Chapter 45

• Ayla’s POV
• My heart raced as Marley’s words hung in the air. I knew exactly what she was implying—the challenges to Zane’s authority, the possibility of a new Alpha being chosen. The implications sent a shiver down my spine. Deadly, familiar, and merciless. This wasn’t just a challenge—it was a fight to the death.
• I’ve seen this before. The last time, Zane came out battered, barely coherent, and it tore a hole in our relationship. Now? I don’t even understand why he’s choosing this path. If I thought he was reckless before… I was wrong.