When her village is destroyed by corrupted magic, she’s offered protection under one condition: marry Lucan Rhyst , the cold, enigmatic Alpha of the Emberfall Pack. Alina, is an orphaned healer with dormant magical blood. She is forced to marry the cold and ruthless Alpha of the Emberfall Pack and everything within her rebels. Especially because her heart already belongs to someone else—a forbidden someone. But when she learns she is a vessel for a long-lost magic that could tear down the veil between the two worlds, the lines between hate and desire blur. Lucan, Alpha by blood but cursed by prophecy, rejected his mate years ago to protect her from the darkness clawing at his soul. But Alina’s arrival, fragile, defiant, burning with power reignites what he tried to bury. And when war threatens to spill across realms, the only way to survive is together. Forced into a bond neither of them wants, Alina and Lucan are caught in a prophecy that foretells either salvation or destruction. But when Alina’s past lover, Kael, now an emissary of the Underworld returns with promises and lies, everything spirals. As attraction ignites and loyalties shift, Alina must awaken her dormant magic before the King of the underworld breaks through the Veil. In a world where love is weaponized, magic is feared, and betrayal runs bone-deep, can two enemies become the key to peace—or will their bond doom both worlds?
Voir plusSebuah mobil Jeep berhenti tepat di samping Zalila, membuatnya terkejut dan menghentikan langkahnya. Dua pria terlihat turun dari mobil itu. Satu pria berbadan kekar memakai kaus berwarna hitam dengan rompi jeans biru tanpa lengan satu pria lagi berbadan kurus dengan pakaian biasa, sepertinya dia hanya asisten atau kacung saja.
Kedua pria itu menghadang laju langkah Zalila. Dengan tertawa-tawa, pria berbadan kekar itu lebih mendekat pada Zalila. Semakin Ia mundur, semakin pula pria itu maju masih dengan tertawanya.
Panik dan ketakutannya Zalila, semakin membuat dua pria itu kegirangan. Zalila berusaha ingin menghindar dan berniat lari, namun tembok di samping kirinya menghalanginya serta mobil Jeep itu menjaganya dari samping kanan, ditambah pria berbadan kurus itu dengan sigap berlari menghadang dari belakang.
"Mau lari kemana, nona manis?" ledek pria berbadan kekar itu.
"Kau tidak akan bisa lari kemana-mana," katanya lagi.
Setiap pria berbadan kekar itu usai berucap disambut gelak tawa pria berbadan kurus dibelakang Zalila.
"Jangan dekat!" pekik Zalila.
Lagi-lagi, mereka tertawa dengan renyahnya. Kemudian memberi kode kepada pria kurus, agar segera menangkap Zalila.
"Lepaskan!" teriak Zalila, berusaha melawan. Sebuah bungkusan plastik kresek berwarna hitam jatuh, lepas dari pegangannya.
Mendengar teriakkan Zalila, pria itu membekap mulut Zalila,dan menahan tangannya agar tidak berontak.
"Cepat, bawa masuk gadis itu sebelum ada warga memergoki kita lagi!" titah pria berbadan kekar, lalu segera masuk ke mobil untuk kembali memegang kendali setirnya.
Ini memang kedua kalinya Mereka berusaha menangkap Zalila, setelah usaha pertama mereka gagal karena ada seorang warga yang melihat mereka lalu meneriaki mereka, hingga membuat mereka lari terbirit-birit.
Kali ini nasib baik sedang tidak berpihak pada Zalila, Ia berhasil dimasukkan ke dalam mobil Jeep yang mulai melaju kencang.
"Kalian itu tidak malu ya, dengan badan yang besar kalian melawan wanita?" ledek Zalila usai dibiarkan bebas tanpa dibekap lagi.
"Diam, Kau!" teriak pria berbadan kurus di samping Zalila.
Gertakan pria itu berhasil membuat Zalila yang berbadan kecil menjadi ketakutan.
Zalila, gadis berusia 23 tahun itu kini pasrah tanpa perlawanan lagi.
Terus melaju kencang Jeep itu, hingga berhenti di sebuah rumah mewah berlantai dua dengan pilar-pilar kokoh tinggi hingga sampai ke lantai dua rumah itu.
"Turun!" teriak pria berbadan kurus sambil menarik tangan Zalila.
"Tidak bisa kah, kalian bersikap lembut pada wanita? bukan kah Ibu kalian juga wanita?" ucap Zalila, tak menerima perlakuan kasar mereka.
Tak terpengaruh dengan ucapan Zalila, dua pria itu tetap membawa paksa Zalila untuk masuk lebih dalam ke rumah itu.
Di dalam rumah itu, sudah ada duduk seorang pria lagi. Namun laki-laki ini lebih tua usianya sekitar lima puluh tahun kira-kira. Ia bernama Betara Subekti. Berbadan sedikit gendut, dengan pakaian layaknya juragan.
"Ini, Tuan. Gadis ini telah berhasil kami tangkap," ujar pria berbadan kekar.
"Lepaskan, dia!" titah Betara dengan suara beratnya.
Pria berbadan kekar itu menoleh pada pria berbadan kurus, memberi kode untuk melepaskan Zalila.
Zalila memegangi pergelangan tangannya, merasa sedikit perih akibat cekalan kuat si pria kurus.
Melangkah maju, Betara mendekati Zalila.
"Bagaimana, kapan Kau bisa membayar hutang mu?" tanyanya pelan.
"Tuan, Saya belum bisa membayarnya untuk saat ini," sahut Zalila.
"Tapi Saya sedang berusaha mencari uang," lanjut Zalila meyakinkan.
Wajah Betara tampak meremehkan ucapan Zalila, Ia tersenyum remeh dengan sebelah bibir terangkat.
"Sampai Kau mati cari uang, hutang mu tidak akan bisa kau bayar," sahut Betara.
"Sudahlah, serahkan saja tanah kebun di samping rumah ibumu itu, lalu saya akan membeli rumah mu juga. Enak, bukan? sudah hutang lunas dapat uang pula," lanjut Betara.
"Tidak akan, Tuan. Hanya rumah itu milik kami satu-satunya. Kami akan tinggal dimana jika rumah itu kami serahkan," lirih Zalila.
Zalila hanya seorang gadis lemah, saat ini Ia seperti sedang dikepung oleh pria yang jauh lebih besar darinya, sungguh tidak seimbang.
Pria-pria yang tidak punya perasaan dengan terus-menerus menekan Zalila, demi untuk mendapatkan harta yang tidak seberapa milik Zalila dan Ibunya.
Jika tidak karena terpaksa, Zalila pun tidak akan meminjam uang kepada Tuan Betara ini. Sayangnya, uang dengan jumlah besar hanya bisa Ia dapatkan dari Tuan rentenir ini. Dengan perjanjian pembayaran setiap bulannya dengan tambahan bunga tiap kali bayar.
Awalnya Zalila merasa Betara ini seperti pahlawan yang telah menolongnya dari kebingungannya bagaimana cara mendapatkan uang dengan cepat, agar Ia bisa segera mengobati penyakit ibunya ke rumah sakit.
Operasi ginjal yang harus segera dilaksanakan untuk Ibunya membutuhkan biaya yang besar.
Hingga bulan ketiga Zalila hanya baru satu kali membayar dengan seluruh gaji dari pekerjaannya sebagai pelayan di sebuah restoran, itupun belum berikut bunganya. Alhasil, hutang Zalila semakin bertambah dengan bunga yang terus mekar.
Pada dasarnya Betara ini memang mengincar rumah dan tanah yang ditanami sayur-mayur di samping rumah itu. Rumah yang ditempati Zalila dan Ibunya, adalah peninggalan dari Bapaknya. Letak yang strategis, membuat Betara merencanakan untuk membangun toko di tanah itu.
Sejak masih ada Bapaknya Zalila, Betara sudah berusaha untuk mendapatkannya. Namun selalu ditolak keras oleh Bapaknya. Betara harus mengalah mundur, karena Bapak Zalila adalah orang yang disegani di kampung itu. Selain suka menolong, Bapak Zalila pun suka memberi. Hal itulah yang membuatnya di segani.
"Bukankah tadi saya sudah katakan, Saya akan membayar rumah itu. Kau bisa menggunakannya untuk mencari tempat lain." Betara mulai membujuk.
"Tidak! Saya yakin Tuan akan membayar dengan seenak hati, Tuan," lantang Zalila.
Tepat sekali perkiraan Zalila, Betara memang seperti itu. Sudah banyak warga yang menjadi korbannya. Tak berbeda strategi yang lancarkan pada Zalila, hal yang sama pun terjadi pada warga lainnya. Mereka terpaksa memberikan tanah mereka sebagai bayarannya. Walaupun akan disesuaikan sebesar hutang, tetapi tetap saja Betara mengambil keuntungan lebih besar.
"Tidak, Zalila. Khusus untuk mu, Saya akan membayar sesuai yang kau mau," rayu Betara, mencolek dagu mungil Zalila.
Zalila mengelak, menghempas kasar wajahnya kesamping.
"Sudahlah, Kau sendirian di sini. Tak akan ada yang membelamu." Betara semakin mendekati Zalila. Kedua anak buahnya yang masih setia berdiri mengawal, saling melirik dan sedikit tertawa.
"Jika tidak kau berikan pun, rumah mu itu akan tetap ku rebut. Karena kau tak bisa membayar hutang mu," bisiknya ke telinga Zalila.
"Jadi, mau sekarang kau serahkan dengan tambahan uang atau ku ambil paksa sebagai bayaran hutangmu, Zalila?" tanyanya masih dengan berbisik.
Zalila panik dan ketakutan dengan bisikan lembut itu yang sebenarnya adalah ancaman.
Alina. The kiss struck like a thunderclap. Kael’s lips on mine were the same as they’d always been, familiar and warm, commanding, yet edged with something feral. But I had changed, and this time, the kiss didn’t wrap me in the safety of forgotten dreams. It cracked me wide open. The second our mouths met, my magic flared like wildfire, unbidden and violent. I felt it, and I couldn't control it. The air trembled. The earth shuddered beneath our feet. All around us, the Veil thinned just enough for the air to take on that familiar, sulfur-laced bite of the Underworld. It was the scent of charred roses and ancient blood, of promises broken and fates rewritten. Kael drew back slowly, eyes locked on mine. There was a smirk playing at his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. No triumph. Just something haunted. Something hollow. “Still burns,” he murmured, his thumb brushing my cheek. “I thought I was the only one who remembered what we were.” I stumbled back, heart pounding, breath r
Alina.The day started deceptively gentle, I woke up to the sound of bird songs, I opened my window and watched the birds as they trilled in the hedges, and early dew painted the grass silver. I awoke with the taste of Kael's presence still lingering on my tongue like smoke, or memory. But when I sat up, there was no trace of him. No scent. No footprints. Just silence, I could’ve almost believed I’d dreamed him.Almost.Elena didn't ask questions when I returned to the palace at dawn, cloak muddy, hair tangled. She simply drew a bath and left quietly, as if she'd seen many women return from the forest looking like this. She was fast becoming my favourite person in the pack.I decided to mingle with the rest of the pack and try to fit in as their new Luna so I went down to the kitchen and offered assistance.As expected I was told not to worry, so I went to sit at the dining hall and make small talk with the people there.Breakfast was brought in and as always it was a magnificent fea
Alina. The dreams came softly at first. Not a scream or a cry in the dark but a sensation, like hands brushing through tall grass or breath fogging a mirror. I didn’t notice them right away. Not until I began waking with a weight pressing on my chest, a hum vibrating in my bones like some forgotten melody. And the whispers. Familiar in a way I couldn’t name. The kind that followed me even after I opened my eyes. I sat up in bed and rubbed my temples, the cold morning light slanting across the polished stone floors. Elena had left my breakfast by the fireplace again, a fresh pot of cinnamon tea, warm oat bread, and roasted pears. She was getting better at guessing what I needed. My dreams hadn’t made sense in days. But last night… I’d heard something clearly. "Alina." Just that. My name, spoken like a prayer or a warning. I bathed quickly, the water warm but not comforting. My body ached, my fingertips tingled, and something inside me felt restless. It wasn’t fear. It was…
Alina. The footsteps were soft, hesitant. They paused outside my door just as I was about to drift into an uneasy sleep. My hand froze under the blanket, fingers tightening around the edge as though bracing for another fight. But there was only silence. A long breath. The kind someone takes when they're about to speak but doesn't. And then, retreating steps. I heard murmuring, then again I couldn't be sure it wasn't the wind. I didn’t move. Not until the sound had faded, swallowed up by stone and distance. It knew it was Lucan. I could feel him, I couldn't tell if it was because of the mating ritual or something else. My heart still beat fast, a quiet drum in my chest. I pressed a palm to the spot and whispered into the dark. “Why do I feel like I know you?” The sun rose slowly the next morning, stretching fingers of gold across the silk curtains. The light painted my walls in honey and fire, touched the stone floors with warmth they hadn’t earned. I lay there, watching it
Lucan. The moon tonight is a liar. I look up from my room window, and I wonder time and again why the moon goddess played such a cruel joke on me. The moon glows like it has no memory of the blood I spilled beneath it, no recollection of the vow sealed in crimson just moments ago. I stand at the window of my chambers, arms folded tight across my chest like I can crush the unease out of my bones. I haven’t slept. I can't. Not because I feel guilty, no, I won’t give it that name, but because the bond is raw and new. It hums beneath my skin like a wound that refuses to close. It itches. Pulls. A dull ache I can't drink away. I lived with the pain of rejecting my own mate years ago and now? It still hurts, I can't say it hurts more because it wouldn't be logical but it hurts more. It feels like the blood covenant we entered dropped a load with spikes on my chest. My thoughts go back to her. Alina. She’s across the hall. I don’t need to see her to know. I feel her now, in a way I
Alina. I didn't want to get married to the Alpha. I didn't care whether or not I was actually a vessel to destroy worlds. I didn't care if I was the key to the underworld, all I knew was that I wasn't about to give up my freedom for a half-baked story that I wasn't even buying. So I plotted my escape. Three days, I would be long gone by then. Or so I thought. I allowed my senses to calm and attune with nature, I could just make out the back and forth of the soldiers as they came and left the territory. My escape had to be flawlessly timed but I didn't have that luxury of time. So I waited until the guards were distracted by a caravan returning from the outer villages bringing supplies. My plan had been half-baked at best, but desperation’s a hell of a motivator. I picked a sharp rock and pitched away at the window to loosen the window bars. I then made a makeshift rope from torn bed sheets and the tunics they gave me to clean up and dress in over the next three days. It took me
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