“You’re really terrible at gratitude, Rogue,” he smirked, leaning closer. His eyes bored into mine, daring me to make the first move. I glared up at him, ignoring the heat that rushed through me. I hated the way my breath hitched, the way his presence seemed to sink into my skin. “Say that again, Alpha, and I’ll show you just how ungrateful I can be.” His hand slid to the back of my neck, pinning me effortlessly against the wall. His golden eyes darkened, the air between us crackling with electric tension. “Careful, Rogue,” he murmured, his voice a velvet threat. “Keep tempting me, and I might forget you’re not mine to have.” I gulped before speaking. “Maybe I’d thank you if you weren’t trying so hard to strangle me,” I shot back, my voice sharp, though it trembled under his hold. His smirk deepened, and the corner of his lips brushed my ear as he leaned closer. “Funny, I thought you liked it rough.” --- Being a rogue all my life taught me two things: survival comes first, and trust gets you killed. But when I steal something I shouldn’t have, it sets me on a crash course with Kael Silvershadow—the Alpha King himself. Stealing a priceless artifact should’ve been easy. It was always easy. I’m a rogue—I’m good at slipping in and out of places I shouldn’t be. But this time, my target wasn’t just any treasure. It was his. Not that I knew. It was even bigger than his. When he caught me, I thought death would be the worst of my problems. I was wrong. Arrogant. Ruthless. Infuriatingly gorgeous. Entirely off-limits. Kael is everything I hate about Alphas, and he makes sure I know exactly where I stand: beneath him. Yet, the more we clash, the harder it is to ignore the spark of desire and feelings that ignites every time we’re close to each other But here’s the cruel twist: what’s worse than being the most hunted as a rogue? Or rather being the most wanted? Finding out you’re fated to the one person you should never want, you could never have. Kael might be my mate, but in his world of power, lies, and betrayal, giving in to this desire could destroy us both.What’s worse than being bound to the most powerful Alpha alive? Being his mate—and knowing it’s forbidden. He’s not just any Alpha. He's the King. He’s the Alpha King. Now we’re tangled in a web of secrets, lies, and a desire that threatens to consume us both like a raging fire. He’s the one man I can’t have, and the one I can’t escape. In his world, the only thing deadlier than breaking the rules... is breaking his heart. Even though I thought he never had one. “Fate brought us together, but desire might tear us apart.”