"Trapped in the heart of the imperial palace, Alexander is forced to play a desperate game of survival. Every step she takes, every move she makes, is watched and waited upon by the ruthless Shadow Concord."
Madame Celeste's velvet armchair creaked softly as she leaned back, her cigarette smoke curling lazily towards the ornate ceiling. The air was thick with the scent of incense and something else... something metallic.
"Do you remember what I taught you, my dear?" Madame Celeste asked, her voice very low.
Alexa's fingers twitched in her lap, her eyes locked on Madame Celeste's. "I never forget," she replied, her voice smooth as silk, but with a hint of underlying tension.
Madame Celeste's smile was a thin, cruel line. "Good. Because tonight, you won't be dealing with fools or pawns. The emperor's court is full of predators, and they'll eat you alive if you let them."
Alexa's gaze never wavered, but her heart was racing. She could feel the weight of Madame Celeste's words settling upon her like a shroud.
"Let them try," Alexa said, her voice steady, but her fingers crossed in her lap.
Madame Celeste rose from her chair, her silk gown rustling softly against the floor. She placed a hand on Alexa's shoulder, the weight of it surprisingly comforting.
"This isn't just about survival, Alexa," Madame Celeste whispered, her breath cold against Alexa's ear. "It's about seizing power, taking what they think belongs to them. And when you do... make them beg for mercy."
Alexa nodded, the words burning themselves into her mind like a brand.
As she left Madame Celeste's chambers, Alexa felt a thrill of anticipation mixed with fear. The grand staircase of the Stable District stretched out before her, the polished wood gleaming in the flickering candlelight.
The streets were alive with the nocturnal pulse of the city, the whispers and laughter of the crowd weaving together like a tapestry. Alexa pulled her cloak tighter around her, the invitation to the emperor's gala clutched safely in her gloved hand.
As she approached the waiting carriages, a figure darted out from the alley - a boy with sharp features and dirt-smudged skin. He grabbed her wrist, his grip surprisingly strong for someone so small.
"Hey, watch it!" Alexa exclaimed, trying to shake him off.
The boy's eyes were wide with fear, his voice barely audible over the noise of the street. "You're heading to the emperor's gala, aren't you?"
Alexa raised an eyebrow, trying to hide her surprise. "What's it to you? And who are you?"
The boy's grip tightened. "Don't trust them," he whispered urgently. "They'll turn on you the moment you show weakness. Remember that."
Before Alexa could respond, the boy vanished into the crowd, leaving her staring at the empty space where he had stood.
She shook her head, her mind racing with possibilities. What had just happened? And who was that mysterious boy?
As she climbed into the waiting carriage, Alexa felt a shiver run down her spine. Tonight was going to be a lot more complicated than she had anticipated.
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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?”
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
"Listen, Gadreel Ødegaar," she looked at him, not hesitating this time. "It's my anniversary present for you. Let's divorce." *** Ivory Remington had sacrificed five years to look after her husband Gadreel who was in a vegetative state after an accident and a few months ago, he finally awakened like a miracle. She thought it was the start of their happy life but Gadreel still had no heart for her. On their anniversary and her birthday, she received a cheating video of her dear husband and her stepsister. Heartbroken, Ivory chose to quit this stupid game. She decided to set him free but the reason she left on the divorce agreement pierced Gadreel's noble pride. *** "Impotent? Are you serious?" He gripped her wrist and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "I'm a woman, Gadreel. I'm tired of being in a sexless marriage. Let's end it once and for all." "Sexless, huh?" he chuckled lowly and without warning grabbed her chin in between his hands, pulling her face closer. "Turns out my wife was so eager to get a man between her legs? "