LOGIN“My Queen,” Karel said softly, offering a slight bow as he entered her study.
Calista didn't look up immediately. Karel locked the door behind him, turning toward her with eyes full of mischief.“I think I deserve a reward for all my efforts,” he said, stalking toward her like a predator closing in on long-hunted prey.Calista’s jaw remained tight, her brow furrowed into a sharp, hard line. She crossed her arms, anchoring herself into a rigid wall of disapproval. “OTristan 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
Zoriana did not leave her room, asking Betsy to bring her lunch and dinner. To block out her emotions, she dived into her work as she always did. It served a dual purpose; there was a mountain of tasks that required her attention.After checking through heaps of documents for the pack and the ZRoux group, she finally opened the folder Scott had sent regarding Beta Karel.She clicked through various files. Ambitious, the same age as Gael, and his childhood friend. A womanizer. A lover of power.Zoriana chuckled darkly. “Like almost all men. Nothing new.”She scrolled through the data. Nothing suspicious. Nothing that stood out.“Put Jake on Karel’s tail. He needs to be extremely careful; Karel is not an easy target,” Zoriana messaged Scott. She rubbed her eyes for a second before moving to the folder on Milana.She was saving every testimonial, document, photo, and video onto a USB to present to Ryder later. Zoriana felt as though
Tristan turned, glancing at Zoriana’s retreating back.A second ago, he had caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. Her lip had been trembling as if she were about to burst into tears. He rolled his eyes. Zoriana loved being in control so much that he assumed simple jealousy was enough to break her. It didn't sit right with him.“Behind the image of the strong Alpha female, there is still a little girl hiding—one who was told what to do all her life, who went above and beyond to impress her father and her former mate. Old habits die hard,” Mars said sadly. “She was truly upset. I can feel it; her feelings for you are genuine.”“Impossible,” Tristan spat back internally. “She’s just looking for attention. She wants my heart for sport because she’s bored. She loves Gael... she mated him.”“You don’t know that. Maybe she was dragged into it, maybe...” Mars tried to brainstorm. “Her scent isn't even mixed with Gael’s. How could they have
Zoriana headed to the dining hall, expecting to be the first one there. Her plan was simple: eat quickly and leave before the rest of the pack gathered for breakfast. She had a mountain of work to do and wanted to disappear back into her room unnoticed.To her surprise, one table was already occupied. Tristan, Roman, Fairuza, Luke’s nanny, and Luke were already there, along with another female pup of a similar age.“Shit,” Zoriana cursed under her breath. She didn't understand why they were down at 5:00 AM. She turned to leave, but Fairuza noticed her and waved. “Please, join us!”Zoriana forced a faint smile and moved toward the table. Tristan didn't even lift his eyes from his plate to acknowledge her.Roman gave her a polite nod, and Luke beamed. “Alpha Zoriana, this is Nora. She’s my fated mate.”The pup sitting next to him blushed a deep crimson.“You won’t know for sure about fate until you’re eighteen,” Roman suggested gen
A loud bang on the door jolted Karel awake. He cursed under his breath, stomping toward the entrance with murderous intent. When he yanked it open, the maid’s eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest. A shadow of crimson crept up her neck as she cast her gaze downward, stuttering, "The... the Queen has summoned you. It is urgent." Karel nodded curtly and shut the door in her face. It had better be a real emergency; he had only returned to the pack an hour ago and was dying for sleep. But he knew Calista. She wasn't generous with her time, and she rarely showed affection outside of their rare, intimate moments. If she was calling him now, it wasn't for fun. Something was wrong... and it was likely related to the mission. There was no time for a shower. He threw on a shirt and jeans, leaving his hair unstyled and messy, and stepped out. The maid was still waiting. "My Lord, I am to escort you to the Que
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







