1. Overpass Warning

In the city of St. Dismas, a body is found hanging from an overpass, the word "Trafficker" carved into his chest. At a lavish engagement party in his penthouse, lawyer Wyatt Malone overhears rumors that the shadowy group known as The Firm is responsible. Wyatt, fiercely protective of his younger brother Jackson and resentful of his privileged colleague Matthias Buckingham, tries to keep the conversation away from dangerous topics. The Firm, a mythic organization that grants wishes for a price, is both feared and sought after. Wyatt dismisses the idea of ever needing them, but the city's undercurrent of desperation and power is palpable.

2. Desperate Bargain

A year later, Wyatt's life has unraveled. His brother Jackson is gravely injured, medical bills are insurmountable, and Wyatt has lost his job, fiancée, and home. With nowhere left to turn, he walks through the rain to the graveyard of St. Dismas Church, the legendary site for making requests to The Firm. He leaves his desperate plea for help, knowing the price will be steep but believing he has no other choice if he wants to save Jackson.

3. The Firm's Price

Wyatt's request is answered with a flood of money and all his debts mysteriously paid. Relief is quickly replaced by dread as he waits for The Firm to name their price. When the summons comes, it's not what he expects: he must fulfill someone else's request. The address leads him to a meeting with Matthias, his old rival and the man who once stole his promotion. The two are told by a Firm representative that Wyatt's debt will be paid by marrying Matthias, who needs a husband for reasons he won't fully explain.

4. Reunion of Rivals

Wyatt and Matthias are thrown together in a marriage neither wants. Old wounds fester—Wyatt resents Matthias for past betrayals, while Matthias is cold and controlling. The arrangement is to last a year, during which Wyatt must play the part of a loving husband in public and private, including sharing a bed. The tension between them is electric, fueled by unresolved history and mutual attraction neither will admit.

5. Marriage of Convenience

As Wyatt moves into Matthias's opulent home, he struggles with the loss of his independence and the humiliation of relying on his enemy. Yet, the forced proximity and shared responsibility for Jackson's care begin to blur the lines between pretense and genuine connection. Their banter is sharp, their boundaries fraught, and their chemistry undeniable. Both men are haunted by the past, but neither is willing to be the first to lower their guard.

6. Brother's Keeper

Jackson's recovery becomes the center of Wyatt's world, and Matthias arranges for the best care, revealing a softer side. Wyatt is torn between gratitude and suspicion, unsure if Matthias's generosity is genuine or part of the contract. The brothers' bond is tested as Wyatt hides the truth about The Firm from Jackson, and Jackson, ever perceptive, pushes Wyatt to confront his feelings for Matthias.

7. The Cost of Wishes

Wyatt's initial relief at his wish being granted is replaced by anxiety over the unknown price. The Firm's power is absolute, and their reach is everywhere. Wyatt learns that every wish comes with a hidden cost, and the city is full of people who have paid dearly. The marriage, meant to be a transaction, becomes a crucible for both men as they realize the true cost may be their hearts.

8. Enemies in Bed

The forced intimacy of marriage leads to explosive confrontations and, eventually, to passion. Wyatt and Matthias's antagonism gives way to reluctant desire, and their physical relationship becomes a battleground for control and trust. Each encounter peels back layers of resentment, revealing longing and regret. The line between hate and love blurs as they begin to see each other's pain.

9. Ghosts of the Past

Flashbacks reveal the depth of Wyatt and Matthias's shared history. As teenagers, they were inseparable friends, but a betrayal—engineered by Matthias's ruthless father—tore them apart. Matthias's silence and Wyatt's heartbreak shaped their adult selves. The truth about the past, and the role The Firm played in their separation, begins to surface, threatening to destroy the fragile peace they've built.

10. The Honeymoon Trap

Sent on a honeymoon to maintain appearances, Wyatt and Matthias are forced into close quarters. The beauty of the island contrasts with the storm brewing between them. Away from the city, they let down their guards, and their relationship deepens. Confessions are made, old hurts are confronted, and for the first time, they glimpse the possibility of real happiness together.

11. Truths and Betrayals

Back home, the past catches up with them. Wyatt discovers that Matthias has been hiding more than he realized—about The Firm, about his family, and about the true nature of their marriage. The revelation that Matthias orchestrated their reunion through The Firm shatters Wyatt's trust. Feeling manipulated, Wyatt leaves, unable to forgive the deception.

12. The Firm Unmasked

Wyatt learns the full extent of The Firm's influence: the Buckinghams are The Firm, and Matthias has been both victim and enforcer. The family's legacy is one of shadow justice, granting wishes and exacting prices in secret. Matthias's actions, once seen as betrayal, are revealed as desperate attempts to protect Wyatt at any cost—even sacrificing his own happiness and freedom.

13. Choosing Each Other

With the truth laid bare, Wyatt must decide if he can forgive Matthias and accept the complicated reality of their love. Encouraged by Jackson and Matthias's brothers, Wyatt realizes that happiness is worth fighting for. He returns to Matthias, proposing that they start anew—this time with honesty and choice, not obligation.

14. Family of Shadows

Wyatt and Matthias are welcomed into the Buckingham fold, now fully aware of the family's secret life. Jackson, too, becomes part of the inner circle. The Firm's work continues, but with Wyatt's moral compass and Matthias's devotion, they begin to imagine a future where love and justice can coexist. The brothers' banter and loyalty provide a foundation for healing and hope.

15. The New Covenant

Wyatt and Matthias, no longer bound by contracts or secrets, choose each other freely. Their marriage, once a transaction, becomes a true partnership. Together, they face the challenges of The Firm, their family, and the city they both love and fear. The story ends with a sense of hard-won peace: two men, scarred but whole, daring to believe in forever.

Characters

Wyatt Malone

Wyatt is a self-made man, fiercely loyal to his younger brother Jackson and determined to rise above his impoverished, traumatic upbringing. His drive is fueled by a need to protect those he loves, even at great personal cost. Wyatt's pride and stubbornness are both his armor and his Achilles' heel, making him slow to trust and quick to anger. His relationship with Matthias is shaped by old wounds and unresolved longing; he is both drawn to and wary of vulnerability. Over the course of the story, Wyatt is forced to confront his own capacity for forgiveness and the possibility that love can be both a risk and a refuge.

Matthias Buckingham

Matthias is the scion of the powerful Buckingham family, burdened by a legacy of violence and secrecy. Outwardly cold, controlled, and privileged, he is inwardly haunted by the loss of his mother, the abuse of his father, and the betrayal that separated him from Wyatt. Matthias's love for Wyatt is the central force in his life, driving him to desperate measures and self-sacrifice. He is both a victim and an agent of The Firm, forced to choose between duty and desire. His journey is one of atonement, as he seeks not only Wyatt's forgiveness but also his own.

Jackson Malone

Jackson is Wyatt's younger brother, whose accident and recovery are the impetus for Wyatt's fateful bargain with The Firm. Despite his youth and trauma, Jackson is perceptive, witty, and emotionally intelligent. He serves as both Wyatt's anchor and conscience, pushing him to confront his feelings and fight for happiness. Jackson's integration into the Buckingham family symbolizes the healing of old wounds and the creation of a new, chosen family.

The Buckingham Brothers (Wylder, Dalton, Cade, Samson, Harley)

Each brother represents a facet of the family legacy: Wylder the leader, Dalton the trickster, Cade the enforcer, Samson the skeptic, Harley the wildcard. Their relationships are marked by rivalry, loyalty, and dark humor. They are both accomplices and foils to Matthias, challenging and supporting him as he navigates love and duty. Their presence adds depth to the world of The Firm, revealing the costs and complexities of power.

The Firm

More than an organization, The Firm is a symbol of the city's moral ambiguity. It grants wishes but always extracts a price, operating in the shadows to enforce its own brand of justice. The Firm's legacy is both a curse and a lifeline for those desperate enough to seek its help. Its true face is revealed to be the Buckingham family, blurring the line between myth and reality.

Jen

Jen represents the life Wyatt thought he wanted: stability, success, and acceptance. Her inability to stand by Wyatt during hardship exposes the fragility of relationships built on convenience rather than love. Her departure is both a wound and a liberation for Wyatt.

Jules and Corbin

Jules, the chef, and Corbin, the gardener, provide moments of warmth, humor, and normalcy in the Buckingham household. Their presence humanizes Matthias and offers Wyatt a sense of belonging. They also serve as subtle reminders that family can be found in unexpected places.

Matthias's Father (Phillip Buckingham)

The late patriarch of the Buckingham family is the true villain of the story, orchestrating the original betrayal that tore Wyatt and Matthias apart. His legacy of cruelty, manipulation, and secrecy haunts both men, shaping their fears and choices. His death is both a relief and a reminder of the power of the past.

The City of St. Dismas

The city is more than a backdrop; it is a living, breathing entity shaped by desperation, corruption, and hope. Its graveyards, overpasses, and rain-soaked streets are the stage for the drama of The Firm and the love story at its heart.

Plot Devices

Forced Proximity and Marriage of Convenience

The central device is the marriage contract imposed by The Firm, which forces Wyatt and Matthias into close quarters and emotional vulnerability. This trope is used to explore themes of trust, forgiveness, and the blurred line between obligation and desire.

The Shadow Organization

The Firm operates as both a literal and metaphorical force, granting wishes at a price and shaping the destinies of the characters. Its true identity as the Buckingham family is a twist that reframes the entire narrative, revealing the personal cost of power and secrecy.

Dual Timelines and Flashbacks

The story uses flashbacks to Wyatt and Matthias's youth to deepen the emotional stakes and explain the origins of their pain. The gradual revelation of the past is mirrored by the slow unmasking of The Firm's secrets.

The Price of Wishes

The Firm's central rule—that every wish has a price—serves as both a plot engine and a philosophical question. Characters are forced to confront what they are willing to sacrifice for love, family, and survival.

Found Family and Redemption

The integration of Wyatt and Jackson into the Buckingham family, and the acceptance of their flaws and histories, is a key device for exploring themes of forgiveness, belonging, and the possibility of a new beginning.

Analysis

Covenant is a dark, emotionally charged romance that uses the tropes of enemies-to-lovers, marriage of convenience, and secret societies to explore the cost of love, the weight of the past, and the possibility of redemption. At its core, the novel is about two men shaped by trauma and betrayal, forced to confront not only each other but also the legacies that haunt them. The Firm, both a literal organization and a metaphor for the bargains we make with fate, serves as a crucible for transformation. The story interrogates the idea that every wish comes with a price, and that true happiness requires not just desire but also honesty, vulnerability, and the courage to choose each other—again and again. In a world where power is wielded in the shadows and justice is never simple, Covenant suggests that love, when freely chosen and fiercely defended, can be both the greatest risk and the greatest reward.

Last updated: August 1, 2025