Talia Quinn has ten dollars left, a bleeding head, and nowhere safe to run.
Born wolfless in a world ruled by rank, she has spent her life being treated like a burden. Her father is violent, her school is cruel, and the people in power have already decided girls like her are disposable.
Then her father tries to sell her.
Desperate, Talia runs into a tattoo shop at the edge of the Border and pushes her last crumpled bill across the counter.
"I heard you take protection fees," she says. "Can you protect me?"
Kael Ravencroft is the ruthless Alpha no one crosses. He does not take pity. He does not make soft promises. But when a bloodied girl offers him ten dollars for protection, something in him answers.
Talia thinks she has bought one night of safety.
Kael knows better.
Because the girl everyone called worthless may be tied to secrets powerful enough to shake the North packs apart. And once Kael takes her under his protection, no Academy, Council, or Alpha has the right to touch her again.
Autorentext
Jade Wolf writes emotional werewolf romance about wounded heroines, ruthless Alphas, rejected mates, and love that has to fight its way back from betrayal. Her stories blend paranormal tension, heartbreak, groveling, family drama, and hard-won happy endings.