Born into rejection and cast aside by her own pack, Claudia Lockwood is forced into a marriage with Marcellus Nightshade, a cursed Alpha fated to die at thirty. What begins as a union of convenience becomes a battle for survival, as they uncover buried secrets, fight for love, and seek redemption for their pasts. Together, they must challenge the forces conspiring against them, break a generational curse, and prove that love can rewrite destiny.
View MoreClaudia “In two weeks, I’ll be dead.”I blinked, the weight of his words rendering me momentarily speechless. My hands clenched the fabric of my dress, and I stared into the pitch-black room as if doing so would help me see him.“What did you just say?” I whispered, hoping I’d misheard.“You heard me,” he said, his voice void of emotion. “In two weeks, this sickness will claim me. That’s why they sent you here—to bide their time until I’m gone.”My chest tightened as I tried to comprehend his meaning. “But... why?”“Because when I die,” he continued, “you’ll be passed along to one of the elders as their concubine, that's if you prove to be useless afterwards. A fitting end for a pawn like you, don’t you think?”A cold wave of nausea washed over me. The room felt smaller, the air heavier, and I struggled to catch my breath. My father’s cold dismissal, my sisters’ pitiful glances—it all made sense now. None of them had dared to marry into this family because they had known. They had kn
Claudia “Stay back,” I warned, though my voice betrayed my fear. The rustling grew closer, and I backed up until I hit the door. My fingers fumbled for the handle, desperate to escape, but it wouldn’t budge. “Who’s there?” I asked again My voice trembled, betraying the confidence I tried to muster.“You should know,” he said, the edge in his tone sharp and cutting. “Or are you just as clueless as they said you’d be?” The voice was deep and raspy, slicing through the silence like a blade. I froze, my fist still midair. I hadn’t expected an answer—certainly not from inside the room. My breathing hitched as I turned, pressing my back against the door for support.I squinted into the suffocating darkness, but all I could see were shadows stretching endlessly. The faint rustle of movement echoed in the room, but it was impossible to pinpoint where it came from.“Are you... my husband?” I asked hesitantly, the words foreign and heavy on my tongue.A low chuckle emerged from the shadows, co
Claudia "This isn’t what I agreed to," I muttered under my breath as the car rumbled over the uneven road. Towering the gates of the Bloodfang estate loomed before us, massive and foreboding. I swallowed hard, steeling myself for what awaited me inside. I have never known anything outside the walls of my father's pack. I longed to see what it looked like, I yearned to be free. For years, I dreamed of leaving everything behind. It wasn’t a home—it was a cage, a place where I was constantly reminded of what I wasn’t: a daughter, a sister, a pack member. Now, I had finally escaped, but the freedom I craved felt like a distant illusion.I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, stealing a glance at the elder who had accompanied me. His lips were pressed into a tight line, his eyes fixed ahead. Not a word had been spoken between us since we departed.The Limo came to a halt, and I stepped out, my legs trembling beneath the weight of my gown. The Bloodfang estate was massive, its stone walls ca
Claudia "So, this is what it feels like to be dressed like a lamb before slaughter," I muttered, staring at the reflection in the cracked mirror. For the first time in my life, I looked like a princess. A royal blue gown adorned with intricate silver embroidery hugged my figure, its hem brushing the floor like cascading waves. My hair was swept into an elegant bun, with tiny pearl pins catching the light. Even my hands, after all those years of scrubbing floors, were softened with scented oils.It was ironic, really. I was nothing more than the Alpha’s dirty little secret—his illegitimate daughter. Yet here I was, dressed as if I belonged to the very bloodline that scorned me.“Don’t slouch, Claudia,” came my stepmother’s shrill voice from the doorway. Her lips curled in a way that made my skin crawl. “You’ll embarrass us enough as it is.”I straightened my posture but said nothing. I’d learned long ago that my silence was the only thing keeping me from constant punishment. Lyria an
Claudia "Why her?!"The words reached my ears before I even realized I was eavesdropping. I froze mid-step, the pail of water in my hands tilting precariously as I strained to hear more. The Alpha’s deep voice rumbled through the wooden walls of the great hall, its authority unmistakable.“She’s the eldest,” another voice replied, calm and measured. Likely Beta Rhys, the Alpha’s ever-loyal second-in-command. “Her lineage may not be pure, considering she's your illegitimate daughter but the alliance will outweigh her... deficiencies.”My blood ran cold. What alliance? What deficiencies? I eased closer to the partially open door, careful not to make a sound. The sound of chairs scraping against the stone floor followed, as if someone had stood.“This decision is final,” the Alpha said. “It’s for the good of the pack.”A third voice chimed in, older and raspier, probably one of the elders. “She’s of age. What better use can she provide than to be a sacrifice for the good of our pack. Th
Claudia "Why her?!"The words reached my ears before I even realized I was eavesdropping. I froze mid-step, the pail of water in my hands tilting precariously as I strained to hear more. The Alpha’s deep voice rumbled through the wooden walls of the great hall, its authority unmistakable.“She’s the eldest,” another voice replied, calm and measured. Likely Beta Rhys, the Alpha’s ever-loyal second-in-command. “Her lineage may not be pure, considering she's your illegitimate daughter but the alliance will outweigh her... deficiencies.”My blood ran cold. What alliance? What deficiencies? I eased closer to the partially open door, careful not to make a sound. The sound of chairs scraping against the stone floor followed, as if someone had stood.“This decision is final,” the Alpha said. “It’s for the good of the pack.”A third voice chimed in, older and raspier, probably one of the elders. “She’s of age. What better use can she provide than to be a sacrifice for the good of our pack. Th...
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