Novels by Inky Moon

Was he insane? Did he seriously want me to address him that way?Seeing the surprise on my face, he looked at me, amusement dancing in his eyes. Then his gaze dropped to my thin dress which left little to the imagination.I had never been so embarrassed in front of a man, one who was little more than a stranger.I might not have been exposed to the outside world, but I wasn’t ignorant. I knew enough to understand that calling your husband that was far from an endearment. It was an insult, and the werewolf in front of me smiled as if he expected me to swallow my pride.“Come on, you should try it,” he said. “It’s not so odd.”I didn’t say anything. I only looked away, my cheeks heating.In this world, especially in werewolf society, women were expected to be submissive to their husbands, doing whatever pleased them. But I couldn’t understand why that had to be the case. Marriage should be a partnership between two people who respected each other.But the world had never been fair to wo

Pierce’s mouth curved, though there was nothing warm about his amusement. It only left the depths of my stomach cold.“I’m only asking, princess. You’re my wife now. Surely that gives me the right to know who I married.”The word wife tightened something in my chest. It didn't sit right with me.His eyes remained fixed on mine. They were an unusual shade of amber, darker near the pupils, almost molten beneath the muted lights of the room. The longer he stared, the more I felt as though he could see past my expression, past my rehearsed manners, and straight into every secret my family had buried.Perhaps he already knew.The thought sent a cold rush through me.Had the Ashcrofts discovered the truth before agreeing to the marriage? Had Pierce known from the beginning that Estia’s blessed heir could not cast a single spell since birth?I curled my fingers into the soft fabric at my hip, forcing myself not to look away.“I understand,” I said. My voice came out quieter than I intended.

Pierce looked calm, unreadable. He remained across the room as he spoke."Tomorrow, you'll be moving into the Ashcroft residence in Crescent City,” he said in a cool authoritative voice."I've already been informed of your parents' expectations."He swirled the amber liquid inside his glass."They're hoping we'll have children as soon as possible." His gaze didn't leave mine as he continued, "They want one of them to inherit the Estia Clan."A faint smile touched his lips. "Your parents don't waste time planning the future, do they?"Something about the way he said it made my stomach tighten. He seemed... unimpressed.Mom had warned me not to offend him, yet before we'd exchanged more than a few sentences, my family's ambitions had already become the topic of conversation.The worst part was that he wasn't wrong.My parents truly intended for one of my future children to become the next head of the Estia Clan. They believed that my child could possess the Holt’s gift of my magic.Thoug

After the ceremony, as the attendants led me through the quiet halls toward the bridal room, I remembered the warning my mother had repeated nearly every day weeks before the wedding.“No matter what happens, do not upset your husband.”Rumors had followed Pierce Ashcroft for years. Some people called him merciless. Others described him as a beast who barely tolerated anyone outside his own family.My parents never cared whether the stories were exaggerated.“He will be your husband,” my mother had told me. “Your duty is to obey him.”She had looked directly into my eyes, making certain I understood every word.“On your first night together, you will do whatever he asks. Don’t argue with him. Don’t hesitate. And whatever you do, don’t stand there trembling like some frightened rabbit.”Her mouth had curled with disgust.“Make yourself useful for once, Ruelle. Please your husband.”I knew what my family expected from a wife.Obedience, silence, endurance, and a smile convincing enough t

“We found someone you’re going to marry.”My mother said it without looking at me. Her attention remained on the papers spread across her desk.For a second, I forgot how to breathe.People in the clan thought I was lucky. I was Ruelle Holt, the only daughter of the Estia Clan’s leader. I had grown up surrounded by wealth, protected behind guarded gates, and given anything money could buy.Anything except a family that loved me.I couldn’t remember the last time either of my parents had held me. I wasn’t sure they ever had. Praise was even rarer, and affection simply didn’t exist in our home.To them, I had never really been a daughter.I was something they had to keep against their will, and now they had finally found a way to get rid of me.“We initially approached the Ashcrofts about their eldest son,” my mother continued. “But they were more cautious than I expected. They rejected the proposal and offered their second son instead.”My stomach tightened.The Ashcrofts controlled th