Grace Harper has always been unwanted—until fate binds her to the cold, powerful Lycan King. As secrets unravel and danger rises, Grace must face a truth more powerful than love or freedom: she wasn’t born to escape her past… she was born to rewrite it. And the king who never wanted her might be the one who can’t let her go.
“She doesn’t really talk,” the oldest says. “We call her Bun.” Bun collapses onto her padded bottom right next to me, examining her prize with intense concentration. “And you are?” I direct this question to the teenager. “Ron.” He gestures at the other two. “That’s Jer and Sara.” “I’m Grace,” I offer, though nobody asked.…
“Because she’s a baby, dummy.” Sara, sounding disgusted by the question. “So? She’s always making messes. Owen will clean it later, anyway.” “Royalty doesn’t live with pigs, Jer.” Ron. Then a thunking sound, and- “Ow! Why’d you hit me, Ron?” “To kickstart your brain, Jeridiot. You missed a whole strawberry over there.” “Brains aren’t motors,”…
My knees nearly buckle, but I hold myself upright by sheer force of will and the vague panic I might drop the baby. “What’s… how…?” Cold sweat breaks out across my forehead. I’ve lived with wolf shifters for years, seen what transformation looks like. But they can only transform into wolves. Not random other animals.…
they chorus. Ron sighs. My heart rate quickens as I watch him move toward what must be the exit. This is it-my first glimpse at a potential escape route. Bun tugs at my leg and I pick her up absently, my eyes glued to Owen as I angle myself for a better view of what…
A familiar ringtone pierces the quiet, and I look around until I find the shredded fabric which had once been my tactical gear. We’re going to have to find clothes. Humans don’t like naked people roaming their cities. The ringing stops, then starts again. I fish my phone out of the pile before it stops…
“Oh, wait, is that Danielle’s room? The one with the girl who went to imaging, but then her record couldn’t be accessed anymore?” one of the younger ones asks, looking over the old woman’s shoulder. “No, she was discharged. The record was just glitched for a few minutes.” The other younger one. “Ah, yes. It…
I ask sweetly. “I hear it’s quite the experience. Psychedelics, edibles, alchemy. Not really my thing, but I could definitely see you vibing.” Her expression curdles with rage. She flings her arm forward. Blood leaps from the floor, needle-sharp and shrieking toward my chest. At least two dozen projectiles-center mass, vital zones. Predictable. Again. A…
Besides, there’s someone whose actual job description includes this sort of thing. Someone with resources, authority, and a tedious sense of honor compelling him to protect his people-even if he’s a little bloodthirsty. Someone who’s probably wondering why I haven’t texted him any updates in a while. The Lycan King can clean this up. They…
I spear through it like a blade, jaw clamping around its head. Bone crunches. Still, no scream. A flicker of movement to my left. I twist-too late. A wolf slams into me, teeth locking on my ribs. I feel them crack. Fenris is already there. He crushes the wolf beneath a single forepaw. And then,…
“It might not even be the same photo.” Jack-Eye bends over my phone again, blocking my view. “See the text on Lyre’s book? It’s different every time. A little strange, too.” Fenris growls. Grace. “It might be AI. You’d be surprised at how good it’s become-“ “Jack-Eye.” “Yeah?” “Shut up.” I tap open my contacts,…