"Rate that one," Ethan whispered, sidling up to me as I tried to swallow my frustration. He gestured toward another girl walking by with her father-a tall man with a belly that strained his too-small suit jacket. "Girl's a solid six," Ethan murmured, barely holding back his grin. "Dad? Three. No, wait. Two-point-five. Those shoes are a crime." "Piss off," I hissed, though the corner of my mouth twitched. Teely joined him, holding two champagne flutes, one of which she offered to me. "You look like you need it." "Gee, thanks," I muttered, downing the drink in one go. It didn't help. Teely laughed softly. "Relax, Luca. You'll survive this. Probably." "Only because I haven't strangled anyone yet," I shot back, earning another chuckle from Ethan. "Seriously, though," Ethan said, dropping his voice. "You've gotta pick someone, or your dad's gonna lose his mind. And let's be honest, the guy doesn't have much sanity left to lose." I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not picking anyone. None of these people matter." "Your funeral," Ethan said with a shrug, though there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He knew. He always knew. The night dragged on, every interaction blurring into the next. Girls smiled politely, their fathers talked about alliances, and I nodded through all of it like I wasn't seconds away from bolting out the door. Then it hit me. A scent. Faint, but unmistakable. It was like rain on warm soil, mixed with something sweet and soft-something her. My chest tightened, my wolf snapping to attention like someone had just poured gasoline on a fire. I froze, the world around me dimming as I tried to track it. My head snapped to the left, then to the right. Where? Where was it coming from? "Luca?" Ethan's voice sounded far away, like it was coming from underwater. There. My eyes locked on the grand staircase at the far end of the hall. A girl was descending, her dress shimmering in the light like it was made of emeralds. Her movements were slow, almost deliberate, and I couldn't see her face yet. But I didn't need to. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. She was holding the arm of a man-tall, broad-shouldered, and irritatingly familiar. But I couldn't focus on him. Not when she finally turned her head, her face coming into view. Quinn. My legs nearly gave out. My breath caught, my wolf howling inside me. It was her. After everything, she was here. And she wasn't alone. ******************************************************************* Seventeen-year-old Quinn Wayne moves with her family from bustling New York City to a secluded, mist-shrouded town in Alaska, where her parents have purchased a dilapidated inn. Surrounded by dense forests and towering mountains, the picturesque town promises a fresh start-but Quinn quickly realizes it holds secrets far darker than she could have ever imagined. In this epic journey of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery, Quinn must rise as the Lunar Guardian, embracing her newfound powers and her identity as Luca's mate. The path ahead is uncertain, filled with loss, triumph, and transformation. But one thing is clear: the choices Quinn makes will forever alter the balance between humans and werewolves-and determine whether love can conquer even the darkest of curses.
The room smelled like blood and death, but that wasn't what burned my lungs. No, that was the grief - thick, suffocating, and raw. It clawed at my throat, threatening to break me apart.
The body in my arms was too still, and getting cold. Crimson stained my hands, warm against my trembling fingers as I stroked her hair. Tangled strands clung to her pale face, and I brushed them away gently, even though I knew it didn't matter anymore.
I wasn't sure when the sobs started - maybe when her pulse faded beneath my touch, or maybe when I realized I couldn't fix this. Either way, I didn't fight them. The world was already broken, so what was the point in holding back?
A flicker of movement caught my eye, and my gaze locked onto the most evil being to exist, Cale. He stood across from me, her blood splattered on his clothes, his expression hard and unreadable. His presence was a slap to the face - a brutal reminder of everything that had gone wrong.
And God, where had it gone wrong? Was it the day I moved to this city? If I'd never come here, none of this would've happened. Maybe I wouldn't have been thrown into this twisted world of packs and power struggles. Maybe she wouldn't be dead.
But then... I wouldn't have met him either.
The thought was bitter and beautiful all at once. The love of my life. The man who changed everything.
My chest tightened, and I blinked back the sting of tears. No, I couldn't think about him right now. Not here, not like this. But the memories pushed their way in anyway, relentless and vivid.
It had all started when I moved to this place, naive and hopeful. I hadn't known what waited for me in the shadows.
If I had... would I have stayed?
I looked down at my friend's lifeless face, her blood seeping into the ground beneath us.
Probably not.
But life doesn't give you do-overs, does it?
And that's where the story really began. Back when I thought moving here was the start of something new - a fresh chapter, full of promise and possibility.
I was wrong.
So wrong.
Chapter 1 – The Big Move
The city had always been my prison-a loud, crowded, polluted nightmare where fitting in was a constant battle I never cared to win. The schools were worse. If you weren't in the right clique or didn't know the latest fashion trend, you were practically asking to be bullied. So I perfected the art of blending in, skirting the edges just enough to go unnoticed. Invisible was safe. Invisible was freedom.
That's why, when my parents announced we were moving to a tiny town in Alaska-Juneau of all places-I didn't hesitate. Before they even finished talking, I was on my laptop, fingers flying over the keys as I Googled everything about the place. Small town? Check. Thirty-five thousand people? Even better. Surrounded by mountains and endless forests? Jackpot. It was as if the universe had finally decided to throw me a bone.
My parents were thrilled when I gave them my full support, and honestly, so was I. Leaving New York wasn't hard. I didn't have any real friends-just classmates I occasionally texted about homework or nodded at in the hallways. No tearful goodbyes or heartfelt promises to stay in touch. Just a clean break. On my last day at school, I casually mentioned I was moving. The reactions were exactly what I expected-perfunctory well-wishes and indifferent shrugs. Fine by me. As I walked out of those school doors for the last time, I didn't even glance back.
The next two weeks were a chaotic blur of packing and selling the house. My parents nailed a quick sale, and before I knew it, we were spending our last night in New York. I barely slept, buzzing with anticipation. The next morning, we boarded a flight to our new life-a nine-hour journey to freedom.
Exhaustion hit me hard as soon as we settled into our seats. I was out cold before the plane even left the runway. The next thing I knew, my mom was shaking me awake, her voice practically bursting with excitement.
"Wake up, honey! We're here!"
Groggy but wired with enthusiasm, I stumbled off the plane. Outside the airport, a man in his early twenties stood holding a placard with our names on it. He had slicked-back hair, sharp features, and an easy smile that radiated confidence.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wayne?" he greeted cheerfully. "I'm Ethan Diaz. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
He shook hands with my parents and reached for our bags. As I got a good look at him, a strange sense of déjà vu crept over me. There was something oddly familiar about him, even though I'd never set foot in Alaska before. Weird.
We piled into his SUV, and as we drove through the winding roads, I couldn't stop staring out the window. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow. Dense forests stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sky was a vast expanse of blue. It felt like stepping into a postcard.
"Everything okay back there?" Ethan's voice broke through my thoughts. He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Yeah, definitely!" I blurted, probably a little too enthusiastically. My parents exchanged amused glances.
Ethan grinned. "It sure is something. I've got a list of places you might like to check out while you're getting settled. Thought you'd be up for some exploring."
"Absolutely! Thanks, Ethan." I tried to sound cool, but my excitement was barely contained.
My parents had timed the move perfectly. I had a couple of weeks to settle in before starting my final year of school. Plenty of time to explore, unpack, and maybe even meet a few people. My eighteenth birthday was just around the corner, too. It felt like the universe was finally giving me a break.
I was in the middle of fantasizing about all the adventures waiting for me when the car jolted violently.
Bang!
The deafening sound of metal smashing against something echoed through the air. My stomach flipped, and my heart slammed against my ribs.
"What the-?" Ethan cursed, gripping the steering wheel as the car skidded to a stop.
The tires screeched against the asphalt, and for a moment, everything was a blur of chaos and panic. My mom let out a sharp gasp, and my dad braced himself against the dashboard.
When the car finally came to a shuddering halt, there was a heavy silence.
"Is everyone okay?" Ethan's voice was strained, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"I think so," my dad said, his voice shaky. "What happened?"
Ethan didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on something ahead of us, his expression darkening.
I followed his gaze and felt the blood drain from my face.
"What the hell is that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "A wolf. Stay in the car."
Warren arrived at the hotel, his heart racing as he got to the roof. Panic seized him when he didn't immediately see Anastasia. As he moved closer to the ledge, he finally spotted her-lying dangerously close to the edge, her body slack and seemingly on the brink of slipping into unconsciousness. The sight of the empty bottle of pills and whiskey shattered something inside him. "Oh, Ana," he whispered, his voice thick with anguish as he approached her. But then, in a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, he saw her body begin to roll off the edge. The horror that gripped him turned his blood to ice. Without a second thought, Warren launched himself over the ledge after her, diving headfirst through the night air. The wind roared in his ears, but he moved with the precision of a bullet, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. When he finally caught her, relief surged through him. Cradling her tightly in his arms, he expanded his angelic wings, the pure white feathers cutting through the darkness as he propelled them upward, away from prying eyes. __________________________________________________________________________________________ After the loss of her mother and the abuse she receives from her stepfamily, Anastasia finds herself living in a world where grief and betrayal are commonplace. She turns to her childhood best friend and first love, Bastian, for consolation. But after a tragic accident leaves him in a coma Anastasia's world crumbles as he passes away from his injuries. Warren, a mysterious angel, enters her life just when it seems hope is lost. Because he is harboring secrets that may change everything, his presence is both comforting and unsettling. As Anastasia is drawn further into a world of angels, demons, and ancient abilities, she learns a shocking family secret and danger lerks around every corner. Anastasia is at the core of it all. Worse, she harbors her own secret even she doesn't fully understand, one known only by her late mother and a few others. As her connection to Warren deepens, Anastasia is forced to confront the reality of her family's past and the supernatural forces determined to destroy everything she loves. In a race against time, Anastasia must decide whether to embrace her hidden destiny and face a terrifying future or risk losing everything-including the love that might just save her. Secrets, danger, and a forbidden love that transcends time and reality collide in this heart-pounding journey of self-discovery and survival.
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
My marriage to Mathias was supposed to make me the happiest woman in the world. Although I knew he didn't love me, I thought he would fall for me once I showered him with all the love I had to give. Five years passed and Mathias still didn't give a damn about me. Instead, he met his true love and cut all ties with me because of her. He showed her off; something he never did for me. His abandonment pushed me into depression. I was broken in every sense of the word. Even on my deathbed, my so-called husband didn't come to say goodbye to me. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself reborn. I was still Mathias's wife and it was two months before he met his true love. In this life, I refused to be hurt by him again. After talking some sense into my head, I asked him for a divorce in other to escape being heartbroken like I was previously. Mathias tore up the divorce papers time and time again while also shutting me down. "Rylie, stop all this nonsense! Playing hard to get doesn't work anymore!" To show him that I was dead serious, I went ahead to file for divorce. Only then did he panic. He abandoned the "woman of his dreams" and came to my side. "Please give me a second chance, Rylie. I promise to do right by you. You'll be the only woman in my heart from now on. Don't leave me, okay?" A war broke out in my mind after this apology. On one hand, I didn't want to be hurt again. And on the other, I didn't want to let go of the man I loved so dearly. What should I do?!
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.