How do you survive when the only life you have known has been stolen from you? At six years old I was branded a murderer,blamed for what I knew nothing of and a slave to my cruel Aunt and Uncle. For fifteen years , I endured their abuse and believe the lies they told me. Until the day I was auctioned to the highest bidder: the arrogant Alpha Lukan. I thought being sold would only bring more misery, but instead it brought me to the powerful and mysterious Alpha of the Nightbane pack. He was ruthless yet kind , cold yet tender and seemed to promise me the love I have never known. But nothing is ever that simple. Why did he choose me? Why does he keep me close yet seem so distant, as if searching for something I can't see. But when the Moon Goddess decides to play chess with your life, you have no option but to move with the game. With every step I take, new secret stepped forward, eager to break the fragile happiness I have found. Now I must decide-am I just another pawn, or can I become the queen in a game I never choose to play.
MERIDA
" Meridaaaaa!!!"
Someone yelled my name from upstairs and I gave a silent groan as my head pounded not from the scream but from lack of sleep and hunger.
" Where is that ostrich called Merida?" The voice said again as I struggled to my feet and my stomach rumbled.
I didn't need a seer to tell me who it was. It was no other person but my Aunt Ophelia. I could hear her loud footsteps coming down the stairs.
Just as I tried to steady myself, I fell back on the box I had been sitting on.
" Goodness me." She gasped." I just hope I'm blind and not seeing you sitting like the mate to a powerful Alpha."she said to me. I opened my mouth to say something and only air poured out and, before I could blink, her hands flew through the air and made slices of slaps on my cheeks, sending me reeling backwards.
"What have you been doing here? You have been busy doing nothing, I guess." She said again to me and I kept mute.
Enough experience had told me that trying to defend myself would only get me into more trouble, so I stood there like a statue staring at her as she yelled at me.
"For the past 3 days I have been drumming this into your silly head that we are having guests, but instead all you, do ever since you woke up was to sit there staring into space."
I bowed my head and let my eyes gaze at my bony feet. It was my way of giving a silent apology.
"Didn't you hear when I said one of our guests is very important? In case you don't know, Alpha Lukan Hades will be here any moment from now and I don't want you to give this family a bad name because of your sluggishness when it comes to cleaning."
I raised my head up slowly.
Alpha Lukan Hades. A powerful and popular Alpha in all of the Western Wolfe Kingdom.
I already knew he was coming, but not this early.
I bent down and gathered the mop and the bucket as Aunt Ophelia ran into the kitchen and came back with a tray of wine flutes and a bottle of expensive wine.
"These are for the guests. You better not drink them," She said, pushing the tray into my hands.
She pushed me into the small room where our guest would be sitting and banged the door shut.
I placed the tray on one of the tables carefully and proceeded with my cleaning.
The room was as clean as anything and was even as sparkling as the sun and, for the umpteenth time, I wondered why I should be cleaning it.
Lying on one of the chairs was a magazine. I reached for it and tossed it away and proceeded with my cleaning thinking I had heard the soft thud of the magazine hitting the floor, but instead I heard someone clearing their throat.
I looked towards the direction and my breath hitched in my throat.
There, sitting at the far end holding a fat cigar in the other hand and sipping from a tumbler, was the most handsome man I had ever seen.
"Don't tell me your eyes were glued to your face for decorations?" He hissed and took another sip.
"I- I'm so sorry." I stuttered in a very small voice which was barely above a whisper.
"Didn't you see me, or you pretended not to?"he questioned, rising to his feet as he puffed out smoke from his lips before butting it.
I tried to speak, but my lips quivered, and my eyes fell down to my feet in fear.
"Answer me!" He roared, and I began to shiver and, instead, I shook my head.
"Then you could have felt my presence or even perceived my scent."
I shook my head numbly." I didn't feel your presence and...and I didn't perceive your scent." I managed to say, forcing the words out.
He cocked an eyebrow and with one long finger he lifted my face and stared at me while I tried to look away fearfully.
"What kind of wolf doesn't perceive a scent or don't you have one?"
"I have a wolf." I struggled to speak. I could feel his eyes roaming around my body and settled on a scar on my upper arm.
"What is this a kind of punishment or what?"
I nodded feebly.
"Speak to me and look at me when I'm talking to you, not at your feet."
I swallowed hard." Yes, it was a punishment to bind my wolf."
I could feel that the discussion was taking another direction. I quickly disengaged from his grasp.
I wanted to be done with everything Aunt Ophelia instructed before she finds me there.
So I turned around and picked up the tray, and I wasn't watching my steps. I felt myself bumping into him and the tray fell off my hands. The wine flute and bottle of wine broke into pieces, shattering the still air.
Just then the door burst open, and Aunt Ophelia stood there like she had seen the ghost of her grandparents.
" Gracious Moon goddess." She gasped, and she raced to slap me when Alpha Lukan's hands tightened on her wrist.
"If I were you I wouldn't do that."
She released her hands from his grasp forcefully and gave a thin smile.
" Go and call your uncle, get another drink and find something to clear this mess." She rattled orders at me.
" Aunt Ophelia asked me to call you, the Alpha is here." I said to Uncle Garrick who was in the living room. He dropped the remote and gave me a deadly look before pushing me out of the way.
I quickly brought another wine flute and a champagne and while I cleared the mess I could feel Alpha Lukan's gaze on me.
" She is your niece, I'm I correct."
" Yes," Aunt Ophelia said immediately.
" So why does she look like your slave?"
Aunt Ophelia and uncle Garrick exchanged shocked glances. This was the first time someone had openly challenged the way they were treating me and from the looks on their faces they hated it.
" She did something terribly wrong," Aunt Ophelia said after a brief moment.
" And what would that possibly be?" Alpha Lukan asked, quite angry.
Aunt Ophelia gave me a brief dirty look before she spoke up again.
"Ask her what happened 15 years ago."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”