Katarina“She what?” Cassandra stares at me, curiosity in her eyes. She’s anxious for me to say it, almost desperate.“She’s pregnant with Zane’s child!”Cassandra pulls back, eyes narrowing. “How do you know that?”“She told me herself. She just left here a while ago.”“Katty, listen to me. You can’t believe a single word she says. Have you spoken to Alpha Zane?”“No. I can’t. I can’t even look him in the eye. I can’t stand the thought of him… cheating on me with her.”“You have to talk to him.”“You’re right. I’m going to call him.”I dial Zane’s number and call him again and again. No answer.“I don’t know where he is,” I panic.“Katty, don’t trust Magdalena. I’m telling you,” Cassandra sighs, rubbing my back. “Come on. I’ll help you inside.”She settles me on the couch and brings a glass of water from the kitchen.“It’s just… Zane promised me. He swore he’d never see her again.”“Magdalena is just—” Cassandra clenches her jaw. “Look, I get how he might break that promise. She’s hi
My phone keeps ringing, and I groggily open my eyes. My hand searches the bed until I finally grip it.“Hello, Dad?” I abruptly sit up as I see his name on the screen.“Katty, things are not good,” he says, clearly agitated.“What?” I’m instantly alert. “What’s wrong, Dad? Are you okay?”“No,” he replies bluntly. “We’re losing, Katty.” He sounds frustrated. “I’m losing the faction’s respect. I’m losing their trust. And you know what that means— they won’t follow me anymore.”“Oh no,” I whisper. “But… why, Dad? You’ve dedicated your whole life to the Wolfhunter faction. How could they stop trusting you now?”“Because of you, Katarina,” he snaps. “You’ve delayed your marriage to Francis long enough.” His voice rises. “Jeremy’s been putting too much pressure on me.”My brows furrow. “What kind of pressure, Dad?”“He wants me to prove we haven’t changed sides. And that’s your damn fault for fooling around with the Alpha!” he growls. “Francis is devastated because of that.”I feel cornered
KatarinaIt hits me all at once. Before the mating ceremony—when we first met—Maik had spoken about my mom.“What do you know about her?” I ask, my anxiety rising again, tightening around my chest.“Patience is a virtue, Luna Katarina,” Maik says. “All will come to light soon enough.”Soon isn’t good enough for me. I need to know the truth. I can’t wait any longer. He has to tell me more.“No, please,” I beg. “If you knew my mom, just tell me what you know about her.”He holds my gaze, as if trying to make sure I hear every word. “Your mother was the opposite of your father. She believed in peace, and she went to great lengths to make it possible.” He sighs, the lines on his face deepening. “She had a dream she never lived to see fulfilled.”My brow furrows. “What dream?” What is he talking about?“Peace between the wolf clan and the wolf hunters.”“What?”That’s impossible! I whip my head toward Zane, and he looks just as shocked as I am. “But your father never supported her,” Maik
KatarinaI step out of the car and look up.Zane is here—standing there, waiting.I walk up to him. “Zane! What are you doing here?”I can’t hide the surprise on my face.“I’ve been waiting for you,” he says, unable to hide his displeasure either.“I didn’t think you were going to come.”“I didn’t think you’d want my support,” he retorts. “I don’t want you to take the wolf cure, Katarina,” he adds, his face serious, “but I won’t leave you alone either.”I smile and slip my hand into his. Together, we walk in to see Maik.“Ha! Alpha Zane and Luna Katarina!” Maik greets us like he already knew we were coming.I turn to Zane. “Did you tell him?”“Not at all,” he replies, though he doesn’t look surprised.“Come, sit. Drink some herbal tea with me,” Maik says, pouring tea from a white jar into three small teacups. He hands one to Zane, then one to me, and we sit down.“It’s good to see you back home safely and doing well, Luna Katarina,” he says, flashing his brownish teeth. “Alpha Zane wa
KatarinaWe both silently stare at each other, but I don’t have the courage to say anything else.“Katarina.” He finally speaks, giving me an incredulous look.“Zane, you always knew I never wanted to be a wolf.”“Yes,” he mutters, his hands clenching into fists. “But I held out hope. I thought if you got to know me—if you got to know Kris—you’d change your mind.”I drop my gaze. “I’m sorry.”“I’ll take you back home.” He grabs my coat from the cold ground and wraps it around me.“And the cure?” I ask.He looks at me, clearly irritated. “If you want a cure so badly, then go to Maik. He’s the only one who might have the answers you’re looking for.”There’s hope! “So there is a cure, after all?”He looks away, then turns back to me.“Once, when my grandfather was still Grand Alpha…” he pauses. “There were rumors that some packs had seers—ones who created cures for werewolves wanting to be free of their curse.” His eyes lock onto mine.“One werewolf in Wolf Zone heard about it and convin
KatarinaMy eyes open, and my hand stretches across the bed, searching for Zane. He’s not here.I get up and walk to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of him—nothing. But then my eyes dart to the sky. It’s a full moon. I know where he is.I throw on a gown and wrap my coat tightly around my body before heading out.“Luna Katarina,” the werewolf guard at the first gate greets me.“Hello.”“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave. It’s dangerous. The full moon—”“I just want to go to the woods,” I say, cutting him off. “Precisely why I can’t let you go, Luna Katarina,” he retorts. “There are a lot of wolves loose in the woods. Alpha Zane would hate for you to be harmed.”He is clearly terrified of Zane. Then again, isn't everyone in the Wolf Zone? “Zane? Where is he?”“In the woods, Luna.”“Then that’s where I’m going.”He steps forward, trying to stop me.“He’ll protect me. Now let me go,” I demand, holding his gaze.He steps back, surprisingly obeying me. It’s good to know that be