Novels by Alex Steel

I woke up with an odd feeling.Not the kind of feeling that comes from a bad dream. The kind that settles in my chest before my brain catches up. Like something had gone wrong but I couldn't place what it was. My body ached. Ribs, shoulders, the deep bruise along my left side that pulsed every time I breathed. I remembered Darren's fists. I remembered the dirt in my mouth and staying on my feet anyway.What I didn't remember was changing my clothes.I looked down.Clean shirt. Different pants. My breath stopped.I turned slowly, heart slamming. Cassian was on his bed, one arm draped over his eyes, breathing like he was asleep. His chest rose and fell, slow and even.But his head tilted the moment I moved.Just slightly.Just enough.My stomach dropped.He knows.No. I didn't know that. I couldn't know that. Maybe I'd changed before I passed out. Maybe I'd—I hadn't. I knew I hadn't. I'd been bleeding and dizzy and too exhausted to lift my arms. And now someone had cleaned the blood

Raven’s threat echoed in my head “Whatever you see in him, I’ll make sure it ends” as I stood in the Combat Yard, the morning sun harsh on my face. Val’s silence last night, her stubborn refusal to open up, had left me restless, my wolf pacing. The bond burned, pulling me to him despite my doubts, his walls clashing with my emotional walls. He was a lot of things but open wasn't one of them. Always on the defensive. It was really frustrating when all I want to do is help him.It has always been my personal decision to not involve myself in anyone's business but Val was making it difficult for me to go through with my decision. The Dominance Trials roared around me, students shouting, it was another day and the competition was still on, I didn't have eyes for anyone but him. Just when my eyes found Val, standing in a far corner to hide his presence, Darren, the dorm bully, stepped forward, his sneer wide. “Rhen, you’re up,” he barked, pointing at Val. “No declining.” My heart kick

Val’s scent lingered in my mind, that faint sweetness from the infirmary, too soft for an alpha. And too entrapping to be ordinary. I couldn’t shake it off. What the hell is wrong with me?My wolf restless as I stood in the Assembly Hall, the air buzzing with students. Lyra’s warning to Val “You need to prepare for the day he finds out” rang in my ears, overheard when I lingered outside her garden. Which was very annoying. I always seem to appear late when they're mostly done with their conversations.But time and time again, I was always proven right that Val was hiding something major, his stubborn silence driving a wedge between us, and my family’s rule of no emotions made sure I keep my walls up. But the freakish bond pulled, hot and heavy, trying to make me give in to the savage impulses of the wolf within. And none of those impulses involve a gentle pat on the back.Headmaster Rin stepped onto the stage, his voice booming. “The annual Dominance Trials begin today! No individu

I woke with a start, my heart pounding from a nightmare of Cain finding out the truth and dragging me out of Dominion Academy.It took me a moment to put myself in order before I took in my surrounding. The dorm was dim, morning light creeping through the curtains, but Cassian was already up, rummaging through my side of the room. What the hell?His tall frame bent over my desk, his black hair messy, his gray eyes focused. My stomach twisted—he was inspecting, again, like he had been since the raid. Lyra's warning from last night echoed: "Cassian plans to find out what we're hiding." He’d confronted her after leaving, thinking she will break, but she’d deflected. Now here he was, too close to my secrets."What are you doing?" I snapped, sitting up fast, my voice sharp. My eyes locked on him, as I put on my mask of utter annoyance. He straightened, his strong build filling the space, his face expressionless as always."Just checking supplies," he said, his voice casual, but his eyes

Val’s panicked voice rang in my ears as I hurried through the academy halls, her voice shaking over the phone after telling her what Cain had in mind.I reached Val’s dorm, knocking softly. "It’s me," I whispered. She yanked me inside, her blue eyes wide, her small frame tense. "We need to move your stash," I said, my voice low. "Cain’s coming tonight, and he couldn't be too far behind.”I’d gotten the info from a Vesper contact, that was close to him. Cain was sniffing around Val, and it wasn’t good. My sister’s face flashed in my mind, her forced mating to a brute alpha ending her life, and I clenched my fists. I wouldn’t let that happen to Val. She was smart, tenacious, with that good-hearted fire, but her family was making her into something she isn't. Val’s face paled, her hands shaking as she grabbed her bag. "Where?" she asked, her voice cracking, vulnerability showing. I pulled her to my room, the hallways empty, the air heavy with night."In the secret basement," I said, le

I knew Cain was really on to me when I heard Cassian was seen leaving his office with a sour look on his face. Gossip has a way of circulating in school especially when it's about the golden boy.Cassian always had a frown on his face, but it turns sour, it means something is wrong. However I didn't have time to worry about it. My phone buzzed in my pocket, a message from Lyra: Meet me in the ritual room. It's urgent. My heart skipped, my hands cold as I hurried through the academy halls, my eyes darting for wolves hiding within shadows. Raven's threat still rang “Let’s not pretend I don’t know a lie when I smell it.” And Cain’s interrogation yesterday had left me shaken, his nose has caught onto a scent and he wouldn't stop until he finds the prey he is hunting. My wolfsbane was low, my scent teetering, so I had to avoid much interaction with anybody until I took another dose of wolfsbane. The ritual room was dim, candles flickering on stone walls, the air thick with incense. Ly

I stood at the edge of the park the next night, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The full moon hung low in the sky, casting a silver glow over everything. Lucas's words from yesterday echoed in my head—I’m not joking, Emma. You’ll see the truth soon enough. Part of me wanted to run home and forget it all, but the pull inside me, that weird tug toward him, kept my feet planted.He appeared from the shadows, his tall frame cutting through the dim light. His gray eyes locked on mine, intense as always. "You came," he said, his voice low and rough.I crossed my arms, trying to hide how nervous I felt. "Yeah. But don't think I'm buying your crazy story yet. Werewolves? Bonds? It's ridiculous."He smirked, just a little, but it didn't reach his eyes. "We'll see." He nodded toward the trees beyond the park. "Come on. The forest is better for this."I hesitated, biting my lip. Curiosity burned in me, mixed with fear. But I followed him anyway, our footsteps crunching on the leaves

I hid in the shadows of the trees, watching Emma stroll through the park near her house. The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the grass. She looked lost in thought, her brown hair catching the light. That pull hit me hard—the bond tugging at my chest like a rope yanking me forward. I should stay away. After losing my first mate in that attack, and then Julian betraying me for power, getting close to anyone felt like a death sentence. But Emma... she was different. Fated. My wolf growled inside, urging me on.My phone buzzed. Olivia. I answered, keeping my voice low. "What?""Lucas, don't do this," she said, her tone sharp. "I saw you head toward her place after school. You're playing with fire. Remember what happened last time? You can't drag her into our world."I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building. Olivia was my best friend, my packmate, always looking out. But she didn't feel this bond. "I have to, Liv. She's part of it. I can't ignore the pull or stay away

I rushed down the sidewalk toward school, my backpack slapping against my side with every step. Tears stung my eyes from the fight with Marcus, but I blinked them away. His words echoed in my head—selfish, burden, helpless. The house felt like a cage, and school was my only escape today. I just wanted a normal day, no drama, no pressure.Just before I reached the building, I stopped to catch my breath. That's when I saw him. The new transfer student, leaning against the fence. Lucas. Tall, with dark brown hair falling over his forehead and those piercing gray eyes. He looked strong, like he could handle anything, but something about him felt off, too intense, too watchful. My heart skipped. Why was he staring at me?Our eyes locked. Heat crept up my neck. I felt intrigued, pulled toward him, but self-conscious too. I wasn't used to attention. I liked blending in, staying quiet. But he held my gaze, like he saw right through me."Emma!" Rachel's voice cut in from behind. I jumped, s

I sat at the kitchen table, my fingers nervously picking at the edges of a half-eaten sandwich. The bread was dry, the meal thrown together in a hurry before school. My mind raced back to last night. Dad's breakdown, the eviction notice looming like a dark cloud. The house already felt stifling. I glanced at the clock. I was supposed to be ready for the day, get my stuff together for school, but how could I focus? How could I go about anything like everything wasn’t falling apart?I needed to leave soon, but my legs felt heavy, stuck in place by the fear twisting in my gut.The front door banged open. Marcus stormed in, his boots thudding against the floor. His eyes locked on me, blazing with anger. "Emma! What the hell? You didn't even clean up after dinner last night.” He snapped, turning on me before I even had a chance to respond. “Do you even care about anything anymore? The house is falling apart, and you’re just sitting here like it doesn’t matter!”I froze. The words felt l

"Emma, honey. We need to talk.” Dad said as the door to the kitchen swung open. He walked in, his face drawn tight with worry. He looked older than his age, lines deep around his eyes. He rubbed his hands together, like he always did when bad news brewed.My stomach dropped.I was sitting on the creaky couch in our small living room, flipping through an old photo album as dust floated in the air, and the pages stuck a bit from years of neglect. My shift at the café ended late last night, and exhaustion pulled at me. But I couldn't stop looking. These photos were my escape, a reminder that life wasn't always this hard. But with Dad’s news, I didn't know anymore.I closed the album quick, setting it aside. "What's wrong, Dad? Is it the bills again?"He sighed and sat beside me. The couch groaned under his weight. Mom followed from the kitchen, her eyes downcast. She didn't say a word, just stood there twisting a dish towel in her hands.Dad cleared his throat. "Things are worse than I