Introduction
Caught in the cross hairs of Alpha Damian Blackthorn, the city's most feared predator, and Lucien D'Amato, the vampire CEO with an unholy hunger, Ivy's fate is sealed.
As their fated mate, she's the prize in a game of power and passion, where the rules are brutal and the players are ruthless. Torn between desire and danger, Ivy must choose: surrender to the darkness or risk everything for a love that could be her salvation... or her demise.
In this city, the predators rule, and Ivy's just become the most coveted prey. Will she rise as their queen, or fall as their next victim?
Chapter 1
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
DAISY
It’s been three days since Adrian walked out, pissed at both Iris and me, and things haven’t been the same since.
I understand where he’s coming from. I really do. Being left out of something as huge as a mate mark is bound to sting. But I also know how terrified Iris has been since the marking. How much of herself she’s tried to bottle up. Adrian not knowing wasn’t betrayal. It was survival.
Still, campus feels off without his chaotic energy buzzing around. Everything’s quieter. Iris has been stuck in her own head. And me? I’ve had to endure people whispering that we’ve finally been dumped by the McAlisters like it was a ticking time bomb waiting to happen.
I’m halfway to my next class, trying to keep my mind off everything, when I take a corner too fast and wham.
Books fly out of my hand and scatter across the floor.
“Seriously? Are you blind?” I snap, brushing my hair out of my face, and then I freeze.
Of course.
Zeus McAlister.
Because who else would I run into when I’m already spiraling?
He stares down at me, not even bothering to look apologetic. His eyes are cold, distant, like they always are, like I’m nothing more than a speck on the bottom of his shoe. And he says nothing.
Not a single word.
“What?” I snap. “You bump into people and then just stare at them like a statue?”
He still doesn’t answer. Instead, he bends to pick up one of my books, then flips it over like it’s a foreign object before handing it back to me. “Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn’t be here.”
“Oh, so now you speak?” I snatch the book from his hand. “Could’ve used the voice five seconds ago.”
“I was giving you a moment to gather your thoughts. Clearly, you needed it.”
God. I forgot how infuriating everybody says he is.
“Listen, I don’t know what your problem is-” I begin.
“You are,” he says, stepping back. “You’re loud, nosy, and always somewhere you don’t belong.”
I blink, stunned. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he says, voice flat. “I don’t know what spell you and your little friend cast on my brothers, but it needs to end.”
Wow.
“That’s rich, coming from someone who walks around like the world owes him something,” I fire back. “If you hate people so much, why not just stay in your big, brooding mansion and leave the rest of us alone?”
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. “Because unlike you, I have responsibilities. I don’t get to play human and pretend everything’s sunshine and rainbows.”
“Right,” I scoff. “Because your life is so hard. Must be exhausting, being a walking thundercloud twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Oh, I don’t understand being disrespected, talked down to, or treated like crap by someone who thinks he’s above everyone else? Yeah, you're right, Zeus, I totally can’t relate.”
We stare at each other, breathing hard. For a second, neither of us says anything. The tension between us is thick and suffocating.
Then he mutters, “Just stay away from my brother.”
I laugh. A full, sharp, bitter laugh. “Is that what this is about? You think I’m a threat to your precious little bloodline? Please. Adrian’s a big boy. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s reckless. And you’re a distraction.”
I grit my teeth. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough,” he says, voice low. “And I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” I snap. “Because the feeling is very, very mutual."
Another pause. His jaw ticks. He looks like he wants to say more, but instead, he just scoffs, turns around, and walks off without another word.
I stand there for a second, stunned, still holding my stupid books against my chest like a shield.
God, I hate him.
I hate how he gets under my skin. How he acts like he knows everything. Like I’m just a bug he’s waiting to crush.
But what I hate more?
The fact that even after all that, my heart is racing.
And I know exactly why.
I just have a stupid, inconvenient, absolutely terrible crush on Zeus McAlister.
Not that I’m ever going to tell him that.
I scoop up the last of my books with a huff and head to my next class, trying to ignore the way my palms are still sweaty. Zeus McAllister is officially the worst, and now he’s burned into my brain like a virus I can’t uninstall.
I push through the door and spot Iris already in her seat, elbow on the desk, cheek resting against her palm, eyes staring blankly out the window like she’s waiting for her soul to return from a long trip.
“Earth to Iris,” I say as I slide into the seat beside her. “Please tell me you’re not daydreaming about Darian again.”
She blinks slowly, like coming out of a fog, and sighs. “No. Just...thinking.”
“Mmm.” I hum dramatically, nudging her with my elbow. “Well, while you were thinking about not thinking about Darian, guess who I bumped into?”
She side-eyes me. “Adrian?”
“Nope.”
“Your step-cousin from the city who vapes and talks about crypto?”
“God, no.” I grin. “Zeus McAllister.”
Her brow rises slightly, but that’s all. No gasp. No second blink. No dramatic reaction. Just a flat, unimpressed expression.
I lean closer. “Okay, rude. That was supposed to be a moment.”
She turns her head toward me. “The McAllister boys have only ever brought us stress. Adrian was chaos on two legs, and Darian…” She trails off, looking out the window again. “Let’s just say I’m still recovering from that heartbreak.”
I nod slowly, suddenly not as eager to replay the Zeus scene. “Fair.”
“Having two of them in our lives is already two too many,” she says, voice quiet but sure. “We don’t need to go adding a third to the pile, Daisy. That house has done enough damage.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s not wrong. And Zeus didn’t exactly sweep in with sunshine and charm. He’s cold, sharp, the kind of guy who makes you feel like he’s five steps ahead in a game you didn’t know you were playing.
Still…
“I’m not trying to add him to anything,” I say, maybe a little too defensive. “It was just a run-in. He knocked over my books. I yelled. He growled. End of story.”
Iris hums, skeptical. “You like him.”
Last Chapters
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“He met her at the Alpha training camp,” he said. “She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice.”
My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks.
Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna.
Emily became the laughingstock of the pack on her 18th birthday and never expected the Alpha's son to be her mate.
After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that her mate has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, she disappears from the pack.
Now, five years later, Emily is a respected high-ranking warrior in King Alpha’s army.
When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate.
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A pack of their own
The Pack: Rule Number 1 - No Mates
"Let me go," I whimper, my body trembling with need. "I don't want you touching me."
I fall forward onto the bed then turn around to stare at him. The dark tattoos of Domonic's chiseled shoulders, quiver and and expand with the heave of his chest. His deep dimpled smile is full of arrogance as he reaches behind himself to lock the door.
Biting his lip, he stalks toward me, his hand going to the seam of his pants and the thickening bulge there.
"Are you sure you don't want me to touch you?" He whispers, untying the knot and slipping a hand inside. "Because I swear to God, that is all I have been wanting to do. Every single day from the moment you stepped in our bar and I smelled your perfect flavor from across the room."
New to the world of shifters, Draven is human on the run. A beautiful girl who no one could protect. Domonic is the cold Alpha of the Red Wolf Pack. A brotherhood of twelve wolves that live by twelve rules. Rules which they vowed could NEVER be broken.
Especially - Rule Number One - No Mates
When Draven meets Domonic, he knows that she is his mate, but Draven has no idea what a mate is, only that she has fallen in love with a shifter. An Alpha that will break her heart to make her leave. Promising herself, she will never forgive him, she disappears.
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Tempted By The Enemy
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
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Iron And Glamour Just Don't Mix
Well… Sometimes you just might turn out to be right.
It turns out, the fae stole my little brother. In his place? A pixie with boundary issues and a talent for home repairs.
I’ve spent my life taking care of everyone else. So when my baby brother is taken, I don’t hesitate. I walk straight into a faerie mansion and make a bargain with its infuriatingly charming master.
Kie is everything you’d expect from a dangerous fae, beautiful, political, and entirely too amused by me. Power wrapped in a smirk. Sensual, mischievous, and far too aware of the effect he has on people. He agrees to help me find my brother.
For a price.
Now I’m bound by a faerie bargain and navigating a world of glamour, manipulation, and ancient rules I definitely should have learned sooner, enchanted forests, political games, magical contracts, and a fae lord who treats seduction like a perfectly reasonable negotiation tactic.
Iron is how I keep people out.
Glamour is how he draws them in.
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Bella and Her Beast
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Locked in her frozen tower, Bella dreamed of warmth, of touch, of freedom and of love. Cursed with the power of ice and snow, she’s spent her life alone. A secret they tried to protect the world from. Her only escape comes in the form of the books she reads. Stories of heat, desire, and the kind of love that could melt even her frostbitten heart.
Damien is the Beast. A dragon King with a temper forged in flame and a soul hollowed by duty. The world fears him. The people call him a monster. But beneath the scales and the rage lies a man who has never been touched by love.
When frost meets fire, the world shatters. She was never meant to leave her tower. He was never meant to find her. But destiny doesn’t bow to kings or care for cages and now the question burns through them both: Can Bella have her Beast? Or will the girl of snow melt in the heat of his desire?
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"Put her down," I try to command, panic threading through my thoughts. "You’ll hurt her."
"She’s ours," the beast insists, possessive and fierce. "Our snowflake."
Mated To The Last Scribe
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A warehouse burns down hours after she publishes another.
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The Billoniare's Fake Husband
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BROKEN TRUST
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Ignition And Ice; A Racer's Forbidden Blueprint
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Where I End and She Begins
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