The Alpha Reluctant Bride
Selena Ashford never asked for a mate like him.
When her pack fell into ruin and her people’s lives hung in the balance, she was forced into the cold, calculating hands of Damon Veylor—the ruthless Alpha of Blackthorn. He was powerful, untouchable, and dangerously irresistible. But to him, she wasn’t a fated gift from the Moon Goddess… she was a contract.
One year. That was the deal.
One year of obedience. One year to give him an heir. One year living under his roof, his rules, and his dark gaze that burned through every wall she tried to build. At the end of it, she would be free. Free to walk away… but never free of the bond that tied her soul to his.
Damon doesn’t believe in love. He doesn’t believe in destiny. To him, mates are nothing but chains. But the moment Selena steps into his world, her fire threatens to crack the armor he has worn for years. She is supposed to be nothing more than his reluctant bride—yet every glance, every touch, ignites a war he can no longer control.
In a world where loyalty is tested, secrets unravel, and power is everything, Selena must choose: surrender to the cold contract that binds her, or fight for the dangerous, forbidden love that grows between them.
But Damon has secrets of his own. And when the past comes for them both, will their bond be strong enough to survive… or will the Alpha’s contract destroy them forever?
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Chapter: A wolf at the GateThe night was thick with unease.I woke to the sound of voices outside, low and urgent. The moonlight spilled across the bedroom floor, cold and silver, but the warmth of Damon’s side of the bed was already gone. He had left before dawn, as he often did, and the hollow ache his absence left in me was maddening.The bond tugged at me, restless and insistent, pulling me toward him. Against my better judgment, I rose, wrapped a shawl around my shoulders, and followed the noise down the winding halls of Blackthorn Manor.By the time I reached the courtyard, the night air carried the sharp tang of danger. Warriors lined the walls, weapons drawn, eyes fixed on the gates. Beyond the iron bars, a line of torches flickered, carried by wolves not of Blackthorn.A rival pack.And Damon stood at the center, broad shoulders squared, every inch the Alpha who feared nothing. His presence alone was enough to hold his men steady, but I felt the storm brewing inside him, the violent energy that made th
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Trial by Council The council chamber was colder than stone.I stood at Damon’s side, my hands clasped tightly before me, the weight of a dozen eyes fixed on me with sharp scrutiny. The long table stretched between us and the elders, each one a pillar of Blackthorn’s legacy. They were men and women who had served the pack for decades—scarred warriors, silver-haired advisers, voices that carried more weight than steel.And now, they were judging me.Damon sat at the head of the table, his presence filling the room. He leaned back in his chair, calm but commanding, as though every soul here already bent to his will. But I could feel the tension in the air, thick and dangerous, like a storm waiting to break.“Selena Ashford,” one of the elders began, his voice deep and disapproving. Elder Kael—his reputation preceded him. Ruthless, traditional, utterly loyal to the pack’s old ways. His sharp eyes cut across me like knives. “Daughter of a fallen Alpha. A woman from a broken pack. And now, you stand here, c
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Rules and DefianceThe morning sun spilled through the tall windows of my chamber, painting golden streaks across the velvet curtains. I lay still beneath the quilt, the weight of the previous night pressing heavy against my chest.The contract. The mansion. Damon’s words—cold, sharp, and merciless—echoed in my head like a curse."Don’t mistake necessity for affection."I pressed a hand to my heart, where the mate bond still thrummed like a stubborn flame refusing to die. No matter how he pushed me away, my wolf wouldn’t let go. She whispered his name with every breath, every heartbeat.I hated her for it.A soft knock at the door broke the silence. The maid from last night—Maribel, if I remembered correctly—slipped inside with a bow.“Luna,” she said gently, setting down a tray of fresh bread, fruit, and steaming tea. “The Alpha has instructed you to attend him in his study after breakfast.”“Of course he has.” I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “And what if I decide not to?”Maribel stiffened
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: Blackthorn HallThe ride to Blackthorn Hall felt like a funeral procession.The black SUV cut through the night, its tinted windows reflecting nothing but shadows. I sat rigidly in the back seat, my hands clenched so tightly in my lap that my knuckles ached. Beside me, Damon was a wall of silence and power, his gaze fixed out the window as though I wasn’t even there.Every mile carried me farther from the ashes of my old life, deeper into his.I tried not to stare at him, but it was impossible. The soft glow from the dashboard lights carved his profile into something almost unreal—sharp cheekbones, strong jaw, lips pressed in a hard line. His presence filled the car, a force so overwhelming my wolf stirred restlessly, whining for his touch.I hated her for that.“You’ll find the transition easier if you accept the rules quickly,” Damon said suddenly, his voice cutting through the quiet.I turned to him, startled. “Rules?”His eyes slid to mine, dark and unreadable. “Blackthorn Hall runs on order. You
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
Chapter: The Contract The pen felt heavier than iron in my hand. Its golden tip hovered above the crisp parchment, the black ink already waiting to seal my fate. The letters glared up at me in bold strokes, every clause deliberate, every condition as binding as chains."One year. Surrogacy. Heir."My chest tightened.Across the wide mahogany desk, Alpha Damon Veylor lounged in his leather chair, though lounging seemed too gentle a word for him. Even when he sat back, broad shoulders straining against the dark fabric of his suit, he exuded authority, power, and something darker that unsettled my wolf. His black eyes were fixed on me with the steady, dangerous patience of a predator watching prey.“You’ve had three days, Selena,” he said, his voice smooth but cold, deep enough that the air seemed to shiver with it. “Either sign the contract, or walk away. But if you walk away, you walk away from your pack too. I will not protect them without this bond.”My stomach clenched. My pack. My family. My people who
Last Updated: 2025-09-22
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