ZaneRoselyn comes into the room, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. She knows something is wrong. She always does.“What really happened, Alpha Zane?” she asks, her tone probing.“You know me too well, don’t you?” I ask rhetorically.“Alpha Zane, I’ve taken care of you since you were just a boy. You might be a man now but…you’re still my sweet boy,” she says, her hand gripping my chin as she lets out a faint, wrinkled smile. Roselyn went from being just my nanny to being family when my parents died. She never left or got married, she stood by me.I let out a deep breath, knowing I can’t hide the truth anymore. “Katarina laced my water with wolfsbane,” I admit.Roselyn’s eyes widen in shock, her mouth dropping open. “I thought she was doing better. She seemed calm last night,” she says, struggling to believe what she’s hearing.“Well, calm isn’t exactly the word I’d use. She almost drove a silver dagger into my chest. It’s probably still lying on the floor somewhere,” I reply
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
ZaneThis is not the way, Kris. You’d scare her off.He knows I’m right, but I can feel his frustration. He retreats, for now, though I’m not sure how long he’ll stay in check. I’ve never desired another woman since Lina. But this one… I take in her beauty—long blonde hair falling over her shoulders, blue eyes locked onto mine, a straight nose, and lips painted a deep red, lush and inviting. She’s undeniably stunning, and I’m more than turned on. Kris would waste no time devouring her if I let him.My eyes drift down to her neck, exposed and tempting, the top of her breasts peeking out from her off-shoulder gown. My hands twitch, aching to touch her, to claim what they want.But then, I hear it—her heart, pounding too fast. My gaze snaps back to her face. She looks uneasy.“You’re nervous,” I growl, my voice full of control.Kris is wrong. She’s too soft, like a marshmallow. No way she can be my mate. She’d never survive in my world.She gasps, her pulse quickening even more. “You mak
KatarinaI follow Alpha Zane, my heart racing, unsure if he knows the truth or if he’s about to make his move—right here, right now. His grip on my wrist is firm, not hurting me, but strong enough to remind me that he’s in control. Zane. The man I’ve come to kill. His words keep echoing in my head: I want to taste you. My whole body goes numb. I feel this pull toward him, and I can’t even explain why. There’s something about him—something that makes him irresistible.Focus, Katarina. You have a mission. My Dad’s warning plays in my mind: Hesitate, and you’re dead. Kill him before he kills you.Alpha Zane leads me into a dark, elegant room filled with paintings. It’s beautiful, and my eyes move from one canvas to the next, admiring the depth in each one. They all seem to carry some hidden meaning. I glance at him. His hands are now in his pockets, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking as his cold gaze stays fixed on me.The nervousness creeps back in. Moments ago, it felt like he was smi
KatarinaAlpha Zane releases his grip on me. My vision blurs with tears as I stumble back, clutching my neck where he bit me.“You monster,” I gasp. “You… bit me.” I collapse to my knees, feeling completely defeated.He slaps the silver dagger out of my hand. My eyes widen in shock as the cold metal clatters to the ground. His dark gaze follows it, then returns to me, cold and unforgiving.It’s over. This was my last chance to get him.I’m horrified, shaking. I can feel blood on my tender skin, the pain of his bite searing into me. I’m panting, ashamed. I hesitated. Dad was right—Alpha Zane didn’t spare me. The questions he asked earlier all make sense now. He knew who I was all along. And he bit me… it’s real. My trembling fingers trace the fresh bite marks on my neck.“You should be grateful I didn’t kill you,” he growls, his eyes locking on mine with cruel satisfaction. “But killing you would be too easy.”“Your father took what was mine three years ago, and now I’m going to take w
KatarinaKatarina… Katarina. I hear my name, but it feels distant, like a faint sound in my mind. My eyes are fixed on the door, where Alpha Zane stood moments ago.“Katarina,” Dad’s harsh voice snaps me out of it. I turn to him, confused. I glance back at the door—Alpha Zane is gone.“What are you looking at?” Dad demands, his face dark with anger. “The Alpha is dead. What you need to focus on is right here, in front of you.”Wait. Didn’t they see him? My gaze shifts between the men. They didn’t see him. They didn’t see what I saw. I could swear Alpha Zane was right there. I glance at the door again—nothing. Did I imagine him? But it felt so real, like he was actually here. He’s messing with my mind, somehow. Get a hold of yourself, Katarina.I look back at the men, my heart beating. They’re all waiting for me to say yes, for me to accept Francis’s proposal. But I can’t. I didn’t kill the Alpha. Francis’s proposal couldn’t have come at a worse time.“There’s something you should know
KatarinaI gather myself and find the strength to walk to the café to meet Francis. I spot him sitting near the window, waiting. Trying to compose myself, I force a smile as I sit next to him.“Hey, Katty,” he greets me, clearly happy to see me. “It took you a while. I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”“Yeah, I got… sidetracked,” I say, unable to tell him the truth. How could I? How do I tell my boyfriend that another man is claiming me as his? Or worse—that I carry his mark as proof? It would be a disaster. Francis can never know.“No worries.” He smiles, reaching into his pocket to pull out the same box he proposed with. Here we go again. My nerves spike, but I try to stay calm.“Katty, I know last night was tough after what happened with the Alpha. But that monster can’t steal our moment,” he says with determination. He opens the box, revealing the same beautiful silver ring with a shiny stone—expensive from the looks of it. “Wear it. It’s yours,” he urges, holding the box out toward me.
ZaneRoselyn comes into the room, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern. She knows something is wrong. She always does.“What really happened, Alpha Zane?” she asks, her tone probing.“You know me too well, don’t you?” I ask rhetorically.“Alpha Zane, I’ve taken care of you since you were just a boy. You might be a man now but…you’re still my sweet boy,” she says, her hand gripping my chin as she lets out a faint, wrinkled smile. Roselyn went from being just my nanny to being family when my parents died. She never left or got married, she stood by me.I let out a deep breath, knowing I can’t hide the truth anymore. “Katarina laced my water with wolfsbane,” I admit.Roselyn’s eyes widen in shock, her mouth dropping open. “I thought she was doing better. She seemed calm last night,” she says, struggling to believe what she’s hearing.“Well, calm isn’t exactly the word I’d use. She almost drove a silver dagger into my chest. It’s probably still lying on the floor somewhere,” I reply
ZaneRoselyn’s concerned gaze shifts between I and Katarina. But, she knows better than to interfere in my business uninvited. She reads the room and scurries out, leaving us alone again. I rest on the bed, unsure of what to do next. Katarina has to pay for what she’s done but I don’t know how. I can’t kill her. I won’t.“So what now?” She asks terrified after a moment of silence.“Now, you help me out of these clothes and into the bathroom,” I say, struggling to sit up.She hesitates. “You want me to—”“I can handle myself. Just help me get to the bathroom,” I snap.She sighs but helps me up, supporting my weight as I make my way to the bathroom. I shut the door as I get inside, leaving her standing out there.I let the shower run down my hair to clear my head. My thoughts are a mess, and I need some space to think.I get out of the shower and run a towel over my body. Then, I hear voices through my sharp wolf ears.“What’s wrong with Alpha Zane?” I hear Roselyn ask; it sounds like s
KatarinaI wake up feeling my body move slowly. As my eyes open, the first thing I remember is Zane. I look over at him, still lying there. He’s not awake yet. He seems to be in a deep sleep, and I can’t help but stare at him. My eyes trace over his face. How could someone so good-looking be so wicked?I try to resist the temptation to touch him, but not for long. My hand reaches out, almost of its own accord, and I gently caress his cheek, feeling the smoothness of his skin, his chiseled cheekbones, and his straight nose. My fingers outline the shape of his lips, tender yet resilient. Gosh, I want to kiss him.My hand slides down his chest, moving under his shirt to feel the hard muscles of his body. His chest is perfectly sculpted, every inch of him is firm and strong. I can feel the outline of his abs, and my hand keeps trailing lower. My curiosity grows, and my hand moves toward his belt, my fingers brushing against the leather.Then, I stop. My eyes catch on the bulge in his pant
KatarinaI don’t know what to do. My mind races as I stare at Zane lying there. I think he’s unconscious. Oh my God, what do I do?“Zane!” I shout, my voice trembling as I rush to him. My knees hit the floor hard, but I don’t care. I grab his shoulders, shaking him, praying in my mind that he’ll open his eyes.“Zane!” I whisper this time, my voice breaking as tears roll down my cheeks. I can’t stop them; they fall uncontrollably.“You can’t die. Please don’t die.” My breath hitches, my hands trembling as I hold him tighter. I swipe at the tears, trying to clear my vision, but they just keep coming. The fear grips me so tightly, I feel like I can’t breathe. I don’t want him to die. But why? I should want this. I poisoned him. I should want him dead.But now, staring at him like this, I can’t bear the thought. It feels like a part of me would die too. I don’t know if I’m more afraid of becoming a wolf or losing him. My heart races, and I panic. I have to do something.“Oh God, Zane!” I
ZaneThere’s something so intoxicating about her courage, even when it’s aimed at destroying me. I find her defiance sexy. But, she betrayed me. For that, I can never trust her. She’s nothing like Lina.“A cure,” I say, grasping the answer I was searching for. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To kill me and get a cure to get rid of my blood in you.”She looks away, saying nothing.I let out a cruel laugh. “I had to see how far you’d go,” I say, staring into her eyes darkly. “And you were going to go all the way, weren’t you? You were ready to kill me.” The reality of it all pains me more than it should. I thought I had her, thought she was wrapped around my finger. But tonight, I see the truth. All this time, it has always been about revenge for her.“You’re lucky I didn’t end up killing you,” she mutters under her breath.“No, Katarina,” I say, leaning closer, my lips brushing her ear. “You’ve got it all wrong. I knew you had a plan the second you walked in. I knew your words were
ZaneI reach for the water, my gaze locked on Katarina’s. She looks nervous—too nervous. There’s something about the way she’s watching me that seems off. There’s an anticipation in her eyes, I can’t quite place it yet. I twist the cap off the bottle and lift it to my nose. A faint scent hits me immediately. Wolfsbane.My lips curl into a dark smile. Did she really think she could pull this off? The scent is unmissable to someone like me. I’ve lived through battles against wolf hunters. I know their tactics and mode of attack. I know how they think, what they do. I’ve spent most of my life protecting my clan from their countless attacks, and I’ve survived their assassination attempts too. I glance at her again, and I see the panic in her eyes as she wonders whether I’ve figured it out. But I don’t say anything. I won’t confront her yet. Instead, I deliberately take a long drink, downing the entire bottle.Her face is priceless—pure disbelief, maybe even a little fear. She must have be
KatarinaI walk into Zane’s room, mustering all the confidence that I can with a smile on my face to mask my plan.“Hello, Zane,” I greet him with a cheerful smile on my face.“Hello, Katarina,” Zane says coldly. He looks surprised to see me, clearly stunned by my appearance.“I brought you water,” I say, showing him the bottle of water. He looks at me, puzzled. “Roselyn fell off a ladder trying to fix a painting back on the wall. She got hurt and now she’s resting.” I stop rambling, waiting for him to speak.“I’ll just go,” I say, noticing his eyes on me, mesmerized by me, speechless.“Wait, don’t go,” his eyes beg me to stay.Yes! I knew he wouldn't resist me. I smile to myself and turn back to him. “I’m sure you won’t drink it. You’d think I’m poisoning you again, but I only brought it so you wouldn’t scold Roselyn.”He looks at me, surprised. “Since when did you start helping wolves?”I meet his gaze, wondering if he’s being serious. “It was a joke,” he adds, sensing my hesitation
KatarinaZane enters the kitchen.I react on instinct, dropping to my knees and crawling under the counter. He can’t see me yet—if he does, everything I’ve planned will be ruined. I hold my breath, willing myself to be as still as possible, not even daring to twitch. His wolf senses are sharp, but maybe, just maybe, he won’t catch my scent if I stay quiet enough. His footsteps come closer, and I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out my racing heartbeat.Suddenly, I hear his voice in my head, so clear and confident, saying, “I’ve caught you, Katarina. There’s no hiding place for you.” I feel a jolt of panic as if he’s already reached under the counter and dragged me out.But when I open my eyes, the room is still. Nothing but silence. I crawl out from under the counter slowly, my muscles tense, and scan the room. Zane is nowhere to be found. It was just in my head. Zane left, and I wasn’t caught.I’m relieved, but I can’t relax yet. I glance around the kitchen, and my eyes land on
KatarinaI hear a knock on my door, but I turn to my other side, my head resting on my arms on the pillow. I’m not in the mood to talk to anyone. Every time I think I’m over something Zane has done, he finds a way to do something worse. He’s unbelievable. Now, more than ever, I have to get back at him. I won’t let him keep hurting me.I finally have weapons to defend myself, and I can plan my attack. When I end him, the hunters’ faction will be so happy. But I haven’t figured out the exact how yet. How do I kill him and escape without getting killed? The door opens behind me, interrupting my thoughts.“I just want to be alone, please,” I say, rising and turning towards the door.I freeze, surprised to see Cassandra and Bex walking in.“What!” I exclaim. “What are you guys doing here?” I stare at them, feeling a wave of happiness wash over me despite everything. My expression must show it too. I’ve missed my friends.“We had to see you. It’s been days, Katty,” Cassandra says softly.“W