One little word. One big concept. An unbreakable bond. Hunter Rivered, the most powerful werewolf, never believed in the fate of a mate. He prefers destruction and domination. Rosalyn Edwards, a simple, sweet, and dreamy wolf, never imagined her life would take such a brutal turn. What happens when the fearsome Hunter claims her territory? Will Rose, too gentle to fight, have to sacrifice everything to protect what she loves? Opposites attract. Mates are forever.
01
Scanning through the rows of students, I couldn't find a single empty seat. After making awkward eye contact with many of the students, I lowered my gaze down to the floor instead. My palms were clammy, and my heart raced inside my chest like a trapped bird desperate for escape.
« Rosalyn Edwards, am I right? »
I tilt my head up at the sound of my name and nod stiffly toward my new English teacher, trying not to squirm under the weight of so many stares.
I never did like first days - especially not when it's the first day at a new school and a new pack. All that attention felt like tiny needles stabbing into my skin, making it harder to breathe. It wasn't just the eyes or the whispered conversations behind cupped hands. It was the newness of it all, the unknown pressing in from every side.
My mother just had to drag both my sister and me with her to this pack, forcing us to leave our old life behind. As much as she claimed it was for a "fresh start," I knew better. I never minded our old pack. I had friends there, a rhythm to my days that made sense.
The only one who really needed a fresh break was my mother.
After all, her mate - my father - had died.
I wanted to be angry with her for making us leave, for uprooting everything and pulling us into this strange, small town where nobody knew us. But every time I thought of the grief she must have carried, every time I remembered the hollow look in her eyes, the anger melted into something heavy and sad inside my chest.
My father... he was a complicated man. We were never too close. It was no secret that he had never cared much for children - at least not his own. I wasn't born out of love or dreams of a family. I was born because my mother had always wanted a daughter, someone to love fiercely and protect. My younger sister, on the other hand, was more of an accident - an unexpected blessing or a mistake, depending on who you asked.
Still, despite everything, I loved him. He was my father after all.
« Would you like to say something about yourself? » the teacher asked politely, his smile forced but not unkind.
Despite the overwhelming urge to answer negatively, I smile and nod, more to get it over with than anything else.
« Well, my name is Rosalyn, but I prefer Rose. I moved here from Canada and I'm a werewolf. »
The room stayed silent for a beat - and then I heard some boys snicker at my last comment.
« Obviously, » one of them muttered under his breath, loud enough for the whole room to hear.
Heat crept up the back of my neck. Ignoring him, I looked down shyly, pretending to focus on the scuff marks on the floor. It wasn't like my admission was shocking. This high school was one of the few designated educational institutions for wolves. Everyone here was a werewolf. It was as common as breathing.
Just east of Amherst, Massachusetts, Pelham was a small town drowning in trees and forests, practically hugging the edge of the Quabbin Reservoir. It was the perfect place for the Silver Heart Pack. Their population was small, their territory vast and beautiful, filled with hidden trails and secret glades where a wolf could run free without fear. The lake was a bonus too - shimmering, wild, and inviting on hot days. It sounded idyllic, really. But right now, under the scrutiny of a hundred eyes, it felt more like a trap.
« Go take a seat, Rosalyn, » my teacher, Mr. Rogers, instructed kindly, gesturing toward the full classroom.
« It's Rose, » I mumbled quietly, but I didn't think he heard me.
Turning back to the class, the same problem remained - there were no empty seats left.
My peers stared at me like I was some exotic animal at a zoo, something strange and mildly amusing. My stomach twisted painfully.
« You can sit here with me, baby, » a boy in the fourth row called out, patting his lap suggestively. A few of his friends snickered, egging him on.
I almost shivered with disgust.
And we wonder why our generation is so messed up.
I ignored his offer and instead grabbed a lone chair sitting abandoned at the back of the room. Without a desk, I just plopped down onto it, trying to shrink myself into the smallest possible space. Maybe if I made myself invisible enough, they'd forget I was even there.
The teacher cleared his throat awkwardly before launching into the lesson, sparing me further humiliation for now.
I tried to pay attention, but it was impossible. My mind kept drifting - to home, to the life we had left behind, to my sister who had been lucky enough to start middle school without the judgmental stares of teenagers who had already established their cliques. I wondered if she was doing better than I was, or if she was sitting in some classroom right now feeling just as isolated.
The minutes dragged on painfully slow. I tapped my foot lightly against the floor to stay awake, counting each tick of the clock like it was a small victory.
A crumpled piece of paper hit my shoe. I blinked, startled, and bent down to pick it up.
You're cute when you're shy.
I glanced up quickly, but I couldn't tell who had thrown it. Several boys smirked at me when our eyes met, but none of them took responsibility. My stomach twisted again - this time with a different kind of discomfort. I crumpled the note tighter in my hand before shoving it into my pocket.
Welcome to Pelham, Rose, I thought bitterly.
The bell finally rang, and the classroom exploded into chatter and movement. I stayed frozen in my seat for a second, hoping the crowd would thin before I had to brave the hallways.
« Don't mind them, » Mr. Rogers said gently as he packed up his things at the front of the room. « Kids can be cruel when they sense someone different. It'll get easier. »
I nodded, though I didn't really believe him. Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't. Either way, it wasn't like I had a choice.
Dragging my chair back to where I found it, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and slipped out into the crowded hallway, feeling like a lone wolf among strangers.
The scent of too many wolves in close quarters filled my nose - sweat, perfume, excitement, nerves. It was overwhelming.
I tightened my grip on my bag and pushed forward.
First days sucked.
And I had a feeling this wasn't going to be an easy start.
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.
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!
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."
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
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?
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!"