Ivana Blake never imagined that marrying into one of the wealthiest families in New York would feel like a sentence instead of salvation. Her new husband, Ethan D'Amelio, is charming in public but distant behind closed doors, quickly swept away by his corporate empire. Left alone in the cavernous D'Amelio estate, Ivana finds herself watched, haunted-not by ghosts, but by a man far more dangerous: Christopher D'Amelio. Her husband's stepfather. Cold. Ruthless. Beautiful in a way that burns. He is the man no one dares challenge. The man she should avoid at all costs. But when glances turn into confessions, and silence turns into touches, Ivana begins to unravel a dangerous obsession neither of them can resist. What begins as curiosity turns into a tangled web of passion, betrayal, and secrets that threaten to destroy them both. As the walls close in and her marriage crumbles, Ivana must choose between the safety of a lie-or the fire of a love that should never exist. This is not a love story. It's a descent into desire, power, and the darkest corners of the human heart.
Chapter 1: The Wedding Night
---
The pearls on my neck felt heavier than they should have.
Maybe it was the weight of the vows I'd just taken-or maybe it was the way his eyes followed me from across the ballroom. Cold. Unapologetic. Calculated.
Not my husband's.
His.
Christopher D'Amelio.
My stepfather-in-law.
"Smile, Ivana," Ethan whispered beside me, his hand gently grazing the small of my back. "You're my wife now. You should be glowing."
I smiled for the camera. For the guests. For the illusion of happiness. But every inch of my skin was crawling-not from discomfort with Ethan, but from the pressure of someone else's gaze.
Christopher stood near the bar, alone, untouched by the warmth of champagne and congratulations. Tall, dressed in a charcoal suit that fit too perfectly, and eyes so unreadable they made me forget how to breathe. He hadn't said more than two words to me all evening. He didn't need to. His silence was louder than the violin quartet.
He looked like a man who regretted nothing-except maybe the fact that I was no longer out of bounds.
---
Later that night, after the final guests left and the hotel suite doors closed behind us, I stood at the mirror and peeled off the white lace from my body.
Ethan lay on the bed, scrolling through his phone. "Give me a second, babe," he said. "Just need to handle this deal. You don't mind, do you?"
"No," I whispered.
I didn't mind.
I was used to being invisible.
I sat at the edge of the bed, watching the city lights flicker below. Somewhere, maybe just miles from here, Christopher was probably in a similar suite-drinking in silence, judging me for marrying a man I barely knew.
And for a moment, I wondered...
If I had met him first, what would've changed?
---
Flashback – The First Meeting
Two weeks before the wedding, Ethan took me to the D'Amelio estate. It was like walking into a cathedral of secrets-glass chandeliers, long dark corridors, cold marble floors that echoed too much.
"He's not exactly warm," Ethan warned. "But he's brilliant. Built everything from nothing after his father died."
The door to Christopher's study opened slowly, and there he stood-towering, sharp-jawed, with greying temples and a voice like winter rain.
"So you're the girl," he said, looking me over. "Pretty. But naive."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You have soft eyes," he continued. "Soft eyes don't survive in this family. I hope Ethan warned you."
"Warned me about what?"
He turned away before answering. "About who I am."
---
Back to the Present
Ethan fell asleep with the TV on. I turned it off and walked to the bathroom, staring at myself in the mirror-bare, raw, exposed.
Was I really a bride?
Or just a placeholder in a story I didn't write?
My phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
I hesitated. Then opened the message.
> "Your husband doesn't deserve you. But maybe that's what he wanted-someone he could keep untouched."
My heart dropped.
I didn't have to guess.
I knew exactly who sent it.
And the worst part?
I didn't feel fear.
I felt seen.
Delilah is a woman who knows exactly what she wants-and how to get it. A seductive force in a world of power and privilege, she thrives on the thrill of passion and control. Unapologetic and confident, she's built a reputation for her allure and independence, using her sensuality as both a weapon and a shield. But when she meets Sebastian, a cold, calculating CEO, everything she knows about desire and power is put to the test. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their worlds couldn't be more different. Sebastian is used to having control, but Delilah is a force that even he can't resist. Drawn to each other by their own desires and vulnerabilities, they play a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse, each encounter more charged than the last. As their relationship deepens, the lines between love, lust, and power begin to blur. But when a rival from Sebastian's past-Adrian-enters the picture, Delilah finds herself torn between two men, each with a different pull on her. Secrets, passion, and betrayal will collide as Delilah must decide whether to surrender to the overwhelming lust she feels or fight for control of her heart-and her future.
He was the man every woman desired-but loving him could mean death. When orphaned and struggling art student Sienna Rae is offered a prestigious scholarship by the mysterious Alpha billionaire, Kade Valen, she has no idea it will come at a deadly price. Drawn into his magnetic world of wealth, power, and secrets, Sienna quickly finds herself caught in a web of passion-and something far darker. Kade isn't just a billionaire. He's cursed with a deadly secret, one passed down through generations: a kiss from him is lethal to any woman he truly loves. Until now. Sienna awakens something in him no one ever has. But as bodies begin to drop and old enemies resurface, she realizes that Kade's world is laced with danger-and loving him might just be the most dangerous choice she ever makes. Will Sienna be the one to break his curse-or become its final victim?
The First Binding was meant to keep the world safe. But with the return of the Hollow Moon, everything is shifting. Araya Vale is an orphan, haunted by vivid dreams of wolves, fire, and an ancient curse she doesn't understand. When the bloodline of her forgotten ancestors awakens, Araya finds herself torn between a past she can't remember and a destiny she never chose. As the last of the Silverborn, she holds the key to breaking the curse that binds the Lycans to the earth-if only she can survive long enough to learn its truth. Kael Draven, once the proud Alpha of the Crimson Fang, carries the weight of an ancient betrayal. Exiled and powerless, he now walks a lonely path between man and monster. When he meets Araya, the connection is undeniable-yet the secrets of the past might tear them apart before they can ever truly come together. But they're not the only ones vying for control. Lucien Vire, a ruthless Alpha of the Black Hollow pack, will stop at nothing to claim Araya's blood and use it to complete the Second Binding-a ritual that could bring him unimaginable power. And as the moon rises, old enemies, long-hidden truths, and ancient forces will collide in a battle that could destroy everything they hold dear. The Lycan curse is awakening. And only those who dare to face the ashes of the past can hope to survive the flames of the future.
They called her the ash girl-meant to clean floors, not wear a crown. Lily never asked for the throne. She only wanted to survive. But when Alpha Rudolf Stormfang returns from the war and locks eyes with the girl they all called worthless, everything changes. Because the Alpha does not ask. He claims. And now, he's claimed her. But the crown comes with more than power-it comes with enemies, secrets, and a past that refuses to stay buried. She might be his Luna by fate. But will she survive the blood that fate demands?
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Blurb "Part your legs for me, princess" Alpha Damian humored huskily like he was intoxicated, I whimpered as he voice sents a jolts of emotions round my body. An emotion that I wasn't supposed to feel. Selene was 18 years old when she found out that Alpha Jasper of the Silver Crescent pack was her mate at her Awakening ceremony. Being a reject with no parents she lived with him for over one year as a slave and he never acknowledged her as his mate because he couldn't accept a reject as his mate. On her 20th birthday, her mate not only rejected her and chose her best friend; Imogen, as his new mate, but he also sold Selene to the most feared Alpha; Alpha Damian of the Crimson Moon pack whom everyone referred to as a beast. Not knowing why Alpha Damian chose to buy her, she can only resign herself to fate. What has the moon goddess installed for me again? Is this the freedom she solely crave for? Will she be tied down with the shackles of the unknown?
"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!
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
"You're pathetic!" Brenden sneered, each word cutting deep into Corinna's heart. Years of emotional wounds had drained every ounce of love she once held. "I've wasted enough time on you. If there's a next life, I hope we never meet again." Her words severed the bond between them like a blade. From that moment on, Brenden was haunted by her absence—unable to sleep, longing for the warmth he took for granted.
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!