He was never meant to belong to a monster. I was hired to translate ancient wolf texts-not to bind my soul to the most feared Alpha King alive. Ronan Varkos is ruthless, cold, untouchable-a war-born king who rules through fear, not mercy. And now he's looking at me like I'm his.

"You're mine," he growls. "My fated mate."

I should walk away. I should run. Because I'm human. Not a wolf. Not an omega. Not anything his world would ever accept. And definitely not the kind of man an Alpha King claims.

But the bond doesn't care.

He follows me. Watches me. Corners me like prey-like I already belong to him. And when he finally touches me, everything shatters. My control. My logic. My need to escape.

Because men like Ronan don't love. They consume. They mark. They ruin you for anyone else.

And for a moment... I let him.

Until he rejects me.

In front of his entire pack.

Like I was a mistake. Like I was something shameful.

But he doesn't know the truth. He didn't just break me. He changed me.

And when the Alpha King realizes what he's lost, he'll come crawling back. He'll beg. He'll break. He'll burn his kingdom to claim me again.

Too bad I'm not the same man he left behind.