章 56: Cutting In

クリエイターの想い

AimeeLynn

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In a world where human veins run with the blood of animals, Elreth, the Leonine King's daughter, breaks a thousand-year tradition: When her father threatens to banish the disformed (Anima that are unable to shift into beast form) she challenges him for dominance. And wins. But as the first known dominant Alpha Female in Anima history, she faces a lonely, and dangerous Rule.

Aaryn, Elreth’s best friend and a disformed Lupine has always secretly loved both her beauty, and her strength. But most of the Kingdom still view the disformed as freaks, so Aaryn would not be welcomed as a mate for Anima’s first dominant Queen. And without the ability to shift into beast form, Aaryn fears he could never protect her from the inevitable threats she will face. But when Elreth tries to appoint Aaryn as her Advisor, he refuses. Publicly.

Can love really conquer all, or would their bond be the end of Elreth’s rule as Alpha Female?

NOTE: This book is a spin-off in the KING OF BEASTS series, not a sequel. It can easily be read as a stand-alone story.

[Mature Content: No sexual violence]

*****

Then, as he stared at her, his scent changed. Which only confused her more, until something flashed behind his eyes. Something she’d only ever seen in her father’s face when he was staring at her mother.

Desperation. Joy. Hunger.

But that was crazy, why would—?

And suddenly, like a cub tumbling down a grassy hill to land on its feet, everything fell into place.

Everything.

Her mouth dropped open. She blinked. And blinked again. And for the first time in a very long time, she looked at him.

Not at her confidante.

Not at her closest ally.

Not at the friend who’d been present for every major milestone in her life.

She looked at Aaryn. The male. The wolf.

She stared at his silver-white hair, that scattered over his ice-blue eyes, fixed on her, and created a barrier between them. She looked at the strength in his jaw, shadowed because of the late hour. She let her gaze drift down the cords of his neck, and his broad shoulders and the wide, smooth expanse of his chest, the rose and fell rapidly. And she let herself remember the ladders of muscle that painted his torso—hidden by the white shirt he wore. She swallowed. She’d seen every inch of him at some point.

Well, almost.

Her mouth went dry.

(Cover Art used by permission. Illustrated by Aenaluck--see more gorgeous art and support them on DeviantArt and www.patreon.com/aenaluck)