Unwanted by the Alpha, Destined for the King

In a world where shapeshifters live under rigid hierarchies, Maya learned early on to hide. Among a race considered inferior, she camouflages her true identity: a wolf descended from a powerful and ancient lineage. To protect herself, she maintains the lie that she cannot transform—a trick that keeps her away from prying eyes, but also isolates her from who she truly is. Everything begins to spiral out of control when Conrad, the alpha king, arrives in her region. Cold, imposing, and respected, he is there to investigate a series of events linked to black magic—something that threatens to destabilize the fragile balance between the races. Upon meeting Maya, he immediately recognizes the rare and profound bond between souls linked by destiny: she is his mate. But Maya doesn't want to be found, nor claimed. Maya fears what Conrad will see when he truly looks at her. With the dark threat intensifying and her past beginning to surface, Maya finds herself trapped between the instinct to flee and the need to protect herself. Conrad, torn between his duty as king and the bond that ties him to Maya, will have to decide whether to trust a woman who hides more than she reveals. Because when the truth comes to light, nothing will be the same—and not everyone will survive what is to come.