로그인Zara's POV I stepped fully into the clearing, my white mating dress dragging through the grass and dirt like a ghost of the future I thought I was walking toward. My arms were folded tightly over my chest, but they did nothing to stop the violent shaking that had taken over my entire body. Isaac and Ben both whipped around to face me, their expressions shifting from shock to panic in the span of a heartbeat.“Answer the question, Isaac,” I repeated, my voice low and trembling with barely contained rage. “How long has this been going on? How long have you been sleeping with your own half-brother?”Isaac’s face went pale. He took a step toward me, hands raised like he was approaching a wounded animal. “Zara… it’s not what it looks like. You’re misunderstanding—”“Misunderstanding?” I laughed, but there was no humor in it, only sharp, broken pain. “I saw you, Isaac! I saw the way you kissed him back. The way your hands were on him. Don’t you dare stand there and lie to my face right now
Zara's POV I sat on the edge of the bed in my room, my hands trembling in my lap as nerves ate away at me like acid. The white mating dress felt both too tight and too loose at the same time, the delicate fabric whispering against my skin with every shaky breath I took. The ceremony was supposed to start soon, and yet here I was, drowning in doubt. Ike’s face kept flashing in my mind — his touch, his pain, the way my body had betrayed me so easily. Guilt and fear twisted together until I could barely think straight.I needed to see Isaac. Talking to him would give me the courage I desperately needed to walk down that aisle and commit to our future. He always had a way of grounding me, of making everything feel right again. I would tell him the truth. About me and Ike. Only then would I be able to fully commit to us with this guilt eating up at my conscience. Only then would I finally be happy. I stood up, smoothing the flowing white dress that hugged my slender frame. The hem swept
Zara's POV I stood in front of the full-length dressing mirror, my reflection staring back at me with wide, uncertain eyes. Suzie hummed softly behind me as she carefully tucked delicate white flowers into my wild red curls. My heart was racing so hard I could feel it pounding in my throat, each beat a painful reminder that this moment was real. I was about to mate with Isaac. Today. In front of his entire family and our closest friends at the beautiful woodland cabin they had prepared.*Am I doing the right thing?* The question looped endlessly in my mind. Images of Ike flashed through my head uninvited — his pained eyes, the heat of his body against mine, the way he had looked at me like I was his entire world even as he lay dying. Guilt twisted like a knife in my stomach. But I pushed it down, forcing myself to breathe. This was best. A fresh start with the best man I had ever known. Isaac was stable, kind, and he loved me without complications. He offered safety, a future, a life
I couldn’t believe we had actually come to the cabin. The drive through the dense forest had been tense, filled with Emmett’s brooding silence and stolen glances that made my thighs press together. Now, hours after arriving, the others had gone to scout the perimeter, leaving us alone in the large wooden lodge nestled deep in the pines. The full moon was rising again, silver light pouring through the tall windows and across the fur rugs on the floor.I stood by the fireplace, pretending to warm my hands, when I felt him behind me. His presence was like heat itself—radiating, consuming. Before I could turn, his arms caged me against the stone mantel, his hard body pressing flush to my back.“You’ve been avoiding being alone with me since we left,” he growled low in my ear, lips brushing the shell. One large hand slid down my stomach, pulling my ass back against the thick ridge of his erection. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”My breath hitched. “I just… needed air.”“Liar.” His other
I wandered through the dimly lit east wing corridors after midnight, unable to sleep again. The magnetic pull that always seemed to lead me back to Emmett had grown stronger since the night I first unlocked his door. My bare feet were silent on the cold stone as I approached the massive arched doors of the ancient library. I knew he was in there. I could feel it.The heavy doors creaked open. Moonlight streamed through tall stained-glass windows, casting colored patterns across thousands of leather-bound books and the long oak tables. Emmett stood near the center, his back to me, one hand braced on a tall bookshelf. The moment I stepped inside, he stiffened.“Kali.” His voice was rough, already edged with that dangerous hunger. He turned slowly, crimson eyes glowing in the low light. “You shouldn’t be here.”“I couldn’t stay away,” I whispered.He crossed the distance in seconds, slamming the doors shut behind me with a wave of his hand. Before I could say anything else, he pinned me
Emmett's POVI pushed open the door to my chambers and immediately knew something was off.The room was dim, lit only by the orange glow of the setting sun filtering through the curtains. Everything looked normal at first glance.The desk.The fireplace.The chair near the window.Then my eyes landed on the bed.Someone was lying in it.My pulse jumped before I could stop it.Kali.For one ridiculous second, that was where my mind went.Not because she belonged there.Not because she would ever willingly climb into my bed.But because somehow, lately, every strange thing in my life seemed to circle back to her.I sighed.The girl was becoming a problem.A very confusing problem.The figure shifted beneath the blankets.Long dark hair spilled across the pillow.My steps slowed.Wait.Dark hair.Not silver.A cold feeling settled in my stomach.I crossed the room quickly and yanked the blanket down."Kora?"She looked up at me with watery eyes.Relief flooded her face."Emmett."My jaw
Kali's POVMy breath caught in my throat as I stared at my reflection.I had completely forgotten about this strange stab mark that had appeared on my chest.Only now, it was throbbing and felt raw. I rubbed my hand on my forehead. In my dream I had been stabbed exactly where this strange stab wou
Kali's POV I stared back at Zara, unsure of what to say. She had this look in her eyes, like she was worried about what I might have seen. Did she know Emmett had a beast in his house? "Um..." I cleared my throat, "I didn't see much." I didn't miss the relief that washed over her featur
Kali's POV This was it. This was it. My life was officially over. The beast growled. Each growl vibrated through my ribs like a drumbeat from hell. I had never given much thought to how I would die. Well, actually, I have. But I had been so certain that when I died, it would be at the h
Kali's POV The mansion was eerie quiet and dark. There was no sign of movement either. Was everyone at the mating moon ceremony? Well if that was the case, this works perfectly for me. I can slip in and slip out without being detected. I rubbed my side. The burning sensation had increa







