When Tempest Riverrun is taken from Earth, survival is the only thing on her mind.

She had already reached the end of her rope back home, standing on the edge of a life she didn’t want anymore. But instead of death, Tempest wakes up on Thraqe, a brutal alien world scarred by war and ruled by customs she barely understands.

The High Council gives her a choice.

She can wander into the alien wilderness alone and try to survive among the predators, or she can choose a mate from the warriors of Thraqe and live under his protection for six months.

To the people of Thraqe, the decision should be simple. Their species is struggling to rebuild after years of war, and human women are seen as potential mates capable of restoring their future.

But not every warrior is considered worthy of a human bride.

Dron has spent his entire life being feared.

The black scars that twist along his arm mark him as cursed, a man destined for violence and military service. When battles end, he isn’t celebrated like other warriors. He’s hidden away behind reinforced walls, treated as something dangerous that must be contained.

No woman on Thraqe would ever choose him.

Until Tempest does.

What begins as a desperate decision quickly becomes something far more complicated. Dron may look terrifying, but the brooding alien warrior proves to be surprisingly gentle with the fragile human who chose him when no one else would. Beneath the scars and the reputation is a fiercely loyal male who has never known affection, never known touch, and never imagined someone might want him.

Tempest must learn to navigate the strange customs of Thraqe, the harsh alien wilderness that surrounds them, and the powerful instincts of the alpha male who now considers her his mate.

But not everyone believes humans belong on Thraqe.

Some see Tempest and the other abducted women as the only hope for the future. Others believe mixing blood with humans will weaken their people forever.

And the moment Tempest chooses the most feared warrior on the planet, she becomes part of a conflict far bigger than herself.

Because on Thraqe, mates are not temporary.

And the warrior everyone calls cursed is beginning to believe that Tempest was meant to be his all along.

Dron didn't like the way people kept looking at him.


It had started sometime during the first half of the day but continued even as they made their way to the last leg of the journey.


Every time there was a problem, someone came to him. When one of the humans collapsed from the heat, they came to Dron. When a group argued about whether they should stop and rest, they came to Dron. When one of the creatures attacked and four people were killed, everyone turned to Dron as if he somehow knew what the hell they were supposed to do next.


Dron knew how to lead soldiers. Give him a mission, a destination and a group of trained fighters and he could get them there. He understood formations. He understood combat. He knew how to assess an enemy and decide the best way to kill them before they killed him.


Chapter 204 - Chapter 204