Third person pov: “I do not need your help,” I say to him, and he scoffs. “He’s only a human, and I could have taken him down with one strike, so don’t act like you saved me from some life-threatening occasion.” I fold my arms with my back against him, feeling the heat of his presence. “And you have to be stubborn about it,” he replies, his voice tinged with frustration. I maintain my stance without looking at him. “A simple thank you would have been appreciated.” He closes the space between us, his breath warm against my neck. I turn to face him, taking two steps back to keep some distance. “Are you done chatting with your FRIEND?” I stress the word, and he raises an eyebrow. “You’re angry because I was with Zoe?” “I’m not angry,” I say, throwing my face away, but he steps closer again, forcing me to retreat further. “Will you stop it?” I huff, shaking my head in exasperation. “Then admit you’re angry,” he insists, and I raise a corner of my cheek in defiance. “Even i
Zane:Whatever this woman is doing to me, my body loves it. I’ve never felt this way before, and this has to be the happiest I’ve ever been. I’ve been an asshole, and I don’t deserve her love. If she decides to kill me today, then so be it.“Don’t say it, please.” I pull away from the kiss, pleading.I don’t want to hear how she doesn’t want to be with me; I know that already, and it would only worsen the situation. She stares at me with her beautiful eyes glistening in the darkness. I run my thumb over her lips while she remains silent, not saying a word.I snap my fingers at the chauffeur, who winds up the glass partition. Then I lean in close again, taking her lips once more in a soft, delicate kiss, nibbling gently on her lower lip to gain entrance. When she grants it, our tongues meet, sucking and slurping against each other as my hands find their way around her waist, inching her closer to me.Soon, I can’t get enough of her, so I lift her onto my lap, clasping her to my body as
Kiara:I wake up on Zane’s chest again. It’s been a week since this new Zane showed up, and he hasn’t changed. Sometimes, I try to convince myself he’s acting, but all he does is these nice things for me, which only makes me more scared. Maybe he’s just trying to repay me for saving him. Each time he says “I love you,” my stomach tightens with fear.“You’re awake,” he says in that rough, early-morning voice, and I pull away without responding. “I’ll take that as an answer,” he adds, sliding his feet off the bed and reaching for his robe draped over the chair.As soon as he throws it on, his phone rings. I try not to care about who’s calling. It could be one of his many women, but I do not care as long as he satisfies me in bed.“What?” His voice shifts, trailing off, and I glance over to see his face fall.He runs a hand through his hair and begins pacing around the room.“Wh-when did this happen?” His voice shakes, and now I’m alarmed. “Okay, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”He en
Kiara:“Yes, I would like the finest decor for the hall. Everything has to be perfect,” Zane says, ending the call as he opens the door to my room.I pause brushing my hair, and turn to face him.“You still haven’t learned to knock,” I say. He sighs and walks toward me with a blank expression.“Kiara, I need a favor.” His voice is steady, but I raise an eyebrow. “Boris just got out of the hospital, and I need you to take some fruit to him on my behalf. I can’t make it; there are things I need to handle for the event. Please.”I shrug. “Fine, no need to whine.” He ignores my remark, kisses the top of my head, and leaves.I get up, preparing to go see Boris. A part of me wonders if I’ll be able to look past what he said two days ago. The only way I can do that is if I meet something even worse.Once I’m dressed, I head downstairs to where a car is already waiting with the fruit basket on the seat where I am to sit. I get in, and the chauffeur drives away.***The drive to Boris’s villa
Third Person Pov:The day of the charity event draws closer, and the organizers are gathering for an important meeting. Gia and Zane are representing their family among the other co-hosts. While they wait for Zane to arrive in the VIP room of a club, Gia finds herself surrounded by two childhood friends, Jacob and Tristan.Jacob, always harboring a crush on Gia, sees this as his opportunity.“It’s been a while, Gia, and you look even better than the last time I saw you,” he says.Gia, glancing up from her phone, barely acknowledges him with a scoff.Jacob is tall, blonde, and handsome, but he’s not what Gia wants. Her heart is still set on Zane, a crush that’s lingered far too long. But since she can’t have him, she’s determined not to let Jacob have her, either.Tristan nudges Jacob, whispering, “Ask her about the city or something.”Jacob, clearly nervous, tries again. “So, what’s new in the city? It’s been what, eight years?”Gia sighs, setting her phone down on the table. Before s
Kiara:Being home almost every day is something I don’t like, but there’s little to nothing I can do. This place offers me the protection I need, and no matter how delusional I am, I can’t go back to my pack because I’m an outcast.It’s already late, and I’m about to put down my book when I hear Zane’s car pull up in the compound. A part of me feels angry that he has to stay out so late, and the other part is eager to see him. How he has suddenly imprinted himself into my life is a mystery.I put the book away on my nightstand, then I shut my eyes, pretending to sleep. My wolf dies of excitement as his scent gets thicker until he pulls the door to my room open, causing me to tighten my eyes.“And she’s asleep,” he says, and then I hear him shut the door.I assume he’s leaving, but then I feel his figure on the bed, sitting close to me. He runs his hands through my hair, gently parting it to reveal my neck. He places a kiss on it, causing my eyes to flip open.“Zane?” I call out in a l
Kiara It’s been two days since I found Gia’s lipstick, and Zane hasn’t said a thing to me about it. Every time I think about it, and the confrontation I had with Gia earlier in the week at Boris’s house, I can’t help but cringe. They must have laughed about it when they met up for whatever it is they did. Worse, he came back that night, and I let him touch me like the fool I was. The thought of it makes me want to disappear every time it crosses my mind, and there’s an unending gnawing feeling in my belly. Tonight is the charity event, and I’m already dressed, sitting in front of my dresser. He walks into my room as expected, then makes his way toward me, causing me to get to my feet. I grab my purse at once, opening my drawer to grab my lipstick, and then I see Gia’s, which makes the anger in my chest heighten. I grab it with mine, tossing it into my purse. “You look gorgeous,” he says, pulling me by my waist, letting my back rest against his chest. I force a smile on my li
Third person pov: As Kiara makes her way upstairs, Gia takes out her phone to place a call to Tristan, who is waiting upstairs. Her plan is working perfectly, thanks to Tristan and Jacob. They don’t really like Zane, and they only act like his friends because they have a lot to benefit from him. Jacob, on the other hand, has been dying to be with Gia, so he has to see the plan through to the end. With blurry eyes, Kiara makes her way through the hallway of the massive building, and because she is distracted, she soon collides with a very tough surface, which causes her to stop. “I’m so sorry,” she says to Tristan as she tries to back away from him. She turns around to leave, but he grabs her hand, pulling her to him. She stares at him with her tear-filled eyes. “Why is a beautiful lady like you crying?” She scoffs when he asks, then wriggles her hands free from his grip. “I’m sorry for prying, and it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me, but you can’t go out like that ton
Zane:It’s been five months since the passing of my father. It hasn’t been easy coping without him, and it made me realize that you never really grow up, and you will always need your parents, regardless. But thank God I found Kiara. I have never been more grateful for the day we met. She has been nothing short of supportive.Nothing beats having the sexiest and smartest woman you know as your support system. Given all the events of the past, we both enrolled in therapy to work through the trauma we’ve experienced. We made the vow that our children would never know what this feels like.“You’re still working?” I hear Kiara say, and I lift my head to see her standing by the door of the study.I sigh, and she walks into the room. Pushing my seat back from the table, I make space for her to sit on my lap, and then she throws her arms around my neck.“If you keep working like this, then we will never have time for each other,” she says as she cups my cheek. “I know building from scratch i
Kiara:The past few days have been trying for everyone around us with the passing of Boris and Rufus’s injury. Rufus got better after a few days, but he is still at the hospital. Zane transferred him to a hospital in Efla.Today is Boris’s funeral, and Zane has been mute the entire day. We are back at Boris’s place with the entire family present.“You are doing just fine,” I say to Zane, who has been sitting for hours without a word. The thoughts of my pack members going into exile hurt, but I have learned to let go.I have lost once, and it is easier letting go instead of hurting yourself.“Kiara,” Zane calls out to me, and I place a hand on his shoulder.He tilts his head a bit, resting it in my hands. Then I caress his other cheek with my free hand. We remain like that until he lets out a forced gasp, straightening his head. His eyes are reddened, and it hurts.“The ceremony is in half an hour, and you need to get yourself together, please.” I sit close to him, sliding my hands to
Kiara:“Rufus!” Zane yells the moment Mindy’s bullet hits him.I crash to the ground at once, pulling Rufus’ head onto my lap. I rip a piece of my dress, applying pressure on the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. He has a smile on his face, but his eyes are slowly shutting.“Rufus, stay with me,” I say, tapping his face. “You cannot die on me, not now, you idiot! Stop smiling!” I yell at him.Without giving it a second thought, Zane rushes towards Mindy, digging his hand into her chest. Blood trickles down his hands, then he pulls out her heart, and I watch Mindy crash to the ground.“Zane.” His name is the last thing she mutters before she dies.My body feels weak, but I manage to hold on to Rufus as I keep tapping on him. Zane tosses Mindy’s heart away, and he walks up to us, then he takes off his shirt completely.Preparing a potion for Rufus wasn’t the best idea at the moment, because he was human, and he couldn’t wait that long. Plus, the entire mansion is in ruins, so the herb
THIRD PERSON POV:Zane storms through the gates of the Lunar Shadow Pack with Yusuf’s werewolf warriors at his back. The early morning air fills with growls, gunfire, and the clash of weapons. The pack’s warriors are caught off guard, scrambling to respond to the ruthless assault. Yusuf’s mutants tear through the defenders like a storm. Everything is going according to Zane’s plan, and they have taken the pack unaware.Zane moves like a shadow—swift and merciless—cutting down anyone who dares to stand in his way. His wolf, desperate to reunite with its mate, takes sole control of Zane, feeding him with power he doesn’t even know he possesses.Blake stands in the midst of his warriors, overlooking the chaos.“How did they breach the gates?” he barks at his men, who are as confused as he is.“We don’t know, Alpha!” one guard shouts back, dodging as a mutant slashes through another warrior beside him. “They came out of nowhere!”Blake’s mind races as he calculates his options. He knows Z
Kiara:Those words from Isabella’s lips bring relief to my chest, but I’m not quite satisfied. I want to see for myself if it is truly true. If Mindy is really dead.“You do not look happy,” Isabella says as she notices my face hasn’t lit up with a victory smile.“Because Mindy is very cunning, and I have to see for myself.” I yank my hands off hers. “Where is she?” I ask, moving forward until I get to the stairs to see the living area swarmed with servants.The murmur in the room starts to die off as they notice my presence, and soon, they slip away bit by bit. But then I spot James.“What is going on here, James?” I call out to him from where I am standing on the landing of the stairs. He is about to answer when Blake walks into the room, and the moment he spots me, his countenance changes.“Why is the queen in a nightdress?” he questions, but I notice his gaze is on Isabella and not on me. “Do you not know how to do your duties anymore, or do you want me to demote you?” His tone co
Kiara:Messing with a Luna is one thing, but messing with a Luna in her own pack is another. It isn’t just a regular misstep, and Mindy’s judgment is probably clouded by her desires to get Zane, forgetting that I can end her life before she even dreams of waking tomorrow. I don’t know what Zane is up to, but after successfully keeping him out, I know I can act as I please before he decides to wage war against me. Mindy’s audacity truly needs to be studied because her witch powers should be bright enough to warn her that I’ve been in and out of her mother’s lair.“Prepare some baskets and umbrellas,” I say to Isabella, who stares at me in confusion. “We have some fruits to pick.” I wink at her, and she bows slightly, making her way out of my room.I walk to my closet to pick out an outfit and put on one of my best Luna dresses. By the time I’m done dressing, Isabella is back with the baskets and an enormous umbrella.“Let’s go.”We leave the room, making our way to the front yard, wher
KIARA:It is unbelievable that I have to wake up in this pack again. I want to claw at my skin and rip it open, but that would be to the fun of Mindy. As I lie in bed, I beg the Moon Goddess to allow us to cross paths. The amount of hate brewing in my heart feels strong enough to torch down an entire continent, and I plan to channel that energy into Mindy. The only good thing about being in this pack is that it makes me feel powerful again, and power can be either good or bad.“Ma’am,” I hear Isabella’s voice from the hallway before she places a light knock on the door.Isabella has been my faithful servant, just like Ariana, so I am trying my best to be gentle with her since she hasn’t done anything wrong.“Come in,” I say, and she opens the door, walking in. She shuts it and gives me a bow.“You do not need to do that every time,” I tell her. She stands straight as soon as I say this.“Alpha Blake asked me to help prepare you,” she says, and my brow scrunches at her words.“Prepare
Kiara:The ride was bumpy, and sitting in the back of the car with Blake didn’t feel the same anymore. My heart is heavy and aching as memories of Zane flood in. I don’t know what the Moon Goddess plans to do, but I silently pray to her to make things right. It’s hard to believe she made Zane and me cross paths just for things to go sour.“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Blake says, sliding his hand onto my thigh, jolting me back to reality. All I feel from his touch is coldness.I reach for his hand, placing it on the space between us on the seat. Then I turn my face toward the window, taking in the scenery before us. We’re currently at the location of the Elysian Whisper Hill—the road where I ran into Zane when he pretended to be a delivery man. I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. The thought of Blake and me never finding love scares me, but what scares me more is the impending war. I don’t want anyone to die—not now, never.“We’re here, darling,”
Zane’s POV:Yusuf grabs my shoulder as he continues to laugh.“Your offer is enticing, brother, but isn’t that a little too much?” he asks, and I try to maintain my cool. “Have you forgotten where you came from? A lonely wolf boy who came into my father’s home to steal my birthright.”Those words hit me like a punch to my gut, but I keep my mind focused by thinking of Kiara. All I want is to rescue her and hold her in my arms once more. I should have listened and stayed back because maybe we would be at our new place now, where Mindy would never know. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I want to hold on to that. But I don’t know if this will be the thing that ends me.When I don’t react to his taunts, his face straightens, his eyes locking on mine.“I will give you half of the money. Then I’ll keep half, take the empire, and you can borrow my men—whom you will return.” When he says this, I don’t think twice.“We have a deal,” I say, and the corner of his lips lifts