The Alpha's Bane Azriel was born to lead, destined to inherit the powerful Moonveil Pack. But fate had other plans. Cursed by an ancient evil, he fights a darkness that lurks beneath his skin, a force that whispers in his mind, urging him to lose control. With each passing night, the beast within grows stronger, threatening to consume him-and destroy everything he loves. As betrayal brews within his pack and a hidden enemy rises, Azriel must uncover the truth behind his curse before it's too late. But when the only key to breaking it lies in the hands of a mysterious woman tied to his fate, Azriel is faced with an impossible choice: embrace the monster within or risk losing everything. In a world where strength rules and the weak perish, can the cursed Alpha defy his fate-or will he become the very thing he fears?
The night was cool, but Azriel felt none of its peace.
Standing at the edge of the Moonveil Pack's territory, he watched the moon cast silver light over the vast expanse of land he was sworn to protect. Shadows stretched long beneath the towering trees, their whispers carried by the wind. A familiar scent lingered in the air-pine, damp earth, and the unmistakable musk of wolves.
His wolves.
His pack.
But no matter how deeply he breathed it in, it never felt like home.
A sharp pulse rippled through his chest, spreading fire through his veins. His jaw clenched as he fought the familiar sensation, but the curse-the bane that haunted him-was relentless. It stirred beneath his skin like a beast trapped in a cage, clawing at his insides, demanding release.
"Give in, Azriel," a voice whispered in his mind, smooth and insidious. "You were never meant to fight this."
His fingers curled into fists.
He wouldn't listen.
He couldn't.
"Alpha."
Azriel turned at the sound of Lucan's voice. His Beta stood a few feet away, arms crossed over his broad chest. His expression was unreadable, but his golden-brown eyes held something close to concern.
"They're waiting," Lucan said, nodding toward the clearing beyond the trees.
Azriel exhaled sharply. The Full Moon Festival. A night of celebration, where the pack gathered to honor their bond with the moon, their strength, their unity. But for him, it was something else entirely. A reminder of what set him apart-of the darkness lurking within him.
Still, an Alpha couldn't hide from his pack. Even if he felt like a stranger among them.
With a slow nod, he followed Lucan toward the clearing where fires burned bright and laughter filled the night.
---
The Festival
The festival was alive with energy. Wolves-both shifted and in human form-moved freely through the clearing, their voices blending in a harmony of joy and camaraderie. The scent of roasted meat, spiced ale, and burning wood drifted through the air.
The pack was celebrating.
But the moment Azriel entered, a subtle shift rippled through the crowd.
Wolves parted instinctively as he walked past. Some lowered their gazes in deference, while others hesitated, their smiles faltering. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable. But Azriel felt it.
They respected him.
They followed him.
But they also feared him.
His curse had not gone unnoticed.
Lucan stepped ahead, blending easily into the crowd, but Azriel lingered near the outskirts, scanning the faces. The warmth of the firelight flickered against their features, but he felt no warmth from them. No true acceptance.
Then, suddenly-a scent hit him.
It was unlike anything he had ever encountered before.
Wild. Crisp. Like the first rain after a long drought, mixed with something untamed, something forbidden.
His body tensed. His wolf stirred. His heart slammed against his ribs.
He turned.
And then he saw her.
Valencia.
She stood near the fire, her golden eyes glowing softly in the flickering light. Long silver-blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face both delicate and fierce. She held herself with quiet strength, poised yet distant, like a predator watching from the shadows.
The mate bond snapped into place with the force of a lightning strike.
Azriel's entire being locked onto her. A force stronger than instinct, older than time itself, called him forward. His wolf howled in his mind, demanding he move, demanding he claim what was his.
But then-just as quickly as the moment came-she turned away.
Azriel felt the rejection like a physical blow.
Lucan appeared beside him, smirking. "She won't make it easy for you."
Azriel exhaled through his nose, suppressing the growl building in his throat. "Nothing ever is."
Before Lucan could reply, a sudden change in the air made every wolf still.
The fire crackled wildly. The wind howled through the trees. A heavy silence fell over the clearing, thick with tension. Wolves instinctively straightened, their senses sharpening.
And then-the whisper came.
Low. Cold. Inhuman.
"You cannot escape me, Azriel."
It wasn't just in his head this time.
It was here.
A shape materialized from the darkness at the forest's edge. Twisted. Shadowed. A presence not fully human, not fully wolf. Its eyes-black voids-locked onto him.
Azriel's pulse roared in his ears.
He knew this presence.
He had felt it before. In his nightmares. In the whispers of his curse.
The ancient evil that haunted him... had finally come for him.
The Billionaire's Contract Bride Helen never imagined her life would take such a sharp turn. Struggling to keep her mother's medical bills paid and a roof over her head, she finds herself with no options-until a contract is placed before her. Alexander Harper, a ruthless billionaire CEO, needs a wife, but not for love. His empire is at stake, and a contract marriage is the only way to secure his position. Cold, dominant, and dangerously attractive, he makes Helen an offer she can't refuse. But what starts as a business arrangement soon becomes a tangled web of passion, secrets, and power struggles. Alexander is used to being in control, but Helen is not the timid woman he expected. As lines blur and emotions ignite, will this contract end in ruin-or in a love neither of them saw coming?
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"