Romans de Jayne

LENAI should have stopped talking because the moment the words left my mouth, the air in the hallway changed. Not dramatically, not loudly, but enough for my instincts to scream at me to back down while I still could.Instead, I stood there with my chin lifted like I had any power in this house at all.Alpha Kael watched me for a long second before he moved.One moment there had been space between us, the next my back slammed into the wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs. A startled gasp escaped me as his hand wrapped around my waist, firm and unyielding, pinning me in place before I could even think about struggling.My pulse lurched violently.He leaned close enough that his scent surrounded me completely; cedar, smoke and the sharp metallic trace of blood that still clung to him despite the distance from earlier.“I hate repeating myself,” he said quietly, his gaze locked on mine. His voice never rose, which somehow made it worse. “And I hate it when people don’t lis

LENAMy body was trembling.“Alpha kael,” Elder Marsh said and the room went still. My mind was blank but my wolf had backed into a corner.Who was Alpha Kael?And why was my wolf acting…strange?My eyes flickered, landing on Cara. A coldness seeped into my skin as something glinted in her eyes. Pity…guilt? It was gone before I could understand it. Guards came out of nowhere, surrounding me and my body went still. Surely they weren’t serious…My father was at the corner, his lips set in a thin line, eyes faraway.“Father…”“Come with us,” one of the guards demanded and I stood my ground. There was no way they would force me to go if I didn’t want to go. “Father!” I called again but he would not look at me. My eyes watered as I stepped forward but a firm hand had engulfed my arm, claws sunk into my flesh and I let out a horrid gasp.I only had a few seconds to breathe before I was dragged and that was when he finally looked at me.I should have known. If he didn’t defend me once wh

I had barely slept a wink when a horrible pounding sent me scrambling to the corner in fear.The mark burning on my wrist burned but it was strangely comforting. Slowly, the door opened to reveal a pack warrior and I frowned, standing up in confusion.Why would a warrior be here by this time of day? “You have been summoned to a council meeting,” he said and my confusion increased.Why would I be summoned? Did something happen? I didn’t argue, I dressed quickly, my uneven hair impossible to fix. The council hall was a different building from the hall of last night. Stone pillars stretched upwards, and the faces waiting inside were strange… at least to me.As I walked in, the full brunt of shame slammed me in the chest as everyone looked at my hair. A murmur rippled, quick and quickly swallowed. The warriors lining the wall didn’t move—they never did. People lowered their eyes, not in respect but relief that they weren’t me. Shame made my cheeks hot but I straightened my spine. I

Tonight wasn’t supposed to matter for someone like meThe other girls gleamed and sparkled while I struggled with a dress twice my size. Selene had only slid the notice of my invite under my door three hours ago. I could still recall how wide my eyes were when I read the notice. I had checked the name three times, tracing the ink like it might change if I looked long enough. It didn’t. The moon goddess couldn’t have cared about rank if she picked me. That was what I told myself, it was what I needed to believe.The ceremony began, high priestesses walked the line slowly with an open scroll. An audience was present, the scent of wolves, perfume, candle and smoke along with a silence heavy enough to choke on.Even the air felt expectant. Waiting and watching. Prince Adrian stood at the altar, his face devoid of emotion, as though this could only be a formality. As he walked, girls around me vibrated with an excitement I couldn’t understand even as the air seemed to bend to his every