Novels by Author Dera

Aria POVI turned my attention back to the party with a soft smile, the crackling firelight warming my skin. I didn’t have to look at him to know—Raiden’s eyes were still on me. I could feel them, steady and unyielding.“Don’t you dance?” I asked lightly, keeping my gaze on the flames instead of him.A low chuckle sounded beside me, deep and amused, but he didn’t answer.“You do dance, right?” I pressed, finally turning to him with a small, knowing smile.He shook his head at once, lifting both hands in mock surrender. “Nope.”I raised a brow, unimpressed. “I don’t believe that for a second. Behind all that toughness and kingly seriousness, there has to be something hidden in there, Your Royal Majesty.”He scoffed, lips twitching despite himself. “Don’t even go there.”I ignored him completely and rose to my feet, smoothing my clothes as I did. “I think your people would love to see you dance.”My eyes locked onto his, daring him.He stared back, clearly suspicious now, like he could

Aria POVBy the time my legs finally decided they’d had enough, the fire had burned lower and steadier, the wild dancing easing into softer rhythms and low laughter. My chest still rose fast, my skin warm, my hair a mess I didn’t even bother fixing.I escaped the circle with a breathless laugh and made my way toward the edge of the clearing.Raiden was sitting on a fallen log, watching the fire like it held old memories only he could see. I dropped down beside him with a tired sigh that came straight from my bones.“Okay,” I said, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “I officially can’t feel my legs anymore.”A corner of his mouth lifted. “I warned you.”“No, you didn’t,” I shot back, then softened. “But… thank you. For this.”He turned his head slightly, eyes settling on me. Not the fire. Not the people. Me.“They’re amazing,” I continued, nodding toward the pack. “Your people. They’re so… at ease. No tension. No fear. Everyone just fits.” I searched for the rig

Aria POVTime moved strangely after that.One moment I was on my knees in the training ground, shaking and glowing and wondering if I’d just imagined the wolf behind me—and the next, I was standing in warm water, steam curling around my shoulders, replaying everything with a smile I couldn’t seem to wipe off my face.My first day.And I hadn’t failed.Kaida definitely showed herself during training.I washed the dust from my skin, braided my hair loosely, and stared at my reflection for a long moment afterward. I looked the same… but I felt different. Stronger. Lighter. Like something inside me had finally stretched awake.I was still smiling when a knock came.“Aria,” Raiden’s voice called from the other side of the door. “Come to my chamber.”My heart skipped.His chamber?“Uh—okay,” I replied, hoping my voice didn’t betray the way my stomach fluttered.By the time I reached his chambers, the evening light had softened the fortress halls, gold bleeding into shadow. I hesitated for h

Darius POVSomething inside me snapped.“Selene,” I said sharply, turning back to her, my voice low and dangerous. “Would you disobey your alpha?”The room went deathly quiet.Lyra stiffened behind me.Selene didn’t flinch. Not even a little.She met my gaze calmly, sadly even, and shook her head once. “You would do nothing to me,” she said. “Not because you can’t—but because you know I’m right.”That only made my anger burn hotter.“I am trying to save you,” she continued, her tone softer now, almost weary. “From yourself. Let that mysterious man try whatever tricks he claims to have. If he fails, then at least your hands will not be stained with things you cannot undo.”Lyra exhaled sharply. “Didn’t I say the same thing?” she muttered. “But no. No one ever listens to me.”I clenched my jaw so hard it ached.Enough.Without another word, I turned and stormed out of Selene’s chambers. The air felt suffocating, my thoughts louder than my footsteps. Anger buzzed through my veins, sharp

Darius POVAfternoon bled slowly into evening, the sun sinking low enough to cast long shadows across the stone walls of the fortress. I stood by the balcony, hands resting on the cold rail, jaw tight, thoughts louder than the wind brushing past my ears.I had dismissed the mysterious man hours ago.Come back another time, I’d told him. Not because his offer didn’t tempt me—but because it did. Too much. I needed space to think, to weigh what kind of monster I was willing to become to get what I wanted.Behind me, I heard the faint shuffle of movement.Lyra.She stood a few steps away, wrapped in a loose cloak that hid most of the bandages, but not the stiffness in her posture. Not the way pain still clung to her no matter how hard she tried to mask it.Silence stretched between us.It pressed.Finally, I turned to her.The sight of her—really looking this time—twisted something unpleasant in my chest. Her face was paler than usual, her eyes dulled by exhaustion. Aria’s flames hadn’t j

Aria POVI hesitated for just a heartbeat longer—then I looked around.I don’t know what I expected to see. Fear. Suspicion. Distance.But none of that was there.Instead, there were nods. Soft smiles. Quiet approval. One of the women I’d teased earlier gave me a small thumbs-up like we were old friends. Kael met my eyes from across the ground and tapped two fingers to his chest in silent respect. Even the older warriors—scarred, hardened men—watched me with something that looked a lot like pride.My throat tightened.I hadn’t realized how badly I needed that.I turned back to Raiden, my smile coming easier now, steadier. “I’m ready,” I said, surprising even myself with how sure my voice sounded. “We should continue.”His eyes searched my face—not questioning, not doubting—just making sure. When he seemed satisfied, he gave a slow nod.“All right,” he said quietly.I drew in a deep breath, centering myself the way he’d taught me. My feet found the ground again. Solid. Present. Real.

Kael’s POV The sanctuary was silent. Not even the crackle of firewood dared interrupt my thoughts as I sat alone, surrounded by shadows and the sharp scent of herbs and old blood. This place—once sacred, once soothing—had become a cage I willingly locked myself in. Days had passed. Weeks maybe. And yet, I couldn’t forget her. The woman of that night. I didn’t know her name. I never even got the chance to ask. She had been light in the dark, warm in a world where I was cold-blooded by necessity. Her voice, her breathless laughter, the way she touched me like she wasn’t afraid of what I was… like she saw me. I had started to feel something I had long forgotten. Something dangerously close to hope. And then… she vanished. Gone before I even returned to the tent. No note. No word. Just empty sheets and the haunting echo of her scent. I clenched my jaw, eyes narrowing at the memory that had haunted me every damn night since. I searched. Goddess, I searched. I had every scout, every

Ronan’s POV Dawn had barely broken when Mira walked into my office, hovering like a shadow by the door. I was seated at the edge of my desk, arms folded, eyes skimming through a weathered scroll that detailed rogue sightings near our borders. She didn’t speak. Not for a full ten minutes. “Mira,” I said without looking up, “you’ve been standing there like a statue. What is it?” She fidgeted, her hands wringing together. “Promise me you won’t get all mad about it.” That made me pause. I slowly lifted my gaze to her and arched a brow. “What have you done this time?” She stepped closer, guilt already etched into her face. “Jax and I were out on the northern patrol. We... we found someone.” I straightened slightly. “Found someone?” “A girl,” she nodded. “In the woods. She was half-conscious, injured, barely breathing. Looked like she hadn’t eaten in days.” My brows furrowed. “And you brought her here?” Mira flinched at the sharpness in my tone but held her ground. “We couldn’t ju

Selene’s POV It had been days. Days of walking with no direction, only the pain in my feet and the cold bite of the wind guiding me forward. The nights were the worst. The world turned black, and every sound became a threat. The howls in the distance. The rustling in the brush. The echo of my own heartbeat in my ears as I curled into myself, trying to stay warm. Trying to stay alive. I didn’t know where I was anymore. Snow had soaked my boots through. My legs were scraped from thorns, rocks, gods-know-what else. My cloak—thin and torn—clung to me like wet paper. I’d passed through forests dense with silence, cliffs jagged and high, and rivers too cold to cross without feeling like death was waiting on the other side. But I kept walking. Because I had no choice. The wildlands… they didn’t welcome you. They tested you. And I was failing. I tried finding shelter—small caves, hollowed trees, anywhere I could rest my eyes. But the creatures here were always watching. I could feel

Selene’s POV My entire body ached—every bone, every muscle, even the skin I was wrapped in. The sky outside had already faded into night, shadows painting the walls of my room. I’d been locked in here for hours. Maybe even the whole day. And I was sure by now… the entire pack knew. Yes. Selene—the disgrace. Selene—the shame of Moonbane. The girl who dared to carry the child of an enemy. I could almost see their faces twisted in judgment, feel their whispers crawling down my spine like insects. And honestly… I couldn’t even blame them. Because I was ashamed of myself too. How did I let this happen? How could I have been so blind? What kind of mistake have I made—so permanent, so life-changing—that there’s no waking up from it? I buried my face deeper into the pillow, hugging it tightly like it could muffle the noise inside my head. I had no clue what Uncle Malric and Aunt Ysara were planning. Maybe exile. Maybe worse. But whatever it was… I would face it. Because I had t

Two Weeks Later – Selene’s POV The nausea hit me before my eyes even opened. I groaned, curling deeper into the sheets, hoping if I stayed still enough, the rolling in my stomach would stop. It didn’t. It hadn’t for days. I’d been waking up with this same awful, queasy feeling—nauseous, tired, weirdly sensitive to smells. Even Liora’s perfume made me gag yesterday, and I usually loved that scent on her. With a hiss, I sat up slowly, pressing my palm to my forehead. My head was throbbing, and the sunlight that leaked through my window was way too bright for this hour. “What is wrong with me?” I muttered under my breath, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. My room was warm and still, but something in my chest felt unsettled. Like I was on the edge of a drop I couldn’t see yet. I hadn’t told anyone—not Aunt Ysara, not Liora, especially not my uncle. Spirits, if Malric even suspected I was sick, he’d probably call for a full council meeting and label me ‘unfit to serve as a Mo

Two Weeks Later – Selene’s POV The nausea hit me before my eyes even opened. I groaned, curling deeper into the sheets, hoping if I stayed still enough, the rolling in my stomach would stop. It didn’t. It hadn’t for days. I’d been waking up with this same awful, queasy feeling—nauseous, tired, weirdly sensitive to smells. Even Liora’s perfume made me gag yesterday, and I usually loved that scent on her. With a hiss, I sat up slowly, pressing my palm to my forehead. My head was throbbing, and the sunlight that leaked through my window was way too bright for this hour. “What is wrong with me?” I muttered under my breath, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. My room was warm and still, but something in my chest felt unsettled. Like I was on the edge of a drop I couldn’t see yet. I hadn’t told anyone—not Aunt Ysara, not Liora, especially not my uncle. Spirits, if Malric even suspected I was sick, he’d probably call for a full council meeting and label me ‘unfit to serve as a Mo