Shadow's mother insisted that she take her sister's place and become the mate of the formidable Alpha, even though he was crippled and used a wheelchair. As a dutiful daughter, Shadow made the heartbreaking decision to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of her family. However, her wedding night took an unexpected turn when she found herself trapped with her mate's brother. "Take off your clothes now," he demanded. Shocked, Shadow stuttered, "But who are you? You're not my mate." He leaned in, his lips grazing her neck, and pinned her beneath his strong, muscular body on the bed. "Indeed, I am his cousin, and from this moment on, we shall both have you," he declared with possessiveness. Then, he stood up, removing his clothes, and stared at her with the hungry gaze of a lion spotting its prey. "Take off your clothes now. Strip for me," he commanded.
Shadow sat in front of the vanity mirror, her reflection showing no sign of life, her mind empty of thought.
Suddenly, the door swung open and her mother, Lisa, rushed in. She took in Shadow's disheveled hair and the grayness that seemed to consume her face, and her anger flared instantly.
"The Lances are here. Why haven't you changed your clothes?"
Shadow pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and stared at her mother, bewildered. "Mom, do you honestly expect me to mate with my sister's fiancé?"
Lisa's anxiety grew, her face paling with worry. The Lances were waiting outside, and a single misstep could bring ruin upon their entire family.
Kneeling down before Shadow, her voice filled with desperation, she pleaded, "Shadow, I beg of you. Your sister deserves better. Why won't you help her?"
Shadow's eyes, once filled with hopelessness, turned cold. While Lisa may have been her biological mother, she had always favored the children from her father's deceased ex-wife. Lisa knew that Shadow's sister's fiancé was repulsive and impotent, yet she still wanted Shadow to mate with him.
The pleas of the servant echoed from beyond the door. "Madam, the Lances are upstairs."
Shadow made no move to assist Lisa and replied with indifference, "Get up. I'll go."
In that moment, she had truly lost all hope in this family.
As she opened the door, a group of unfamiliar bodyguards stood waiting outside.
These were the people sent by the Lances to escort her.
Today, she would be mated to someone without a proper ceremony or a groom.
"Let's go," she stated, leading the way downstairs without hesitation.
The Lances were the wealthiest family in the Moonlight Pack, their only heir, Alpha Kilian, disfigured and impotent after a kidnapping that occurred over a decade ago.
Rumors circulated about his brutal and unattractive nature, with no woman sent into his home ever emerging alive.
There was no greater betrayal than that which came from one's own family.
Even if he were a devil, it mattered not. Her mother had abandoned her to this monster.
Shadow was entirely alone in this world.
...
Upon reaching Alpha Kilian's Castle, the bodyguards guided her into a room before departing.
It was not until darkness filled the sky outside the window that the door creaked open once more.
Shadow turned her head, her gaze meeting that of a tall and imposing man stepping into the room.
He closed the door and flicked on the lights, temporarily blinding her. As she shielded her eyes, she raised her head to take in the sight before her.
In an instant, she froze.
It wasn't due to the man's grotesque and terrifying appearance, but rather because he was astonishingly handsome.
A dark suit hugged his muscular frame, and with confident strides, he moved toward her.
His facial features were striking and flawlessly chiseled, like a work of art.
Alpha Kilian scrutinized Shadow for a few moments, his eyebrows slightly furrowing. "Quite hideous."
His tone remained calm, no trace of emotion creeping into his voice.
Shadow looked back at him in shock, his comment about her appearance barely registering. Her only focus was on defending herself as she asked, "And who might you be?"
His ink-colored eyes glimmered with intensity, his voice deep. "Do you not know who you will be mated to?"
As he drew nearer, his chilling breath sent shivers down Shadow's spine.
Though his powerful aura momentarily stifled her, she maintained her composure and straightened her posture. "Of course, I know. The person I am to mate with is known as Alpha Kilian."
Alpha Kilian heard her words, the sharpness in his eyes gradually subsiding as a flicker of clarity replaced it. Another woman who believed the rumors, destined to mate with an 'ugly and impotent' man.
Yet, unlike the others, she appeared strangely calm. This piqued Alpha Kilian's interest.
Smiling with an air of confidence, he said, "So you are my sister-in-law? I am Alpha Dominic, cousin to Alpha Kilian. I suppose no one wants to be with such a worthless man, not even you, on the night of the mating ceremony!"
..
He deliberately emphasized the word 'worthless Alpha ' deeply, with a hint of provocation. The man approached her intentionally, the piercingly cold aura of him got even thicker and stronger.
Shadow shifted uncomfortably, and after a moment of disbelief, she believed his words 'He was from the family for sure. After all, Alpha Kilian 's Castle was not accessible to peasants or mere commoners.'
"He is your cousin. Please don't talk about him like this."
Presumably, Alpha Kilian had also had difficulties in his family. Shadow felt sympathy. Even if the Lances were top-tier socially, she sympathized with Alpha Kilian 's situation. He must have had hard times in recent years.
Alpha Kilian 's brown eyes quickly flashed in surprise. He didn't expect this ugly woman to say such words.
He couldn't help looking at her once more. The messy hair, the black-framed glasses, tattered, long cotton clothes, and the bangs on her forehead almost thick enough to cover her eyes. There were even a few small spots on her haggard face. It was repulsive to even look at.
He had heard how his betrothed would be as beautiful as a blooming rose. There was no way that this hideous woman was his rumored bride.
But the Lances did not care whether the woman who wed him was ugly or beautiful. As long as she was capable of bearing an heir. They would not care even if they had to select another.
Besides, it wasn't as if Alpha Kilian had any intentions of treating her as his wife, Luna. All he needed was a simple and quick fuck.
He wanted to fuck her, impregnate her, she give him a hier that's it. So,she'll be more like a breeding toy.
A dark glint flashed in his eyes, Alpha Kilian extended his hand and pushed Shadow onto the bed. There was undisguised contempt and malice in his tone. "There is no one else. You don't need to pretend. With your looks, you are probably still a virgin. I might treat you far better than that cripple!"
After he finished speaking, he reached for her directly. He was about to touch her waist. Almost.
Slap!
"Get off!" Shadow used all her strength to slap him across the face. "Don't assume everyone is as filthy as ye. Ye're fortunate that yer cousin hasn't arrived yet. Leave immediately, or would ye prefer another slap?"
Although she tried her best to stay composed, her trembling hands betrayed her. She clutched the sheets beneath her, and let out a ragged breath. What in the name of the spirits did she just witness?
She had imagined how repugnant Alpha Kilian would be on the way over, how scarred and how malformed he truly was. But she never expected to encounter such a thing as this.
Her jaw clenched, and she forced herself to look up at him. 'You can do this, Shadow .' She encouraged herself. 'You got this.'
Alpha Kilian wore a sullen expression and exuded a bitter chill. "No woman has ever dared to slap me."
"Consider this yer first." Shadow shuddered.
Because of the struggle, her glasses had fallen off, revealing a pair of unexpectedly clear and precise eyes. Her trembling eyelashes showed their owner's tension and fear. "D-don't come any closer!"
Seeing that, suddenly Alpha Kilian paused, and for a moment he began to feel a bit soft-hearted.
He straightened his shirt and glanced coldly at her. "You can continue to wait for that 'worthless Alpha' here."
Bang!
It wasn't until the door was closing that Shadow 's tense nerves relaxed slightly.
Outside the door.
When the bodyguard was about to reach the Master bedroom, he saw the red mark on Alpha Kilian 's face. With his pale complexion, the mark was incredibly visible. Even a partially blind person would be able to spot it a mile away. He froze for a moment before saying, "Alpha... Your face..."
Alpha Kilian touched his face and said bluntly, "Ran into the door."
Doors had five fingerprints on them?
Even though his story seemed doubtful, the bodyguard did not dare to ask any further.
Instead, he respectfully handed a folder, "This is Young Madam's personal information."
Alpha Kilian opened the folder and saw the name on it, Shadow Eden .
Interesting. That hideous woman's name was Shadow meaning noble. How ironic!
Her birth mother was even more interesting. Treating her stepson and stepdaughter like precious gems while being cruel to her biological daughter. Despicable.
Continuing through the document, he frowned and asked the bodyguard, "Is she really this daft?"
The bodyguard nodded.
"Check again."
When Shadow spoke, she was clear and organized. Besides, Alpha Kilian had never seen a fool who could rise up so fiercely and fight back against a man in that situation.
Thinking of this, he lost his composure and thrust the file he was holding into the bodyguard's hands. "If you can't give me accurate information then don't bother coming back to me!"
"You're mine now," Kieran growls as he presses her against the wall, his body holding her in place. His fingers trail across her skin, making her shiver. "Your mother's debt will be paid-with your body and your obedience." His lips brush her ear as his hand moves lower, making her gasp. "You can fight me, little human, but my wolf has already claimed you." He grabbed her from her waist and pushed her to the bed, "I'll fuck you as much as I want.... because You're mine forever." One night changed Lena's life forever. Lena, a college student, is kidnapped and sold in an auction to creatures with glowing eyes. Just as all hope seems lost, a powerful stranger steps in and saves her. His silver eyes and the strength in his voice are unforgettable. They call him the Alpha King. Weeks later, Lena's mother surprises her with big news-she's engaged to a rich man and they'll be moving to his grand estate in the mountains. But when Lena arrives at the mansion, her heart stops. Her mother's fiancé is the same man who saved her at the auction. Kieran Volkov isn't just a rich man. He's the Alpha King of the werewolves, creatures Lena never even knew existed. And every time he looks at her, Lena feels his intense, burning desire. When Lena's mother runs away before the wedding, stealing valuables and leaving her behind, Kieran gives Lena a terrible choice. She must take her mother's place as his bride-or he'll track her mother down and make her pay. He doesn't just want her out of revenge-he believes she's his true mate, the one woman who can calm the beast inside him.
When the infamous mafia boss Vincenzo Moretti is assassinated on his wedding day, chaos descends upon the world he built. His young widow, Elena, and her daughter, Alessia, are left vulnerable and alone, thrust into the dangerous shadows of the criminal underworld. But protection comes from an unlikely source-**Luca Moretti**, the new mafia king and Vincenzo's cold, calculating son. Luca is a man hardened by loss, power, and the weight of his father's legacy. When he takes Elena and Alessia into his estate, it's not out of kindness-it's out of duty. Alessia, however, is no stranger to judgment. Luca sees her as nothing but a gold-digger, a parasite feeding off his late father's wealth. But Alessia refuses to cower under his sharp gaze, and their fiery clashes ignite a tension neither of them can ignore. As Luca hunts the enemies who killed his father, he finds himself distracted by the one woman he shouldn't want. Alessia is everything forbidden-his step-sister by marriage and a symbol of a past he resents. But the more he tries to push her away, the deeper he falls into her orbit. Alessia, meanwhile, is drawn into a world of betrayal, danger, and impossible choices. When a wealthy and charming suitor offers her a way out of the mafia's deadly grasp, she is torn between the promise of safety and the magnetic pull of Luca's dark, dangerous love. In a world where loyalty is everything and love is a liability, Luca and Alessia must face their deepest fears and darkest desires. But as enemies close in and secrets unravel, will their forbidden bond survive the firestorm-or destroy them both? Love. Power. Betrayal. In the end, nothing is off-limits when the heart is on the line.
Amelia Hart's wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Dressed in a gown fit for a fairy tale and poised to marry Ethan Cole, the billionaire tech mogul every woman dreams of, she has everything she's ever been told she should want. But as she stares at her reflection-a stranger in a dazzling white cage-she can't ignore the truth clawing at her chest: she doesn't love him. With the weight of expectations, family pressure, and a room full of glittering guests waiting for her grand entrance, Amelia makes the decision to do the unthinkable-run.
Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of sexual violence, abuse, and manipulation that may be distressing to some readers. Carla never dreamed of becoming the Luna, but when the ruthless Alpha King claimed her as his mate, she was thrust into a life of power, pain, and impossible expectations. To secure her place as Queen, she must accomplish one task: conceive an heir within the next twelve months. Failure means a fate worse than death-being discarded as a slave, handed over to the warriors for their pleasure. But there's one devastating problem: the Alpha King is infertile. Desperate to survive, Carla turns to the Beta-the only man who shows her kindness-and seduces him into her bed. As their forbidden affair ignites, Carla concocts a bold and dangerous plan: if the Beta kills the Alpha, they can be together, and she can finally claim the freedom she craves. Yet in the tangled web of lies, lust, and betrayal, Carla begins to question her own heart. Does she truly love the Beta, or is he just a pawn in her carefully crafted scheme? And as the walls close in, will she sacrifice him, herself, or the kingdom for the chance to be with her true mate?
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.
She spent eighteen years in an orphanage, but it was time to get out. According to the orphanage rules, once a child reaches legal age, they must depend on themselves. Celine didn't know what to do; luckily, she met her savior that day. If only she had known what she was getting herself into, she would never have gone with him. Celine found herself caught in a life of addiction, living in his house, where he was ready to sell her organs to get his fix. To save her life, she had to help him sell drugs. Her innocence became a liability. Soon, she found herself targeted by the king's men-kidnapped, bound, and tortured for selling drugs without their permission. But sometimes, what we fear the most might turn out to be the best for us. Celine found herself trapped in the king's palace, drowning in his love and married to him by force.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
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.
Lyric had spent her life being hated. Bullied for her scarred face and hated by everyone-including her own mate-she was always told she was ugly. Her mate only kept her around to gain territory, and the moment he got what he wanted, he rejected her, leaving her broken and alone. Then, she met him. The first man to call her beautiful. The first man to show her what it felt like to be loved. It was only one night, but it changed everything. For Lyric, he was a saint, a savior. For him, she was the only woman that had ever made him cum in bed-a problem he had been battling for years. Lyric thought her life would finally be different, but like everyone else in her life, he lied. And when she found out who he really was, she realized he wasn't just dangerous-he was the kind of man you don't escape from. Lyric wanted to run. She wanted freedom. But she desired to navigate her way and take back her respect, to rise above the ashes. Eventually, she was forced into a dark world she didn't wish to get involved with.