A feared villager replaces her half-sister as a forest guardian's bride and discovers he guards her mother's secrets.
Bellwether treats Willa as cursed because of her mother's reputation. When the village selects her half-sister for the Woodman, Willa dons the bridal cloak and enters the Elderwood alone. The guardian defies every tale, shielding her with respect and hinting he protected her mother. Beyond the trees, the Hollow Folk gather while the fiancé Willa left behind rides to reclaim her, each force pressing her to choose where her future lies.
Markers
- 1Cursed daughter swaps places
- 2Forest guardian hides truth
- 3Rival claims converge
Audience
Audiences who want fantasy romance where the monster becomes the only honest ally.
