LOGINZane
As soon as he arrived back at my office, Ezra walked straight through, dropped a stack of papers on my desk without a word, and stood back. Iris was already in the study. I had sent for her an hour earlier, because if what Ezra found touched on healer bloodlines or old pack histories, I needed someone who could actually read it. She leaned forward now, pulling the top sheet toward her. Her brows were slightly drawn in with her lips pressed as her gaze moved through thZane As soon as he arrived back at my office, Ezra walked straight through, dropped a stack of papers on my desk without a word, and stood back. Iris was already in the study. I had sent for her an hour earlier, because if what Ezra found touched on healer bloodlines or old pack histories, I needed someone who could actually read it. She leaned forward now, pulling the top sheet toward her. Her brows were slightly drawn in with her lips pressed as her gaze moved through the information on the sheet. "What did you find?" I said to Ezra. "Western territories." He rested his hands on the back of the empty chair but didn't sit. "She came through a mid-ranking healer guild. It’s a small chapter and they are not widely known outside that region. Her credentials looked clean at the surface." He paused. "On second look they didn't hold up as well." "What did you find?" "The guild itself. When I dug into its membership over the last eight yea
Zane Geraldine did not look like someone who had tried to murder the Luna. Not like that someone would have a mark on their face. But her face showed that she had cried so much until there was nothing left to pour out, and was now sitting on the other side of it, hollowed out and still. Her eyes were swollen that it looked shut. Her hands were pressed flat against her thighs in a way that looked like she was trying to keep them from shaking and the composure that had always been the defining thing about her, that particular upright stiffness she carried like part of her uniform, was entirely gone. What was underneath it was just a woman who was terrified. Deeply and painfully terrified. I stood at the far wall of the cell and behind me was Ezra. The rage I felt towards Geraldine was still there. It had not gone anywhere. But I knew I had to listen to Tiana this time and trust her instincts. Not like it did not make sense. "Geraldine."
Zane The word was already forming in my throat. I had thought about this moment more than I wanted to admit. The moment I could look at whoever had touched Tiana in the eyes and give the order that ended them. I had imagined it would feel very satisfying. Taking steps like this was necessary, and doing it to the person that planned to hurt my Luna and my pup? Fantastic! Yet, all my emotions felt distant from it. I drew in a deep breath and with my gaze focused, roared out “Kill— “Alpha, Alpha, please stop.” The door behind me burst open and a servant girl stumbled through, her hair half-pulled loose from its braid and her breath coming in pieces. She dropped to both knees before I had even fully turned, her forehead almost touching the stone floor. "Alpha." Her voice was held together by almost nothing. "The Luna, please. Healer Iris sent me, she says the Luna is awake and asking for you. She asks that you please come immediately and she’s holding the Luna back fro
Tiana I was not sure how long it took, but when I opened my eyes, my head felt so heavy like it had been stuffed with sacks of stones. The room I was in was dim, as it had curtains drawn tight, and for a moment I couldn't remember where I was or why everything hurt. My body felt stiff against the bed, and every turn I took made my neck ache as if shards of glass were pressing in multiple places. When I finally managed to turn my head slowly, after consistently making movements requiring effort I did not have, it was a breath of relief. Healer Iris stood at a small table near the window, grinding something in a mortar, and the scent of herbs filled the air causing my nose to scrunch up at the pungent medicinal smell. "Iris?" My voice came out scratchy and weak. She glanced over, her expression softening slightly. "Luna Tiana. You're awake. Good. Don't try to move too much as you are still recovering." Recovering. Right. Because I'd been poisoned. The reality of it se
Zane “What is it?” I probed, lifting my brows as I waited for a response. Iris hesitated before she answered. “This particular poison, the one used on Luna Tiana, is not common. The recipe is old, known only to certain families with long healer bloodlines. Someone with significant knowledge created this.” My mouth went open and I was not sure what to reply. After a series of shaking my head, I muttered, “I want an investigation, immediately. Everyone who had access to Tiana’s food, her chambers, and her supplements. I want to know who could have delivered the poison.” “I’ll coordinate with Beta Ezra,” Iris said. “But Alpha, be prepared. It might be more complicated.” “I don’t care,” I growled. “Just bring me the culprit.” She nodded and left to begin her treatment. I stood alone in my office for a long moment, letting the rage I’d been carefully controlling finally surface. Someone had poisoned Tiana and put my child at risk. And they’d done it under my nose. T
Zane Iris arrived four days after I sent the message. Four long days of watching Tiana fade in slow motion and barely able to keep down water, let alone food. In those times, she was constantly in bed yet completely exhausted. What was destroying her from inside, we could not tell but she fought as hard as she could to survive it. I felt completely powerless while my mate deteriorated in front of me. “Where is she?” Iris demanded the moment she saw me. “Her chambers. This way.” We moved through the corridors quickly, Iris’s healer instincts already engaged as I filled her in on the symptoms and everything else I’d observed. “And Senna?” Iris asked. “What has she said?” “That it’s anxiety. Normal pregnancy complications exacerbated by Luna Tiana’s worries.” My jaw tightened. “She’s been useless. Every examination ends with reassurances that mean nothing while Tiana gets worse.” Iris’s expression darkened but she said nothing until we reached Tiana’s chambers. Th
Zane The car ride back to the packhouse was silent. Tiana sat in the passenger seat, her hands folded carefully in her lap, while her gaze remained fixed on the window. She hadn’t spoken since we left the atelier. Or asked why I’d waited. I could feel the tension radiating off her—brittle
Zane I moved. Not the most conscious decision. Not a choice weighed against consequences or the thousand reasons I should turn around and walk away. Just a pure instinctive response to a question that had bypassed every defense I’d built. Three strides and I was on her. My hand cupped t
“The tea you requested for, Ma’am.” Leila had placed the order and head servant Geraldine along with two other servants brought tea—fragrant and steaming in delicate porcelain. I should bask in the warmth of my new reality but sitting down there, watching the tea being laid out by the serva
Zane The bond between us was functional and necessary for my heir. But it would never be what Leila described. It won’t ever be soft or easy or full of the kind of comfortable affection that came from decades of partnership. Tiana would give me an heir, fulfilling her contract. And then she’d







