Elise Stanton has one dream: to study medicine. When she earns a coveted spot in medical school, her future seems bright—until her parents present her with an ultimatum.The only way they’ll pay her tuition is if she marries Alejandro Mendoza, the disabled heir to a powerful family.“Marry a stranger for money? Is that the price of my freedom?” Elise protests, her voice trembling with frustration. “Clara gets her luxuries handed to her, but I have to sell my life to pursue my dream?”In her family’s eyes, she is always second-best, a shadow to her younger sister, Clara. Left with no other choice, Elise agrees to her parents’ condition. Then she meets Alejandro Mendoza.Confined to a wheelchair, Alejandro is bitter and guarded, his piercing gaze a wall against the world. But when Elise examines his condition, her sharp medical instincts kick in.“The doctors had a wrong diagnosis,” she insists. “Your condition is reversible.”Alejandro narrows his eyes. “Why are you doing this? What do you want?”Her answer is simple: “I’ll help you recover, and when you can walk again, this marriage ends.”

His hand wrapped around my throat in claim, as he pinned me against the cold stone wall. “You’re mine,” he growled, his breath hot against my lips. “Every breath and every heartbeat you take. Mine.” But his nephew’s voice echoed in my mind: “You deserve better than a man who treats you like furniture.” I never wanted this bond. Alpha Zane forced me into a contract marriage—bear him an heir, then disappear. He made it clear I’m nothing more than a child-bearing vessel. A servant elevated to Luna only because the Moon Goddess cursed us both. But his nephew, Kaius, sees me differently. He’s kind where Zane is cruel. Gentle where Zane is possessive. He offers me everything my mate hides from me: respect, partnership, freedom. The problem? My body responds to Zane’s dominance even as my heart breaks from his coldness. And the more Kaius shows me what love could look like, the more dangerous this becomes. Because Zane may not love me—but he’ll destroy anyone who tries to take what’s his. Even his own family. Torn between the mate who owns my soul and the man who sees it—which desire will damn me first?

“Dear Mate, we meet again.”At my words, the color drained from his face.But it was nothing compared to the betrayal he had put me through.His lips crashed against mine, stealing the breath from my lungs. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. My nails dug into his back as a deep growl rumbled from his chest.And yet, I knew this wasn’t love.Damon had shattered me, stripped me of my title, and left me to die. But I did not. I clawed my way back from the ashes, and now I had returned—not as the broken girl he discarded, but as the storm that would tear his world apart.I am Aria Nightborne, the daughter of the strongest Alpha.The woman betrayed by her mate and best friend.“Alpha Kieran,” I met his gaze without flinching. “I know enough about you to say we have a common enemy.”“Use me as your weapon against him. In return, I want your pack’s protection.”