ZaneThe mate bond pulls at me. I fight it. I should let Magdalena kill her—that’s what she deserves. I save her life from my wolves, and still she does this. The wolves are my responsibility; I have to keep them safe, and if she’s hell-bent on attacking us, then she’ll have to die. Mate or not. But the mate bond overwhelms me. Instinctively, I have to protect her.“Stop,” I command, gripping Magdalena’s wrist and pulling her back down. “I’ll handle her.”Hesitating, she glares at me. “The last time you said you’d handle her, and now look what happened. Maybe I should be the one to handle her.”She sparks the rage in me. “How dare you question me?” I snap.Although she’s right, I should have handled Katarina myself from the first day we met. But fate had a different plan, making her my mate. Even though I know it complicates everything, I should kill her.Am I only making excuses to keep her alive?I could end her right here, right now, and watch Augustine’s pathetic face as he grieve
KatarinaMy eyes dart between Alpha Zane and Francis, watching the tension between them build with each passing second. Zane’s energy is overwhelming, even dangerous, and Francis is no match for him. I can feel the testosterone and dominance rolling off Zane, and if I don’t act quickly, this will end badly. I have to do something, otherwise they could attack each other. I doubt Francis would make it out alive if he enters into a confrontation with Alpha Zane.What do I do?I have to think really fast. The only thing that comes to my mind is to separate them.I throw myself between them just as their faces are inches from each other, barely avoiding a full-blown confrontation. If I walk away with Francis now, without speaking with Alpha Zane, it will only fuel his anger. I don’t know why but I think he hates it when I leave without his permission. He’s always infuriated when I walk out on him. Maybe he finds it weird. For whatever reason, it seems to trigger something primal in him.I
KatarinaI stare at Francis. “What else? To humiliate me, obviously,” I quickly say, trying to deflect.“Don’t worry, Katty. The next time I see him, I’ll take care of him for you,” he says, his thumb gently rubbing my cheek. He leans in to kiss me again, but I pull away.“I’m really exhausted, Francis. I think you should leave now.”“What? You’re asking me to leave your house?”“No… I’m just saying, go home for tonight. I need to get some rest.”He sighs. “Alright then. Good night, Katty.”“Good night, Francis,” I say, watching him leave the room.I lay on my bed reminiscing on the day that I just had. I remember Alpha Zane’s strong hands on mine, his tempting masculine scent, his dark eyes that stared at me and the way he touched me.Why did I let him do that?I turn my body to the other side of the bed. How could I let his hand go under my skirt and only for him to humiliate me afterward? Every time I’m with the Alpha, it’s like I have no control over my body, like it moves on its
KatarinaI can feel Zane’s presence like he is here, watching me.“The young wolf hunter is about to become a wolf,” his mocking voice taunts me, followed by his wicked laugh. I can feel him over my face. My eyes fly open, and I jerk upright, glancing around.There’s no sign of Zane.I exhale heavily. “Was I dreaming? Or was Zane really here, in my room, watching me sleep?”I sluggishly push the sheets off and get out of bed, heading downstairs. The scent of pancakes fills my nostrils. Dad is making breakfast.“Good morning, Dad,” I greet, noticing him at the stove. His eyes shift to me, and I sense something different about his demeanor.“Good morning, Katty,” he replies, his voice gruff as usual. “Sit down. You came at the right time.”I nod and sit as he sets a plate of pancakes in front of me. He pours me a glass of milk, his eyes locking onto mine, as if searching for something. He sits down across from me, hands resting on the table.“So, Francis said something interesting last
Katarina“Hey, Katty!” Francis says, about to step in. “Are you going out?” he asks, noticing the bag.“Yeah, we’re going out,” I reply.He looks puzzled. “Where are we going?”“I’ll tell you in a moment. Come on,” I say, and we get into the car. He starts the ignition, then turns his gaze to me.“So, Katty, where are we off to?”I smile, unable to hide my idea any longer. “I want to throw a small Christmas party.”He chuckles. “A Christmas party?” He gives me an incredulous look.“Uh-huh,” I nod, grinning.“Since when do the Penns celebrate Christmas?” he asks, clearly shocked.“Well, since now. I know we haven’t celebrated Christmas for years, but that’s about to change,” I say. A wave of sadness washes over me, but I take a deep breath and force a smile. “We’re getting some Christmas decorations for the house.”He shakes his head. “Katty, I don’t know… Wait, does Augustine even know about this?” He sounds anxious, glancing between me and the road.“No, he doesn’t, and you can’t tel
KatarinaI’m so excited. Everything has been going according to my plan. The doorbell rings, and I rush to open it. It’s Francis’ mom and three other women.“Hello, Katty,” Mrs. Baker, Francis’ mom says.“Hi, Mrs. Baker. Thank you for coming.”“Sure,” she giggles “I wouldn't miss an invitation from my future daughter-in-law. I came with some friends. I hope that’s not a problem. I figured we’d need more hands.”“Yes, yes, of course. Mrs. Baker, thank you so much! Welcome, everyone,” I say, greeting the three women she had come with. All hunters’ wives, I’m sure, as they walk in.It takes us a few hours, but the whole place smells amazing with the delicious aroma of food. The kitchen is filled with laughter as we cook, and after all the talking and joking, the food is finally ready. The roasted turkey looks incredible, and the other dishes make my mouth water—green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and, oh my gosh, the prime rib roast tastes amazing. We even have a bake
Katarina“I’m coming for you.” Alpha Zane’s voice whispers in my ear, jolting me awake. My eyes snap open instantly.“She’s awake!” Francis exclaims from beside me, relieved. “Doctor, come quick!”An elderly man rushes toward me, followed closely by my dad.“Katty,” Dad says with concern. The elderly man—who I assume is the doctor—begins to examine me. He opens my eyes wide, checks my temperature, and then steps back. “The worst is over. I believe she’ll be fine,” he says reassuringly.“What happened?” I ask, confused. The last thing I remember is hearing Alpha Zane’s voice.Dad leans closer. “You passed out. Francis found you unconscious on the floor.”I close my eyes and lean my head back, a dull pain throbbing behind my forehead. “Ah,” I groan softly, rubbing my temples.“Are you alright, Katty?” Dad asks, his worry deepening.“It’s the sound,” I mutter. “It’s too loud.”Francis, Dad, and the doctor exchange confused looks. Just then, Jeremy and his wife, Mrs. Baker enter the room.
KatarinaHe’s gone.Why won’t he just leave me alone? I know I didn’t imagine it. He was here by my window. My eyes peer at the empty street where I think he stood before. I saw him, but then he disappeared. I think he’s doing it on purpose, playing mind games with me. It’s driving me crazy. Something’s going on inside my body, and he’s always in my head, torturing me. No matter how hard I try, it’s like I can’t escape him.I go back to lie down on the bed, hoping that if I fall asleep, I’d find some semblance of peace. But I can’t. I can’t sleep.I get up from the bed and walk over to the mirror. My reflection stares back at me, unchanged. I turn to my left, then my right, trying to spot something—anything different. Physically, nothing seems out of place. But I feel different, like something has shifted inside me.My mind replays the Alpha’s bite. I tilt my head, fingers tracing the four distinct bite marks on my neck. Anger wells up inside me. This mark… it’s a constant reminder th
KatarinaI’ve been increasingly suspicious of Zane since he started making secret calls. Earlier, he snuck out of the room to answer a call from Adam, thinking I was asleep and wouldn’t notice. But I’ve been onto him. The werewolves are planning an attack, and Zane didn’t want me to know. I couldn’t risk him knowing that I overheard, so I played along. I can’t be mad at him. Of course, he doesn’t trust me. And he’s right—he shouldn’t.We just got back home, and our honeymoon is over. I wish we could have stayed longer than we did. Being alone with him in his beautiful lake house was an escape, one that made me forget about all the mountains between us. Now that we’re back, I don’t know what’s going to happen between us. The entire journey home was cold. He couldn’t even look at me, knowing he was lying to me.Zane strides off into his study and shuts the door without saying a word to me. I bet he’s off planning his attack. He still thinks I’m lost in the bliss of our honeymoon. Well,
ZaneI wake to the sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand. It’s Adam. And, It’s past midnight. I grab the phone and sneak out of bed, careful not to wake Katarina. She shifts in her sleep, her blonde hair spilling over the pillow, but she doesn’t wake up. Good.As I shut the door behind me, I press the phone to my ear. “What is it?” I whisper, walking toward the living room.“We’re moving forward with the attack. The wolf hunters will be in the woods by dawn,” Adam replies. “We’ll be ready.”“Good,” I say, anticipation surging through me. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity to get Augustine within my grasp, outside of his safe haven. My every instinct sharpens, knowing the fight is near.“And Zane…” Adam pauses on the call.“Uncle,” I whisper, waiting for him to continue.“You know what this means. Keep your slave mate out of it.”“She’s Luna now,” I correct him sternly. “And I know, Uncle. She doesn’t need to know.”“Is she with you now?”“No. I’m in the living room.”He ch
ZaneGlando is the perfect destination for Katarina and me. I only have fond memories of this place from the time I spent here with my parents. Now, I want to create new memories with her.“Being here reminds me of the first time you brought me,” she says, her eyes sparkling. “I never, in my wildest dreams, imagined I’d come back here, blood-bound to you,” she adds with disbelief in her voice.“Neither did I,” I smile, grasping the surprising turn of events in our lives. I never thought that after naming Katarina my slave mate, she would enslave my heart with her contagious presence.Her brows furrow as if she’s remembering something. “You hated me.”“I forced myself to hate you, Katarina.” Now, I can stop denying the truths about us that I never wanted to accept.She exhales, glancing around the serene environment. “What if Adam shows up again?” she asks, her voice edged with apprehension.“No one will come here. I’ve made sure of it.” My fingers grip her chin, holding her gaze as I
KatarinaI open my eyes, and the bed beside me is empty. It’s disappointing not to see Zane there. But before I can get out of bed, he walks in, holding a tray with breakfast. He made breakfast? I sit up, surprised but smiling. I can’t help but feel my heart swell a little. The hardened Grand Alpha Zane made me breakfast.“You made this?” I ask, my voice still groggy from sleep.He smirks, placing the tray on the bed. “Don’t look so surprised. I can do a lot of things.”I smile as I take a sip of tea. “Did you poison it?”He raises an eyebrow, giving me a look that says, Are you serious?“Too soon?” I ask, trying to gauge his thoughts.“Definitely too soon,” he replies, remembering the time I poisoned him with wolfsbane.I shouldn’t have made the joke. Things are different between us now. Zane is sweeter and all is well.I chuckle, reaching for a waffle. I take a bite and offer him the other half, which he accepts with a smile. I can’t stop smiling as I scoop some whipped cream with m
ZaneWe enter the house, and reality dawns on me. It’s done—Katarina is mine for the rest of our lives. I feel something I haven’t felt in years: happiness. The war between my wolf clan and her wolf hunters is just that now—a war between my kind and hers. It’s no longer ours. From now on, I’ll only see Katarina as my mate, even if I never stop until Augustine and all his wolf hunters are dead. When they’re gone, she’ll realize I’m the only family she needs, and by then, I’ll have made her turn into a wolf. Lina was my family, and now… I’ll never let this new one I’ve just started go.Katarina follows closely behind me. I hear her steps—they seem hesitant. I can feel the unease coming off her as we reach the hallway and enter my room.She sees all her things already moved into my space, and she folds her arms. She doesn’t like it. I can tell by the way her brow furrows and her lips press into a thin line.“Why is all my stuff here?” she asks, boldly but still nervous.She has to unders
KatarinaI walk down the Grand Hall toward Zane and Maik, the old seer who set our ceremony date. My heart is pounding in my chest. The sound of the musical instruments only makes me more tense. Is this an appropriate song for a wedding or a war? I feel all eyes on me as I take each step, and I can hear the silent whispers from every corner of the hall. I sense the angry glares from those watching. Weddings are supposed to be joyful, but this… this feels different. The tension is suffocating, but I force myself to keep breathing.I finally reach Zane at the front, and everything else fades. His eyes lock onto mine, and suddenly, the world seems quieter. He stares at me, breathtakingly, and his gaze drops to my chest, as if listening to the beating of my heart.His voice speaks in my head through our mate bond, “Focus on me, Katarina.” The connection between us is electric, like a current running through my veins. I feel grounded in his presence, and for a moment, I forget my fear, los
KatarinaMy eyes flutter open. The morning of my mating ceremony has arrived, and everything feels weighed down with expectation. I lean against the headboard, the sheets still covering my lower body.“Good morning, Miss Katarina,” Amira and the other women who dressed me during the loyalty ceremony enter, their wide smiles greeting me warmly as they bow.This is new. I’m surprised. They’re treating me with a new kind of respect now that I’m about to become Luna. “Good morning,” I respond, matching their warmth.“Please let us help you prepare for the day. When we’re done, you’ll look so beautiful that Alpha Zane won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” Amira says with a smile, and the others nod in agreement, eager to start. It feels as though they’re almost showing me the same reverence they hold for Zane.Mesmerizing Zane sounds good to me. “Okay,” I agree, accepting their help. Zane has planned everything. I didn’t have to arrange my own wedding—no choosing colors, food, cake, or
Katarina“I don’t know if I can go through with it.” I’m scared out of my mind. He turns to me, his eyes warm and empathetic. Cyprian has a soft spot for me. He feels for me. “Then don’t. You don’t have to bind yourself to him, Katarina. Not when you have someone else who likes you.”“What?” I ask, confused. What does he mean?He grips me desperately, his eyes serious and pleading, forcing me to focus on him as I stare at him in shock. “Choose me, Katarina. Zane doesn’t love you. He’ll never treat you the way you want him to. He’s still not over Lina.”I stare at him, stunned, wondering where all of this is coming from.Before I can react, he leans in and kisses me. For a moment, I freeze. But then guilt floods me, and I pull away quickly, shaking my head. This isn’t right. This isn’t what I want. I can’t be kissing someone else when I’m bound to Zane.“I have to go,” I mutter, stepping back. I can’t stay here, not like this.“I’m sorry Katty please,” Cyprian says but I don’t listen
KatarinaZane asked me yesterday to be his lover, whatever that means, but I couldn’t respond. How could I? He sprung the question on me. It kind of feels good to know he’s falling for me too. I giggle to myself, feeling elated.Zane comes into my room and wraps his arms around me from behind. “Katarina, you didn’t give me an answer yesterday.”“Well, I’m not done thinking it over.”“Katarina, you had all night.”“Huh… I thought I’d be seeing a different version of Zane today, so I didn’t take your words seriously.”“I meant every word I said, Katarina. I want more between us. No more fights, no war. We’re going to be bound tomorrow, and I don’t want to be at war with my mate.”“On one condition: you’ll never do anything like that again or try to hurt me.”“Never. From here on out, Katarina, I’m only going to protect you.”It feels like I’m in a dream, but one I don’t want to wake up from. Zane’s so different. I knew there was more to him than he was letting on. I won’t lie—I’m fallin