KatarinaI sink into the bed, trying to catch my breath. I was so scared they were coming up after me to confront me for eavesdropping on their conversation. It doesn’t matter. Everyone here hates me. They want me dead. But I could never let that happen. I’d never let them kill me like my mother. Now, more than ever, I need to find a way to actualize my plan. They are all beasts and deserve whatever the hunters are preparing for them. Think, Katarina, you’re the enemy; of course, they wouldn’t want you here. Although, my friends at the academy seem to be different. What if they’re not? I can’t see them as different. All werewolves are the same—creatures I have to hate. There’s no good in them. And my new friends aren’t any different. Still, I can’t help but think that my friendship with them could be beneficial. I’m going to get as much information as I can from them. Zane wouldn’t know what hit him. I’d never, ever let myself fall for him like I almost did. He’s the man I have to des
KatarinaI’m in the bathtub. Two out of the rest of the women scrub my body while the others watch. I stay quiet as they rub some oil on my body—I’m not sure what. I feel myself drifting away, lost in thought. I should stop them from touching me, I think. Yet, I don’t stop them. The next thing, they grip my arms and pull me up from the water.I’m out, with a robe on my body. I watch them sift through the clothes in my wardrobe until they arrive at one—a royal blue gown. I have no choice but to raise my hand as the gown drops over my body and flows down to my legs. Amira guides me, and I sit on the chair facing the mirror. One of the women pulls out a makeup box that I hadn’t noticed she was holding earlier, and they start to powder my face. They apply lipstick, run a brush through my hair, and let it flow down my shoulders. Amira looks at me with an expression that says she’s pleased with their handiwork, and I hate it. How could they just come in here and take charge of my life like
Katarina“You have no idea, Katarina,” I hear his voice in my head. His words are so frightening, I don’t even realize when I fall to my knees.“I take no offense,” Zane’s voice echoes, and the murmuring stops. “I have chosen a brave, brave mate.” He looks at me, flashing a wicked smile as I stare at him, terrified and ashamed. Why did I get on my knees? Why do his words make my heart race? I watch him as he continues.“Katarina here is a wolf hunter.” I hear whispers spread across the room again. “She’s not just here by chance. I’ve brought her as a sign to the wolf hunters faction that the werewolves are in charge of Wolf Creek.”“Yes!” the crowd screams.“If Augustine wants his daughter back, he’ll have to surrender himself and watch her die. And he’ll die right after.”The wolves growl, “Yes, yes, yes!”I hold back a sob as I lower my head.“The wolf hunters are weak humans, just like her. We shouldn’t fear them. This is war. And we’re going to win!”And the crowd cheers for him a
ZaneMy eyes gaze at the half moon up in the sky. I’m lost in my conflicting thoughts as it casts its light across the woods, reminding me of what’s about to happen.I stand, my hands in my pockets, watching, waiting. My wolf, Kris, paces inside me, restless. He can feel Katarina’s fear, her anxiety about to burst out of her chest. I feel it too. I want to go to her and tell her she’s going to be okay, even though I know I can’t. I’m the Grand Alpha; I must uphold the laws that have kept us for generations. Katarina has to pass through this to be a worthy Luna. I can’t shake the thought, though—what if she doesn’t survive? No. She will survive. She has to. Katarina is brave, and she’s a fighter.They’ve locked her up in a dark room since morning. The sun has set, and it’s time. The wolves have assembled, all waiting to witness Katarina’s fate. My Beta, Magdalena, and some other werewolves carry her out. Her head is down, her wrists bound. She’s scared, but she doesn’t put up a fight.
ZaneThe scent of herbs and warm water in the air hits my nostrils as I approach Katarina’s room. I pause at the doorway, my hand on the frame, watching them silently. Roselyn stands by the tub, her hands gentle as she helps Katarina out of her dress. The fabric falls easily to the floor, revealing the bruises scattered across her skin. Katarina’s only wearing her underwear, so the marks are exposed. My brows furrow in displeasure. I hate that she’s hurt. The marks are still fresh, some darker than others, evidence of the fight that took place earlier. She’s in pain, but she doesn’t say a word. She’s just quiet, not her usual self. She only gets this way when she’s both mad and terrified of me. I’m usually the reason for her tamed demeanor. It doesn’t last long though before she’s back to her defiant self.“This will make you feel better, Katty,” I hear Roselyn say in a low voice, urging her to step into the tub. Katarina obeys, her movement is slow and careful. She lowers herself int
KatarinaI step into the kitchen, inhaling the sweet scent of spices and sizzling vegetables. Roselyn is at the counter, her hands chopping them fast, like an expert, as she prepares to make dinner. The whole day has felt like a blur, and I’m still trying to pull myself out of the fog from last night’s chaos. I barely left my room. Part of me still can’t believe I made it out alive.“Hi, Roselyn,” I say, my voice quiet, not as bright as usual.She looks up from her work, her eyes soft as they meet mine. “Hi, Miss Katarina,” she greets me formally at first, but then notices the smile playing on my lips. She corrects herself with a warm grin, “Hi, Katty.”I can’t help but smile back. The sound of my nickname, ‘Katty,’ is oddly comforting after everything that happened. It reminds me of home. It’s a small moment of normalcy that I desperately need.“It’s good to see you,” Roselyn says as she stirs a pot on the stove. “I was so afraid for you yesterday.”“Yeah, I was afraid for myself too
KatarinaI am Katarina Penn, and I’m a Wolfhunter. My dad, Augustine, trained me to be one, but then he sent me away to live with my Aunt Mary—his way of protecting me from the people who killed my mom. His last words to me were, “The time will come, and one day you’ll be back.” Then, off I went.Six years I’ve been away, but when Dad demanded I come back home, I couldn’t refuse. I can’t shake off the desperation in his voice. On the call, he said, “Katarina, the time has come. Come home.”Now, I’m back. As I drive into the city, my eyes meet the signpost: Wolf Creek.I take a deep breath.So much goes on inside this city that the rest of the world could only imagine. In here, it’s real. I grew up in a world where werewolves exist. I know that because I saw my first one when I was only twelve—right in my living room, its eyes glaring at me, its presence threatening me. It was the worst day of my life, and it’s haunted me ever since.I tried my best to fit in like a normal girl my age,
ZaneMy eyes sweep every inch of the gallery, surveying whether hunters have dared to enter. They wouldn’t risk ruining my night—my werewolves are scattered throughout the territory, ready to tear them apart if they try. Still, I remain cautious. The humans here think I’m nothing more than a renowned artist, head of a top-tier Academy. Fools. My reality is far darker than they could ever comprehend. I am the Grand Alpha, the unchallenged leader of the most powerful wolf clan in the world.Wolf Academy? It’s no ordinary school. It’s a training ground for wolves, a place where they learn to follow my orders. I am feared, and rightfully so. I’m the most dangerous man alive. My senses are sharper, my reflexes faster, my body heals in seconds, and when I attack—it’s brutal. All thanks to Kris, my red-eyed wolf. He’s the deadliest wolf across all clans. I run this city. Yet, the wolf hunters threaten to destroy my clan and end my rule.Augustine, their leader, took my Luna from me. Lina’s b
KatarinaI step into the kitchen, inhaling the sweet scent of spices and sizzling vegetables. Roselyn is at the counter, her hands chopping them fast, like an expert, as she prepares to make dinner. The whole day has felt like a blur, and I’m still trying to pull myself out of the fog from last night’s chaos. I barely left my room. Part of me still can’t believe I made it out alive.“Hi, Roselyn,” I say, my voice quiet, not as bright as usual.She looks up from her work, her eyes soft as they meet mine. “Hi, Miss Katarina,” she greets me formally at first, but then notices the smile playing on my lips. She corrects herself with a warm grin, “Hi, Katty.”I can’t help but smile back. The sound of my nickname, ‘Katty,’ is oddly comforting after everything that happened. It reminds me of home. It’s a small moment of normalcy that I desperately need.“It’s good to see you,” Roselyn says as she stirs a pot on the stove. “I was so afraid for you yesterday.”“Yeah, I was afraid for myself too
ZaneThe scent of herbs and warm water in the air hits my nostrils as I approach Katarina’s room. I pause at the doorway, my hand on the frame, watching them silently. Roselyn stands by the tub, her hands gentle as she helps Katarina out of her dress. The fabric falls easily to the floor, revealing the bruises scattered across her skin. Katarina’s only wearing her underwear, so the marks are exposed. My brows furrow in displeasure. I hate that she’s hurt. The marks are still fresh, some darker than others, evidence of the fight that took place earlier. She’s in pain, but she doesn’t say a word. She’s just quiet, not her usual self. She only gets this way when she’s both mad and terrified of me. I’m usually the reason for her tamed demeanor. It doesn’t last long though before she’s back to her defiant self.“This will make you feel better, Katty,” I hear Roselyn say in a low voice, urging her to step into the tub. Katarina obeys, her movement is slow and careful. She lowers herself int
ZaneMy eyes gaze at the half moon up in the sky. I’m lost in my conflicting thoughts as it casts its light across the woods, reminding me of what’s about to happen.I stand, my hands in my pockets, watching, waiting. My wolf, Kris, paces inside me, restless. He can feel Katarina’s fear, her anxiety about to burst out of her chest. I feel it too. I want to go to her and tell her she’s going to be okay, even though I know I can’t. I’m the Grand Alpha; I must uphold the laws that have kept us for generations. Katarina has to pass through this to be a worthy Luna. I can’t shake the thought, though—what if she doesn’t survive? No. She will survive. She has to. Katarina is brave, and she’s a fighter.They’ve locked her up in a dark room since morning. The sun has set, and it’s time. The wolves have assembled, all waiting to witness Katarina’s fate. My Beta, Magdalena, and some other werewolves carry her out. Her head is down, her wrists bound. She’s scared, but she doesn’t put up a fight.
Katarina“You have no idea, Katarina,” I hear his voice in my head. His words are so frightening, I don’t even realize when I fall to my knees.“I take no offense,” Zane’s voice echoes, and the murmuring stops. “I have chosen a brave, brave mate.” He looks at me, flashing a wicked smile as I stare at him, terrified and ashamed. Why did I get on my knees? Why do his words make my heart race? I watch him as he continues.“Katarina here is a wolf hunter.” I hear whispers spread across the room again. “She’s not just here by chance. I’ve brought her as a sign to the wolf hunters faction that the werewolves are in charge of Wolf Creek.”“Yes!” the crowd screams.“If Augustine wants his daughter back, he’ll have to surrender himself and watch her die. And he’ll die right after.”The wolves growl, “Yes, yes, yes!”I hold back a sob as I lower my head.“The wolf hunters are weak humans, just like her. We shouldn’t fear them. This is war. And we’re going to win!”And the crowd cheers for him a
KatarinaI’m in the bathtub. Two out of the rest of the women scrub my body while the others watch. I stay quiet as they rub some oil on my body—I’m not sure what. I feel myself drifting away, lost in thought. I should stop them from touching me, I think. Yet, I don’t stop them. The next thing, they grip my arms and pull me up from the water.I’m out, with a robe on my body. I watch them sift through the clothes in my wardrobe until they arrive at one—a royal blue gown. I have no choice but to raise my hand as the gown drops over my body and flows down to my legs. Amira guides me, and I sit on the chair facing the mirror. One of the women pulls out a makeup box that I hadn’t noticed she was holding earlier, and they start to powder my face. They apply lipstick, run a brush through my hair, and let it flow down my shoulders. Amira looks at me with an expression that says she’s pleased with their handiwork, and I hate it. How could they just come in here and take charge of my life like
KatarinaI sink into the bed, trying to catch my breath. I was so scared they were coming up after me to confront me for eavesdropping on their conversation. It doesn’t matter. Everyone here hates me. They want me dead. But I could never let that happen. I’d never let them kill me like my mother. Now, more than ever, I need to find a way to actualize my plan. They are all beasts and deserve whatever the hunters are preparing for them. Think, Katarina, you’re the enemy; of course, they wouldn’t want you here. Although, my friends at the academy seem to be different. What if they’re not? I can’t see them as different. All werewolves are the same—creatures I have to hate. There’s no good in them. And my new friends aren’t any different. Still, I can’t help but think that my friendship with them could be beneficial. I’m going to get as much information as I can from them. Zane wouldn’t know what hit him. I’d never, ever let myself fall for him like I almost did. He’s the man I have to des
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