Dire Bound The hottest enemies to lovers fantasy romance of 2025 and SUNDAY TIMES bestseller

In Dire Bound, the first volume of The Wolves of Ruin series, Meryn Cooper has always despised the Bonded - elite warriors mentally linked to massive direwolves. When her sister is stolen across the border by the immortal enemies her people have fought for centuries, desperation forces Meryn to enlist. She enters the lethal Bonding Trials, where only the worthy survive. Her only chance to cross the front lines and mount a rescue means bonding with a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate.

Now, trapped in the castle for four months of brutal training, Meryn must navigate a world of cutthroat rivals, a cold instructor named Stark Therion who delights in punishing weakness, and the dangerously intriguing crown prince whose attention makes her a target. Secret plots simmer behind every smile, and the halls conceal dark truths. It's bond or bleed, duel or die - failure means ruin. This enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance combines military action, mythical creatures, and slow-burn tension.