Unmated (The Unmated Series) by Jessica Lynn Pontillo

"My life is so out of control, and yet one thing is absolutely crystal clear. This place plays games with your soul. And your heart. And your sanity.” Lucy James is nervous. Deeply loyal to her family and protective of their way of life, the twenty-year-old reluctantly attends her community's annual ceremony expecting to be paired with her one true mate. Confused to discover she's the only one left unmated, Lucy seeks answers from the town's elders. But instead of getting the answers she craves, she ends up drugged and kidnapped. Lucy soon finds herself trapped in a hidden facility to be brutally trained into one of the realm's ruthless protectors. As she endures vicious challenges while trying to find a way out, she is shocked when she makes an electrifying connection to a fellow cadet. Attempting to resist the brooding trainee—who’s as mysterious as the academy's true agenda—could become her greatest challenge yet. Can Lucy escape her bloody destiny, or will her forbidden attraction destroy any hope of freedom? Perfect for fans of fated mates with a twist, a powerful heroine, steamy tension, and dangerous secrets, Unmated is the sizzling first book in The Unmated series. Read more