Between beauty and desire, her heart runs wild.

Darkly romantic and hauntingly beautiful, this Portuguese folklore-inspired adult debut from Sunday Times bestselling author Nicki Pau Preto.

The Wood takes what it is owed.

Lua is a seventh-born daughter, cursed and claimed by the dark forest. Among its ancient trees and dangerous denizens, she runs barefoot and wild with the wolves who raised her. But by night, she watches the family that abandoned her, curious about the strange world of humans.

Humans like Cristiano. Though Thorne - the surly, handsome protector of the Wood - warns her of the risk Cristiano poses, she can't help but be drawn to his charm.

But Lua is a shapeshifter unable to take on her wolf form., and as Cristiano's affections bring her into the human world, dead bodies begin to appear near the border of the Wood, with villagers casting blame on the denizens of the forest.

Now Lua must spy on the humans, uncovering the truth behind the deaths - or risk losing the only home she's known, the family she's always dreamt of finding, and the man who loves her for who she truly is.

A girl raised by wolves is being used by her family in a political marriage - but what side does she truly belongs on: with her betrothed and the human realm, or the wolves, the woodsman and the forest . . . ?