Chapter 2 My Wolf Wants Her

• Zane
• My eyes sweep every inch of the gallery, surveying whether hunters have dared to enter. They wouldn’t risk ruining my night—my werewolves are scattered throughout the territory, ready to tear them apart if they try. Still, I remain cautious. The humans here think I’m nothing more than a renowned artist, head of a top-tier Academy. Fools. My reality is far darker than they could ever comprehend. I am the Alpha, the unchallenged leader of the most powerful wolf clan in the world.
• Wolf Academy? It’s no ordinary school. It’s a training ground for wolves, a place where they learn to follow my orders. I am feared, and rightfully so. I’m the most dangerous man alive. My senses are sharper, my reflexes faster, my body heals in seconds, and when I attack—it’s brutal. All thanks to Kris, my red-eyed wolf. He’s the deadliest wolf across all clans. I run this city. Yet, the wolf hunters threaten to destroy my clan and end my rule.
• Augustine, their leader, took my Luna from me. Lina’s blood is on his hands. Rage rushes through my veins, fueling my thirst for vengeance. My only goal now? Silence every last wolf hunter in this city, wipe them out, and claim the city for wolves.
• But tonight? Tonight, Mr. Zane Christopher must play his part. “Thank you for coming,” I say, my voice polite and cold. My politeness is a cover, nothing more. “You’ve made the right choice for your evening,” I add, charming and self-aware, without a smile. My gaze remains cold. Smiles are for the weak. Speaking firmly, I continue, “Let’s raise a glass for a toast—to the love of art.” My face hardens, and the crowd echoes, “For the love of art.” Everyone smiles, sipping their drinks, while I take mine slowly, my eyes scanning the room as the cheers die down. The art exhibition is a huge success.
• Werewolves despise humans entering our world. But these humans have their use. They’re a necessary evil, helping to protect our secret. My art hides the truth—that anything out of the ordinary ever happens here. This gallery, this entire event, is nothing more than a camouflage. Everything is going as I planned.
• Yet something feels wrong.
• Magdalena, my Beta, approaches. “We have some guests waiting for photos,” she says with a frown, her displeasure with humans clear.
• I don’t respond. Something’s off. Kris, my wolf, shifts uneasily inside me, restless.
• Then it hits me. A scent—unfamiliar, intoxicating. Kris stirs, desperate, his growl vibrating through my chest. My instincts flare, pulling me toward it. I hesitate, fight it, but the scent is relentless, dragging me forward. I move through the crowd, ignoring the voices calling my name.
• I have to find the source of this scent. Now.
• Kris is desperate, demanding. I don’t understand why, but I follow, unable to ignore the pull.
• “Alpha Zane! Where are you going?” Magdalena’s voice trails behind me, but I don’t answer. My focus is locked elsewhere, drawn to the pull I can’t resist. Kris urges me on, growling, “Mate! Mate!” His voice is commanding, relentless.
• No. I can’t allow this. Not after Lina. Not until Augustine’s blood spills at my feet. I won’t take another mate until I’ve fulfilled that promise. As long as Augustine still breathes, I can’t allow myself to choose another.
• But the scent leads me to the balcony. And there she is—her back to me, hands resting on the railing, taking in the cool air. Kris roars, pushing against my will, demanding I claim her. But I won’t. She can’t be my mate. She’s human.
• Kris’s hunger intensifies, pulling me toward her. “I can’t choose her, Kris,” I mutter, trying to shake the thought. Yet, I can’t help but wonder—could she really be my mate? No, it’s impossible. She’s a bloody human.
• I turn, ready to leave her behind, but Kris pulls me back. My eyes land on her once more, and that’s when she turns. Our eyes lock, and heat floods my veins. A rush of passion consumes me, body and soul. Every instinct in me screams to claim her, to take her, to make her mine. She’s breathtakingly gorgeous, dressed in a stunning red evening gown that flows to her feet, the fabric hugging her in all the right places.
• Magdalena catches up, but I don’t look away from the woman.
• “Alpha Zane, we have VIPs waiting for you,” she says, knowing full well how resourceful they are to me. But I cut her off, my voice stern. “Who is she?”
• Magdalena glances at the woman with disgust. “A human,” she spits. “Nothing more,” her voice oozing with contempt. Magdalena hates humans and has no patience for them.
• “Find out who she is,” I command coldly. “Now.”
• Magdalena hesitates but knows better than to question me. She walks away, and my gaze returns to the mysterious woman in red. She winks at me. With my hand clenched into a fist, I raise my index finger and motion for her to come closer. Her fear is rising inside, her heartbeat erratic as she approaches. She’s scared.
• Good.
• She stands before me, and the desire to claim her consumes every part of me. All I want is to take her here and now—feel her lips against mine. My hands itch to tear that red gown off her body, to press her beneath me. I want her naked, legs open, begging me to give her the best fuck she’s ever had. But no, I must resist.
• Quiet, Kris! I command. I can’t desire another woman. It’s a battle in my head. But she’s a temptation that’s testing my limits.
• You’re confused. Kris growls back.
• No! I won’t let Kris have control. He’s pushing, wanting to claim her, but I hold him back, forcing myself to stay calm.
• This is not the way, Kris. You’d scare her off.
• He knows I’m right, but I can feel his frustration. He retreats, for now, though I’m not sure how long he’ll stay in check. I’ve never desired another woman since Lina. But this one… I take in her beauty—long blonde hair falling over her shoulders, blue eyes locked onto mine, a straight nose, and lips painted a deep red, lush and inviting. She’s undeniably stunning, and I’m more than turned on. Kris would waste no time devouring her if I let him.
• My eyes drift down to her neck, exposed and tempting, the top of her breasts peeking out from her off-shoulder gown. My hands twitch, aching to touch her, to claim what they want.
• But then, I hear it—her heart, pounding too fast. My gaze snaps back to her face. She looks uneasy.
• “You’re nervous,” I growl, my voice full of control.
• Kris is wrong. She’s too soft, like a marshmallow. No way she can be my mate. She’d never survive in my world.
• She gasps, her pulse quickening even more. “You make me nervous,” she whispers, her voice trembling.
• I tilt my head, studying her intently. “Do you know who I am?”
• She nods, her voice soft. “Zane Christopher. Successful artist. Owner of this gallery. It’s hard not to know who you are.”
• Her voice is sweet, almost melodic, pulling me in. My eyes fall back to her lips, imagining what it would be like to kiss her. Kris keeps pushing, urging me to claim her, to take what’s mine. But she’s weak, too fragile for my world. A human could never handle me. One touch, and I’d break her. One thrust, and she’d collapse.
• I try to reason with Kris. She’s weak. She can’t be worthy of an Alpha. She would be a distraction, a liability. I live a dangerous life with enemies who wouldn’t hesitate to kill her. She’d die like Lina did, and Lina was strong. This human wouldn’t stand a chance. Still, I can’t ignore the pull I feel toward her.
• I circle her slowly, my eyes tracing her curves, drinking in her scent. I stop behind her, letting my fingers graze her skin, just at the top of her breast. I lower my head, my breath warm against her neck. Her pulse spikes again.
• “Why do I make you nervous?” I ask, my voice low, dangerous, my breath teasing her ear.
• “You’re too close,” she mutters, her voice shaky as she feels the hardness of my body pressing against hers.
• I smirk, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her tighter against me. “Would you rather I be closer?” I breathe into her ear, feeling the tremble in her body. “Answer my question.”
• She hesitates, swallowing hard. “I feel something I’ve never felt before,” she whispers, her eyes meeting mine.
• Is she feeling the same pull? Does she want me as much as I want her?
• I grip her even tighter, and she lets out a soft moan. I can smell the desire radiating from her. She wants me. I feel a desperate urge to claim her right here, right now. The scent of her hunger for pleasure fills my senses, making it almost unbearable.
• “Feel what?” I demand again, curiosity and dominance driving my tone.
• She looks into my eyes, her voice trembling as she chokes out, “Desire. I desire you… and I don’t know why.” Her words are shaky but honest.
• Yes, she feels it too. She knows she belongs to me, even if her human mind can’t fully grasp it yet. But I can’t claim her, not now. She’s too fragile. She’d never survive it.
• I turn to face her fully, my cold eyes looking into hers. I cup her chin, pulling her closer, my breath grazing her ear as I whisper, “I want to taste you.”
• Her heart races, faster and louder, and I wait, watching her closely, waiting for her to give in, to say yes. But before she can respond, a cough interrupts us. Magdalena.
• I turn sharply, irritated by the intrusion, and see the look on her face. She has information. Stepping away from the woman in red, I ask coldly, “What do you have?”
• Magdalena hesitates, then leans in, speaking softly enough so only I can hear. “Alpha Zane, she’s not just any human. She’s a wolf hunter. She’s Augustine’s daughter. Katarina Penn.”
• My blood runs cold. Augustine’s daughter—the man who murdered Lina. Rage stirs quietly inside, but I bury it deep. How could I have desired her? How could Kris want her as a mate? It’s impossible. She’s the daughter of the man I’ve vowed to destroy.
• “Alpha Zane,” Magdalena urges cautiously. “Let me handle this. You should return to your guests.”
• I shake my head, my voice hard. “No. Leave us.” I have other plans for her now. Katarina’s fate is sealed in my hands.
• Magdalena hesitates but wisely leaves without protest. She wouldn’t dare question me. I turn back to Katarina, the woman who now stands as both my temptation and my enemy. Her heart is racing. She knows something’s off.
• I stare into her blue eyes, forcing myself to see not innocence in her face and eyes, but betrayal. There will be no mercy for her. If I can’t have Augustine yet, she will pay in his place. I will make her suffer for his crime in the most excruciating way.
• “Come with me,” I command, grabbing her hand, feeling its warmth as I lead her to somewhere more secluded. She smiles, unaware of the dark storm brewing inside me, oblivious to the dangerous choice I’m about to make.
• Kris stirs, pushing me to claim her, to make her mine. But my heart clenches, torn between two urges: kill her or take her. Katarina, the daughter of the man who destroyed my life, and the woman who ignites a fire in my soul. Could she be my second-chance mate?
• It’s impossible. The daughter of the man who took my mate can’t be my second chance.
• Kris wants to mate her. I want to kill her.
• What will it be?
• Her eyes meet mine, wide, trusting. And in that moment, I still can’t decide—destroy her, or make her mine forever.