When the Beasts invaded two centuries ago, they swiftly overthrew the human government, decimating most of the population in a matter of weeks. The survivors were enslaved, condemned to a lifetime of servitude under the affluent beasts and royal families. Yara, having served the royals for as long as she can recall, considered herself fortunate to have been born and raised in King Sandor's kingdom. However, King Tywin, known for his merciless nature, possesses little patience for his fellow Beasts, let alone humans. Whispers suggest that his servants often meet their demise as punishment for even the slightest mishaps. Merely surviving a year in his service is considered a feat. When Yara is reassigned to King Tywin's castle, he immediately recognizes who she is to him. Will he embrace her as his mate or reject her very existence?
As I step into the grand hall, I can't help but notice my worn-out sneakers. Their once deep black hue has faded to a somber shade of gray, and the soles cling on by a mere thread. It's time to put in a request for new ones.
Admittedly, I probably should have done so months ago. It's a surprise that my superiors haven't noticed and made me change into my ill-fitting, uncomfortable pair.
"I wonder what this is all about." Arya murmurs as she comes to stand next to me, her voice so quiet that I barely hear it above the murmurs of the humans inside.
Sighing, I drag my gaze from my shoes and look around the room. All of the castle's servants are standing around, confused expressions on their faces as they talk amongst themselves. It seems as if nobody has any clue why we've been summoned
here.
The King's Second commanded that all the castle servants should be in the Great Hall before breakfast for an announcement, but that's all the information he gave. I shrug, responding to Arya.
"Me too. It's not often that they do this."
My mind flashes back to the last time the Royals had such a formal announcement, and I hold back a grimace. Some wealthy Beasts from a nearby land were coming to visit, and we were warned that their treatment of humans was harsh and to be on our best behavior.
Up until that day I never realized just how terrifying the Beasts can be. King Sandor has always been relatively kind to us, making sure we are fed and clothed, but the others that came to visit operated in a much different manner.
On the first day of their visit, one of the men was eyeing a kitchen girl and as she was serving him his meal, he reached across the table and murdered her.
The girl's throat was ripped out in one swift motion. She was frozen for a moment, almost as if her brain couldn't comprehend what had happened, before she crumpled onto the floor.
There wasn't even a lull in the conversation for the Beasts. They continued on with their meal as if nothing had even happened.
It was horrific, and was whispered about for months.
As Arya and I continue walking into the room, I glance around trying to spot Jaime. He stands a good foot above the other human men, and with his overgrown mop of pale blonde hair he's generally hard to miss.
I quickly spot him talking with a group of men near the front entrance, but before I can make my way over the room falls silent. Everybody turns to face the doorway behind me, and I follow their lead. Spinning around, I watch King Sandor and his Second step into the room.
Uncomfortable with their close proximity, I shuffle backward slightly. I know that the action won't go unnoticed, but it's important I keep a safe distance in case they are angry with us.
My movement causes the King to glance at me before peering around the room. He takes his time, carefully inspecting each and every one of us, occasionally nodding to himself.
I can feel my palms getting sweaty, and I resist the urge to wipe them on my dress. Instead opting to clench them into fists by my side. Why is he looking at us like this?
The King's gaze suddenly snaps back to the center of the room and he clears his throat, preparing to speak.
"Hello all," he starts, both his face and voice void of any emotion.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why you are here. It has been requested that a small number of you transfer to Rozvi, the kingdom immediately North of here.
We have yet to decide on who will be going, but decisions will be made by the end of the day. Continue working as normal, and we will inform you later today should you be chosen to leave."
I feel my breath leave my body at his words, my shoulders slumping forward in relief. I'm a strong worker here at the castle, and it is unlikely that I will be chosen to leave.
Just as quickly as he arrived, the King turns and leaves the room, his Second following behind. The moment they are out of sight conversations begin to break out amongst the humans.
I spin back around to face the room, noticing that Arya has already left my side and she's speaking with Jaime. I swiftly make my way over to them, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress in an attempt to wick away the moisture that had accumulated while in the presence of the King.
"Who do you think will be chosen?" Jaime asks Arya, nervousness apparent in his voice. "I hope it's not me. I've heard awful things about Rozvi."
Jaime catches my eye as I approach his left and shifts his body to the right, making room for me to join their conversation. His eyebrows furrow together as he thinks over her question, his bottom lip sliding between his teeth to bite at the dry skin.
"He said that only a small number are going, so odds are we should be fine." I chime in, trying to soothe his worries. Arya frowns, looking just as stressed as Jaime. She grabs a curl resting on her collarbone, pulling it straight and mindlessly fiddling with the ends.
"What have you heard about them?" She asks Jaime, ignoring my statement.
"That they are cruel. That humans are treated like trash. That their servants are maimed and punished for the smallest of mistakes." Jaime glances at me, "They would probably whip you for wearing such raggedy shoes around."
I frown, glancing down at my feet once more. Would I really be punished for such a small thing? I hear Jaime let out a dry laugh, and can't help but to let some worry seep into my bones. I've never left King Sandor's kingdom, and don't have a lot of insight into how the other ones treat their humans.
"Never! I won't let you go this time, no matter how many times more I will search for you through 1,000 worlds and 10,000 lifetimes until I find you. I'll wait for you in all of them"- Ethan proclaimed passionately. "I disconnected the call and turned my phone off. What the fuck!? How did he get my number? Why is he calling me now? What does he want from me? Is he stalking me??" I was feeling dizzy. Several thoughts crowded my mind. My heart was pounding so fast like it will burst!! "Milady!!" "Huh!", I flinched with the sudden call of Mrs. Susan. She came to my room with my breakfast. "Milady! Why are you looking so terrified?", she asked me while putting my breakfast on the table. My legs were still trembling little bit. I tried to dodge that question, "Ahh it's nothing, just morning sickness!! Don't worry!" ****** Tyla, the sole daughter of a powerful business tycoon, was reborn with an opportunity to start anew, free from the sorrowful demise that haunted her previous existence. The pain of her past heartbreak molded her into an eternal disbeliever in love. On the contrary, Ethan, is an Alpha of the Sterling Moon Pack and a titan in the business world. He's a man with lots of mysterious secrets. However, beneath his ruthless facade, there exists an Alpha who endured unspeakable hardships during his childhood. Destiny intervened and their paths cross once again. Tyla trembles with fear, for Ethan bears a striking resemblance to the one who shattered her heart in her previous life. Surprisingly, Ethan has no recollection of their shared history, yet his heart inexplicably yearns for her. Will this unexpected reunion ignite Tyla's desire for revenge against him? Or will she find the strength to release the burdens of her past and embrace the possibility of love once more?
Evelyn, a 22-year-old daughter of a community church pastor, cross paths with Aiden, a 35-year-old Alpha from a rogue wolf pack who decided to make their home in Evelyn's small town. When the duo first met, she was all pure innocence. But when Aiden realized that she was his fated mate, he became determined to break her free from any constraints. Their love story became a whirlwind of emotions, blending eroticism and reality into a saucy adventure. He pulls off an incredible feat in order to express his unwavering love for her. Was she destined to be his forever... ??.
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.
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?”
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]