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Three years ago, the Zahryssar Empire saved the Northern Kingdom of Thalryn from absolute annihilation. In gratitude—and desperation—Duke Veyrhold of Thalryn swore a vow to the Coiled Throne: he would send a bride to the Serpent Emperor. But gratitude soon turned to fear. The ruler of Zahryssar, Zeramet Karash, Prime Alpha of a bloodline, was rumored to be a monster—the Serpent King who wiped out his own bloodline, a ruler no consort had ever survived, and a sovereign who could erase a person’s very identity. No omega stepped forward and the promise remained unfulfilled. Until Zahryssar demanded payment. “If I could save your kingdom,” the Emperor declared, “I can erase it just as easily.” With war threatening once more and innocent lives at stake, the Duke made a final choice to send his own omega daughter—only to be refused by her; she chose death over being sent to a monster. And then, his son stepped forward. Levin Veyrhold, Alpha heir of House Veyrhold—warrior, future heir of Veyrhold—offered himself instead. No Omega could survive the Serpent Emperor… but perhaps an Alpha could. In a world where vows are law, power is biology, and love is the most dangerous defiance of all, can Levin Veyrhold survive the serpent emperor?

[Ending Soon. Don't Miss it!] Sisi’s life becomes a nightmare on her birthday when her adoptive father tries to rape her. After she fights back valiantly, he beats her half to death and throws her into a ramshackle shed to rot. She believes she would die alone, until she discovers a wounded wolf cub hiding in the shadows. Drawing on her experience caring for infants, Sisi nurses the injured cub, only to learn he is no ordinary animal but a young wolf beastman named Jojo. When her father discovers Jojo and captures him, he threatens the cub’s life to force Sisi into his bed. Cornered and desperate, Sisi’s dormant faerie powers erupt. On that fateful night, she escapes with Jojo into the depths of the forest, vanishing where no one should be able to follow. Lost and hunted, the human girl and the little wolf beastman cling to each other for survival, until Jojo’s father, an Alpha wolf who had been crowned the new Beast King, finds them. Without warning, he seizes Sisi and declares: “My son has imprinted on you as his mother. You must take responsibility.” “H-How do I take responsibility?” Sisi whispers, terrified of being separated from Jojo. The Beast King pulls her close, his voice low and solemn. “Come with me. I will make you my official mate.” * PS: This story is about found family and motherhood, as well as a true love between a lone wolf and a faerie. Tags: Beastman, werewolf, faerie, slow burn romance, no rape, babyraising, possessive ML. - You can follow me on Instagram: @foreverpupa

Ayla was once roaming the world lost, surviving alone, running constantly, and fearing for her life. As far as she knew, there wasn’t anyone there for her. The young woman didn't even know she had a wolf. She had no family and many enemies. That was all a lie that was a product of a curse place on her. A curse that she was unaware of and bore the unfortunate side effect of. Even though she didn't know it, she was actually special. Ayla was even from a very prominent family who continued to search for her, in their own way. Her family didn't happen to be the only people looking for her though, and those people had less than honorable reasons for seeking her. Noone knew exactly what made her special, but they knew she was special. There were rumors, and whispers, but the truth was well hidden. The entire werewolf community knew of the curse on her, but they wanted her for themselves. Every pack wanted her. They would do what they had to in order to get her. Somehow. Who was involved in the scheming, and what families are involved? Who was her mate? Or would she be allowed to have one? Will Ayla or anyone else effected be reunited with their families? Why is Ayla the prize and different? You’ll have to read to find out.

"Take me instead." Three words. Guinevere Lunaris trades herself and saves 300 lives. Tied. Gagged. Underestimated by a mile. They chain her to a tree in the snow. Mistake. While running for her life, she meets a stranger in the dark and tells him to hide so he isn’t killed. Twelve hours later, he walks into her father's hall wearing a crown. The man she just told to hide in a hole is Maddox Drakencrest, High King of Velkaris. Ruler of an entire continent. Maddox hears his dragon say ‘mate’ right away. But her wolf is silent. More and more Alpha Kings enter the hall. She catches the tail end of her father’s toast and chokes on her wine. "—leave here with a virgin bride." An auction for her hand turns into a full-out bidding war. Maddox wins. 750 million in gold, three dragon fleets, and an urn full of the bastard who chained her the day before. Every force in Velkaris is betting against a wolf on a dragon throne. The Elders say the queen must be a dragon rider, which is impossible for a woman without dragon blood. The king's half-brother agrees with them, but his solution is a civil war and taking the crown for himself. If his brother’s rebellion wins, Maddox dies and she belongs to him. If the elders win, she goes back to the father who sold her. Neither is happening. Her wolf calls Velkaris home. She's not giving it up. They expect Guinevere to behave like a good little wolf princess and play along with their political games. She says bet.

[COMPLETED] The first rule of Duskwind Academy is: never look the Alphas in the eyes. I broke it. Now four of them want me… and everyone else wants me dead. ______ The werewolf world is falling apart. Packs are crumbling under the rule of corrupt elites, and the Moon Goddess has only one last gamble to restore balance: gifting humans with the wolf’s power. The Moon-Blessed are her chosen saviors, whether they want it or not. Heidi Remington never asked for this fate. Human-born, unwanted, and dropped into Duskwind Pack territory, she’s treated as little more than a servant. Survival is now her only goal. But Duskwind Academy is a battlefield where dominance means everything. And the moment Heidi’s gaze collides with the four untouchable Alpha heirs, everything changes. Why would four Alphas want a nobody like her? Why would they even feel the bond at all? And Heidi? She wasn’t supposed to want them back. Now she’s caught in the deadly pull of four possessive Alphas who refuse to let go. Which Alpha gets the girl? Will she survive the target they've painted on her back? But most especially, will she survive their maddening obsession and rivalry?

They said she didn’t belong. In the Grimridge Pack, your mate is your proof of worth. Sable has none. Scentless. Defective. A flaw the pack refuses to accept. When Adrian reaches for her, she believes—just for a moment—that she’s finally been chosen. Until he rejects her. Publicly. But while the pack turns its back on her, someone else has been watching. Cassian. Ruthless. Untouchable. The most feared Alpha in the territory. He doesn’t reject her. He claims her.

The Alpha who despises me… chose me as his mate?? Waverly was supposed to stay invisible. Just another Omega scraping by in the Outer District. Until the day the Alpha Prince returns with a sketch of his “missing mate.” A girl with her face. Sold into the High-Class world she was never meant to enter, Waverly is forced to play a dangerous game; pretend to be the Prince’s destined mate… or watch her family be destroyed. But Prince Kaeren knows the truth. He created the sketch to secure his inheritance. There was never a mate. So who is the girl standing in front of him? She's a liar. A threat. A mistake he intends to break. He accepts her as his mate… not to love her, but to ruin her. To expose her. To humiliate her. To make her regret ever wearing that face. But the more he tries to destroy her, the more he can’t look away. And the girl he swore to hate might be the only one who can destroy him first. ___ This book drags you through things that aren’t pretty and doesn’t apologize for it. Waverly’s world is messy, dangerous, and unfair in ways that will make your chest tighten in all the worst (and best) ways. You might laugh when you shouldn’t. You might cry without warning. You will probably get angry. And yes—there are R18 scenes. If you’re here for comfort… this isn’t that. If you’re here for feeling something… You might want to stay. Reader discretion is advised (or not. I’m not your mom. Hehe ;))

From Pig-Faced Trash to the Most Wanted Mate in Beastworld! * * * Aurora died as she lived - feared, skilled, and alone. As a world-class assassin of the 21st century, she expected death to be the end. Instead, she awakens in a primitive Beastworld in the body of a girl who shares her name but nothing else. The original owner of her body was not only overweight, despised, and carried filthy reputation, but she's so hated that even children throw stones at her. And worst of all? She wakes up straddling a bound, enraged, devastatingly handsome Alpha wolf she apparently drugged in an attempt to force him into mating. Aurora immediately realizes she has transmigrated into a complete disaster. With death looming, a ruined name, and a body that can barely run - she has no time to panic. Especially not when a mysterious System binds itself to her and issues a cold command - [Save the Beastworld from extinction… or be erased.] In a world where females are rare, weak, and dying out, and powerful beastmen rule with instinct and dominance, Aurora must survive by relying on the only things she still owns - her deadly skills and forgotten medical knowledge. But survival isn't simple. Because the wolf she tried to "assault" becomes her first unavoidable connection. And he is only the beginning. A tyrannical Snow Lion Beast King with piercing eyes that see too much. A cold and ancient Dragon King who has outlived his entire bloodline. A cunning Nine-Tailed Fox Lord who plays with hearts like games. A blazing Divine Phoenix whose pride rivals the heavens. Each one powerful. Each one dangerous. Each one drawn to her in ways they don't understand. Some want her dead. Some want to claim her. Some can't decide which desire burns stronger. Caught between survival, secrets, and a system that manipulates her at every turn, Aurora must rebuild herself from nothing - changing not only her fate, but the future of the entire Beastworld. All while unintentionally capturing the hearts of the most powerful beastmen alive. Because this time, the "trash" female they all despised is the one who will make them kneel. --- **A reverse-harem fantasy romance filled with danger, humor, slow-burn love, and a heroine who refuses to be broken.**

In the underworld, there are no saints—only predators. Matthew is one of the most feared. Cold, untouchable, and merciless, he is the silent king of Mercato del Muerte, the black market where weapons, blood, and secrets are sold. Everyone bows to his rules, because those who don’t… vanish. Vinny, another alpha, is his opposite—charismatic, reckless, magnetic. He thrives in chaos, flirting with danger as if it were a game. When he crosses paths with Matthew, it should have been a fleeting rivalry. Instead, he finds himself pulled into Matthew’s world, chained by debts, desires, and a fire he can’t put out. Two alphas. One black market. A dangerous game of dominance and submission where every touch feels like a threat, every kiss tastes like betrayal, and every choice could draw blood. Enemies. Rivals. Lovers. In a world where trust is worth less than a bullet, can Vinny survive Matthew’s hunger—or will he be ruined by it? https://discord.gg/tD8ppQCCw join my discord

A prophecy names one true moon. ----- Lyria has spent her entire life in the shadows — scorned, scarred, and invisible. The illegitimate daughter of a king who pretends she does not exist, she has learned to want nothing and expect less. But when fourteen alpha suitors arrive to compete for her sister's hand, five of the most powerful men in the kingdom cannot seem to stay away from the girl they were never meant to notice. Each one is powerful enough to shake kingdoms. Each one is drawn to her in ways that defy reason. But Lyria can only choose one, and the road to that choice will cost more than she ever imagined. And Jacinta will burn the kingdom down before she allows Lyria to take what she believes is hers.

Betrayed by her own blood, Nina Storm is forced to take her sister’s place—married off to a cursed Alpha whose brides never survive past the eleventh day. Everyone is waiting for her funeral. But when the twelfth dawn comes… Nina walks out alive. Worse—she awakens as the very witch who cursed them all. There’s just one problem: her power is gone. To reclaim it, she has only one choice—betray the man she’s bound to. Seduce the Alpha. Take what she needs. Leave him to his fate. That was the plan. Until him. Rodrigo doesn’t fall in love—he obsesses. Completely. Dangerously. Irrevocably. And Nina, who came to destroy him, finds herself wanting to save him instead. But loving the Alpha comes at a price. And this time…the price might be too heavy to pay.

Tonight, Cecilia’s heart was ripped from her chest to break her bond with Arzhen. The Weretiger King’s son, the man she had been bonded to for seven years, had mercilessly taken her life. Who could blame him, really? Cecilia was just a fake Saintess, after all. When the real love of his life, the true Saintess Ruby Vaiva, emerged to reclaim her legitimate title, it was all over for Cecilia. Cast away by the very people she had saved through sheer will and intellect, all in favor of a divine cheat, she knew no one was coming to save her. But as her eyes grew heavy and the world began to fade, a notification suddenly popped into her mind. DING! [Capturable Love Interest detected! Would you like to roll for Five Star Love Interest, Oathran Alicei? You have 10 free rolls!] [Yes/No] Ah. So there was a man dying nearby, too… Wait... Oathran Alicei? The Dragon Lord?! [Warning! Five Stars Love Interest Exclusive Banner is about to expire! Roll?] [Yes/No] Alright, alright! Roll! *** [Let’s start! This is the Beast Gacha System, where you can get countless rewards and bond with any beast, as many as you like!] *** The Dragon Lord she swore to kill: “It wasn’t a prophecy, it was an oath. Your oath. To me.” He wanted to die by her hands. He must. “It was about dying at the hands of the one person I respected. The one person who promised to take the burden from me. You.” “And if I say you are a saintess, then you are.” *** The Alpha Werewolf, her uncle-in-law: “You think there’s a measurement for sin?” “If we are going to get you with child, it will be done properly. Ideally, in front of that precious nephew of mine. Let him have a front-row seat to his legacy being… superseded.” “God forbid a man finds creative motivation.” *** The Werelion Pride King who 'hated' her: “So what if it’s wrong? Be wrong, and live.” “Let me tell you one thing, Cecilia. If you die, even if it was the right thing to be… it’s still wrong.” “If you die, the world will be wrong.” “And a wrong world must perish.” *** Cover art by Nay U [17+ NSFW, Reverse Harem, BeastsXHuman, Revenge, System, Dragon, Werelion, Werewolf, 3 Male Leads] Existing smut chapters: Ch. 16, 26, 51, 52, 68, 69, 70, 72, 81, 82, 83, 104, 105, 106, 117, 118, 119, 121, 138, 139, 140, 184, 185, 187, 220, 231, 246, 261, 278, 279, 348, 349, 350, 351, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357 & 358 (for now)

When a Luna turns cold, her heart begins to lose interest. How disappointing that truth is. “You’re my mate. My Luna and it is your duty to give me an heir.” “But I no longer want to be your Luna.” I respond and Immediately, his eyes goes dark. The man I once chased, the man I once thought was my forever. Now, I feel nothing but exhaustion. My wolf, Kira, is quiet and withdrawn from the mate bond. “I’m tired, Mateo,” I say. “Tired of pretending this bond still means anything.”

Ellis Roselle is a prideful Alpha and the precious heir of the richest Roselle family in Crystal Country. Proud of his wealth, his looks, his charm… and most of all, his ability to read minds, Ellis isn’t just an S-Class—he’s an SS-Class Alpha, rarer than rare. With his specialty, he can make anyone fall in love with him in seconds, no matter who stands before him. His life is perfect, heavenly even. Everyone adores him. Everyone calls him their Moon… Ellis Roselle. Until his family suddenly accepts a marriage proposal from X country’s richest family: the Stonehearts. The groom? Silas Stoneheart, a Beta boy who can’t speak. Wait… Ellis is disgusted. He hates Betas—anyone without scent or pheromones. "I’m not marrying him. No matter what happens…" "He can’t even speak…" "I can’t spend my life with a useless mute Beta." He tries everything to decline this marriage. He argues, he rebels, he schemes. But his strict parents have already promised. In the end, he gives up—agreeing to marry Silas only socially, not from the heart. From the very first day Silas steps into Crystal Country, Ellis vows to make this Beta’s life hell. But Silas is not a normal Beta. Every time Ellis tries to read his mind… everything is blank. What… why is everything blank? Does he even have a mind? Every attempt to irritate him, every trick to frustrate or provoke him, meets only silence, no expression, no reaction. Is he really human? What is he…? And most importantly… what happens when Ellis discovers the secret behind his mute Beta wife? #MindReading #UnreadableML #HiddenSecrets #SSClassAlpha #Strongactingweak Please give a try to my new story—your useless mute beta might just surprise you! (♡˙︶˙♡) Meowly♡

When Orion, the leader of the Nightshade Pack, finds an injured woman near his territory, he makes an impulsive decision to bring her into his pack for treatment. Doubts linger, as she may be a spy sent by the Enclave, led by the ruthless Luna, Victoria. What was supposed to be a straightforward case of recovery quickly becomes complicated. When Sophia awakens, she is plagued by amnesia, remembering only her name. Orion faces a dilemma: should he send her away or allow her to stay? Ultimately, he decides to keep her until her memories return. As Sophia adjusts to life in the Nightshade Pack, a deep connection forms between her and Orion. They begin to realize they belong together, but what will happen when Sophia’s memories start returning in fragments? Will those memories destroy not only their bond but also the safety of the entire pack? NB: Luna in this novel is a different concept, it doesn't just mean the wife of the Alpha. And also this book is rated 18.

Seren never wanted to be noticed. As the daughter of the royal medicine woman, she learned early that survival meant keeping her head down and her mouth shut. The palace was no place for curiosity, especially not when the dying King's three sons prowled its halls like caged predators. Prince Aeron, cold and calculating, leads with ruthless precision. Prince Kael, the soldier, obeys instinct over law. Prince Theron, charming and dangerous, sees through every lie. They are identical in face but opposite in nature, and the kingdom holds its breath waiting to see which one will claim the throne. When Seren witnesses a royal execution she was never meant to see, she becomes a problem the triplets cannot afford. Too dangerous to release, too innocent to kill, she finds herself confined in their private wing as political tensions threaten to tear the kingdom apart. But something unexpected happens when the princes get too close. The ancient mating bond, which should only form between wolves, sparks to life between a human servant and three alpha heirs. Now Seren is caught in a bond that defies nature and law. The triplets claim she belongs to them, body and soul, but the kingdom will never accept a human as their mate. Princess Elowen schemes to destroy her. The council demands answers. Rival packs circle like sharks scenting blood. And somewhere in the palace shadows, a traitor works to ensure none of them survive long enough to take the throne. As bodies pile up and war looms on the horizon, Seren must choose between the safe life she always wanted and the three wolves who have marked her as theirs. But in a world where power is everything and humans are nothing, loving the future kings might be the most dangerous choice of all. The triplet alphas will burn the kingdom down before they let her go. And Seren is starting to realize she would let them.

[MATURE BL OMEGAVERSE] Griffin Mafia, the strongest group among the other mafias in Dormania. A country famous for having 60% of its population belonging to the mafia. Their leader is known to be quite mysterious and intelligent, Alastair Vale. Not many people have ever seen the dominant Alpha. But they are certain that he is a terrified cold hearted man who will get whatever he wants. At the same time, Alastair finds himself drawn to an Omega he often sees standing near a bus stop not far from a university, Noel Ashford. The only Omega who doesn't seem afraid of him at all and instead appears bold enough to answer his every word. "You think I'm weak just because I'm an Omega? Let me tell you something, Mr. Vale..." "Feisty Omega." 'Fuck, he turns me on.' A smirk appeared on the Alpha's face every time the Omega defied his words. Although love eventually blossomed between the Alpha and the Omega, reality would never allow them to live peacefully behind the gunfire. "I won't let you see Vale again! You will never be allowed to leave this mansion for any reason, let alone to see him. Not now and not ever!" "He's not as bad as you think! He's just—" Regis, Noel's older brother, glared at him with a sharp gaze and a face flushed with anger. "ALASTAIR IS A MURDERER!"

To werewolves, humans are maggots. Aurora is a human trapped in a brutal pack, betrayed by her lover, sold into marriage with a man twice her age, and now accused of the ultimate sin: stealing the Moon Core, the relic that once chained the Wolf God Lycaon himself. The Lycans descend upon her. Four ruthless sons of Lycaon; the Scions of Sin. Greed. Pride. Lust. Wrath. Each brother is one of the Original Sins made flesh. Each will sacrifice anything to keep their father imprisoned forever. The Moon Core is their only weapon and now a fragile human has absorbed it. To them, Aurora is vermin. A thief. A disposable tool. But the Core is alive inside her, awakening powers she was never meant to wield. The brothers who swore to destroy her begin to crave her—body, soul, and every shattered piece in between. Now they face the impossible: kill the maggot who could end their race… or surrender to the woman destined to unravel their empire and them. •Morally grey MLs • Enemies to lovers • Dark reverse harem • possessive alphas • betrayal & revenge • Angst • Smut (the Moon Core isn’t the only thing pulsing inside her)

Selene Jameson has always been the family stain, unwanted daughter, shadow to the golden children. The night her mother dies saving her life, Selene loses the only person who ever loved her. When Atlas D'Angelo, the boy she gave everything to, betrays her in the cruelest way possible, she vows never to beg for love again. But fate has darker plans. On the night Selene finally tastes freedom, fame, money, a future of her own her family sells her to a supernatural auction. She's thrust into a hidden world ruled by lycans who see humans as nothing more than commodity. Then he buys her. Mikhail Morozov, Wintercrest Alpha and High Alpha of the Onyx Concord. Feared across Nocturna, Lycan Realm. With a shattered past, a missing sister, and a throne built on blood and betrayal, the last thing he needs is a defiant human girl with a sharp tongue and darker humor than his sins. But Selene isn't human. She bears the Crescent, a mark of ancient power that could save the Nocturna or destroy it. When Kustav Volkov, a rival ruthless Alpha, is revealed to be Selene's father, he lays his claim on her. Mikhail offers Selene a choice: marry him in a blood-bound pact that grants her protection under lycan law. But this marriage of convenience will be anything but convenient. *** "And you smell good," I interrupted, words tumbling out before I could stop them. "Really good. Like winter but not the terrifying kind. The beautiful kind. With snow and—" I scrunched my nose, grasping for the description. "Those delicate frost patterns that appear on glass." Mikhail produced a sound deep in his chest that could've been a growl or a chuckle or something caught between. "Why are there two staircases?" I blurted suddenly, fixating on the duplicated grand stairway looming before us. "Is this intentional? Seems ridiculously excessive." "There's only one staircase, moya." "Are you certain? Because I'm definitely seeing two. Perhaps you require vision correction. Do lycans need glasses? That would be hilarious. Tiny spectacles perched on a massive terrifying wolf—" "Selene." His voice emerged strained, taut in a manner that penetrated even through my fog. "You need to stop talking." I peered up at him, hurt piercing through the pleasant haze. "Why? Am I irritating you? I'm sorry. I'll stay quiet." "No." The word escaped sharp, nearly anguished. "You're not irritating me. You're—" He severed the sentence, jaw clenching so viciously I witnessed the muscle twitch. "Just... rest." But I didn't want rest. I wanted to comprehend why his expression appeared like that—all rigid and ravenous and something else I couldn't identify. "Are you alright?" I asked, raising my hand toward his jaw. He intercepted my wrist before contact, his hold gentle yet unyielding. "Don't." "Why not?" "Because I'm barely maintaining control as it is, and if you touch me right now—" He halted abruptly, eyes compressing shut momentarily. "Just don't." That should've frightened me. The ferocity in his tone, the way his restraint appeared to unravel at the seams. But intoxicated-me simply smiled, inexplicably pleased. Then I caught the way his gaze dropped. Just for a fraction of a heartbeat. To my mouth. Heat bloomed through my chest, spreading like wildfire. "You want to kiss me," I breathed, the revelation making me giddy. His eyes snapped back to mine, glacial blue turned predatory. "Kissing," he said slowly, voice dropping an octave, "doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what I want to do to you." The air left my lungs. His grip on my wrist shifted, thumb finding my pulse point. Pressing there. Feeling the frantic rhythm he'd caused. "Kissing is gentle," he continued, leaning in just enough that his breath ghosted across my lips. Close enough to take. Close enough to claim. But he didn't. "Kissing is sweet. What I want?" His eyes dragged down my face, my throat, lower then back up with deliberate slowness. "There's nothing gentle about it."

Love. Hate. Revenge. Before she was the High Alpha's daughter, Maya was an orphan named Penelope—and Marcus Keenan was the boy who gave her his locket and promised to marry her... until she was torn from him. Taken by High Alpha Vilhelm, everyone, including Marcus, was told she died. Years later, Marcus returns from the recent war a hero—now Alpha Keenan—with power, lands, and the right to choose any woman as his mate. He takes Maya—the same girl who made his life miserable before he left. He doesn't recognize her as Penelope with the locket long gone. To him, she is cruel, two-faced, and an expert at manipulation. What he doesn't know is that Maya's cruelty was forced, a mask she wore to both protect him and survive. Now trapped in a marriage born of revenge, she must decide. Stay silent and play the part, or reveal who she truly is…before it’s too late. —— Excerpt “This marriage is fake,” Maya said. She should be happy but why did it hurt so much? “Fake?” Keenan frowned and closed the gap between them. He wrapped a palm around her neck, and Maya gasped but no sound left her throat. “Is this another ploy to escape me?” “Isn’t it fake?” Maya whispered, holding his hand, trying to ease his grip. It was getting hard to breathe. Her voice betrayed her, too hopeful even to her own ears. He stared with such hatred, yet a part of her didn’t want it to be fake. Keenan threw his head back and laughed, yet his grip on her neck never wavered. “Woman, surely this must be a joke. You think I would orchestrate a fake marriage with you?” He leaned closer, eyes locked on hers. “You undermine my hatred. I want you bound to me forever. I want you to hate every moment of your life and I will be right here to make sure of it. You can never escape me.” Keenan released her neck. She dropped to the floor, rubbing her throat as she finally drew a full breath. “Fake marriage? Don’t be ridiculous. Even your father couldn’t get you away from me.”