"Who is she?" I asked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. "He met her at the Alpha training camp," he said. "She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice." My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks. Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna. **** Emily never shifted on her 18th birthday and became the laughingstock of the pack. When her old crush, Alexander Black, returns from Alpha Training, she never expected him to be her mate. After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that young Alpha Alexander has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, Emily runs off and disappears from the pack. Now, five years later, Emily is a high-ranking warrior in King Alpha's army, specializing in sensitive matters. When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate, Alexander. Will Alexander figure out it is Emily? Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
Emily's POV
"Ple-e-e-a-se, Emily!" Mila, my best friend, begged over the link. "I really want to go!"
"I'm not standing in your way, Mila. You are welcome to go and attend the pack dance," I linked back. "Go and have some fun with Jax."
Jax was Mila's mate, and even though we got along just fine, I always felt like a third wheel, tangling long.
"But you know it wouldn't be the same if you weren't there!" Mila sulked, her voice quivering. "And you owe me one!"
I sighed, annoyed.
I knew she would draw the "you owe me one card" sooner rather than later to force me to go.
The only reason I owed her was that I needed to copy her homework when my shift ended late. I was exhausted that night and had even skipped dinner.
"So you are cashing in on a favor I owe you?" I growled, frustrated.
"Is it working?" She asked, giggling.
I pinched the top of my nose, shaking my head-this friend of mine! She knew exactly how to manipulate me into saying yes!
Mila and I have been friends since kindergarten, but we only became best friends recently. She was the only friend I had left after my birthday.
I internally sighed as tears welled up in my eyes.
I had lost all of my friends and the respect of the pack in one night.
"You are the world's worst best friend," I growled. "You know that!"
"Does that mean you consider going?" She chirped, hopeful.
"Yeah," I replied sourly. "But I'm not staying out late. I have training in the morning!"
Mila squealed out of joy over the link.
"Deal!" She said, letting out another high-pitched squeal. "I'll see you in a bit!"
"Whatever!" I said, closing the link and plopping down on my bed.
It wasn't that I didn't want to go to the pack dance-I love dancing-it was just that I felt kind of strange, as if something was about to happen.
I knew it couldn't be my wolf; I didn't have one, and my parents, including Alpha Cole, believed that I was just a late bloomer.
I, on the other hand, believed that I was punished by the goddess and would not get one.
I sighed, closing my eyes.
I wish I had shifted on my birthday. I wish I had a wolf like the rest of the pack members.
I could just imagine how beautiful she would be-big and strong, and her fur silver under the full moon. She would have a no-nonsense attitude and wouldn't submit to anyone, including Alphas.
But that was just a dream, not my reality.
My mind drifted off to all the possibilities of having a wolf.
Maybe then the pack wouldn't see me as more than just a misfit or a liability.
Maybe then I could claim my rank as Beta.
A knock sounded at my door, and my eyes flew open. I turned my gaze disoriented toward the alarm clock on my desk.
7 p.m.
My eyes widened. I'm late!
"Emily?" Mila's worried voice came from the door. "Are you in there?"
"Sh*t!" I growled, jumping off the bed and rushing towards the door.
Another knock, this time more urgently, echoed through my quiet room.
"Yeah," I said, rubbing my eyes as I opened the door.
Mila knitted her eyebrows together, and her gaze silently moved over me.
"Why are you not dressed and ready?" She shrieked, disappointed.
"Sorry," I muttered. "I fell asleep."
Mila rolled her eyes at me and sighed.
"Come on," she said, dragging me back into the room. "We had better get you ready. We only have a few minutes before we'll need to leave, or else we'll be late!"
Mila's eyes glazed over-probably linking Jax to telling him I was late-again.
"What are you waiting for, girl?" Mila barked when I didn't move. "Get your ass in the shower now!"
I took a deep breath, grabbed my towel, and stalked toward the bathroom.
Ten minutes later, I was back in my room.
"Get dressed," Mila ordered, handing me a short, knee-length dress.
"There is no way I am wearing that!" I snapped, pointing at the dress.
"Oh, yes, you are!" She said, "Get dressed! We have a party to attend!"
"It's a bloody pack dance, Mila, not prom!" I argued.
"It's not just any pack dance, Emily," she said adamantly. "Don't you know whose back?"
"Who?" I asked, folding my arms around my waist. Did I miss the pack memo?
Mila sighed, giving me a look of annoyance, pushed me down on the chair, and started drying my hair.
"Alexander is back," she said.
I froze in my seat, hearing Alex's name.
I had a huge crush on him for as long as I could remember, as did every other unmated she-wolf.
He never seemed to notice me, and he always had the most beautiful or popular she-wolves on his arm.
It broke my heart, but I believe that one day he will eventually notice me and see me for me.
I sighed as I remembered the day Alex left for Alpha training-that was two years ago.
I felt miserable and cried myself to sleep. I was even heartbroken when I found out that he wasn't allowed to visit the pack during the holidays.
"Alpha Cole's son?" I asked carefully; by this time, Alex must have found his mate.
Mila's green eyes lit up in excitement.
"Yes," she said, grabbing my brush.
"When did he return?" I asked, feeling a knot form in my throat.
"This morning," she answered, and she caught my gaze in the mirror. "This is his welcome-back party, Em."
My stomach felt as if someone had turned it upside down.
Alexander was back.
Alexander Black, the boy whom I had a major crush on, has returned to his pack.
"Mila, I think I should take a rain check on the pack dance." I slowly said.
Mila narrowed her eyes.
"Aren't you curious about what he looks like now?" She asked, confused. "We haven't seen him in a while! He must look different from all his intensive training at Alpha Camp."
"Yes, but..."
"Besides," Mila cut me off. "Alpha Cole has arranged the welcome-back party in hopes that Alexander will find his fated mate. He is due to become Alpha soon, and without his mate, he can't claim the Alpha title."
I kept quiet.
I wasn't Luna material. I was barely a warrior, and I knew Alex needed a beautiful and strong Luna to rule at his side. The likelihood of me fitting into those criteria was slim.
"Come on!" Mila said, excitedly. "It will be fun!"
Half an hour later, I was fully dressed in the black dress that Mila had picked for me.
"Let's go!" she said, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the room.
What occurred at the pack dance would haunt me for the rest of my life.
****
Elena is caught up between her past and present... and her family has been keeping century-long secrets from her... When Elena meets a dark, dangerous mysterious man on her 21st birthday, all her senses come alive... The mysterious man hands her a bracelet as a gift and calls her Scylla before he disappears from her life without a trace... Who is this dark and dangerous mysterious man? Why does she have this intense pull toward him? And who is this Scylla he refers to... Why does she feel jealous of another woman's name on this man's lips? Will the two meet again? And what secrets was her family keeping from her... **** Lots of twists and turns, plots, revenge, spice & heartbreaking are coming... ****
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?”
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
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."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"