"A one-year contract marriage. I know you're investigating something,"-Lena's heart sped up and she fought to keep her features blank- "and I can help you with that. In exchange, for one year, my resources will be yours. Full access. No strings attached-except the ones in the contract, of course." Lena's heart raced. A marriage proposal, but with a twist. *** Betrayed and burning for vengeance, Lena Santoro-now Selene Costa-enters a deadly game of love and lies with Rafe Moretti, a mafia don with secrets of his own. In Naples, where power and passion collide, their marriage of convenience becomes a battle for survival. Can they trust each other, or will betrayal tear them apart?
"I think I've had enough," Lena grumbled as she leaned back on her chair and patted her belly.
"Nonsense, figlia," her father scolded. "There's no such thing as having too much lasagna."
"I've found my limits, Papa," she answered. "If any more lasagna goes into me I might die."
"Don't say things like that, Lena," her mother snapped, her fork falling from her hand. "Think before you speak."
Lena lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mama."
Beside her, her elder brother, Adriano, gave her a sympathetic smile before he continued eating, not saying anything like he always did.
It was like every other evening in Santoro's mansion. The Santoro family had dinners like this every day without fail.
But for the past weeks, there haven't been any family talks. Lena's father has become tense lately. The smallest of things irritated him, the smallest noise caused him to flinch, and he left immediately after dinner.
Lena has never seen her father like this before and it bothered her to no end. She had tried to talk to him several times but he always dismissed her with a word so she had stopped trying.
Adriano was done with his food so he and his father were deep into a discussion.
Lena stared at the chandelier, lost in her head.
"Lena," her father called. Her father barely called her by her given name, so when he did, she knew it was serious.
Her eyes fell to him and he had a frown on his face as he watched her.
"There's something important we would like to discuss with you," he said.
She shifted in her seat, suddenly uncomfortable. She looked at her mother and brother and they both had the same look on their faces.
She swallowed. "I'm listening, Papa."
Her father nodded. "This wil–"
Her father's words were cut off by the sound of gunshots and their windows breaking.
"Get down!" Adriano shouted before he threw Lena down and covered her body with his.
The gunshots died down and the room fell silent. But not for long.
She couldn't see more than the ground but she saw black boots entering their house. She raised her head slightly but Adriano pushed her head back down. But not before she saw men in black masks with big guns. There were up to ten men.
A cold shiver passed through her.
"How dare you break into my home?" She had never heard her father's voice so cold like that.
"You've forced our hand, Santoro," a deep voice answered. "You do not betray the Mafia and walk away."
The Mafia. What was happening?
"Give us what we came here for," the man continued, "and we'll leave."
Her father laughed, the sound bitter. "Do you take me for a fool, Antoine? You have come to kill me. And whether I give you what you want or not you'll do what you've been sent here to do."
Antoine didn't deny it. How did her father know these people?
"Then let's not waste time here, Santoro," Antoine said. "Give us what we came here for."
"I would rather die."
"Alessio," Lena's mother called her father's name, her voice soft and trembling.
"Ssshh, Mio Amore. Nothing will happen to you."
"Don't give your wife false hope, Santoro," Antoine mocked.
Lena couldn't see what was happening but she knew her father's face was twisted with anger. His voice confirmed that. "You will not touch my family."
"Give us what we came here for. Your family will live."
Her father said nothing. Why was he keeping quiet?
There was a beat of silence before she heard her mother's voice. She was screaming, shouting at the men to leave her alone. Her father's voice joined, throwing threats to the men.
Lena tried to raise her head but her brother pushed her back down, his body still covering hers. "Stay still," he hissed.
"This is your last warning, Santoro. Give us what we came here for and prevent this."
Her father stopped shouting.
Her mother continued to scream and soon her screams turned to sobs. Lena heard a man's grunt and she knew. She knew what they were doing to her mother.
Tears rolled down her eyes and she had to bite her lips to keep the sounds in.
Her mother screamed her father's name but he remained silent.
Lena saw her mother on the floor where the man had pushed her. She clenched her teeth to keep the sob that wanted to burst out in. Blood was flowing down her mother's legs.
"Mio Amore," her father whispered as he crawled to his wife, tears rolling down his eyes.
He had no right to cry when he had let this happen.
"This is your last chance, Santoro," Antoine said, his voice hard.
Her father said nothing and just held his crying wife.
A gunshot sounded and Lena watched in horror as blood rolled down her father's temple, a hole in his forehead.
She screamed, the sound muffled by her brother's hand covering her mouth.
Her mother followed.
Lena buckled under her brother's weight but he held strong.
"Avenge us, Lena," he whispered into her ear. "Bring hell down on our enemies."
Another gunshot sounded and her brother jerked before he went still. Warm blood poured down on her as her brother's body remained on her.
She waited for another gunshot to sound but it never came.
"Search the house!" Antonie commanded. "Make sure there are no survivors."
"Yes, Sir!"
Soon Lena heard gunshots and screams as the men killed her household. She remained silent, her body trembling as she became soaked with her brother's blood.
The smell of gasoline filled her nose.
"Did you find anything?" Antoine asked.
"No, Sir."
"Light it up."
Lena felt the heat of the flame a moment later. She waited until she was sure the men was gone before she managed to move her brother's body from under her, tears rolling down her cheeks.
She stood and looked down at her brother with blurry eyes while the fire raged around her, her whole life crumpling together with the walls.
She bent down and pressed a kiss to his forehead before she walked to her parents and kneeled in front of them.
She took their hands into her trembling ones and kissed them. "I will get revenge for all of you," she whispered.
She tugged their wedding rings off, clenching her fist around the cold metal before she turned and walked towards the shattered window.
She screamed as the ceiling collapsed right where she was headed, a ball of flame soaring through the air and landing on her hand. The sound that escaped her was primal, as searing pain coursed through her hand.
She couldn't die here. No. She had to live and avenge her family.
And that was the reassurance she needed.
She took off her shirt and covered her burnt hand before she turned. Smoke filled her lungs and clouded her vision but she had to keep going.
She kept repeating her brother's last words as she crawled her way out of her burning home, coughing all the way with snot running down her nose.
She inhaled fresh air when she broke out of the burning. But she couldn't rest now.
She dragged her body up the hill where she stood and watched her life, her family, her identity burned.
Siren calls filled the air as police and firefighters arrived. But they were too late. Her life was gone.
She watched them, staying in the shadows until the sun broke out in the cloud. And as the sun rose her old self was left behind in the night.
She was no longer Lena Santoro. She was now someone else. Someone who was going to find her family's killer and bring hell down on them.
Calista had always believed the past was meant to stay buried, hidden in the shadows of memory. But why, then, was her past creeping back into the light, intertwining with her present? She spent her days in a fractured state-broken, miserable, angry at the world. But at least she had carved out a semblance of peace, until Jaxon Castillo stepped into her life. With his hot body and expressive eyes, he shattered her fragile calm, dragging her into a tumultuous conflict she wanted no part of-a life that haunted her more than anything else. She had convinced herself she was free from the ghosts of her past, that they had perished along with her family. Yet, as she found herself drawn deeper into Jaxon's orbit, his intense gaze unraveling her defenses, shadows of her history began to resurface. With every stolen glance, she felt herself surrendering pieces of her heart to him, pieces she had sworn to protect. Both held secrets-dark, potent truths that threatened to dismantle everything they had built. Secrets capable of turning the world against them. Calista was fire and rage; Jaxon was cool water and soothing. They would risk everything to protect each other, even if loving each other was what could destroy them both. –– TRIGGER WARNING; Sexual content, PTSD and trauma responses, Violence. Reader discretion is advised.
!! Rated 18+ | Mature Content | Trigger Warning: Abuse, Suicide (Off-page)! ! - -- Camille knows she's being watched. The feeling lingers in every shadow, in every stolen glance from the unnervingly beautiful stranger who seems to know her better than she knows herself. Lucien is dangerous, obsessive-and utterly inescapable. But danger is nothing new to Camille. She has spent years outrunning her past, drowning in darkness until Lucien pulled her from it. She... loved him for it. She was captivated by the exhilarating danger he wove into her existence. The electrifying chaos, the seductive darkness, and the intoxicating pleasure pulled her in like a moth to a flame. Then, she is taken. Victor swears she belongs to him, and Lucien will tear the world apart to get her back. But as the walls close in and the nightmares begin, Camille starts to wonder if this war between them is about more than just her. Her heart is caught between two monsters. Two obsessions. Two impossible choices. Will she choose none of them, one of them... or both? Fate has drawn them together once more, and this time, the choice is hers: break the cycle, or be utterly, entirely ruined by it.
Three love stories, one world-this steamy, slow-burn sequel follows new couples finding their fate, desire, and heartbreak in a world where wolves love hard, and the stakes run deeper than ever. *** Ravenna & Darius' story Ravenna was born a disgrace-wolf-less, exiled, and left for dead by her own pack. But death refused her. Rescued after a near-death incident, she awakens with untapped powers, far more dangerous than any wolf. Stolen away by Alpha Darius, a ruthless leader feared across all packs, their meeting sparks chaos: they're fated mates. Bound by a prophecy drenched in blood, Ravenna discovers her lineage holds the key to either salvation or destruction. With an ancient war on the horizon and dark forces hunting her, Ravenna must decide-embrace the unstoppable force within her or let it consume them all. Mia & Dalian's Story Once a fleeting passion, their connection reignites, but love comes with its own dangers. With the weight of what they've endured hanging over them, Mia and Dalian must fight for their love-or lose it forever. Lucian & Emily's Story Lucian's mate is human-and he's kept it a secret. After capturing her during a war, their dangerous connection grows. But Emily doesn't know they're fated, and the truth could destroy everything.
A man like Travis Sinclair wants nothing more than a woman who matches his sexual prowess and is used to getting everything he wants. A cold-hearted billionaire ,he lives by one rule - no love, no commitment. Ayanna Davies isn't looking for a relationship. She's focused on her work and the financial security it brings. As a high end escort, her client is full of filthy rich men who are willing to pay handsomely for her services. But when Travis Sinclair becomes one of her clients, she begins twice about mixing work with pleasure. Not knowing that he is an old acquaintance whom she despises.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
Chandler Su who had cheated by her boyfriend then got drunk at a bar. To take revenge, she grabbed a man randomly and took him to the room. After a crazy night, Chandler found the strange man was a super handsome guy the next morning. Shy and shocked Chandler run away after leaving 150 RMB and scorning the man of his poor bed skills. However, she never thought the story would become so dramatic as the next day, she found out that the new coming president of her company was exactly the man she slept the last night! Worse than that, this new boss seemed very narrow-minded as he asked Chandler to come to his office on the first day.
Lila didn't expect her life to change so dramatically just days after arriving at the pack. She certainly didn't anticipate being married to the Alpha almost instantly. All she wanted was to return and find a mate, but circumstances changed, and now she has to pay for a sin she didn't commit. "Please Rafael," pulling my undies away, I begged. ''It's Alpha to you... It's only when I'm making that pussy of yours feel good, then you can call me God," his voice was like a whisper, sending cold shivers down my spine.
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...