
The Blacksmith's Heart
BehindTheBrightBlueEyes · Ongoing · 113.9k Words
Introduction
But under the light of the full moon, everything changes.
When a stranger with molten-gold eyes steps from the shadows, Elara feels power in him that both terrifies and awakens something deep inside her. He knows her name, knows the fire she hides beneath her rough exterior—and he sees her as no one else ever has.
Drawn to him by forces she can’t explain, Elara is swept into a world of primal instinct and raw desire, where danger stalks the woods and secrets pulse in every heartbeat. His touch ignites heat she has never known, his presence makes her body ache with longing—and yet he is more than a man. He is wild. He is untamed. He is a predator who claims that she is his.
Torn between the harsh life she knows and the forbidden passion calling to her, Elara must decide: will she fight for her place in a world that never wanted her… or surrender to the fierce love of a man who was never meant to be human?
Chapter 1
The clang of the blacksmith’s hammer echoed through the valley of Langshire, long after the sun dipped behind the pines. Sparks lit the shop like fireflies caught in a storm, flaring bright and dying just as quickly. I tightened my grip on the wooden bucket I carried, feeling the strain against my palms, raw from a day’s labor. Water sloshed against the sides, heavy, just like every burden I’d carried since I could remember.
The forge roared, hungry and impatient, flames licking at the metal like wolves nipping at the heels of prey. I had a deadline to complete the upgraded breastplate for the new Beta in the neighboring pack, and there was no way I was tarnishing my perfect record for timeliness on this one plate. The last thing I needed was whispers about Elara the blacksmith growing sloppy. No, I had a reputation to protect—even if it was the only thing in this world I truly owned.
As sweat dripped down my brow, I rubbed the beads on my sleeve, a habit I picked up from my grandmother, careful not to disturb the timing of the kiln. The world outside might not care about timing, but here, in my forge, every second mattered. Steel demanded respect.
It had been a long day, and my body begged me to stop, but I pushed through the weariness. My vision blurred from lack of rest, black spots blooming at the edges of my sight. I blinked furiously, forcing the cloudiness away, and lifted the breastplate onto the anvil one last time. With painstaking care, I etched my signature finish into the underbelly—a small heart with a notch taken out of it. A mark no one else dared to use, but one my clients quietly sought out. My work had soul. My mark told them it had been forged with blood, sweat, and willpower, not just steel.
I nodded in approval at the piece, setting my tools down and wiping my hands across my apron, though all it did was smear the grime. Glancing back at my work of art, I caught my reflection in the polished steel. I laughed dryly at the sight—half my face blackened with soot, hair tangled in sweaty strands, eyes bloodshot and hollow from a week of missed sleep. The breastplate gleamed proudly while I looked like I’d crawled out of the ashes myself.
“Whelp, that is as good as it is going to get,” I muttered, the sound swallowed by the walls of my shop.
With a sigh, I pulling the doors closed. My sign, tilted again in the evening breeze, caught my eye. “Elara’s Creations,” it read in curling script. I straightened it carefully, then tapped the wood and pressed a kiss to it—a ritual for good fortune, or maybe just habit. Either way, it comforted me.
My feet dragged on the dirt road, leaving tired streaks in the sand. The valley had long gone quiet, the market stalls shuttered, smoke rising in lazy tendrils from chimneys. The path home wound past the forest’s edge, and there, nestled half into the hillside, leaned my cottage. If it could even be called that.
My chest tightened at the sight. My little home, already sagging from years of neglect, had been defaced. Bright streaks of paint slashed across the front, scrawled words that burned worse than fire.
My heart sank as I brushed my hand across the first one. FUC—
The paint smeared under my fingers. Still wet. Whoever had done this hadn’t even given me the dignity of waiting for it to dry.
Frustration flared hot in my chest. If I had left work sooner, I might have caught them in the act. But then the breastplate would not be finished, and I couldn’t afford that. I clenched my jaw, letting out a shaky breath. There was nothing I could do tonight. The words would wait for me in the morning, as all burdens did.
I unlocked the front door, jiggling the stubborn lock three times until it gave way with a reluctant creak. A bucket sat by the threshold, waiting to catch the next rainfall and keep the floor from flooding. Inside, the familiar scent of woodsmoke wrapped around me, a small comfort. The hearth still held a flame, and I smiled faintly, knowing I could heat the leftover soup without too much effort.
Kicking off my shoes—worn thin, soles nearly flapping—I lowered myself to the floor. The boards creaked under my weight, as if they too were exhausted. I stared into the fire, shoulders sagging, thankful that no matter how shabby or marked by others’ cruelty, this place was still mine. My sanctuary.
Sleep tugged at me hard, and I didn’t even bother to fetch my blanket from the counter. I curled on the floor, letting the warmth of the fire wash over me, and drifted off with a gnawing feeling that I’d forgotten something important.
Dreams swept me away. In them, I was strong—stronger than the merchant’s daughters in their velvet gowns and silken gloves. Stronger than the alpha’s sons, who had framed me for cheating and cost me my rightful graduation. Stronger than any merchant on the block with their rich parents’ coin. In dreams, I was not scraping by, alone and barehanded. I was a hero.
In dreams, the trials I endured became stepping stones, not chains. My skin glowed with power, my chest lifted with pride. I was everything I wanted to be.
But dreams don’t last.
The whispers started first, curling like smoke at the edges of my mind. I leaned in, trying to make sense of them, but they grew louder—insistent, cutting, cruel. Shouts replaced whispers. Accusations. Mockery. My glow dimmed as shadows pressed closer, and before I could shield myself, a rush of icy water drenched me.
I gasped awake, sputtering.
“Rent’s due!” a voice bellowed from outside. The light through my window was pale, not even dawn yet.
A harsh kick struck my ribs, rolling me halfway onto my side. Pain flared sharp, and my breath caught.
“If you’re not up soon, you’ll stay down for good,” Hector growled, his boot pressing one last threat into my side before stepping back.
I scrambled upright, clutching my ribs. “Hector, I have your payment. I’m meeting my customer at eight. I’ll have the full amount for you then, I swear.” My voice cracked, more pleading than I wanted.
“That’s two hours late,” he sneered, mimicking quotation marks with his fingers. “Better hope your customer actually shows up. Otherwise…” He let the threat hang in the air, followed by a laugh. Then, with a slam of my already-broken door, he left.
The silence after was louder than his shouting. My chest rose and fell in shallow breaths.
I forced myself up, wiped the damp from the floor where I had slept, and steadied my shaking hands. My ribs throbbed, my pride smarted, but there was no time to dwell on either.
I lifted my gaze toward the hearth, toward the faint crescent moon still visible through my window. Closing my eyes, I whispered a prayer to the Moon Goddess, voice raw but steady.
Please. Let this Beta be punctual.
Last Chapters
#106 Panic - Elara
Last Updated: 11/6/2025#105 The Sound of the Hunt - Austin
Last Updated: 11/5/2025#104 The Pages Turn Themselves - Elara
Last Updated: 11/4/2025#103 Shadows in the Clearing - Austin
Last Updated: 11/1/2025#102 The Journey Begins - Elara
Last Updated: 11/1/2025#101 The Binding of Two Hearts - Austin
Last Updated: 11/1/2025#100 Through Her Eyes - Austin
Last Updated: 11/1/2025#99 The Weight of Stories - Elara
Last Updated: 11/1/2025#98 The Thread Between Dreams - Austin
Last Updated: 10/31/2025#97 The Story Beneath the Ink - Elara
Last Updated: 10/31/2025
You Might Like 😍
His Mission
Emily is suddenly thrown from one world of danger and uncertainty into another. The two teens ride the rollercoaster of love, unbelievable betrayal and heartache.
The mafia princess return
Accardi
“I thought you said you were done chasing me?” Gen mocked.
“I am done chasing you.”
Before she could formulate a witty remark, Matteo threw her down. She landed hard on her back atop his dining room table. She tried to sit up when she noticed what he was doing. His hands were working on his belt. It came free of his pants with a violent yank. She collapsed back on her elbows, her mouth gaping open at the display. His face was a mask of sheer determination, his eyes were a dark gold swimming with heat and desire. His hands wrapped around her thighs and pulled her to the edge of the table. He glided his fingers up her thighs and hooked several around the inside of her panties. His knuckles brushed her dripping sex.
“You’re soaking wet, Genevieve. Tell me, was it me that made you this way or him?” his voice told her to be careful with her answer. His knuckles slid down through her folds and she threw her head back as she moaned. “Weakness?”
“You…” she breathed.
Genevieve loses a bet she can’t afford to pay. In a compromise, she agrees to convince any man her opponent chooses to go home with her that night. What she doesn’t realize when her sister’s friend points out the brooding man sitting alone at the bar, is that man won’t be okay with just one night with her. No, Matteo Accardi, Don of one of the largest gangs in New York City doesn’t do one night stands. Not with her anyway.
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
William—my devastatingly handsome, wealthy werewolf fiancé destined to become Delta—was supposed to be mine forever. After five years together, I was ready to walk down the aisle and claim my happily ever after.
Instead, I found him with her. And their son.
Betrayed, jobless, and drowning in my father's medical bills, I hit rock bottom harder than I ever imagined possible. Just when I thought I'd lost everything, salvation came in the form of the most dangerous man I'd ever encountered.
Damien Sterling—future Alpha of the Silver Moon Shadow Pack and ruthless CEO of Sterling Group—slid a contract across his desk with predatory grace.
“Sign this, little doe, and I'll give you everything your heart desires. Wealth. Power. Revenge. But understand this—the moment you put pen to paper, you become mine. Body, soul, and everything in between.”
I should have run. Instead, I signed my name and sealed my fate.
Now I belong to the Alpha. And he's about to show me just how wild love can be.
I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis
Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now—billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn’t mind. I’d crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one?
Wrong.
One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That’s when it hit me—he didn’t love me. He didn’t even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn’t even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup.
So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster—my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise.
Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol.
Enter him.
Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I’d met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes.
It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised.
But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life.
And, as it turned out, the best decision I’d ever made.
Because my one-night stand isn’t just some random guy. He’s richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with.
And now, he’s not letting me go.
Omega Bound
Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life.
Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride
Yet Alexander made his decision clear to the world: “Evelyn is the only woman I will ever marry.”
THE ALPHA'S NANNY.
Lori Wyatt, a shy, broken twenty two year old with a dark past is given the deal of a lifetime when she is asked to be the nanny of a newborn who lost her mother at childbirth. Lori accepts, eager to get away from her past.
Gabriel Caine is the Alpha of the revered Moon fang pack and the CEO of Caine Inc. A drunken one night stand leads to the birth of his daughter and he finds her a nanny following the death of her mother. When he meets Lori, he finds out that she is his mate and vows to protect her from his enemies.
The two of them cannot stop the instant attraction between them. Lori, who believes she is unworthy of love, cannot explain why the powerful billionaire is after her and Gabriel who is totally smitten with her is unsure of how to be totally honest with Lori about him being a werewolf.
Fate has brought them together and now together they must fight for their love, amidst the conflicts between packs and secrets that Lori’s past holds.
Will their love survive?
Goddess Of The Underworld.
When the veil between the Divine, the Living, and the Dead begins to crack, Envy is thrust beneath with a job she can’t drop: keep the worlds from bleeding together, shepherd the lost, and make ordinary into armor, breakfasts, bedtime, battle plans. Peace lasts exactly one lullaby. This is the story of a border pup who became a goddess by choosing her family; of four imperfect alphas learning how to stay; of cake, iron, and daylight negotiations. Steamy, fierce, and full of heart, Goddess of the Underworld is a reverse harem, found-family paranormal romance where love writes the rules and keeps three realms from falling apart.
My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate
My drunk stepfather remained indifferent, his weight suffocating, making it hard to breathe as my heart raced.
Suddenly, the door slammed open, and two figures burst in.
"Get off her!" a deafening roar echoed.
I didn't expect the twin brothers who'd bullied me at school to come charging in like gods to save me.
After my grandmother passed, I had to move in with my mom and stepdad, who treated me like a servant. I prayed every day for my 18th birthday to come, so l could leave and escape this broken home.
However, on my first day at my new school, l encountered the legendary twins everyone feared.
To make matters worse, the Moon Goddess revealed they were both my mates!
After helping me out with my stepdad, my twin mate cornered me, played with my hair, and whispered possessively, "You belong to us, our little mate..."
Fangs, Fate & Other Bad Decisions
After finding out her boyfriend cheated, the last thing she expected was to stumble across a wounded man in an alley. And definitely not one with fangs. But thanks to a mix of cocktails, shame, and her questionable life choices, she takes him home. Turns out, he’s not just any vampire—he’s a king. And according to him, she’s his fated mate.
Now, she’s stuck with an overprotective, brooding bloodsucker who keeps rescuing her, a growing list of enemies who want her dead, and an undeniable attraction that’s making it very hard to remember why falling for a vampire is a terrible idea.
Because if she’s not careful, she won’t just lose her heart—she’ll lose her humanity.












