Introduction: Ava Brooks has spent her entire life hidden in the shadows, an orphaned omega in a pack that loathed her. Her heart carries the weight of scars from a past too painful to forget. All she’s ever wanted is to find a place where she belongs, to escape the cruelty of her old pack and start anew. But destiny has other ideas. While seeking refuge, she unknowingly wanders into the territory of the Dark Crescent Pack, ruled by the dangerously captivating Alpha, Matteo Devereaux.Matteo is a name whispered in fear throughout the werewolf realm. A merciless leader, a Lycan without a mate, and a man who commands absolute power. But the moment his cold, piercing blue eyes—flecked with gold—lock onto Ava, something deep and primal stirs inside him. She’s the last thing he ever wanted—a distraction, a vulnerability. Yet, the mate bond that flares between them is undeniable, fiery, and impossible to resist.As passion and danger collide, Ava is thrust into a battle not only for her freedom but for her heart. Matteo’s past is as shadowed as his name suggests, and the hidden secrets within his pack threaten to pull them apart. With enemies lurking at every turn and betrayal just around the corner, Ava must face the truth about her own origins, her strength, and the intense love that binds her to the Alpha of the Dark Crescent Pack....