All I wanted was peace. Instead, I got control and a reason to stop playing nice. I thought surviving a prophecy, postponing fate, and basically blowing up the wolf council would earn me a break. it didn’t. Walking away from my mate and my family was supposed to keep them safe. Instead, it made me an even bigger target—landing me in a place where power listens, walls breathe, and control is something you're trained to surrender to, piece by piece. And the monster sitting on the throne? He’s full of lies. But the darkness hasn’t broken me. It’s taught me exactly who I am. When I emerge from captivity, Cade has torn his way through days and nights to find me, leaving a wreckage in his wake, but our problems aren’t the only ones demanding attention. I didn’t ask for this power. But it’s mine, and if anyone thinks they get to decide my fate for me, they’re about to learn… I’m not the prophecy they feared. I’m the reckoning they made. Claws and Bonds is the second book in The Ashmark Trilogy, perfect for fans of wolf shifters, found family chaos, snarky heroines, grumpy alphas, and just the right amount of supernatural mayhem. If you like your fantasy with bite, banter, and a side of magical dysfunction, welcome to NightShade Manor.