Scarlett is a werewolf that can't shift. After her parents died, she was taken into the cruel Alpha Ryker's care and forced to be his slave. It should be impossible for her to find her mate without a wolf - but at the annual Mating Ball she discovers that not only does she have a mate, but he's the one man worse than Alpha Ryker. Alpha Enzo has a reputation. He's evil, he's sick, he's twisted - but he doesn't seem that way to Scarlett. With her, he's different. He's kind, he's sweet, he's protective. But not even he can keep her safe from the truth. As a deadly fight for Scarlett unfolds, will Enzo be able to protect her? Or will the secret of her wolfless identity end in heartbreak?
View MoreBennettâs POVThings had taken a while to fall back into place after the battle. With the pack house left in ruins, Scarlett and Enzo had worked with his parents to rehome everyone that lived inside it while it was rebuilt. His mother and father had stayed close, lending their expertise as they got to grips with navigating life post-Ryker.They hadnât been the only ones to stay, though. Iâd asked to remain in Moose Creek. Enzo had accepted my cagey reasoning with narrowed eyes, but he wouldâve said yes to just about anything with his mateâs hand on his arm. In truth, I didnât know where else to go now. Everything in my life had been building up to this. Crafting prophecies for people to find, leaving breadcrumb trails, making messages, telling everyone just the right thing at exactly the right time â Iâd never known a moment to myself. Now that was all I had. And I couldnât See my way forward. Not anymore. Iâd told nobody that Scarlett hadnât been the only one to lose her powers t
Scarlettâs POVI opened my eyes.Sunlight blinded me. No â not sunlight. My own light, golden and magical, surrounded me. Held limp in its grip, it lifted me into the air.But I â Iâd been dead. Hadnât I?I remembered the feel of my life leaving me. I remembered losing my energy, my strength, feeling my body wilt beneath the weight of the magic tearing through my veins and rushing out through my palms. But now the wind was here, holding me, healing me, and I felt it dance across my skin, through my hair, as it pulled my arms out and pointed my legs down towards the ground. I remembered dying.But that wasnât all I remembered. Vague, fuzzy shapes filtered into my mind, taking form as the light raised me higher and higher. I saw humans, knew their names, saw Adelaide, saw a city and a death and a chase, saw Bennett and a library and Enzo â My beautiful Enzo. How could I ever have forgotten all that we had shared?The memories poured in as my brain healed, the light coming from within
Bennettâs POVI was dying. Such a fact was two things: simple and irrefutable. To fight it was futile; to ignore it was idiocy. But I had done as I had been bid by the visions that had plagued me since birth. I had fought the prophecy and, I hoped, saved the world from the tyranny breeding at its wolven heart.It was hard, seeing the world in pathways and possibilities. Even now, as I lay upon the gleaming white floor of Moose Creekâs medical centre, sedative spilling through my veins and blood streaming from my chest, photos of the futures forking from this moment blinded me. I saw Scarlett stood amidst the dead, the only survivor in a war sheâd never asked for. I saw her bent over her mateâs body, sobs wracking through her. Then I saw her fumble for the outstretched claws of a fallen werewolf and use them to slit her own throat.I squeezed my eyes shut at that one. It did nothing to halt the visions, of course, but it always made me feel as if I had some semblance of control over
Enzoâs POV I blinked into a sudden burst of gossamer sunlight. âScarlett,â I rasped, choking up blood. All of me hurt, save for my heart. That was lighter than it had ever been. She was okay. She was a vision in the dying light, her auburn hair with its blonde ends glimmering softly, like the shimmering surface of a ruffled lake; her beautiful blue-green eyes wide, shining with unshed tears; her stance strong and proud and powerful, even as she fell apart at the sorry sight of me. âFuck,â she whispered, her eyes filling. âEnzo. Oh, GodâŠâ âIâm okay,â I grunted. It was a lie. A dying manâs lie to make the love of his life feel better. Blood streamed from my neck; my body felt numb from my face down. The pain was gone, but my feeling was gone with it too. I was outside now, and Iâd definitely been inside the last time Iâd been conscious. Had my body been trampled beneath the paws of hundreds of Rykerâs wolves? In the heat of battle, it was just as likely that my own pack had buried m
Scarlettâs POVI stared numbly at the doorway. Emila stood at its centre, hands on hips, her expression all furrowed brows and wide eyes. âScarlett!â she gasped. âWhat are you doing?âI met her gaze unflinchingly. âHe doesnât need to be in an induced coma,â I said boldly. Iâd never felt so damned bold in all my life. âDoes he, Medic?â I spat.She held her hands up and walked towards me slowly. âIâm not sure whatâs got into you, or why youâre doing this, but please, Scarlett, step away from my patient. He needs to rest to heal.âDoubt started to creep in. I clutched the sedation tube, letting it dangle from my fingers. Iâd been so sureâŠWhat if I was wrong? Had I just signed Bennettâs death certificate?Gritting my teeth, I held still. Heâd woken up before when Iâd used my magic to keep the sedation at bay. And heâd told me to stop her â had he meant Emila all along? He had to know what she planned to do to him. My resolve firm once more, I looked back up at her.She smiled weakly, app
Enzoâs POVWe were pushed back further and further. I was the last one standing in the doorway, using my huge wolven body to block out the attacking army. Though we were fighting a losing battle, I was proud of my wolves. Weâd kept Rykerâs pets at bay far longer than Iâd thought weâd ever had any hope of doing. The sun was dipping lower in the sky, brushing the tips of the massacred pine trees, burnishing their bottle-green needles a deep, glittering gold.It also shone on the pools of blood. The ground was soaked in it, rivulets running down the slight hillock upon which the pack house stood. Bodies of wolves broke its streams; my wolves, Rykerâs wolves. They were clawed and bitten, missing limbs, missing chunks of fur and flesh. Such violence would stain the land here forever.But worse still than the gore and the sightless eyes of my fallen warriors was the gnawing worry about my mate. I hadnât seen Scar since sheâd run into the crowd. Unable to mindlink her, I was left drowning in
Scarlettâs POVI ducked through the wolves, narrowly avoiding the swiping, slashing claws. Nobody seemed to notice me as I ran â they were focused on the other wolves with teeth bared and blood soaked into their muzzles. I brushed under the bellies of those in Enzoâs pack, using them to protect me from the enemy wolves.Then I was pushed forward by a surge of movement from behind. Arms wheeling, I stumbled through the front line of our warriors and fell, head first, into the tangle of Rykerâs wolves.âFuck,â I gasped, smacking into warm, bloodied fur. I bounced off its firm, muscled body, and rolled until I hit paws. Then I scrambled to my feet â Only to be clawed down my face. I bit back a scream, pressing my palms to the wound. Blood streamed between my fingers, pouring over my eye. I squeezed it shut. My head throbbed; each pulse shook me, the cut burning and stinging. Barely able to see, I ran, my back bowed, zig-zagging through the writhing mass of wolven bodies.Running through
Enzoâs POVI shoved down my terror as the wolves swelled around us, a writhing, unforgiving tide. Like a stone upon the shore I stood firm, knowing I must withstand its force. My terror was not for me, and neither was my determination. It was for her â my mate, the beautiful woman sat upon my wolven back â and for my pack members. They had not chosen this fate, no more than Scar or I had. This was our only chance to make it right.Scarlett knotted her fingers in my fur. She leant forward and whispered, âIâve got you.âThen the enemy was upon us.I surged forward, meeting them rather than allowing them to breach our front line. My Beta and Gamma lunged with me, our movements so well practised we barely had to think of them. I had to adjust my balance more with Scar on my back, but it was instinct, raw and as natural as breathing, to keep her secure atop me.My jaw locked around a grey wolfâs neck. I clamped down, pulled back, tore flesh from bone. The wolf fell to the ground, dead. Blo
Scarlettâs POVâPretty much,â said Isaak, his gaze downcast. He shuffled his weight from foot to foot. âIâm sorry.ââWhy did they target your sister?â I asked, leaning closer to the cell bars. He shrugged. âSheâs the only family I have left. They knew Iâd do anything for her, I guess. EvenâŠâI nodded. âEven this.â But then my eyes narrowed. âHow did they know you well enough to target her?âIsaakâs cheeks flushed. He started picking at his cuticles and refused to meet my eyes. âThey have scouts too,â he said. I felt convinced it was a lie. Before I could push the matter, though, Enzo grabbed my arm.âHey,â I said, trying to pry his fingers off. They were white knuckled. My belly hollowed out. âWhat is it?ââMarla just mindlinked me,â he whispered, glancing furtively at Isaak. Understanding immediately, I towed him out of the cells and up into a nook at the top of the stairs. My back was pressed flat against the wall; Enzo huddled close, biting his lip as he looked around anxiously.O
Scarlettâs POVI ran my hands down the front of my dress. Nerves made my stomach sway from side to side and bile rise in my throat. I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes fixed firmly ahead â and firmly away from Alpha Ryker.âCome on, Omega.â His raspy voice was too close to my ear as he grabbed my elbow and dragged me forwards, forcing me towards the swelling crowd under the marquee. My palms started to sweat, but heâd punish me if I tried to wipe my hands now. Heâd bought me this gown, after all â every inch of its gauzy, flowing silk belonged to him. Just like I did. âHurry up.â He shoved me again; I stumbled. âWould you prefer to return to the pack house, Omega?â Alpha Rykerâs voice dipped into a growl, and it took everything in me to keep from shuddering. âNo, Alpha.â I ducked my head, my cheeks flushing. But Iâd say or do anything it took to attend the Mating Ball tonight.âSay sorry.âMy face burned. âIâm sorry,â I mumbled.âSay: âIâm sorry, Alpha.ââI curled my hands into fists...
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