"I don't understand," I tell Viktor, desperately. "I don't know why the bond is still there. I accepted his rejection, I don't want him, I want you. Whatever yearnings you saw between us, is not by choice. You are my mate. I choose you." "Then why is the bind still present?" he snaps as he turns from me. "I don't know! And frankly, I don't care! I haven't cared or thought about Dominic in nearly a decade. How can I prove that you are the one I love?" I ask as I take hold of his hands, hoping that he sees my sincerity. "Have the ceremony with me." "What?!" "The mating ceremony, where we bind ourselves to each other. Let's do it. That is the only way I can relax. Be mine. Truly, mine." Rowan Blaze, abused and maltreated in her former pack and after being rejected and left to die by her Alpha finds a second chance as a rogue. Now known as the Winter Wolf, and leader of the largest rogue coalition, with a renowned dislike for packs, fate offers her another chance at love in the form of Alpha Viktor Thorn, a renowned man known for his wicked intelligence and stubborn persona. How do these two stubborn individuals react to this opportunity? Are they capable of letting their walls down and giving life one more chance? And what of Dominic Valor? Is he capable of letting go of his rejected mate or would he do anything to right the wrong he made years ago?
LOUISA.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Dominic snarls as I stand at the entrance, frozen in terrified shock.
This is a nightmare.
I knew that whoever my mate would be wouldn't be happy about it but I didn't think it would be Dominic, the Alpha.
"How in the goddess's name does this make sense?!" he continues. "You can't even shift into your wolf? How are you my mate?!"
"I am so- sorry," I stuttered, head bowed to avoid his gaze. "I didn't- I am-"
"Enough! Goddess, you are pathetic. What was the goddess thinking? Pairing me up with you?" he mutters as he runs his hands through his hair.
I stay silent, unable to answer.
Honestly, I am wondering the same too. Why would I be paired with Dominic? The man hates me with a passion.
"Why are you still here?" he snaps at me.
"I am sorry!" I exclaim as I quickly look up, only to see the look of pure unadulterated loathing on his face. "You... you called for me... I don't-"
"Ugh," he groans as he walks towards me pushing me out of the way and heading out the door. "Weak and disgusting."
I stare at his back until he vanishes before I let out a sigh of breath.
"What now?" I mutter to myself.
Dominic Valor, Alpha of the Obsidian pack has always hated my guts. Ever since I came to live with his family.
My parents had died in battle, defending the pack from an enemy attack and the previous Alpha had taken me in as a means to honour them.
Dominic never liked that.
He didn't see the reason for doing that as it was every wolf's duty to defend the pack and if they died doing so, even more honourable.
The fact that I was the weakest person in the pack and who still didn't have a wolf didn't help matters.
He resents me.
Resented the fact that I was weak and yet still had a good life.
Something he made sure to destroy once his father passed away.
From living a sheltered but comfortable life to one filled with misery and insults.
From a protected orphan to an overworked slave.
Everyone's dumping ground.
A waste of space.
And now...
Now, I am mated to him?
Where is the logic in that?
What am I going to do now?
"He is going to kill me."
I stand there, still at the entrance of his office, unsure of what to do.
If he comes back and finds that I left without his orders, there will be hell to pay.
If he comes back and finds me here, still being pathetic and useless when there is a whole lot of work to do in the pack, there will still be hell to pay.
There is no good choice here.
I stand there for a few minutes, debating and running through different scenarios in my head before deciding to leave.
It's not like my staying would make any difference.
He will still find a way to make himself miserable.
And besides, finishing the rest of the chores will keep my mind off the devastating knowledge that Alpha Dominic is my mate.
And also, to prepare myself.
After all, he is going to reject me.
Right?
†
It is dark when I hear the front door opening.
Past two and I am still awake, waiting for Dominic to arrive.
I can't go to bed until he does.
Alpha's orders.
I hurry to the front door, fear in my veins but with no little choice, and come to a sudden halt.
He is drunk.
Alpha Dominic is drunk.
I have never, in all the years I have lived with him, ever seen him get drunk.
At the back of my mind, alarm bells go off, telling me to turn around, leave and damn whatever the consequences will be.
But I don't.
"Al- Alpha?" I call out quietly, standing a little distance from him. "Are you okay?"
I watch as he searches through the dark for my voice, head turning almost sluggishly before he sees me.
"Ah... if it isn't my mate. My weak, pathetic, wolfless mate."
He stalks toward me, an odd glint in his eyes that makes me take several steps back before turning to flee.
I don't get very far.
His hand snakes around my wrist drawing me to him before slamming against a wall. He leans his body onto mine, sweaty and stinking of alcohol.
"Where are you going, mate?" he slurs at me. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
The alarm bells grow louder in my head, so loud I can barely hear my own breath.
"Alpha? Alpha, please... you are hurting me," I plead, wincing as his hands tighten on my wrist.
"I am hurting you? I. Am. Hurting. YOU?!" he roars into my face. "What about me? Do you know how hurt and disappointed I am right now? Typical of a spoiled brat like you, only thinking about yourself."
"No... please," I beg as I fight back the tears caused by his tight grip on my hands.
My tears would only enrage him more.
And that is something that can't happen.
Not now.
"You must be elated now, aren't you?" he continues into my ear, his weight suffocating me. "You have the Alpha as your mate. You must think your life is settled right?"
"No... Dominic-"
THWACK!!
It takes me a few seconds to realise what has just happened.
My face is stinging with the slap he had landed on me.
"Dominic?" he spits. "How bold you have gotten. Very well, since you are so excited to be my mate, let's go finalise it," he says before taking me by the arm and pulling me towards his room.
No.
"No," I beg, trying to get out of his hands. The tears fall freely now, terror about what is about to happen filling my already strung out veins. "Please, I am sorry."
"Oh, I don't know about that, but I promise you, before the sun comes up, you will be," he says before throwing me onto his bed.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
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.
"It's getting hot in here, don't you think?" I shudder as my clit becomes wet with his smooth voice. I melt away in his arms. He kisses me with a passion I've never felt before, and I moan into his mouth, lost in the moment until I sense him kicking open a door. I realize we're in a room. He continues the kiss as I wrap my leg around him, pulling him closer, his erection pressing into me. I feel my panties dripping wet from arousal. He releases me, resting his back on the headboard, and grabs my thigh, pulling me closer. His hand goes to my hair, releasing it to let my curls fall freely. He guides his fingers from my scalp to the ends of the curls, muttering in a husky voice, "Fucking beautiful. ****** Jasmine found herself trapped in a loveless marriage. Her world shattered when she uncovered her husband's betrayal on his birthday. Heartbroken and betrayed, she made the difficult decision to leave him and start anew in Illinois, with her friend Ava by her side. As Jasmine tried to go through her new life, a one-night stand left her pregnant, uncertain about the father's identity. But complications arose as Maxwell, Jasmine's ex-husband, refused to let go. Jasmine discovered shocking truths about Ava's betrayal. As secrets unraveled and loyalties were tested, Would she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her way? Could she trust her heart, or would the shadows of the past forever haunt her?
"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?"
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
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.