LOGINCathy hurried to the bathroom, turning on the shower and stripping off her clothes. As the steam filled the air, she stepped under the hot spray, trying to wash away the lingering traces of her arousal. The water cascaded over her skin, but she couldn't scrub away the memory of Magnus's touch or the way his eyes had pierced into her.She pressed her forehead against the cool tile, letting the water flow over her. "Get it together, Cathy," she whispered. "He's way out of your league."Magnus was an Alpha werewolf, a powerful leader with centuries of experience. And she was just a human, a fragile creature caught up in a world she barely understood. The idea that he could be her "true mate" – as her werewolf friends had described it – seemed laughable. Ridiculous. Completely impossible.Yet, despite her rational mind telling her to stay away, her body craved his touch. The way he had looked at her, the intensity in his gaze, had ignited a fire within her that she couldn't extinguish. Ev
Cathy felt a chill run down her spine. "Traded? Like... actually traded?" "Territorial exchanges, political alliances, genetic diversification," Lena listed coldly. "A woman's consent isn't even a consideration. The pack's survival trumps individual autonomy." "But how is that even legal?" Cathy asked, her sense of justice flaring. Jordan's laugh was bitter. "Supernatural communities operate outside human law. Pack law is brutal. Survival is the only real rule." Aria continued, her voice dropping. "Females are tracked from childhood. Their first heat, their genetic markers, their potential to produce strong wolves. Some packs start arranging marriages before girls even hit puberty." "First heat?" Cathy's voice was small. "Biological trigger for reproductive capability," Lena explained clinically. "When a female werewolf becomes capable of producing offspring. Some traditional packs have... ceremonies. Rituals that are basically state-sanctioned sexual assault." The hallway felt suffoc
As the dining hall buzzed with whispers behind her, Cathy found herself practically dragged out by Aria, Lena, and Jordan – her self-proclaimed werewolf guardians who looked simultaneously horrified and impressed.Aria, her curly hair escaping from a messy ponytail, whirled on Cathy. "Are you actually insane?" she hissed, her multiple bracelets jangling with her dramatic gesture. "Sitting next to Magnus? During breakfast? That's... social suicide!"Lena, pushing her oversized sweater sleeve up, deadpanned, "Or just plain suicide. Whichever comes first." Her green eyes rolled so hard they might have fallen out of her head.Jordan, wearing his red hoodie and trying to look serious, just shook his head. "I've never seen anyone so casually disregard pack hierarchy. Ever."Cathy, still flushed from the earlier strawberry incident, waved her hand dismissively. "He didn't seem bothered. Actually, he didn't seem anything. Speaking of which," she paused, a sudden curiosity replacing her nervou
"Shift!" Demetrius commanded, his voice a thunderous growl in the rogue's mind. "Shift, and I may spare your life."But the rogue, eyes wild with fear and defiance, refused to yield. It thrashed in Demetrius's grip, its claws scrabbling against the ground, desperate to escape. Stupid. Really, really stupid.A snarl of frustration tore from Demetrius's throat. This was taking too long. Every moment they spent here was a moment away from Cathy, from the warmth of her presence and the intoxicating scent of her skin.With a surge of anger, Demetrius tightened his jaws, his teeth sinking deeper into the rogue's flesh. The rogue let out a choked whimper, its struggles growing weaker as the life drained from its body.And then, with a final, shuddering breath, it was over.As the rogue's lifeless form slumped to the ground, Demetrius released his grip, stepping back to survey the carnage. Blood stained his fur, dripping from his muzzle in crimson rivulets, and for a moment, he felt a surge o
Magnus's footsteps echoed through the dining hall as he strode out, feeling the searing heat of Cathy's gaze trailing over his back. His wolf clawed at the edges of his control, urging him to turn around and claim his mate right then and there, to spread her legs on the table and shove his cock balls deep until she screamed his name. It took every ounce of willpower to keep walking, his steps faltering with each passing second. Jesus. What was wrong with him?"Forgive me, Cathy," he whispered under his breath, his heart clenching at the scent of her disappointment and sadness that lingered in the air. She couldn't understand why he was pushing her away, but it was for her own protection. As a human, she was fragile, unaware of the dangers that came with being tied to an Alpha werewolf. Or maybe he was just making excuses.As he entered the main hall, pack members bowed their heads, their eyes filled with a mix of respect and awe. A group of females huddled together, their pheromones t
"God must have truly blessed the werewolf community," Cathy proclaimed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I mean, supernatural hotness and magical transformations? That's just unfair to the rest of us mere mortals." Magnus's tattoo stirred beneath his shirt, almost as if it were laughing. His lips twitched – the barest hint of a suppressed smile. Cathy suddenly noticed Magnus hadn't touched his food. Her gaze swept across the elaborate breakfast spread, landing on a plate of strawberries. She picked one up, examining it critically. "Have you tried these?" she asked, though she knew he wasn't going to respond. "They look perfect. Like, magazine-cover perfect." She bit into the strawberry, her face immediately scrunching up. "Huh. Weird. These look like they should be sweet, but they taste kind of… bland? Flat? Is that a thing?" Maybe her taste buds were broken. That would be just her luck. Her eyes softened as she turned to Magnus, holding the half-eaten strawberry between her fin







