Zane Author Books Novels & Stories

“I’m so sorry, pup. About all of it.” Before I can respond, the door swings open again. Zane enters, his massive frame filling the doorway as he balances a large, leather-bound book in his arms. The tome looks ancient, its cover worn smooth by countless hands over what must be centuries. His steel-grey eyes find mine immediately, something unreadable flickering in their depths. “James,” he says, nodding toward the chair across from us. “Take a seat.” My father squeezes my hand once before releasing it and moving to the indicated chair. Zane settles the book on his desk with surprising gentleness before taking his own seat beside me. I can feel the heat radiating from him, a constant reminder

“I’ll go with you. But if you slip up again, I’ll kick your ass.” Zane’s grin widened. “That would be kind of hot, actually.” “I mean it, Zane.” “I know, I know.” Zane followed me around the corner to the next row of bookshelves. I began scanning the “S” section, and pulled out a title on soothsayer practices, which I added to the pile. Zane quirked a brow at me as I dropped the stack of books I was holding onto a nearby table. I’d collected more than five tonight, and intended to read them all. He picked up the most recent one and read the back with a curious expression.

Zane As I sat with my personal cabinet, discussing the intricate details of our latest ventures, the atmosphere in the room was a mix of intensity and confidence. We had been working tirelessly to expand our influence, and the success of our operations depended heavily on precision and secrecy. My advisors, each an expert in their field, were laying out the plans with meticulous care. Just as my chief strategist, Lila, was about to present her latest analysis on our territorial gains, the door swung open with a force that silenced the room.

I rubbed my temples. Get another book. Distract yourself. I stood and walked further down into the library. I needed another book to make me focus. That was when I saw her. Zana sat alone in a corner of the library. She was reading a book. She looked completely absorbed. Her red hair had fallen forward, partly hiding her face. My first thought was stupid and automatic. There’s no way she can actually read. The idea came from years of conditioning. My father told me that rogues were savages. I was told that they were uneducated and barely civilized. That was what we were taught.

ZANE *Trigger Warning- Mention of Self Harm* - The story continues in the next chapter - You will not miss anything else. *Your mental health matters!* I run. My paws hit the forest floor hard as I move through the trees. Through the fog. Through everything, I can’t seem to control. Because what I walked in on this morning is burned into my mind like a brand. Her scent was everywhere. Her thighs were parted. Her eyes met mine. She moaned.

No more letting her win just because she had a wolf and I didn’t. I shoved my books into my locker, slammed it shut, and turned to leave. That’s when I saw him. Zane was leaning against the locker next to mine, arms crossed, that easy smile on his face like he’d been waiting for me all day. My heart did a stupid little flip. He looked good—tall, athletic, the kind of guy every girl stared at. But my stomach tightened with nerves instead of the rush I used to feel.

Something in the process of evolving. Andrei hadn’t said much since that night. They passed each other in corridors, exchanged glances that lingered too long, but with them, words had become less necessary. The silence between them now carried weight. It still harboured resentment, but still carried respect. The weight of a dozen words left unspoken. Zane found himself in the library again with no fire this time, only the gray illumination of morning light. He pulled a book from the shelves something about the evolution of aristocratic dynasties. He didn’t care for the content. It was the weight of the book in his hands, the way knowledge felt like armor.

“And what exactly are you planning to find there, Ashley?” “Answers,” was all I said, before walking away. — Zane was still recuperating from the mishap in the woods, so even though he was busy giving orders via mind-link, he remained in bed. The sun was already high in the sky, and bright light slipped in through the windows of our bedroom, bathing the whole place in an almost golden glow. Zane had been reading a book as he sat on the bed, but as soon as I crossed the door he closed it and looked up at me. “I've been waiting for you,” he said, a small smile on his face.

Zane flushed, realized he’d made noise in front of literally everyone important, and then, to his credit, did not back down. He squared his shoulders. “No,” he said again, louder. “No one’s taking her blood to feed to a hole in the world. I don’t care what ‘old book says.’” Melody blinked. Heather smiled slowly. “Ohhhh,” she whispered, delighted. “Zane. I did not know you had a spine. I like you now.” Zane scowled. “I’ve always had a spine.” “You’ve always had a pretty spine,” Heather corrected. “This is new. I’m proud. Continue.”

His eyes glowed faintly as he let his thoughts drift. Zane’s pack was the key to his rise, the foundation upon which he would build his empire. Slowly but surely, he would dismantle Zane’s world, piece by piece, until there was nothing left. And then, when the time was right, he would take what was rightfully his, or what he thinks is rightfully his. 12:00 AM Cana’s phone buzzed, the soft sound cutting through the quiet of the bedroom. She stirred, quickly shutting off the alarm before it could wake Zane, who lay beside her, his exhaustion evident in his deep, steady breathing.