Undress," she said coldly. The girls hesitated. Belle's fingers froze on the tie of her robe. "Now!" the woman snapped. One by one, the girls slipped off their robes, folding them neatly, revealing bruises, thin bodies, and shame. Belle clutched her arms as she stepped out of hers, trying not to shake, not to cry. Her collar was still on. It would never come off. "In," the woman said, pointing to the pool. They stepped into the warm water. Belle hissed softly as the heat stung her knees and feet. Still, she moved forward. She didn't want to be last. The girls soaked quietly. There was no laughter. No whispers. Only silence and the soft sounds of water.
CHAPTER ONE: The Price of Blood
The air in the brothel was thick with smoke and cheap perfume. Laughter and moans echoed from the rooms upstairs, but in the backroom, the mood was cold and tense.
Rosa paced the cracked tile floor, arms folded tightly. Her face was tired, makeup smudged from the long night.
"You said five thousand," she snapped at the man sitting across from her. "She's worth more than that."
The man wore all black. A small scar ran across his cheek. He leaned back in the chair, unfazed. "You're lucky Luciano's even interested. He doesn't take girls off the street. He wants silence, loyalty. No attitude."
"She's quiet," Rosa insisted. "Obedient. She won't be a problem."
In the hallway, just beyond the door, Isla stood frozen. She held a tray with half-filled glasses and a dirty ashtray. Her name. She had heard her name.
She stepped closer to the door.
"She's still untouched, right?" the man asked.
Rosa's voice was cold. "Of course. She's clean."
Isla's stomach turned. Her heart pounded against her chest. She stepped back, bumping into the wall, knocking over a broom. The sound echoed through the hallway.
The door creaked open.
Rosa's eyes narrowed when she saw her.
"Isla," her mother said sharply. "What are you doing here?"
Isla stepped into the room slowly, confused, afraid. "Mama... what are you talking about? Why are they asking about me?"
Rosa glanced at the man, then looked away. "It's nothing. Go back to your chores."
"No." Isla shook her head. Her voice trembled. "You said I didn't have to work upstairs. You promised-"
The man stood. He looked Isla up and down, like he was sizing up meat in a butcher's shop. "She'll do," he muttered.
"Mama," Isla whispered, her voice cracking. "Please... what's going on?"
Rosa looked at her daughter, but there was no softness in her eyes. Only exhaustion.
"You'll be better off with him, girl," she said flatly. "He can feed you. I can't."
Isla's lips parted, but no words came out.
She felt like the floor had dropped beneath her.
The man turned away, walking to the side door. "He's waiting."
The door opened wider, and Luciano stepped inside.
He was tall, dressed in a black suit with no tie. His coat hung open, his hands in his pockets. His face was clean-shaven, sharp, dangerous. Eyes like polished stone locked onto Isla.
Silence fell in the room.
Luciano stepped closer. He said nothing at first. Just looked at her.
"Name?" he asked finally.
Isla swallowed. "Isla."
He tilted his head slightly. "Age?"
"Seventeen," Rosa said quickly.
Luciano raised an eyebrow. "Looks older."
"She's mature for her age," Rosa added.
Luciano took a slow step toward Isla. She backed away instinctively, but he stopped in front of her. He reached out, gently tilted her chin up with one finger.
"No scars. No attitude." His voice was smooth, but cold. "You'll learn."
He turned to Rosa. "We're done here."
A thick envelope hit the table with a dull thud.
Rosa picked it up without hesitation.
Isla's eyes widened. "You sold me...?"
Rosa didn't answer. She turned her back, pocketing the money.
Luciano gave Isla one last look before nodding to his man. "Take her."
As rough hands grabbed her arm, Isla struggled. "Mama, don't let them take me! Mama!"
But Rosa didn't turn around.
She just lit a cigarette with shaking hands.
And let the door close behind her.
***********************************
The car door slammed shut behind Isla before she could even look back.
She sat pressed against the door, eyes wide, her hands shaking in her lap. The leather seats were soft, too soft. The air inside smelled like cologne and expensive silence.
The man from earlier-Luciano's right hand-sat beside her. He didn't speak right away. He just looked ahead, sunglasses still on though the sun was fading outside.
"I'm not a thing," Isla said finally, voice low. "You can't just take people."
He turned to her slowly. "You are now."
Her mouth parted, but no sound came out.
"My name's Enzo," he added, flatly. "Luciano's second. You listen to me, you stay alive. You disobey? You suffer."
Isla looked at the tinted window. The streets passed by, familiar at first, then cleaner... richer. It made her sick.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"To your new home."
"I don't want it," she snapped.
Enzo shrugged. "Doesn't matter what you want anymore. You belong to him."
She clenched her fists. "He can't own people. That's not how the world works."
He chuckled darkly. "In his world? It is."
They drove in silence for a few minutes.
Isla looked down at her clothes-cheap jeans, a faded t-shirt. Her shoes had holes. She didn't belong in this car, in this world.
Her thoughts drifted.
A memory flashed-
She was ten. Sitting on the floor of the brothel kitchen, hungry, waiting for her mother to come back from upstairs.
She never came.
A stranger gave her a piece of bread and said, "Your mama's busy. Be quiet."
She blinked fast, shaking the thought away.
"Why me?" she whispered.
Enzo didn't answer right away. Then: "Luciano saw your picture. Said you had a face that could be molded. Obedient eyes."
"I'm not obedient," she muttered.
"Don't lie to yourself. You were raised to survive, not fight. And now... you'll learn how to be useful."
Isla's throat tightened. "I won't sleep with him."
Enzo laughed, cruel and loud. "You think that's your choice?"
Tears burned her eyes, but she looked straight ahead.
"I'll bite his damn hand off."
Enzo smirked. "Careful. He likes a challenge. The last girl who said that... let's just say she doesn't talk much anymore."
The car slowed.
They turned down a long, private road lined with tall black trees. At the end stood a massive iron gate, opening slowly.
Isla's heart dropped.
Behind the gate, an estate rose like a dark castle-stone walls, tall windows, guards with guns at the front steps.
The car stopped.
Enzo got out first. He opened her door but didn't help her out.
"Come."
She stepped out slowly, legs weak.
A woman in a black dress waited near the front door. Her eyes were cold and sharp.
"She's smaller than I expected," the woman said.
"She'll grow," Enzo replied.
The woman pulled something from a velvet pouch.
A leather collar.
Isla stepped back. "No. No, you're not-"
Two guards grabbed her arms.
She kicked, struggled. "Don't touch me! Get off!"
The woman didn't flinch. She walked up, held the collar open.
"You don't put it on, we'll do it the hard way."
Isla looked at the gate behind her, at the trees, at the men with guns.
She stopped fighting.
The collar slid around her neck. Tight. Cold. Final.
"She'll answer to 'Belle' now," the woman said. "Luciano's orders."
Isla's heart cracked. "That's not my name."
"It is now."
The doors opened behind them.
And Isla-no, Belle-was pushed inside.
Please..." she gasped weakly, her hands now powerless to push him away. "Why... why are you doing this?" Vladimiros didn't answer. He continued to drain her, savoring every drop. But then, as suddenly as it began, he pulled away. Freya let out a strangled gasp, barely able to breathe as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness. "Why..." she whispered, barely audible, before her vision went black. Vladimiros smiled down at her, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "Wow..." he murmured softly, his tone full of admiration. "I've never tasted werewolf blood so good."
"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.]
Carrying a child left Adeline trapped in marriage to the ruthless and unhinged Waylon, and everyone doubted she'd survive to see the baby's first breath. Filled with dread but determined, she carefully won him over and soon became his lethal obsession. Yet on the day she planned to escape, Waylon drove their car to a cliff's edge, foot hovering over the gas. "I'm sorry, love—did you just say divorce?" His fingers skimmed her cheek, his tone a deadly whisper. "Defy me, and you pay." Later, drenched in blood and rain, he knelt before her, trembling, and pleaded, "Tell me how to keep you here."
She was the notorious Alana Wilson, a shameful daughter of the Wilson family. Her reputation went downhill after she broke her engagement with her fiance, Albert Harris. They pointed finger at her, calling her a cheater. However, in truth, who was the cheater here? Alana would do anything she could to have her engagement with Albert broken, even if it meant sacrificing her own reputation. Ten years of abuse she endured in her last life was enough. She made sure that in this life, she would never marry that cheating bastard again. As her previous crush, as well as her brother's best friend, Lorenzo Miller is now back to the country, what would happen to her already messed up life? Especially when her ex-fiance also didn't want to leave her alone. Sequel is out now! Rebirth of the Billionaire's Vengeful Actress Wife
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
"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!