~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
Once again, I found myself floating out of Zane’s room and through the hallway while my mind struggled to keep up and process what I had just been told. I was…a hybrid? A werewolf and a witch? The thought, at first, felt overwhelming, but now it felt like a sickening awakening to the reality that had been shoved down my throat ever since I was young. I was useless. Not only was my wolf extremely weak and sometimes nonexistent, but I also had zero magic even though I was a witch.I felt overwhelmed, confused, and a whole lot of emotions.However, just as I turned the corner and was about to head toward my room, a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks. “I see you’re still here,”Looking up, I found Callahan leaning against the wall, hands folded as he glared subtly in my direction. “I thought you were smart to take my offer and run.”I sighed, not the least bit in the mood of dealing with Zane’s uncle. “And I told you, I don’t want it.”Saying this, I attempted to walk past him,
~Zane’s POV:As soon as Cana exited my room, I sighed loudly. On the inside, my wolf repeated a certain mantra, proudly boasting about how he had warned me to speak up from the beginning. I knew he was right. I should have told Cana everything from the beginning. She had the right to know about her mother’s lineage, their deaths and so much more. But I also knew, Cana, being the fragile wolf she is, couldn’t bare all those truths all at once. She’d crumble, that was certain. So, telling her step by step while reading her for the next truth was the best, I knew. I was torn out of my as I heard my phone ring. I reached for it and frowned at the sight of Estella’s name. Out of everyone I wanted to speak to, she was at the bottom of my list. I didn’t like Estella, not in the slightest bit. Our engagement, one that has seemed to cause constant misunderstanding between Cana and me, was created solely for my pack. A few years back, when I was yet to become the Alpha of the De Luca Pac
~Cana’s POV:I was sure I hadn’t been asleep for more than thirty minutes, but to open my eyes and find Zane leaning over me, was enough to startle me.I yelped loudly and nearly fell off my chair, had he not caught me.“Careful,” He smiled, gently pulling me upright and staring me in the eyes.I was still a bit startled but nodded and thanked him.“I’m sorry for startling you, didn’t mean to.” He apologized, chuckling. Both the sound of his chuckles- rather melodic and addicting, might I tell you- and the sight of him chuckling could send heat shooting straight up my cheeks.I turned away, hoping he didn’t catch on, and then, remembered the position we were in.He was close, a bit too close.“It’s fine,” I muttered and eased out of his hold, gently. He frowned ever so slightly, but I ignored it, hoping that by this time, he would have gotten used to the fact that I was never going to accept another mate. Just the thought of that alone scared me. What if he turned out like Axel, or
“Do you think he knows?”Zane sat in his office, his hands clasped together tightly on the desk as he listened to Mart’s incessant pacing. The tension in the room was palpable, the soft shuffle of Mart’s shoes across the floor punctuated only by his muttered thoughts. Cana and Mia sat nearby, exchanging glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity.Mart finally stopped, turning toward Zane with wide, panicked eyes. “Do you think he knows?”Zane leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm but calculating. “Knows what?”“This morning,” Mart began, his voice trembling, “the cops called me. Apart from Axel, there were 4 other buyers for your shares; today, They were asking questions about the four clients who…died. How the hell did all four of them just end up dead.” He paused, swallowing hard. “I am sure he’s behind it; do you think Axel figured it out? That I’m a fake? That I had something to do with it?”Zane’s expression darkened slightly, though he remained composed. “It
Cana crept through the front door, the soft creak of the hinges reverberating through the quiet house. She glanced at the clock: 12:03 AM. Everyone should be asleep by now, she thought, her footsteps light as she made her way to the stairs.“Where are you coming from?”The voice, sharp and unmistakable, stopped her in her tracks. She turned, her heart sinking when she saw Zane standing in the living room, his arms crossed, his eyes cold and piercing.“I went to see a friend,” she replied, her voice barely steady.“Don’t lie to me,” Zane said, stepping toward her. His tone was controlled, but there was an edge of fury in it that Cana had never heard before.Her pulse quickened. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest, and Zane could hear it too.“You never told me you were leaving,” he continued, his eyes narrowing. “And your heart is racing. Where. Were. You?”Cana had never seen this side of him before. Zane was always calm, gentle, and understanding. But this version of him—
The air was thick with tension as Cana reluctantly made her way to Axel’s private suite as usual. But tonight was different; she didn’t leave Zane's house by 3 am his time each step she took felt heavier than the last, and the weight of Axel’s control pressed down on her. The blackmail hung over her like a dark cloud, and though she despised being summoned, she had no choice but to comply.Axel had requested her presence to “celebrate,” but Cana knew better than to trust his motivations. She clutched the straps of her bag tightly, her mind racing with strategies to deflect his probing questions and maintain her composure.When she arrived, the door was slightly ajar. She knocked gently before stepping in.“Ah, Cana,” Axel’s voice was warm and inviting, but she could see the calculating glint in his eyes. He gestured toward a table laden with expensive wine and delicacies. “Join me. Tonight, we celebrate new beginnings.”Cana forced a small smile and moved cautiously to take a seat acr
Zane sat alone on the edge of the master bed, his eyes fixed on the glow of the bedside lamp. The shadows danced on the walls as his thoughts went back to Axel. Every time he tried to bury the past, every time he tried to forget, the memory of Axel attacking Cana while he was at the diner was still fresh in his mind; well, at least, that was what he believed from Cana. That moment had made his hatred wor and cemented his plan to destroy Axel piece by piece.But patience was key. The shares he secretly held were more than just a financial asset; they were leverage. Selling them now would give him the funds he needed to launch his next move without exposing himself. Axel had no idea who the real shareholder was, and Zane intended to keep it that way.A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.“Come in,” Zane called out, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside.Mart stepped in, his face a mix of weariness and curiosity. He had been running errands for Zane all day and had th
Axel’s POVThe dim light of the early morning entered through the curtains as I laid back against the plush pillows, my eyes fixed on Cana. She moved quietly around the room, gathering her things, avoiding even the slightest glance in my direction. I could still feel the lingering warmth of her presence, and I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of how conflicted she must feel.“Enjoyed yourself tonight?” I asked, my tone dripping with mockery.Her shoulders stiffened at the sound of my voice, but she didn’t bother to turn around. She continued dressing as if I wasn’t even there.“Don’t contact me ever again,” she muttered coldly, picking up her belongings and heading toward the door.I chuckled softly as I propped myself up on one elbow, watching her walk away.“I’ve told you this so many times; your words don’t match what you showed me tonight, Cana,” I said, more to myself than to her.She slammed the door behind her without another word, leaving me alone in the luxurious pentho
Lionel leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming on the polished surface of the conference table. The quiet hum of the room was broken only by the occasional rustle of paper from Larz and Akam, his two closest allies. Both sat opposite him, their postures tense and their eyes expectant. Lionel exhaled slowly.“That’s the plan for now,” Lionel said, his voice low but filled with determination.Larz, the larger of the two, leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “So we just wait? Until she’s... pregnant?”Lionel’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Unfortunately, yes. That’s Axel’s focus right now.”Akam shook his head, his fingers tapping impatiently on the table. “And what about Zane? We all know Axel doesn’t care about him. He’s leaving him to rot, but Zane’s still a problem—for you”Lionel’s smirk widened. “Zane is no longer a problem. He’s a pawn. Broken, desperate, clinging to what little he has left. Axel may not care, but I do. Zane’s pack will be mine soon enough.”Larz raised an eyeb
The sunlight passed through the hospital room windows, casting a soft glow on the e walls. Cana sat on the edge of her bed, the hospital sheets tangled at her feet. She was fully healed, her supernatural abilities healing the wounds overnight. Yet, the bruises on her soul felt raw and unrelenting.Zane’s voice drifted from the hallway as he spoke to the doctor. She strained to catch their conversation, hoping to discern whether her story from the night before had been convincing.“She’s recovering well,” the doctor said. There was a pause, and Cana’s heart raced as if it sensed trouble.“What concerns me,” the doctor continued, “is that her injuries... they appear to be self-inflicted. The cuts, the angles—it’s highly unusual. You may want to speak with her about—”“That’s enough,” Zane interrupted sharply.Cana’s stomach twisted. She couldn’t see his face, but his tone betrayed his unease.Moments later, Zane entered the room, his expression guarded. “Ready to go home?” he asked, his
Zane’s absence was already gnawing at her nerves, but Cana held steady. She could handle Axel; she had faced greater dangers and come out alive. Yet, as soon as the door opened, and Axel stepped into the house, Cana felt her pulse quicken with an unease that she hadn’t anticipated. Cana tried to reach Zane telepathically, stretching her senses to find any trace of his energy. Nothing. It was as if a thick, impenetrable fog blocked her mind. Panic began to claw its way up her spine as Axel took a step closer, his presence filling the room with a predatory calm.With a deep breath, she let her claws emerge. “Axel,” she warned, her voice low and firm. “Get out.”Instead of reacting, Axel smiled, a calm, almost indulgent smile that sent chills racing down her spine. Just before she lunged at him, he let out an invisible wave of Alpha pheromones. The scent hit Cana instantly, disarming her defenses and clouding her mind. She stopped in her tracks, caught off guard by the intoxicating arom
Zane had never felt this powerless. Each day that passed, the emptiness of his bank accounts and the silence from his contacts made the reality hit harder: everything he had built was gone. The wealth, influence, and respect he had taken for granted had been stolen in an instant, leaving him with nothing but the remnants of his former life. No matter how many times he replayed it in his mind, the betrayal by Leno gnawed at him, a deep, festering wound. He knew Leno was the only one who could’ve orchestrated such a calculated attack, but without solid evidence linking him to the transfer, Zane’s hands were tied. Cana tried to offer comfort, but her efforts were bittersweet. She’d offered financial help, and while Zane appreciated her kindness, the thought of depending on her chipped away at his pride. Cana wasn’t just his partner; she was his equal, and he didn’t want her to feel burdened by his downfall. He felt a huge guilt each time she reassured him, knowing that she, too, was af