Vladimir's Marked Luna

Shewassoldlikecattle.Nowthemonstersarebiddingforherblood.LilithBrookshasalwaysbeenthefamilydisgrace;daughterofscandal,sistertothewanteddaughter.Whenhermotherdiesandtheonlyboysheeverlovedbetraysher,shevowsnevertobegforloveagain.Butonthenightshefinallywins,fame,money,atasteoffreedombutherfamilysellsherintoanightmare.Asupernaturalauction.Arealmruledbywolves.Andamanwhobuysherlikeproperty.VladimirDragunovistheWintercrestAlpha,thefearedruleroftheLycanrealmandHighAlphaoftheOnyxConcord.Withashatteredpast,amissingsister,andathronesoakedinblood,thelastthingheneedsisadefiant'human'girlwithamouthassharpashermindandahumordarkerthanhispast.ButLilithisn’tjustanyone.ShebearstheLunarCrest,amarkthatcouldsaveordoomthemall.WhenKustavVolkov,anAlphawhosecursedbloodrunsinLilith’sveins,comestoclaimheraskin,Vladimiroffersherachoice:marryhiminablood-boundpactthatgrantsherprotection…orbetornapartbythewolvesbecauseoflycanlaws.Butasenemiesbattle,conspiraciesarewoven,legaciesburn,andforbiddenattractionignites,theirmarriageofconveniencebecomesanythingbutconvenient.ButsomeonefromLilith’spastrefusestoacceptdefeatforheonceknewherbody…andnowwantshersoul.---ExcerptHecutmeoff.“Ifitwereyourmother…”Ifroze,thewordswitheringonmylips.Hepushedon.“Ifitwasyourmothershetossedaroundlikearagdoll…”Hebroughthisfacedown,thosebeautifulanalyticaleyesboringintome.Hisheaddescendedfartherwiththeprecisionofapredatorthatknewitspreywouldneverbolt.Heknewthat—whetherbecauseofprideorcripplingfear—Iwouldlethisbreathghostagainstmyface.Hisheaddidn’tjustdip,itclosedin,deliberate,eachinchstolen.ColdpineandironseepedintomylungsuntilbreathingfeltlikepermissionIhadn’tgiven.Mypulselurched,andmyskinprickledwithsomethingIhatedtoname.HisproximitytangleddangerwithanacheIdidn’twanttoacknowledge.Hisvoicedropped,brushingmyear—notsoft,notharsh,butinthatdangerousmiddlegroundwhereyoucouldn’ttellifthenextsoundwouldbeawhisperorashot.“IfIhadaguntoherhead,youwouldhaveacted.Youwouldn’tweightherisksinyourhead—youwouldmove,shift,anything,evenifitmeantshewouldstillbeharmed…ordie.”Thetimbreofhiswordsthrummedthroughme,pullingheattoplacesitdidn’tbelong.“Forasliverofachanceshemightsurvive,youwoulddosomething.Still,yourefusetomove—youmakeexcuses,youletyourpastbindyou…”Hisheadcreptloweruntilhewasrightatmyear,hisbreathcurlingalongtheshellinawaythatmademykneeswanttobetrayme.“Yet…youwanttodestroyanAlpha.Havehimbroughtdowntohisknees.”