyes filled with empathy. I replied, “Just time.” Time to process, to heal, to forget. However, time wasn't a magic eraser. The pain lingered.Boxing had helped, but it was Tania's comfort that truly soothed me. A few hours later, I found myself on the bed, my head resting on her bosom as she stroked my hair. Her gentle touch was a balm to my soul.“I'm here for you whenever you're ready to talk...” she paused, her voice barely above a whisper, “or cry.” She encouraged me to let go, to release the emotions I'd been bottling up. “Just let it all out,” she whispered, her words a safe haven for my fragile
ZAREK The agony only intensified, radiating through every fibre of my body like a wildfire. My breath quickened, coming in short gasps, and I clutched the necklace tighter.My knuckles turned white as I struggled to maintain control.The wolf within me clawed at the surface, a primal force that I could barely contain.Tania's voice, once so soothing, now felt like a distant echo in a storm. “Zarek, I'm here. Please, just breathe,” she pleaded, her hand still resting gently on my back. But her touch, instead of calming me, only stoked the fire. I could feel the heat rising, my vision darkening as the transformation threatened to take hold.“No... not now...” I muttered through gritted teeth, fighting to keep control. But the more I resisted, the stronger the urge became. Memories of my parents' lifeless bodies, the blood, the guilt—all of it fueled the rage within me. My body convulsed, muscles straining as I fought to keep my wolf at bay.Tania moved closer, her voice filled w