Silva defies her cursed nature as an outcast wolf, hunted by packs who view her as a dangerous threat. Her own brother conspires to bind her to another outcaste in forced mating, stripping away her choice. Yet Silva clings to one desperate hope—discovering her true fated mate before her freedom is stolen away. Can she claim her destined connection before becoming trapped in an unwanted bond? *** I inserted the key into the lock, and it gave way instantly. The cell door swung open as I slipped through and pressed myself into the shadows. My heart hammered against my ribs while I secured the door behind me, retreating into the darkest corner. "SILVA??? WHAT THE HELL?" The red-haired man's voice echoed through the chamber, but his footsteps soon faded and the dungeon entrance sealed shut. I released a shaky breath. He was finally gone—nowhere near where I hid. As silence settled around me, a scent hit me like a thunderbolt—raw, intoxicating, utterly irresistible. Every instinct screamed at me to expose myself, to surrender completely. "Mate," a gravelly voice rumbled directly behind me. I spun around, startled, as the unfamiliar growl sent electricity through my veins.