Sasha Lane sat in the dimly lit bar, the kind of place where shadows were thicker than the air, nursing a drink she hadn’t touched in an hour. The amber liquid swirled in her glass, but her mind wasn’t on the whiskey. It was on the man sitting across from her. Dominic Knight—billionaire, CEO, and rumored mafia kingpin. He had the kind of face that could make women weak, all sharp angles and dark, dangerous eyes. But Sasha was different. She wasn’t here for pleasure. She was here because she had no choice.“You understand the terms, Ms. Lane?” His voice was low, like velvet, but there was something dangerous lurking underneath it. The kind of danger that made a chill run down her spine.Sasha met his gaze, refusing to be intimidated. “I understand you’re blackmailing me into marriage.”Dominic’s lips curved into a smirk. “Blackmail is such an ugly word. Think of it as… an arrangement. You marry me, your brother’s debts disappear. Simple.”Simple. As if anything about this man was simpl
Sasha Lane hadn’t always been this tough. There was a time when she believed in happy endings and good guys, but that was before life knocked her down and made sure she stayed there.She grew up in the rough parts of the city, in a cramped apartment that smelled of cigarettes and desperation. Her father walked out before she could remember his face, leaving her mother alone with two children and a mountain of bills. Jason was her baby brother, just four years younger, but it always felt like she was raising him. Her mother, worn out by life, numbed herself with alcohol, drifting further away until one night, she simply didn’t wake up.Sasha was seventeen when she found her mother’s cold body in their dingy apartment. From that day on, it was just her and Jason against the world. She worked three jobs, pushed herself through law school, and scraped together everything she had to give him a better life than the one they had growing up. But the world has a funny way of destroying your be
The day of the wedding came too quickly, as if time itself conspired to rush Sasha toward her fate. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace of her dress. It clung to her body like a second skin, emphasizing every curve she would rather hide. Her dark hair was swept back into an elegant updo, and the makeup, done by an artist Dominic had hired, made her look more like a stranger than herself. Everything about this day felt wrong, like she was playing a part in someone else’s life. But this was her reality now—a contract bride to Dominic Knight.Her hands trembled as she smoothed the fabric of her dress, the weight of the situation crushing down on her. Every fiber of her being screamed for her to run, to get out before it was too late, but there was nowhere to go. Dominic owned everything—her brother’s freedom, her future, and now, her.A sharp knock echoed through the suite, pulling her from her thoughts. Sasha’s heart skipped a beat. Was it time already?The doo
Sasha stood frozen in place as Dominic’s hands slid down her arms, his touch claiming her, making it clear that she was his possession now. Every instinct inside her screamed to pull away, to run, but there was nowhere to go. She had made her choice, and there was no turning back.Dominic’s breath was hot against her neck, his lips brushing the sensitive skin just below her ear. She shuddered, not from desire, but from the overwhelming sense of being trapped. He was dangerous, a predator circling its prey, and now she was bound to him by more than just a piece of paper.He turned her around slowly, his fingers firm on her waist. The intensity in his dark eyes locked her in place as he examined her, as if he was sizing up his new prize. His expression softened for a moment, but it wasn’t kindness she saw—it was control, power.“You’re scared,” he murmured, his voice low and gravelly, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Good.”Sasha’s breath hitched. She opened her mouth to respond, but the w
The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains of Sasha’s room, casting a golden hue on the polished marble floors. Despite the warmth of the Italian sun, a chill had settled deep in Sasha’s bones. The impending gala, where she would have to wear the mask of Dominic’s obedient wife, loomed over her like a storm cloud. The uncertainty of what this event would reveal gnawed at her, and she had no doubt that something darker simmered beneath the surface of this business affair.She stood by the grand mirror in her room, gazing at her reflection. Iris, with her usual brisk efficiency, had already laid out the gown for the evening—a striking, deep crimson dress, fitted and designed to draw attention. Everything about it screamed elegance, yet all Sasha could see was how it turned her into a perfect doll, a showpiece for Dominic to parade.Her thoughts drifted to the night before. Dominic’s words—“You’ll learn to embrace this life”—echoed in her mind, sending a shiver down her spi
Sasha’s heart pounded as she watched Dominic disappear into a side room with Luca and the others. She had never seen him look like this before—tense, on edge, his usual mask of control cracking around the edges. It unnerved her more than she cared to admit. Whatever conversation was happening behind those closed doors wasn’t just business, it was personal. And dangerous.She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. This was her chance. She could either stand here, waiting like an obedient trophy wife, or she could seize this moment to learn more about the world she had been thrust into.Her eyes scanned the ballroom. The guests continued to mingle, sipping champagne and exchanging polite pleasantries, but she knew better than to be fooled by the surface-level elegance. Underneath the glitz and glamor, there were power plays happening all around her. She could feel it in the air—danger lurking beneath every whispered conversation, every knowing glance.Sasha straightened her p
Sasha’s heels clicked softly against the polished marble floors as she followed Luca to a secluded corner of the ballroom. The opulence of the room seemed to dim, the glittering chandeliers and elegant music fading into the background as the tension between them thickened. She kept her expression composed, but every fiber of her being was on high alert. There was something unsettling about Luca—something that made her skin crawl—but she needed answers, and he was the key to unlocking Dominic’s secrets.Luca led her toward a narrow hallway, away from the crowd, and stopped beside a tall, intricately carved door. He pushed it open, revealing a lavish private lounge beyond. Dim lighting cast shadows over velvet armchairs, a fireplace crackling softly in the corner. It was intimate, almost too intimate, and Sasha’s pulse quickened as she stepped inside, acutely aware of the danger.“Much better,” Luca said with a smirk, closing the door behind him. The click of the latch sent a chill down
Sasha’s heart pounded in her chest as she stood frozen in front of Luca, his eyes locked on hers with a predatory gleam. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, as the seconds stretched into what felt like hours. Every instinct told her to run, to escape the dark web that was closing in around her, but she forced herself to stay calm.This was a dangerous game, one she had been thrust into without a choice. Now, more than ever, she had to be smart. She had to survive.Luca took a step closer, his smile widening into something more sinister. “You seem a little on edge, Sasha. Should I be worried?”Her breath caught in her throat, but she quickly masked her fear. She knew Luca was testing her, watching for any sign of weakness. If he sensed even a hint of hesitation, he’d pounce. She couldn’t let him see her sweat.“I was just surprised to see you here,” Sasha said, her voice steady as she met his gaze. “You seemed to disappear from the ballroom so quickly.”Luca c
The aftermath of the battle lingered like a heavy fog over the mansion. The library was a wreck—shattered glass, overturned furniture, and scorch marks from magical blasts marred the once-pristine space. Silence reigned, broken only by the occasional groan of the house settling. Sasha sat in the corner, clutching her knees, her mind racing.Lilith had retreated, but the look on her face before she vanished had etched itself into Sasha’s memory. There was more to Caleb’s amulet than he was letting on, and Sasha couldn’t shake the feeling that it was tied to something darker.“Everyone okay?” Ethan’s voice cut through the stillness, his golden eyes scanning the room. His shirt was torn, and claw marks raked across his chest, but his focus remained on the others.Alaric brushed off the dust from his coat, his gaze sharp. “For now. But that was no ordinary retreat. Lilith left too easily, and that means she has another plan.”Caleb leaned against the doorway, his face pale but resolute. T
Sasha sat beside Ethan in the cold, dimly lit chamber, her fingers brushing gently over the bloodied gash along his temple. The healing was slow, too slow for her liking. He’d taken the brunt of Lilith’s attack, and although his body was built to endure, the wounds seemed to run deeper than the physical. His breathing was shallow, his usual strength reduced to a pale flicker of itself.“I told you to stop throwing yourself in front of danger for me,” Sasha whispered, her voice trembling. “You can’t keep doing this, Ethan. One day, it won’t be enough.”Ethan’s lips twitched into a faint smile, his amber eyes opening just a sliver. “It’s my job to protect you,” he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. “Even from things bigger than me.”Her chest tightened, anger and guilt warring within her. “It shouldn’t have to be this way.”A tense silence fell between them, broken only by the faint crackle of a dying fire in the hearth. The mansion’s eerie quiet had returned, but it no longer fe
The silence in the mansion was suffocating, a heavy stillness that pressed against Sasha’s chest. Ethan held her close, his eyes scanning the dimly lit corridors for any signs of movement. Every creak of the old wooden floors echoed ominously, each sound amplifying the tension in the air.“I don’t like this,” Sasha whispered, her voice barely audible. Her body was weak from the confrontation with the Ancient, but her senses were on high alert. The runes’ energy had left her drained, but a strange new awareness buzzed at the edge of her mind, as if something—or someone—was watching them.“We’ll figure it out,” Ethan said, his tone firm but tinged with unease. His hand rested on the small of her back, guiding her forward. “We need to regroup with the others.”Sasha nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. They’d left behind a battlefield, and now it felt as though the entire world had vanished. The once-vivid sounds of growls and screams had been replaced by an unsettling quiet. The air felt
Sasha’s footsteps echoed through the dim corridors of the mansion, her breaths coming in shallow, ragged gasps. The sound of growls and gunfire grew fainter behind her, but the panic surging in her chest refused to abate. Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, to fight alongside Ethan and Jaxon, but she knew she’d only be a liability in the chaos.She reached the spiral staircase leading to the mansion’s attic, hesitating for only a moment before climbing. The old wooden steps creaked under her weight, but the oppressive silence above made her uneasy. She pushed the attic door open, slipping inside and locking it behind her.The attic was vast, cluttered with forgotten relics of the past. Moonlight filtered through a small circular window, casting eerie shadows across the room. Sasha leaned against the door, trying to steady her breathing, when her eyes caught something glinting on the far side of the attic.She approached cautiously, weaving through the dust-covered furniture a
Sasha’s scream echoed in the void, her knees sinking into the fractured ground. Ethan lay motionless behind her, his wolf form barely stirring, his breathing shallow. Jaxon, still entangled in the tendrils of shadow, struggled against their grip, his eyes locking onto hers with a silent plea.“Choose, Sasha,” the doppelgänger whispered again, her voice an icy caress against Sasha’s skin. “Your hesitation only tightens the noose.”“I can’t!” Sasha’s voice cracked, tears streaking down her cheeks as she clawed at her temples, trying to block out the overwhelming pressure. Her chest ached with the weight of the impossible decision.Jaxon coughed, the shadows tightening around his throat. “Sasha… don’t let her win.”“But if I choose wrong—”“You have to fight!” Jaxon shouted, his voice hoarse but firm. “You have to trust yourself.”The doppelgänger tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. “Trust herself? The girl who’s been stumbling through this mess, barely understanding the power
Sasha’s chest tightened as the man’s cold, mocking words echoed in the air. The suffocating fog wrapped around her like a shroud, distorting her surroundings. His silhouette loomed closer, his predatory smile a cruel beacon in the endless gray void.“What did you do to me?” she demanded, her voice trembling as she instinctively backed away.“This isn’t about what I did,” he said, his voice calm yet dripping with menace. “It’s about what you’ve unleashed. This place—this limbo—exists because of you. And now, you’ll learn the price of meddling in things you don’t understand.”Sasha’s pulse hammered in her ears as she scanned the emptiness, searching for a way out. But the fog seemed alive, shifting and curling, obscuring her vision. She clenched her fists, refusing to let her fear show. “You’re wrong. This isn’t my fault.”“Isn’t it?” His laugh was low and menacing. “Every choice you’ve made, every step you’ve taken, has brought you here. You’re more powerful than you realize, Sasha. Bu
The night was eerily silent as Sasha, Ethan, and Jaxon stood at the edge of the estate, the moonlight casting long shadows over the frost-covered ground. The stillness was deceptive, an ominous calm before the inevitable storm. Sasha’s heart pounded as she clutched the dagger Jaxon had handed her, its silver blade gleaming under the moon.“They’re here,” Ethan murmured, his voice low and cold.“How many?” Jaxon asked, his stance rigid, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring.Ethan closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. When he opened them again, the flicker of darkness in his gaze was unmistakable. “Five. No, six. They’re circling us.”Sasha’s grip on the dagger tightened. “What are they?”“Not human,” Jaxon answered grimly. “But not entirely wolf, either. This is something else.”Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural growl broke the silence, echoing through the trees. Sasha’s breath hitched as a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, fol
Sasha sat by Ethan’s side, her hands trembling as she held onto him. His body was warm, but his breaths were faint, barely audible over the storm of emotions swirling within her. The eerie quiet of the forest around them seemed to mock her desperation.“You’re not leaving me,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Do you hear me, Ethan? You fight. You fight for us.”But he didn’t respond. His face, once so full of life, was pale and gaunt, as though whatever darkness had claimed him was still leeching away what little strength remained.She tightened her grip on him, refusing to let go. The memory of the shadowy figure’s chilling words haunted her. He belongs to me now.“No,” she said aloud, her voice firmer this time. “You’re wrong. He’s mine.”The weight of the situation pressed down on her. She couldn’t just sit here and wait for him to slip further into whatever abyss the man had dragged him into. She needed help.Her mind raced, and only one name came to her. Jaxon.He was the only
Sasha stumbled back, her body trembling as Ethan stepped closer. He looked the same—the sharp jawline she’d traced so many times, the strong hands that had held her through the darkest nights—but his eyes were void of life. They were black holes that seemed to consume the light around him.“Ethan?” she whispered again, desperation clawing at her throat.He didn’t respond. His lips parted, but instead of the voice she loved, a guttural growl tore through the air, sending chills down her spine.The man who had sealed the deal stood off to the side, a smug grin plastered on his face as if he were enjoying the show. “You asked for him back,” he said, his voice laced with mockery. “Well, here he is.”“This isn’t him!” Sasha snapped, her voice breaking. She turned to face the stranger, anger and grief warring within her. “What did you do to him?”“I gave you what you wanted,” the man said with a shrug, his tone infuriatingly casual. “You didn’t specify how.”Sasha’s wolf snarled, clawing to