Crystal Dachbourne lost her twin sister in a tragedy, leaving her with a difficult choice. She must prepare to become queen and her substitute to marry Boaz Braelord, the strongest Alpha in their kingdom. The marriage started as a duty and slowly turned into a romance. However, Crystal's happiness was only momentary. Someone challenged her to a Game of Mate, with Alpha Boaz as the grand prize.
[Crystal]
My sister's death shocked everyone in the capital. Cries and howls of grief echoed to every corner of the city on the day of her death. Father and Mother were hurt the most because she was the crown princess.
Nevertheless, there were things we were thankful for. Celyn died after Grandma passed away. She didn't have to feel the pain of losing her beloved first grandchild. After sweeping the forest using the available clues, the trackers couldn't find her body.
Father reluctantly decided to have her and Grandma's funerals held simultaneously. Grievances dominated the cremation process, and a rainstorm marked the funeral. That unforgettable day changed my life forever.
The sound of a bugle startled me when I was walking from the library to the dining hall. It was a sign that an important guest had arrived with unknown intentions. I tried to remain calm as the people around me looked at me anxiously.
It's not a sign of war," I said, calming them down.
'My Princess,' Father addressed me through the mind link. 'Be ready. The time has come.'
My heart was beating rapidly at his instructions. I looked at my servants and urged them to come with me. I went to my chamber upstairs. My chest grew tight the closer I got to my bedroom door.
Mother must have told the makeup artists to prepare because they were already in my bedroom. They moved quickly to undress me. One team put me in a white dress and blue coat, another did my makeup, and the last squad arranged my hair.
I marched to the throne room. Father chose that hall because we had numerous guests, and the palace dignitaries were also present to welcome the visitors. I knew who was coming but didn't expect him to bring so many people.
"You're lying! Celyn cannot be gone! I was with her just before the Queen Mother died. You held a funeral but didn't show me her body. Breaking an agreement is a grave crime." There was a charismatic and confident voice behind the door.
"We are getting married in three days. You must have faked her death to keep me from becoming king of this land. Admit it, King Connor. You threw a big engagement party but didn't agree to an anonymous Alpha like me being your successor, did you?"
"You won't be king of this land, Boaz," Father corrected, "but king consort. My successor will be my daughter, Celyn. She will be the first queen of this land. Unfortunately ...." His voice trembled.
I felt a pain in my chest, hearing my father grieve. He was mourning the passing of the mother who had given birth to him. At the same time, his eldest daughter died at the hands of Rogue, our sworn enemy. Although we couldn't find her body, we all knew she was dead.
"Celyn is gone. You may believe it or not, but we all felt it. You know what happens when a member of our pack leaves forever. We felt two unbearable sorrows when my mother and daughter died," Father explained.
Alpha Boaz chuckled. "So, what's the next plan? Are we breaking our agreement?"
"I will keep my promise. You will still marry my daughter on Saturday." That was a sign from Father. Therefore, the door in front of me opened. "Crystal, Celyn's twin sister, will be the future queen in my place."
I swallowed heavily. I couldn't control my pounding heart. My whole body trembled as Alpha Boaz and his squads stared at me. It was a normal reaction because not many people knew of my existence.
Although people celebrated our birth massively, they didn't remember that Celyn had a twin sister. I purposely kept a low profile wherever I went. My parents were protective because we had many mortal enemies.
Everyone's stares at me weakened my knees. My maid touched my lower back and pushed a little, so I took a step. I gulped as everyone followed me with their gazes.
"May the Moon Goddess always protect you, Your Royal Highness." People lowered their bodies as I passed in front of them.
Every step I took felt so heavy, but something caught my attention. It couldn't be. My heart was beating faster and faster, squeezing my chest. I knew people heard it but didn't show it in their expressions.
I walked in front of Alpha Boaz as I approached the throne. My legs wobbled, my body trembled, and my eyes only wanted to stare at that one figure, but I restrained myself from degrading myself before everyone. How could that be possible?
"Princess! Your Royal Highness! Crystal!" People squealed in panic as I stumbled.
Oh, Moon Goddess. Please just take my life. Why did I make a fool of myself at the fateful moment? I tripped over my own feet! However, a strong arm wrapped around my body. His intoxicating scent froze my brain.
"Are you okay?" Alpha Boaz asked, tickling my ear.
My goodness. I tried to control myself and stay away from that man. My maids took my hands and helped me to stand up. "I'm fine," I replied, relieved that I spoke smoothly and didn't stammer.
Once away from him, I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I sat on Father's right side, next to his throne. I nodded to him and Mother, who worriedly looked at me.
"Is this a trick? You've never told me Celyn has a twin sister," Alpha Boaz accused. "Wait. Are you afraid I'll ask both of them to be my wives?"
There was a myth in our kingdom that had yet to be proven true. Twins desired the same thing. Thankfully, Celyn and I had very different tastes in everything.
When we were eighteen, Celyn claimed Alpha Boaz as her destined mate. I didn't feel anything towards him. That guy wasn't my type. Besides, his aura scared me. So, we didn't fight over him.
"Watch your language," I reminded him. "You're talking to the King of the Southern Kingdom, not some ordinary person in your pack. Even though you're the most powerful Alpha in the land, we have enough warriors to finish you off for your disrespect."
My heart was pounding, and my breathing was labored, but I ventured to state my opinion. Celyn would easily reprimand anyone rude because she had been raised to be a queen since childhood. It was new to me.
However, everyone was silent, including Father and Mother. People in the hall held their breath, either stunned by my boldness or worried about Alpha Boaz's reaction. I guessed it was the latter that kept them silent.
"I'm sorry, Princess," Alpha Boaz said politely, much to my relief. He turned back to Father. "If you're serious about this, you must keep your promise. I will bring my future wife home with me. It is part of the tradition."
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
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!
"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?"
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
"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!
It's true what they say about marriage: one partner's always happier than the other. ~~~ Julie's world is shattered when her husband, Ryan, reveals that he wants an open marriage. His reason: he needs a child as they've been unable to have one. Julie reluctantly agrees to save her marriage. The next day, Ryan returns home with his secretary, confirming Julie's long-held suspicion that their affair was taking place behind her back. Julie, heartbroken and enraged, seeks solace in a bar, where she meets a fascinating stranger named Luke, who changes the game. Julie confides in Luke over drinks, and he proposes a risky plan: he will act as her "boyfriend" to turn the tables on Ryan. Julie agrees, setting off a chain of events that will challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself.