"What the hell is this?"

Madison’s voice hit like a whip crack, echoing off the obsidian walls of the foyer. She dropped her duffel with a heavy thud that vibrated through the floorboards. "Dad, I pinged your HUD three times. We’ve been standing here like house-staff."

Dominic didn't stop. He cut through the water of the infinity pool, a dark shadow beneath the surface, before breaking the tension with a spray of chlorine. He hauled himself out. Muscles in his back bunched and rippled like corded steel. Water sluiced down the dark hair of his chest, clinging to the ridges of his stomach.

I couldn't breathe. My throat felt like it had been swallowed by a desert.

"The Callahan merger ran over," Dominic grunted. He didn't look at his daughter. He grabbed a towel, snapping it around his neck as he stepped through the hissing glass doors. The room filled with him—rain, cedar, and a heavy, predatory musk that made my inner wolf claw at my ribs.

"Bullshit," Madison huffed, crossing her arms. "You just wanted to do your laps. You knew I was coming."

"Madi, drop it," I muttered. My voice was a thin, shaky wreck.

Dominic’s head snapped toward me. His nostrils flared, taking in a deep, lung-filling drag of the air. His dark eyes, burning like dying coals, locked onto mine. The towel stayed frozen in his hand.

"Harper?"

The way he said my name wasn't a question. It was a claim. The low, gravelly vibration of it hit me in the solar plexus.

"Hi, Dom," I whispered.

"You’ve grown up." His gaze swept down my body, slow and heavy, stripped of any fatherly warmth. It was a predator’s look. It felt like he was peeling the clothes off my skin with his eyes alone.

"I’m a senior now," I managed. My pulse hammered against my throat. "Data Science. Logistics."

"A nerd," Madison chimed in, oblivious to the heat thick enough to choke on. "She’s here to hide from the Logan disaster. We're going to the Eclipse Lounge. I need to wash the flight off me."

Madison vanished up the stairs. Her boots clattered against the metal risers.

The silence she left behind was suffocating. Dominic took a step closer. He was still dripping. A puddle formed around his bare feet. He was a head taller than me, a wall of heat and raw Alpha power.

"Logan?" he rumbled. He stepped into my personal space, forcing me to tilt my head back. "The boy who didn't know what he had?"

"He was a mistake." I reached out. My fingers trembled as I brushed a stray drop of water from his forearm. His skin was scorching.

Dominic’s hand shot out. He caught my wrist. His grip wasn't gentle; it was a firm, bruising reminder of the strength he kept leashed. He pulled me flush against his wet chest. The cold water of his skin soaked into my shirt, but beneath it, he was a furnace.

"This is my territory, Harper," he growled. His face was inches from mine. "Nothing happens here without my consent."

"And if I don't want to ask for permission?" I challenged. My heart drummed a frantic rhythm.

His hand shifted from my wrist to the back of my neck. His fingers tangled in my hair, forcing my head back. "Then you’ll learn what happens to wolves who break the rules."

He didn't wait. He slammed his mouth onto mine. It wasn't a kiss; it was a collision. It tasted like salt and hunger. I groaned into his mouth. My hands clawed at his wet shoulders, digging into the hard muscle.

He hoisted me up. My legs instinctively locked around his waist. He backed me into the metallic bar. My spine hit the edge with a sharp sting that only fueled the fire.

"Dom—" I gasped as he tore his mouth away to bite at the line of my throat.

"Shut up," he rasped.

He ripped my shirt open. Buttons skittered across the floor like hail. His large, calloused hands fumbled with the clasp of my bra until it gave way. When his mouth hit my breast, I screamed. My head hit the bar mirror behind me.

He didn't use a condom. He didn't ask. He shoved my jeans down to my ankles and guided his thick, pulsing cock to my entrance. He was massive. A blunt force that stretched me until I thought I’d break.

"Look at me," he commanded.

I opened my eyes, blurred with tears, as he thrust home in one long, agonizingly perfect movement. I shrieked. My fingers drew blood on his back.

"You’re mine this summer," he growled. His hips slammed into me with a rhythmic, brutal force. The sound of our bodies meeting—a wet, slapping echo—filled the hall.

He turned me around. He shoved my face against the cold metal of the bar. He entered me from behind. His hands gripped my hips so hard I knew there would be bruises by morning. Every thrust was a tectonic shift, hitting my G-spot until my vision went white.

"Dom! Please!"

"Take it," he grunted. His breath was hot against my ear.

He increased the pace. A frantic, animalistic pounding that left us both slick with sweat and spent fluids. I felt the hot burst of him filling me, a thick, searing brand that marked me deeper than any bite.

I collapsed against the bar as he withdrew. My legs shook so violently I couldn't stand. He caught me. His heavy weight pressed me down for a moment. The lingering warmth of him was the only thing keeping me conscious.

"Shower," he commanded. His voice was back to that cold, Alpha steel. "Before Madison comes down."

I scrambled to pull my rags of clothing together. My skin stung. My heart still raced like a trapped bird. I didn't look back. I couldn't.

The hot water of the guest shower didn't wash away the feeling of him. It only made my skin more sensitive. I dressed in a silk slip dress, something light, but my hands wouldn't stop shaking. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt the phantom weight of him pressing me into the bar.

I walked back into the living area. Madison was there, fresh and glowing in a red cocktail dress. She was scrolling through her phone, nursing a drink.

"There you are," Madison said, looking up. Her eyes narrowed. "You look... flushed. Is the AC out in your wing?"

"Just the humidity," I lied. My throat was raw.

Dominic walked into the room. He was dressed now—a charcoal suit that cost more than my tuition. He looked composed. Cold. Like he hadn't just branded me against the mahogany.

"We're leaving," Dominic said. He didn't look at me, but his presence filled the room, pushing against my lungs. "The car is waiting."

The ride to the Eclipse Lounge was a blur of neon lights and Madison’s incessant chatter about the Pack’s social hierarchy. I sat in the back of the SUV, my knees pressed together, trying to ignore the dull ache between my thighs. Dominic sat in the front. He didn't say a word. He just watched the city through the tinted glass.

The Lounge was a sea of bodies, expensive perfume, and underlying scents of musk and aggression. This was where the Alphas played.

"Madison! Over here!" A group of young wolves waved us over to a VIP booth.

Madison grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the noise. "Come on, Harp. Let's get a drink. You need to forget about that loser Logan."

We sat. The drinks came fast. Clear, burning liquids that did nothing to dull the awareness I had of Dominic standing ten feet away, talking to a group of older men. He was watching me. I could feel it like a physical touch on my skin.

"So," a tall, blonde wolf named Silas leaned into my space. "I hear you're the smartest girl in the territory. What's a girl like you doing with a crowd like this?"

"Surviving," I said, taking a long sip of my drink.

Silas laughed. It was a sharp, grating sound. He put a hand on my thigh. "I think I can help with more than just survival."

I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. "Don't be like that, Harper. We're all friends here."

Suddenly, the air in the booth went cold.

"Get your hand off her."

Dominic was standing behind Silas. He didn't look angry. He looked lethal. The conversation at the table died instantly.

Silas paled. "Dom, we were just—"

"I don't care what you were doing," Dominic said. His voice was a low, terrifying rumble. "Move."

Silas scrambled out of the booth, nearly knocking over his drink. Madison looked between her father and me, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Dad? What's the big deal?" Madison asked. "He was just flirting."

Dominic ignored her. He looked at me. "We're leaving. Now."

"I'm not finished," I said, my heart hammering. I wanted to see how far I could push him.

Dominic reached down. He grabbed my arm and hauled me out of the booth. He didn't say a word as he dragged me through the crowd and out toward the exit.

"Let go of me!" I hissed once we hit the cool night air of the parking lot.

He spun me around, slamming me against the side of the SUV. The metal was cold against my back, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from him.

"You think this is a game?" Dominic growled. "You think you can play with boys like Silas and not get burned?"

"I'm not your daughter, Dom," I spat. "You don't get to tell me who I can talk to."

"You're right," he said, his face inches from mine. "You're not my daughter. You're my mate."

The world stopped. The sound of the city, the music from the club, the blood rushing in my ears—it all went silent.

"What?" I whispered.

"I’ve known since you were eighteen," Dominic said, his grip on my arms softening but his intensity increasing. "I waited. I let you go to school. I let you try to find someone else. But tonight... when I saw you standing there with him..."

He leaned in, his forehead resting against mine. "I’m done waiting."

"Dom, we can't," I said, even as I leaned into him. "Madison... the Pack... they'll never accept this."

"Let them try to stop me," he growled.

He kissed me then. It wasn't like before. It wasn't a claim or a punishment. It was a promise. A deep, soul-shattering kiss that told me my life as I knew it was over.

He pulled back, his eyes searching mine. "Get in the car."

I got in. I didn't have a choice.

As we drove back to the estate, the silence between us was different. It wasn't suffocating anymore. It was heavy with anticipation.

When we reached the house, Dominic didn't wait for the driver to open the door. He was out and around to my side before I could move. He pulled me out and carried me up the stairs, past the bewildered servants, and into his private wing.

He slammed the door and locked it.

"You're not leaving this room," he said, his voice thick with desire.

"Is that a threat?" I asked, my hand going to the zipper of my dress.

Dominic’s eyes darkened. "It’s a fact."

He crossed the room in three strides. He didn't waste time with words. He stripped me bare, his eyes devouring every inch of my skin.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered, his hands roaming over my curves. "And you are mine."

He pushed me onto the bed, his body following close behind. This time, it wasn't brutal. It was slow. Agonizingly slow. He explored every inch of me with his mouth and his hands, making me ache in ways I didn't know were possible.

When he finally entered me, it was with a reverence that made me sob. He moved with a steady, rhythmic grace, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Say it," he commanded as we reached the peak.

"I'm yours," I gasped, my body tightening around him. "Always yours."

He roared as he came, his body shuddering against mine. We lay there for a long time, tangled in the sheets, our breath slowing.

"What happens tomorrow?" I asked, my head on his chest.

Dominic stroked my hair. "Tomorrow, I tell the Pack."

"And Madison?"

He went still for a moment. "She’ll learn to live with it. Or she can leave."

I closed my eyes, the weight of his words settling over me. I had wanted this for so long, and now that I had it, I was terrified.

The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon when the first knock came at the door.

"Dad? Are you in there?" Madison’s voice was sharp with worry. "I can't find Harper. Her room is empty."

Dominic looked at me. A slow, predatory smile spread across his face.

He stood up, naked and unashamed, and walked to the door. He unlocked it and pulled it open just wide enough for Madison to see in.

"She’s here, Madison," Dominic said, his voice cool and level.

"What? Why is she—" Madison stopped. I could see her face through the crack in the door. She went pale. Her eyes moved from her father to me, lying in his bed, the sheets barely covering me.

"No," Madison whispered. "No, you didn't."

"Go to your room, Madison," Dominic commanded. "We’ll talk at breakfast."

Madison didn't move. She looked like she’d been struck. "You... you’re disgusting."

She turned and ran down the hall, her sobs echoing off the walls.

Dominic closed the door and locked it again. He walked back to the bed and sat down.

"It’s started," he said.

"She hates us," I whispered.

"She’ll get over it," Dominic said, pulling me back into his arms. "They all will. Because no one takes what belongs to the Alpha."

I drifted off to sleep, the scent of him surrounding me. But even in my dreams, I could hear the sound of the Pack gathering outside, their howls rising into the morning sky.

When I woke up, the bed was empty.

I looked around the room, the reality of the night before crashing down on me. I got up and dressed in one of Dominic’s shirts, the fabric smelling of cedar and rain.

I walked to the window. Below, in the courtyard, the Pack was assembled. Hundreds of wolves, their eyes fixed on the balcony where Dominic stood.

He was dressed in his suit again, looking every bit the Alpha he was. He raised his hand, and the crowd went silent.

"Last night, I found my mate," Dominic’s voice boomed across the courtyard.

A murmur went through the crowd.

"She is one of our own," he continued. "And she will be your Luna."

He turned and looked up at the window. He signaled for me to come out.

My heart was in my throat. I stepped onto the balcony, the cold air hitting my face. The silence from the Pack was deafening.

Then, one by one, they began to kneel.

Except for Madison.

She stood at the back of the crowd, her eyes burning with a hatred I had never seen before. She didn't kneel. She just watched.

Dominic reached out and took my hand. He pulled me close to his side.

"Long live the Luna," the Pack shouted in unison.

But as I looked at Madison, I knew this was only the beginning.

The door to the balcony creaked open behind us. I turned, expecting a servant.

It was Silas.

He held a phone in his hand, the screen glowing.

"You might want to see this, Dom," Silas said, his voice trembling.

Dominic took the phone. His face went pale.

"What is it?" I asked, stepping closer.

He handed me the phone. It was a video. A video of us. From the bar. From the night before.

"It’s all over the dark web," Silas whispered. "The whole Pack has seen it. And the Council... they're on their way."

I looked at Dominic. The predator was gone. In his place was a man who knew he had just lost everything.

"We have to go," Dominic said, grabbing my arm.

"Go where?" I asked, panic rising.

"Anywhere," he said. "Before they kill us both."

"What the hell are you doing down here?"

Dominic’s voice didn't just break the silence; it bruised it.

I spun around, the kettle slipping from my grip and clattering into the sink. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. He was just standing there, framed by the kitchen archway, draped in nothing but a dark towel that hung dangerously low on his hips.

He was dripping. Beads of water trailed down the hard, sculpted ridges of his chest, disappearing into the white terry cloth. The scent of him rain, expensive cedar, and that heavy, suffocating Alpha musk hit me like a physical blow.

"I... I couldn't sleep," I managed, my voice sounding thin and pathetic in the massive kitchen.

"You're shaking, Harper." He didn't move. He just watched me with those predatory, amber-flecked eyes.

"The AC is high. I'm cold."

"Liar." He took a step forward. Then another. He didn't walk; he prowled. "You’re not cold. Your skin is flushed, and your pulse is jumping in your throat like you’re ready to bolt. Or jump."

I backed up until my spine hit the cold quartz of the island. "Madison’s asleep. I was just making tea."

"Forget the tea." He boxed me in, slamming his palms onto the counter on either side of my waist. He was a wall of heat and damp skin. I was trapped. "Why were you looking at those photos on the stairs? I saw the blue light on your face. Deleting him won't scrub the scent of failure off your skin."

The sting of his words made me snap. "What the f**k do you know about it, Dom? Logan was"

"A boy," Dominic growled, leaning in so close his breath stirred the loose hairs at my temple. "A pup who didn't know how to handle a woman who carries a fire like yours. He tasted it and got burned, so he ran. Is that it?"

"He cheated because I wasn't enough," I hissed, my eyes stinging. "I'm wolfless, remember? Just a dorky Beta girl who spends too much time in the library."

Dominic’s jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek. He reached out, his calloused thumb catching my chin and forcing me to look up. "Wolfless? Is that what they told you?" His hand slid down, his fingers wrapping firmly around the back of my neck, pulling me flush against his hard, damp chest. "Look at me. Look at your body right now."

I couldn't breathe. My nipples were hard, straining against the thin fabric of my tank top. My core was already aching, a dull, pulsing heat spreading through my thighs.

"You’re dripping for me, Harper. I can scent it. It’s sweet, like jasmine and desperation."

"Dom, stop. You're my best friend’s father. This is"

"Irrelevant." He cut me off, his voice dropping into a primal register that made my knees buckle. "I’ve watched you grow up. I’ve watched you hide behind books and boys who didn't deserve to breathe your air. But tonight? Tonight you’re in my house. My territory."

He gripped my waist, his large hands nearly meeting around my middle, and hoisted me up onto the counter. My legs instinctively wrapped around his hips, pulling the towel dangerously loose.

"Ohh... God," I gasped, my head falling back.

"Don't call for God, Harper. He’s not here."

His mouth crashed onto mine. It wasn't a kiss; it was a claim. He tasted like whiskey and salt. His tongue invaded, rough and demanding, and I met him with a desperation that shocked me. I tangled my fingers into his damp hair, pulling him closer, needing the weight of him to crush the ache out of me.

Dominic groaned, a low, vibrating sound that rumbled through my chest. He tore his mouth away, trailing wet, biting kisses down my throat. "I told you I was dark," he muttered against my skin, his teeth grazing my collarbone. "I told you I’d ruin you."

"Do it," I whispered, my voice breaking. "Ruin me."

He didn't need to be told twice. He reached down and ripped my thin lace panties aside with a single, violent jerk. The sound of the fabric tearing was the loudest thing in the room.

He didn't use a condom. He didn't use foreplay. He grabbed my thighs, hauling them high onto his shoulders, and drove into me with a single, devastating thrust.

"Ahh! F**k!" The scream was torn from my lungs.

He was huge. Thick and unrelenting. He filled me so completely it felt like I was being stretched apart, but the pain was immediately swallowed by a white-hot wave of pleasure.

Dominic didn't slow down. He gripped the edge of the counter and began to pound into me, his movements raw and rhythmic. Each stroke was a heavy thud, his pelvis slamming against mine with a wet, slapping sound that echoed off the high ceilings.

"Look at me," he commanded, his face contorted with a mix of agony and lust.

I opened my eyes, my vision blurred with tears. I saw the sweat dripping off his brow, the way his muscles bunched and corded with every heave of his body. He was beautiful and terrifying.

"You’re mine," he growled, his voice breaking as he increased the pace. "No more boys. Just me."

I couldn't speak. I could only moan, my fingers scratching red welts into his shoulders. The friction was becoming unbearable, a tightening coil in my belly that was seconds away from snapping. The way his cock rolled into me, hitting my cervix with every deep, punishing drive, was driving me to the brink of insanity.

"Dom... I’m... I’m gonna"

"Take it," he huffed, his breath coming in jagged gasps. "Take all of it."

He shifted positions, spinning me around so I was on my hands and knees on the cold quartz. He grabbed my hair, pulling my head back as he entered me from behind. The angle was deeper, more invasive. He pounced on me like a beast, his heavy weight pressing me down into the stone.

My eyes rolled back as he hit that perfect spot again and again. The salt of our sweat mingled, making our bodies slide against each other in a messy, frantic tangle.

"Please!" I cried out, my legs shaking so hard I could barely stay up.

He let out a guttural roar, his body tensing as he delivered three final, bone-deep thrusts. I felt him swell inside me, and then the heat hit a thick, pulsing flood of him filling me up, spilling over and running down my inner thighs.

My own climax hit a second later, a violent convulsion that left me sobbing into the countertop.

Dominic collapsed on top of me, his literal weight pinning me to the counter. He was heavy—solid, warm, and real. His breath was hot against my neck, and his heart was thudding against my back like a drum.

We stayed like that for a long time. The only sound was the hum of the refrigerator and our ragged breathing. The physical "hangover" set in almost immediately my limbs felt like lead, my skin stung where his stubble had burned me, and the internal warmth was a lingering, heavy reminder of what we’d just done.

Slowly, he pulled out. I felt the cold air hit my wet skin, making me shiver.

He didn't say he loved me. He didn't apologize. He reached for a dish towel, wiped the blood and sweat from his knuckles, and looked down at me with an expression that was chillingly calm.

"Go to bed, Harper," he said, his voice back to that cool, Alpha authority. "And delete the history on your phone. You won't be needing it anymore."

“Peter, the data speaks for itself. There are countless ways our infrastructure can optimize your pack’s profit margins if you integrate our systems. Our Nanobot processing speeds and encrypted logistics far outstrip anything the rival firms in the northern territories are offering.”

I watched the CEO of Tech Nanobot weigh my pitch. I’d been hunting this contract for months. After weeks of strategic maneuvers and back-and-forth negotiations, I knew the scent of a win was in the air.

A slow grin spread across Peter Lulo's face as he gave a sharp nod. “Let’s hunt,” he replied, extending a hand. I took it, my grip firm.

“I look forward to our shared expansion. If you’ll give me a moment, Vanessa Clarke will bring in the digital tablets for your signature. Then, my team will guide you through the server vaults so you can see the Stone Estate’s tech at its absolute peak.”

Vanessa processed the paperwork with her usual efficiency, and once the deal was sealed, I saw Peter off for the tour. Left alone, I reached for my phone, which had been buzzing with alerts throughout the meeting.

Madison.

My daughter was a constant whirlwind of chaos, but as my only pup, she was the heartbeat of my territory. She was the princess of the Stone Estate, and I was the Alpha of the den. For years, I’d tried to temper her reckless streaks, but her mother, Victoria, had always been an enabler of her indulgence.

‘Hosting a pack gathering by the Infinity Courtyard Pool today.’

I sighed, rubbing my temples. There was no reasoning with a Stone when their mind was set.

‘Understood. I’ll return to the estate by late afternoon. Do you and your guests require anything?’

I watched the ellipses dance on the screen.

‘We’re all set. Look.’

An image loaded. I smiled at the sight of Madison in a wide-brimmed sun hat, looking every bit like her mother elegant and sharp.

‘You look like a true Luna’s daughter, sweetie. Stay safe. See you soon. xx’

But then, another photo pinged through. My grip on the phone tightened until the casing groaned. My breath hitched as I stared at the screen.

It was Harper.

My daughter’s best friend. The girl who was supposed to be strictly off-limits.

From the second Harper had stepped back into my territory, a primal hunger had ignited in my gut—a craving to claim and protect that I hadn't felt in decades. I knew it was a violation of the unspoken laws of hospitality, but Goddess, she was breathtaking.

In the photo, her hair was pulled back, exposing the vulnerable, elegant curve of her throat. Her black bikini clung to her like a second skin, highlighting every lethal curve.

My mouth went dry with the urge to taste her.

I’d known her as a pup lanky and quiet. But she had transformed into a stunning brunette with eyes like the deep Atlantic and a spirit that called to my inner wolf.

Thinking back to our encounter in the kitchen seeing her reach for a glass, her tank top riding up to reveal the small of her back, those shorts framing her perfectly sculpted form my beast stirred. My blood ran hot, and a heavy, persistent ache settled in my groin.

I wanted her. I wanted to pin her to that marble counter and mark her as mine until the whole world knew who she belonged to.

The intensity of the thought was almost repulsive, yet my wolf snarled in agreement. I needed a release. I needed to drown this fire.

As if sensing my arousal, my office door swung open. A tall blonde with blood-red lips entered, her scent—heavy perfume and desperation—filling the room. Natalie Brooks. She looked stunning in her sapphire dress, but she wasn't the one I was picturing.

“Natalie. What brings you to my den?”

She smirked, pushing my chair back and sliding onto my lap.

“Why the radio silence, Dom?” Her thick accent was a low purr as she leaned back, tracing the line of my jaw. “I got tired of waiting for your summons.”

“I’m in the middle of a merger, Natalie. I don’t have time for this.”

She pouted a look Madison had mastered, and one that had long since lost its power over me.

“I thought you’d be craving a hunt,” she whined.

I exhaled sharply, my irritation peaking. I gripped her waist and stood her up, firmly removing her from my lap.

“I was clear with you, Natalie. No strings. No emotions.”

Her eyes narrowed into slits. “We’ve been together for months”

“Yes, and as I stated on night one: this is strictly physical. You agreed to those terms. Coming to my corporate headquarters is a breach of our arrangement.”

“You’re mine, Dominic,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “What is wrong with you? Don’t I satisfy the Alpha?”

The conversation was a dead end. I had a four o'clock briefing and a sudden, urgent need to be elsewhere.

“Vanessa!” I barked. The door opened instantly.

“Yes, Alpha Stone?”

“Please escort Ms. Brooks to the garage.”

Natalie’s jaw dropped. “You’re throwing me out? Like a stray? You can’t do this!”

I leaned back, watching her with cold, detached amusement. Her rage was making her scent bitter. It was definitely time to end this.

“I assure you, I can. I appreciate the time we spent, Natalie, but we’re finished. I wish you luck in your next pack.”

I had to be icy. I never intended to cause pain, but I wouldn't be tethered by expectations I hadn't agreed to. In the eyes of these women, I was always the villain the cold-hearted Sire Canadian but I’d been honest from the start.

“You’ll regret this!” she spat, her eyes flashing.

“Is that a threat?” I asked, a dark amusement curling my lip.

“A promise. The Moon sees everything.”

She stormed out, leaving Vanessa standing there with a raised eyebrow.

“Alpha, if I’m going to have to manage your discarded conquests... I’m going to need a significant bump in my compensation.”

I laughed, the sound dry. “Is that right?”

“Hazard pay, sir. These females are getting fierce. Shall I fetch your coffee?”

“Please. And I’ll review your salary.”

As she left, I found myself alone with my thoughts again. I scrolled back to Harper’s photo. Her smile was like a lure.

The idea of young, unproven males circling her at my pool made my hackles rise. They were of age, yes, but the thought of some pup putting his hands on Harper sent a wave of possessive rage through me.

Get a grip, Stone. She’s your daughter’s friend.

“Sir, your four o’clock called to reschedule,” Vanessa announced from the doorway.

“Cancel everything. An emergency has come up at the estate. I’m going home.”

Vanessa didn't blink. She knew that look. “I’ll handle the calendar, sir.”

I picked up my phone. “Paul,” I said to my driver, “get the SUV to the front. Now.”

It was time to return to my den and check on my guests. After all, an Alpha must ensure his territory is... secure.

The South Beach sun was a golden weight on my skin as I lay back on a white lounge chair by the Infinity Courtyard Pool. I loved the Canadian summer—crisp air but a sun that toasted you to the bone. Back at my father's small territory in Savannah, the humidity was a suffocating blanket. Here, I could breathe.

This summer was my reward for years of grinding at St Lanka University. Here, I wasn't the girl who’d been dumped by Logan Pierce. I could be anyone.

Madison had invited a pack of her local friends over, and as they splashed in the crystalline water, their laughter echoing off the glass walls of the estate, I felt a strange sense of detachment.

They were all "Silver Spoon" wolves heirs to tech fortunes and vast territories. They never had to hunt for their own meals or work three jobs to pay for tuition. My parents had sacrificed everything for me, especially after my mother passed. I worked twice as hard because I intended to build a legacy that would let my father retire in luxury. I didn't take a single cent for granted.

“Are you going to grow roots in that chair or actually touch the water?” Madison asked, her shadow falling over me.

“I’m communing with the sun, Madi. Leave me be,” I murmured, keeping my eyes closed.

“At least you’re partaking in the spirits,” she smirked.

I lifted my margarita. “Tequila and UV rays. It’s a balanced diet.”

“Needs more hot males.”

I laughed. “I can handle my own needs, thanks. It’s the twenty-first century—females don't need a mate to have a good time.”

“We need to change that. I want you to meet someone,” she insisted.

I shook my head firmly. “No. I’m not ready to scent-match anyone.”

“Harper, it’s been a month! You’re mourning a pup like Logan when you should be hunting. He was a bottom-feeder.”

I sat up, eyes flashing. “Thanks for the sensitivity training, Madi.”

She sighed, sitting on the edge of my lounger. “I just want the old Harper back. The one who wasn't afraid to bite.”

“I’m happy, Madi. I’m just... settling.”

“Whatever. Just stop lying to yourself,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Focus on your own hunt,” I teased, nodding toward a group of guys by the bar.

“I’m glad you’re here, Harper,” Madison said softly, her voice uncharacteristically sincere. “I missed our summers.”

I smiled back. “I missed them too. But the matchmaking is still a no-go.”

“Fine, fine.” She laughed, hopping up. “I’m going back to the redhead. He’s been staring at you, but since you’re being a hermit, I’m going to go claim him.”

“Have fun,” I laughed, watching her dive back in.

But peace was short-lived. A shadow fell over me again—not Madison’s. I looked up to see a built, tanned wolf with a cocky grin. Rafael Vega.

“Well, hello there, gorgeous.”

I didn't even sit up. “No.”

“No?”

“Exactly. Whatever Madison told you, I’m not interested. I’m here for the sun, not the company.”

“She said you liked the chase. I’m a very fast runner.”

Goddess, give me strength. “I’m not playing hard to get, Rafael. I’m just... not interested. Honestly.”

“I like a female with teeth,” he said, leaning over me.

I stood up, grabbing my sarong. “I’m done for the day.”

I turned and headed toward the house. I couldn't deal with the frat-wolf energy anymore.

“Harper, where are you going?” Madison called out. “Don’t be a buzzkill!”

I ignored her, sliding open the glass doors to the kitchen. I stripped off my sun hat, letting out a long, frustrated breath.

“I can’t believe her”

“Where’s the fire, beautiful?” Rafael’s voice came from behind me. He’d followed me inside, and the smell of alcohol on his breath was strong.

I spun around. “Rafael, I said no. Please leave.”

He chuckled, stumbling slightly as he closed the distance. “You’re just shy. I know your type. You just need a real wolf to show you a good time.”

“Get out of my face,” I snapped, backing away until my hips hit the marble island.

“I’m one of the top-ranked bachelors in the South Beach pack,” he bragged, trapping me against the counter. “You’d be lucky to have me.”

“Stop!” I yelled as he lunged forward, trying to bury his face in my neck. My heart was racing—not with attraction, but with a cold, sharp fear.

“I know about your ex. I’ll treat you better,” he panted.

“You don’t know anything about me!” I screamed, trying to shove him back. He was stronger, his Alpha-influence beginning to press down on me. He grabbed my wrists, pinning them to the counter.

Desperation took over. I brought my knee up with everything I had, catching him squarely between the legs.

“You bitch!” he roared, his hand coming across in a sharp blur, stinging my cheek.

“Let me go!” I shrieked.

“Stop fighting me, mi amor,” he growled, his hand clamping over my mouth. “I’ll make you forget everything.”

“What the hell is going on in my kitchen?”

The voice was like a thunderclap.

Dominic stood in the doorway, his silhouette blocking out the sun. His aura was terrifying—vast, dark, and lethal.

Rafael didn't even look back. “Mind your business, old man. We’re busy.”

Dominic’s eyes turned a glowing, molten amber. His fists were white at his sides.

“Excuse me?” Dominic’s voice was a low, vibrating threat. “I suggest you release her... this instant.”

Rafael scoffed, finally turning. “You heard me”

Before he could finish, Dominic was across the room in a blur of speed no human could follow. He grabbed Rafael by the throat, hoisting him off the ground with one hand.

“I am the Alpha of this Estate,” Dominic snarled, his face inches from Rafael’s. “And if you don’t vanish from my territory within sixty seconds, I will ensure you never hunt again. Do you understand me, pup?”

The sheer power coming off Dominic made the air vibrate. Rafael’s face went pale. He nodded frantically.

Dominic threw him toward the door just as security arrived. Within seconds, Rafael was being hauled away.

I collapsed to the floor, my legs giving out as the adrenaline crashed. I stayed there, gasping for air, my hand pressed to my stinging cheek. If Dominic hadn't come home...

“Harper?”

His voice was soft now. I looked up, and even through my tears, the sight of him made my blood sing. He had saved me. And as he reached down to help me up, I felt a heat that had nothing to do with the Canadian sun.