Elle's life had been the very definition of hell on Earth. Abandoned at the age of six, she had been left alone in a strange territory, far from everything she had known, by her own parents. Their words still echoed in her ears: "You will be safe here, in this new pack. We will come back for you when we can." But that moment never came. Each day passed in the hope of a promise unkept, in the shadow of a life marked by silence. Fourteen years had passed since that fateful day, and despite her parents' promise, no sign of them had ever broken the weight of abandonment. She lived in a world where pain had become her constant companion, where loneliness was her only friend. She clung to life by a thread, trying to find a spark of hope in an existence dull with fear and survival. She had learned to defend herself, to hide, to exist in this cruel world where love seemed a foreign concept. Until the day everything changed. The alpha king, relentless and imposing, found her, just when she believed her fate was sealed. The one who would turn her life upside down, the one whose shadow seemed to engulf hers, had crossed her path. A meeting that would change everything.
Chapter 1
Faster, run faster! I screamed in my head, my breath coming out in jagged gasps, the cold air biting at my lungs. Every step sent jolts of pain through my body, but I ignored them. My legs burned, my muscles ached, and I was so tired. But I couldn't stop-not yet. I pushed myself harder, ignoring the agony, the exhaustion, and the doubt creeping into my mind. I had to keep going. I was so close.
Just a few more miles, I told myself. You're almost there-just a little further and you'll be out of their reach. Just a few more steps and you'll be free.
My body was starting to feel like lead. The cold snow beneath my paws didn't make it any easier. My wolf, a small grey creature compared to most, was just as exhausted as I was. Still, I kept going, each stride faster, my heart pounding in my chest. The border was within sight now. I could see the trees thinning out ahead of me, and beyond them was the freedom I had been craving for so long-the one thing that had kept me going when everything seemed too much.
I couldn't help the excited jolt of hope that surged through me as the thought of escape entered my mind. Almost there. I could almost taste it. But then, something in the air changed. The scent hit me first-earthy, musky, and familiar. A low growl vibrated in the back of my mind, and I didn't need to think twice to recognize it.
Beta Brent.
No. No, not him. I wasn't ready. I had to be.
The next thing I knew, I was slammed into the rough bark of a tree, the impact sending a shockwave through my body. My head spun as I hit the ground, the world tilting. Pain shot through my chest, and I whimpered, trying to scramble away, but my body refused to obey.
I barely had time to breathe before I heard a voice, rough and commanding.
'Shift!'
The force of the command slammed into me like a physical blow, and I was powerless to resist. With a whimper, I shifted back into my human form, curling in on myself, desperate to shield what little I could of my body from the snow. The cold seeped into my skin, but it was nothing compared to the agony radiating from my ribs. I could feel them protesting with every breath I took. He'd hurt me bad-too bad for me to fight back.
Then, through the pain, I heard the unmistakable sound of Beta Brent's paws crunching on the snow as he stalked closer.
"Get the fuck up!" he barked.
I winced at the sound of his voice, harsh and mocking. My limbs trembled, but I couldn't move. I was too weak, my body too battered to respond. I tried to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. They were lodged in my throat, thick and choking.
And then, without warning, I was hauled up by my arm. I let out a startled yelp as he yanked me to my feet, his grip tight and unrelenting. The pain from my ribs flared up again, and I gasped. He didn't even flinch, didn't spare me so much as a glance.
"Walk, bitch!" he growled.
"I can't!" I gasped, my voice cracking from the effort. "You broke my ribs."
"I don't give a fuck, you lazy bitch. Tony's pissed, and I can't wait to see what he's got in store for you this time."
I flinched at the mention of Tony, the Alpha-the one I feared the most. He was a monster, and every time I thought I might escape, he dragged me back with terrifying ease. I had thought I could outrun him. I had been wrong.
His words, like a cruel reminder, struck at the heart of my fear, and I felt my chest tighten. Beta Brent, clearly fueled by some twisted excitement at my fate, threw me over his shoulder like I was nothing. The shift in position made my ribs scream in protest, but it was pointless to cry out. He didn't care.
He was faster than me, too fast for my battered body to keep up. We were through the woods and back to the pack house in what felt like seconds. My pulse hammered in my ears as the fear settled in. I couldn't escape this time. There was no running from Tony, no place to hide.
As we approached the pack house, the familiar, imposing building loomed ahead. I could feel the weight of its walls pressing in on me, closing me in. Beta Brent didn't stop for a moment. He dragged me inside, and I winced at the sudden warmth compared to the bitter cold outside. But the warmth wasn't comforting. It was suffocating.
I was taken up the stairs to the Alpha's office, the place where nightmares were made. My heart pounded harder with every step. My body trembled, not just from the pain but from the dread that seemed to drip from the walls. This was where Tony made his decisions. This was where I would pay for trying to escape.
Beta Brent knocked on the door, his rough hand gripping me even tighter. The door creaked open, and we entered the darkened office.
Tony was sitting behind his desk, his cold brown eyes gleaming as they locked onto me. He didn't speak immediately, his gaze a slow, calculating burn. My breath hitched, and I lowered my head, knowing what was expected of me.
I wasn't allowed to meet his eyes. Not now. Not ever. To look an Alpha in the eye was an unspoken challenge-a death sentence, depending on the Alpha.
But I could feel the weight of his stare as if it was a physical thing, crawling over my skin. Slowly, he stood from his chair, every movement deliberate and predatory. My breath caught in my throat.
He didn't speak. He didn't need to. His very presence was enough to command attention. He moved towards me, his footsteps echoing in the otherwise silent room. Every step made my heart beat faster, the fear building inside me until I could hardly breathe.
I stayed on the floor, my arms wrapped around my knees, my body as small as I could make it. But it didn't matter. He was already close enough to see me tremble.
And still, he didn't speak. He just reached down and grabbed me by my arm, lifting me easily, as if I weighed nothing. My stomach twisted with dread.
What did he have planned for me this time?
All I knew for sure was that it would hurt.
She was barely twenty years old when her heart was shattered by the man she thought she could love, a man who, out of spite and a thirst for revenge, left her in pain. He hated her for a crime she didn't commit, a crime she didn't even know about. The pain was unbearable, the betrayal devastating. Five years later, Ana was no longer the fragile, vulnerable young woman she once was. She had grown, matured, and built a strength she never knew she had back then. Life had changed her; she no longer believed in love or the goodness of men. She had learned not to let her emotions control her. Yet, when Devin reappeared, her balance faltered. He had returned, determined to finish what he hadn't been able to do before: his revenge. His dark, cold eyes exuded an icy hostility, but Ana knew he was no longer the man he once was. The Devin of today was more cynical, more ruthless. Still, she couldn't ignore the lingering attraction she had always felt for him. Devin, for his part, bore the scars of a life marked by betrayal and pain. Since the age of fourteen, revenge had become his only obsession. Fate had driven him to hate the daughter of the man who had destroyed his family. But when he crossed Ana's gaze again, he realized that the war he had waged against her could destroy both of them. Could their love be possible, or would the past be too heavy to bear?
Bronte was the beloved girl of everyone, always smiling and full of life. Her popularity made her an essential person in everyone's eyes. Yet, there was one exception: Blake. This arrogant bad boy, with his messy hair and piercing gaze, didn't even seem to notice her. But that was before her parents went to Africa. Forced to leave for several weeks, they entrusted Bronte to Blake. Upon her arrival, Bronte felt like an intruder in his world. Their first interactions were cold, marked by endless pranks and arguments that never seemed to end. Yet, behind Blake's attitude, Bronte sensed something deeper, a secret he hid carefully. Over the days, their relationship slowly began to change. Despite the provocations and tensions, an attraction started to form between them. Blake couldn't admit it, but it was clear that Bronte was no longer just the neighbor.
"Look at yourself in the mirror, little bun. You're still shivering under my touch, so excited, so pitiful..." His voice was low, teasing, as he stroked her cheek, his fingers trailing down to her trembling neck. "Let go of me, you bastard!" She struggled, trying to twist away, her hands pushing against his chest. "What did you do to the divorce paper?!" He smirked, not even flinching at her resistance. "It wasn't a divorce paper, baby." He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. "I changed the contract." Her eyes widened, confusion flashing in her gaze. "What do you mean-?" "In the end," he whispered, "you belong to me, and only me." His fingers brushed over her lips as he held her in place, savoring her resistance, knowing all too well how much she wanted to escape. But it didn't matter. She was already his, and the paper proved it. There was no going back now.
He swept my sweat-drenched hair off my neck, pressing his lips against my ear. His hot breath made me shiver, and every vibration of his voice left me breathless. "You're not the first to try to seduce me," he whispered, his warm breath grazing my skin. "But you're my favorite." His eyes locked with mine, piercing and intense, before he slowly pulled me away. I watched him take my red lace thong, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. A wave of desire overwhelmed me, mixed with a strange sense of defeat. I hadn't expected this, nor the palpable tension that had settled between us. And now, I'm an intern for Cole, the writer of the steamiest novels I've ever read. All of this is more real, more intense, and most of all, more dangerous than I could have ever imagined.
Jack had just arrived in town, a cold breeze following him, signaling the arrival of winter. The first snowflakes danced in the air, covering the streets with a white blanket. Summer, on the other hand, hated this season. Every year, she dreaded the cold, the gray skies, and the early darkness. But that day, something changed. When he walked into her café, an unusual shiver ran down her spine. The man with silver hair and icy blue eyes, as cold as the winter sea, seemed to bring a breath of fresh air with him. But there was something else, something captivating in his presence, a mystery that Summer didn't yet understand. Jack, with his calm, frosty demeanor, knew how to bring the chill, almost as if he could make the air feel sharper. Yet, soon, she would discover that beneath that apparent coldness, he had the power to ignite a fire inside her. A fire she never imagined could exist.
She loved her husband. She gave him everything, without hesitation, offering her heart, her soul, and her dreams. But he was nothing but a receiver, never a giver. He took without ever giving back, feeding off her affection and sacrifices. He was selfish, and every gesture she made for him seemed like a mere formality to satisfy his needs. He was never there for her, except when it served him. The only things he offered were confusion. He gave her empty promises, sweet words that rang hollow. He offered manipulation, ideals disguised as his "undeniable love," but in reality, he only loved one person: himself. She adored him, but he saw in her nothing more than a tool to fill his inner emptiness. He had invaded her mind to the point where, when he proposed an open relationship, he made her believe it was her idea, seducing her with subtle words. She wanted to believe him, convincing herself that it was a step of compromise, a sacrifice for the love he claimed to have for her. But deep down, she knew it wasn't what she wanted. She wanted him, and only him. He wanted her, and all the others he could get, all those who would feed his insatiable need for power and domination. But all of that changed when Tobias Wrexler entered their lives. His intense gaze, his silent yet powerful presence, brought a turning point in her life. The shadow of her husband suddenly seemed far less threatening in the light that Tobias brought.
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
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!
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?