In the remote Arctic, where the nights stretch for months and air crackles with ancient magic, werewolf packs emerge breathing life into the cursed cold. With time, humans migrate, sharing an uneasy harmony with the pack. Fiona Ashford grows up with soon-to-be alpha Jason Frostwood and is ready to stand beside him to usher in the new era and bind the two powerful packs. Two nights before the wedding, she learns of his infatuation with Lena, a human girl. She is too late to intervene and it culminates in a public rejection that shatters her world. While Jason faces the wrath of his pack and the terrifying possibility of losing everything for a love that society deems forbidden, Fiona must navigate her shattered heart while wrestling with the idea of punishing Lena for Jason's betrayal.
Chapter 1: Jason's POV
They seemed frozen.
We watched silently, waiting for some movement, but there was nothing. The puny humans were too dumb to do anything with what they had found.
I glanced at Fiona, the lady beside me-the only other person on this mission with me. The look lasted longer than it was supposed to, as my eyes settled on her breasts, full and soon to be mine, but hardly heaving. Clearly, she was holding her breath for more stealth.
I looked away, back at our targets, once again considering the possibility that they were frozen by the snow. After all, humans generally needed our help to survive in this climate in the first place.
"Let's go," a man said suddenly.
I tensed up a bit as I watched from above, hoping the crew would take the chest with them and leave us with no choice but to kill them altogether. That'd make things interesting.
We had no weapons-only our hands, though they could become dangerous claws if the need arose. I was already imagining tearing them apart when I spasmed in response to a short tap on my arm.
Her hand was so cold...
"They're gone. We didn't have to do anything," she said, jumping down from the ledge in the icy cave. I followed suit, glad to be out of the rather uncomfortable position.
She hugged me suddenly, tightly, endearingly...
I felt a heat rising within me at the contact of her skin with mine. I could never get used to these kinds of actions from her, and at the same time, I could never get enough.
It's more exciting, as I've known her since childhood and had been in love with her since the day I could talk. We'd been taking liberties since then, morally aided by our betrothal, but never anything more. The wedding was just two weeks away...
"You weren't paying attention; we could have missed it," she whispered.
Her warm breath on my neck added a new layer of excitement to what I was already feeling. I would have taken her there and then if not for my strong discipline and composure-just as strong as my physical strength. The rules were the rules...
I kissed her neck, savoring the taste for the moment it lasted before pulling away. "We should take it with us," I said.
Her sweet smile of agreement was like a rainbow on a difficult day, making everything right again. She's just 18, the flower of youth! She stood just an inch shorter than me, with delicate, highly defined features-high cheekbones, a perfectly sculpted nose, and those lips I could kiss all day if she let me. Her bright blue eyes glistened with a curiosity and kindness, humility and confidence. If she was not the prettiest lady in both the Frostwood and Ashford packs, she was not too far from it.
I forced my eyes off her to look at the chest. The contents were unknown, but the symbol carved into it indicated its origin. It's from the Frostwood pack and definitely contains something of historical value. It wasn't something that humans could mess around with.
Without a word, I hoisted it onto my shoulder, balancing it to handle the weight efficiently. We trudged through the snow, slowly talking about a lot of unimportant things. The wedding didn't come up, but it hung in the air between us. It was the one thing on our minds: the joining together in the flesh of two young people, best friends and lovers since childhood.
We didn't really have a choice. Our betrothal made it inevitable. Had it been any other people, it would have been a problem, but in our case, the pressure made it even better. Now, the wedding is rushed to happen a month after her birthday-two weeks from now-but I can hardly wait. I yearned for it, wished it would be over so I could have her and satisfy the raging desires within me now, so wild it was almost suffocating to be around her without being able to do much. It's lucky that we've known each other for a good 17 years; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to have a smooth, natural conversation with her at this point.
I jolted back to reality to find her tapping my arm. What was it with me zoning out these days?
"Daydreaming again, huh?"
Her voice was a warm, sweet breeze bringing me a certain calm that everything would be alright and anchoring me to the present.
"You do the same," I accused, holding her gaze. She didn't deny it but instead changed the topic.
"We'll be parting now," she said, making me take a sweeping glance and find that we were at the border. There wasn't any problem with her crossing into the Frostwood pack; she was welcome any day. But with her saying to leave, I reckoned she had something to do, in which case, I wouldn't hold her back.
I looked to the horizon, to the Ashford pack. It was more beautiful than mine, but soon to be mine anyway. They'd be more like merged after the wedding, unity within our peoples being the point. It's not done yet, but I could feel the responsibility weighing down on me already, like the crate had been before I dropped it.
She pecked me on my cheek-a sisterly kiss-but that was the last straw! I eliminated the distance between us, invading her space and holding her tight as I seized her lips in a passionate kiss. She responded immediately with a fervency that indicated she wanted me as much as I did her. It was a wonder why she held back, how she managed it. A sisterly kiss? The nerve!
After pulling away reluctantly, I offered to escort her.
"No, thanks," she said, a rejection that would cost us both. If she knew of the consequence, she would jump at the offer. If I knew, I would have insisted. It happened that letting her go now might as well be letting her go forever. I was about to meet someone-someone who would change the course of my life forever...
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."