ADRIANA “Happy birthday,” I whisper to myself as the clock ticks midnight. I am eighteen! I waited for the excitement to settle in, a new feeling of joy or anything. Nothing came, I felt the same way I did, slightly worse from when my brother, Damien kicked me in the ribs earlier, but the same nevertheless. I sighed heavily, not that I expected anything different. No candles or surprise parties for me finally turning eighteen. The age every she-wolf looked forward too. Not that the whole pack sees me as one, I don’t blame them since it’s not like I have a wolf. My not having a wolf isn’t the only reason they hate me, being the bastard child of the alpha definitely didn’t make you likable. I was looked at as a disease in the pack, and I wished it was the type that made them avoid me. They like to torture me instead. “Adriana, where the fuck are you?” my half-brother and also the future alpha bellows from the stairs. Ignoring the pain in my upper half, I force myself up and as fa

ADRIANA’S POV I stand at the edge of the grand ballroom, my eyes scanning the crowd of lycans and werewolves milling about. I had always been uncomfortable at these kinds of parties, especially ones thrown by my father, but tonight was different. I knew that the main event was not the celebration of my upcoming marriage, but rather the presentation of myself to the Lycan King as his bride. It was usually a thing of joy for the alpha’s daughter to be given away, no less to a renowned king. I was nothing like those smiley brides. Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach at the prospect of being given away to the lycan king. They called it a wedding but I knew better than. My father gave me away like property, to a terrible man no less. I wasn't about to get married to an amazing man. I have heard rumors about the king's appetite for women, about the harem of concubines he kept in his palace. Happiness was nowhere in sight for me, and I made the decision to run away as soon as the opportu

ALPHA XANDER’S POV I left the banquet hall, the noise and laughter fading behind me as I stepped out into the cool night air. The few pack members suggested we go back after the meeting with Alpha Jameson, I regretted it instantly. I exhaled a breath of relief as I escaped the crowded room, the constant chatter and fawning of the other wolves grating on my nerves. As I walked down the path, my thoughts turned to Adriana. I had to admit, I was taken aback by her beauty. I've heard of it but I never thought it was that accurate. People tend to overhype things, there was nothing overhyped about her. Her long golden hair that reached her waist, and crystal blue eyes captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on her. My body reacted in a way it has never done to another woman, and I’ve seen a lot of them. She was my fated, I knew from the moment but I brushed it off. It wouldn't be wise to let anyone know just yet. That would just put a target on her back and that would be stressful for m

ADRIANA’S POV I strain my ears to hear their conversation but I can’t make out what they are saying but they were still talking, they look a bit more aggressive now. I curse and start pacing around the room. Even though I wanted to blame him for everything that was happening, this wouldn’t have happened if he’d just let me go when I told him, before they got here. I knew this would happen. He just didn’t understand, or he didn't want to. I was surprised he still wanted to fight for me instead of turning me in, I was just trouble for him. Their voices get louder, I get up and walk toward them again. It seemed like the guards were trying to search the house. Aiden didn't agree to it and they immediately reach the conclusion that he is indeed hiding something, they try to push over him and he resists. One of them tries to hit him and that causes a fight to break out. I watch in horror as Aiden fights the men, my heart racing as I realize that I am in even more danger now. My feet drag

ADRIANA’S POV “He is not my lover. Aiden is just a... a helper!” I say, in a final pathetic attempt to save Aiden’s life. “Please let him go!” I whisper, my voice almost breaking. Alpha Xander says nothing but I notice him grow stiffer, he stares down at Aiden whose feet are off the ground, it wouldn't take much to end him. “Get her, we can’t stay here for too long. It will be dawn soon.” He says to one of the men, inclining his head toward me. The smaller wolf bows then he runs off only to come back a few seconds later in his human form, dressed in low jeans only. He is holding onto another pair of jeans which he drops at the front of the black wolf. He shifts right there, not caring that he is naked and pulls the pants up. He approached me, his eyes trained on my body with his lips turned down in an angry frown. My heart beats frantically in my chest with every step that he takes. Something about him screams danger and instinctively I step back, trying to get as far away from hi