Jasmine, a rule-abiding werewolf, always knew to wait for her destined mate. But when the mysterious future alpha, Blake, appears, her world is turned upside down. Just as she grapples with forbidden desires, her first crush, Luke, resurfaces, complicating everything. Torn between two powerful, seductive werewolves, Jasmine finds herself in a thrilling, dangerous tangle of love, loyalty, and destiny. Get ready for a passionate, wild ride where rules are broken and hearts are on the line.

You're the unclaimed mate of Kaelen Varek, the most feared alpha in the Blackpine Pack. He’s feral, untamed, and rules through blood and instinct. When he claims you, it won’t be with words—it’ll be with teeth, fire, and a hunger that can’t be tamed. The bond is pulling tighter every night. And tonight… he won’t wait for permission.

Valaria, an elite panther shifter enforcer, is sent to spy on a mysterious wolf pack. What she finds isn't just a mission, but a magnetic pull to their formidable Beta, Dominic. Their undeniable connection defies everything she knows about her world, promising both forbidden desire and perilous secrets. Will their souls intertwine, or will their very species tear them apart?

Kaelen Voss is the most feared Feral Alpha in the Northern Packs—ruthless, untamed, and exiled for his violent defiance of the Council. He doesn't believe in bonds, only power. But when he abducts Lyra Thorne—the fiery, battle-trained daughter of the Southern High Alpha—he sets into motion a dangerous game of deception. The world believes they are mated by fate. In truth, it's a calculated lie. Lyra is no victim. Trained in combat since childhood and blessed with a rare lunar gift, she could kill him if given the chance. Yet something in his gaze—primal, tormented, hungry—makes her hesitate. As the fake bond deepens, so does the tension between them: every touch a performance, every word a weapon, every night a test of wills. But Kaelen’s plan is unraveling. Because real desire is forbidden in the game of alphas—and if the High Alpha discovers his daughter is being used as bait, the war that follows will drown the continent in blood.

I won the trial. I earned the crown. But when I stood victorious in the arena, drenched in sweat and blood, my father—the Alpha—looked into my eyes and said only one thing: 'A woman cannot lead.' In that moment, my heart fractured. Not from loss, but from betrayal. By tradition. By blood. By the man who raised me to fight, only to cage me for being born female. Now, they're forcing me into an arranged mating with a king I've never met. But I won't be anyone's bride. I'll become someone else entirely. A boy named Seth. At the Lupine Academy, where only male heirs are allowed, I'll train in secret, rise through the ranks, and claim the throne that was stolen from me. If this world won't accept a female Alpha… then I'll break it until it does.

The first time Ava saw Vishious, she knew he was death wrapped in desire—predatory, possessive, and utterly consuming. A year of stolen nights and savage passion has bound them closer than blood, yet the werewolf world demands more. In six days, Ava will turn twenty, and the ancient rites will decide if she belongs to him forever—or to another. But Vishious isn’t waiting for fate. He’s rewriting it with teeth and fire, marking her soul as his even as the pack prepares for the sacred rituals that will test her body, her loyalty, and the very bond they both fear losing. Now, as the full moon rises, the question isn’t whether she’ll be claimed—it’s who will survive the claiming.

You're a rogue wolf caught trespassing on sacred pack land—supposed to be executed at dawn. But when the Alpha himself pins you beneath the blood moon, fangs at your throat, he doesn't kill you. He marks you. Claims you. Now every breath is yours, every beat of his heart bound to yours. And no one knows why he spared you—least of all him.

Kael Varn is the exiled heir of the Northern Ridge Pack—rumored to be a rogue, feared for his brutality, hunted by both allies and enemies. But the truth is far more dangerous: he’s an Alpha in hiding, pretending to have turned feral to infiltrate the Blackfang Clan, a merciless pack amassing power in the shadows. To complete his mission, he needs a cover no one will question—a mate bond. That’s where she comes in. Lyra Thorne is a skilled tracker from a dying pack on the brink of extinction. Her people are starving, their territory shrinking under relentless attacks. When Kael offers her a deal—temporary mating in exchange for protection and resources—she has no choice but to accept. The bond they forge is supposed to be fake. But the way he looks at her, the heat between them, the way his wolf responds to her scent—it all feels devastatingly real. Now, as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, Lyra begins to suspect Kael isn’t who he claims to be. And if she exposes him, her pack may fall. But if she trusts him, she might lose herself completely.

You've stumbled upon a primal werewolf in the depths of his mating season. His massive form towers above you, black fur rippling with raw sexual energy as his golden eyes lock onto yours with predatory intensity. There's no escape from his overwhelming, primal desire—will you submit to the beast's carnal hunger?

Sold into servitude to a werewolf pack, young Ellis Ross captures the Alpha's heart. Their forbidden love defies all rules, but Ellis harbors a secret far greater than William could ever imagine. Can their bond survive the deadly truths and the enemies lurking in the shadows, or will their love be consumed by the darkness it attracts?

Fuiste raptada por un hombre lobo, el cual no pudo resistirse a tu dulce aroma.

In a world ruled by powerful werewolves, humans are merely second-class citizens, bound by strict curfews and treated as commodities. Selena, a young human woman, dares to defy the rules for knowledge, only to stumble into the clutches of rogue shifters. Just as hope dwindles, a mysterious, formidable figure intervenes, saving her from a horrifying fate. But this savior is no ordinary wolf, and his sudden appearance intertwines their destinies in a ceremony where humans are chosen like prizes. Will Selena escape one form of captivity only to fall into another? Or will her defiant spirit ignite a change within a society steeped in tradition and prejudice?

In a world ruled by powerful werewolves, Jasmine Mendes, a shy and unassuming girl, finds her quiet life irrevocably changed when her family moves to the formidable Blue Moon Pack territory. Dominated by the enigmatic and terrifying Alpha Marco, Jasmine struggles to navigate new rules and a society where her very presence seems to stir an unsettling interest in the pack leader. What dark secrets lie beneath Alpha Marco's cold exterior, and can a timid girl truly be chosen by the most feared Alpha in Europe?

Trapped in a world of wolves and secrets, Rosabel, an Omega, flees a massacre only to be found by the feared Alpha King Zander. He's a monster, a ruthless ruler, and her destined mate. Can she survive his possessive claim and the dark truths he demands, or will her hidden past become her undoing?

Your breath fogs in the icy air as your instincts scream danger. The scent of strangers—musky, dominant, uninvited—fills your nostrils. You're in heat, vulnerable, and the wilderness offers no sanctuary. Four rogue males have you surrounded, their eyes glowing with primal hunger. This is no hunt for food—they want to claim you, breed you, bind you to their den. Your body trembles, not just from cold, but from the pull of nature warring with your will. Fight, flee, or submit—the choice could decide the fate of your freedom… or your future pups.

Your father’s war drums grow louder each night. To stop the bloodshed, you’ve agreed to mate with Kaelen, the rival pack’s ruthless alpha. But beneath his cold exterior lies a leader who bleeds for his wolves. As your loyalty fractures, so does your mission—because now, saving his pack means betraying your own.

The dean is troubled by your alluring pheromones. As a wolf during his rut, his heightened senses make it nearly impossible to focus on anything but you.

You're the reluctant Luna of a fractured pack, thrust into leadership after your family’s betrayal left you isolated. He’s the exiled rogue alpha—dangerous, proud, and desperate to reclaim what he lost. You strike a deal: his strength for your legitimacy. But when training turns heated and desire flares between you, the past resurfaces—his hand in your family’s downfall. Now, every touch feels like both salvation and deception.

Lena Voss is a witch on the run—hunted by the ancient Werewolf Council for crimes she didn’t commit. With her magic waning and enemies closing in, she strikes a dangerous bargain with Kael Thorn, the ruthless Alpha of the Blackfang Pack. She offers him her hand in mating, not out of love, but survival. Kael sees her only as a political weapon—a way to challenge the Council’s authority and secure his pack’s dominance. But when a rival pack emerges from the shadows, wielding forbidden blood magic, he realizes Lena’s power runs deeper than prophecy. Now, bound by a fated connection neither wanted, they must navigate rising desire, pack betrayal, and an ancient curse that could unravel their bond with a single whisper.

When the full moon rises and the ancient rituals begin, your body is no longer your own. As Ava, you've survived the claiming, the bonding, and the brutal rites of the werewolf pack—but now, every lunar cycle brings a new wave of dominance, submission, and divine violation. The God of Werewolves returns for you, your mate Vishous burns with jealousy, and the pack hungers for your surrender. Your decisions shape whether you become a vessel of power, a broken toy, or something far darker—something that hungers back.

Elena was promised to the Alpha—raised since childhood to be his mate, his symbol of unity, his obedient queen. But on the eve of the Blood Bonding, she discovered his true nature: cold, calculating, willing to sacrifice her clan for power. When she fled, branded a traitor, the pack law demanded her death. But the rogue Lycan found her first. He is no noble leader—scarred, exiled, feared even among outcasts. Yet he didn’t kill her. He chose her. And now, bound by an ancient rite neither expected, Elena must decide: return to the gilded cage of betrayal, or embrace the wild, untamed future the rogue offers—one written in fang and fire.

Nina, the werewolf, has caught you and declared you her mate! Like a dog chasing a car, she's a bit innocent and doesn't quite know what to do now after catching you. Just a bit of fluff as a break between alien or corruption bots. She is less corrupted from the last time.

You are the first female student ever admitted to Moonrise Academy, an elite boarding school for young werewolves. Surrounded by predatory gazes and primal instincts, you must navigate a world where dominance, pack dynamics, and the moon's cycles dictate everything. As the only girl among powerful young wolves, every choice could either earn you respect or make you prey.

A gasp escaped past her lips when she felt his tongue licking her skin where her neck meets her shoulder. Her heart drummed in her ears. Her chin quivering and her body trembling. A jolt of electrifying jolts ran down her body as his lips gave soft feathery kisses on her neck. She was a nervous mush in his arms. "Sweet," He rasped in his deep baritone voice. She stiffened, even more, when his nose caressed her jawline and he inhaled her scent. She was squished against his hard muscular chest and all she could feel and inhale was him. His big veiny hands, his muscular steel-like arms around her waist, and his sinful lips. "Your scent...mhmm... so f*cking addicting," a growl reverberated from his chest. "S...stop," She stuttered. "Shss..." The rough pad of his thumb caressed her lips.

You are the last Beast Lord of the wildblood clans, cursed with primal power and eternal solitude. Your roar shakes mountains; your instincts demand dominance. But when human hunters breach the sacred forest, you scent something impossible, and your mate among them. Your decisions shape the fate of man and beast alike.

I didn’t betray my pack. I saved them. But the elders lied, the hunt was rigged, and now I’m branded a traitor—cast out into the rogue wastes with nothing but scars and fury. When the Alpha King’s hunters dragged me before him, I expected death. Instead, his fangs sank into my neck… and he froze. Recognition flared in his golden eyes. I was his fated mate. The law demands he protect me. But instead of sanctuary, he wrapped silver chains around my wrists. 'You’ll stay caged,' he growled, 'until I know if you’re my salvation… or my ruin.' Now I wait in darkness, heart pounding, wondering if love can survive a bond forged in chains.

In a world ruled by raw power and ancient traditions, Alpha Mara—a fierce, unyielding leader—governs her pack with an iron fist. But when a mysterious, charismatic rogue is captured, his unsettling presence ignites a fire she never anticipated, challenging her control, her pack's loyalty, and the very essence of her being. Will she bend to the ancient pull of fate, or fight a destiny that threatens to unravel everything she’s built?

She's always been 'Little Pup' to him, a bright spark in his dark world. He's the brooding Alpha with a dangerous past, a man she's watched and wanted for years. Now, on her eighteenth birthday, their worlds collide in an explosive revelation: they are fated mates. Can the light of her love tame his darkness, or will his shadows consume them both?

After being purchased from a slave auction by a mysterious god, you expect a life of servitude. Instead, you find yourself in a mansion nestled in the forest where the imposing yet gentle god treats you with unexpected care and protection. As his golden eyes watch over you and his kindness melts your guarded heart, you begin to wonder if this sanctuary might become something more than just a place of safety.

You're a rogue with rare healing blood—the kind every pack would kill for. He's a cursed alpha racing against time to sire an heir or lose everything. Your deal was simple: temporary mating, no emotions, just survival. But the bond is awakening something ancient… and neither of you expected it to feel like destiny.

Selene Vael is an outcast—cast aside by her pack for refusing to submit to their corrupt alpha. Now, her younger sister has been taken, and the only lead points to a rival pack’s territory. With no allies and time running out, Selene makes a desperate bargain with the most dangerous alpha in the region: Kael Draven. Kael rules his pack with cold precision, feared for his ruthlessness and unmatched strength. He needs a Luna—not for love, but as a political symbol to secure a vital alliance. When Selene offers herself in exchange for his help, he accepts without hesitation. She’s a tool. A necessity. Nothing more. But as they journey into enemy lands, facing bloodied claws and ancient magic, something shifts. The walls around Kael’s heart begin to crack, revealing scars deeper than any battle wound. And Selene realizes that the man she thought was using her might be just as trapped as she is.

In a world where magic is hunted and wolves roam, Selene, a witch on the run, crashes into the path of Tor, a powerful Alpha. Bound by an undeniable, electrifying pull, they navigate a land ravaged by witch trials and ancient secrets. But as their connection deepens, they uncover a terrifying truth: Selene isn't just fleeing hunters, she's the key to a conflict far older and deadlier than either of them imagined. Will their bond be enough to survive the coming storm, or will it shatter under the weight of a destiny neither can escape?

Seven years ago, Ava vanished from Lucian's life, leaving him shattered. Now, a chance encounter reunites them, but secrets, a mysterious child, and a tangled past threaten to ignite a firestorm. Can love truly conquer all when ancient desires and hidden identities collide?

After your father, the king, struck a deal with the fearsome werewolf pack leader, your fate was sealed. You've been given as a reward to Erion, the powerful Alpha who now claims you as his Omega. As you arrive at his mountain den, surrounded by wolves who see you only as breeding stock, you must navigate the dangerous desires of an Alpha who's made it clear—you belong to him, body and soul, and there's no escaping your primal destiny.

I used to hunt because it was in my blood. The thrill of the chase, the warmth of fresh meat under fangs—it was all natural to me. But then I saw Lois, standing in the rain with no fear, singing to the thunder like she belonged to the storm. Now I don’t want to kill. Now I want to protect. And that makes me a traitor to the Clan. They say no one escapes the pack. But I have to try—because if I don’t, they’ll tear her apart just to keep me wild.

Six years of guarding the werewolf elite, and Ali thought she'd seen it all. But when her next assignment lands her face-to-face with a stubborn, arrogant Alpha who refuses her protection, she realizes this mission is unlike any other. He's powerful, handsome, and completely dismissive of her skills. Can she protect him from rogue threats and his own reckless pride, or will their clashing wills ignite a different kind of fire?

You were the last survivor of your pack — the one he destroyed with fire and fang. Now, the bond flares between you like a cursed star: undeniable, searing, and cruel. He didn’t know you were his fated mate when he killed your family. But he knows now. And he won’t let you go. Your decisions shape the fate of what comes next — vengeance, surrender, or deception.

Accidentally killing her parents is what turned Neah’s life upside down. As punishment for her crimes, her wolf abilities are bound, and she is forced into a life of slavery by her brother. At the age of twenty-two, she saw no way of getting out and had given up on life, just trying to make it through each day. A contract between packs brings the arrival of the powerful, crimson-eyed Alpha Dane. A wolf that men feared, yet Neah couldn’t help but be fascinated by him. Adding Neah to the contract was never Alpha Dane's plan. Something about her strange scent lured him in, and he knew he couldn’t leave her behind, especially not when he heard the lies coming from her brother's mouth. But meeting Neah was just the beginning. If she isn’t challenging Alpha Dane, then it was her old pack that was trying to make life extremely difficult for him by keeping secrets buried. Please note, this book ends on a cliffhang

When Erica is bitten and turned by Derek Hale, conflicting emotions rage within her. She doesn't want to break her loyalty to Derek, but she also can't bear becoming an enemy to her girlfriend, a member of the McCall pack. With no good options left, Erica asks her love to meet at the abandoned train yard to talk, knowing their relationship and loyalties may never be the same again.

In a world of hidden shifters, Sophie, a Darach werewolf, seeks refuge from a relentless Alpha Xavier who claims her as his mate. But when a chance encounter in a quiet bar leads to a brutal attack, Sophie finds herself caught in a web of pack politics, ancient secrets, and an unexpected connection to Alpha Nathan, a powerful leader whose intentions remain a mystery. Can she trust him with her life, her secrets, and her heart before it's too late?

In a world ruled by powerful magical beings, Sabrina, a prophesied descendent of the Moon Goddess, is destined to marry the future Alpha King to unite her werewolf race. But on her 18th birthday, a forbidden mate connection with the enigmatic Elijah, a man without a wolf, shatters her carefully planned future. Will she sacrifice true love for duty, or defy fate for a bond that could change everything?

Abandoned and humiliated, Luna Liliana Spencer's love for her fated mate, Alpha Zade, crumbles after four years of a loveless marriage. With the return of his first love, Gianna, Liliana is cast aside, her heart shattered. But a secret identity, long buried, is about to resurface. Liliana Spencer is dead. Gracelynn Miller, the fierce daughter of a powerful Alpha, is back to reclaim her dignity and unleash a vengeful storm. Will Zade regret his choices when he faces the true power of the woman he discarded?

I've got you, monster fucker~

It's late at night and you're coming home from work the day after Christmas. Then all of a sudden you're advanced on by a growling wolf. But it's not a real wolf! It's a man in a hyper realistic wolf suit. And the strangest thing is, you know him! You would know the sound of that voice anywhere, it's Jason. The loner from high school. And now he's telling you how he wants you after pressing you up against a car on the road. TRIGGER WARNINGS: STALKING, OBSESSIVE BEHAVIOR, INTIMACY WITHOUT CONSENT, AND POTENTIAL VIOLENCE.

Luna Reyes is a rogue wolf with no pack and nothing left to lose—her family slaughtered, her home burned, her name erased from every territory register. She survives on the edges of society, trusting no one, answering to no alpha. But when survival becomes unbearable, she makes a desperate deal: a transactional bond with Kael Valtor, the powerful but fractured Alpha of the Ironfang Pack. Kael needs a Luna to stabilize his crumbling pack, to project unity in the face of rebellion and council scrutiny. Luna needs protection, resources, and a chance to hunt those who destroyed her past. Their arrangement is cold, calculated, and strictly temporary—until the pull between them ignites something neither can control. But the Elder Council sees Luna as an abomination—a rogue unworthy of the Luna title—and they’ll stop at nothing to dismantle Kael’s authority. Worse, Kael harbors a secret: his blood ties to the Council’s ruthless leader, a man who once betrayed his own son to uphold tradition. As political traps close in and old enemies resurface, their bond becomes the only thing strong enough to defy fate.

One year ago, Fitz left his ordinary city life behind when he was transformed into a werewolf and joined a pack. Now adjusting to his new existence, he faces a new challenge—mating season. As the annual event approaches, Fitz finds himself uncertain about finding a partner among his packmates, unlike his enthusiastic friends David and Frost who already have their sights set on potential mates.

You and a mysterious guy at school share no connection beyond casual encounters, but he's hiding a secret—he's a werewolf. He avoids attention and displays strange behaviors, hinting at his hidden nature. As you notice these oddities, curiosity pulls you in. Will you risk delving into his darkest secret, despite sensing danger? Uncovering his true identity might reveal a perilous world you never knew existed, challenging your courage and unraveling mysteries you weren't prepared for.

I never thought leaving the pack would feel like falling. The elders said it was tradition—reach maturity, walk your own path. But no one warned me about the heat. It burns through me like wildfire, uncontrollable, humiliating. And now I can smell them—rogues, circling like vultures drawn to carrion. My scent betrayed me. My body betrays me. I’m not ready to mate. I’m not ready to submit. But the forest doesn’t care what I’m ready for.

Kaelen is your brooding supernatural protector--the mysterious figure who's been watching over you since that night you wandered too deep into the woods. His golden eyes promise danger, but his touch betrays something softer. You know he's hiding more than just his wolf form from you.

Right before our Mating Ceremony, my mate, Alpha Damien, told me he had to temporarily mark an Omega from our pack, Seraphina. He claimed she had the Moon Sickness and would die if he didn't mark her. I fought him on it, but the next day, he moved Seraphina right into the penthouse of the Pack House. The suite meant for the future Luna. My suite. To calm me, he even got on his knees, his eyes red as he promised, "Once she's safe, I'll remove the mark. You'll still be my only Luna." But then, Seraphina found me, a medical report in her hand. Six weeks pregnant. They'd already held their marking ceremony long before Damien ever came to me. My heart shattered into ash. My pen dug into the calendar, carving a vicious X over the date that was supposed to be our Mating Ceremony. Then, I opened my laptop and replied to the email from the European Laurel Healers' Guild. "I accept your invitation. I leave on the day of the Mating Ceremony."

Terror - Non consensual. he is bad, very, very bad. Captured. Tortured. Broken. What you remember is pain and fear. But now, you wake up somewhere in the forest, you feel the cold snow beneath you, only the moonlight to illuminate the pale forest. You see dead bodies all around you, men in military uniforms and weapons scattered on the ground, you don't understand, how could you stop there? But before you could think, you realize that you were not alone.

Seraphina, an ordinary werewolf, has spent her life on the run, hunted for reasons unknown, surviving on instinct and a prayer. Dominic, the ruthless King of Vampires, rules with an iron fist, his heart frozen by betrayal. Their worlds collide in a desperate, fated encounter that shatters Seraphina's precarious peace and awakens something long dormant within Dominic. Will her light melt his icy exterior, or will his darkness consume her? Dive into a tale of ancient rivalries, unexpected connections, and the raw power of a love destined to challenge the very nature of their beings.

Damon, a vampire burdened by eternal thirst and the weariness of existence, finds his predatory routine shattered by a mysterious force. Meanwhile, Muriel, a powerful white wolf warrior, grapples with pack politics and an unexpected savior. Two worlds, diametrically opposed, are set to collide, bound by a destiny neither can escape. Will their paths lead to an unholy alliance or a fated destruction?

Trapped in a life she never chose, Lisa, a wolf-less nineteen-year-old, finds her carefully constructed world shattered when a clandestine birthday bar trip thrusts her into the path of the most terrifyingly handsome man she's ever seen. His presence ignites a primal spark within her, but their undeniable connection is overshadowed by dark secrets and a past that threatens to consume them both. Can she escape her predetermined fate, or will a single, reckless night change everything?

Evangeline, a human in a world of werewolves, is thrust into a marriage of convenience with the powerful Alpha Daniel Grint. Forced to be a 'last-minute bride' after her half-sister's disappearance, she navigates a treacherous new reality. But as secrets unravel and a shocking truth about her own identity comes to light, Evangeline must decide if she can truly be the Alpha's bride, or if destiny has a far more primal plan for her.

Betrayed by her own father and sold to the ruthless Alpha King of Drogomor as a mere 'breeder', Rosalie's world shatters. Stripped of her freedom and future, she must navigate a treacherous new reality. Can she survive the Alpha's dark world and the secrets within, or is she destined to be nothing more than a vessel for an heir?

In a world where werewolf instincts run deep, Yun finds herself drawn into an intense, primal encounter when Mina succumbs to her heat. With a leather collar in hand and hunger in her eyes, Mina makes no secret of her desire to claim Yun completely. As boundaries blur between pleasure and possession, Yun must decide how far she's willing to surrender to the wild, passionate need consuming them both.

Driven by vengeance, Lauren, a 'wolfless' woman, seeks to reclaim her father's pack from her power-hungry uncle. Little does she know, she is the most powerful wolf alive, and her destiny is entwined with the notorious Alpha Logan. Will love derail her quest for revenge, or will she embrace her true power and claim her throne?

Lola, a street-smart orphan, finds herself thrust into a hidden world of werewolves after a bizarre 'social experiment'. Lost in the Tongass forest, she's ensnared by Alpha Noah, who claims she's his fated mate. But Lola, fiercely independent, refuses to be owned. Can she escape a destiny she never chose, or will the primal pull of the mate bond claim her? Dive into a tale where desire clashes with defiance, and ancient laws meet modern rebellion.

Kaelen Varek is the ruthless Alpha of the Shadowfen Pack—feared in battle, unyielding in command, and haunted by the massacre that claimed his family. Raised on vengeance, he trusts no one, especially not her. Lysara Thorne is the fire-willed leader of the rival Emberclaw Clan, known for her lethal precision and refusal to bow to tradition. When the Moon Goddess speaks through the sacred flame, both packs are stunned by the same vision: their union is the only thing that can stop the ancient Blight from rising. Bound by prophecy but torn by hatred, they must walk the Trial of Moons together—a path that demands absolute trust. And every step brings them closer to the truth: the real enemy may not be the darkness ahead… but the secrets buried between them.