CHAPTER 5: YOU ARE MY MATE

Katarina

Alpha Zane releases his grip on me. My vision blurs with tears as I stumble back, clutching my neck where he bit me.

“You monster,” I gasp. “You… bit me.” I collapse to my knees, feeling completely defeated.

He slaps the silver dagger out of my hand. My eyes widen in shock as the cold metal clatters to the ground. His dark gaze follows it, then returns to me, cold and unforgiving.

It’s over. This was my last chance to get him.

I’m horrified, shaking. I can feel blood on my tender skin, the pain of his bite searing into me. I’m panting, ashamed. I hesitated. Dad was right—Alpha Zane didn’t spare me. The questions he asked earlier all make sense now. He knew who I was all along. And he bit me… it’s real. My trembling fingers trace the fresh bite marks on my neck.

“You should be grateful I didn’t kill you,” he growls, his eyes locking on mine with cruel satisfaction. “But killing you would be too easy.”

“Your father took what was mine three years ago, and now I’m going to take what’s his.”

My heart pounds in my chest. “Your mate?” I croak, barely able to breathe. That’s it. Dad killed his mate, and now he wants revenge.

“Lina,” he says with grief and pain. “My Luna.”

I was right. He’s furious, and I know he’s going to make me pay for it.

“I didn’t take her from you,” I say, trying to defend myself, scrambling for a way to save my life.

“No, but your father did,” he barks, furious.

“I’m not my dad,” I plead, tears streaming down my face. “Please, let me go. I haven’t done anything to you.”

“You’re a liar,” he snaps. “I see through your innocent act. You came here to kill me.” His eyes dart to the silver dagger on the ground, then back to mine. He lifts my chin, forcing me to look into his cold, dark eyes. “That’s why you’re here tonight, isn’t it?”

He’s right. I’m not innocent. I came to harm him, but he saw right through me.

“What are you going to do to me?” I ask, my voice trembling with fear.

A wicked smirk forms on his lips. He can sense the terror running through me, and it excites him. “Oh… Katarina, I have big plans for you.”

There it is again—that same charm that made me let my guard down, the same charm that got me bitten. I hate that I still love the way he says my name, even though he’s about to hurt me.

Shut up, Katarina! Foolish girl. There’s nothing charming about this. He’s going to kill you. Don’t you see that?

But despite everything, I’m still drawn to him. Am I insane for feeling something for the man who wants to take my life?

No, this isn’t normal. Something is pulling me toward him, drawing me in like I want to jump into his arms. He must have done something to me, set some kind of trap to get me close enough so he can finish me off. Fear swells in my chest.

“What have you done to me?” My voice cracks. “Am I… a wolf now?”

He doesn’t answer. His gaze falls to the silver dagger again before it rises to meet mine, cold and calculating.

“How did you think you could take on an Alpha alone?”

Panic grips me again. I failed. It all crashes down on me—the plan, everything. It was doomed from the start. Dad was too desperate, too reckless, and I was stupid enough to follow through. I should’ve known he’d figure it out. Now I’ve been marked by the Alpha. I don’t even know what that means, or what he’s going to do to me.

“I swear, I will kill you. Or I’ll die trying. But you’ll never get away with what you’ve done,” I say, my voice trembling but firm.

Alpha Zane’s eyes darken as he smirks. “What I’ve done? What about what your father has done?” His voice turns ice cold as he steps closer.

His look sends chills down my spine as he adds, “I’ve suffered a fate worse than death… and I’ll make you pay for it.” His words are filled with disdain as he starts to walk away.

“I hate you,” I yell in disgust.

He pauses, turning back to me. Before I can react, he grabs me and pulls me up from my knees. I try to push him away, but it’s useless. The bite has drained me, leaving me too dizzy to fight back. His hands gently brush my face, and for some reason, I freeze. I stand there, unable to resist, as if I belong to him. Anger surges through me, but from the way his dark eyes lock on mine, I know he feels it too. In that instant, I know… I am his.

Before I can even scream, he leans in, his breath hot against my ear. Then I hear it again: “You’re mine now, Katarina Penn,” he whispers. His lips crash against mine with such force that I have to pull away, fighting to regain control of myself.

He chuckles darkly. “Tell your father… I’m coming for what belongs to me.”

I stare at him, confused. “What do you mean by that?” My voice trembles.

His eyes gleam with danger. “Katarina Penn, you don’t understand, do you? I own you now. You are my mate, and I always take what’s mine.”

My eyes widen in horror. No, it can’t be! I’m a wolf hunter. I can’t be the Alpha’s mate. The man I came to seduce and kill has marked me, and now he wants me.

“I’ll never be yours,” I snap, but a part of me knows it’s a lie. I can still feel his bite on my neck, like he’s claiming me all over again.

“We’ll see.” He bleeds confidence as he turns his back to me, taking a step away before glancing over his shoulder.

As he walks away, rage flares inside me. He deceived me, marked me, kissed me… how dare he! I’m not his property. I’m not his to toy with.

Adrenaline surges through me. I grab the silver dagger from the ground and lunge at him. I need to get him, for marking me, for making me his, for humiliating me. I can’t let him come for me and my dad.

Just as I’m about to strike, he spins around and grabs my wrist with incredible force. His strength is terrifying, far beyond anything I could have imagined. The knife slips from my hand, tumbling to the floor. He leans in close, his breath cold against my skin.

“Try that again, and it’ll be the last thing you ever do,” he warns, his voice icy. He releases my wrist, and I glance down. My skin is red and throbbing from his grip.

I glare at him, feeling fear and anger battling inside me.

Alpha Zane’s eyes darken as he smirks. “Don’t you get it? You’ll never take me down. And I look forward to tearing you apart… bit by bit.” His wicked laughter booms as he walks away.

I feel shattered. I collapse to the ground, trembling, tears burning behind my eyes. My wrists hurt, and my heart feels like it’s breaking into pieces. I can’t believe what just happened.

This can’t be the end. It can’t be over.

Somehow, I manage to pull myself together and make it home. Dad will be waiting, expecting victory. What am I going to tell him? That I failed to kill the Alpha? That I kissed him… and worse, that he marked me?

I wipe my tears and cover the bite mark with my hair. No one can know.

I walk into the house, and suddenly, a voice rings out. “Surprise!” Francis, my boyfriend, is standing in the living room. I feel guilty.

Could this day get any worse?

“Francis…” I start, but before I can finish, Dad comes over, beaming. “There’s my star daughter,” he says, kissing my forehead. He looks… happy. I haven’t seen him this happy in years, not since Mom died.

And then there’s Jeremy, Francis’s father. “You’re truly your father’s daughter,” he says, smiling proudly.

Francis grabs my hand, his face lighting up with excitement. “There’s no better moment than now,” he says.

Better moment for what? I’m still in shock from everything that’s happened tonight.

“Today, I thought I was going to lose you, Katty,” Dad says. “And yet, here you are. That can only mean one thing. The Alpha is dead.”

My heart pounds in my chest. They think I killed him. How can I tell them the truth?

Jeremy’s voice breaks through the fog in my mind. “We have our answer. The Alpha is dead, the pack is broken, and now we can take the city.”

Cheers erupt around me—Augustine, Francis, and Jeremy. They all believe I succeeded. But I haven’t. Alpha Zane is still alive, and worse, I’m tied to him in a way that feels like a lifetime trap.

Francis squeezes my hand again. “It must’ve been tough, but you did it.” He smiles at me with so much excitement that my guilt deepens.

“There’s no better time than now,” Francis continues, kneeling down before me. My breath catches in my throat as he opens a small box, revealing a beautiful silver ring. “Will you marry me, Katarina?”

I freeze. The world seems to close in around me. How can I possibly say yes to my boyfriend’s proposal when I’m marked by another man? An Alpha, no less. And how am I going to tell them the truth—that I’m bound to a monster?

“Katarina?” Dad urges, his eyes full of expectation.

I glance at Jeremy. His stern gaze is urging me to accept.

But how can I? Soon, they’d all know the truth. The Alpha isn’t dead. I didn’t kill him. He’s marked me as his mate, and now I’m bound to a man I both fear and am drawn to.

What am I going to do? Should I say yes? What happens with the Alpha?

I open my mouth to speak, but before I can say a word, the door slams open behind me.

And there, standing in the doorway, is Alpha Zane.

His dark eyes fix on mine, and I gasp for air.

“Katarina,” he growls, taking a step forward. “I told you… you’re mine.”

I feel my world falling apart.