KatarinaI can feel Zane’s presence like he is here, watching me.“The young wolf hunter is about to become a wolf,” his mocking voice taunts me, followed by his wicked laugh. I can feel him over my face. My eyes fly open, and I jerk upright, glancing around.There’s no sign of Zane.I exhale heavily. “Was I dreaming? Or was Zane really here, in my room, watching me sleep?”I sluggishly push the sheets off and get out of bed, heading downstairs. The scent of pancakes fills my nostrils. Dad is making breakfast.“Good morning, Dad,” I greet, noticing him at the stove. His eyes shift to me, and I sense something different about his demeanor.“Good morning, Katty,” he replies, his voice gruff as usual. “Sit down. You came at the right time.”I nod and sit as he sets a plate of pancakes in front of me. He pours me a glass of milk, his eyes locking onto mine, as if searching for something. He sits down across from me, hands resting on the table.“So, Francis said something interesting last
Katarina“Hey, Katty!” Francis says, about to step in. “Are you going out?” he asks, noticing the bag.“Yeah, we’re going out,” I reply.He looks puzzled. “Where are we going?”“I’ll tell you in a moment. Come on,” I say, and we get into the car. He starts the ignition, then turns his gaze to me.“So, Katty, where are we off to?”I smile, unable to hide my idea any longer. “I want to throw a small Christmas party.”He chuckles. “A Christmas party?” He gives me an incredulous look.“Uh-huh,” I nod, grinning.“Since when do the Penns celebrate Christmas?” he asks, clearly shocked.“Well, since now. I know we haven’t celebrated Christmas for years, but that’s about to change,” I say. A wave of sadness washes over me, but I take a deep breath and force a smile. “We’re getting some Christmas decorations for the house.”He shakes his head. “Katty, I don’t know… Wait, does Augustine even know about this?” He sounds anxious, glancing between me and the road.“No, he doesn’t, and you can’t tel
KatarinaI’m so excited. Everything has been going according to my plan. The doorbell rings, and I rush to open it. It’s Francis’ mom and three other women.“Hello, Katty,” Mrs. Baker, Francis’ mom says.“Hi, Mrs. Baker. Thank you for coming.”“Sure,” she giggles “I wouldn't miss an invitation from my future daughter-in-law. I came with some friends. I hope that’s not a problem. I figured we’d need more hands.”“Yes, yes, of course. Mrs. Baker, thank you so much! Welcome, everyone,” I say, greeting the three women she had come with. All hunters’ wives, I’m sure, as they walk in.It takes us a few hours, but the whole place smells amazing with the delicious aroma of food. The kitchen is filled with laughter as we cook, and after all the talking and joking, the food is finally ready. The roasted turkey looks incredible, and the other dishes make my mouth water—green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and, oh my gosh, the prime rib roast tastes amazing. We even have a bake
Katarina“I’m coming for you.” Alpha Zane’s voice whispers in my ear, jolting me awake. My eyes snap open instantly.“She’s awake!” Francis exclaims from beside me, relieved. “Doctor, come quick!”An elderly man rushes toward me, followed closely by my dad.“Katty,” Dad says with concern. The elderly man—who I assume is the doctor—begins to examine me. He opens my eyes wide, checks my temperature, and then steps back. “The worst is over. I believe she’ll be fine,” he says reassuringly.“What happened?” I ask, confused. The last thing I remember is hearing Alpha Zane’s voice.Dad leans closer. “You passed out. Francis found you unconscious on the floor.”I close my eyes and lean my head back, a dull pain throbbing behind my forehead. “Ah,” I groan softly, rubbing my temples.“Are you alright, Katty?” Dad asks, his worry deepening.“It’s the sound,” I mutter. “It’s too loud.”Francis, Dad, and the doctor exchange confused looks. Just then, Jeremy and his wife, Mrs. Baker enter the room.
KatarinaHe’s gone.Why won’t he just leave me alone? I know I didn’t imagine it. He was here by my window. My eyes peer at the empty street where I think he stood before. I saw him, but then he disappeared. I think he’s doing it on purpose, playing mind games with me. It’s driving me crazy. Something’s going on inside my body, and he’s always in my head, torturing me. No matter how hard I try, it’s like I can’t escape him.I go back to lie down on the bed, hoping that if I fall asleep, I’d find some semblance of peace. But I can’t. I can’t sleep.I get up from the bed and walk over to the mirror. My reflection stares back at me, unchanged. I turn to my left, then my right, trying to spot something—anything different. Physically, nothing seems out of place. But I feel different, like something has shifted inside me.My mind replays the Alpha’s bite. I tilt my head, fingers tracing the four distinct bite marks on my neck. Anger wells up inside me. This mark… it’s a constant reminder th
ZaneThe door slams in my face, and rage surges through me. How dare she shut me out? My fists tighten, the urge to break the door down rushing through me. It would be easy, far too easy. Kris growls within, pressing me to take control, to storm in there and drag her out.I stand there, muscles tensing, debating whether breaking the door is worth it. It would take a single hit to rip it off its hinges. But no, I tell myself, not yet. There’s no need to take it that far. She’s inside, and she knows there’s no escape. I’ll give her another chance before I let my patience snap.I press the doorbell, harder than I need to.Silence.I know she’s there, just on the other side. Her fear is oozing, drawing me in.The door opens, but it’s not Katarina standing there. It’s him—the man from the other day. My eyes narrow, wondering what connection he has with her.“You!” he spits out, trying to sound braver than he feels. “What are you doing here?”I fix my cold, unwavering gaze on him. His prese
Katarina “I’m right here.” I step out the door, holding back the tears that want to spill. Here he is, threatening to hurt us, and I feel powerless to stop him. His eyes meet mine, and my heart skips a beat—I don’t know why. My pulse quickens, like I’ve just met the man of my dreams. Our gazes lock, and I don’t even realize I’ve been walking until I’m inches away from him. He inhales my scent and my head tilts back, my eyes closing as an unexpected wave of pleasure washes over me. Dad and Francis are probably watching, but I can’t help myself. He grabs my chin, his eyes burning into mine. I stare back, feeling like this is a reunion we were destined for. A wolf killed my mother. Wolves have wanted me dead. Alpha Zane wants to kill my dad and take me to humiliate him. But all the anger, hate, and pain swirling inside me melt in this moment, and all I want is to keep looking at him, like my life depends on it. I think he feels it too. When he looks at me, I feel like his woman, his lo
KatarinaWe arrive at the wolf zone, and my skin crawls. I’m scared out of my mind. My thoughts flash back to the last time I was here—wolves attacked me, and I ended up injuring two of them just to defend myself. What will happen now that I’m in the lion’s den—or, in this case, the wolf’s den? When they find out my dad is Augustine, my life will be in danger.Back home, Zane didn’t let me leave with anything, not even my clothes. If he had, I would’ve smuggled a weapon with me. Now, I have no way of defending myself except by trusting my life to a dangerous Alpha who only keeps me alive for his revenge plans. It sounds like a terrible plan. Alpha Zane will probably let them attack me just for his amusement. He hates me—he’s made that clear. I can’t let myself feel safe just because he hasn’t killed me yet, because once he’s done with me, he won’t hesitate to take my life. When he’s not looking at me with those seductive eyes of his, he’s looking at me with deadly ones. Either way, I
KatarinaI close my room door. Thank God Zane headed to open the door, and I took the opportunity and ran upstairs. I didn’t stay long enough to know who arrived. I couldn’t risk Zane snatching my phone.I call Dad back.“Hi Dad, how are you?” I say as he answers the call.“What is wrong with you, Katarina? Why are you avoiding your fiancée’s calls and messages?”“What? Francis called? I didn’t know that,” I lower my phone from my ear and check through my call logs. I’m shocked. So many missed calls from Francis since the day I arrived at Wolf Zone. I check through my message box too. He’d sent me a bunch of messages. He was worried sick, and I didn’t reply. Why didn’t I see any of these calls or his texts?Come on, Katarina, you know why, my mind echoes. Zane. I got too distracted by him, I wasn’t even thinking about my own fiancée. God, I almost cheated on him with Zane.“Katarina, what’s going on? We’ve heard some unpleasant news about you. Francis and Jeremy are upset, especially
KatarinaZane finally shows up. I abruptly get up. Our eyes meet, and for a split second, I’m love-struck.“Good morning, Katarina,” his deep voice greets me, but it’s cold as he approaches me.“Good morning, Zane,” I respond with a warm smile, hoping to ease the tension.He frowns and I hear a low gasp from behind me—it’s Roselyn. I quickly turn back to Zane.“Katarina, it’s Alpha Zane to you. Do you understand?”“No,” I say firmly. “I’d rather call you Zane. I want to keep seeing the other side of you.”“This is the man that I am, Katarina,” he responds bluntly.I look up at him, confused. Why is he being so cold again?“We didn’t have a chance to talk yesterday after we came home,” I start, hoping to ease into the conversation. Maybe he’d understand and finally let me go home.“You mean after you ran off like a child?” he asks, sarcastically.My brows furrow. I swallow. “I just…wanted to process things.”“I see. And?”“I’ve come to a conclusion that’s better for both of us.”He nar
KatarinaI clutch Zane’s shirt tighter around my body, trying to cover as much as possible. Quickly, I pick up my dress from the ground and wear it. I free my hair from the neckline and glance back at Zane and his uncle, Adam. Zane looks at me, and Adam does too. I feel so embarrassed. I look away, running my hands through my hair, pushing it away from my face. I dust the sand off my body.What is wrong with me? What was I thinking?I wrap my arms around myself, holding tightly, trying to regain some composure as I wait for them to end their conversation. I can’t hear what they’re saying; they’re too far away. But when I look again at Adam’s expression, it’s clear—this can’t be good. He’s yelling at Zane, and Zane stays silent, just listening. Adam glances back at me, and I quickly turn away, feeling the heat rise to my face again.How could I have let it go this far? Why am I even here? I came to stop Zane, to find a cure for the wolf bite. And instead… I’m falling for him.Gosh, Kat
ZaneI stare at Katarina, unable to pull myself away from her. Holding her in my arms, with my eyes locked on hers, gives my cold heart a warmth I haven’t felt in a long time. I can’t think of revenge or hate right now. I just want to be with her and savor the peace she gives me in this moment.I don’t know what will happen when we leave here, but right now, I want to enjoy every second with her.“Take off your clothes, Katarina,” I command softly, my gaze fixed on hers.“What do you have in mind?” Katarina giggles, her arms wrapping around my neck.My hands leave her waist, and I start unbuttoning my white shirt. I take off my watch and then the shirt, revealing my broad chest. After that, I unbuckle the belt of my jeans and take them off, leaving only my boxer shorts on.Her eyes follow my every move, admiring what she sees. I hold her gaze as I walk toward the water and dive in, the splash sound of the splash following.“You sure you want to stand there, Katarina?” I call out, enjo
ZaneI take her to Glando, a beautiful lake and one of my favorite places in the city. She looks around, wondering why we’re here. It’s quiet and secluded, surrounded by rocks. That’s why I like it. I always come here to clear my head and have time alone. Wolves don’t usually come here. It’s off-limits to anyone outside the Christophers family. I remember running here as a kid, my mother chasing after me as we played. My father taught me how to swim here. This place brings back so many good memories. I feel connected to my parents when I’m here, even though they’re gone. And now, I’ve brought Katarina to this special place for me. Why?Her eyes finish scanning the area and land on me. “Why did you bring me here?” she asks, tension in her voice.“I brought you here to relax, Katarina.”She looks at me, clearly puzzled. “Is this another sick game of yours, Alpha Zane?”I chuckle. I deserve that. I’ve been cruel to her one too many times, so she can’t trust me. I lean in closer, gripping
ZaneKatarina freezes, staring at me. She has me questioning myself. Do I really want a baby from her, or is it just an excuse to thrust my length inside her?“You claim to know what’s right. So, what do you say, Katarina?”“No!” she exclaims passionately, as if the thought of having a child with me is the worst thing in the world. “I would never have sex with a monster like you, let alone have a child with you.”I glare at her. “Shut your mouth, or I’ll do it for you.” Who does she think she is? “It would be a privilege to have my child, Katarina. But you know, I can’t bring myself to do that. Otherwise, I’d have to explain to him or her why I killed their mother.”She swallows hard, her fear obvious to me.“I can have any woman I desire in my bed, including you,” I whisper in her ear, and she knows she can’t deny it. My fingers slide down her soft breast, teasing it. She closes her eyes, unable to stop herself. I smirk as my hand slides under her gown, touching her skin, enjoying he
Zane“What am I going to do with you, Katarina?” I whisper into her ear, standing behind her, my hands resting on her arm.“Don’t touch me,” she mutters under her breath.“What did you say?” I ask, wanting her to say it louder.“I said, don’t touch me,” she demands, her voice louder now.“Why? You love it when I touch you,” I say, my fingers sliding slowly down her arm.“No,” she says, pulling away from me. She takes a few steps back, turning to face me. “I’m not an object you can play with as you please.”“Katarina, you’re whatever the hell I say you are.”“I said no!” she yells, her voice shaking with defiance.Damn. Why does she have to be so stubborn? I should kill her and end the chaos of desire she stirs up inside me.Every fiber of my being wants to hold her and tell her how glad I am that she didn’t die, how sorry I am for not being there to save her when she was attacked. That was my responsibility. As her mate, keeping her safe is my sole duty. But I can’t say any of that to
KatarinaI look up and see two werewolves dragging a man forward. I recognize him. He’s one of the hunters who was at the Christmas party at my home. The expression on his face makes me lower my head. He looks at me in disgust. I can’t blame him. I clasp my fists together, trying to hold back tears. I’m a mess, and I don’t know how to save myself. Why does the Alpha have such control over me?“Katarina Penn,” the man says, dragging me out of my thoughts. I gasp and look up at him.“Your father would be disappointed,” he says with disdain.“No, it’s… it’s not… I can explain,” I stammer, but I sound like a broken record. He shakes his head, already making his judgment.“You’re supposed to be a hunter, Katarina. And now, what are you? A wolf fucker?” he sneers.My eyes shift to everyone staring at me. “I’m not… I’m not,” I mutter to myself. But with my actions, how do I defend myself? Alpha planned this on purpose. This is exactly what he wanted. Now, the entire wolf hunter community wil
KatarinaWe arrive, and as we walk through the crowd, I look around, amazed by everything I see. People are drinking and dancing with reckless abandon. Some are playing with fire, either dancing around it or blowing it from their mouths. The field is lit up beautifully with lights everywhere. The beat of the drum is loud, and the rhythm is enjoyable.“Hey, there you are,” Cyprian says as I bump into him.“Hi, Cyprian. Good to see you.”“You look stunning,” he says, his eyes admiring me like he’s in love with my look.“All thanks to Roselyn,” I say, and she beams, taking the credit.“Come on, there are a few exciting things I want to show you,” he says, taking my hand.“Oh no, the Alpha is waiting. Miss Katarina has to go to him,” Roselyn insists firmly.“The night is young. She could run free for a while,” Cyprian counters, and I smile, agreeing with him, as if he knows all I want is freedom.“Miss Katarina, the Alpha hates to be kept waiting, you know this,” Roselyn presses again, he