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Author: Sharon Smallwood
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-09 01:03:10

The stone walls felt like they were closing in around Cana, stealing what little warmth she could gather from herself. It had been weeks—she’d stopped counting the days after thirty—of sitting in this bleak cell, alone with her thoughts, the silence broken only by the occasional creak of footsteps or the clink of metal outside her cell door. Even her breathing seemed foreign as if it belonged to someone else, someone who had become as ghostly as the light filtering through the high, barred window.

A damp chill clung to her skin, her muscles aching and weak from lack of movement. Hunger gnawed at her, an emptiness that felt both physical and mental. But this wasn’t enough to break her. No. If anything, it hardened her, sharpening her focus, making her resolve colder, like steel forged in icy fire.

She pressed her back against the rough stone wall, forcing herself to sit up, ignoring the biting discomfort. Every ache, every shiver—it was all a reminder of what she had to endure, and she
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    The cool autumn air clung to Zane as he pulled up outside Axel’s compound, his hands clenching the steering wheel as a low growl reverberated in his throat. His patience had all but snapped. It had been days since Leno reassured him that they were closing in on Cana’s location, but the silence since had left him simmering with doubt and suspicion. Today, he was determined to get answers, even if it meant dragging them out of Axel himself.As he parked, he took a steadying breath, pushing down his frustration. But the gnawing ache in his chest was relentless, an angry reminder of how many sleepless nights he’d spent, turning over every possible lead that might bring him to her. As much as he wanted to believe in Axel’s support, something about the delays grated against his instincts.When Axel finally appeared, Zane’s eyes narrowed, catching the faint smirk on his face. “What took you so long?” Zane bit out, his tone clipped. “It’s been days, Axel. I don’t know how much longer I can ju

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0102

    The trees blurred together as Cana stumbled forward, her legs numb and weak, her body aching with every step. The sun was low, casting soft, golden light that passed through the leaves. It should have been comforting, but after weeks locked away in darkness, the brightness felt blinding. Her eyes squinted as she fought through the pain and exhaustion.Her mouth was dry, her throat parched. She hadn’t sipped water since the night before, and the pang of hunger gnawed at her stomach. Still, the feel of air, fresh and clean, filled her lungs with hope and determination. She leaned on tree trunks to steady herself, each step feeling like it might be her last, but she refused to give up.Somewhere nearby, a twig snapped. The sound echoed through the forest, sending chills down her spine.She knew what it was—the hellhounds. Their sense of smell was nearly infallible, and they’d be able to track her down in minutes. She squeezed her eyes shut, summoning every last bit of energy she had. Pre

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0103

    A dull ache throbbed through Cana’s muscles, drawing her to the edge of consciousness. She felt heavy, her limbs like lead, and fog lingered in her mind, dulling any sense of clarity. The last thing she remembered was collapsing in the dirt after running for hours, feeling the world fade as exhaustion and pain consumed her.But now, as her senses sharpened, she noticed something different—the faint scent of pine and wood, not earth and decay. Beneath her, she felt the coarse texture of a thin blanket over a hard surface. Forcing her eyes open, she blinked against the dim light filtering through the small window. She was inside a cabin, its rustic, simple interior hinting at a life detached from society.Struggling to sit up, she winced as pain radiated through her ribs and down her arms. Her legs felt like they’d been through a gauntlet, raw and bruised from her escape. Just as she began to survey her surroundings, a figure emerged from the doorway.“Easy there,” he said gently, movin

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0104

    The dim light from the kitchen cast shadows across the room as Cana blinked, gradually regaining consciousness. Every part of her body ached as though she had been dragged through the fire, but she pushed through the pain, feeling something new surging within her—a strange power that pulsed with an intensity she hadn’t felt before. She struggled to breathe, her vision fading in and out, yet determination drove her to move, driven by an unexplainable energy. Her skin tingled, as though she’d been overtaken by something ancient and powerful.Before her, Lionel cracked his neck, brushing the dust from his clothes as he steadied himself. A faint sneer twisted his lips as he approached her, an arrogant gleam in his eyes. “I must admit, I didn’t think you still had it in you, Cana,” he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. “Thought you’d be too weak to even lift a finger after everything I put you through.”Cana took a step forward, though she felt the weight of exhaustion dragging her d

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0105

    Lionel stumbled into the shadowed warehouse, each step scraping along the concrete as blood dripped steadily from his wounds. He reached for his neck, hissing in pain, and then sank into the nearest chair. The memory of Cana’s fierce power—the blackened eyes, the crawling darkness in her veins, and her merciless strength—was burned into his mind. What had happened to her? She was supposed to be weakened, practically broken. Instead, he had narrowly escaped with his life.As he breathed heavily, two hellhounds approached from the far end of the room. Akam’s gaze assessed him with an amused, unimpressed expression, while Larz stood quietly beside him, hands folded as he observed Lionel’s injuries.“Well, well,” Akam said, folding his arms and letting his voice cut through the silence. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”Lionel glared up at him, biting back his retort, though the pain in his body made it hard to keep his calm. “It’s not funny.”Akam shrugged, giving Larz a sidelong

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0106

    Cana woke in the morning light, feeling the comforting warmth of Zane’s presence beside her. For a fleeting moment, everything felt normal. She looked over at him, his face softened by sleep, his hand still loosely holding hers. The memories of the previous night lingered—a shared sense of belonging that had finally brought them both some peace. She allowed herself a small, contented smile, savoring the memory of his touch and the quiet they had found together. Reluctantly, she slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb him, and walked to the kitchen. After the chaos of recent days, she wanted to do something simple, something grounding, like cooking breakfast. But as she opened the fridge, a twinge of disappointment set in. It was nearly empty, save for a lonely jug of milk and a few eggs. She checked the cabinets—mostly bare. It was clear that, in the midst of everything with Axel, Zane hadn’t had the chance to stock up. The sound of footsteps stirred her from her thoughts. She lo

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  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0121

    Cana’s eyes fluttered open slowly, the faint sound of voices stirring her from the darkness. Her vision was blurry, but she recognized Zane and Mia hovering over her.“Her heartbeat is slowing down,” Zane’s tense voice broke the silence.“Should we call a doctor?” Mia’s voice trembled with worry.“That won’t be necessary,” Zane replied, though his tone betrayed his unease.As her vision cleared, Cana saw their anxious faces. She tried to sit up, and Zane immediately supported her, his touch warm and steady.“How are you feeling?” he asked, his deep voice soft but filled with concern.“I’m fine,” Cana said hoarsely, her throat dry.“Are you sure? Did something happen?” Zane pressed, his brows furrowed in worry.Cana managed a faint smile. “I’m fine. It’s probably just all the stress from this week. Sorry for worrying you guys.”Mia stepped forward, handing Cana a glass of water. “Here, drink this.”Cana took it gratefully, sipping the cool liquid.“All right,” Zane said, his voice stil

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0120

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  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0119

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  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0118

    Chains of DeceptionMia’s footsteps echoed softly through the corridor as she approached Cana’s room. Her heart was heavy with the knowledge she had uncovered. The whispers of Cana’s connection to Axel had spread like wildfire among Axel’s loyalists, and Mia could no longer ignore the sinking feeling of betrayal. She pushed the door open without knocking, startling Cana, who sat on the bed, her face pale and weary.÷÷__÷÷She slowly walked up to her and slapped her, “You know who Axel is and what he has done to you; you should have told me, Cana. I trusted you.”“I know,” Cana whispered. “And I’m sorry.”Cana’s heart dropped. The air seemed to thicken, making it hard to breathe. “Mia... can you allow me to explain .”“Explain?” Mia’s voice cracked, a mixture of anger and hurt. “Explain how you betrayed all of us. How did you let that monster manipulate you?”“I didn’t betray you,” Cana whispered, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t have a choice.”Mia’s eyes softened, but her anger d

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0117

    Shadows of PowerThe morning sun filtered through the thick curtains of Zane's house, but Cana barely noticed. Axel hadn’t contacted her telepathically for a while, so she decided to get him off her mind by trying to tap into the dark powers within her; sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor of her room, she focused on the strange energy that had been stirring within her for weeks. The dark power hummed beneath her skin, urging her to let it out. She closed her eyes, her breathing steady as she tried to channel it.At first, nothing happened. But then, a spark of energy surged through her fingertips, and the air around her seemed to shimmer. A vase on the nearby table rattled and then shattered into pieces. Cana flinched, opening her eyes.“What the hell was that?” she muttered to herself.The door to her room burst open, and Mia appeared, her eyes wide with alarm. “Cana! What’s going on in here?”Before Cana could answer, Mart peeked in from behind Mia, his usually calm demeanor re

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0116

    Zane sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on the reports in front of him, but his mind was elsewhere. The conversation with Cana replayed over and over in his head. She had apologized, but the lack of clarity still gnawed at him. Her words felt more like a pacifier than the truth.“Are you going to stare at that paper until it bursts into flames?” Mart’s voice jolted him out of his thoughts. Mart leaned against the doorframe, a knowing smirk on his face.Zane sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I can’t shake this feeling. She’s hiding something, and it’s not just about that night. There’s more.”Mart entered the office, closing the door behind him. “Look, Cana’s been through a lot. Maybe she’s trying to protect you or herself. Have you thought about that?”Zane shook his head. “That’s the problem. I don’t want protection. I want honesty. If she’s keeping secrets, it could put all of us at risk.”Mart frowned. “You think it’s connected to Axel?”Zane nodded. “ I don’t think so.”Meanwhile,

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0115

    “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

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0114

    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—

  • Lycan Heart-The Rejected Mate    0113

    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

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