Olivia Archer always believed that her life would follow the path of power and respect. But instead, she’s been abandoned by her father, tormented by her cruel stepmother and stepbrother, and falsely accused of betrayal. Forced into a life of misery, Olivia knows one thing: she must escape or lose herself entirely. But fate has other plans when she crosses paths with Dalton Skalbeck, the feared and enigmatic Lycan King. He isn’t the savior she imagined, nor is he the prince she dreamed of. He’s a man cursed by the Moon Goddess, bound to a life of loneliness and duty. And yet, something about him draws her in—a force beyond their control, a connection neither can ignore. As danger looms closer, Olivia must confront the truth: the kingdom she thought she knew is crumbling, and she may be the key to saving it or destroying everything she holds dear. For Dalton Skalbeck, the weight of his crown is nothing compared to the weight of his curse. The Lycan King, bound by a prophecy and cursed by Moon Goddess to never know love, has spent years living in isolation, unable to connect with anyone. His power has always been his only ally—until Olivia Archer crosses his path. From the moment their eyes meet, the curse that has shackled him for centuries begins to crack. The pull between them is undeniable, but nothing in his life has ever come easy, and their bond is no exception. Lies, secrets, and enemies from within threaten to tear them apart. As the shadows of war and betrayal close in, Dalton must decide: will he risk everything to embrace the love he never believed he could have, or will he push Olivia away to protect her from the dark forces hunting them both?
View MoreThe room fell silent, all eyes shifting between me, Cynthia, and Aleksander. His expression revealed nothing as he considered my judgment."Mercy," he finally remarked, "can be mistaken for weakness.""True mercy requires greater strength than vengeance," I countered calmly. "To heal rather than destroy, to rebuild rather than discard—these are not the actions of the weak."Something flickered across his face—not quite approval, but perhaps reassessment. "The judgment seems... appropriate," he conceded. "Though I would add one condition."I raised an eyebrow, waiting."During her year of service, she will spend one month in my territory, assisting our healers with the spring birthing season. She will see firsthand how packs can differ yet still respect each other's ways."The proposal surprised me—it was both a punishment and an opportunity, a chance for Cynthia to expand her understanding beyond the narrow confines of her prejudice.I glanced at Dalton, who gave a subtle nod, then at
The formal welcoming ceremony for Aleksander's pack was a masterpiece of carefully orchestrated pageantry. Every detail had been planned to demonstrate our pack's strength while honoring our guests—a delicate balance struck between power and hospitality.I stood at Dalton's side before the great stone archway that marked the entrance to our central compound, dressed in ceremonial garments that blended traditional pack symbols with subtle elements that marked me as Dalton's mate. As promised, I wore no magical protection, though Dalton had insisted on having Eliza work subtle strengthening spells into the embroidery of my jacket—"Not protection," he'd argued when I'd raised an eyebrow, "just enhancement of your natural abilities. Even Aleksander can't object to that."The distant sound of drums announced the Winter's Edge pack's approach. They moved with military precision, Aleksander at their head, his tall figure imposing even at a distance. Behind him marched his highest-ranking pac
Victor's expression was stone. "Enough, Cynthia.""The matter will be settled according to both our packs' laws," I interjected, unwilling to see her executed despite everything she'd done. "As the wronged party, I'll have a say in her fate."Aleksander's eyebrows rose again. "Mercy from an omega. How... unexpected.""Justice," I corrected. "Not revenge. That's the difference between leadership and tyranny."Something flickered in his cold eyes—not warmth, exactly, but perhaps a reluctant reassessment. "We'll see if you maintain that philosophy after spending more time as an Alpha's mate." He gestured to his pack members. "We return to our camp. The formal meeting will proceed tomorrow as originally planned."As they turned to leave, Cynthia was firmly escorted between two of Aleksander's guards—clearly now his prisoner rather than his informant. She twisted to look back at me, her expression a complex mixture of hatred and fear."This isn't over," she hissed.I met her gaze steadily.
My stomach dropped at the sight of her. She looked different—her usual polished appearance replaced by something harder, her blonde hair pulled back severely, her posture rigid with purpose. Her eyes found mine immediately, a small, triumphant smile playing at the corners of her mouth.The two groups halted a respectful distance apart, the morning breeze carrying scents between us—the unfamiliar, pine-and-snow smell of the Winter's Edge pack mixing with our own forest-and-earth scent.Protocol dictated that as the junior Alpha's representative, I should speak first, acknowledging Aleksander's status and thanking him for agreeing to this meeting. But before I could open my mouth, Cynthia stepped forward."This is the one I told you about," she said to Aleksander, her voice carrying clearly across the clearing. "The omega who ensorcelled our Alpha."A ripple of tension went through my escort. Victor's hand twitched at his side, his expression unreadable as he watched his daughter.Aleks
As the room cleared, Dalton maintained his grip on me, silently indicating I should remain. Once we were alone, his carefully controlled expression cracked, revealing the turmoil beneath."You can't seriously be considering this," he said, his voice low and intense."It's our best option," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "If I face him directly, on my terms—""He could kill you," Dalton cut in harshly. "Do you understand that? This isn't just pack politics, Oliver. Aleksander considers omega males an abomination. In his territory, they don't survive presentation."I swallowed hard. "I know. But that's exactly why this might work. He's expecting me to be weak, to hide. If I show strength—""He might respect it," Dalton acknowledged reluctantly. "Or he might see it as a challenge to his worldview that must be eliminated."I stepped closer, placing my free hand against his chest, feeling the strong, rapid beat of his heart. "Then we make sure elimination isn't an o
"Aleksander's pack approaches," Dalton began once we were seated, Dalton at the head of the table and me to his right. "And Cynthia has fled, likely to join them with false accusations against my mate.""False according to whom?" Victor challenged, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "My daughter has served this pack loyally for years. She was raised to be your mate, to stand at your side as Alpha female. Instead, you publicly humiliate her for—" His eyes flicked dismissively toward me, "—this."A low growl rumbled from Dalton's chest, a sound that made the hairs on my neck stand on end. "Choose your next words carefully, Victor."The older wolf didn't back down. "The pack has a right to question your judgment in this matter. Aleksander certainly will.""My judgment is sound," Dalton replied, his voice dangerously even. "And your daughter attempted to kill my claimed mate. She's lucky exile is all she faces."Murmurs spread around the table at this. Exile was one of the harsh
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