I died a queen’s death—betrayed by the king I loved. Cedric was my mate, my king, my choice. I stood by his side through war, blood, and lies. And when I finally defied him in an attempt to stop him from slaughtering innocents, he drove a blade through my heart. I thought that was the end. Until, somehow, I woke up five years in the past, on the day I’d chosen him. This time, I won’t. Instead, I bind myself to Azrael, the Northern Lycan King. A man the South calls a monster. A savage beast forged in frost and cruelty. In my old life, he used to be feared for his ruthlessness, but unlike my former mate, he hadn’t killed me. And right now, he’s the only one who might stand a chance against Cedric. I never meant to get involved with another lycan royal. Only to survive. I may have died for a king once, but I won’t bow to one again. Yet as war builds and my past claws at my heels, I feel the faintest stirrings of something I hadn’t thought possible — trust. I’ve been given a second chance, and this time, I’ll take Cedric down before I ever let him take me again. Even if it means falling for a king who might be worse than the first. *** Of Mates and Crowns is the first book in a duet featuring royal romance , wolf shifters , and a powerful second-chance romance forged through betrayal and blood, with contract marriage vibes and forced proximity . Expect a strong warrior female lead , an emotionally guarded lycan king , and a slow burn laced with revenge, court intrigue, and destiny. With secret pasts, rival kingdoms at war, and a psycho villain twisting past and future, the story explores rebirth , sacrifice, and forbidden love into a world where loyalty kills and love rewrites fate.