Novels by Daniel Paul

A New Dawn"Flora, trust me, what has happened?" Adrian's voice sliced through the celebratory noise as he pushed his way to stand by her at the side of the great hall."Adrian, I can still barely believe it," Flora replied, her voice a blend of cautious joy and ongoing incredulity. "The King's Edict. It's altered everything for us and for the pack.""Yes," Adrian took a breath. "I surrendered my Alpha status for you, for our future, and now it seems the impossible has become our reality."Flora's voice shook with hope and fear. "A future where we can love without betraying our duty, where our hearts are not sundered by ancient canons. But at what price, Adrian? Can our love really overcome the weight of centuries of tradition?"Adrian's eyes glimmered. "I know that the sacrifices were immense, and the wounds sliced deep. I recall every instant of regret, every tear you cried as I lusted after power. But in this moment, with you by my side, I feel the promise of a new dawn."Flora stu

The Edict of the Lycan King " Adrian, to the throne room incontinently," growled a commanding voice in the corridor speakers. Adrian's strained, low voice replied," Yes, Captain Morales. I will be there in a moment." Moments later, in a hushed expectation room, the Lycan King stated" Adrian, you've submitted your repudiation letter, right? Adrian cleared his throat, the tone establishment yet laced with fear," Yes, Your Majesty. I've surrendered my Alpha status, for I realize that my path now must be mandated by nothing but the issues of the heart, not the suffocating weight of obligation." The King's deep voice thundered," Your adoption has not been given without consideration. Tell me, Adrian, what led you to make this most vainglorious decision? Adrian took a conscious breath before responding," Sire, for times I've carried the burden of my once — my miscalculations, my failure and it has brought me further than any crown ever could. I lost the love of my life, an

A New Daw Flora's answer was conservative," I'll consider your offer, Adrian. But this I do know if our life together is to be but a deeper pain, I'm not willing to immolate the loss of myself, my responsibility, for a love that may yet be too weak to survive." Unshed gashes filled Adrian's eyes as he rumored," Flora, I understand your fear. I know that our history is full of pain, but I believe if we do this together, we can forge a new path. One where every immolation is not a loss, but an pledge — a pledge to make a future that honors who we are." Flora's voice shook," And what if our pledges break under the weight of our old injuries? What if our marriage, refashioned by love and duty, is n't enough to heal the ancient injuries of treason? Adrian's voice held a blend of despair and stopgap," also we will face that ineluctability together. I'm willing to risk all on the possibility of redemption, on a tomorrow when we might be free at last from the ghosts of our h

A Bold Offer " Flora, we need to talk," Adrian said, his voice rough and pulsing with genuine determination. " Adrian, I am harkening," Flora replied, her voice cautious but with a touch of craving. " Every night I lie awake allowing about what we lost, and I can no longer tolerate this silence," Adrian continued. " Silence, yes, but remorse as well," Flora answered, her voice slightly above a tale." I still flash back the dreams we pictured, the moments when we believed nothing could pull us apart." " I know," Adrian said vocally." I flash back the nights beneath the stars when you laughed, when our dreams were unencumbered and simple. But also I let my duty, my ambition, get in the way." Flora's tone turned cold," You allowed ambition to take priority over our love, Adrian. I constructed my life upon the oath of a participated future — a future that now appears so far down. " I offered my title, my power, everything for the pledge of that future," Adrian contend

A Union Readdressed " Adrian, please?" Flora's tremulous but strong voice pierced the muted hum of the command center as they entered a quiet alcove out of sight of the inquiring eyes of their classmates. Adrian drew in near, his tone soft and counted with anguish." Flora, I know our lives have gone so far in contrary directions, but I've to ask — do you ever still dream of us? Of a life where our love is n't measured only by duty?" Flora's eyes flashed both wistful and guarded pain." I did, formerly, Adrian. I allowed once that there was going to be a future in which I just was Flora not a title, not any prospects just us. But whenever I try to flash back it, I get hit with all the offerings that we made and the scars that still shape us." Adrian's tone dropped to a husky tale." I will relinquish everything, Flora. I relinquished my title, my power, because I wish for a chance at that future with you. I want a normal, loving family life with you. I understand it'll be

Sacrificial Promises " Flora, I must speak with you — now," Adrian prompted, his voice coarse and pulsing with resoluteness as he walked toward her in the vacated corner of the command center. Flora's tone was peaceful but miserable." Adrian, I know what you are going to tell me. You have one chance to make this right.". Adrian's reply was nippy," I have made my decision. I can no longer be Alpha, not when my heart is broken because of my miscalculations." Flora's face tensed as she asked," You relinquish your Alpha status? Do you have any idea the cost that comes with it, Adrian? " I get it, I know," he contended," and I would pay that price if it would allow me to be with you, if it would allow me to rebuild what we lost and make a future together as a family." Flora's voice shook with stopgap and sadness," Adrian, you understand that stepping down is not just a selfish act it will shake the roots of our pack. Your position was a source of strength and leadership.".

Clara’s POV I closed the door behind me with a little more force than I meant to, the click echoing loud in my ears. My hand lingered on the handle for a moment as if I could somehow seal away the wild rush of excitement still coursing through me. My legs felt shaky, but it was not exhaustion or fear. It was anticipation, a calm buzzing, tingling current that made every movement seem sharper and every breath louder.I leaned my back against the door and pressed my palms flat against it, exhaling slowly. The witches’ words were still fresh in my mind, circling like moths around a flame. Their cloaks, their voices chanting in unison, it all replayed so vividly it was as though I had carried a piece of the ritual back with me.I crossed the room, kicking off my shoes, and set the silver bowl gently on the table by the window. Even without light, the bowl seemed to produce its own brightness, and when I lifted the lid, the faint, metallic tang of dried blood wafted up. That was my b

Clara’s POV I closed the door behind me with a little more force than I meant to, the click echoing loud in my ears. My hand lingered on the handle for a moment as if I could somehow seal away the wild rush of excitement still coursing through me. My legs felt shaky, but it was not exhaustion or fear. It was anticipation, a calm buzzing, tingling current that made every movement seem sharper and every breath louder.I leaned my back against the door and pressed my palms flat against it, exhaling slowly. The witches’ words were still fresh in my mind, circling like moths around a flame. Their cloaks, their voices chanting in unison, it all replayed so vividly it was as though I had carried a piece of the ritual back with me.I crossed the room, kicking off my shoes, and set the silver bowl gently on the table by the window. Even without light, the bowl seemed to produce its own brightness, and when I lifted the lid, the faint, metallic tang of dried blood wafted up. That was my b

Manny’s POV“Alpha,” Derrick said when he entered, bowing his head to show respect but not groveling, “you asked for a report.”I didn’t answer right away. I had been pacing, back and forth, back and forth, because my mind had been chasing itself in circles for days now. Clara’s words kept lingering in my head like poison. She had claimed everything she did was for me, for my role as Alpha, but my gut had screamed otherwise. I stopped pacing and turned to him.“Well?” I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.Derrick shifted on his feet, glancing briefly toward the window. “She has been… moving strangely. Sir, the men you asked me to assign to her noticed a pattern. She leaves her quarters late, always after the halls have gone quiet. Sometimes near midnight, sometimes later. She makes sure no one is watching, but she isn’t usually careful enough.”“Where does she go?”“To the woods, Alpha.”The words struck me hard though I kept my face impassive. “How many times so far?”“Three, m

Lexi’s POV“Mom, do you think we will ever get to play in a big open field like the one Dad told us about?” Wayne’s small voice carried across the room, curious, almost timid, as if he was afraid I’d brush it away.I looked at him, my sweet boy, his eyes wide with the kind of hope only a child could carry so easily. “Of course,” I said softly, brushing my fingers through his hair. “One day, when the time is right, you will run so fast in the grass that the wind will barely catch you.”Dexter, who was sprawled on the rug with a few wooden blocks, perked up instantly. “And I will chase him! And then you would be chasing both of us, Mom!”I laughed lightly, though it caught somewhere in my chest. “If I can keep up,” I teased, but my voice held something heavier, something they were too young to hear.They kept talking, their little imaginations weaving stories about sunshine, flowers, and endless games, but slowly their chatter blurred. My eyes grew heavy, my head resting against the c

Clara’s POV“Take this knife, Child.” The firm feminine voice said out loud, I collected it. The knife glinted in the candlelight, and I held it steady in my hand. My breath was slow, like I had trained myself for this moment. Around me the witches formed a circle, their faces shadowed by their hoods, their whispers weaving into the crackling of firewood that burned in the iron brazier at the center of the room. The air was thick with smoke from dried herbs, bitter and heavy, sticking to my throat.This was not just another gathering, or another night of empty promises. This was my claim, my declaration, my binding. Tonight I would begin to seal what was rightfully mine, no matter how much the others doubted, no matter how much they warned.“Clara,” the eldest witch rasped, her voice broken like old bark. “You know what it means to walk this path. There are consequences if your heart is not pure, if your intent is not rooted in balance. Binding another’s will can break yours.”I

Manny’s POVSleep refused to come that night. Every time I closed my eyes, the same cycle played itself out: Clara’s voice twisting around my head, the weight of being an Alpha pressing down on my shoulders, and Lexi’s face hovering between hope and disappointment. Duty and desire pulling me in opposite directions until I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside.I sat on my bed with my head in my hands, listening to the silence of the pack house. Somewhere in the halls, a guard’s boots scraped against stone. Somewhere outside, the distant howl of a wolf echoed. But inside me, it was chaos.I love her. That truth was as unshakable as the ground beneath my feet. I love Lexi with a depth that scared me, with a force that made every moment without her feel like I was being hollowed out. But love was not simple for an Alpha. Love had to balance against loyalty to the pack, against expectation, against the unrelenting eyes that watched my every move.And Clara’s words… they dug