Zara

Alpha Kane was like a forbidden, seductive dream from which I didn’t want to wake. The hardness of his body and the softness of his lips made me melt into him. Lose myself in his strong embrace, surrender to the firm contours of his chest.

Closing my eyes, I felt every clear, firm line of his body, every sinewy dip and peak of his torso, as if Alpha Kane had been carved especially for me.

Alpha’s fingers and palms roamed freely over my back. This wolf knew how to make me melt into him. My discreet abandon would haunt me, but right now, all I needed was this sinfully seductive man.

We were so immersed in each other’s embrace and caresses that we didn’t notice the awkward knock on the glass door of his home gym.

Then the knock grew louder, and I involuntarily had to break the connection between us and open my eyes.

Alpha Kane groaned in irritation.

Asbela stood, her hands clasped in front of her, her eyes downcast.

Embarrassment gripped me at this situation.

"What?" Alpha Kane tightened his hold on me from behind, pinning me to him, and turned to poor Asbela.

"Sorry to intrude, but your guest wants to see you."

Alpha Kane muttered under his breath, not at all pleased to be disturbed.

"Okay, we’ll be there soon. Bring him coffee and make my smoothie," Alpha Kane ordered, straightening up but not letting go of me.

Asbela surreptitiously tossed the smoothie at me, and I had to bite my lip. She quickly retreated.

Alpha Kane rose from the floor, carried me easily in his arms, and sat me down on the bench. His fingers carefully gathered my tousled hair and tucked it over my shoulder.

His piercing, promising gaze slid over my skin.

"Let me take a bath." Alpha Kane was already trying his best to pull me out of the depression I might have sunk into after that terrible incident.

***

Kane

At that moment, my stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten anything serious the other day; today I needed breakfast.

I called Asbela and asked her to ask the chef to make me some eggs, beans, and coffee.

I got out of bed, got ready for the office, and went downstairs for breakfast. Zara hadn’t shown up. I settled down at the dining table and took out my cell phone to answer a few important emails.

Since Zara was depressed, I didn’t want her to worry about work. The chef served us breakfast while Asbela was busy with Zara, but I waited for her to arrive.

She soon appeared wearing a pale blue pantsuit and a white frilled shirt. Her hair was elegantly pulled back into a bun, and she was wearing glasses.

Stunned, I watched her glide toward me. Asbela pulled out a chair for her, and she settled in. She smelled of summer fruits, and I could only watch and inhale deeply.

She beamed at me as Asbela set out the food.

"I’ll feed her," I said quickly, dismissing Asbela. She quietly withdrew, leaving us alone.

"I can eat myself," she said politely, but I merely shook my head.

Moving her plate closer to me, I scooped up some beans and a sliced ​​egg with a spoon and offered it to her. She silently accepted, her beaming eyes filled with gratitude.

I really liked this color, such a serene blue; it calmed me.

We had breakfast together, I fed her, and she ate silently, simply looking at me with her large, intelligent eyes.

After breakfast, we went out. I kept her close, overprotective.

Olfi took us to the office. She spent most of the journey silently staring out the window. The morning light reflected off her, making her look radiant.

But her silence worried me. Zara, as I already knew, wasn’t all that silent.

I worried about her mental state: what if she was depressed or had post-traumatic stress disorder? Should I take her to a psychiatrist?

Amidst my confused thoughts and worries, we reached the Sterling Empire.

As soon as we reached the elevator, Zara froze next to me. The blood drained from her face at the sight of the black glass door.

"Zara!" I called softly, seeing her trembling beside me. My arms instinctively reached out and hugged her. She immediately pressed herself against me, looked up at me, and I saw genuine fear in her eyes.

"I can’t." She shook her head, as if disappointed in herself.

I closed my eyes. I ran my knuckles down her cheek with my free hand. The bruise was almost gone.

"Of course you can. You’re the bravest she-wolf I’ve ever met, and believe me, I’ve met many." I deliberately drew out the last word, and it worked. Her lips parted.

They grinned.

"Of course we did, my Charming Alpha."

"Let me charm you, come on. This stupid elevator doesn’t stand a chance against my charisma." I winked, and she giggled again.

Pressing the touch button with my hand, I let the elevator doors open, then led her forward.

"Come on?" She paused for a moment, then nodded reluctantly, and we stepped into the elevator together, each holding my hand tightly.

**

Zara

Alpha Kane’s presence enveloped me like a protective shield, a safety net. But as soon as I saw the black doors closing, my heart began to pound.

Murderer, killer, monster.

’This is the price you have paid, Princess’

Shadow surged like tsunami waves, ready to engulf me. My breathing became shallow; there wasn’t enough oxygen in this death cube.

I squeezed my fingers around Alpha’s firm hand, trying to draw as much air into my lungs as possible.

The moments when the shadow had killed the innocent woman surfaced in my mind along with other suppressed memories.

Before I could get too caught up in this whirlwind of tormented moments, he pounced on me.

With a slow, calm movement, Alpha Kane moved me behind his back, turning me to face him.

With his other hand, he grabbed my chin between his index finger and thumb and lifted it so I could look into his worried eyes. A tremendous amount of worry swirled in his pupils.

"Focus on me," Alpha said warmly. His hand left my back, and both cupped my face, pulling me toward him.

Like a magnet, I yielded willingly and muttered, "I can’t breathe properly."

The quiet worry in his eyes deepened as the words escaped with a gentle softness.

"Then I’ll share my oxygen with you." Alpha’s lips enveloped mine like a velvety mist, and all that darkness was washed away from my mind and heart. His calm, peace, and confidence slid inside me, and nothing else mattered.

Closing my eyes, I surrendered to him, trusting him. Allowing his nearness to calm me and soothe this panic.

The tips of his thumbs traced circles on my cheeks as he savored my lips like his favorite wine.

Fresh and warm, his mouth and tongue seemed to eradicate all the fears that still lurked within me.

The elevator’s ringing, announcing our arrival, finally brought it to a stop, and our lips reluctantly parted, but our foreheads touched.

Closing my eyes, I remained with him in that place where only he and I existed.

I sighed heavily, and he held me, letting my breathing stabilize.

"Breathe, Zara, just breathe. I’m here." I obeyed and calmly took a breath.

The door opened, and Alpha Kane lowered his hands, gently placing them on my back again. He led me forward, and I allowed him to lead me into his office.