Chapter: Ownership RIN POVIris met someone new six months after Elena's return and this time she was honest from the beginning. His name was Aaron and he was part of a different network community two hours north. When Iris told him about collective consciousness he just nodded and said his family had been bonded for three generations."He understands," Iris said with relief flooding through our connection. "I do not have to explain or hide anything. He just gets it.""That is good," I said while feeling uncertain through my bond with Thorne. Dating within network communities was easier but it also meant limited options. What if Aaron was not right for her but she settled because he understood collective consciousness."You are overthinking," Thorne sent through our private channel. "Let her be happy. We can worry about whether he is right for her if it gets serious."Aaron visited the following weekend and I felt him before I saw him. His network presence was strong and confident. Not intrusive but de
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-11-20
Chapter: Network 2THORNE POVElena returned to the network after forty seven days but she was different. The girl who came back was quieter. More careful with her emotional broadcasts. There was distance in her presence that had not been there before."It was beautiful," she told us when we asked about her experience. "Being alone. Having thoughts that were completely mine. Not worrying about how my emotions affected everyone. For the first time in my life I understood what you all lost when you bonded.""Do you regret coming back," Sera asked and I felt her fear through the network."No. But I understand now why some people choose to stay severed. The peace is seductive. Not having constant input. Not feeling everyone's everything all the time."Iris was sitting as far from Elena as possible while still being in the room. Through the network I felt her hurt and anger. "You left me. You chose being alone over being connected to us.""I chose understanding myself. That is not the same as choosing agains
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-11-15
Chapter: Networked.RIN POVIris turned fifteen and fell in love with a boy who was not networked. His name was Daniel and he had no idea that collective consciousness existed or that the quiet girl in his history class could feel his emotions if she focused hard enough."This is a disaster," Iris said through the network while lying dramatically on her bed. "How do I talk to someone who cannot feel what I am feeling. Words are so inadequate.""Welcome to how most of humanity communicates," Kai said with amusement through the connection. "You use your words and hope they understand.""But I already know he likes me. I can sense it when I am near him. His emotions are so clear. But I cannot tell him I know because then I would have to explain the network."Through our bond Thorne sent concern. "She is going to have to tell him eventually if this continues. She cannot have a relationship built on deception.""She is fifteen. This might last two weeks.""Or it might last longer and then we have bigger probl
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-11-14
Chapter: Temporary.THORNE POVIris's temporary severing lasted four hours and twenty six minutes before she begged us to reconnect her. Dr. Voss had monitored the entire process while Rin and I waited outside the room feeling the absence of her presence in our network like a missing limb."It was horrible," Iris said once she was reconnected and clinging to both of us. "Everything was so quiet. I kept reaching for you and Elena and everyone and there was nothing. Just emptiness.""That is what individual consciousness feels like," I told her gently. "Being alone in your own head.""How did you survive it. How does anyone survive being that lonely.""Because when you grow up that way you do not know anything different. The loneliness is normal."Through our bond I felt her processing this new understanding. She had experienced what we lost when we bonded. Now she knew why we sometimes missed privacy even as we valued connection."I never want to be severed again," she declared. "The network is better. Be
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-11-13
Chapter: Network.RIN POVFive years after we published the network guidelines Iris turned eight and asked the question I had been dreading. "Do you and Papa ever wish you were not bonded."We were sitting by the lake near our permanent home. A small house we had finally bought after years of temporary shelters. Just the three of us and our small network living nearby but not on top of each other."Why would you ask that," I said carefully."Because sometimes through the bond I feel you being sad about it. Both of you. Like you miss something you used to have."She was perceptive in ways that normal eight year olds were not. Growing up networked meant she read emotions with perfect clarity. There was no hiding feelings from her."We do not wish we were not bonded," I said honestly. "But sometimes we miss privacy. Being able to have thoughts that are just our own.""You have private thoughts from me all the time. You and Papa have your special bond channel that I cannot access.""That is different. That
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-11-12
Chapter: Information.THORNE POVMarcus's information led us to three other communities operating like Network Haven. Controlled collectives where central nodes manipulated hundreds of people without their awareness. We spent six months documenting the manipulation and quietly helping people escape.It was exhausting dangerous work that took us away from Iris constantly. Rin and I would coordinate through our bond while physically separated. Him infiltrating one network while I worked on another. Both of us pretending to be interested in joining while actually gathering evidence."I hate this," Rin said through our private bond during one particularly difficult infiltration. "I hate being away from you. I hate leaving Iris with others. I hate that we are still fighting battles we should have walked away from.""Two more networks after this one. Then we are done.""You said that about the last network."He was right. We kept finding more manipulation. More communities that needed exposure. More people trapp
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2025-11-11
Fifty Gold For A Human
Aradia never imagined selling herself at the Blood Moon Market would bring anything but suffering.
Desperate to save her blind sister Emma, she steps onto the auction block ready to sacrifice everything. The mysterious hooded Alpha Xior buys her for an impossible sum; she expects cruelty. Instead, he offers peace.
For seventeen years, Xior has been haunted by his parents' murder that made him king at eight. Tormented by nightmares, he searched desperately for a cure. But holding Aradia close makes the nightmares vanish. For the first time since childhood, he sleeps. She becomes his salvation, secret weapon, and obsession.
But the past is never buried. As Aradia settles into palace life, truths surface: Xior’s parents led the pack that slaughtered hers and destroyed her village. The Blood Moon Market exists because of his family’s laws. Her sister grows bitter, jealous, and ungrateful.
The Moon Goddess’s priestess reveals Aradia as the last descendant of an ancient bloodline destined to balance wolves and humans. She is Xior’s true fated mate, but their bond threatens werewolf society. Rival alphas plot to steal her, his council demands a wolf mate, and a mysterious enemy resurfaces to destroy everything he built.
Caught between love and vengeance, duty and desire, Aradia must decide: can she forgive the man whose family destroyed hers? Can she accept a bond making her the most powerful and vulnerable in the realm? When war arrives, will her love for Xior save them, or will the Blood Moon claim its due?
In a world where wolves rule and humans suffer, one girl’s sacrifice might change everything. But some bonds are forged in blood, and some secrets are too dangerous to survive.
อ่าน
Chapter: 𑣲Strange kindness.ARADIA POV Maybe he was fattening me to be butchered, when I would be juicy enough to be savoured. Unreasonable thought, but not entirely stupid when I'm in a werewolf pack. I looked around the room for anyone wanting to jump on me or if this was a slaughtering room, because there's absolutely no way he bought me for such a ridiculously high amount to let me live the life of a Lady. In his pack. As a human. Finding nothing, I walked toward the bed, clutching my dress like my life depended on it.My heart pounded as I stood there, unsure whether to sit or keep standing, waiting for someone to wake me from this unbelievable dream.The door sprang open and I jumped, my hands shivering as I turned to see Alpha Xior’s sister Lyra leaning on the door, her free hand turning the lock into place and I swallowed with fear blurring my sight and my throat tightened. I almost passed out when I saw some tricklings of blood on the hem of her dress. “Who are you?" She asked, her vo
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-04-01
Chapter: 𑣲Capital.Aradia's POV"Come in."Xior's voice startled me. I'd been standing outside the tent for what felt like hours, watching the camp come alive around me. Wolves moved between tents, their eyes tracking me with curiosity and suspicion. I kept my head down and tried to be invisible.I pushed through the tent flap. Xior sat on the edge of his bed, fully dressed now in dark leather and furs. Those black eyes found mine immediately."You will be very useful to me," he said.The words sent ice through my veins. Useful. Of course. I was a slave. A tool he'd bought at market. Whatever strange mercy he'd shown last night, this was the reality. I belonged to him now.I bowed my head. "Yes, my lord.""We're leaving for the capital soon. The maids will prepare you." He stood, moving toward the tent entrance. "Dress her in silk," he called to someone outside. "And pack everything. We leave within the hour."Then he was gone.Two older women entered moments later. They looked at me with the same curio
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-03-13
Chapter: 𑣲Sleep.Xior's POVVoices pulled me from the darkness.At first, I thought I was dreaming. The voices were distant, muffled, like hearing people talk through water. But they grew clearer as consciousness crept in."Is he alright?" A soft female voice. Worried."He's fine." Kade's voice, closer. "Just let him rest.""But it's been so long. Should I wake him? What if something's wrong?""Trust me, girl. The alpha needs this."I opened my eyes.The tent ceiling came into focus slowly. Sunlight filtered through the fabric, casting everything in warm gold. Sunlight. Not moonlight.My heart stuttered.I sat up fast, the furs falling away from my chest. My head felt strange. Light. Clear in a way it hadn't been in years.Near the tent entrance, Aradia stood with Kade. She jumped when I moved, her eyes going wide. Even in the daylight, she looked fragile. Her dark hair tangled around her shoulders, her dress wrinkled from sleep."Out," I told her. My voice came out rougher than I intended.She didn't
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-03-13
Chapter: 𑣲Strange.Aradia's POVI couldn't stop staring at his face.When he pulled back his hood, the moonlight had shown me features that looked carved from stone. Strong jaw. Sharp cheekbones. Eyes so dark they were almost black. He was young, maybe mid twenties, but something ancient lived in those eyes. Something that had seen too much.This was Alpha Xior. I'd heard the whispers in the market after he bought me. The Silver Star Pack. The boy who became king at eight years old.And now I belonged to him.My legs shook as his beta, Kade, led me through the forest. The camp appeared between the trees. Dozens of tents circled a large fire pit. Wolves moved in the shadows, their eyes glowing as they watched me pass. I kept my head down and tried not to stumble.Kade stopped in front of the largest tent. Black fabric, trimmed with silver. The alpha's tent."Wait here," he said, then disappeared inside.I stood in the darkness, my bare feet cold against the ground. Around me, I could hear the pack settli
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-03-13
Chapter: 𑣲Claim. Xior's POV I never intended to buy her. I came to this cursed market for one reason. The healer. I'd spent three years tracking his movements, following whispers and rumors across territories. He moved like smoke, never staying in one place long. But my spies finally found him. He would be here tonight, under the blood moon, selling his services to the highest bidder. I needed him. Desperately. But then I saw her. She stood on that platform looking so small, so fragile among the other slaves. Her hands were shaking. I could smell her fear from where I stood at the back of the crowd, hidden beneath my cloak. It was the same fear I'd known once. Raw. Helpless. The slave trader paraded her around like meat. I should have looked away. Should have focused on finding the healer before he disappeared again. Then that scarred bastard climbed onto the platform. The sound of his hand striking her echoed across the square. She flinched but didn't cry out. Didn't beg. Just stood there wi
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-03-13
Chapter: 𑣲Sold. Aradia's POV The rope burned against my wrists. I stood in line with the other humans, waiting for my turn on the platform. The blood moon hung in the sky like a wound, painting everything red. Around us, torches flickered in the darkness. The smell of smoke and unwashed bodies filled the air. Once a year, the werewolves held this market. Most of the humans here were prisoners, taken during raids when the packs attacked villages under the blood moon's power. They stood with empty eyes, already broken. But I was different. I chose this. My stomach twisted as I remembered Emma's face. My little sister, blind since the fever took her sight three years ago. The healer said he could fix her eyes, but his price was steep. More gold than I could earn in a lifetime of washing clothes and tending fields. So I found a slave trader in the next town. Signed the papers with a shaking hand. The gold was already with the healer. By the time the moon waned, Emma would see again. Tha
ปรับปรุงล่าสุด: 2026-03-13
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