Olivia Archer always believed that her life would follow the path of power and respect. But instead, she’s been abandoned by her father, tormented by her cruel stepmother and stepbrother, and falsely accused of betrayal. Forced into a life of misery, Olivia knows one thing: she must escape or lose herself entirely. But fate has other plans when she crosses paths with Dalton Skalbeck, the feared and enigmatic Lycan King. He isn’t the savior she imagined, nor is he the prince she dreamed of. He’s a man cursed by the Moon Goddess, bound to a life of loneliness and duty. And yet, something about him draws her in—a force beyond their control, a connection neither can ignore. As danger looms closer, Olivia must confront the truth: the kingdom she thought she knew is crumbling, and she may be the key to saving it or destroying everything she holds dear. For Dalton Skalbeck, the weight of his crown is nothing compared to the weight of his curse. The Lycan King, bound by a prophecy and cursed by Moon Goddess to never know love, has spent years living in isolation, unable to connect with anyone. His power has always been his only ally—until Olivia Archer crosses his path. From the moment their eyes meet, the curse that has shackled him for centuries begins to crack. The pull between them is undeniable, but nothing in his life has ever come easy, and their bond is no exception. Lies, secrets, and enemies from within threaten to tear them apart. As the shadows of war and betrayal close in, Dalton must decide: will he risk everything to embrace the love he never believed he could have, or will he push Olivia away to protect her from the dark forces hunting them both?
View MoreThe tension in the dining hall was suffocating. Silence stretched, thick with shock and unspoken words. Cynthia’s face was frozen in disbelief, her lips parting as if to argue, but no sound came out.The entire pack had turned their attention to Dalton, waiting for his reaction. But he didn’t even spare Cynthia a glance.His golden eyes locked onto mine.Dalton exhaled sharply, the sound slicing through the tension. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, he pushed back his chair and stood. The scrape of wood against stone echoed in the vast hall.I braced myself, expecting his rejection. This was a public moment—there was no way he would choose me over Cynthia, over tradition.But then he spoke."I should have done this a long time ago."Cynthia sucked in a breath, her composure cracking. She reached for him in desperation, her fingers curling around his wrist. “Dalton, don’t—”He turned on her, his voice laced with finality. “Enough, Cynthia.”The authority in his tone sent a ripple
Cynthia’s laughter rang out like delicate chimes, blending with the soft click of her stilettos as she walked beside Dalton. She wore a flowing gown with a daring slit, exuding effortless confidence, while Dalton kept to his usual laid-back style—his maroon shirt fitted snugly against his frame, the sleeves rolled up as if he had just finished something that required his hands.Then, as if to twist the knife deeper, Cynthia reached for his arm, her fingers curling around his elbow with practiced familiarity.I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to suppress the sharp sting of jealousy creeping through my veins."I told you that would happen," she teased, her voice dripping with amusement. "But you’re just too stubborn to listen."Dalton chuckled, a low, careless sound. "Can’t help it."Cynthia moved even closer, taking his hand in both of hers. "Well, at least your knuckles aren’t bloodied anymore." Her fingers lightly traced the back of his hand, a gesture that made something dark and ug
The usual sharp scent of shower gels and soaps didn’t overwhelm me this time. It was strange, but in a good way. The absence of that sharp sting to my senses felt liberating as I peeled off my clothes and turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over my skin.Steam curled around me, wrapping me in a comforting embrace. I stood there for a moment, letting the heat sink into my muscles, soothing the exhaustion clinging to my bones. It felt indulgent—taking my time, not rushing through, simply allowing myself to be.Reaching for the bottle of shower gel, I studied it for a second before flipping the cap open and inhaling the fragrance. Strong, floral, and fresh. Would Thunder hate this? Probably. But she hadn’t stirred, hadn’t complained. Maybe she needed the rest. Maybe I needed this too.A slow smile tugged at my lips as I squeezed the gel onto my loofah, working up a thick lather. The scent lingered as I ran the sponge across my skin, scrubbing away the fatigue, the tensio
The night air was thick with the lingering scent of burnt herbs and melted wax. I stood still, watching Drusilla as she busied herself gathering the remnants of her ritual—half-melted candles, scattered herbs, and delicate threads of incense curling into the night. Earlier, she had been a bundle of nerves, her hands trembling as she worked, but now she moved with a quiet confidence. A soft hum left her lips as she tucked away the last of her tools, her posture lighter, almost relieved.Dalton flexed his fingers, his gaze locked onto his hand where I had made the incision. The cut had sealed without a trace, as if it had never been there. Even the wisp that had appeared during the ritual had faded into nothingness.I glanced down at my own wrist. No mark. No sign that anything had changed.Dalton broke the silence. “Are you sure it worked?” His voice was flat, but there was an edge of skepticism beneath it as he rolled his sleeves back down.Drusilla nodded, exhaling. “The wisp showed
The air felt heavier than before, thick with the scent of damp stone and candle wax. My breath was slow and measured, but my heartbeat was anything but calm.Dalton stood opposite me, his golden eyes fixed on mine, unwavering and unreadable. The weight of his gaze pressed down on me, as if he were silently asking me if I truly understood what we were about to do. I wasn’t sure if I did.Drusilla moved with practiced ease, setting out her ritual tools with careful precision. She knelt near the base of the stone statue, her hands deftly pulling out an aged, leather-bound book from her bag. She flipped through its brittle, yellowed pages, muttering under her breath.“Okay,” she finally spoke, glancing up at us. “Both of you, stand right here.” She pointed at a spot directly in front of the statue.I swallowed and stepped forward, the chill of the underground chamber seeping into my skin. Dalton let out a quiet sigh but followed suit, his movements slow, deliberate.Drusilla’s fingers tra
My gaze lingered on Dalton for a moment too long before Drusilla suddenly latched onto my wrist, her grip firm and urgent.“Come on,” she huffed, practically dragging me away.I stumbled slightly, trying to keep up. “Where are we going?”Drusilla didn’t even look back. She snatched a set of car keys from the office table and shot me a pointed look. “Do you think we’re performing the ritual in an office? Seriously?”Before I could respond, she flicked my forehead—hard enough to make me wince. “Ow,” I muttered, rubbing the sore spot.“Stop whining and walk faster.” She pulled me down the stairs with surprising strength, leading me straight to the garage.With a press of a button, the heavy metal door rumbled open, revealing a row of sleek, luxurious cars, each one polished to perfection under the fluorescent lights.Drusilla turned to me with an exaggerated flourish. “Well? Feeling fancy today?”I glanced at the cars, their glossy exteriors reflecting the dim garage lighting. I wasn’t e
Drusilla turned sharply, her usually composed expression slipping as frustration bled into her tone.“Do you not understand? She’s our only chance! You lost control once—just once—and look at the damage you caused.”Dalton’s jaw tightened. His response was immediate, sharp. “Exactly. I am the problem. I should be the one taking the risks. Not her. Not anyone else.”The room felt like a battlefield, their voices clashing as they circled the same argument. No matter how fiercely Drusilla tried to make him see reason, Dalton rejected every word.And I—silent, watching—stood between them, feeling torn. Drusilla’s concern for Dalton was clear, but what surprised me was that he cared about me. He wasn’t selfish enough to let me risk myself just because his life was hanging in the balance. That meant something.Drusilla exhaled sharply, forcing patience. “You don’t understand, Cal. The Rogue King’s influence is growing stronger. Yesterday, it was just the servants and maids who saw your outb
I hated the way Dalton always had such firm control over himself. I hated how, even in the heat of the moment, when his lips were on mine and his hands traced fire along my skin, he could pull away like it was nothing.I despised the way hunger burned in his gaze only to vanish in an instant, replaced by something calmer—something controlled. How could he rein himself in so effortlessly while I was barely holding myself together?If it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to think about anything else except the way his lips molded against mine, the way his hands claimed me, the way his presence ignited something deep within me.But Dalton?He stepped away with infuriating ease, as if what had just happened between us was nothing. His movements were deliberate, composed—grabbing a towel as if he needed to busy his hands with something mundane rather than acknowledge what had just transpired.I exhaled, steadying my breath, trying to do the same. I straightened my clothes, ran my fingers
The hunger in his gaze was unmistakable. A raw, insatiable need burned in his eyes, and I knew—I felt—that I was the only one who could satisfy it.And I was ready.The moment his lips crashed against mine, it was like a spark igniting a wildfire, consuming everything in its path. His kiss wasn’t soft or careful—it was fierce, unrelenting, like he was staking his claim on me. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me flush against his hard body as heat surged through me, making my skin tingle and my breath hitch.I melted into him, my body thrumming with electricity, every nerve alive and aching for more. Only he could do this to me. Only Dalton could awaken this fire inside me, a fire that had been smoldering, waiting for him to ignite it.His hands traced the curve of my back, branding me with his touch. His lips moved with a desperate urgency, parting mine, his tongue sweeping inside, tangling with mine in a battle of dominance. A sharp gasp left me as he nipped at my bottom lip, the
Being the daughter of an alpha isn’t some glamorous, fairy-tale life. It’s hell. Or at least it is for me. I’m Olivia Archer, the only child of Alpha Drake Archer of the Nightfall Pack. Sounds impressive, right? Like I should be the spoiled princess of the pack, adored and respected by everyone. But reality doesn’t care about what should be. My father doesn’t see me as his legacy or his daughter. To him, I’m nothing but a mistake—a problem he can’t wait to forget. My mom was different. She was my safe place, my light in the suffocating darkness of my father’s cold indifference. She used to tell me that I was her world, that I’d grow up to be someone incredible despite everything. She loved me with her whole heart, even though I could see the pain in her eyes every time my father ignored her. She wasn’t his fated mate, you see. She was his chosen mate, who stood by him when his fated mate rejected him. That should have meant something. It should have been enough. But it wasn’t. T...
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