XANDER“I will take my leave,” I uttered and moved away. Silently, I walked out of her room, but she wasn't even bothered. She returned to her phone, while I shut the door.I entered my room and sank into my bed. It was dark, and all that enveloped my mind was Ziva. I somewhat yearned for her scent and touch as I could not sleep.It was past midnight, but the kissing scene kept surfacing in my mind. I am to be blamed, I should have listened to Alexei and asked her for a night. But what if she instantly rejects it?“She is Darwin's daughter, remember?” Maz uttered, and I huffed.“I know,” I rolled my eyes, and reached for a pillow. I hugged it tightly and tried my best to sleep. Luckily, I dozed off.The next morning, the same feeling lingered in my mind. Hold on... We are married. I smirked.“Oh yeah, and you got married to her because you wanted revenge,” Maz echoed.“Yes. Also, I need to play along to get her to open up to me and tell me everything she knows about the Crystal Moon G
ZIVAI almost chuckled, “I can't feel or even shift to my wolf form, how am I supposed to be in heat?” “It is possible. Just stay away from him and focus on the deal.”“I will and you have nothing to worry about,” I smiled and reached for the door handle. I opened the door and left the room.Surprisingly, Alpha Xander seemed to be caring toward me. Since Alexei is at the hospital and Lance is busy with the pack, this gives me the perfect opportunity. Also, the maids mentioned that Alpha Xander would be at the pack training house now.I had doubts about one room, and I was eager to check it. The same room was the room for the welcoming ceremony where there was a broken fragment of a crystal-like object there. What if that is the Crystal Moon?!Sigh... I just want my Mum to be released as soon as possible.Last night, I was so worried about Nikolas and all I did was research about his pack. Sadly, there was no news about it... Perhaps that's because a werewolf's identity should be a se
ZIVAImmediately I stepped into the kitchen, I jumped toward the sink. Fortunately, there was a bowl of water in the sink. I dipped my finger into the water, intending to make it extinguish the burning, hot feeling.ו×It didn't stop! The feeling didn't stop. I turned on the tap quickly. Allowing water to flow from the tap to my red, swelling finger, I hoped for a change.But...° °; ^ ;There was no change. It intensified the feeling. To be honest, tears dropped from my eyes like it was raining tears. I couldn't control them as the pain continued. I turned off the tap and glared at my finger with my blurry eyes. I'm only doing this for my mother’s release. Will I lose my finger for a mere object?Footsteps echoed behind me. But why do I care? The pain I feel is enough to make me inhale my last breath. I sobbed at that moment, and I saw some hints of blue before me. Alpha Xander, I guess. I raised my finger to his gaze and apologized from the bottom of my heart, with tears
ZIVAI took the bed cover and rearranged it. I poured the roses on the floor and pushed them underneath the bed.“What are you doing?” I heard a masculine voice say. I paused in my tracks, and glanced up. To my surprise, I spotted Alpha Xander. He moved away from the bathroom. Just then, I realized that he had been in the bathroom.He was in a shirt with a few buttons undone. I gulped and looked away.“I was arranging...” I muttered, and faced him, “How long have you been there?”“A minute or two. And what did you do to the roses? They were beautiful.”“It was arranged here accidentally, so I threw them away,” I replied with a fake smile.He dropped his cell phone on the table, then he returned to the bathroom with a towel.As soon as he shut the door, I heard the gushing sound of water.I exhaled loudly like I had been holding my breath. Okay... I just have to endure, endure his presence on the bed, next to me. Sharing the bed with him for the first time was awful. I think I would ra
ZIVAMy ears perked up instantly, “Moans?”I turned my body and faced her.Anji nodded, “Yes. It was not loud. But I think it is because I was near the room, that's why I could hear it properly.”I stammered, “Did you find the person moaning?”“Unfortunately, I couldn't. The female seemed to shut her mouth when I was near this guest room.”I heaved a sigh. Perhaps I was the one... Certainly, I was the one, after the messy dream I had and how realistic it felt. I'm certain that if Anji found out that I was the one, she would have given me an earful.“But you know what?” Anji continued.“What?” I asked, a bit nervous that she found out.“I suspect those silly Omegas. I'm sure one of them met with a guard,” Anji replied. Then, I smiled, relieved by her response.“Yeah, it must be one of them,” I nodded. She sprang to her feet, almost leaving and it urged me to ask her questions about the dream I had.“Anji...” I called out with a low tone.“Yes?”“I was thinking about what you narrated
ZIVAPossibly, Alexei was covering up for his brother, Xander. So, I gave Alexei a deadly glare to make him confess. “I didn't say anything,” Alexei repeated.“You mentioned that he had lipstick stains on his lips a few seconds ago,” I muttered.“It was a mistake,” He replied with wide-opened eyes.Sounds like a lie. “Just tell me the truth, Alexei.”“Alright,” He sighed, attempting to say the truth faster than I expected. I leaned forward to listen attentively.He let out a sigh, and voiced out, “Ziva, Bother is having an affair behind your back.”I gasped, and my heart sank. Tears formed in my eyes immediately. I knew it! My instincts were right! Xander left to be with his mistress. He is cheating.I sobbed inwardly, almost breaking out physically. I know I have been adamant about not consummating our marriage, and I termed it as fake or forced. But that doesn't mean that he should go ahead to have an affair.“I am to be blamed,” Alexei continued. I blinked the tears in my eyes aw
XANDER“Yes, they were. But it was a mistake,” Alpha Darwin replied, and a loud bang echoed.The Alpha who was announcing roared, “Stop your nonsense! We came here to assemble and work together, not pick a fight and scatter!”The Alpha antagonizing Alpha Darwin became quiet, and Alpha Darwin fell silent.The announcing Alpha continued, “As I said earlier, Alpha Nikolas’s pack was attacked. You know, he has been a very good contributor to some pack’s Alpha and it will be great to help his pack while he needs urgent help.”“His pack is good as dead. Is it still possible to save the pack?” An Alpha voiced out.“Yes, it's possible,” The announcing Alpha nodded, “Right now, Alpha Nikolas and a few of his pack members are hiding. However, the Bloodbath pack had surrounded the pack, causing them to be unable to leave because they had only a few warriors with them.”“What a coward...” The antagonizing Alpha sneered silently, “He saved himself, but he could not save the pack. Very irresponsible
ZIVA The moon hung low in the sky, and it marked another night without being able to get hold of the Crystal Moon in that room. I looked through the window and noticed an expensive car moving through the driveway. It halted and a silhouette figure stepped out of it.Could that be Alpha Xander?I walked out of my room and hurried toward the entrance. I heard footsteps approach me, and I looked.Then, I spotted Alpha Xander with a woman by his side. The woman looked gorgeous and slim as Alexei described. My heart squeezed at that moment.Was this the same woman who kissed Alpha Xander? Alpha Xander assisted her to walk into the mansion. Upon seeing me, he paused and the woman standing next to him furrowed her brows.“Who is she?” The woman asked, with curiosity tinged in her voice.He turned to her with a smile, “It’s a long story-”My heart broke. That was the same way Nikolas denied my relationship with him when he was with Tania.My eyes watered, but I held back my tears. I walked
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 wasn’t going to be a surprise—after all, her mother had practically announced my intentions earlier. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was what I had to say, and how much I wanted to share this with her.“Let’s take a walk,” 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. “What are you up to, Zarek?”I chuckled softly. “I know your mother already spilt the beans
ZAREK “Mum, what’s going on here?” Tania asked, her brows furrowing in concern.Tania’s mother looked up, a touch of defensiveness in her tone. “I was just discussing your engagement plans with Zarek. Don’t I have the right to know?”Tania opened her mouth to protest, but I stepped in to diffuse the situation. “It’s fine, Tania. There’s nothing wrong with discussing it. And yes, I do have plans to propose.”Tania’s eyes widened slightly with surprise, then softened as she looked at me. Her mother let out a sigh of relief. “Alright then,” 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 couldn’t help but ask, “You’re not worried about the delay in the proposal, are you?”She shook her head, a light smile on her lips. “No, not at all. A normal relationship takes about two years before a proposal is made, so this is pretty standard. Besides, you’ve been
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: “Alpha Zarek!”The 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 I held my breath. Alpha Rowan? I had heard of him—a powerful Alpha who was supposed to have been killed along with his wife. But this? It didn’t make any sense.“That’s impossible. He and his wife were killed,” I said, my voice barely audible.“They were,” Lizzy confirmed, her eyes darkening with the weight of the truth. “Nikolas’s 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.”The 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 trusted—he’d kept this from me my entire life. I had lived in the shadow of a lie. “So, everything I thought I knew... was a lie?”Lizzy nodded; her expression pained. “He kept you in the dark because he didn’t want you to know where you really
ZAREK Tania’s breath hitched, her eyes searching mine for any hint of a joke. But this was no time for jokes, no room for lies.“Assassins?” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.“Yes,” I confirmed, leaning in closer, my tone even. “We’re trained, skilled, and we do whatever it takes—robbing, stealing, destroying.”“The man Lizzy killed was sent to take us out. He murdered Ramirez and Bruce, and he wouldn’t have stopped until he succeeded.”As I spoke, I watched as Tania’s expression shift—a collision of shock and confusion. I could see her trying to piece it all together with the revelation I had just dropped. “What? This whole time?” 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. “I never wanted you to find out this way, but it’s the truth. There’s more, though, Tania.” I paused, grappling with the right words. How do you explain the darkest parts of yourself to so
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.“I met Lizzy recently,” she whispered. The words startled me, and I felt my pulse quicken.“Lizzy? Is she alright?” 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, “Yes, she came here with me.”As 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 The memory of the man on the phone lingered. Whoever he was, he felt more like a conspirator.And then there was Dr. Everett, standing before me with that unnerving calm, as if everything was perfectly under control.Something didn’t add up.“Are you even a specialist?” The question slipped out before I could stop myself.Dr. Everett’s expression turned mocking. “That’s a good question.” He leaned in, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Is the Medical Arts Building even real? Am I the real Dr. Everett?”My mind raced. The Medical Arts Building isn’t real?Confusion clouded my thoughts. “What are you talking about?”“This is all just a game,” he said with a casual shrug.“What?” I said, bewildered.Dr. Everett’s back was now turned to me as he moved towards a distant table.“Wait a minute,” I said slowly, dread creeping in. “You’re not Dr. Everett, are you?”He didn’t respond; his focus absorbed in whatever he was searching for. The metallic clinks filled the silence.Then, his l
ZAREK The pungent smell of blood jolted me awake, making my stomach turn. I immediately started coughing uncontrollably, and blood spilt out of my mouth with each rasp.Even when I tried to push myself up, my arms barely responded, quivering under the strain.I felt weak—far weaker than usual. Had I injured myself during the transformation?I shook my head slightly, trying to recall. But the memories were hazy, blurred by pain.The only clear memory was how I had hurt Tania—or, worse, maybe even killed her.The thought hit me like a sledgehammer: my claws slicing through the air... her lifeless form.I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the images, but they burned behind my eyelids, searing into my mind.I forced myself to focus, to push past the rising wave of guilt. I had to find out where I was and what had happened. But as I shifted, pain flared in my wrists, snapping me back to the present.I looked down and saw silver cuffs clamped tightly around them.Why am I cuff
TANIA I slowly opened my eyes, only to be stabbed by a bright light that made me wince. For a moment, I lay there, trying to let my senses adjust.Taking a deep breath, I raised my head and attempted to sit up, but the effort sent the room into a dizzying swirl of colours and shapes. My strength faltered, and I fell back against the pillow, my head sinking into its softness.As I lay there, my hand instinctively moved to my cheek, where a dull ache pulsed beneath the surface. I traced the tender skin, feeling the faint ridges where claws had raked across it.The memory of that searing pain was still vivid, as was the look on Zarek's face—his eyes wild and uncontrolled, filled with a terror I had never seen before.A shudder ran through me at the thought, and my heart began to race. Despite the dizziness, I forced myself to sit up again, driven by my concern for Zarek.I needed to see him.I sat up, and slowly, the room gradually came into focus. I took in the sterile white walls