••• "Just because I haven't touched you as a husband should, that doesn't mean I won't," he said, his voice low and menacing. Her knees felt weak, and she didn't dare move from where she stood, his presence overwhelming her completely. She could barely speak, her voice coming out in a soft, stammering whisper. "It-it wasn't anything like that. I swear... I" ~~~ ••• 𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥. To save her father's life, she made one vow: marry the coldest man in the city-and never fall in love. But monsters have hearts too. And his only beat for her. A Dark Forced Marriage Romance.

Sabrina Reed is Nathan Alden's wife, but not by his choice... EXCERPT****** "I found her like this, sir," the guard announced. Sabrina stirred at the voice, blinking groggily and rubbing her eyes to chase away the blur clouding her vision. A towering figure stepped into focus. "What are you doing out here, Sabrina?" Nathan's voice was sharp, cutting through the fog of sleep. His jaw was tight, words pressed between clenched teeth. She blinked again, brushing hair from her face as she sat up. "What are you doing out here?" he repeated-louder this time, more demanding. He stood before her in a jet-black suit and white button-up shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to expose forearms clenched across his chest. His eyebrows were drawn tight, his eyes narrowed. "I came back late last night and... the guard was gone, so... I just fell asleep," she said softly, eyes lowering under the weight of his glare. He dismissed the guard with a silent nod, then stepped closer. "Where were you last night?" he asked, voice taut with suspicion. She yawned, trying to blink herself fully awake. "I've been volunteering at the animal shelter." "Get up," he ordered, tone clipped and harsh. "You expect me to believe that? Don't animal shelters close at a decent time?" She remained seated, her legs too stiff to move. "Yes, but-" "Get up!" he barked.