ZAREK We stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other's arms, the tension and fear melting away.The tremble in Tania's shoulders stilled, and when she finally pulled back, her eyes, once clouded with tears, had cleared.âI met Lizzy recently,â she whispered. The words startled me, and I felt my pulse quicken.âLizzy? Is she alright?â I asked, searching her face for answers.The thought of anything happening to Lizzy sent a jolt of panic through me. I needed to know if she was okay.Tania nodded, âYes, she came here with me.âAs she spoke, the tightness in my chest eased, replaced by a wave of relief. If Lizzy was with Tania, then she had to be safe.Afterwards, I noticed that she shifted her gaze to what was behind me. Her expression shifted to a mix of relief and something else.Concerned, I followed her line of sight, and turned to see Lizzy.She stood in the doorway, her eyes locked on me. She didn't seem hurt or weary. She seemed rather strong. Stronger than I remembered
ZAREK Taniaâs breath hitched, her eyes searching mine for any hint of a joke. But this was no time for jokes, no room for lies.âAssassins?â she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.âYes,â I confirmed, leaning in closer, my tone even. âWeâre trained, skilled, and we do whatever it takesârobbing, stealing, destroying.ââThe man Lizzy killed was sent to take us out. He murdered Ramirez and Bruce, and he wouldnât have stopped until he succeeded.âAs I spoke, I watched as Taniaâs expression shiftâa collision of shock and confusion. I could see her trying to piece it all together with the revelation I had just dropped. âWhat? This whole time?â She asked.I nodded, feeling the weight of my own words. I never wanted her to find out like this. Not like this. But there was no going back now. âI never wanted you to find out this way, but itâs the truth. Thereâs more, though, Tania.â I paused, grappling with the right words. How do you explain the darkest parts of yourself to so
ZAREK I held my breath. Alpha Rowan? I had heard of himâa powerful Alpha who was supposed to have been killed along with his wife. But this? It didnât make any sense.âThatâs impossible. He and his wife were killed,â I said, my voice barely audible.âThey were,â Lizzy confirmed, her eyes darkening with the weight of the truth. âNikolasâs father and boss conspired to kill Alpha Rowan and his wife as part of a twisted plan to seize power. When the plan went south and Boss was discarded, he hid the truth from you to protect his own agenda.âThe room felt like it was spinning, with the walls closing in as the reality of her words sank in. I felt like I was falling, unable to grasp anything solid. The man who raised me, who trained me, who I trustedâheâd kept this from me my entire life. I had lived in the shadow of a lie. âSo, everything I thought I knew... was a lie?âLizzy nodded; her expression pained. âHe kept you in the dark because he didnât want you to know where you really
ZAREKTime passed, and the weight of justice finally settled.With Boss and Alpha Barral behind bars, the world felt a little safer, a little lighter.Then, a loud, booming voice echoed through the hall: âAlpha Zarek!âThe words reverberated off the high ceilings and marble floors, sending a shiver down my spine.In an instant, the hall erupted into thunderous applause, a sound filled with appreciation and respect. I let the waves of applause wash over me, taking a moment to soak it all in.This moment felt surreal, almost like a dream, yet the warmth of the applause and the shining eyes of Xander and his Luna, Ziva, reassured me that it was real. The pride that radiated from them confirmed everything I had fought for.I took a deep breath, savouring the moment, then began my walk to the stage.The crowd parted, clearing a path for me, their eyes full of admiration and respect. As I climbed the steps, the weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders, but it was a burden I was re
ZAREK âMum, whatâs going on here?â Tania asked, her brows furrowing in concern.Taniaâs mother looked up, a touch of defensiveness in her tone. âI was just discussing your engagement plans with Zarek. Donât I have the right to know?âTania opened her mouth to protest, but I stepped in to diffuse the situation. âItâs fine, Tania. Thereâs nothing wrong with discussing it. And yes, I do have plans to propose.âTaniaâs eyes widened slightly with surprise, then softened as she looked at me. Her mother let out a sigh of relief. âAlright then,â she said, giving a small nod before walking away, leaving us in the midst of the bustling crowd.Tania tugged gently at my hand, guiding me towards the photo op area. As we walked, I couldnât help but ask, âYouâre not worried about the delay in the proposal, are you?âShe shook her head, a light smile on her lips. âNo, not at all. A normal relationship takes about two years before a proposal is made, so this is pretty standard. Besides, youâve been
ZAREK The hall had emptied, leaving behind a quiet that felt almost sacred. The day had been full of energy and celebration, but now, with everyone gone, it was just Tania and me. The air was calm, and I could feel the weight of the moment settling in. I turned to her, my heart steady. This wasnât going to be a surpriseâafter all, her mother had practically announced my intentions earlier. But that didnât matter. What mattered was what I had to say, and how much I wanted to share this with her.âLetâs take a walk,â I suggested, squeezing her hand gently.She looked at me, her eyes warm and trusting, and nodded. We made our way up the grand staircase to the top floor, where the large windows offered a clear view of the night sky. The moon hung low, casting its soft light across the polished floors, creating an intimate, almost magical atmosphere.Tania turned to me, curiosity in her gaze. âWhat are you up to, Zarek?âI chuckled softly. âI know your mother already spilt the beans
ZIVA âWash this, wash that.ââClean this, clean that.âThat is all I hear every single day. I work as an Omega, cleaning the pack house with the other Omegas, even though I am the Alphaâs daughter. Very weird, right?Well, it all started after my motherâs death. Everyone in the pack mourned her death, even my father, and unlike other Alphas, my father did not get another Luna. It seemed like an eternity before I finally turned eighteen. I was expected to shift and transform into my wolf under the full moon, but sadly, I didnât. I did not shift, or even feel my wolf.Then, the pack members despised me, they didn't respect me like they used to. Even my father stopped acting like a father. I became the forbidden fruit, and my father got another Luna, my stepmother. Also, my father claimed her daughter whom he treasured and treated like gold, while I worked as a slave, with no pay. Although my father and his Luna regarded the Omegaâs quarter I live in, and my daily meal as my payment.
ZIVA I rubbed my eyes, ensuring that I saw the right face, and upon opening my eyes, I saw Nikolas again, this time, I saw it clearly. He had a wide smile on his face, with his green eyes wide open as he gazed at all the pack members. As soon as his gaze fell on me, his green eyes did not even reflect guilt or sadness, rather they reflected victory. After what happened earlier, he had the guts to mark my step-sister?! Goodness, if Alpha Darwin finds out about this, Nikolas will be beheaded instantly. Then, Alpha Darwin came into view. He hugged Nikolas affectionately, causing my chest to squeeze.I didn't even know what to do next. Breathing became difficult as my heart squeezed. It felt like time stopped at my side as I watched Alpha Darwin and his Luna celebrate excitedly. What is going on? Alpha Darwin knew that I love Nikolas so much, even his Luna, so why are they not rejecting this event? To top it all, Nikolas shared the night with me, and he gazed at me like he gazed at a s