Claire has always been different—a beta werewolf gifted in the deadly arts of healing and poison. Feared for her unusual abilities, she is shunned by her pack, except for Dylan, the alpha’s son, who enjoys making her life miserable. But on his birthday, Claire finally gets her revenge, humiliating him in front of everyone.

She never expects what happens next. The intoxicating scent of a mate bond ties her to the one person she despises most—Dylan. Disgusted, she rejects him without hesitation. But Dylan isn’t one to be defied. Furious, he vows to make her suffer, marking her as his before tossing her aside.

Just when all hope seems lost, Claire’s fate takes an unexpected turn. Her long-lost father, Alpha Wilson, appears—alongside Blake Caesar, the powerful leader of the Mirage-Ember Pack. And to her shock, Blake is her second-chance mate. With no hesitation, she chooses him right in front of Dylan, breaking free from his cruel grasp.

But freedom comes at a price. Blake doesn’t want love—only a Luna to secure his pack’s future and a skilled poison master to aid him. Thrust into a world of ruthless power plays and deadly secrets, Claire must decide: will she accept a loveless bond for the sake of survival, or fight for the respect and power she deserves?

Love: Just Like Poison 

Chapter 28

**Ashes and Accusations**
**Claire's POV**
Smoke stung my throat before I even opened my eyes.
I shot upright, heart hammering, coughing so hard my ribs ached. My fingers clutched at the thin blanket tangled around my legs as the acrid scent of burning wood and something strange filled the air.
...

**Ashes and Accusations**

**Claire's POV**

Smoke stung my throat before I even opened my eyes.

I shot upright, heart hammering, coughing so hard my ribs ached. My fingers clutched at the thin blanket tangled around my legs as the acrid scent of burning wood and something strange filled the air.

...

Chapter 16