At one point we were both abandoned in the woods. Our meeting started with distrust. His wounds were more than the gnashing scratches of the wilderness, it extended to trash his memories and kept him from truth more than once. Her wounds were more than the bruises of the poisonous wilderness, it extended to crush her security and increased her self doubt. It was an exile that led a prideful yet underestimated prince and an tortured daughter of a successful merchant. Our tale only began when we acknowledged our desires, yet the world around us conspired to thwart our every step. The both of us didn't want to doubt, yet, would our resilience and trust be enough to navigate through the jungle of doubts?
CHAPTER 1
(SHEILA'S POV)
As I set out to gather herbs for our haven, the bright blue sky lifted my spirits. I took a sip from my leather canteen, the cool water soothing my parched throat. Glancing around, I couldn't help but wonder what delicious breakfast the community would prepare with the fresh herbs I was collecting.
Earlier, before dawn had even broken, the head chef had approached me, requesting more nettles for the soup. I made a mental note of it and now, as I surveyed the extra bundles of nettles alongside my herb-filled basket, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Today's gathering had been successful, and I had managed to avoid any encounters with cougars, thanks to the new hunter patrol route established by the haven a few nights ago.
With a smile, I sealed my leather canteen shut, then reached for my finely woven pine needle strands veil. Carefully, I secured its strands over my head, hiding the deep burnt scar that marred my face, a reminder of my resilience against the toxic touch of wolfsbane.
As I prepared to lift my herb basket, my human ears tuned toward the faint sounds of rustling leaves, followed by a soft thud. Though human in appearance, my ears possessed a heightened sensitivity, a testament to my unique heritage of both human and werewolf traits. Despite the forest sounds, I discerned not the threatening roars of cougars or bears, but instead, a weak and pained wolf whine-the cry of my own wolf kind.
In one swift motion, I gathered my belongings, sensing urgency in the air. With determination, I set off to follow the source of the commotion, ready to offer aid to a fellow wolf in need.
Worry mingled with curiosity, propelling me deeper into the forest, oblivious to the boundary of the hunters' patrol area. I pushed aside thoughts of getting lost; my instincts assured me I could find my way back home. The scent of pine resin, mixed with flowers and a strong undertone of lavender, would guide me onward.
Soon enough, I stumbled upon the scene I had unconsciously sought. In the shadows beneath the towering pines, a figure lay sprawled across the forest floor, both familiar and unknown. His clothes were tattered, his skin marred with bruises and scars. He resembled nothing so much as a discarded rag, left to wither midst the forest's embrace. If not for the pained groan that escaped his lips, I might have remained frozen in shock for minutes on end.
Rushing to his side, my auburn hair flowing behind me, I found my luggage offering zero restriction to my movement. Kneeling beside the figure, I gently shook his shoulder, my heart racing with concern.
"Hey, can you hear me? Wake up," I urged softly.
Another groan escaped him as he stirred, his eyes fluttering open briefly before narrowing in confusion and frustration. When he spoke, his voice dripped with anger, authority, and arrogance, sending a chill down my spine. "You!"
The sound of his voice triggered a memory I had fought to bury, stunning me into frozen silence. Fear replaced concern as disbelief washed over me. I stumbled backward, attempting to distance myself from him, but his unyielding grip on my wrist prevented my escape.
In the sudden movement, the shoulder strap of my herb basket snapped, its contents spilling out onto the forest floor.
I squirmed, desperate to break free from the heavy weight pressing down on me, pinning me to the unforgiving earth. Sweat and fear hung thick in the air, mingling with the sharp scent of pine needles and damp soil. "Let go of me!" I screamed, my voice a desperate plea echoing into the night.
My heart raced as I relived the terror of that night, the feeling of powerlessness as I struggled against my assailant. The memory gripped me like a cruel specter, refusing to release its hold.
The stranger loomed over me, his breath ragged with exhaustion and pain. "You will pay for pushing me into that cliff!" His words were laced with accusation, and confusion swirled in my mind. What did he mean by pushing him?
Through tear-blurred eyes, I looked up at him, curiosity replacing fear. His face, pale beneath the trickle of blood, mirrored my own distress. Doubt crept in as I studied him, realizing that he, too, seemed shaken and afraid.
As exhaustion seemed to overcome the stranger, his grip on me gradually loosened. His voice trembled as he muttered, "C-cold... it's so cold..."
Feeling the hold on my arms weaken, I seized the opportunity and pushed against him. Despite his resistance, his weakened state betrayed him, causing him to stumble and fall to the side. In a last-ditch effort, he lunged and wrapped his arms around my waist, as if trying to prevent me from escaping.
I shouted, my mind still clouded with anxiety, but enough clarity remained to realize that the stranger lacked the strength to harm me. "Please, let me go," I said calmly, my voice carrying a firm but compassionate tone.
Yet, the stranger refused to release me. His grip tightened, desperation evident in his actions.
Helpless, I could only watch as the man locked my movements with his grasp around my waist. Once more, I observed his trembling body and ragged breath, evoking a fleeting sense of sympathy within me. Gathering my resolve, I took a deep breath and steeled myself, my arms encircling Orion in a gesture of comfort. "Hey, I'm not here to harm you, I promise. Would you please let me go first? You're injured, I'll patch you up for a bit."
Orion looked up, his crystal blue eyes soft yet penetrating, seeming to see through the veil and into my soul. Relenting, he broke through the silence, his plea for connection though the chaos of his mind evident. "Who are you?" he inquired softly, slowly leaning backwards, releasing me from his grasp.
"Just some stranger gathering herbs in the woods," I calmly answered, finding more courage to meet his gaze. "And you? Who are you? What's your name?" My arms gently rested on his, conveying both reassurance and curiosity.
The stranger scrunched his face, his gaze shifting sideways in contemplation. "Who am I..." he trailed off, his hand instinctively clutching his head as he groaned in pain. "Orion," he said hesitantly. "My name is... Orion..." His breath grew heavy, his distress evident. Suddenly, without warning, the man leaned forward and passed out.
I easily caught him, concern etched on my face. "Hey!" I tried to shake him awake once more, but it was clear he had fainted. Realizing the urgency, I knew I had to bring the stranger back to the haven as soon as possible.
--
In the quiet solitude of my hut, I had prepared fresh cloths, two sterile makeshift blades, and tweezers, readying myself for the task at hand. With practiced ease, I set to work, meticulously crafting antiseptic salve from the remaining herbs I had managed to bring home with me. These skills were not merely acquired; they were the fruit of my voluntary work at the haven's healer hut, where I dedicated myself to tending to the injuries of hunters and inhabitants alike.
Once I was done with my medicine preparation, I reached out to the fainted stranger on my bed and tore open his upper clothes to assess his wounds. At that moment, Orion's eyes snapped open, his gaze wary and alert. Without warning, he seized my hand with a swift movement, his voice laced with suspicion as he demanded answers.
Once I finished preparing the medicine, I turned my attention to the fainted stranger lying on my bed. His clothes were in disarray, stained with brown soil and torn from his journey through the forest canopy. Despite the chaos, a fang-shaped sapphire pendant caught my eye, its vibrant blue standing out against the ruggedness of his attire. Carefully, I tore open his upper clothes to assess his wounds. Suddenly, the stranger's eyes snapped open, his gaze sharp and cautious. In a swift motion, he seized my hand, his voice filled with suspicion as he demanded answers.
"What do you think you're doing?" Orion asked gruffly, his breaths coming in between his words.
She was wolfless. All her life, Holly Ambrose had been longing for her family to reciprocate the love she had been working hard to get from her father and her sister, Irina. Unfortunately, they only saw her as an embarrassment to the pack and used her instead so that Irina could refuse to marry Alpha Evander Edgerton: the ruthless and cold-blooded Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. Thinking that it was the only way to escape them, Holly accepted the proposal. Alpha Alec, her former mate and her sister’s fiance begged her not to. He confessed he still had feelings for her and wanted her back as his mate. Too late because there was no stopping her from having her freedom. But would Holly be truly free if Irina had no intention to stop destroying her life after Alec left Irina to claim Holly back? Would she stay with Alpha Evander even after she found out that his former mate came back and was pregnant with his child?
His body collapses into mine as my back slams on the wall. “You were touching yourself because of me weren't you” his musky scent suffocating me. My core immediately picks up a heart beat with our proximity as he pins my hands above me on the wall. My bare nipples harden at his touch. I can only think of two words at this moment. Touch me. ***************************************************** Never in Ivy Carter's life did she ever think that she'd fall for a man she couldn't have,especially when the man was not only her professor but also her new step brother. Caden's heart has always been where his pack is, gilded by the pack's legacy but the minute he lays eyes on Ivy Carter his walls come crashing down. But he can't have her even though she's his mate. Their worlds collide with an irresistible force and it's only a matter of time till they cross the line, breaking all restraints with an unholy attraction.
Audrina, a powerless omega, becomes entangled in a web of deception created by her own flesh and blood. Her crafty stepsister sends her into the arms of MistyMoon Pack's Alpha, James, where she meets a guy whose icy demeanor conceals his powerful and fair character. With chiseled features and a stare that could melt steel, James is both hot and gorgeous. Their one-night affair suddenly blossoms into a lifetime commitment with the news of a kid on the way, leaving them divided between desire and danger. But behind the surface of their undeniable mate bond, there lies a hidden identity and buried truths that could ruin the spark that was just beginning to ignite.
Aurora Everley has always been the overlooked daughter, the one that gets shadowed by her sister Margot. She thought that once she turns eighteen and meets her mate, she would have someone whose attention would just be on her. But she is wrong. Because her mate happens to be the one her sister brings home, introduced as her boyfriend and Alpha Heir, Mason Chase. Now, she has to sacrifice herself again. She has to sever their mate bond, even when her heart screams not to do it. But what happens if someone else is waiting at the sidelines for her? Someone who's been watching her every move, desiring her in ways no one ever did before?
Leaving everything Lily had behind, she moved to a far countryside Pack and made sure no one would be able to find her anymore. Her perfect life back then turned upside down raising twin children with her under a small Pack a kind-hearted stranger brings them into. She was determined to live her life being tied and stuck to her poor situation when out of nowhere her ex-boyfriend, Wade, whom she left hanging years ago when she ran away came to visit the Pack she’s currently residing in. The worst part is that he will spend his stay under the same roof with her. Would their interrupted love rejoin this time around? Or the bitterness of the past will prevail.
Betrayed by the one she called her mate, and sister, Bella was humiliated and thrown from the pack. She vowed to take revenge on those who hurt her. When Alpha Arthur found her bleeding and left for dead by the side of the road, he healed her and took her to his pack. After rejecting Bella, he regretted it very much. When he met Bella again, there was Arthur by her side.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
After spending a night with a strange man on the day before her wedding, Arianna left the country to start her life afresh. The 22-year-old Arianna Jason lived her life pleasing those she loved the most, without knowing that she was simply a prey being nurtured for the day of her ruin. Her life has tasted the butter pill of betrayal. She wants to give back to the world what she's got but how can she change her good, innocent personality to fit into a cruel society and world? Can her sweet nature be contaminated, or will she make it through, paddling on the right path?
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
“What is it? You sighed.” Gabriel stared at Rosalind. “I can’t do it ….” She shook her head. “It will be like I’m selling myself to you if I accept your offer. I’m not a whore, you know.” “Rose, I know you aren’t a whore. I don’t need to offer a whore anything, nor will I be interested in one, either.” He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. “I want you, Rose, only you.” “But why?” *** Rosalind Miller (twenty-three years old) is an orphan and poor. She has double jobs because she wants to get a bachelor’s degree to improve her life. It devastates Rosalind when her boyfriend of five years cheats on her. She goes drunk, only to wake up naked the next day beside a naked guy too, her ex’s uncle. Gabriel Da Costa (forty-five years old) is a transportation mogul in the five countries. Listed as one of the most eligible bachelors in the capital, including in the nearest countries, many women want to be with him, but he stays single for years. Knowing his nephew has been cheating on Rosalind for a long time, he feels sorry for her and brings her to his apartment when she is drunk. What will happen later after that night? Will it be a one-night stand only or will their relationship continue afterward? *** This is the second book of the series The Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelors/The Age-Gap Billionaire Series. The first book is The Billionaire’s Contract Marriage. Despite being a series, readers can read both books as stand-alone.
For the sake of their company, Atasha Rae was forced to marry the known heartless billionaire, Lorcan Amadeus. But it only took her a week as his wife because later on, he suddenly wants a divorce immediately. So as he wished, she signed the divorce paper even after admitting to herself that she was somehow starting to fall inlove with him. Heart badly wounded, she ran away from his life. Until she discovers that she's pregnant with his child and as a result, she ends up with no choice but to keep it a secret. Out of Lorcan's awareness, she's keeping a secret that would lead him to an overflowing regret. Because for a week of their fallen marriage beyond repair, she's carrying the billionaire's heir.