

Sweet Beginnings
Melissa McClone · Selesai · 51.3k Kata
Pendahuluan
Bab 1
C
HAPTER ONE
On an overcast day in May, Josh Cooper stood at Jenny Hanford’s front door. He kept his arms pressed against his sides rather than raising his hand to the doorbell. He might be thirty-two and a well-known football commentator, but he felt more like a fourteen-year-old high school freshman with zero confidence.
Forget being nervous. He’d passed that stage two hours ago, and he was on the verge of losing it.
Your fault.
That didn’t make being here easier.
The pounding of his heart sounded like a death knell. Not surprising given he hadn’t spoken to Jenny Hanford, a former classmate from Berry Lake High School, since their epic disaster of a first, and last, date at Brew & Steep, a local coffee shop, in July.
You have the right to remain silent…
Being arrested for disorderly conduct seemed like forever ago, but only ten months had passed. Ten months that had seen Jenny’s life change. Ten months of trying to keep himself from losing… everything.
Stop procrastinating.
Even though Josh wanted to be anywhere—other than in jail—but here, he jabbed the doorbell.
Chimes sounded. Not a typical ding-dong like most of the other houses in Berry Lake, Washington. Jenny’s was ten times nicer than the typical homes in the area. With her books hitting the bestseller lists and her series being turned into a movie franchise, she could afford a bigger estate on the outskirts of town.
The seconds ticked by. Maybe Jenny wasn’t home.
The thought brought instant relief. He wanted—needed—a reprieve, even if he
had
to do this eventually.
The door opened. Missy Hanford, Jenny’s sister-in-law, grimaced. “What are you doing here?”
Josh understood the harsh expression and the frustrated tone. He’d gone from being Berry Lake’s golden boy to persona non grata. To be honest, he deserved the hatred and lack of respect. Both were better than people’s pity for being…
A drunk.
He took a breath. “I want to speak with Jenny.”
“She’s writing.” Missy gripped the doorknob hard enough her knuckles turned white. “I don’t want to disturb her.”
Missy’s reluctance made sense. She’d been the one to give him Jenny’s phone number and convince her homebody sister-in-law to meet him for coffee.
“I’m sorry I put you in a rough spot last summer. I never meant…” He shifted his weight between his feet. “I tried to stay sober before meeting Jenny.”
But like most days, he’d failed. Only he hadn’t failed in such a spectacular or public manner until that ill-fated date with Jenny—aka bestselling thriller author Jenna Ford.
He tucked the tops of his fingers into his pant pockets. “I’m here to apologize. It won’t take long. Please. This is important.”
He must have sounded pathetic or desperate because Missy’s gaze softened. It gave him hope she wouldn’t slam the door in his face, anyway.
“I’ll see if Jenny’s available,” Missy said. “You can wait in the living room.”
Blowing out a breath, Josh stepped inside. The scent of fresh-baked cookies surrounded him, reminding him of… home.
The house he’d purchased last summer when he’d returned to Berry Lake was nothing but a shell, a place to store boxes full of his stuff and a few pieces of furniture. It was also where he kept his plane in a hangar by the airstrip out back. He hadn’t spent a night there in months. No reason to unpack and create a life for himself in his hometown when he wasn’t sure what might happen.
Missy closed the door. “Don’t touch anything.”
He held up his hands. “I won’t.”
A visit to the drunk tank was enough to stop him from doing anything illegal, including driving over the speed limit. Paranoid, maybe, but that had been one of the worst days of his life. At least until he’d entered rehab.
As Missy walked out, he stared at the bookshelf full of hardcover novels written under Jenny’s pseudonym. The pretty bookworm who’d gotten straight As through high school was now more famous than him. That was one reason he’d asked her out when he arrived in town—he thought they would be Berry Lake’s perfect celebrity couple. Maybe if his best friend hadn’t been a bottle of whiskey that might have happened, but he’d lost his shot. She was engaged to someone else now.
You have only yourself to blame.
His insides twisted with a mix of fear and unease—what Josh felt whenever he saw someone he’d wronged with his drinking. He was on his “making amends” portion of his recovery; he’d been visiting each name on his list. Jenny was the last one.
“Hey, Josh.” Jenny entered the living room. She wore jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and fuzzy polka-dotted socks. Her long, caramel-blonde hair was pulled into a loose ponytail. No makeup on her face, but she didn’t need any. Never had. A diamond engagement ring sparkled on her left ring finger.
“Hi.” He swallowed around the lump in his throat. “Thanks for seeing me.”
“I have to admit you’re the last person I expected to drop by today.” She sounded surprised, not annoyed.
A good sign? He hoped so.
“I should have let you know I was coming by.” He hadn’t called or texted in case she’d blocked his number. That would have made being here harder. “To be honest, I was afraid you might not want to talk to me.”
“Missy said it was important.” Jenny hadn’t said she’d wanted to talk, but Josh understood.
“I…” Words failed him. He stared at his shoes.
Jenny took hold of his hand, led him to the couch, and motioned for him to sit. She sat next to him as if that was the most natural thing in the world to do.
“We might not have been friends or ran in the same crowd in high school, but I’ve known you my entire life. I’ve thought about you so many times over the past months.” Jenny didn’t appear upset, more… reserved, but she’d always been quiet. “How are you doing?”
Josh half-laughed, a nervous reaction. “That’s a loaded question, though I’m sure whatever gossip you’ve heard isn’t too far from the truth.”
“I stay in my writing cave unless my fiancé is in town. I’ve only heard what Missy tells me. The gossip hasn’t been that bad.”
“Then someone is sugarcoating what happened to me.” He tried to keep his tone lighthearted, but he didn’t think he succeeded. “After my arrest, I went into rehab.”
His third stay.
He’d signed himself out the first two times.
There wouldn’t be a fourth. He’d committed himself to staying sober. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here today.
“It was a ninety-day residential program,” he added. “Those supposedly have better success rates than the shorter ones. After that, I spent three months in a sober house. Now I’m staying with my folks.”
Compassion filled her eyes. “Sounds like you’re doing all you can.”
He nodded once. “Before I forget, congrats on your engagement. I heard you’re marrying an Army Ranger who found your message in a bottle, and that you nursed him back to health after a helicopter accident.”
“Right on all accounts. The wedding is in mid-June.” She grinned. “Guess we’re both the topic of gossip in town. The price of fame.”
“Or infamy, in my case.”
She squeezed his hand—the gesture tightened the imaginary steel bands around his chest. “Your past won’t always define you.”
“I hope not.” The emotion in those three words surprised him. Only his family, his therapist, Dr. Kettering, and his sponsor, Rudy, knew the effort Josh was putting into his recovery. He’d never worked this hard at anything. Not even when he played football. “I haven’t had a drink since that day we met at Brew & Steep.”
The tension in her shoulders lessened, but surprise shone in her eyes. “That’s great, Josh.”
Some days didn’t feel so great, not when he craved alcohol so badly he had to work out until it passed. He would not give up. He couldn’t. On the flip side, he was in better shape now than when he played professionally.
“I stopped by to see you for two reasons.”
Keep talking. You’ve done this before.
“First, I want to apologize for my behavior at the coffee shop. My drinking problem became yours.”
Her gaze remained on him, but her fingers flexed. He hated upsetting her, but he needed to do this for both their sakes.
“I should have never posted that selfie of us on Instagram as if we were a couple, tried to get you to have sex with me, and picked a fight with that barista who wanted to help you get away from me.”
Jenny clasped her hands on her lap. Her body tensed.
He wished she would hold his hand again, so he didn’t feel so alone.
Stop procrastinating.
“This is uncomfortable to talk about, but that’s nothing compared to what I put you through. I’m sorry.” He took a breath. “Truly sorry.”
An apology wasn’t enough for what he’d done, but he wanted to do this in steps. He’d learned to go slowly after more than one person hadn’t cared what he’d had to say.
Would Jenny be like that?
He wouldn’t blame her if she were, but so far, she’d been more understanding than others by not keeping her distance.
“Coming here and saying those words takes courage. I’ve tried to forget that day, but I haven’t stopped hoping you’d get the help you needed. I’m happy you have. And proud of you.” The sincerity in her voice matched the look in her eyes. “Apology accepted.”
He blew out the breath he’d been holding. “Thanks.”
“I’m sure the past ten months have been difficult.”
Not trusting his voice, he nodded.
She smiled softly. “It’s good you’re in Berry Lake with family and friends around to support you.”
If only…
His life had revolved around drinking. He was embarrassed to admit how much alcohol had clouded his judgment in everything from friendships to women.
“My recovery has shown me who my real friends are.” Many people had deserted him, not only in his hometown but all over the country. Sober Josh wasn’t as fun or generous with his money as drunk Josh. But he wasn’t the victim here. Just a hot mess. “My family keeps me going.”
“You’re lucky to have them.”
Nodding, he remembered Jenny’s only family was her sister-in-law, Missy. Her parents had died following a car accident. Rob, her younger brother who was a Marine, had been killed while deployed.
Josh wouldn’t have survived without his family. They’d embraced him with a careful balance of unconditional and tough love. No more enabling or ignoring his drinking as they’d done in the past. At thirty-two, he was living with his mom and dad. Two to three weekends a month, he stayed with his older sister, Ava. His younger brother, Sam, lived in Seattle, but he visited when he could to give their parents a break. Josh was only alone if he chose to be, which wasn’t often. He couldn’t afford to fail.
Stay sober.
That was his entire focus.
“I’m fortunate.” Josh never thought he’d say those words, let alone believe them, but he had people who loved him on the days he hated himself. “I didn’t know when I moved to Berry Lake why I needed to be back home, but it was the right decision.”
Jenny touched his forearm. “You’ll get through this.”
Or I’ll die trying.
Her fingers on his skin comforted him. Josh fought the urge to inch closer, trying to ignore how he longed to have a woman in his life. This wasn’t the time. In rehab and therapy, he’d been told no dating for the first twelve months of his recovery. There might not ever be a time for that. Even before he’d lost himself to the inside of a bottle, he’d never been good at relationships due to being, as more than one woman had said, too selfish and arrogant.
“Thanks.” He’d imagined such a different future for himself—a successful football career, a beautiful wife, and happy kids. He’d had the first until an injury two and a half years ago sidelined him forever.
Not being able to play the game he loved had filled him with bitterness. Sure, he’d been hired at a ridiculous salary to provide commentary on football games and earned rave reviews, but that hadn’t been enough to fill the void of not suiting up each week. Nor had it helped the pain in his leg that was a constant reminder of what he’d lost due to an illegal hit. His only relief had come while drinking, and it hadn’t taken long before he couldn’t get by without alcohol.
He swallowed around the shot glass-sized knot in his throat. “I have no choice if I want to keep my job.”
Not that he needed to work. Thankfully, he hadn’t blown through his money due to smart investments by his financial advisor, but his broadcasting career was all he had left of football.
His reputation was in ruins due to the arrest. Women selling their stories about his drunken nights with them to tabloids hadn’t helped, either. His job was the only way to salvage a career that had him gracing the cover of sports magazines and being a hero to young players.
Her expression tightened. “That’s… serious.”
“They could have fired me, but an executive at the network went through something similar, so he’s had my back.”
For how much longer remained to be seen with exhibition games starting in August.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Jenny asked earnestly.
Her words touched him because he deserved nothing from her. “You’re doing it by talking to me now, but I’d like to do something for you.”
This was the real reason he’d visited her. An apology was only words. He needed to show Jenny he’d changed. That he wasn’t the same man he’d been the last time they’d been together.
“I can’t undo our date, but—”
“You apologized. That’s enough.” Jenny spoke fast. “I forgive you, Josh. Nothing else is necessary.”
Her words soothed his soul. “Thanks, but making amends is part of my recovery. Whether you need someone to watch your house when you get married, fly you to a book signing, or whatever else you might think of, I’m at your service. My plane, too.”
Her eyes clouded. “Josh…”
“You don’t have to decide right now.” Even though he wished she would. “My family will be honest with you about my flaws, and my flying abilities if you want to ask them.”
As her gaze narrowed, she studied him without any judgment. “Doing something for me is important to you?”
He nodded, trying not to show how much he needed to do… this.
Jenny bit her lip. “I was planning to ship items for the wedding, but would you be willing to fly them to South Carolina for me in June?”
Josh straightened. “Yes. Tell me when. I’m on a leave of absence from work. My schedule is completely flexible.”
“The wedding is on the second Friday in June. A few days before would be ideal.” She smiled. “I need my dress there ahead of time to have it steamed.”
“Happy to help.” Relief brought a smile to his face. “Where in South Carolina?”
“Indigo Bay. It’s a small beach town.”
He’d never heard of the place. “Is that where your fiancé is from?”
“No, Dare’s from New Hampshire but stationed in Georgia. We thought the East Coast was the best place to get married since it’s only Missy and me here.” As Jenny spoke to Josh like he was a friend, warmth flowed through him. “Dare’s staff sergeant recommended Indigo Bay after spending Christmas there with his wife.”
“I’ll fly whatever you need there. Whenever.” His gaze locked on Jenny. He hoped his gratitude shone through. “This will take a leap of faith on your part, but I won’t let you down. I promise.”
She squeezed his arm. “I trust you, Josh.”
“Thanks.” He only wished he trusted himself.
Bab Terakhir
#17 Chapter 17
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#16 Chapter 16
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#15 Chapter 15
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#14 Chapter 14
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#13 Chapter 13
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#12 Chapter 12
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#11 Chapter 11
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#10 Chapter 10
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#9 Chapter 9
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025#8 Chapter 8
Terakhir Diperbarui: 3/3/2025
Anda Mungkin Suka 😍
Dimanjakan oleh Miliarder setelah Dikhianati
Emily dan suaminya yang miliarder berada dalam pernikahan kontrak; dia berharap bisa memenangkan cintanya melalui usaha. Namun, ketika suaminya muncul dengan seorang wanita hamil, dia putus asa. Setelah diusir, Emily yang tunawisma diambil oleh seorang miliarder misterius. Siapa dia? Bagaimana dia mengenal Emily? Yang lebih penting, Emily hamil.
Permainan Penaklukan
Aku dorong lidahku sedalam mungkin ke dalamnya. Penisku berdenyut begitu keras sampai aku harus meraihnya dan mengelusnya beberapa kali agar dia tenang. Aku nikmati manisnya vaginanya sampai dia mulai gemetar. Aku menjilat dan menggigitnya sambil menggodanya dengan jari-jariku di klitorisnya.
Tia tidak pernah menyangka bahwa kencan semalamnya akan lebih dari yang bisa dia tangani.
Ketika dia bertemu lagi dengan pria yang sama di tempat kerja barunya, yang ternyata adalah bosnya sendiri, Dominic, semuanya berubah. Dominic menginginkannya dan ingin dia tunduk. Kehidupan kerja mereka menjadi terancam ketika Tia menolak untuk menyerah, dan Dominic tidak mau menerima penolakan. Kehamilan mendadak dan hilangnya mantan pacar Dominic membuat semua orang terkejut, dan hubungan mereka terhenti. Ketika Tia menghilang suatu malam dan mengalami trauma, Dominic dibiarkan tanpa jawaban dan merasa sengsara.
Tia menolak untuk mundur dan tidak mau menyerah pada pria yang dia inginkan, dan dia akan melakukan apa saja untuk memastikan dia tetap bersamanya. Dia akan menemukan orang yang menyakitinya dan membuat mereka membayar atas apa yang telah mereka lakukan.
Sebuah romansa kantor yang membuatmu terengah-engah. Dominic berusaha membuat Tia tunduk padanya, dan setelah semua yang Tia alami, hanya waktu yang akan menjawab apakah dia akan tunduk atau tidak. Bisakah mereka mendapatkan akhir yang bahagia atau semuanya akan hancur berantakan?
Ayah Mantan Pacarku
"Kamu percaya diri banget, Kauer." Aku mengikutinya dan berdiri di depannya, supaya dia nggak sadar seberapa besar pengaruhnya padaku. "Kamu hampir nggak kenal aku. Gimana bisa yakin apa yang aku mau?"
"Aku tahu, Hana, karena kamu nggak berhenti meremas paha sejak lihat aku," bisiknya hampir tak terdengar, dadanya menekan dadaku saat dia mendorongku ke dinding. "Aku perhatikan tanda-tanda yang tubuhmu kasih, dan dari yang aku lihat, tubuhmu hampir memohon untuk aku bercinta denganmu sekarang."
Hana nggak pernah membayangkan jatuh cinta dengan pria lain selain Nathan. Tapi di malam wisudanya, Nathan memutuskan hubungan, meninggalkannya sendirian di hari terpenting dalam hidupnya.
Namun, dia menyadari malam itu nggak sepenuhnya hilang ketika dia bertemu dengan John Kauer yang menggoda. Pria itu dua kali usianya, tapi penampilannya sangat memukau.
Hana menerima ajakannya dan pergi bersamanya ke hotel, di mana mereka menghabiskan malam panas penuh gairah. Namun, saat dia merasa hidup dalam mimpi, dia menemukan bahwa semuanya berubah menjadi mimpi buruk.
John Kauer bukan sekadar orang asing. Dia adalah ayah tiri misterius dari mantan pacarnya.
Sekarang dia harus memutuskan apa yang akan dilakukan dengan rahasia besar ini.
Perbudakan: Serangkaian Permainan Erotis (Buku 01)
Ini adalah buku pertama dari seri perbudakan.
Sang Profesor
Suaranya penuh dengan beban dan urgensi
dan aku segera menurut sebelum dia mengarahkan pinggulku.
Tubuh kami bertemu dengan irama yang keras dan marah.
Aku semakin basah dan panas saat mendengarkan suara kami bercinta.
"Sial, vaginamu gila."
Setelah satu malam panas dengan seorang pria asing yang dia temui di klub, Dalia Campbell tidak mengira akan bertemu Noah Anderson lagi. Kemudian Senin pagi tiba, dan orang yang masuk ke ruang kuliah sebagai dosen adalah pria asing dari klub itu. Ketegangan meningkat dan Dalia berusaha sekuat tenaga untuk menjauhinya karena dia tidak ingin terganggu oleh siapa pun atau apa pun - ada juga fakta bahwa dia benar-benar terlarang - tetapi ketika dia menjadi asisten dosennya, batasan hubungan dosen/mahasiswa mereka menjadi kabur.
Bos Dominanku
Hubunganku dengan Pak Sutton hanya sebatas profesional. Dia memerintahku, dan aku mendengarkan. Tapi semua itu akan berubah. Dia butuh pasangan untuk menghadiri pernikahan keluarga dan memilihku sebagai targetnya. Aku bisa dan seharusnya menolak, tapi apa lagi yang bisa kulakukan ketika dia mengancam pekerjaanku?
Setuju untuk satu permintaan itu mengubah seluruh hidupku. Kami menghabiskan lebih banyak waktu bersama di luar pekerjaan, yang mengubah hubungan kami. Aku melihatnya dengan cara yang berbeda, dan dia melihatku dengan cara yang berbeda juga.
Aku tahu salah untuk terlibat dengan bosku. Aku mencoba melawan perasaan itu tapi gagal. Ini hanya seks. Apa salahnya? Aku sangat salah karena apa yang dimulai sebagai hanya seks berubah arah dengan cara yang tak pernah kubayangkan.
Bosku tidak hanya dominan di tempat kerja tapi di semua aspek kehidupannya. Aku pernah mendengar tentang hubungan Dom/sub, tapi itu bukan sesuatu yang pernah kupikirkan. Saat hubungan antara aku dan Pak Sutton semakin panas, aku diminta menjadi submisifnya. Bagaimana seseorang bisa menjadi seperti itu tanpa pengalaman atau keinginan untuk menjadi satu? Ini akan menjadi tantangan bagi kami berdua karena aku tidak suka diperintah di luar pekerjaan.
Aku tidak pernah menyangka bahwa hal yang sama sekali tidak kuketahui akan menjadi hal yang membuka dunia baru yang luar biasa bagiku.
Tabu
Beberapa malam setelah kejadian di klub di mana aku bertemu Tuan, aku pergi dengan ayahku ke pesta penyambutan untuk salah satu temannya yang kembali ke Las Vegas. Sejak kematian ibu dan saudaraku, aku selalu menjadi pendamping ayahku, bukan karena kami sangat dekat, tapi aku harus melakukan apa yang diharapkan dariku. Ayahku adalah orang yang sangat kaya dan berpengaruh, yang aku coba sebaik mungkin untuk tidak menjadi seperti itu. Pesta penyambutan malam ini adalah salah satu yang benar-benar tidak ingin aku hadiri. Maksudku, dia adalah teman lama ayahku, apa yang akan aku lakukan di sana. Aku berdiri membelakangi kelompok itu ketika teman ayahku bergabung dengan kami. Ketika dia berbicara, aku yakin aku mengenal suara itu. Begitu aku berbalik dan ayahku memperkenalkan kami, yang keluar dari mulutku hanyalah, "Tuan?"...
Mafia Posesifku
"Aku tidak tahu berapa lama waktu yang kamu butuhkan untuk menyadari ini, sayang, tapi kamu milik kami." Suaranya yang dalam berkata, menarik kepalaku ke belakang sehingga matanya yang intens bertemu dengan mataku.
"Memekmu sudah basah untuk kami, sekarang jadilah gadis baik dan buka kakimu. Aku ingin mencicipinya, kamu mau lidahku menyentuh memek kecilmu?"
"Ya, p...papa." Aku mendesah.
Angelia Hartwell, seorang gadis muda dan cantik yang masih kuliah, ingin menjelajahi hidupnya. Dia ingin tahu bagaimana rasanya mengalami orgasme yang sesungguhnya, dia ingin tahu bagaimana rasanya menjadi seorang yang patuh. Dia ingin merasakan seks dengan cara yang terbaik, berbahaya, dan menggoda.
Dalam pencariannya untuk memenuhi fantasi seksualnya, dia menemukan dirinya di salah satu klub BDSM paling eksklusif dan berbahaya di negara ini. Di sana, dia menarik perhatian tiga pria Mafia yang posesif. Mereka semua menginginkannya dengan segala cara.
Dia menginginkan satu dominan, tetapi malah mendapatkan tiga yang posesif, dan salah satunya adalah dosen di kampusnya.
Hanya satu momen, hanya satu tarian, hidupnya berubah total.
Tiga Ayahku adalah Saudara
Teman-Teman Cantikku
Menyerah kepada Triplet Mafia
"Kamu sudah menjadi milik kami sejak pertama kali kami melihatmu."
"Aku tidak tahu berapa lama waktu yang kamu butuhkan untuk menyadari bahwa kamu milik kami." Salah satu dari triplet itu berkata, menarik kepalaku ke belakang untuk bertemu dengan tatapan matanya yang tajam.
"Kamu adalah milik kami untuk bercinta, milik kami untuk dicintai, milik kami untuk diklaim dan digunakan dengan cara apa pun yang kami inginkan. Benar, sayang?" Tambah yang kedua.
"Y...ya, Tuan." Aku terengah-engah.
"Sekarang jadilah gadis baik dan buka kakimu, mari kita lihat seberapa berantakan kamu karena kata-kata kami." Tambah yang ketiga.
Camilla menyaksikan pembunuhan yang dilakukan oleh pria bertopeng dan beruntung bisa melarikan diri. Dalam perjalanannya mencari ayahnya yang hilang, dia bertemu dengan triplet mafia paling berbahaya di dunia yang ternyata adalah pembunuh yang dia temui sebelumnya. Tapi dia tidak mengetahuinya...
Ketika kebenaran terungkap, dia dibawa ke klub BDSM milik triplet tersebut. Camilla tidak punya jalan untuk melarikan diri, triplet mafia itu akan melakukan apa saja untuk menjadikannya budak mereka.
Mereka bersedia berbagi dirinya, tapi apakah dia akan tunduk pada ketiganya?
Pasangan Manusia Raja Alpha
"Aku sudah menunggu sembilan tahun untukmu. Hampir satu dekade aku merasakan kekosongan ini di dalam diriku. Sebagian dari diriku mulai bertanya-tanya apakah kamu tidak ada atau sudah meninggal. Dan kemudian aku menemukanmu, tepat di dalam rumahku sendiri."
Dia menggunakan salah satu tangannya untuk mengelus pipiku dan getaran muncul di mana-mana.
"Aku sudah cukup lama tanpa kamu dan aku tidak akan membiarkan apa pun memisahkan kita lagi. Bukan serigala lain, bukan ayahku yang pemabuk yang hampir tidak bisa mengendalikan dirinya selama dua puluh tahun terakhir, bukan keluargamu – dan bahkan bukan kamu."
Clark Bellevue telah menghabiskan seluruh hidupnya sebagai satu-satunya manusia di dalam kawanan serigala - secara harfiah. Delapan belas tahun yang lalu, Clark adalah hasil dari hubungan singkat antara salah satu Alpha terkuat di dunia dan seorang wanita manusia. Meskipun tinggal bersama ayahnya dan saudara tirinya yang serigala, Clark tidak pernah merasa benar-benar menjadi bagian dari dunia serigala. Tapi tepat saat Clark berencana meninggalkan dunia serigala untuk selamanya, hidupnya terbalik oleh pasangannya: Raja Alpha berikutnya, Griffin Bardot. Griffin telah menunggu bertahun-tahun untuk kesempatan bertemu pasangannya, dan dia tidak akan membiarkannya pergi begitu saja. Tidak peduli seberapa jauh Clark mencoba lari dari takdirnya atau pasangannya - Griffin berniat untuk mempertahankannya, apa pun yang harus dia lakukan atau siapa pun yang menghalanginya.