They called her the ash girl-meant to clean floors, not wear a crown. Lily never asked for the throne. She only wanted to survive. But when Alpha Rudolf Stormfang returns from the war and locks eyes with the girl they all called worthless, everything changes. Because the Alpha does not ask. He claims. And now, he's claimed her. But the crown comes with more than power-it comes with enemies, secrets, and a past that refuses to stay buried. She might be his Luna by fate. But will she survive the blood that fate demands?
Chapter 1 – Ashes Beneath Her Feet
Lily's POV
The coldness of the morning seeped through the cracks in the cabin's window, chilling Lily to her bones. She shivered, drawing her threadbare shawl tighter around her shoulders as she swept the dusty floor of the kitchen for the third time that morning. Her palms ached, blistered from scrubbing pots and floors, and her stomach growled in protest-she hadn't eaten since yesterday.
"Move faster, you worthless thing!" her stepmother, Maribelle, snapped from the doorway. Her voice, shrill and full of venom, sliced through the silence like a whip.
Lily didn't respond. She never did. Talking back only earned her a slap-or worse.
Maribelle crossed the room with her usual grace, dressed in silks that shimmered like moonlight. She looked every bit the matriarch of a proud pack, but her heart was as cold as ice. Her two daughters-Bianca and Celine-stood beside her, snickering as they watched Lily bow her head.
"She looks like a rat," Bianca said, laughter in her voice. "How could anyone believe she shares our blood?"
"She doesn't," Maribelle said sharply. "She's her father's mistake, nothing more. And soon, the Alpha will choose his Luna. It won't be a lowly servant like her."
Lily's hands trembled. Every year, the Alpha of the BloodHollow pack hosted the Luna Trials-a brutal, ceremonial selection of a Luna from among eligible females. It was both honor and death sentence. Women trained for years, learning submission, power, grace, and warfare. But Lily? She hadn't even seen the training yard.
"You're not going to the Trials," Maribelle hissed. "I won't have you humiliating this family in front of the pack."
A sharp sting spread across Lily's cheek as Maribelle's hand struck her. She stumbled back, clutching her face, her pride and hope bruised in the same blow.
"But she has to attend, doesn't she?" Celine said with mock sweetness. "By law, every unmated female of age must. Even the pathetic ones."
Lily looked up, startled. That was true. The Luna Trials weren't optional. The law bound the Alpha to ensure every unmated she-wolf had a chance.
"Fine," Maribelle muttered, her eyes narrowing. "Let the girl attend. It will only make her failure more humiliating."
Their laughter followed Lily as she fled to the backyard, tears blurring her vision. She fell to her knees near the woods, her breath catching in her throat.
Why do they hate me so much?
The answer was simple: she reminded them of her father. Alpha Gregor had once been a powerful warrior, fair and kind. But when he'd died on a rogue hunt, Maribelle had twisted into something cruel. With no blood relation to her stepmother or stepsisters, Lily had become a target. A stain they couldn't wash away.
She wiped her tears and looked at the horizon. The trials were in five days. She had no gowns. No training. No hope.
But something inside her stirred-a small voice, defiant and raw.
What if I tried anyway?
---
Later that night, Lily crept into the attic. It was cluttered and filled with dust, but it was the only place she could think. In the farthest corner, she found an old wooden trunk with her father's initials carved into the lid.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside, wrapped in faded cloth, lay a leather-bound journal, a pair of fingerless gloves, and a silver dagger. Her heart pounded. These had been her father's. The pages of the journal smelled like pine and age. They were filled with sketches, maps, and notes about the trials-his plans to train her before he died.
A sob escaped her lips. He had believed in her once.
She clutched the gloves and the dagger to her chest. "I'll do it, Papa," she whispered. "I'll try. For you."
---
Two days before the Trials
Lily trained in secret at night, venturing into the woods where no one could see her bruises or hear her gasps for breath. She practiced the moves from her father's journal-stances, strikes, the art of staying silent and swift. Her body burned with each movement, but she welcomed the pain. It reminded her she was still alive. Still fighting.
---
The morning of the Trials
Thunder rolled over the valley as the pack gathered at the ceremonial grounds. A hundred she-wolves stood in formation-daughters of warriors, nobles, and betas. All groomed, polished, radiant.
And then there was Lily.
She stood at the end of the line, wearing a simple black dress that hung loose over her thin frame. Her hair was tied back roughly, and her arms bore faint scars from kitchen work. The crowd whispered. Her stepsisters smirked. Even the guards looked at her with pity.
But she held her head high.
Because up on the stone platform, watching them with cold, unreadable eyes, stood Alpha Rudolf.
His presence was undeniable. Tall, broad, and commanding. Dark hair swept back from a sharp face, and eyes like molten silver that gleamed with lethal intent. The air shifted with his every breath.
He didn't smile. He didn't blink. He didn't even seem interested in the Trials.
Until his gaze landed on her.
The moment their eyes locked, the world tilted.
Lily's breath caught in her throat. Her wolf stirred within her, trembling at the raw power that radiated from him. Something passed between them-strange, electric, magnetic.
But then he looked away, his expression unreadable.
Her heart sank.
---
As the trials began, the she-wolves demonstrated their agility, strength, submission, and strategy in a series of challenges. One by one, the crowd roared for their favorites. Bianca performed a flawless combat routine. Celine charmed the elders with her grace and poise.
Lily was the last to be called.
As she stepped into the circle, silence fell.
Whispers grew like a rising tide.
"She's here?"
"She'll break like glass."
"This will be quick."
Lily ignored them all. She drew her dagger-the only thing of worth she owned-and began the routine she had practiced under moonlight and pain.
Every move was deliberate, like a dance woven from shadows and fire.
Her stance-sharp.
Her strikes-precise.
Her body-worn, but not weak.
When she ended her sequence, the air stood still. No one spoke.
Alpha Rudolf leaned forward slightly.
Maribelle's face twisted in rage.
Lily bowed and walked away, her heart thundering.
She didn't need their applause.
She had shown them. She had survived.
But it was only the beginning.
---
That night, in the Alpha's quarters...
Rudolf stood by the window, silent. His Beta, Darius, lingered behind him.
"You saw her?" Darius asked.
Rudolf said nothing.
"She's not what the others expected," Darius continued, pouring himself a drink.
"She's exactly what I expected," Rudolf said at last, his voice like steel.
Darius raised a brow. "You knew?"
Rudolf turned, his eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. "The moment I saw her. She's not weak. She's caged. I want to know what happens when she breaks free."
---
Delilah is a woman who knows exactly what she wants-and how to get it. A seductive force in a world of power and privilege, she thrives on the thrill of passion and control. Unapologetic and confident, she's built a reputation for her allure and independence, using her sensuality as both a weapon and a shield. But when she meets Sebastian, a cold, calculating CEO, everything she knows about desire and power is put to the test. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their worlds couldn't be more different. Sebastian is used to having control, but Delilah is a force that even he can't resist. Drawn to each other by their own desires and vulnerabilities, they play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, each encounter more charged than the last. As their relationship deepens, the lines between love, lust, and power begin to blur. But when a rival from Sebastian's past-Adrian-enters the picture, Delilah finds herself torn between two men, each with a different pull on her. Secrets, passion, and betrayal will collide as Delilah must decide whether to surrender to the overwhelming lust she feels or fight for control of her heart-and her future.
He was the man every woman desired-but loving him could mean death. When orphaned and struggling art student Sienna Rae is offered a prestigious scholarship by the mysterious Alpha billionaire, Kade Valen, she has no idea it will come at a deadly price. Drawn into his magnetic world of wealth, power, and secrets, Sienna quickly finds herself caught in a web of passion-and something far darker. Kade isn't just a billionaire. He's cursed with a deadly secret, one passed down through generations: a kiss from him is lethal to any woman he truly loves. Until now. Sienna awakens something in him no one ever has. But as bodies begin to drop and old enemies resurface, she realizes that Kade's world is laced with danger-and loving him might just be the most dangerous choice she ever makes. Will Sienna be the one to break his curse-or become its final victim?
The First Binding was meant to keep the world safe. But with the return of the Hollow Moon, everything is shifting. Araya Vale is an orphan, haunted by vivid dreams of wolves, fire, and an ancient curse she doesn't understand. When the bloodline of her forgotten ancestors awakens, Araya finds herself torn between a past she can't remember and a destiny she never chose. As the last of the Silverborn, she holds the key to breaking the curse that binds the Lycans to the earth-if only she can survive long enough to learn its truth. Kael Draven, once the proud Alpha of the Crimson Fang, carries the weight of an ancient betrayal. Exiled and powerless, he now walks a lonely path between man and monster. When he meets Araya, the connection is undeniable-yet the secrets of the past might tear them apart before they can ever truly come together. But they're not the only ones vying for control. Lucien Vire, a ruthless Alpha of the Black Hollow pack, will stop at nothing to claim Araya's blood and use it to complete the Second Binding-a ritual that could bring him unimaginable power. And as the moon rises, old enemies, long-hidden truths, and ancient forces will collide in a battle that could destroy everything they hold dear. The Lycan curse is awakening. And only those who dare to face the ashes of the past can hope to survive the flames of the future.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.