Crown of Thorns - Chapter 23

“It’s true… So why does no one believe me?”Sometimes, I play small pranks, but they’re really just small ones.I’m not the mastermind at all.

Alpha Kane is notorious in the werewolf world—a ruthless leader whose enemies tremble at his approach. Known as the “Ladykiller,” he has left a trail of satisfied women, all yearning for a taste of his intense passion. With a reputation for electrifying encounters, he reigns supreme in the realm of desire, leaving a legacy of pleasure in his wake.At 28, Kane has resigned himself to a life of dominance and pleasure, convinced he will never find his mate. That is until fate introduces him to Elena, a captivating and naive young woman whose purity stands in stark contrast to his dark desires. When their paths cross, he is struck by the intensity of their connection but is equally horrified by the idea of tainting her innocence with his brutal needs.Kane grapples with a tumultuous dilemma: Should he protect her from the dark passions that define him, or will she ignite a fire within him that challenges his very identity? As he struggles to reconcile his predatory instincts with the tender bond forming between them, the stakes rise. Can he tame his ruthless nature to embrace the love he never expected? Or will his fears drive them apart, leaving them both unfulfilled?As desire collides with innocence, Elena must decide: will she surrender to the alpha’s intoxicating allure and explore the depths of her own passions, or will she find the strength to confront his demons and demand the love she deserves?In this gripping tale of power, submission, and redemption, witness a love story where dark desires collide with the purity of the heart, challenging the boundaries of pleasure and passion. Will Kane become the prince charming he never thought he could be, or will he forever remain a prisoner of his own dark legacy?

Theodora is the Queen of Polis, a city-state that lost the war against the most powerful empire in the continent.

She is sure that they'll execute her immediately but, somehow, she survives the meeting with the Emperor, and she finds herself... Married?

Tossed in a new world without connections and allies, she has to either accept her fate or lose the chance to help her people once again.

She soon finds out that her new husband knows more about her than she does herself, and that his purposes are often far from what she expects.

A fallen queen that doesn't know how to be anything else. A handsome Duke who's the cause of her ruin. And their efforts to find some happiness in a marriage that's been forced on them.

WARNING: there are contents not suitable for a sensitive audience.

The smut scenes are half-censored at the beginning, but the amount and details will increase after a few dozen chapters (according to the Queen's mood .-. )

***

«I'm sorry for lying to you, your grace...»

«You're a Duchess. No one will dare to consider your words a lie: if you say that you were painting souls, then it's the truth.»

«I will remember it.»

«No, you have to understand it, Theodora. You're not a prisoner, but my wife. I'll protect you when you need it, and I'll help you with any issue you have. You're not just a Duchess in the name. You're my Duchess.»

«It's hard to believe in such a short amount of time.»

«For now, stop shaking like a chicken. I won't hurt you.»

***

A tale about the former leader of a special organization that served under royalty, now leaving his past life behind and unintentionally getting involved with the martial world.