Meredith Stevens is a powerhouse CEO, nicknamed the "Iron Goddess" for her brains, strength, and icy control. But behind closed doors, she's a werewolf-and her instincts push her to fight injustice when no one is looking. Detective Dave Callahan is investigating a series of violent attacks in Manhattan. He's drawn to Meredith, fascinated by her confidence and intelligence, but he has no idea about the predator hiding beneath her perfect exterior. Elena, Meredith's loyal PA, senses something is wrong and becomes her protector. Meanwhile, a dangerous werewolf from Meredith's past is watching, obsessed with bringing her back to a world she left behind. As threats from the supernatural and the corporate world collide, Meredith must balance life as a CEO with the wolf inside her. With Dave growing closer, she's torn between keeping her secret and opening her heart. In Manhattan, secrets can be deadly, trust is rare, and love could cost everything. Will Meredith survive-and let herself love-before her enemies catch up?
MEREDITH
The night air smelled like rain, the kind that was soft, cool and comforting. The kind that cooled your skin and made breathing feel easy. I breathed it in slowly, It made me want to be in bed, warm and curled up, away from people, away from noise, wrapped in quiet where nothing and no one could reach me.
I ran anyway.
Running helped when my thoughts wouldn't slow down.
Tonight, they wouldn't.
My skin felt tight, like I'd been holding something in all day and it was tired of staying quiet. My wolf didn't like days like this. Sitting through meetings, being quiet, and acting normal.
Just one run, I told myself, and then I'd go home, take a warm shower, slip into something soft and loose, curl up in bed with the covers pulled close, hug a pillow to my chest, and let sleep find me slowly, quietly, like it always did when I was finally alone.
I turned the corner. The tall office buildings rose in front of me. Aurora Luxe glowing in the distance.
I slowed down. I remembered the file I left in my office.
Annoying.
I turned the corner and stopped because something felt wrong, a change in the wind made me pause, I heard fast breathing and then a scream, and my heart dropped as for a second everything went quiet like the normal city noise had disappeared, something was wrong, my wolf was already pushing hard inside me, very restless and without thinking I was already running toward the alley
A man had a woman against the wall. She was shaking, trying to push him away..
"Please," she cried. "Please-"
Before I knew it, I felt my bones crack, my sight going fuzzy, and pain rip through me as I hit the ground and felt my body change until I was on four legs
The man turned just as my gold eyes met his eyes.
"What the-?!"
I jumped at him and he fell back dropping the knife and tried to grab it again while the woman crawled away crying
The sound came from my throat before I even thought-wild and angry
The man screamed and swung the knife.
"Stay back!"
The knife cut into my side and wow it hurt so bad like fire shooting straight through me, I felt my knees go weak and almost faint.
He tried to fight back again but the anger hit me so fast, like I couldn't let him touch her again and I lunged and hit him and he went down hard. I didn't even think I just kept going until he wasn't getting back up.
I stepped back, breathing hard. Blood ran down my side. The pain was sharp and hot.
The woman stared at me, shaking so hard her teeth clicked, staring from the man to me, wide-eyed.
"I- I d-don't know what you are," she whispered. "Please don't hurt me."
I stepped back, slow and careful, hoping not to frighten her more.
"You... you saved me?" she asked
I couldn't say anything. I turned and ran, my side on fire as I moved. couldn't go into my office like this. There were cameras and people everywhere. It was too risky, so I slipped into the empty building next door under construction.
Once inside, I shifted back to human.
The pain from shifting always made me cry out.
I grabbed the small bag I hid there. Clothes. Supplies. I changed fast, pressing my hand to my wound.
"Damn it," I muttered.
I saw myself in the dusty glass.
Human. Mostly.
My hair was messy and my eyes still glowed a little.
When I stepped back outside, I wore my calm face.
Then I saw her, the woman was still there, sitting on the ground.
She looked up at me,she was looking confused and trying to figure something out.
"You just came out of that building," she said slowly.
I swallowed, holding my breath and tried to stay calm.
"That's the same building that big animal ran into," she said, looking very confused..
I gave her the polite smile I use in meetings when someone says nonsense.
"What animal? I was working late," I said softly. "I left something inside."
She nodded, but she didn't look sure.
Then police sirens filled the street, and I knew I needed to leave immediately.
"Help is coming," I told her. "You're safe now.
"Wait-" she started.
But I was already leaving, walking steady even though my side hurt like hell.
When I reached the corner and turned away from the scene, I let out a shaky breath.
I shouldn't have let her see me
I pressed my hand to my side.
"I didn't have a choice."
I used the side entrance, took the file, and left before anyone saw how pale I was.
Just as I reached the lobby of my building, my phone buzzed.
A text.
Unknown Number:
You shouldn't be out at night alone, Meredith.
My heart skipped.
I knew who it was.
Lucas.
I didn't reply.
As the elevator rose, city lights filled the glass.for the first time in a while, I felt like someone was watching me.
Chapter 1 The Wolf in the Night
08/01/2026
Chapter 2 Something Unseen
08/01/2026
Chapter 3 Behind the Iron Mask
08/01/2026
Chapter 4 The Right Side of Danger
08/01/2026
Chapter 5 Golden Eyes in the Dark
08/01/2026
Chapter 6 Eyes on Me
08/01/2026
Chapter 7 Silver in my Blood
08/01/2026
Chapter 8 The Line I Shouldn't Cross
08/01/2026
Chapter 9 Billionaire in the Hood
08/01/2026
Chapter 10 One Night to Heal
08/01/2026
Chapter 11 Delirious Truth
08/01/2026
Chapter 12 Birthday Surprise
08/01/2026
Chapter 13 Fake Girlfriend, Real Problems
09/01/2026
Chapter 14 The Big Shirt
10/01/2026
Chapter 15 I'm Not For Sale
10/01/2026
Chapter 16 The Glass Cage
10/01/2026
Chapter 17 The Dangerous Protection
10/01/2026
Chapter 18 The Alpha's Cage
15/01/2026
Chapter 19 The Scent of a Trap
15/01/2026
Chapter 20 Protecting the Monster
15/01/2026
Chapter 21 Under the Spotlight
15/01/2026
Chapter 22 The Only Cure
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