Zane:“Kiara, I... I didn’t do that,” I say, and she scoffs, shaking her head as she backs away from me while I try to go after her. “But you had sex with Gia.” I stop when she says this, and then she looks me in the eye, causing my heart to break even more.I hate the way she sees me, and I regret not telling her in the first place, but back then we weren’t close, and I hadn’t let go of the hate in my mind for her.“Then why won’t you let me go? You leave me in the house, then you go out there, have sex with her, and...” her voice begins to crack, and I feel a piercing pain in my chest. “... then you come back to lie to me you had a meeting. Why, Zane? Tell me you aren’t more than the monster they said you are.”“What?” I ask as her words break me, but I try to remember when I got the lipstick. “You can call me anything but a liar, because I would never lie to you, Kiara. I never had sex with Gia after we...”“I became your sex toy? We just have an understanding?” she questions, and
Kiara:I wake up after a couple of hours, and I notice my body is void of Zane’s touch. I do not want to open my eyes, so I run my hands on the left side of the bed to get his attention, but I find it bare.This makes me alarmed, so I open my eyes, turning to the left to see him sitting on the chair close to the bed.“Zane,” I call out softly. He stares at me briefly, forcing a smile that I can barely see through the dimly lit room. “What are you doing?” I ask, and he stays mute for a split second.“You should get some sleep,” he says, but this makes me worry, so I get to my feet and walk to him.I stare into his eyes, which glisten in the dimly lit room, and when he opens his mouth to speak, I place a finger on his lips, sliding down onto his lap. I place one arm around his neck, the other on his chest.“Tell me what is bothering you. You had a pretty rough time last night, and you haven’t rested, so tell me, please,” I say to him, and he takes a deep breath, taking my right hand off
Zane:The first thing I see when I wake up is a message from Boris asking me to meet him at his house. A part of me feels this is not going to be a pleasant meet up, but I try to shrug it off.When I get to his villa, I make my way inside, heading straight to the living room where I find him by his bar in a corner, sipping from a glass of wine with one of his men on standby.“Good morning, father,” I announce from the door, making my way to him.“Good morning, Zane,” he replies in a stiff tone and then turns to the man beside him. “Leave,” he says to him, and the man gives a nod, making his way out of the room while I rest my hand on the counter.Some may think it is a little too early to drink, but drinking knows no bounds in my father’s house.“Pour yourself a glass,” he says, and I do so, then I clink mine with his.He forces a smile on his face.I take my shot, and he does too, both of us squeezing our faces at the burning sensation. I pour another one for myself, and he presents
Zane:Twelve days is all I have to think of a plan to save Kiara. I can’t kill her, and I will not, because it will mean killing myself. I have never had a reason to live, but with her, I have hope.“Could I have said no?” I question myself with my hands firmly gripping the wheel.I’m so lost in thought that I do not notice the red light in front. I cross it at once, and in that moment, I hear a screeching sound, and a car halts close to mine, causing me to come to an abrupt stop.“Are you blind or something?” the lady in the car yells, and I roll down my window.“I’m sorry,” I apologize, then I move my car forward, cornering to the side of the road where I stop to think.Nothing comes to mind, but I spot a flower store up ahead with a middle-aged lady tending to the flowers displayed in front. All I think of is Kiara, and the thought of her warms my heart.I start my car, then I put a call across to Rufus.“Is Kiara home yet?” I ask as soon as he picks up the call.“Yes, she is havin
Kiara:The way Zane treats me is dreamy but I hate the way he leaves. I want to be a part of him, even if I haven’t made this official, but he ups and leaves me every second.“You’ll get to smell them if I get a kiss,” he says, and I scoff, inching close to his face.As I close the gap between us and he shuts his eyes, I turn away, allowing his lips to crash on my cheek, causing me to let out a chuckle while his face crumples into a frown.“You got your kiss, so let me go,” I say, pushing his hands away, getting to my feet. Then I make my way to the couch, which has the large bouquet of multicolored lilies in a wrap.Leaning forward, I place my nose on a petal, taking in the scent of the flower.“That’s enough to give me an orgasm,” I say, and I feel Zane’s hand around my waist.“I could give that to you right now,” he says, and I slap my hand against his arm, turning around to face him. “What? I know you want it,” he whispers in my ear, pulling me close to him, allowing our bodies to
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
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