LOGINMate or be killed. Our world has become a dangerous place, ruled by the ruthless Soul Keepers—demon-like creatures that take pleasure in thrusting us into the mate hunt. Every five months, two shifters are selected, one male and one female, and they are cast into the treacherous Woods Of Abyss together. There, they must fend off beasts and scavenge for food, but there's one crucial rule: both shifters must mate before the five months expire or face elimination. My name is Hazel Bonfire and my life is turned upside down when I'm chosen for this brutal hunt. Unfortunately, the male selected to join me is none other than my step-brother, Ashton Rider. Thrown into a perilous forest, we must depend on one another for food, shelter, and warmth. Ashton is painfully aware that his mate can see everything unfolding between us, and each time he betrays her for the sake of the hunt, it destroys a piece of him. . .I hate what it's doing to us—all of us. I hate that we do not have a choice. But more than anything, I hate that I'm beginning to feel things for Ashton that I know will destroy the relationship we once had. . . forever.
View More~HAZEL~I opened my mouth to say something—anything, but the words never made it past my lips. The door swung open sharply, and Ariel stepped through, her expression already tight with irritation. Her eyes narrowed the second she took in the two of us standing alone outside."Why are the two of you out here by yourselves?" she demanded. "Everyone's looking for you inside."Ashton's face went pale. He moved toward her quickly, one hand lifting as if to calm her. "A guy was forcing himself on Hazel. I stepped in. That's all."Ariel folded her arms across her chest, the motion sharp. "Oh."Just that. One flat, cold word. No concern. No anger on my behalf. Nothing. Even Ashton seemed taken aback by how little reaction she gave. The silence that followed felt more uncomfortable than it should have."Well," she continued after a beat, already turning slightly toward the music drifting from inside, "I'm glad that's over with. Can we go back to dancing?"Ashton's eyes flicked to me for half a
~HAZEL~I couldn't believe it.Ashton stood in front of me, eyes blazing with fury, his fist clenched tightly around Elias's shirt. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he be dancing with his mate? The pure anger on his face was so intense it almost stole the air from my lungs. I hadn't seen him look at anyone like that in a while."What the fuck is wrong with you?" Elias demanded, trying to shove him back. "All I asked for was a kiss."Ashton's voice was deadly as he growled. "She said no."Before I could react, he shoved Elias hard enough to send him stumbling backward. Elias hit the ground hard, gravel scattering beneath him.Panic shot through me. The last thing this family needed was another scandal, another reason for people to talk. We had already been through enough.I rushed forward and stepped between them, both hands raised. "Ashton—stop. Please."Elias pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his clothes. His expression had turned bitter. He looked straight at Ashton as he spo
~ASHTON~I fucking hated it.The second I saw her on the dance floor with that guy, I completely lost it. I was jealous. For a woman who wasn't my mate. For my stepsister. A woman who was supposed to be family and nothing more.It made no sense. It wasn't allowed. And yet every time his hand settled on her lower back, every time she let him pull her closer, the urge to cross the room and rip him away from her nearly choked me.I should have been focused on Ariel. That was the whole point of tonight. She'd been quiet since the hunt, haunted by memories neither of us could erase. I wanted to give her one good night. One night where she didn't have to think about any of it.Instead I was standing at the bar throwing back shots like they could burn the thoughts out of my head."Ashton." Ariel's voice cut through the noise. "What is wrong with you tonight?"I didn't look at her right away. My eyes were still locked on Hazel and that stranger. "Nothing.""Don't lie to me." She stepped clos
~HAZEL~Elias's smile was easy, the kind that promised no complications. No soul-deep bonds or forbidden feelings.Just a dance. Simple. Nothing to worry about.I should have said no. The word was already forming on my tongue—polite, safe, distant. But the image of Ashton's hands on Ariel's waist was enough to make me do the opposite. "One dance," I heard myself say. "That's it."Elias's grin widened, a spark of genuine surprise lighting his features. "One dance it is. I'll take what I can get." He offered his arm like a gentleman. I slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow, ignoring how uncomfortable it made me. Ashton was the only man I felt comfortable being so close to.Elias led me onto the dance floor. His hand settled lightly on my lower back, respectful, warm through the thin fabric of my dress."You're Hazel, right?" he asked. "The girl from the hunt."I tensed up, knowing he only asked me to dance because of the show. Still, that was the last thing I wanted to talk abou






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