“Stay the hell away from me!”

I tightened my grip around the blade, pointing it at the man who had destroyed everything I loved.

The Lycan King only smiled, his obsidian eyes filled with amusement.

“Or else?” he murmured.

Everything about him screamed danger.

“I will never be your mate,” I whispered. “And I will never let you mark me.”

His smile faded.

“You already are.”

Before I could react, he caught my wrist. I struggled, then drove the blade into his abdomen.

Blood stained my hands.

I had just stabbed the most feared creature in the world.

The monster who had slaughtered my people.

Yet instead of killing me, he pulled me closer, his fingers tightening around my waist.

“Oh, little mate,” he whispered. “You really shouldn’t have done that.”

His razor-sharp teeth grazed my neck.

And the world went black.

⸻

They call themselves Werewolves.

Half man. Half beast.

Ancient creatures who ruled this world long before humans existed. Now they have returned to reclaim what they believe was stolen from them.

Some humans worship them as gods. Others hide in fear.

And some, like me, have every reason to hate them.

The Lycan King destroyed my kingdom, slaughtered my family, and took my home.

Now fate has made him my mate.

He wants my surrender.

I want his death.

But the closer I get to him, the harder it becomes to tell where hatred ends and forbidden desire begins.

Because the most dangerous thing about being the Lycan King’s mate isn’t his teeth.

It’s the way my body betrays me every time he gets close.