It’s almost impossible to get into Winter Grove University, so when I’m accepted on scholarship, I know my life will change for the better. Or will it? When an alpha starts harassing me to join his pack, I’m left with no choice but to tell him I belong to another. The thing is, I name drop the richest, most notorious pack on campus.

Growing up, I had nothing but my good grades and them: the Vanguard brothers. They are the golden boys of our school, destined to be the alphas of our pack. They’re possessive, scaring away everyone else who might get close to me—until the night of their first shift. I’d been told over and over I could never be their mate, but the boy’s wolves had other ideas…. So, I’m whisked away, told to forget them—and I do, right up until they walk in through my door, telling me all the things I’d secretly dreamed of.

“Forgive me.” Those were Professor Arnaud’s final words before I sliced through his neck. His was the first head I took, but it wouldn’t be the last.

You’d think being the only known unicorn shifter in the world would have a few benefits, like people treating you kindly or getting special treatment from the council. Not in my case. I'd be lucky to get a piece of bread thrown at me. My name is Celestia Rainbow. Shifters assume that I’m kind by nature, but trust me, I’m not. I’m fierce, short-tempered, and have the mouth of a sailor. Add in my stealthy fighting skills, advanced magic casting, and swift movement you’ll soon realize I'm someone you wouldn't want to mess with

Pine River was supposed to be a new start for me. And it was, especially attending school with my three overprotective cousins, who were the triplets at the top of the social hierarchy. Except they weren’t alone there, and the first day when I came to school, I saw him. Scout Raiden. Tall. Lean. Tattooed. Mesmerizing. He was a golden god with dark and piercing eyes—looking like he wanted to eat me up. The feeling was mutual, and that was a problem.

It was supposed to be simple. All of that changed in a single breath. Because it turns out I'm not human. And I just knocked out the power on an entire city block. In a split second, all of my carefully-laid plans go up in smoke. There's no chance for college because I'm being hauled off to Kingwood Academy. They say it's for my own protection and those around me. But I know one thing for sure . . . I'm not welcome here.

After years of putting it off, I find myself ready for a pack. I'm not much of a social person—books and writing are my whole life—so meeting a pack organically is out of the question. So, when my best friend finds an ad for a Valentine's Day speed dating event, I take the leap and sign up. I only had hope for a date for the holidays, but I ended up leaving with a lot more.

They say monsters are made. I was born one. With an angelic face and a cursed talent, I eat magic and ask for seconds. When I pass through the land, flowers wither, earth scorches, and colors bleed out—all at the command of my father, the God of Ruin. I escaped his prison, only to stumble upon a dangerous school ruled by five heirs. Girls fight to fall into their laps, even though they’re all hot mess assholes.

Blasphemy...abomination...disgrace...I've heard these words my entire life, and never believed I would ever be allowed to find my other half. The Trials are your one shot every 25 years to find your forever. Here's the kicker: A female Nephilim isn't allowed to revel her wings till the trials. Do you know what it's like to have wings and not be allowed to fly or expose them? It absolutely sucks. When the moment finally arrives and I get my card, guess who ends up in my life? An Archangel, and Angel, a Nephilim that can't talk and the son of Death himself.

All I wanted was to keep my head above water. To survive long enough to hit my 18th birthday so I could escape the nightmare that my homelife had become. But all of that was turned upside down the moment they showed up. The best friend from my past. The surly brooder. The kindhearted nerd. The king of campus. The dark one.

I thought I had everything figured out. I’d gone to the academy for witches and mastered my magic. I’d opened my own witchy occult store, just as I always wanted. And my family was as close as ever. Everything was going according to plan. Until the wolves showed up and dragged me back to their land. It was all a misunderstanding. They had the wrong girl, the wrong idea. I was just a witch. And then I shifted. But nothing is as it appears…and now my life is in danger.

Six years ago, I awoke in a cage with no knowledge of who I was or where I’d come from. Six years ago, I was spared the flesh markets and instead thrown in with a group of savages, where I learned it was fight or die. Now, eight Orders of Assassins are converging on the only home I’ve ever known. All in hopes of purchasing new blade slaves for their ranks. I’m for sale, yet all I want is a life far from death and ownership. Then I meet them, the Order of Scorpions. Their allure is a threat to the freedom I crave, but I won’t fall victim to their sting, no matter how tempting it might be.

My whole life has been characterized by fighting; fighting my family and fighting for my life. Trust me—the first one is completely voluntary, and a lot of fun. The second? Not so much. To say my family dynamic is weird is the understatement of the century. I held my first sword when I was only five years old, and I learned how to dispose of a body before I turned ten. I may have a penchant for pink and sparkles…but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to kick major ass as well.

Moving to a new town to start college, where I can try to be normal. Or at least pretend I am. I’m willing to fake it, because I’m tired of trying to get better. Tired of spilling my guts to doctors and therapists to understand why I’ve heard voices since I was a child.

After graduating high school and having been accepted into one of the most prestigious paranormal universities in North America, Black Veil University, everything is finally going as planned. Or so I thought before four insanely hot men crashed their way into my life—each with a unique connection to me whether they want it or not. We are tied together. Lives are turned upside down, hearts are torn and shattered, and those deep, dark secrets that I have held hostage start to slip. But when the dark shadows of my past come knocking, I may need every little bit of help I can get.