Dinner was...strange. Talia sat with us, a fresh change from it just being I and Zane alone, yet, I couldn't bring myself to enjoy the meal nor focus on the pack story she was telling me. My mind drifted between the creature we had encountered, the training I had woefully failed, and Zane's words. I wasn't ready. For what? The danger that came with Knowledge? And if that was it, how dangerous was knowing? I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice Talia had stopped speaking. "Is everything okay, Lady Cana?" She asked, tilting her head to the side in a cute manner, one I would have acknowledged if I wasn't too jumbled with all my thoughts. Forcing a smile, I nodded. "Yes, just, tired." Turning my attention back to my half-eaten meal, I caught Zane staring at me from across the table, but he made no effort to talk. Neither did I. It was clear that things were still a bit awkward, after the things I had said. Averting my gaze, I tried my best to continue eating, but n
~Cana's POV:Perhaps it was fate or my stupid carelessness, but the moment I stepped into the storage room in search of the material I had been sent to get, the door behind me slammed shut, and only a second later, a dull click resounded in the echoing room. I spun on my feet instantly and raced for the door as realization set in. "Hello?" I called out, banging my fist against the door. "Is someone there?" My calls went unanswered, but as I searched my body for my phone, I could have sworn I heard muffled chuckles before footsteps trailed away from the door."Hello!" I called out once more and banged my fist harder.When I received no reply, I realized that whoever had been here, had left and I was stuck in. Another realization soon dawned on me. I wasn't with my phone. Shit, I cursed and turned around, trying to find another way out of the storage room. The space was filled with boxes, and each corner was covered with a blanket of dust, telling me that no one had visited there i
~Estella POV: I watched the video that had been sent to me with clenched jaws. Seeing Zane getting chummy with another girl that wasn’t me made my insides burn in a fiery rage. Standing beside me, he also had a displeased look on his face, a frown, knowing fully well that I wouldn’t like this as much as he didn’t. “What’s the meaning of this?” I asked, sounding calm and calculated, yet I was sure he could hear how angry I was. “Who is she?” “Some stray,” He was quick to answer. “Zane’s being humble and looking after her because he feels pity for her after she’s been banished from her pack-“ “Pity?” I snapped. “Look closely at this video, Callahan. Does the emotion written on his face look like pity?” “Please, calm yourself.” He pleaded. “This is all a misunderstanding, I assure you. Zane’s yours, it’s been that way since the very beginning-“ “Then you better keep it that way.” I sneered. “And that thing,” I glanced back at the screen and scowled. Even my wolf felt dis
~Cana's POV:I stared at Callahan, speechless. Did he just...offer me five million dollars? To leave the pack in return? "Can't believe it, can you?" He questioned, eyes scanning my face and lips quirking upwards at the sight of disbelief on my face. "But it's true. I'll pay you five million dollars if you just-"He didn't get to finish what he was saying as I interrupted him. "Why? Why do you want me to leave this pack so desperately? Why don't you want me to be around Zane?"His face hardened like I had touched a topic I wasn't supposed to. My wolf perked up with curiosity, giving me enough courage to approach him in a daring step. "Why?" I repeated, holding his gaze with the same intensity he held mine with. "You're too nosy for your good. Just take the money and go, while I'm asking nicely."While he was asking nicely. That was ironic. Now, don't get me wrong. Being offered five million dollars to leave the pack wasn't a bad idea; after all, I wanted to be out of Zane's sight b
~Cana's POV:I targeted the moment I heard Zane's footsteps, light and untroubled, walking out of his room and towards the training ground. Without delay, I jumped off my bed, scrambled through my wardrobe, and found an attire that could be considered training material worthy.Quickly dressing myself up, I grabbed my phone, shoved it in my pocket, and rushed out of my room towards the training ground.I met Zane throwing on some punching gloves and for the first time, actually took my time to examine his build. The dress he wore, a black pair of joggers and a plain black t-shirt, hung on his body, accentuating his lean, muscular figure and toned legs.Damn, once again, I was sure I'd be drooling if I had stared longer. "Cana," He called, catching my attention. My eyes traveled from his body to his face, finding a frown etched on the features of his face. "What are you doing here? Talia isn't here today, your training is posted for""I know Talia isn't here," I interrupted him, tak
~Cana's POV:"Aren't you going to answer it?".Zane asked as he watched me decline the call and place my phone back on the bench. I shook my head. " No, not at all."I had no intention of answering Axel's call because deep down, I knew he was either calling to request I apologize again or some other new gimmick. Either one of the two, I wasn't in the mood for it and I didn't want my training mood to be ruined. "Are you sure?" Zane questioned, again, but I could tell, hear that he didn't want me to answer that call. I chuckled silently before nodding. "Yeah. Whatever shit he has to say can go to hell for all I care."Zane smiled subtly at this and nodded his head. "Alright, get back in the ring."I nodded, more than happy to do so. Training continued for another two hours before Zane dismissed me, stating that I needed breakfast and rest if I wanted to continue training. I agreed because no matter how strong I wanted to get, I learned in the early hours of training that my stamina
~Cana's POV:"Davis!" Talia yelled, grabbing her brother by the shoulders and holding him steady as he coughed and spit more blood."What's going on?" She questioned, glancing up at Zane, eyes wide and terrified. "Alpha, what's going on?"Zane's expression hardened, but he remained silent."Alpha, please! What's going on?" Talia screamed, her voice cracking and breaking as tears began to roll down her cheeks.I stood, frozen in my place, staring at the sight in front of me with shock and disbelief.Davis coughed again, and more blood poured out of his mouth, at this point, Zane moved faster than any of us. "Step aside," He told Talia as he picked Davis up, not paying any mind to the blood that was staining his shirt. "Sheila, call Doctor Maria." He ordered and headed out of the dining room, towards the exit.Talia followed after him, worriedly, and just as I was about to do so, Sheila stopped me. "Know your place," She sneered. "This is a family matter, a pack matter, you are no les
His room was still the same as I remembered when I walked in. The smell of his pheromones was strong and enticing, and the bed was neatly made. It screamed every bit of the Alpha He was. I closed the door behind me and headed straight for the desk. My intention wasn’t to snoop or go through his stuff but to find the file I had seen the other day. It had my picture stuck to the top, almost like a resume. As I opened his drawer, one I suspected would hold an important file, I realized that the document wouldn’t be hard to find.Because sure enough, It was the only file in the drawer.Opening it, I flipped through the pages, not bothering to read anything until I found the part that contained information about me.My gaze fell on a piece of paper that was stuck at the end of the file.I took it out, placed the file back into the drawer, and began to read.Cana: 16, 169.5cm, 44kg, blood type B, hair color Brown, eye color Brown.I skipped a few pages, stopping at one that held a picture
The soft morning sun filtered through the curtains of their modest home in Ashbrook, painting the walls with warm hues of gold and pink. Cana stirred awake, the sound of tiny footsteps pattering down the hallway pulling her from her dreams. A soft giggle followed—a giggle she could recognize anywhere.Cana smiled and turned toward Zane, who was still fast asleep, his face relaxed and peaceful. She reached over to nudge him.“Your daughter is up,” she whispered.Zane groaned but smiled, keeping his eyes closed. “Our daughter,” he corrected, but he didn’t make any effort to move.Cana chuckled and threw the blanket off. “Fine, I’ll get her. But you’re on pancake duty.”That got him to open one eye. “Deal.”As Cana walked toward the living room, she found Peace sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by her stuffed animals. She had one of her birthday presents—a small toy piano—in front of her and was pressing random keys, creating a chaotic but delightful melody.“Good morning, m
EpilogueThe soft hum of laughter and the gentle clinking of glasses filled the air as a warm breeze swept through the backyard. The space was alive with celebration, a reflection of a life rebuilt from the ashes of chaos and pain. Cana adjusted the balloons on the arch for what felt like the tenth time, ensuring they were perfect. She stepped back to admire her handiwork and smiled as her gaze landed on Zane, who had their daughter, Peace, perched high on his shoulders.Peace squealed with uncontainable delight, her tiny hands gripping her father’s thick black hair as he prowled around like a pretend wolf.“Rarrrr! The big bad wolf is coming for you!” Zane growled playfully, eliciting another round of giggles from his daughter.“You’re spoiling her,” Cana teased from across the yard, her tone light and affectionate.Zane looked over, his mischievous grin softening. “She deserves to be spoiled, especially today.”Cana chuckled and shook her head. She loved seeing Zane like this, care
The house was eerily quiet as Cana stood in the middle of the living room, a half-packed box of belongings at her feet. The walls that once bore memories of battles, fleeting moments of laughter, and unshakable grief now felt foreign to her.Her fingers rested there as Zane entered the room, his arms full of folded clothes. He set them down on the couch and studied her face.“You sure about this?” he asked softly, breaking the silence.Cana nodded. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”Zane sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I’ll miss this place, you know. Not everything that happened here, but the good parts. It was home for a while.”“Home isn’t a place, Zane,” Cana replied, her voice steadier now. “It’s us. Wherever we go, that’s home.”Zane smiled at her, but there was a trace of sadness in his expression. He knew leaving the pack was necessary, but it didn’t make saying goodbye any easier.Lionel appeared in the doorway, his ever-present smirk subdued for once. He held a
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the forest that stretched beyond the small town Cana and Zane had called home. The evening breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Cana sat on the back porch of their cabin, a blanket draped over her shoulders, her hands cradling a steaming mug of tea. Zane leaned against the railing, his arms crossed over his chest, his sharp eyes fixed on the setting sun.Now that Axel is behind bars for the first time in what felt like years, there was silence. No battles, no cries for help, no looming threats. And yet, the quiet carried its weight.“You’ve been quiet,” Cana said, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft but carried a trace of concern.Zane turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Just thinking.”“About?”He hesitated for a moment, then pushed off the railing and sat down beside her. “About us. About what comes next.”Cana frowned, setting her mug down on the smal
Cana stirred awake, her body aching and her mind clouded with fragmented memories. The last thing she recalled was the overwhelming rush of power coursing through her veins, her hands shifting into claws, and her body morphing into something primal. She felt the pull of the wolf—a force so ancient and raw that it left her trembling. The familiar scent of cedar and leather told her she was in Zane’s cabin.Her eyes fluttered open to see Zane sitting beside her bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his face etched with worry. His knuckles were bruised, his clothes torn, but his relief was palpable as their gazes met.“You’re awake,” he said softly, his voice heavy with emotion.“What happened?” Cana croaked, her throat dry. She winced as she tried to sit up, every muscle in her body screaming in protest.Zane reached for a glass of water on the bedside table and handed it to her. “You shifted, Cana. Fully. Into a wolf.”The words hung in the air, and Cana’s heart raced. She clutched the
Seven Months AgoThe cell was dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of rust and despair. Ashley sat slumped against the cold metal wall, her wrists shackled and her expression weary but defiant. She heard footsteps echoing through the corridor and turned her gaze toward the source. Lionel stepped into view, a sly smile curling his lips.“What do you want now?” Ashley snapped, her voice dripping with disdain.Lionel leaned against the bars of her cell, his posture relaxed but his eyes calculating. “You’re the one who replicated wolfsbane,” he began. “What was your intention?”Ashley snorted. “I had no intention. I was just following Jeremy’s orders.”Lionel tilted his head, his smirk unfaltering. “And now that he’s gone? What’s the plan?”Ashley’s lips twitched in a mock smile. “I’ll think about that part when I’m free of these chains.”Lionel chuckled, a low, almost sinister sound. “You know, we don’t necessarily have to be enemies here.”Ashley narrowed her eyes. “What’s that suppo
Axel stormed into his house, his mind swirling with anger and disbelief. The Elders had banished him, taking everything from him without a second thought. He gritted his teeth, trying to keep his temper in check, but it was impossible. Everything he had worked for, every plan he had carefully laid out, seemed to be crumbling beneath his feet.“Just wait,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing. “I’ll make them all pay. But first, Zane... you will finally pay for always standing in my way.”The next morning, Axel woke to a loud knock on his door. His head was pounding, and his frustration hadn’t waned in the least. He trudged to the door, swinging it open to reveal three figures standing in his doorway: Lionel, Larz, and Akam.They exchanged brief greetings before stepping inside. Axel didn’t bother with pleasantries; his mind was focused solely on one thing.“So, tell us, Axel,” Lionel asked, his voice calm but curious. “Why the rush to kill Zane?”Axel clenched his fists,
The air in the dimly lit room was thick with tension. Five Elders, each radiating authority, sat in a semicircle as Axel stood before them. His expression was calm, almost smug, as he prepared to deliver what he believed was a triumphant announcement."My Elders," Axel began, his voice steady but laced with an undertone of pride. "I bring good news. I will soon have an heir."The room remained silent for a moment, the Elders exchanging glances. Finally, one spoke. "Why tell us this?"Axel straightened, confidence surging through him. "Because I want to lead my pack again. An heir solidifies my claim to the title of Alpha."A scoff broke the silence. Another Elder, his eyes sharp and unforgiving, leaned forward. "Even after killing your kind? One of your pack?"Axel's confidence faltered, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. How did they know? He wondered, his mind racing."How did you find out?" Axel asked, unable to hide the shock in his voice."That doesn't concern you," the Elder snapp
Cana hadn’t expected Axel to find her so quickly. She had chosen this small, nondescript motel for exactly that reason—to be far enough from the chaos of her past life to be safe, to think, and to plan. But the moment she heard the knock on her door, her stomach sank. She didn’t have to look through the peephole to know who it was.The deep, almost predatory knock sounded again, and with it came the familiar sense of dread that always seemed to follow Axel. She’d seen his manipulations, his lies, his promises. She knew what he was capable of—what he was still capable of, and she couldn’t afford to be caught off guard.Cana opened the door, and there he was, standing in the hallway with a smug smile that made her stomach twist with disgust. Axel, the man who had once been everything to her, was now a reminder of all the worst decisions she had made. His eyes gleamed with that same cold, calculating look that always came right before he dropped the hammer. The same look that had broken