

The Blacksmith's Heart
BehindTheBrightBlueEyes · Ongoing · 54.6k Words
Introduction
But under the light of the full moon, everything changes.
When a stranger with molten-gold eyes steps from the shadows, Elara feels power in him that both terrifies and awakens something deep inside her. He knows her name, knows the fire she hides beneath her rough exterior—and he sees her as no one else ever has.
Drawn to him by forces she can’t explain, Elara is swept into a world of primal instinct and raw desire, where danger stalks the woods and secrets pulse in every heartbeat. His touch ignites heat she has never known, his presence makes her body ache with longing—and yet he is more than a man. He is wild. He is untamed. He is a predator who claims that she is his.
Torn between the harsh life she knows and the forbidden passion calling to her, Elara must decide: will she fight for her place in a world that never wanted her… or surrender to the fierce love of a man who was never meant to be human?
Chapter 1
The clang of the blacksmith’s hammer echoed through the valley of Langshire, long after the sun dipped behind the pines. Sparks lit the shop like fireflies caught in a storm, flaring bright and dying just as quickly. I tightened my grip on the wooden bucket I carried, feeling the strain against my palms, raw from a day’s labor. Water sloshed against the sides, heavy, just like every burden I’d carried since I could remember.
The forge roared, hungry and impatient, flames licking at the metal like wolves nipping at the heels of prey. I had a deadline to complete the upgraded breastplate for the new Beta in the neighboring pack, and there was no way I was tarnishing my perfect record for timeliness on this one plate. The last thing I needed was whispers about Elara the blacksmith growing sloppy. No, I had a reputation to protect—even if it was the only thing in this world I truly owned.
As sweat dripped down my brow, I rubbed the beads on my sleeve, a habit I picked up from my grandmother, careful not to disturb the timing of the kiln. The world outside might not care about timing, but here, in my forge, every second mattered. Steel demanded respect.
It had been a long day, and my body begged me to stop, but I pushed through the weariness. My vision blurred from lack of rest, black spots blooming at the edges of my sight. I blinked furiously, forcing the cloudiness away, and lifted the breastplate onto the anvil one last time. With painstaking care, I etched my signature finish into the underbelly—a small heart with a notch taken out of it. A mark no one else dared to use, but one my clients quietly sought out. My work had soul. My mark told them it had been forged with blood, sweat, and willpower, not just steel.
I nodded in approval at the piece, setting my tools down and wiping my hands across my apron, though all it did was smear the grime. Glancing back at my work of art, I caught my reflection in the polished steel. I laughed dryly at the sight—half my face blackened with soot, hair tangled in sweaty strands, eyes bloodshot and hollow from a week of missed sleep. The breastplate gleamed proudly while I looked like I’d crawled out of the ashes myself.
“Whelp, that is as good as it is going to get,” I muttered, the sound swallowed by the walls of my shop.
With a sigh, I pulling the doors closed. My sign, tilted again in the evening breeze, caught my eye. “Elara’s Creations,” it read in curling script. I straightened it carefully, then tapped the wood and pressed a kiss to it—a ritual for good fortune, or maybe just habit. Either way, it comforted me.
My feet dragged on the dirt road, leaving tired streaks in the sand. The valley had long gone quiet, the market stalls shuttered, smoke rising in lazy tendrils from chimneys. The path home wound past the forest’s edge, and there, nestled half into the hillside, leaned my cottage. If it could even be called that.
My chest tightened at the sight. My little home, already sagging from years of neglect, had been defaced. Bright streaks of paint slashed across the front, scrawled words that burned worse than fire.
My heart sank as I brushed my hand across the first one. FUC—
The paint smeared under my fingers. Still wet. Whoever had done this hadn’t even given me the dignity of waiting for it to dry.
Frustration flared hot in my chest. If I had left work sooner, I might have caught them in the act. But then the breastplate would not be finished, and I couldn’t afford that. I clenched my jaw, letting out a shaky breath. There was nothing I could do tonight. The words would wait for me in the morning, as all burdens did.
I unlocked the front door, jiggling the stubborn lock three times until it gave way with a reluctant creak. A bucket sat by the threshold, waiting to catch the next rainfall and keep the floor from flooding. Inside, the familiar scent of woodsmoke wrapped around me, a small comfort. The hearth still held a flame, and I smiled faintly, knowing I could heat the leftover soup without too much effort.
Kicking off my shoes—worn thin, soles nearly flapping—I lowered myself to the floor. The boards creaked under my weight, as if they too were exhausted. I stared into the fire, shoulders sagging, thankful that no matter how shabby or marked by others’ cruelty, this place was still mine. My sanctuary.
Sleep tugged at me hard, and I didn’t even bother to fetch my blanket from the counter. I curled on the floor, letting the warmth of the fire wash over me, and drifted off with a gnawing feeling that I’d forgotten something important.
Dreams swept me away. In them, I was strong—stronger than the merchant’s daughters in their velvet gowns and silken gloves. Stronger than the alpha’s sons, who had framed me for cheating and cost me my rightful graduation. Stronger than any merchant on the block with their rich parents’ coin. In dreams, I was not scraping by, alone and barehanded. I was a hero.
In dreams, the trials I endured became stepping stones, not chains. My skin glowed with power, my chest lifted with pride. I was everything I wanted to be.
But dreams don’t last.
The whispers started first, curling like smoke at the edges of my mind. I leaned in, trying to make sense of them, but they grew louder—insistent, cutting, cruel. Shouts replaced whispers. Accusations. Mockery. My glow dimmed as shadows pressed closer, and before I could shield myself, a rush of icy water drenched me.
I gasped awake, sputtering.
“Rent’s due!” a voice bellowed from outside. The light through my window was pale, not even dawn yet.
A harsh kick struck my ribs, rolling me halfway onto my side. Pain flared sharp, and my breath caught.
“If you’re not up soon, you’ll stay down for good,” Hector growled, his boot pressing one last threat into my side before stepping back.
I scrambled upright, clutching my ribs. “Hector, I have your payment. I’m meeting my customer at eight. I’ll have the full amount for you then, I swear.” My voice cracked, more pleading than I wanted.
“That’s two hours late,” he sneered, mimicking quotation marks with his fingers. “Better hope your customer actually shows up. Otherwise…” He let the threat hang in the air, followed by a laugh. Then, with a slam of my already-broken door, he left.
The silence after was louder than his shouting. My chest rose and fell in shallow breaths.
I forced myself up, wiped the damp from the floor where I had slept, and steadied my shaking hands. My ribs throbbed, my pride smarted, but there was no time to dwell on either.
I lifted my gaze toward the hearth, toward the faint crescent moon still visible through my window. Closing my eyes, I whispered a prayer to the Moon Goddess, voice raw but steady.
Please. Let this Beta be punctual.
Last Chapters
#52 At the Table - Austin
Last Updated: 9/20/2025#51 A Seat at the Table - Austin
Last Updated: 9/20/2025#50 Lessons Between the Pages - Elara
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#49 The Weight of Watching - Elara
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#48 Notes in the Sun - Elara
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#47 Threads of Influence - Austin
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#46 A Seat at the Table - Austin
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#45 Among Wolves - Elara
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#44 Distractions of the Heart - Austin
Last Updated: 9/19/2025#43 Tangled Heat - Austin
Last Updated: 9/19/2025
You Might Like 😍
The Lycan Prince’s Puppy
“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?
A pack of their own
From Substitute To Queen
Heartbroken, Sable discovered Darrell having sex with his ex in their bed, while secretly transferring hundreds of thousands to support that woman.
Even worse was overhearing Darrell laugh to his friends: "She's useful—obedient, doesn't cause trouble, handles housework, and I can fuck her whenever I need relief. She's basically a live-in maid with benefits." He made crude thrusting gestures, sending his friends into laughter.
In despair, Sable left, reclaimed her true identity, and married her childhood neighbor—Lycan King Caelan, nine years her senior and her fated mate. Now Darrell desperately tries to win her back. How will her revenge unfold?
From substitute to queen—her revenge has just begun!
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.
To protect what’s mine
The Badass Mafia Princess and Family
Fangs, Fate & Other Bad Decisions
After finding out her boyfriend cheated, the last thing she expected was to stumble across a wounded man in an alley. And definitely not one with fangs. But thanks to a mix of cocktails, shame, and her questionable life choices, she takes him home. Turns out, he’s not just any vampire—he’s a king. And according to him, she’s his fated mate.
Now, she’s stuck with an overprotective, brooding bloodsucker who keeps rescuing her, a growing list of enemies who want her dead, and an undeniable attraction that’s making it very hard to remember why falling for a vampire is a terrible idea.
Because if she’s not careful, she won’t just lose her heart—she’ll lose her humanity.
Goddess Of The Underworld.
When the veil between the Divine, the Living, and the Dead begins to crack, Envy is thrust beneath with a job she can’t drop: keep the worlds from bleeding together, shepherd the lost, and make ordinary into armor, breakfasts, bedtime, battle plans. Peace lasts exactly one lullaby. This is the story of a border pup who became a goddess by choosing her family; of four imperfect alphas learning how to stay; of cake, iron, and daylight negotiations. Steamy, fierce, and full of heart, Goddess of the Underworld is a why-choose, found-family paranormal romance where love writes the rules and keeps three realms from falling apart.
The Prison Project
Can love tame the untouchable? Or will it only fuel the fire and cause chaos amongst the inmates?
Fresh out of high school and suffocating in her dead-end hometown, Margot longs for her escape. Her reckless best friend, Cara, thinks she's found the perfect way out for them both - The Prisoner Project - a controversial program offering a life-changing sum of money in exchange for time spent with maximum-security inmates.
Without hesitation, Cara rushes to sign them up.
Their reward? A one-way ticket into the depths of a prison ruled by gang leaders, mob bosses, and men the guards wouldn't even dare to cross...
At the centre of it all, meets Coban Santorelli - a man colder than ice, darker than midnight, and as deadly as the fire that fuels his inner rage. He knows that the project may very well be his only ticket to freedom - his only ticket to revenge on the one who managed to lock him up and so he must prove that he can learn to love…
Will Margot be the lucky one chosen to help reform him?
Will Coban be capable of bringing something to the table other than just sex?
What starts off as denial may very well grow in to obsession which could then fester in to becoming true love…
A temperamental romance novel.
The mafia princess return
Letting Go
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.
Mr. Ryan
He came closer with a dark and hungry expression,
so close,
his hands reached for my face, and he pressed his body against mine.
His mouth took mine eagerly, a little rudely.
His tongue left me breathless.
“If you don't go with me, I'll fuck you right here.” He whispered.
Katherine kept her virginity for years even after she turned 18. But one day, she met an extremely sexual man Nathan Ryan in the club. He had the most seductive blue eyes she has ever seen, a well-defined chin, almost golden blonde hair, full lips, perfectly drawn, and the most amazing smile, with perfect teeth and those damn dimples. Incredibly sexy.
She and he had a beautiful and hot one-night stand...
Katherine thought she might not meet the man again.
But fate has another plan
Katherine is about to take on the job of assistant to a billionaire who owns one of the biggest companies in the country and is known to be a conquering, authoritative and completely irresistible man. He is Nathan Ryan!
Will Kate be able to resist the charms of this attractive, powerful and seductive man?
Read to know a relationship torn between anger and the uncontrollable desire for pleasure.
Warning: R18+, Only for mature readers.