Aria is being rejected by her mate for being too independent as compared to her close friend Elara who is soft and sweet. This is the biggest betrayal that sends Aria back into her shell. A year later, she made a debut back into the pack society only to bump into a tall masked stranger who calls her 'mate.'. Aria's comeback will shake not just the pack but the entire continent at large. Her Ex-mate would grovel at her feet, begging to be taken back. Alas, it'll be too late as a certain Alpha-king is hell-bent on wooing this cold and aloof lady into being his Luna. A Mere knight like her previous mate, his subordinate did not stand a chance.
ONE YEAR LATER.
The night was filled with a faint scent of pine and lavender. Aria stood before the mirror,tying the delicate black ribbon of her mask. She inhaled a deep breath, letting the cool breeze soothe he neck as she assessed her overall outlook. The mask was quite the elegant piece, it was crafted with delicate filigree that framed her face, it's simplicity was offset by the gentle shimmer of moonstone accents.
Tonight was the celebration of the Eclipse flame, it was a sacred full moon bonfire that fostered unity and renewal hence the masks on. The ceremony was an ancient tradition that marked the unity of the pack members despite their different features. The moon only recognized the pack in itself and not the diversity of the people. But for Aria, it was way more than an ancient tradition for werewolves, it was her debut into the Pack's social life after a year of solitude and healing.
A soft rap on the door interrupted her thoughts and the door burst before she could send in a reply. There were only a few people who would dare to do that and seeing the auburn haired lady waltzing into her room, she wasn't surprised.
Cassia was her childhood friend and the Alpha's pampers young sister. They had been friends till they became teenagers and Aria ad introduced Elara into their friendship circle though Cassia was not a fan. Aria liked to believe it was due to the vast difference between Cassia's personality and that of Elara, although Cassia believed otherwise. Cassia was a whirlwind of energy,just as fiery as her hair.
"Aria, I would have you know that you are not backing out on me tonight! Cassia declared, her voice a mix of authority and mischief.
Aria turned, her lips quirked up in a smile. " I wasn't planning to. See? I'm ready." She gestured to her dress. Its flowing material accentuating her figure while still being modest enough for her taste.
Cassia's eyes twinkled as she narrowed them, she crossed her arms, "You have been holed up in that room of yours long enough. Tonight you are definitely stepping out of that shell and I won't take a no for an answer."
Cassia grabbed Aria's hand before she could reply and pulled her towards the door. " The Eclipse flame waits for no one, my dear , and you, my cute Werewolf are going to sparkle under the moon's glow!"
As the two friends approached the gathering, the bonfire flames cackled and danced against the twilight sky. The sound of laughter, music and the rumble of excited chatter permeated the air.
Aria took a half at the edge of the clearing, her breath hitching. The scene before he was vibrant, alive and overwhelming. She hadn't realized how much she distanced herself from such vibrant events and moments like this -. Moments that pulsed with life and possibility.
"Breathe," Cassie whispered, squeezing her hand. "You have got this, WE have got this, okay?"
Aria nodded, her gaze sweeping across the gathering, she was relieved that it was a masked party after all. That way she could easily blend into the crowd.
Cassia ever perceptive, gave her a playful nudge, "Let's mingle, or better yet, let's dance!"
"I'll catch up," Aria replied softly, her chest tightening with the sudden rush of emotions. "I'll just need a moment."
Cassia frowned but relented, "Don't disappear entirely. I'd find you later, hmm?" With a final wink at Aria, Cassia disappeared into the crowd leaving Aria alone with her thoughts.
The Bustle and the vibrant energy of the ceremony felt like too much, pressing against her chest and filing her lungs until she could barely breathe. She needed air-space.
Without thinking, she stepped away from the bonfire's glow and into the shadows of the forest that bordered the clearing. The cool, quiet embrace of trees was quiet and welcoming but as she moved deeper into the dark, she collided with someone.
"Sorry-" she began, stepping back only to freeze when the man before her removed his mask.
Ethan.
Her heart stuttered in her chest as recognition dawned on her. He looked-just as she remembered, though his once soft expression was sharper now, his golden eyes where almost ready and had a weird and foreign going to them.
Standing just behind him and clutching Ethan's arm with practiced air of possessiveness was Elara, Her "Friend." She was a vision in white, her mask adorned with pearls and her lips curled into a small knowing smile.
It was the first time she was seeing these two since the rejection incident a year ago. She had become a laughing stock in the pack behind closed doors and topic of gossip over wine and they had gotten bound by the pack priestess and even got married. She heard they were so lovestruck but that had just been rumors. Seeing them after so long was different.
"Aria," Ethan said, his voice low and almost hesitant.
For a moment, the world around her seemed to fall away, leaving only the three of them in the suffocating silence.
Elara's gaze flickered over Aria, her eyes gleaming with something akin to satisfaction. "It's been a while hasn't it?" She said sweetly, though her words carried and undercurrent that made Aria's wolf bristle.
Aria took a step back, her breath shallow, but she forced herself to stand tall. "Indeed, It has." She had thought that she was long over the situation but now looking at Elara's face, Aria wondered why she never saw through Elara's facade for so long.
Ethan wanted to say more but Elara tightened her grip on his arm, her expression softening with a look of bashfulness as she gazed up at him, "Darling, we should head back. People will be wondering where you are."
Aria looked at this current display of affection and it became clear to her; she was not totally over the betrayal, but she was over tbe feeling of yearning towards Ethan. Despite the bond that came with mating, she had been attached to Ethan since young, it was so hard to shut him out of her heart and looking at both of them now she only felt they were quite a match for each other.
A cheat and a hypocrite? The match made by the moon indeed.
"You should enjoy the gathering, I will head out first." Aria's voice was alienated and polite. She turned on her heel and moved to te opposite direction. She couldn't enjoy that side of the forest due to the lingering scents of those two who had clearly been going at it in the dark before she arrived.
Sigh. Now she had to go back to the bustling clearing.
As the glow of the bonfire enclosed, she held a cold smile on her lips. She was finally ready to take on her life right where she had left it at when she went off to sulk. She had finally gotten a certain sense of closure, no matter how weird it was.
BLURB: Kael Darko had been the indomitable Mafia King and business tycoon and Jen Stewart was just a lady working in a coffee shop and trying to make ends meet. When these persons cross parts, not just bullets fly, even sparks erupt and emotions rage in a storm. "No one can leave a scar on you...except my kisses." Kael Darko swears to Jen. He has never been one to care about the frivolities of women but not until he comes across this lovable and adorable coffee girl at his club about to be defiled by filthy men. Kahadhas never felt this need to conquer, possess and protect anyone till he came across Jen who made him feel this way and even more. Kael would do everything and anything to keep her by his side, first for the sake of lust and power but sooner than later, he would turn the entire underworld if as much as a strand of hair on her body was missing. As ruthless as he may be, Jen knew it like her name that she could tame him because he was their devil but he was her protector.
BLURB: Ever walked in on your fiancee going at it with his supposed 'cousin a few days before your wedding?' Well, join the club! Diane Rodriguez finds you so relatable! Diane's life almost crumbles when she discovers that she had been two-timed and lied to by her fiancee and his ex, whom he had told her was his Cousin. Diane escapes from Arizona with a marriage to cancel and a Career life to begin. Ready to take on her family's big business, Diane plans to return after a year and join the family's rival business to train. A mistake! Diane, on her grand return from the States after a bad breakup, is set up and heavily drugged. She struggles to get away from the situation, but what if there is also another person in a similar situation? At the wrong place, at the wrong, is it? Ready to put it all behind her and return with a clean slate to revive her career, Diane resumes her new job and receives the shock of her entire life. She had a one-night stand with her boss! She must navigate the company while dragging their past under the carpet; a cherry on the ice is that he doesn't remember this night... Or does he? Diane is a heartbroken princess in disguise, and Xander is the prince charming to sweep her off her feet and mend her broken heart. Only Prince Charming is more dangerous than Charming, and he doesn't just want to heal her heart; he wants to claim it!
Life was a bed of roses for Debra, the daughter of Alpha. That was until she had a one-night stand with Caleb. She was sure he was her mate as determined by Moon Goddess. But this hateful man refused to accept her. Weeks passed before Debra discovered that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy brought shame to her and everyone she loved. Not only was she driven out, but her father was also hunted down by usurpers. Fortunately, she survived with the help of the mysterious Thorn Edge Pack. Five years passed and Debra didn't hear anything from Caleb. One day, their paths crossed again. They were both on the same mission—carrying out secret investigations in the dangerous Roz Town for the safety and posterity of their respective packs. Caleb was still cold toward her. But as time went on, he fell head over heels in love with her. He tried to make up for abandoning her, but Debra wasn't having any of it. She was hell-bent on hiding her daughter from him and also making a clean break. What did the future hold for the two as they journeyed in Roz Town? What kind of secrets would they find? Would Caleb win Debra's heart and get to know his lovely daughter? Find out!
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
"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.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."