Free Web NovelChapter 39: Chapter 39 The Wrong Target
Zane’s POV
I was pacing the room, Leo lounging on the leather armchair.
"She’s just a woman with no real backing," I said through clenched teeth. "We’ll break her. One way or another."
This wasn’t just business anymore. It was personal. Sylvia had humiliated me—repeatedly—and there was no way I’d let her walk away with her pride intact.
Leo leaned forward, eyes gleaming with opportunism. "You want scandal? The tech’s good enough now—AI face-swapping, deepfakes. Give me a photo, especially a swimsuit one, and I can fabricate something so real even the werewolf Tribunal would blink."
I scowled. "You think I’ve ever had a photo like that? The girl wouldn’t even kiss me, let alone send pics. Always acted so pure."
Which, ironically, was half the reason I lost interest.
"Just get it done," I snapped. "I’ll cover the cost. And clean up your tracks, Leo. I don’t want this traced back."
Leo thumped his chest. "You got it, Alpha Zane. No one will ever know."
I lit a cigarette, letting the smoke curl upward as my thoughts shifted. "You still have that little contact inside Frostline Enterprises?"
Leo grinned, instantly catching my drift. "You want intel?"
I gave a slow, venomous smile. "You know what to do."
"Consider it handled."
Once Leo left, I turned my attention to more pressing matters. The Vertex Project. The big one. The kind of deal that would secure my status and finally earn my father’s grudging approval.
Only problem? My biggest competitor was none other than Frostline Enterprises.
Then the phone rang.
"Zane," my friend on the other end said, voice sly. "You’re chasing Vertex, right? Word is, a certain Ms. Frost from the Frostfang Pack is heavily involved. And get this—she’s a hopeless romantic. I figured, who better than you to... sweep her off her paws?"
My lips curled into a smirk. "You’re always thinking ahead."
"She’s a sucker for pretty things. Maybe a little diamond persuasion?"
My gaze fell on the delicate bracelet I’d bought for Chloe. Not anymore.
"I’ve got just the thing."
Once Vertex was in my hands, I could go back to the original plan: propose to Chloe, finally unite our bloodlines, and shut my father up for good.
But now I’ve changed my mind. I’ll use it to win over Ms. Frost from the Frostfang Pack first. Once I lock down the Vertex project, then I can finally tell my family I’m ready to marry Chloe.
Sylvia’s POV freewebnøvel.com
Caesar insisted I take the day off, and for once, I listened. There was nothing urgent, and the Vertex proposal was already submitted. All we could do now was wait.
He believed we had an eighty percent chance of success. I liked those odds.
Later that evening, Morgana called. "You’re coming to the party tonight," she declared. "No excuses."
I sighed. "Morgana—"
"You’ve been back in Howling Peaks for weeks and barely shown your face. People are starting to forget you exist. Or worse—think you’ve faded into obscurity."
She wasn’t wrong. In our world, visibility was currency.
Reluctantly, I agreed.
Feeling a chill in the air, I dressed simply but warmly—deep brown turtleneck, navy jeans, hair down in loose waves. I skipped makeup but added a touch of lip balm for polish.
At the venue, I waited at the entrance for Morgana. That’s when I saw him.
Zane.
He spotted me instantly. Same man, same arrogance—but my presence didn’t cower like it used to. Tonight, I wasn’t the naïve girl he once manipulated. I was fire beneath frost.
"Well, look who it is," he drawled, sauntering up. "Funny how I keep running into you. Coincidence? Or are you following me?"
I gave a humorless laugh. "Or maybe the universe is testing my patience. You could do us both a favor and leave Howling Peaks."
"This place is mine," he scoffed. "You? You’re just a guest."
He gave me a once-over, eyes lingering too long. "Trying to play classy now? Doesn’t matter. A farm girl in silk is still just a farm girl."
"You should really work on your insults. They’re as outdated as your ego."
That wiped the smirk off his face—for a second. Then came the sneer.
"You think you’ve made it? That landing some rich sponsor makes you royalty? Newsflash, sweetheart—you’ll never be part of our world. A rooster in eagle feathers is still a rooster."
My smile sharpened. "And you’ll always be a hyena pretending to be a wolf."
That got under his skin. His jaw tightened.
"You better watch that tongue. Only a real Ms. Frost could talk to me like that."
I blinked, confused. "Ms. Frost?"
Zane nodded smugly. "The real one. Alpha Astra Frost’s daughter—the heir to Frostfang Pack. Word is she’s back, and powerful. Connections, pedigree, strength. That’s the kind of woman who belongs at my side. My Luna. Not... whatever it is you think you are."
He stepped closer, breath hot and foul. "Though, if you play nice, I might keep you on the side. Better than that scrawny beta you’ve been hanging around with." freёweɓnovel.com
I didn’t flinch. Just stared.
So, that was the game.
Zane thought he could seduce "Ms. Frost" to gain access to Vertex—unaware that the very woman he was sneering at was me.
"Ms. Frost?" I repeated, letting the name roll slowly off my tongue. "You think she’s strong, worthy? Untouchable?"
"That’s right," he said. "You? You’re not even in the same league."
I gave him a slow, amused look. "Well then... I hope you get exactly what you deserve."
His grin faltered.
I turned on my heel without another word, scanning the crowd for Morgana.
Behind me, Zane stood frozen, still clinging to a delusion.
He was chasing a fantasy, unaware that the woman he needed most had already dismissed him—face to face.
