Johnson Contract Manhwa

Anastasia Konstantinos despite being the daughter of an Alpha, was bullied by everyone and even her own family because she had selective mutism. This affected her life, her confidence, and her mental health, but she was willing to endure everything since she had nowhere else to go. However, on the day her father had announced she would be demoted to an omega, her knight in shining armor showed up. 'Who dares to demote Alpha Viktor's mate to an omega'. Never in a million years did Anastasia imagined she'd find her mate, let alone turning out to be the most powerful Alpha of all time, Alpha Viktor. Now, they were all going to fall on their knees and ask her for a second chance, but will she ever forgive them to all the pain that they caused her? Well, let's find out together...

Ava Monroe thought she was signing a lifeline, a contract marriage to Ethan Kingsley, the billionaire heir with ice in his veins and secrets in his eyes. In exchange for saving her family's legacy, she agreed to play the perfect wife. No strings. No feelings. No questions. But nothing about Ethan is simple. Behind the flawless smiles and public displays lies a web of power, betrayal, and buried pain. As Ava steps deeper into Ethan’s cold world of calculated deals and media deception, she discovers that the most dangerous game isn’t love, it’s pretending not to need it. And when secrets from their pasts begin to surface, old flames, hidden alliances, and a shadowy threat watching their every move, their façade begins to crack. What started as a contract may end in obsession. Because when hearts are locked in a battle of lies and longing… someone always gets burned.

When struggling civil servant Cecilia Bennett loses her job and finds herself drowning in bills, the last thing she expects is to be swept into the scandalous world of high society after a fateful accident involving billionaire CEO Leo Hartford. To avoid a media storm—and appease his controlling parents—Leo offers Cecilia a six-month contract marriage: no love, no intimacy, just a public charade. Desperate for money, Cecilia agrees, stepping into a glamorous world filled with lavish parties, ruthless exes, and a dangerously charming fake husband. But as sparks fly and real feelings start to bloom, the line between fake and reality blurs. When secrets from the past emerge—including Leo’s manipulative ex-girlfriend, a powerful criminal syndicate, and a murder cover-up—Cecilia and Leo find themselves in a battle not just for love, but survival. What started as a lie becomes their only truth. Will their contract end in heartbreak… or a happily ever after the world never saw coming?

After her family’s powerful corporation collapsed, Isabelle Munro was left with nothing and no one. She hadn’t spoken to her sister Charlotte in years. Then the announcement was made, stating that Charlotte Munro was dead. Her orphaned twins were being sent to Isabelle, along with one final instruction: “You must marry Reign Kraus to understand who killed me. I love you… -Charlotte.” Reign was their family’s enemy. So cold, calculated, and impossible to read. He gave no explanation, simply agreed to the marriage without hesitation. Isabelle didn’t know why she was the one marrying him, or what her sister had been trying to protect. To her surprise, the twins spoke to each other freely when they thought no one could understand. But Isabelle could hear them. And the things they said didn’t make sense. Not yet… One thing became clear: Charlotte's death wasn't accidental. Her killer was free, and Reign Kraus had something to do with it. 

Hailey thought her life was over as she was regarded her as a whore and slapped with millions of debts on her wedding day. As soon to be husband, Benjamin Taylor stepped away from her her and asked the security men to kick her of the wedding hall, but just then, a young gentleman arrived at the wedding and took Hailey away, threatening all the attendees that will experience hell in the coming days. Hailey couldn't help but asked who the man was, she got the answer, but she didn't know he was merely one of her pursuer. Hailey life experienced a flipping turn over as several men were trying to win her hearts in all manners of ways. “One Million dollars for Lady Hailey Baker. I want that dress for her.” “Am afraid that money would secure your victory. Ten million dollars please. I want that dress for Lady Hailey.” “Twenty million dollars guys, I will be the one to buy it for Lady Hailey, my soon to be wife”

A wedding took place, and the richest man of Shencheng married a woman notorious for her bad reputation. Ning Guiwan was known among the upper class as a calamity—tormenting her sisters, causing her mother's death, leading an unseemly private life, despised by her father, and cast abroad to fend for herself. Four years later, she returned and directly took hold of Shencheng's most esteemed man's arm to enter into marriage, leaving the whole city in shock. However, amidst the doubts, Ning Guiwan presented a post-marriage agreement to Quan Yu, with the last clause reading: beyond cooperation, there shall be no involvement with each other. Quan Yu pinched the girl's waist, his lips curving into a smile, "You start the game, but I decide how to play it." …… Everyone said that Ning Guiwan, relying on the favor of the Quan Family's old matriarch, forced Quan Yu to marry her; otherwise, how could a man with such sound principles fancy a woman not only beneath his station but also with a scandalous past? But those who knew the truth shook their heads. Sound principles? Nonexistent. To get his wife, Mr. Quan resorted to all kinds of dirty tricks, even deceiving the old matriarch, yet Mrs. Quan, with her cold exterior and hard heart, married him but refused to love him. Until one day, Mr. Quan accidentally got injured, causing Mrs. Quan to frown. Then— "It's terrible, Mrs. Quan, the master has injured his arm, please come back and see him!" "It's terrible, Mrs. Quan, the master has injured his leg, please come back and see him!" "It's terrible, Mrs. Quan, the master..." "What happened again?" "The master says he's sick, please come back and see him!" "What sickness?" "The master says it's... lovesickness..." "……" [A pampering story, sweet to the extreme]

"A marriage contract determines fate for a lifetime. As the once well-to-do Sang Wan marries into the wealthiest Shi family of Qingzhou, she faces a suspicious and difficult mother-in-law, a husband who cherishes his childhood sweetheart instead, a harsh eldest sister-in-law, and a cunning younger sister-in-law. The diffident Sang Wan retreats and concedes until she ultimately meets a tragic and desolate end, dying alone in a secluded corner of the Shi Mansion. Reborn in the sedan chair on her wedding day, where should she go? At the starting point of tragedy, with a chance to start anew, can she change her tragic fate and create a life filled with harmonious melodies for herself? In this life, she only desires a leisurely and peaceful existence, to truly live for once."

Hazel Rogers never imagined her mother’s failing heart would force her into the arms of a stranger. With hospital bills piling up and no time left, she signs a desperate contract— as a surrogate for a billionaire who she doesn’t know. Ace Milan is cold, calculated, and devastatingly powerful, a man who built his empire on control and keeps his heart locked behind a fortress. Hazel is just a transaction to him. But when a scary accident forces her to move into his home, the lines blur. He becomes cruel, unpredictable—testing her limits with sharp words and colder actions. Yet beneath his ice is something else, something broken, watching her with eyes that never quite soften. As her pregnancy progresses, Hazel stumbles upon whispers of the woman who came before her—the first surrogate. The one who vanished. No one speaks of her, and Ace refuses to explain. But the house holds secrets. Locked rooms. Late-night phone calls. Half-truths wrapped in charm. And suddenly, the child inside Hazel becomes more than a contract—it becomes a target. Torn between protecting the life growing inside her and uncovering the truth about the man she’s starting to feel dangerously drawn to, Hazel is forced to make a choice. Walk away before she ends up like the last surrogate… or risk everything to unravel the darkness Ace has spent his life hiding. One thing is clear—nothing in this arrangement is what it seems. And some secrets are buried deep for a reason.

The Contract Bride & the Shadow King” Zina Obianuju only wanted to save her dying mother. What she didn’t expect was to become the thirteenth bride of Nigeria’s most feared billionaire, Kain Umeziri—a man whose mansion holds secrets, shadows, and blood-bound rules. As she navigates strange symbols, cursed mirrors, and a cold husband with burning eyes, Zina must uncover the truth: why did twelve women before her die? And why is her soul the final piece of an ancient pact? In a world where wealth hides wickedness and love may not be enough, survival means playing by rules written in blood.

A few days before her wedding, Melanie's world shatters when her fiance cruelly walks away—only for her to discover he's marrying her sister instead, at the venue meant for her. Heartbroken, humiliated, and abandoned by her family, Melanie ends up in the arms of a cold, powerful stranger: Leonard Westwood, the ruthless billionaire CEO with secrets of his own. He offers her a way out: a two-year contract marriage. No love. No strings. She accepts. But nothing is ever just business when two broken hearts are forced to share the same space. As Melanie steps into her new life, she’s pulled into a twisted web of jealousy, obsession, and betrayal. Rose won’t stop until Melanie is ruined. Adrian, the man who left her, suddenly wants her back. And Leonard’s past won’t stay buried—not when a former lover returns with a vengeance. Worst of all, a hidden truth about Melanie’s identity threatens to turn everything upside down. What happens when they uncover the childhood bond they once shared—but long forgot? In a world of lies, power, and revenge... Will Melanie survive the game she never asked to play—or will falling in love cost her everything?

"It's 2025. Who's gonna believe a myth or fantasy anymore? That only exists in the book or game or anime." And that's how everybody thought before the announcement that flipped the entire world completely. Everybody race to become the new god with the system they got. So, how about the people who don't get the system? ( Hey, kid. I can give you some power. Let's make a contract. ) [ Previous Volume's Soundtracks are in the Discord server. ] * [ 1983 - Schwartzesmarken ] by [ Fripside ] as OP song Volume 02. * [ Fatality ] by [ Kordhell ] as ED song Volume 02. ------------------------------- Author note : For latest news or announcement, just visit the discord : https://discord.com/invite/JG952SF9aU Thank you very much. ( b ' 3 ' ) b

Elara Vance a lady who never had plans outside work. Being single,rich,work,taking care of her pets was the only dream she had because she grew up in an orphanage and had been let down in all relationships. Just when she thought she had everything she dreamt of,she became the protagonist of a calculated plan against Killian Reeve,the mischievous and cold heir of a worldwide company,Granex. This led to many complex problems which she dreaded. What would happen when time was up and she had to leave her children to the Reeve family? What would happen to Killian and Elara's love-hate relationship? Would they set their differences aside for their children?

Silver Scott, a multibillionaire bachelor and the heir of silver sky Group in city B. The wealthiest and most famous ruthless bachelor in whom every girl love to have, not minding about his cruel dominatory aura. He is known for his prominent perseverance and outstanding performance in the business world. He is the dream of all girls and is rumoured to take no liking to women. Since he has been appearing on stage or broadcast for business purposes, he has never been seen with a woman, while his parents and grandparents are pestering him to get married or they arrange a woman for him. Ryain Flora, a beautiful average woman in her late 20's , working as a photographer in an entertainment company in city B. She, a brave and generous woman living with her wicked stepmother and siblings. She had been the one taking care of her family since the death of her parents from a car accident. She always wish luck could bring back her dead parents so she could continue the happy life she once had with them when they were still alive. Due to some financial and psychological issue Flora faced, she came in contact with Scott and both agreed on a contract marriage. The story changes as it continues....

WARNING: DARK AND MATURE CONTENT. Readers discretion advised. Serena Alaric wanted nothing more than a quiet life, far from the shadows of her family’s dark past. But when masked enforcers storm her home and drag her into the clutches of the Council of Vitae, she learns her blood is the key to a deadly legacy she never asked for. Lucian Draven is the cold and ruthless leader of a powerful mafia syndicate, cursed to endure unimaginable pain. The Council claims Serena is his only salvation. Yet beneath the Council’s polished facade lies a web of lies, experiments, and betrayal that runs far deeper than either of them imagined. Forced into an uneasy alliance and given a time limit to produce an heir, Serena and Lucian must navigate a treacherous world of power and manipulation, where trust is a rare commodity. As they uncover the truth about the Council’s sinister plans, their hatred begins to give way to something unexpected—a bond forged in fire and blood. But with enemies closing in from all sides and time running out, Serena and Lucian must decide: will they fight their fates, or embrace the dangerous connection that could either save them, or destroy them both?

I swallowed down nothing. Nothing in the entire world would have been enough to prepare me for the next words that came out of his mouth. “Be my wife.” I coughed and pushed him away, standing up from the sofa immediately. The surprise in his eyes was evident despite the mask he had on. “Why? Am I not a good candidate for you?” He asked calmly. He stood up, and before I could register what he was about doing, his right hand wrapped around my waist, his left hand around my neck. “I'm neither asking nor requesting you to do it Serena, I'm ordering you to be my wife." ... Disowned and banished, Serena walks away from the one place she had come to cherish and love. Exposed to the outside world, she's faced with a demanding decision that would determine her life. What happens when she starts to unravel the dark secrets surrounding her birth. Would she still be the meek young hybrid or would she trample on her assailants?

Zephany Draven is a shy, clumsy celebrity journalist who is constantly ridiculed for not getting the big scoops. She is soft-spoken and easily intimidated, so she looks weak. However, behind closed doors, she's Eclipse, an altogether tougher, loud-mouthed agent and quite ruthless and efficient. Kendrick Montclair is a gentle, positive artist who loves his family and remains optimistic despite his struggles. His gentle nature makes him easy to take advantage of. But secretly, he's Obscura, a cold, ruthless agent who is efficient and silent. Both work as partners in a secret organization that preserves hidden truths erased by governments, yet they remain completely unaware of each other's true identities. Their goal is to reach the highest level of clearance to access classified information. But just when they're on the verge of success, they fail. Then, a mysterious man appears with an offer—a contract marriage in exchange for the information they desperately seek. Trapped with no alternative, they sign the deal, having no idea that they just married their secret partner in crime. But neither expected what would happen next. ------------- Kendrick and Zephany sat by the glass wall, waiting for their food when a car suddenly crashed through. Kendrick pulled Zephany to safety just in time, but both got small cuts from the broken glass. "Are you okay?" they asked, checking each other. To their astonishment, the cuts healed before their eyes. Their minds raced. "Beside me, the only person I know who has that ability is." "No! She can't be that loud, short-tempered woman!" "No! He can't be that silent, obnoxious man!" "Did I marry my secret partner in crime?" They both shuddered at the thought.

[WARNING: MATURE CONTENT 21+// She Hates Me, But She's Mine in EVERY Way] “No… I won't.” “Oh, petal, I wasn't asking. You WILL marry me.” **** Dr. Kiyomi, a neurosurgeon rogue lycan, lives in & never leaves the human hospital— the safest place for her. That’s until a high-profile mafia surgery goes wrong and she’s blamed for it despite being on leave. Suddenly the limelight is on her, forcing her rare last name back into the memories of people who have long wanted her dead — the Bogdan Lycans. As if that isn't enough, the Ivanov Russian mob is after her with vengeance in their hearts. Scared, Kiyomi leaves the hospital pretending to be a night-shift male nurse — which works, only for her to be kidnapped at the hospital’s entrance, by the cruel lycan queen’s guards who drag her to the queen Sakura’s human home. — — — Sakura Watanabe; the soulless crazy queen known to screw up everyone for fun. She ruins everything she touches and sucks the life out of everyone around her. She is bad, cruel, and a menace who does whatever she wants, however, and whenever she wants it. When she hears of Dr. Kiyomi’s misfortunes, she is curious to see what will make that lycan break, and orders that Kiyomi be brought to her, so she can sign the infamous Sakura contract that always leaves the signee dead, dead and dead. What Sakura doesn't factor in is the fact that the woman who walks through her door is her soulmate. And even worse is the desire she gets to protect Kiyomi. Not one to relent in the hands of fate, Sakura forces Kiyomi to sign the oppressive contract. What happens when Sakura's heart starts beating for Kiyomi, and she goes after everyone who hurt her soulmate? Will she cancel the contract and embrace love, or will she stay the stoic soulless queen with nothing to live for? And even better, how long can Sakura fight fate?

Esme Baredon is the unwanted daughter of Duke Rathon of Baredon. Ignored by her father and living in the shadow of her perfect half-sister, Merina, Esme's life has always been filled with pain and loneliness. When her father makes a deal to pay off his debts and fund Merina’s future, Esme is given away in marriage—to King Liam Garrison, the feared ruler of Eastbrone. With no choice but to accept, Esme is thrown into a royal life she never wanted. But as she faces the cold walls of the king’s castle, one question haunts her: Will this marriage be another cage?

Now, with Alfred being gifted the power of the SOUL CONTRACT, he can now control his pretty zombie girlfriend. But there's a problem he needs to keep killing zombies, saving humans, and accomplishing the task given by the system to accumulate enough HEART FLAME ESSENCE So that he can make her zombie girlfriend slowly turn back into a human. Or else if he won't, Alfred is getting cooked by his girlfriend since the soul contract will be broken. And she will start attacking him again. And this time, his gentlemanly move with her will no longer work.

"I DO" → "I DIE." Hours after marrying her longtime crush—icy CEO Nathan Jang—heiress Vanessa Belmont is stabbed, kidnapped, and left to bleed out in a wrecked car. The final insult? Watching Nathan rescue his precious childhood sweetheart (*cough* Vanessa’s killer *cough*) instead of his actual wife. So yeah. Worst. Wedding. Night. EVER. FATE REWINDS Reborn six months before her murder, Vanessa upgrades her life with new rules: * Ditch the doormat era. (Badass mode: activated.) * Live for herself. (And okay, fine—revenge.) * Avoid Nathan like he’s the reason she died. (Oh, wait…) TOO BAD NATHAN 2.0 IS OBSESSED Now he’s everywhere—lingering touches, midnight texts, and panty-melting kisses. Not to mention his hungry gaze—like she’s an all-you-can-eat buffet and he's starving. VANESSA'S SECOND CHANCE PLAN 1. Don’t die. (Again.) 2. Don’t fall for Nathan. (Too late.) 3. Eat more carbs. (Donuts!) As for Nathan? She’ll forgive him when hell freezes over. Or when he takes off his shirt. Whichever comes first. ***|***|***|***|*** ASH CITY BILLIONAIRES Love is the ultimate power play. ***|***|***|***|***

When a chance encounter on a dark road thrusts Christopher Chen, a timid college student from rural Ohio, into the orbit of Alex Wang—a mysterious, wealthy man battling lifelong insomnia—their lives collide in a dangerous bargain. Forced to share a home in exchange for sleep, Christopher navigates a world of opulence and emotional turmoil, unaware that Alex’s cold exterior masks a past riddled with familial trauma and isolation. As Christopher’s resolve to escape his humble roots clashes with Alex’s desperate need for companionship, an unlikely bond forms. They explore the divide between privilege and poverty, secrets and truth, as Christopher struggles to reconcile his rural values with Alex’s cutthroat world. When Alex’s powerful father threatens to destroy everything, their relationship is tested by blackmail, sacrifice, and the weight of societal expectations.

Their marriage was a transaction, inked on paper, devoid of affection. Or so he claimed. “What did you expect? That I’d fall for you? That this would become some fairytale?” “I would appreciate it,” she said coldly, “if you can remember that too.” Xia Ruyan, poised and distant, was nothing like the women Mo Yichen had known. She didn’t cry. She didn’t chase. She didn’t flinch. “You’re not worth the effort,” she said, unapologetically brutal. He tried to provoke her. Tried to tear past the mask of composure she wore like armor. But she met his fury with indifference. Moved like he was invisible. Breathed like he wasn’t there. He hated it. Her calm. Her detachment. Her maddening control. “I don’t like games,” he said one last time before turning away. Then, with a dark, curling smirk, he made a promise to himself. Let her pretend she’s above it all. So composed. So unreachable. Sooner or later, Xia Ruyan will break… And Mo Yichen will be the one to shatter her. She doesn’t feel anymore. Not since the day everything she loved was taken from her. Now, she hides emotionlessly behind a wall of ice, like someone who can't be touched....... He feels too much but only for control, power, and winning every game he plays. Cold-hearted and calculating, he’s never let anyone close enough to matter… until her. Two strangers, each carrying wounds the world can’t see, are thrown together by fate. He wants to melt her defenses. She wants to escape his grip. But when fire meets ice, someone always gets burned. Some hearts freeze to survive. Others burn to feel alive. Only the fiercest embers remain.

“I was just a delivery guy. One weird bottle, one wrong knock… and now I’m married to a vampire queen.” Liam Ross thought it was just another late-night gig—deliver a mysterious bottle of vintage wine to a mansion he’d never heard of. Next thing he knows, he's waking up in a gothic castle, covered in blood, with a glowing sigil on his wrist… and a dangerously beautiful vampire queen declaring him her husband. Bound by an ancient blood contract, Liam finds himself thrust into a deadly underworld of vampire politics, ancient courts, and supernatural assassins. He has three days to prove himself or die—and if he dies, his new bride dies with him. Survive the bond. Learn the rules. Or burn in the eternal night. But there’s a problem: Liam is human. Mortal. Untrained. And some vampires would rather see him dead than let a lowborn outsider sit beside their queen. Now, it’s not just his life on the line—it’s hers too.

“We’re friends,” I said, voice barely steady. Aaron’s lips curled, slow and cruel. “No, we’re not.” “Friendship’s too pure for this.” His hand slid to my waist, hot and claiming as he yanked me flush against him. “Do friends kiss like this?” He kissed me. Hard. Possessive. “Or grab each other like this?” A squeeze to my ass. A gasp. “Or think filthy little thoughts?” His breath burned against my ear. “Touch themselves to it?” My cheeks flamed. My body betrayed me. “Stop lying, Venus.” His voice was a growl. “I feel it. Every time I’m near you.” I whispered, “But you don’t even like me.” His smile was pure sin. “I don’t have to like you to fuck you.” Then the offer: “Let’s get it out of our system. No lies. No strings. Just truth.” He grabbed my chin, eyes lit with hunger. “Say the word, princess.” A whisper against my lips— “I’ll ruin you.” And God help me… I wanted him to. --------- Aaron Sinclair needs a bride to claim his inheritance. Venus Carter needs a miracle to save her dying mother. What begins as a cold contract marriage spirals into a dangerous game of buried trauma, stolen identities, and forbidden attachment. He’s ruthless, closed off, and refuses to love. She’s resilient, lost, and refuses to stay unloved. But when secrets unravel revealing a stolen childhood, a tragic past, and a vengeful stepmother, their fake marriage is the only thing standing between them and destruction. In a world ruled by power and silence, will love dare to speak first or break them both instead?

Yue Jing has always believed in fated love—the kind that sweeps you off your feet, the kind that’s written in the stars. She's dreamed of a slow-burning romance, the kind found in novels and whispered promises. But fate had other plans. On the eve of a high-profile society wedding, Yue's glamorous older sister vanishes—eloping with a mystery lover and leaving behind a furious billionaire fiancé, a humiliated family, and a crumbling business alliance. To save her family's honor and keep their struggling company afloat, Yue makes a shocking decision: she’ll step into her sister’s shoes and marry the powerful, cold-hearted Bai Yang in her place. But this isn't a fairy tale. It’s a contract marriage, with clear terms, no room for feelings, and an expiration date. Bai is everything Yue isn’t—calculating, emotionless, and completely closed off to love. To him, Yue is just a stand-in bride, a pawn in a business deal. But he doesn't expect his new wife to be clever, charismatic… and charming in all the ways that slowly unravel his carefully guarded world. Yue may have signed away her heart, but she refuses to be invisible. And as she signs the contract, she finds herself asking: 'Who said contract wives can’t be charming… and maybe even win a cold billionaire’s heart?'

Andrea Erwin had only been married for a week when she received a devastating phone call that her husband had been in a fatal car accident and didn’t survive. The shock sent her into early labor, and she gave birth to a premature baby boy. When she woke up, a man claiming to be her husband's older brother stood by her bed. He told her he believed his brother’s death was not an accident but murder. To uncover the truth, he asked her to enter a pretend marriage with him. As if that wasn’t enough, Andrea soon discovered that her late husband wasn’t who he claimed to be, he was actually the heir to a powerful and wealthy family. Determined to find out who killed her late husband, Andrea agreed to enter into a contract marriage with Gael . But as she stepped into a world of wealth, secrets, and lies, will Andrea regret not escaping to a faraway place with her baby or will she stay and fight till the end, giving her late husband justice and getting her baby the rights he deserves and amidst it all, is there a chance for this fake marriage to become a real one?

He married the richest woman in the country. But only on paper. When Kai Nakamura wakes up with memories from a past life of poverty and struggle, he finds himself in a luxurious mansion—married to the country’s most powerful CEO, Shion Mizuhara. Their marriage? A business arrangement. Her rules? No emotions. Keep appearances. ¥1 million a month to be the perfect background husband. But Kai starts to remember fragments of his former self: A boy who worked two jobs, studied by streetlight, and swore he’d build something bigger. Something real. And maybe—just maybe—this cold-hearted marriage is the key. --- “Don’t confuse a ring for affection.” “You’re my husband, not my equal.” – Shion Mizuhara “I’m not here to love you.” “I’m here to become someone you’ll regret underestimating.” – Kai Nakamura --- As Kai rises through university, business clubs, and elite networks, Shion starts to see something she never expected— A man who isn’t just surviving her world... He’s mastering it. Slow-burn romance. Enemies-to-partners. Hidden ambition. A cold marriage with a slow flame. What happens when the disposable husband stops being disposable?

In a world where insect hunters brave harsh landscapes to harvest rare insect eggs, Rick Langton—a rookie hunter on the run from a bounty—sets out for Ison City with a cache of Black Tiger Ant soldier eggs. Betrayed by his former pack, the Wolf, and bound by a cryptic promise to the enigmatic Lav, Rick navigates the treacherous Tanzan Desert with unlikely allies: the resourceful Anna, the volatile assassin Shust, and Balzac, a vengeful ex-Wolf member……