Leading two successful lives, one normal and the other underwater, he was unstoppable. This secret he carefully concealed beneath his calm exterior hadn't escaped Alana Carsten. On the surface, she lived an ordinary life, juggling her career, friends, and dreams of a life free from complications. But all of that would change the day she uttered that simple "yes." This word, carrying a promise she could never have anticipated, bound her to Don, a man whose reputation extended far beyond the borders of illegality. At 25, Alana, a bold young woman full of character and curiosity, wasn't afraid to take risks. What she didn't know was that her "yes" marked the beginning of a plunge into a dangerous mafia world, where the rules were made to be broken. Once in this shadowy realm, there was no turning back. The choices she made from that moment on could lead her to her own destruction... or to a power she never imagined. Ready to face every challenge, Alana had no idea just how far this oath would take her.
Chapter 01
Alana Carsten
"You're beyond stunning. Absolutely beautiful, Lana," Ayla, my older sister, said with tears in her eyes, her voice thick with emotion.
I forced a smile, adjusting the makeup on my face. The layers of foundation, blush, and highlighter felt heavier with every passing second, yet I didn't dare wipe any of it off. This moment wasn't about me, it was about my upcoming wedding-no matter how wrong everything felt about it.
I glanced at my reflection in the full-length mirror. I was standing in a white silk wedding dress, its fabric hugging my body like a second skin, outlining every curve. The dress had a slit on the left side that led up to my mid-thigh, exposing my leg and leaving me feeling exposed in a way I wasn't sure was entirely appropriate for a Christian wedding. Was this even right? Was this what I wanted?
I was sure my future mother-in-law didn't choose this dress. She seemed to have a very traditional idea of how weddings should go, so I had no doubt she wouldn't have approved of something like this. No, Ayla was convinced that it was my soon-to-be husband who had chosen it, or at the very least, influenced it.
Now, standing here in this stunning dress that made me feel both beautiful and alienated at the same time, Ayla stood behind me, adjusting the lace in my hair. "Now listen to me," she started, her voice lowering as she became serious. "The Salvatore's might seem like a picture-perfect family, with Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore being all smiles and charm. Your future mother and father-in-law, they're nice people, sure."
I raised an eyebrow at her, unsure of where this was going.
"But Dan and I are convinced that behind all those billion-dollar tech companies they run, there's more going on. They're hiding something, Lana. They're the most powerful, dangerous, and feared family in Britain. Behind the business deals and the charity gala smiles, there's something else. A lifestyle... a mafia," Ayla said with a straight face.
Mafia.
I laughed under my breath, but there was no humor in it. "How the hell do you jump from a wedding dress to that? Seriously, Ayla. Mafia?"
Ayla was unwavering. "Yes. The Salvatores-everyone in the business world knows them. Their companies are massive, their influence unmatched. There's just no proof to tie them to anything shady, but trust me when I say they are as dangerous as they come. And once you're married to him, you'll be tied to that power, Lana. You're not just marrying a man; you're marrying an empire. A family with secrets darker than you could ever imagine."
I couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine. I stared at my reflection again, trying to make sense of her words. I was about to become part of that world-the world of the Salvatores. But was it really as sinister as Ayla suggested?
I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. "Ayla, I think you're letting your imagination run wild. Everyone knows that the Salvatores have a powerful business empire, but mafia?" I scoffed. "Where's the proof?"
She didn't back down. "Lana, you can't ignore the signs. People in power don't get that way by playing nice. There's something hidden beneath the surface, something dark, and you've got to be careful."
I sighed, leaning back against the vanity table. "How does Dan deal with this?" I muttered under my breath. "The mood swings, the paranoia... it's exhausting."
Ayla snapped her gaze to me, looking almost offended. "What are you saying? Are you not listening?"
"I am listening," I muttered, forcing my attention back to her. "I just don't know what you expect me to do with this information. Should I run away?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Lana. I'm not saying you should run. I'm just saying, you need to understand what you're getting into," Ayla said, her tone more somber now. "You're marrying into a world full of power, but also full of danger. Whether you like it or not, you're going to be caught up in it."
I stared at her, my gaze drifting to the engagement ring on my finger. It was a beautiful ring-sapphire, diamond-encrusted, and far too expensive for my taste. My soon-to-be husband had given it to me, and part of me couldn't help but feel that this was just one more piece of the puzzle. The life I was about to enter wasn't one I chose, not really. But here I was, standing on the edge of a world I didn't understand.
"You sound like Dad," I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
Ayla's face softened as she stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I just want to make sure you're ready. I know you don't like to show it, but this is serious. Dan and I... we've seen enough to know that the Salvatores aren't just a business family. You need to be aware of what you might be walking into."
I turned to face her, catching her eye in the mirror. She was serious now, her playful demeanor replaced with genuine concern. "Ayla, you don't have to worry about me. I've been around this kind of life for years. You know that. Guns, knives, power struggles-it's all just noise. It doesn't bother me."
"Maybe it should," she murmured, her voice low. "This isn't just another day in the life of some mafia don's daughter, Lana. This is different. These people... they have more than money and power. They have control over everything. If you're not careful, you'll be swept up in it."
I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her words settle on my chest. Was she right? Was I about to walk into something I couldn't escape from? I looked at my reflection again, the confident woman staring back at me feeling almost like a stranger.
"Look, I get it. I know what I'm walking into. But I'm not going to let it consume me. I'm my own person, Ayla. No one owns me."
Ayla stared at me for a long moment, then finally nodded. "I just want you to be safe. That's all."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Safe? From the mafia? From a man I'm supposed to marry? Ayla, we both grew up with a detector. We've been surrounded by guns and knives our whole lives. We even learned how to use them when we were ten years old. There's nothing new here."
Ayla's eyes softened as she reached out to adjust the lace in my hair. "You've always been fearless, Lana. But that's not always a good thing. Just promise me you'll be careful."
"I'll be fine," I said, turning to face her fully now. "Besides, I've already made my choice."
Ayla gave me a look, one that said she didn't entirely believe me, but she didn't press further. Instead, she gave me a brief hug. "Just remember that you're not alone in this, okay? Dan and I are always here for you."
I nodded, even though I wasn't sure what to believe anymore. There were so many unanswered questions, and Ayla's words had only added to the storm brewing inside my head.
Just then, the door opened with a soft creak, and I felt my heart skip a beat. A low, unmistakable growl echoed through the room. It wasn't just any growl. This one was deep, possessive.
"Mine."
I froze. My blood ran cold.
Princess A'Nae Smith was no stranger to chaos. Born and raised in Kinji, a ghetto and dangerous neighborhood where sirens were more common than lullabies, she learned early on how to survive. Tough, sharp-tongued, and never one to back down, Princess carried herself like royalty, even if the world around her tried to strip that crown away. High school was no different-it was just a battlefield with lockers. But this wasn't just any school. It was run by none other than Mafia King, 5. Ruthless, feared, and respected. His name alone could shut people up mid-sentence. And his son? Oh, he was a whole different problem. He was the definition of popularity: cocky smile, expensive shoes, and girls who followed him like he was made of gold. But Princess wasn't impressed. She didn't care about his last name, his status, or that smug look he always wore when their paths crossed. But what happens when Princess finds out he's been watching her more than she thought? That behind all that swagger, Mafia King 5's son had a secret-he was crushing hard. On her. Things in Kinji were about to get real messy.
Morgan Mayor had always known that her 17th birthday would mark a pivotal moment in her life. In the werewolf world, that was the age when your first shift happened, and with it, the discovery of your mate-the one person in the world who was meant for you. It was a tradition, a rite of passage, one that every wolf looked forward to. But nothing could have prepared Morgan for the overwhelming flood of emotions that came with it. The moment she shifted, the world around her seemed to slow down, her senses heightened as the bond between her and her mate pulsed through her, drawing her toward him. When their eyes met, she felt it, the instant recognition-the pull that drew her toward him like gravity. But instead of the warmth and comfort she had expected, the coldness in his eyes sent a shock through her body. "I don't want you," he had said, his voice flat, detached. The words hit her like a physical blow, and her heart shattered. He was supposed to be the one who made her feel whole, but instead, he rejected her without a second thought. Morgan's world crumbled in that moment. The weight of his rejection was unbearable, but there was something else, something even more devastating. A small, growing life inside her-an undeniable reminder of the bond between them. She was carrying the Alpha's daughter, and yet, she was alone. The Alpha's blood ran through her veins, but she had no claim on his heart. As she stood there, a deep ache filled her chest, and her wolf mourned, howling for the love that would never be. Everything she had hoped for, everything she had dreamed of, had been torn away in an instant.
Rae East had always cast herself off as a girl not worthy of a Mate. Her past was filled with self-doubt, and the weight of broken dreams had shaped her view of the future as nothing more than a bleak, hopeless stretch of time. She never thought she would meet someone who would make her believe otherwise, certainly not an Alpha-someone like the man her fate had so cruelly paired her with. When she first discovered that she was mated to an Alpha, it didn't feel like a blessing. The revelation left her numb, more of a curse than anything else. She didn't expect anything from the bond. She had no hope of ever truly being seen by him, much less loved. And yet, when he brought her to his pack, it was clear that she didn't belong. She wasn't a part of his world, nor did she think she would ever be. The Alpha barely acknowledged her, leaving her adrift and forgotten in a world that felt increasingly foreign. There was no purpose for her here, no place where she fit. Rae sank further into herself, each day passing like the last-empty, silent, and full of pain. Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions: the bond that tugged at her heart, the ache of longing, and the cold, relentless truth that the Alpha, the one who was supposed to complete her, showed no interest in doing so. Every night, she curled up in her bed, trying to block out the pull, but it was always there, a presence she couldn't escape. Confusion swirled around her like a thick fog. Rae tried to find meaning in the pack's activities, in the faces of the others who seemed to have their own lives, but nothing felt real. The taste of the bond was intoxicating-so much that it became impossible to ignore, and harder still to move away from. She couldn't stop wanting him, even though it seemed that the Alpha would never feel the same. She wondered if she was destined to be a ghost in his life forever, a shadow clinging to something that would never be hers. And yet, despite it all, Rae could not let go. She couldn't walk away from the Alpha, not when he held her heart so firmly in his grasp. But how could she fight for a future with someone who didn't want her?
Ivory felt the cold air press against her face as she stormed through the door, her heart pounding in her chest. The deal was done. She had been forced into this. The years of rivalry between her family and Darius Quartz's had culminated in an arrangement neither of them had ever wanted. Yet here she was, bound by a long-remembered promise between two bitter enemies, the ink barely dry on the marriage contract that would seal her fate. Heartbroken, angry, and confused, she had said yes to the first thing she heard. She should have stopped, she knew. Should have taken a moment to think it through, but what choice had she really had? Darius Quartz had been a name she had known only in passing, a man whose cold demeanor had haunted her thoughts even before their forced union. Now, she was his wife. She had hoped for something resembling happiness, something that might give her a glimpse of peace, but what she found was an endless cycle of solitude. The house felt too big, the silence too overwhelming. The routine she had followed for the last six months, with her husband absent and uncommunicative, had become a cage. Darius, always distant, had left for his training shortly after their marriage, leaving her to carry on alone. But now, he was back. Ivory had hoped that with his return, things might change. Perhaps he would take notice of her, of their marriage, and perhaps there would be some semblance of warmth between them. Instead, nothing had shifted. He had returned, silent as ever, his cold eyes offering her little more than a fleeting glance before he immersed himself in his work. They were strangers, trapped in a contract neither of them had wanted but both were bound to. Then, just as she had begun to resign herself to her lonely fate, he arrived-the one man she never thought she'd see again. Her ex. The one who had broken her heart. The one whose betrayal still stung. His presence in her life now, with all the unresolved emotions he brought with him, threatened everything. Was she really going to allow him back into her life after all this time? Marriage. Love. Both seemed like distant dreams now, at least to Ivory. At twenty, she had been forced into this union, and in the years since, she had been adrift, unsure of where her life was heading. Would Darius ever change? Would they ever find any real connection? Or was she doomed to live out her days in this suffocating, quiet misery? And now, with her ex back in the picture, things were about to get much more complicated.
Lara had always known there was something extraordinary about the night of the party. The instant she locked eyes with him, the pull was undeniable-his scent, the way he made her pulse race. She had never felt anything like it before. But the heat of the moment led to something she wasn't prepared for-a steamy night with her mate, followed by an unexpected rejection the next day. The cold words he spoke haunted her, leaving her heart shattered. But as time passed, life moved on. Or so she thought. A month later, her world shifted. The discovery that she was pregnant left her reeling. The shock of it all made her decide to keep it a secret, fearing the consequences. It wasn't until four years later, when their paths crossed again, that she realized just how much had changed. Fate was a strange thing, and sometimes, it had a way of throwing you into unexpected moments. Lara had no idea that the secrets she'd been carrying for years would soon come crashing into her reality-forcing her to face not just her past, but the future she never saw coming. Vous avez dit : Traduit en français ChatGPT a dit : Chapitre 09 : Des chemins imprévisibles Lara avait toujours su qu'il y avait quelque chose d'extraordinaire dans cette nuit de fête. Dès qu'elle croisa son regard, l'attirance fut indéniable-son parfum, la façon dont son cœur s'emballait. Elle n'avait jamais ressenti cela auparavant. Mais la chaleur de l'instant les mena à quelque chose pour lequel elle n'était pas prête-une nuit torride avec son âme sœur, suivie par un rejet inattendu le lendemain. Les mots froids qu'il avait prononcés la hantaient, laissant son cœur brisé. Mais au fil du temps, la vie continua. Du moins, c'est ce qu'elle pensait. Un mois plus tard, son monde bascula. La découverte de sa grossesse la laissa abasourdie. Le choc de cette nouvelle la poussa à garder le secret, redoutant les conséquences. Ce n'est que quatre ans plus tard, lorsqu'ils se croisèrent à nouveau, qu'elle comprit à quel point les choses avaient changé. Le destin était une chose étrange, et parfois, il avait une façon bien à lui de vous projeter dans des moments inattendus. Lara n'avait aucune idée que les secrets qu'elle avait gardés pendant des années allaient bientôt s'écraser dans sa réalité-la forçant à affronter non seulement son passé, mais aussi un avenir qu'elle n'avait jamais imaginé.
Recently single, Jayden McCartney would have preferred to skip his sister's wedding. Not because he didn't love her-he did-but because he knew exactly what was waiting for him: a flood of pitying looks, thinly veiled comments about his single status... and worse, his grandmother's desperate attempts to set him up with someone "nice." A family tradition he dreaded almost as much as dinner with his ex. The problem? Jayden was in no state to date anyone new. Not after catching his ex in someone else's arms. The very idea of a relationship made his skin crawl. So, he did what any rational man would do in his situation: he hired someone. Alexandra. Alex, the shy geek from high school, now a woman as brilliant as she was irresistible. She was supposed to play the part of the perfect girlfriend, just for the weekend. Nothing more. At least, that's what he thought... Because watching her smile, feeling her slip her hand into his so naturally-it hit him. He had a new problem: he was falling for her. And what Jayden wants, Jayden gets.
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
"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!
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
"I'm going to tell you what I have in mind," he murmured. "First you're going to strip down until you're completely naked," he whispered against her ear. "Then I'm going to tie you up so you're completely powerless and subject to my every whim." "Mmm, sounds good so far," she murmured. "Then I'm going to insert a plug to prepare you for me. After that I'm going to spank that sweet ass of yours until it's rosy with my marks." She shivered uncontrollably, her mind exploding with the images he evoked. She let out a small whimper as he sucked the lobe of her ear into his mouth. God, she could cum with just his words. She was already aching with need. Her nipples tingled and hardened to painful points. Her clit pulsed and twitched between her legs until she clamped her thighs together to alleviate the burn. "And then I'm going to f**k your mouth. But I won't cum. Not yet. When I'm close, I'll flog you again until your ass is burning and you're on fire with the need for relief. And then I'm going to f**k that ass. I'm going to take you hard and rough, to the very limits of what you can withstand. I won't be gentle. Not tonight. I'm going to take you as roughly as you can stand. And then I'm going to cum all over your ass. Are you ready to be completely and utterly dominated?"
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?