LOGINZoriana sipped her coffee in the cosy little café, her gaze fixed steadily on Ryder.
He had claimed he wanted to hire ZRoux, yet he’d spent the last five minutes sitting in a heavy, awkward silence. Zoriana didn't have all day.“Alpha Ryder,” she said, breaking the quiet. “You said you wanted to hire my agency for a case. Please, go ahead. What service do you require?”“I need a detective,” Ryder said, his voice firm but strained. “I need someone to dig up everythinRoman raced toward Tristan, his eyes glowing a fierce, iridescent blue as his wolf surged toward the surface. “Why do you have my mate’s scent on you?” he growled possessively, his entire frame shaking with a lethal mix of jealousy and adrenaline. Tristan’s eyes flickered to the jacket, and a heavy realization hit him. He sighed deeply. He had to tell his best friend—the man who was like a brother to him—that his mate had been snatched away, and Goddess only knew what she was enduring at this very moment. “Roman... I assume your mate is Zoriana’s best friend. The Gamma of her pack, Aella.” Tristan spoke firmly, extending the jacket. Roman snatched it, burying his face in the fabric and inhaling her scent frantically. The intoxicating aroma of her soul seemed to soothe him for a fleeting second before the reality of the situation crashed back down. “Why do you have her jacket?” Roman asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. But before Tristan could answer, Fairuza’s earlier words
“She went to the bathroom and…” Mounia’s voice trailed off, on the verge of breaking. Zoriana didn't wait for the rest; she raced toward the restrooms with Tristan, Mounia, and a group of warriors hot on her heels. They barged into the ladies' room without a second thought. “Hey! This is the women’s room!” one she-wolf snapped, pointing angrily at Tristan’s chest. “Out!” Tristan roared, releasing a wave of his Alpha aura that made the air itself vibrate. “Everyone out!” The women scrambled for the exit, terrified, leaving only Zoriana and her group behind. Zoriana frantically sniffed the air. Between the layers of sweat, cheap perfume, sex, and smoke, she caught the faint, sweet trail of Aella. But the scent stopped dead next to the sink, as if she had magically vanished into thin air. “They masked her scent,” Tristan said sternly. He turned to his warriors. “Search the perimeter. They couldn't have gone far.” “We already searched the club and a few miles around it. Nothing... n
Zoriana saw the clear confusion in Tristan’s eyes and smiled knowingly. He had expected her to jump to her feet and hit him with a sharp remark. Instead, she didn’t move. She didn't flinch from the heavy, possessive weight of his hands on her hips.She leaned into his ear, her breath a warm, smouldering caress. “Maybe this is exactly the way I like it.”Tristan’s body stiffened, his muscles coiling like a predator's. He was trying to calculate what game she was playing, but his logic was failing him. He looked at her, those chocolate eyes shimmering with a dangerous mischief. The low neckline of her golden silk dress rose and fell with her heavy, erratic breaths, her full breasts straining against the fabric as if seeking his touch.Finally, Zoriana stood up, her gaze sweeping across the booth. She took in the birthday decorations and the half-eaten cake, her mind whirring even as her body hummed with a different kind of energy.“It's Fairuza’s bi
Tristan was no fan of clubbing. The massive building, the flashing neon lights, and an interior screaming with the forced luxury of the most expensive club in the werewolf kingdom did nothing to impress him.Lila and Fairuza, however, were practically vibrating with joy. Glued to his side, they acted like children who had never been allowed sweets and were finally let loose in a candy shop. Just before they reached their private booth, Tristan caught a faint trace of Zoriana’s scent in the air. He whipped his head around, but the hallway was empty.He sighed, shaking off the phantom sensation, and entered the booth.“Did you see that chandelier? I can’t even imagine how many Swarovski crystals are on it. It’s massive!” Fairuza exclaimed.“And the sound system? It’s unreal,” Lila added, sinking into the plush sofa. “Wow, this is so comfortable.”“Out of this world,” Fairuza beamed, taking her first sip of champagne.“And the men?
Tristan was in a foul mood. His eyes searched the hallways, the dining room at breakfast, and the morning training grounds, but not once did he see Zoriana. He usually took lunch in his study, but today he ate with the pack, hoping she might appear. The hall was filled with werewolves eating, chatting, and laughing, but Zoriana’s seat remained empty.“Don’t forget what day it is,” Fairuza reminded him cheekily, breaking his train of thought.“How could I forget your birthday? Especially when you’ve reminded me fifty times this week,” Tristan joked. He forced a small smile. “Don’t worry. I’ve planned a dinner for you tonight and found the perfect gift.”Fairuza pouted. “Are we celebrating in the pack house again?”“What? Don’t you like the pack anymore?” Roman teased.“I do... but for five years, I’ve been hiding. I only get to see the mall if I’m surrounded by a small army of bodyguards. I just want to go out... just once. To a club,” Fai
Zoriana chewed her bottom lip, reclining back in her chair. A swirl of thoughts raced through her head. What did Milana promise Karel in exchange for his support? And how exactly was he helping her secure the Luna position? She was Ryder’s fated mate, so she was naturally supposed to become Luna—or did Karel simply vouch for her? Perhaps he even played a part in my downfall to clear a path for her.Zoriana reached for a jug of water and poured a glass, pressing it to her lips with trembling hands. she felt flushed, the air in the room suddenly suffocating.Did Gael know about Karel’s shadow deals? Or had Karel been working for Tristan all this time? Did Tristan even know about the connection between his Beta and Milana? The questions only brought on a splitting headache. She desperately needed answers, but she wouldn't find them without solid evidence.Zoriana emailed the video to Scott, asking him to find everything he could on the cooperation between Mil
Tristan spotted Zoriana’s silhouette as she bolted from the indoor gardens as if her life depended on it. Moments later, the Queen exited the greenery, her face twisted into a smug, victorious smile.Something was terribly wrong.“This has nothing to do with us,” Mars, his wolf,
The SUV came to a halt. They hadn't reached the Iron-Heart pack lands yet. “The food in your former pack was awful. I hope you don’t mind grabbing a late breakfast? I’m starving,” Tristan said, his voice surprisingly soft. Only then did Zoriana realize ho
Zoriana listened to the conversation, offering remarks only when prompted. She wasn't focused; the outcome of these negotiations didn't truly matter to her. In fact, she was surprised they were happening at all. Alpha Tristan didn't need this alliance, and for Ryder, joining forces with Tristan w
The she-wolf jumped to her feet, extending a hand to Zoriana. “My name is Fairuza. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Zoriana. Your reputation precedes you; I hope we can become friends. Why don't you join us for Tristan’s break?”Zoriana shook Fairuza's warm hand, her mind racing. "Just Fairuza. S







