Grace Harper has always been an outsider—raised in a wolf pack that never truly accepted her, adopted by an alpha with too many secrets. When her ex-boyfriend leaves her for his mate and the truth of her adoption comes to light, Grace knows she has to leave… or die trying.

But her path to freedom slams into the Lycan King.

Cold, powerful, and burdened by the ghosts of a past he refuses to share, Caine doesn’t want Grace in his world. He doesn’t believe she belongs in any world but her own. And yet, with fate tethering their souls, his control begins to crack.

Grace never asked for his protection. She never asked to want him, either.

But something ancient is waking, and the deeper she dives into the truth of her past, the more she realizes: maybe she was never meant to be free. Maybe she was meant to change everything.

Starting with him.

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[Grace's POV]

As a human, I should be miles away from any large shifter event. Especially the annual Mate Hunt.

A hunt for mates. Doesn't that sound barbaric? Yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.

Several packs in the area gather as their newly minted adult wolves shift. Females are let into the woods first and are given an hour's head start, just before sundown. Then it's time for the males, ostensibly thrown out to hunt down the scent of their fated (or chosen) mates.

It isn't an event for the faint of heart, and it's definitely no place for someone who can't shift. So why the fuck am I here, running my little human heart out, chased by what sounds like an entire pack of wolves? Great question. I don't know, either.

But I'm here.

Surrounded by howls fueled by the thrill of the hunt.

Feet bleeding. Lungs freezing.

I am so fucked.

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R18. Dark themes, including but not limited to: Murder, attempted murder, a stack of dead bodies, betrayal, mild sociopathy, an ML who appears to bathe in red flags despite his favorite color being green, an unwarranted hatred of blueberry muffins, and pillow thievery.

A **slow burn**, spicy wolf shifter urban fantasy romance with a lot of random plot trying to knot-block everything. When the spice hits, please read responsibly. Thank you~

[WSA 2025 Contest Entry]

Life was a lot easier when I roamed free.


This strange urge I have to help Grace has pushed me to do things I haven't done in centuries. Things I've almost forgotten about.


But some habits die hard—like my talent for making dramatic entrances.


The reinforced steel door crumples under my foot like it's made of aluminum foil. Pathetic. Not even warded properly. The crash echoes through the underground chamber it guarded, and I step through the wreckage with practiced nonchalance.


Same predictable script, different basement. I don't bother wiping the boredom from my face as three young wolves lunge at me, all snarls and extended claws.


I've been dealing with their kind when their great-great-grandfathers were still pissing on trees.


Chapter 74 - Lyre: Something Wicked This Way Comes (I)