"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... ****
To the public, Arabella was Owen's trusty secretary who catered to all his needs and served as the primary blood donor of his beloved, who was in a coma. Behind closed doors, she was Owen's submissive wife. Arabella was quiet and obedient, and she endured every humiliation without a word of protest. Rumored to be a neat freak, Owen had tossed the last woman who had dared to kiss him into the river. Yet he pinned Arabella against the wall and demanded, "Give me a child, and I’ll let you go!" Arabella pushed him away and flashed him a cold smile. "You are not worthy!"
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
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."