When Calista, the spoilt and pampered daughter of a powerful Greek Alpha, finds her life in the crosshairs of an unknown threat, she’s forced to accept a new bodyguard into her already fortified world. To her, he’s just an overqualified babysitter, another move in her father’s manipulative game. She’s annoyed by his intrusion and the unsettling way he seems to read her like an open book, but also strangely drawn to the man who appears to be her complete opposite. Levi, haunted by the sins he committed while under a malicious hex, is given a shot at redemption by being assigned to protect Calista. Focused on his mission and nothing else, he vows to guard her life with the same ferocity with which he once destroyed others. Yet, the more he gets to know the bratty, complex heiress, the more he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. Their lives are worlds apart: she’s the center of every party, and he’s the shadow lurking in the corner. While Calista can’t deny the unsettling, electric

CalistaThe morning light streams through my bedroom window, bouncing off the array of designer bags and shoes that populate my sanctuary. I’m scrolling through my social media feed, double-tapping on photos that barely hold my interest, when there’s a knock on my door. It’s probably one of my existing bodyguards, reminding me of some mundane errand I have to run today.Instead, the door creaks open and my father steps in. His aura fills the room like a cloud of stern disapproval. “Calista, we need to talk,” he says, the weight of his authority in each syllable.I roll my eyes. “I’m busy, Daddy.”He strides across the room, ignoring the clutter, and sits on the edge of my bed. “This is important, Calista. More important than whatever party you’re planning to attend tonight.”“Highly unlikely,” I quip, but he’s not laughing.“I’ve arranged for a new bodyguard to join your team,” he says, not a hint of humour in his eyes.I snort. “Another one? I already have two. What’s wrong with Niko

CalistaI roll my eyes as I glance at “Armata” as he insists on being called—standing in the corner of the training room like a dark sentinel. Honestly, what was my father thinking? I already have two bodyguards, but no, he had to bring in this one. This tall, impossibly broad-shouldered man with piercing eyes and an aura of danger so thick, it could cut glass.Today is training at Luna Academy, a place for women to learn and grow into the roles they’ll assume alongside their Alpha mates. It’s supposed to be empowering, but instead, the room is electric with a different kind of tension today. I can practically feel the sidelong glances and whispers from the other Luna candidates as they fawn over the mysterious bodyguard who’s come out of nowhere.“Who is he?”“He’s so... rugged.”“He can guard my body any day.”I want to gag. Do they have no self-control?Armata, for his part, seems completely unmoved by the attention. Arms crossed over his massive chest, he surveys the room, not l

CalistaSix months have crawled by, and every day with Armata is like living with a personal eclipse — his shadow looms over my every move, blocking out any semblance of normalcy. It’s not hatred that simmers in my chest now; it’s a begrudging tolerance, the kind you afford a storm that refuses to pass. I find small victories in moments he’s not around, though they’re as rare as they are brief.My friends are a lifeline, a connection to a world where being the Alpha’s daughter isn’t my only identity. Six months have done little to dull the edges of my disdain for him, but they have taught me patience and the art of seizing opportunity when it arises.“Cali, it’s now or never,” whispers Zoe, her eyes sparkling with mischief that reflects my own.“Do you think I can actually do it? Get out without him knowing?” My voice is a mix of excitement and nerves.“With that fortress of a man? It’s gonna be tough. But hey, that’s the thrill, right?” She grins, and I can’t help but grin back.“Y

Calisa Packing is a drill I’ve gotten down to an art, zipping up my suitcase in the silence of my room that buzzes with a quietness I don’t usually get to enjoy. The suitcase, all sleek corners and polished leather, seems like overkill for just a week away. But then again, my life’s always been about overkill, hasn’t it? Especially with Armata lurking around, that constant, shadowy presence I’m finally getting a break from.I don’t even know why I think of him now. Maybe it’s because he’s been a little less... Armata-ish lately. I barely notice him anymore. It’s like he’s there but not there, a ghost I’m constantly aware of. It’s unnerving, like the memory of walking in on him in the gym, that night when I couldn’t peel my eyes off the sheer force he’s made of. I mean, the guy is built like a literal God, and I stood there like a deer in headlights. Pathetic, right?I tell myself to knock it off. To stop thinking about the ripple of muscles, the sheer physical power of him. It’s no