ZaneThe door slams in my face, and rage surges through me. How dare she shut me out? My fists tighten, the urge to break the door down rushing through me. It would be easy, far too easy. Kris growls within, pressing me to take control, to storm in there and drag her out.I stand there, muscles tensing, debating whether breaking the door is worth it. It would take a single hit to rip it off its hinges. But no, I tell myself, not yet. There’s no need to take it that far. She’s inside, and she knows there’s no escape. I’ll give her another chance before I let my patience snap.I press the doorbell, harder than I need to.Silence.I know she’s there, just on the other side. Her fear is oozing, drawing me in.The door opens, but it’s not Katarina standing there. It’s him—the man from the other day. My eyes narrow, wondering what connection he has with her.“You!” he spits out, trying to sound braver than he feels. “What are you doing here?”I fix my cold, unwavering gaze on him. His prese
Katarina “I’m right here.” I step out the door, holding back the tears that want to spill. Here he is, threatening to hurt us, and I feel powerless to stop him. His eyes meet mine, and my heart skips a beat—I don’t know why. My pulse quickens, like I’ve just met the man of my dreams. Our gazes lock, and I don’t even realize I’ve been walking until I’m inches away from him. He inhales my scent and my head tilts back, my eyes closing as an unexpected wave of pleasure washes over me. Dad and Francis are probably watching, but I can’t help myself. He grabs my chin, his eyes burning into mine. I stare back, feeling like this is a reunion we were destined for. A wolf killed my mother. Wolves have wanted me dead. Alpha Zane wants to kill my dad and take me to humiliate him. But all the anger, hate, and pain swirling inside me melt in this moment, and all I want is to keep looking at him, like my life depends on it. I think he feels it too. When he looks at me, I feel like his woman, his lo
KatarinaWe arrive at the wolf zone, and my skin crawls. I’m scared out of my mind. My thoughts flash back to the last time I was here—wolves attacked me, and I ended up injuring two of them just to defend myself. What will happen now that I’m in the lion’s den—or, in this case, the wolf’s den? When they find out my dad is Augustine, my life will be in danger.Back home, Zane didn’t let me leave with anything, not even my clothes. If he had, I would’ve smuggled a weapon with me. Now, I have no way of defending myself except by trusting my life to a dangerous Alpha who only keeps me alive for his revenge plans. It sounds like a terrible plan. Alpha Zane will probably let them attack me just for his amusement. He hates me—he’s made that clear. I can’t let myself feel safe just because he hasn’t killed me yet, because once he’s done with me, he won’t hesitate to take my life. When he’s not looking at me with those seductive eyes of his, he’s looking at me with deadly ones. Either way, I
KatarinaI watch him walk away, and everything comes flooding back. He bit me and left this dreadful mark on my neck. He wants Dad dead. He stormed into my home, furious, and forced me to leave with him. He hurt Francis and Dad. He’s a wolf, just like the beast that killed Mom. And he’s the Alpha—my enemy. He’s just given me another reminder of that.Katarina, you can’t get carried away. I tell myself. You hate him. Sing it like an anthem every day.His home is undeniably beautiful, but I have to see it as a prison. I’m in enemy territory, and I’m here on a mission. I need to find a cure, something that will stop me from turning into a wolf. And I swear, I’ll kill Alpha Zane for deceiving me, for taking advantage of me, and for making everyone think I’m a fool. I just need to figure out a way to get close enough to take him down. First, I have to find the cure, and he’s the only link I have to it right now. He’s the one who bit me, after all.The elderly woman grins at me. “Come, swee
ZaneMy eyes devour her body with an intense hunger to taste her, a battle raging within me. I have two choices: take her now and consummate our bond, or walk away. The second choice is the one I should make, but I can’t bring myself to do it. My arms wrap around her waist possessively, pulling her body flush against mine. Her eyes lock with mine, and I can see the fear lurking in them, wondering what I’m about to do.My gaze falls to her lips, and I claim them, kissing her desperately, over and over. I don’t want to stop. She stirs a fierce, primal desire in me.Shit. I want to fuck her!Kris, my wolf, has been waiting long enough. Claim her! Fuck her! he roars inside me.“Stop,” she whispers.Kris pulls back, and I abruptly pull away. Doesn’t she want me? I stare at her, confused. I can smell the desire on her. So, why did she stop me?Control yourself, Zane, my mind warns me.I haven’t touched another woman since Lina. I don’t need to do this with Katarina. Mate or not, I can have
KatarinaBut, I’m the Alpha. I make the rules. As they growl louder, my eyes turn red, and Kris roars, forcing them to calm down. They all stare at me, stunned.Good. I have their attention.“This is Katarina Penn. She’ll be joining you this semester.”“Alpha Zane,” Miranda, one of the lecturers, greets me. She turns to Katarina. “Welcome, Miss Penn.” She doesn’t hide her displeasure, but she can’t disobey me either. Everyone settles down. They don’t want Katarina here. But I do, and that’s enough.“You can settle down, Miss Penn, with the rest of the class. I’m sure the Alpha has greater responsibilities to take care of,” Miranda says, trying to play nice to Katarina.Katarina shifts her gaze to me, displeased. “Please, don’t leave me with these beasts. I want to go where you go,” she whispers, her eyes pleading.I lean close to her, whispering in her ear. “They can hear you, Katarina.” I watch the shock and fear on her face as she leans closer to me, afraid.“A werewolf’s ears are a
ZaneThere is silence for what feels like a couple of minutes. Then, Adam strides towards me, and I see the anger in his eyes as he faces me.“Alpha Zane, this is not your call to make. She is standing before the Council.” He gestures toward Katarina. My gaze shifts to her—she’s trying to hold herself together, but she looks terrified. I feel the urge to protect her rising in me again.“Yes. And I brought her before the Council,” I say, pointing at my chest. “Do you even know who she is?”“Damn right I do. She’s Katarina Penn, daughter of Augustine Penn, the leader of the wolf hunters. We have two wolves in the clinic, and I’ve been informed she’s the cause.”I’m taken aback. He knows everything. Damn it! I wanted to reveal it myself. He needed to hear it from me. Now, his mind is set—and the rest of the Council’s too. The chances of convincing them otherwise are slim.“So, tell us, Alpha,” he says, his arm sweeping toward the rest of the Council seated at the table. “Why the hell are
ZaneWe both sit silently in the car. My gaze shifts toward her, and I notice a deep frown on her face. Her fists are clenched, like she’s holding onto some intense thought. I sit up straighter, firming my voice. “If you’ve got something to say, then say it.”She turns and meets my eyes briefly before looking away again, tapping her fingers lightly on her lips. For a few moments, it seems like she’s holding herself back, but then she finally speaks.“Slave mate? Is that why you brought me here? To be your slave mate?”My expression hardens. “I didn’t force you to come. You came willingly. I’ll make you whatever I damn well choose.”She scoffs bitterly. “You threatened me. You threatened to hurt my father and my—” She stops, leaving the sentence unfinished.“And your what? Tell me Katarina…Your what?” I lean in, my gaze cold and intense. “You must mean that pathetic bodyguard of yours. What is he to you?”She hesitates before finally muttering, “He’s my… friend.”“Friend,” I repeat the
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
KatarinaI come out of one of the restrooms at the academy and turn on the tap to wash my hands. The door swings open, and Magdalena walks in. Of all people, it just had to be her. I quickly grab a tissue to dry my hands.“Look who we have here,” she says sarcastically, her tone filled with disgust.“Hello, Magdalena,” I say, trying to stay calm as I wipe my hands and toss the tissue into the trash. Grabbing my backpack, I start to walk away. If I want any chance of having a good day, avoiding Magdalena is my best bet.“Going somewhere?” she says, grabbing my arm. I look at her hand on me, then back at her, giving her a stare that tells her she’s crossing a line.“Oh, don’t exaggerate,” she says, removing her hand.“What do you want, Magdalena?”“You know exactly what I want, Katarina.”“No, I don’t. Tell me.” I cross my arms, waiting for whatever rubbish she wants to spill. She doesn’t like me, and you know what? The feeling is mutual.“Alpha Zane,” she blurts out, and it hits me. Th
KatarinaI gasp, unable to control myself, my breathing coming in heavy. The ash-colored wolf with red eyes stares at me. There it is again—the draw I feel toward him. Slowly, I close the distance between us, lifting my right hand to his chin. As I touch him, my nerves calm, and my heart rate steadies. Being near him gives me a sense of safety, of protection.I stroke him gently, and his eyes close, feeling my touch.“Zane,” I whisper, staring at his face, and then I piece it together. “Kris.” His red eyes open, locking onto mine, and he lets out a soft, high-pitched whine, recognizing my voice. I lean into him, feeling as though I’ve found my resting place. He nuzzles me, making snuffling sounds with deep, affectionate snorts, his tail thumping against the ground.God, Katarina, you have to stop this. But I’m in awe, gazing at Kris. This is my first time seeing Zane’s wolf, and he’s beautiful. My mate is perfect—if I were someone who wanted a wolf as a mate. This is crazy.He sniffs,