When A Soldier Loves

When A Soldier Loves

Aishatuh M · Completed · 192.2k Words

705
Hot
705
Views
212
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

On the brink of a life that seemed too dull to excite her, amidst the chaos of the insurgency that threatened not just her happiness, but the little she had as a world; Maryam Bukar Ibrahim seemed to battle more wars than her 16 years old and autistic brain could handle.

It became too much to bear, too much grief for her heart to take and a commitment her innocent yet frail body could endure. As if that wasn’t enough, destiny found a way of getting her married to a soldier, at the brink of her father’s death and the last words he pronounced were of her becoming Mrs. Na’im Bolori.

For Captain Na’im Bolori, marriage was the last thing he thought for his life. He was the prince of the Kingdom of Maiduguri and suffering from an unmentioned illness broke more of his engagements than he cared to count. Being a soldier was his lifetime dream, yet rescuing a dying father only to get him married to his weird and two colored eyes daughter was something he had never imagined.

He took her home not because he wanted, not because he was ever going to accept the so called marriage, between, she was only 16 years old! But destiny decided to play with his heart and test how capable he was of controlling himself and protecting the ones he loved. As said, When A Soldier Loves...He Kills To Protect.

Chapter 1

The sky was filled with invisible sparks of joy. The air carried around the sounds of laughter to places that it hadn t reached, the mornings of Eid had always been one to remember. From the way the morning started, the ambience that was filled with sheer joy and happiness. The endless smiles and love shared between muslims, and how everyone got glam in his or her best attire for the next two days to come was something she had always looked up to in Eid. And yes, the delicious food included.

But for this Eid, she was a little less excited and a part of her heart was also overjoyed. She looked up at the sky and saw the stars hanging even though it was a morning sky, so blue that she wondered if she could reach it, touch it, nothing could stop her hand from staining this perfection of color. It was Eid-ul-Adha, yet Baaba said he had no means to make the sacrifice that was known to be made. She wanted to eat the meat, to roam around the house-even though unnoticed-as Intisar took care of the meat while she helped her panned the woods when she felt like it.

But he said he had no money, and Intisar seemed to be okay with it, elated even. And she asked if him they could go to the Eid ground to watch the Durbar show, and he gladly agreed. Maybe that was his way of getting them off the disappointment of not being able to make their sacrifice this Eid. She was happy to go to the Eid ground for the first time in her life, even though a bit anxious, knowing so well she would be bullied by the girls there.

She heard the chuckles of young girls that would probably be her age as they ran around their house, probably rushing to go so they could get the front row in the durbar ground. "Maryam!" Intisar called from the kitchen, where she had finished setting Baaba s lunch in the small bowl he used to take to the farm. Maryam wanted to ask him why he had to go to the farm on Eid day but she couldn t bring herself to. Rather, she watched her father got donned in his last Eid s outfit, looking a bit younger than his age with a smile so wide she doubted if ?he hadn t been given the beautiful clouds she had admired just minutes ago.

She didn t answer her elder sister, but she stood up and went to the small kitchen that was clogged with the smoke of the woods. "Move away, you ll smell of the woods, okay?" Intisar had uttered while she came out of the kitchen herself. She stared at her for a moment, trying so hard to assimilate what she had said but she had spoken so fast that she seemed to have missed a word that would make her actually understand what she wanted her to do.

So, she stood there. Her Eid glam ever so beautiful, as Intisar said when they both finished getting ready. She barely looked into the mirror, but she did that today and she only smiled a little before she wordlessly returned the mirror back to her sister, something about her eyes making her uncomfortable.

She felt Intisar s hands on her shoulders as she stared into her eyes with her motherly, yet sisterly smile plastered on her lips. "Maryam," she called out softly, in a way that told her that her sister wanted her to focus on her lips, so she would easily grasp what she was going to say. "I said you should stay away from the kitchen unless you want to smoke like the woods. Which practically means, go back to where you were sitting, I'll talk from here and you ll be able to hear me, okay?" Maryam was silent for a minute before she nodded her head and turned back to where she was and sat down.

Intisar smiled at her and before she could say a word, Baaba was back into the house with something in his hand. They all turned their heads towards him and he went to where Maryam sat and found a space on the mat and sat down as well. He motioned for Intisar to come over and she did so, happily.

"Are you done with the meal?" He asked Intisar and she nodded her head at him.

"Yes, Baaba. But y all are just going to the farm to have something like a reunion in your Eid clothes and good food, right? None of you will work?" He laughed, and that was when she realized she had asked that question countless times this morning and his answer had always been the same.

"Yes, Intisar. We re just going to laugh over some memories and gist, to enjoy ourselves. I can t have these clothes ruined, you know?" He looked up at his perfectly sewn clothes with a smile, "It s the only good clothe I have, I treasure it a lot."

Intisar nodded her head with a soft smile even though his words had ached her heart a bit. Maryam only watched them conversed as she picked little of what they had said. At times like this when they chatted like the normal people they were, so fast and happily, all she did was stared at them and wondered how they could talk that fast and still understand what they meant.

"Here, I got something for the two of you." He began fumbling through the nylon and excitement showed itself on Maryam s face while she silently waited. He brought out a pair of glasses. Two black glasses that instantly made Intisar squeal with joy but Maryam just stood there, wondering. He brought out the last thing in the nylon, a perfume and the sound of Intisar s laughter was what filled Maryam s ears now.

He handed Maryam one of the glasses and she gladly took it. "That's your own, I saw some girls wearing it while going to the Durbar ground and I know you d certainly like one, too." Intisar had already taken hers and donned it over her beautiful face, beaming at them both that Maryam couldn t help but admire the beautiful sister she had. "Oh! Just take a look at yourself, Intisar!" Baaba teased and they burst out laughing.

"And this perfume is for all of us. We can only use it on Fridays and on special occasions so it will last long, okay? It s my Eid gift since we can t have some meat this Eid." He turned to Maryam and smiled so warmly at her, "I ll spray it on you," he was careful while spraying it on her, careful not to touch her body because he knew; it was only Intisar that mostly touched her unaware and she wouldn t fret.

She stayed still while he did that and the fragrance instantly filled her nostrils. She smiled at him now, "Thank you, Baaba." These were the first words she had uttered since she had woken up today, and her family had said words to her that she wouldn t even be able to count.

He watched his hand got to her head and expected a touch, "That s my girl. May ?Allah bless you both." The raise of the Ameen came from Intisar as he handed her the perfume and she sprayed it herself.

They walked out of the house together with Baaba and while he locked the worn out iron door of the house, he was smiling at the both of them. They had to follow different directions, and before he turned to his way, he fondled both their heads and smiled at them before he walked off. Intisar shouted her goodbye at him while he laughed and turned to the corner that had always led him to his farm.

She turned to Maryam when they both couldn t see him anymore and smiled, "Let me fix the glass for you." She had said, because she clearly knew that whenever they were outside their house, Maryam wasn t easily touched, even by her. And she wanted her baby sister to have the best first and best Eid of her life. She had always been home in all the Eids she had celebrated, this was the first one she was outside.

She fixed the glass for her and smiled, seeing that her eyes were covered and no one would even notice her to say something bad or frighten the little girl. "Let s go, we have to walk for some time and I want us to watch it from the beginning." Seeing the way Intisar was so excited with the durbar made Maryam wondered if it was so good. She had no idea what it meant or what they would see, but she knew people would be there and that was enough to make her anxious.

They walked in silence, their hands entwined as Intisar swung their hands excitedly. When Maryam began seeing the troops of people over yonder, she started to trudge and Intisar turned to her with a soft smile, "I'm here, Mero," she said, as she fondly called her whenever she wanted to assure her of something. "No one will hurt you, okay? And you have glasses on your eyes, will they be able to see your eyes?" She accessed the words and became a bit calm while she shook her head and Intisar smiled. "That s my sister. Now, let s go and enjoy our Eid like everyone else."

They maneuvered their ways through the crowd and Maryam knew she wouldn t have taken the next step if it weren't for her sister. Intisar managed to get them a spot to stand, amidst the crowd and where they could be able to see the durbar display of the royal families and the aristocracies. Their village, Magumeri was loved by all and their durbar was one of the best, attended by many.

In many villages, no durbar display was held and one would have to go to the main town of Maiduguri to watch any Eid display one wanted. But in their village, it happened. Their head of the village was given the permission by his Royal Highness to perform the durbar show so that not everyone among the nearby villages will have to go to Maiduguri for that, they had since been so grateful to the King. Even though, her friend, Sarah had once told her that the durbar show in Maiduguri would no where be compared with that of Magumeri when she had spent her Eid in one of her Uncles s houses, Intisar wondered if she would be able to see the durbar show of Maiduguri as Sarah exaggerated it.

It had started for over twenty minutes now, there were men on the back of their horses and the melodious sound of algaita that announced the presence of the royal families. She was aware of how Maryam had clutched her hand and she bent down a bit, "Are you alright, Maryam?" She asked, and she instantly looked up at her as though she had been waiting for her to speak.

"I feel suffocated, Inti." Intisar smiled, whenever Maryam called her name it had always never been her complete name as though she would get tired if she called her full name. But she loved how it sounded on her tongue, the accent she had always used that Intisar wondered how she was able to speak that way, or was it because she hardly spoke?

"We can move back if you want to breathe well." She looked up at what was going on before them, "There s nothing much to watch after all." She lied. But she had lied on several occasions for her sister s sake and she had never felt bad about it. Her sister was her top priority and no matter how much she would love to watch the show, if Maryam was uncomfortable here, she would easily give it up.

Maryam stared at the concern etched on her face and decided to do something for her sister today. She was aware of how she had nearly ranted off her ears yesterday at how amazing her friends had said the durbar was and since Baaba had agreed for them to go, she wouldn t keep calm. And a few seconds ago before Intisar had asked her, she had seen the smile on her lips, which meant she was enjoying everything.

So, even though what Maryam wanted was to get out of here as quickly as she could, she shook her head. "No, I want to watch it up close." She was glad at the smile that immediately graced itself on Intisar s face.

"Don t hesitate to tell me if you want something..." She wasn t able to finish with what she was saying when the whole ground shook, and in the next few seconds it only took for everything to register into everyone s mind, the next thing they all heard was the sound of gunshots, people crying and wailing as they ran for their lives. The bomb planted at the other end of the village which had shook the ground blasting off so badly that they wondered if it wouldn't reach their location.

Panic surged into Intisar s body like flame and she tightened her hold on Maryam s wrist as she looked around, frantically, to find a way for them to run. To escape, to get to Baaba knowing so well he would protect them. "Let s run, Maryam!" People were trampled on and being killed by footsteps than they were, by the gunshots of the insurgents that decided the Eid day was the perfect day to raid their village.

Tears instantly washed over Maryam s face as they ran. She removed her glass just like she saw Intisar did and the amount of people that were dispersed to a different direction was something Maryam would never forget in her life. How children cried at the terror of it all, how the sounds of gunshots threatened to deafen her ears and the way Intisar kept pulling her as they ran faster, her heartbeat escalating as she wondered if Baaba was safe. She knew wherever he was now, he was worried sick about them, yet he knew he had no place to begin his search. Someone fell dead right before her and she watched the bullet that had gone through his head and how blood oozed out of his body. She wanted to scream, but Intisar had already ran away from the body as fast as she had seen it fell. And momentarily, Maryam closed her eyes as she silently wished everything was nothing but a dream.

He had wanted to run back to his chamber the minute they were back from the durbar show, but it seemed His Majesty had something to speak with him about. First, it was the royal lunch that even if he wanted, he would have to wait for it to be over before he can be alone, rest and sleep like every other human did. The royal lunch had been gruesome, with annoying step brothers, cousins and uncles that chattered non stop that he wanted to shout at them all to give his ears some break, he had heard enough noise for today at the durbar ground.

But as he followed Abba into his private living room, he wondered what this was about. It was hard being what he were, and he was trying as hard as he could to balance these two lives of his that seemed to require much more of his time and attention than his actual self. "Sit," Abba ordered, and that was when he realized that they had already walked into the living room and he found the sofa closest to that of Abba and sat down.

"Eid Mubarak once again..." He let his words trailed off because he didn t know what he would refer to his father as today. They were alone, surely, but he didn t know if his father had asked to see him as a king or simply the father he was to him. The soft and comforting smile he saw on his father s face was enough, "Abba. I hope you d have a stress free day." They both chuckled at that, because they both knew having a stress free day would be the last thing he would have.

He cleared his throat and brought back the solemnity of the room and he turned his entire attention back to him. "Na im," he called out, and he knew this was going to be a tough one. He wasn t going to ask him to resign from his job, please. That had been the only thing that could make his father so serious to call his name.

"Yes, Abba." He slightly bowed his head and waited for the worse. But he wasn t the only one into the profession now, and he knew even if he had agreed to resign out of obedience, his step brother would never do that.

His father chuckled, seeing the expression on his face. "I'm not going to ask you to resign from your job, Na im, you re pale. We re done with that, right?" He eased off and gave way to a small smile. "I asked to talk to you about your marriage. It had been set two weeks from today, what are we going to do about it now?"

He looked down. Last month, they had this conversation and he told him he wanted to break off the engagement. There was no way he would be getting married to a wife he didn t even know her name even though everyone claimed he had been in love with her. "I'm sorry, Abba. I can ask around for her number and call off the engagement myself."

Abba shook his head and relaxed back on his chair, "You don t have to do that. Her father had already called and he did that himself, regrettably. He said that she had been crying and even had to be admitted into the hospital because of what had happened between the two of you..."

His phone rang, and when he touched his pocket, it was a phone he had to pick no matter who he was together with. He instantly rose and his father smiled with a mock salute and that eased Na im s mind. "Duty calls, right?" He nodded his head, itching to get out so he would be able to answer the call. "Off you go, Na im. Just keep your promise, be safe. And take care of your brother too, okay?" He nodded and bowed his head before he rushed out of the living, rushing to bring the phone out of his pocket, wondering which village it was now.

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

Surrendering to Destiny

Surrendering to Destiny

260.4k Views · Completed · Allison Franklin
Catherine is not only a rogue half-breed, she is also the result of mate-bond infidelity, was abandoned as a baby and, to top it off, she can only shift during the full moon. When Catherine left the only pack she'd ever known in order to escape the new alpha, the last thing she expected was to find her mate... let alone for him to be the mouth-watering, heavily tattooed, lead warrior of the most feared lycan pack on the continent.

Graham MacTavish wasn't prepared to find his mate in the small town of Sterling that borders the Blackmoore Packlands. He certainly didn't expect her to be a rogue, half-breed who smelled of Alpha blood. With her multi-colored eyes, there was no stopping him from falling hard the moment their mate bond snapped into place. He would do anything to claim her, protect her and cherish her no matter the cost.

From vengeful ex-lovers, pack politics, species prejudice, hidden plots, magic, kidnapping, poisoning, rogue attacks, and a mountain of secrets including Catherine's true parentage there is no shortage of things trying to tear the two apart.

Despite the hardships, a burning desire and willingness to trust will help forge a strong bond between the two... but no bond is unbreakable. When the secrets kept close to heart are slowly revealed, will the two be able to weather the storm? Or will the gift bestowed upon Catherine by the moon goddess be too insurmountable to overcome?
The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

The Lycan Prince’s Puppy

1.2m Views · Ongoing · chavontheauthor
“You’re mine, little puppy,” Kylan growled against my neck.
“Soon enough, you’ll be begging for me. And when you do—I’ll use you as I see fit, and then I’ll reject you.”


When Violet Hastings begins her freshman year at Starlight Shifters Academy, she only wants two things—honor her mother’s legacy by becoming a skilled healer for her pack and get through the academy without anyone calling her a freak for her strange eye condition.

Things take a dramatic turn when she discovers that Kylan, the arrogant heir to the Lycan throne who has made her life miserable from the moment they met, is her mate.

Kylan, known for his cold personality and cruel ways, is far from thrilled. He refuses to accept Violet as his mate, yet he doesn’t want to reject her either. Instead, he sees her as his puppy, and is determined to make her life even more of a living hell.

As if dealing with Kylan’s torment isn’t enough, Violet begins to uncover secrets about her past that change everything she thought she knew. Where does she truly come from? What is the secret behind her eyes? And has her whole life been a lie?
My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

My Possessive Alpha Twins For Mate

409.3k Views · Completed · Veejay
"No... You can't do this to me..." I almost squeezed the words through my teeth, my voice trembling.
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..."
Violent Little Thing.

Violent Little Thing.

311.3k Views · Completed · sheridan.hartin
Fuck off? I lent over to her side of the car, grabbed her hips and ripped her over to straddle my lap. This girl was something else, I knew it from the start. Now I needed her to know just who I am and what I am capable of. I held one hand firmly on her waist and the other to her throat. It wasn’t tight enough to hurt her, but it would keep her in place for now.
“Angel, you have a filthy fucking mouth”, I whispered low into her ear.
“Luciano…” Finally, an expression on her face. A real one she wasn’t hiding from me. It wasn’t fear though. It was lust. My girl likes this. I pulled her down further so she could feel just how much I was liking it too and the most enchanting gasp came from her mouth while her eyes rolled back for a moment.
————————————————
Do you enjoy a damsel in distress and a knight in shining armour? If so, then this book is not for you. This five foot nothing, FMC, Ariana Salvatore is a ruthless assassin, trained and tortured to be the most deadly weapon. She's got a heart of gold, a filthy mouth and a will to survive. She's on the run from her father's heavy hand and deadly demands. What happens when not one but three powerful mafia men pine for her? Will they be able to share? Will her past catch up to her? And what about her ex fiance? The ruthless, beast of a man her father had arranged for her to marry? This book is a whirlwind of events, violent, spicy and not for the faint hearted.
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother

229k Views · Ongoing · Harper Rivers
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother.

"What is wrong with me?

Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like I’m wearing a sweater two sizes too small?

It’s just newness, I tell myself firmly.

He’s my boyfirend’s brother.

This is Tyler’s family.

I’m not going to let one cold stare undo that.

**

As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfect—scholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.

Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.

When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, I‘m stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.

I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.

**

I hate girls like her.

Entitled.

Delicate.

And still—

Still.

The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, won’t leave me.

Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.

I shouldn’t care.

I don’t care.

It’s not my problem if Tyler’s an idiot.

It’s not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.

I’m not here to rescue anyone.

Especially not her.

Especially not someone like her.

She’s not my problem.

And I’ll make damn sure she never becomes one.

But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Letting Go

Letting Go

264.9k Views · Completed · Becky j
Molly's life was perfect. She was married to her high school sweetheart, surrounded by her friends and family and she was looking forward to the future. But that all ends one tragic night when her whole world is turned upside down.
That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly.
When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win.
When Molly's secret is revealed and she’s forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.
The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King

The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King

286.6k Views · Completed · Amelia Rivers
Don't stop," I begged, my hips bucking against his touch, every nerve screaming for more. "Fuck, Jace, please…"

"Eyes on me," he growled, voice thick with lust, practically vibrating through me. "I wanna watch you lose it when I make you come."

My climax slammed into me, wild and unstoppable, as he rasped, "That's it, baby."

The next morning, my heart shattered into pieces. There was Scarlett—throwing herself into Jace's arms, her body pressed intimately against his chest, her hands possessively claiming what I thought was mine just hours ago.


Raised by werewolves, human Aria Silverbrook has always lived as an outsider. When her adoptive father flees with her to escape a dangerous Alpha's advances, they find sanctuary with the powerful Moon Shadow Pack. But Aria never expected the overwhelming connection she feels to the pack's mysterious Alpha, Jace Carter—or how his young daughter Aurora instantly claims a piece of her heart.

Jace's royal Primal bloodline makes him exceptional among Alphas, his wolf Phantom towering over others. When Aria enters his territory, something stirs within him. As the Blood Moon approaches, he debates revealing the truth: she is his destined mate who will unlock his full potential.

Near her eighteenth birthday, Aria notices disturbing changes. Her wounds heal unnaturally fast after saving Aurora from a rogue wolf. A strange voice whispers warnings of transformation, while her lifelong wolf-paw birthmark takes on new significance.

Is Aria truly human? What secrets will the Blood Moon reveal? And as she falls deeper for Jace despite jealous pack members threatening their bond, can she embrace a destiny beyond anything she imagined—becoming Luna to a Wolf King?
My Husband Wants An Open Marriage

My Husband Wants An Open Marriage

199.4k Views · Completed · Elysian Sparrow
It’s true what they say about marriage: one partner’s always happier than the other.

Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage.

The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie’s long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back.

Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan.

Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.
Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha

Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha

264.5k Views · Ongoing · Alice Tumusiime
Warning 18+ ⚠️MATURE READERS ONLY⚠
"You want me to fuck you, I know it"
"As much as you don't like me, you're my mate and you can't deny it."
He stood up behind me, one hand holding my hip, and leaned down, his breath ragged against my neck, his voice was husky,
"You'll listen to your body... what it wants... and my body... what it needs. Only the pleasure that a small bite can bring."

At the age of 15, I was shocked to hear the ruthless Alpha claim that I was his mate.
To make matters worse, he killed my father, who was trying to protect me. At that time, I successfully ran away from him.
However, when I turned 18, I fell into his trap again.
I hated him and wanted revenge, but the moon goddess had a different plan for me.
I was his mate, and we were fated to be together. No matter the circumstances, my body couldn't resist him.
A pack of their own

A pack of their own

559.6k Views · Completed · dragonsbain22
Being the middle Child ignored and neglected, rejected by family and injured, She receives her wolf early and realizes she is a new type of hybrid but doesn't know how to control her power, she leaves her pack with her best friend and grandmother to go to her grandfather's clan to learn what she is and how to handle her power and then with her fated mate, her best friend and her fated mate little brother and grandmother start their own pack.
The Luna's Vampire Prince

The Luna's Vampire Prince

145.1k Views · Completed · Bella Moondragon
Prince Rafe leans over me, holding himself up on one elbow as he gazes at my face. I feel his eyes wandering over every surface from my brow to my eyes, down my nose, to my lips and chin, and then returning to hold my gaze for a second. The small smile at the corner of his mouth makes me think he likes what he sees.
His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I don’t jerk away from him. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want me—dead or alive. And yet, all I can think about right now is how badly I want this vampire’s hands on my body.


I live in a desolate village on the edge of the Vampire King’s lands. This used to be wolf shifter territory, but now, we are just trying to survive.
When I mess up and find myself in a culling, I know I’m dead. No wolf shifters ever survive these events.
And after the stunt I pulled in the middle of the village, Prince Rafe probably wants me dead.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing when a vampire looks at you like you’re a snack?
Something tells me, once I reach the castle, I’ll be missing my miserable existence in the village.
But then—it turns out I have no freaking idea who I even am, and when the royals start referring to me as Princess Ainslee, I realize my life is about to take a turn—for better or worse.