Kiara:“Did I do something wrong?” I ask as he pulls away from me.His eyes narrow, and I sense fear from him. He takes a few steps backward for a moment, with his back crashing on the vanity behind him. With his left hand grabbing the vanity, he places his right hand on his chest, taking a deep breath.“Is something wrong?” I ask, and he shakes his head. “Zane, please talk to me,” I say, and he looks at me with a plain face.“It’s... it’s just too soon, and I didn’t expect it. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” he asks, bringing his face to a frown. “I have a lot of things planned out, and I do not think twelve days is enough to execute them,” he says. “Will I ever be able to impress you with my lousy self?”“Stop it, Zane!” I raise my voice a bit. “I do not care if you move the earth for me or you buy me candy on my birthday. Being there is all that matters,” I say to him, then I make my way towards him. “I love having the finest things in life, but that is an addition to what I alrea
Kiara:“Morning, sleepyhead,” Zane says as I struggle to pull my eyes open.My forehead is met with a kiss, causing me to flip around with my eyes tightly shut. He gets up from the bed, and I think he is leaving, but then my eyes are attacked by the rays from the morning sun, causing me to groan as I pull the cover over my head.He walks up to me and yanks it off.“For the love of the moon goddess, Zane, I’m going to…” his lips on mine silence me before I can finish my words.I groan and open my eyes.“It’s the first of September!” he says with a smile on his lips. “Your birthday is in a couple of days, and you have only five days, including today, to prepare for your birth week, which will happen in Greece,” he says, causing the sleep in my eyes to vanish.“Five days? What if I do not know what to wear? Or…”“Your time starts now, love,” he says, and then he gets up to leave. “The card is on the table; get whatever you want,” he says, and he vanishes.I groan again, forcing myself ou
Kiara:The next time I open my eyes, it is morning, and I’m on the softest mattress in the entire world, in the most beautiful room I have ever seen.I turn to the side to see Zane lying on one arm, facing me with nothing but a towel around his waist and a single rose flower in hand.“Good morning, love,” he says, and a smile appears on my lips.“So, what are you supposed to be?” I ask, and he sits up, handing me the rose.“Cupid? The love of your life? I can’t choose really,” he says, and I chuckle, then I spread my hands out, giving off a yawn. “Are you hungry? I ordered something for us,” he says, then he gets on his knees, inching close to me on the bed.He breaks the head of the rose from its stick, tucking it into my hair, and I stretch my hands, opening and closing my palms, causing him to lean in closer for me to wrap my hands around his neck.I place a kiss on his lips.“You are perfect,” I say as he pulls away.“I’ll be irresistible after this date,” he says, and I roll my e
Kiara:Day three is sunny, and I want to leave the room. For two days, I’ve been inside with Zane, and it’s been good seeing movies, going to a private indoor pool, and eating, but now I want to see the beach.“I feel like going out today, plus the sun looks beautiful,” I say to Zane, who wraps his hands around me from behind, planting a kiss on my neck.“Then go outside,” he says in a gruff tone, then I tilt back a bit to see his face with his shades on.“You are still high, aren’t you?” I ask, and he scoffs, taking off his glasses.“Not really,” he squints his eyes at the morning sun as his breath fans hot under my neck.I turn around to face him with my back pressed against the balcony railings. Then he leans in to kiss my lips.“I need to pee,” I say to him, and he pulls away briefly, allowing me to leave.Then I walk back into the room and head to the bathroom to take a piss. After this, I walk out to see him laying halfway in the bed with his legs touching the floor.“Zane, I’m
Kiara:We take a walk down the front of the hotel, making our way to the back where the beach is located. There I can see a great number of people strewn around on the beach.Some people are on the sunbeds enjoying the sun, some have cold drinks in hand, and others are in the water. Everyone is busy, and it seems fun.“Yayy!” I exclaim, taking Zane’s hand like a baby in kindergarten as I rush towards the beach while he follows without objecting.Well, he has no option, so he is quiet until we get into the body of sand.“Let’s go to that spot,” I say to him, walking towards two empty sunbeds in front of the water. “We can see the sea from here,” I say to him as we get to the spot.I try to sit down when he speaks.“Or we could get into the water.”I look at him, raising my brows.“Everything was perfect before you spoke,” I say, and he chuckles. “It is not a joke, Zane,” I say, then I try to take a seat, but he grabs my hand.“Come on, just feel the water, and you’ll want to go in,” he
Kiara:“I’m here with my wife.”His words hit me hard. I try to steady my grip on the tray, as I do not want the drinks to slip and pour.“But she doesn’t have to know,” the lady says, diverting my attention from what Zane just said.“And she is here,” he says, and the lady turns around to see me.“You?” she asks, and I bring my face to a frown as Zane walks up to me to take the tray of drinks from me.“Yes, me, and I warned you!” I grit my teeth. She stands for a couple of seconds. “You are still here, because?”Her legs get moving at once, then I make my way to my bed, sitting on it in silence for a while.His wife? Did he say that to scare her away, or did he mean it? I question myself.“Kiara,” he calls out, drawing me back to reality as his hands rest on my body.I look at him, forcing a smile onto my lips.“Did I do something?” He asks, and I shake my head, grabbing the drink from him.I bring the straw to my lips, then I draw out the contents, allowing the taste of the lemon to
Kiara:Day six is me waking up to Zane tugging my hands on the bed. At first, I do not want to stand up, but his incessant bugging gets me out of bed.“It’s the sixth day, and this will be over soon. We will have our lives back, and you can live like my princess in my castle,” he says, planting a kiss on my forehead.A smile spreads across my lips as I force my eyes open.“So, tell me. What is it you want to do today?” he asks, and I yawn, throwing both arms in the air with my fists tight.“Why don’t we do something that you want to do?” I ask, and his cheeks light up with a smile as he inches close to me.I push his face away at once.“Zane!” I call out, and he shrugs. “That is not what I meant. Get your dirty thoughts away from me,” I add, then I roll to the end of the bed, pushing my feet off.I walk to the window and pull the curtains open, taking a deep breath.“Let’s take a bath,” I say to him, and he gets out of bed.We slide into our robes and take a quick bath, then we cozy u
Kiara:From the way this man speaks, I see that he isn’t tough, and what fuels his ego is the crowd around him. This makes me believe I can easily shake him down.A pool stick is given to me, and then an attendant arranges the balls on the table.“Wait,” I say before he blows the whistle, and my opponent raises a brow.“Yes? Do you want to back out now, because it isn’t too late?” he says, and I scoff.“Or are you scared that you will get your ass whooped by an actual woman who has a pussy?” I ask, and the crowd goes up with an “oooh!”He looks around, and I see he’s nervous. His fear stinks from a mile away.“We are giving you half a million, and you have nothing to give to us, so how is this a fair game?” I ask, and he chuckles.“Honey, I do not intend to make a stake because there is no way you are winning, so don’t be delusional.”He thinks the crowd will join in, but everywhere is silent, and everyone looks at him.“Sir, you’ll have to make a stake,” the attendant says. He opens
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