Wretched: Collector's Edition (Never After, #3) by Emily McIntire

dark romance • enemies-to-lovers • morally gray heroine • undercover agent • forbidden attraction

She was born to be the villain. He was sent to bring her empire down. Neither expected their greatest weakness to be each other. Evelina Westerly has built her life around power, loyalty, and revenge, with no room for love or distractions. But when a mysterious stranger from one unforgettable night reappears in her world, the attraction between them becomes impossible to ignore. Nicholas Woodsworth has his own reasons for infiltrating her family's criminal empire, and getting close to Evelina was never supposed to become personal. In a dangerous game where loyalty is tested and desire threatens to unravel everything, Wretched delivers a dark, provocative romance that turns the classic Wicked Witch into a heroine who refuses to play by anyone else's rules.

The Vibe

Evelina Westerly has never pretended to be the good guy. Brilliant, ruthless, and fiercely protective of her own interests, she plays a crucial role in her family's drug empire. When she isn't tending to her beloved greenhouse, she's focused on her own ambitions and the unfinished business that fuels her need for revenge. Love has no place in her carefully controlled world.

Nicholas Woodsworth is a man with a mission. Working undercover, he has infiltrated the Westerly organization with the intention of dismantling the criminal operation from within. But when he discovers that the woman he cannot stop thinking about is deeply connected to the very world he is trying to destroy, his professional resolve becomes dangerously complicated.

Their relationship is built on conflicting loyalties, undeniable chemistry, and the uncomfortable realization that neither is as simple as the other first assumed. Evelina challenges Nicholas's convictions, while his presence threatens to expose the vulnerabilities she works so hard to conceal. As attraction grows between two people who should be enemies, every choice carries consequences.

Inspired by the Wicked Witch of Oz, Wretched reimagines the familiar villain through a contemporary, morally complex lens. Emily McIntire blends criminal underworld intrigue with intense romantic tension, sharp character contrasts, and a heroine who is unapologetically complicated.

Dark, seductive, and emotionally charged, this is a romance for readers who love ruthless women, conflicted heroes, and love stories that blur the line between right and wrong. This is a dark contemporary romance with mature themes. Readers should consult the author's content warnings before beginning.

Spice Level

• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (4/5)

Tropes & Tags

• Dark romance
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Morally gray heroine
  
• Criminal underworld
• One-night stand
• Hidden identity
• Forbidden attraction
  
• Dangerous chemistry
• Family loyalty
• Revenge themes
• Greenhouse and botanical elements
• Wicked Witch of Oz inspiration
• Fractured fairy tale
• High-stakes romance
• Contemporary romance

Books in Series (In Order)

• Hooked, #1
• Scarred, #2
• Wretched, #3
• Twisted, #4
• Crossed, #5
• Hexed, #6

The Never After series features interconnected standalone dark romances inspired by fairy-tale villains. Each book follows a different couple and can be read independently, although reading in order allows readers to experience the series chronologically.