They say the Moon chooses your mate. For Talia Mohn, it chose a monster. Born of an ancient bloodline and raised in a powerful pack, Talia has fought for every scrap of loyalty she now holds as Beta. But when a sacred coming-of-age ceremony sends her beyond Half-Crest Peak for the first time, fate—and the Moon—deliver her into the hands of a rogue Alpha cursed to mate with her. Varek Thorne is brutal, ancient, and the very wolf who destroyed her birth pack. Bound by a cursed mate bond neither of them wants, Talia resists the connection with all the fire in her blood. But Varek isn’t used to being denied, and the pull between them grows more savage with every encounter. As secrets unravel, loyalties are tested, and the line between hate and hunger begins to blur, Talia must choose: protect the pack that saved her… Or fall for the mate who ruined her. This draft is shared for entertainment purposes only. The author retains full rights to all content presented. Republishing or adaptation without written permission is prohibited. No exclusive contracts have been signed for this story.