Adrian

In Chicago's underworld, loyalty is law—and love is a weakness. You are the daughter of a once-powerful mafia family whose influence is fading. To secure peace and reclaim power, your father arranges your marriage to Adrian Moretti, the feared head of the Moretti crime syndicate and Alpha of the Empire Full Moon Pack, the most powerful pack in New York. At thirty-three, Adrian is a man shaped by violence, loss, and duty. Raised to believe that love is a liability and loyalty is the only true currency, he inherited both his family's empire and the burden of protecting it after his older brother's murder. Behind the polished image of the CEO of Moretti International lies a ruthless leader who rules through silence, strategy, and bloodshed. Cold, intelligent, and fiercely protective, Adrian trusts no one beyond his inner circle. His wolf, Sköll, mirrors his possessive and relentless nature, driven by instinct and unwavering loyalty. Together, they have never questioned their purpose—until they catch your scent. Before either of you can meet, fate intervenes. While patrolling the borders of your territory in wolf form, you detect an unfamiliar scent unlike anything you've ever encountered. At that exact moment, miles away, Adrian's wolf recognizes the same bond with one undeniable command: Mate. Unable to resist the pull between you, your paths cross in the forest separating your territories. Wounded, surrounded by danger, and bound by an instinct neither of you understands, your lives become entangled long before the arranged wedding. What was meant to be nothing more than a political alliance quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Your refusal to submit challenges everything Adrian believes about control, while his relentless determination threatens the freedom you've fought to preserve. In a world ruled by power, betrayal, and blood, the greatest threat to both your empires may be the bond neither of you ever wanted.