She was the broken girl with secrets. He was the powerful Alpha with scars of his own. Ava Craine, a quiet girl with a haunted past, hides in the shadows of Stone Ridge University. When she crosses paths with Aiden Blackthorn, the cold and dominant Alpha heir of the Bloodfang Pack, their worlds collide. He rejects her publicly. But fate has other plans. As their destinies entwine, Ava's buried powers awaken, along with ancient secrets of the Moonblood line, a bloodline long believed to be extinct. With the blood moon approaching and whispers of war growing louder, Ava must choose to either accept the destiny she never asked for or watch the world burn. What happens when the most feared Alpha discovers that the girl he cast aside may be the only one who can save him?
Ava Craine stepped off the rusted bus with nothing but a worn-out backpack and a crumpled letter in her hand. The cold wind hit at her cheeks as she took her first look at Stone Ridge University.
Tall gothic buildings loomed in the distance like ancient castles. Some students were loud; others quietly walked past in small cliques, dressed in designer clothes and confidence. Ava pulled her hoodie tighter over her head, hiding the jagged scar near her temple.
She didn't belong here. Not among them. But this scholarship was her last shot.
Stone Ridge wasn't just any school. Hidden in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by thick forests and secrets, it was known for producing powerful leaders, especially from elite bloodlines. What most people didn't know? Many of its students weren't fully human.
And neither was she.
At least... not anymore.
Her wolf had never spoken. Never stirred. Not even when she turned eighteen. In the werewolf world, that made her defective, unworthy, and a nobody.
But Ava had learned how to survive invisibly. If you don't stand out, you don't get hurt.
"Move."
A hard shoulder slammed into hers. Her bag hit the ground. Laughter echoed behind her.
Ava looked up to meet the sneering gaze of a girl with sleek blonde hair and piercing eyes.
"Watch where you're going, you lowlife," the girl spat.
Ava bit her tongue and bent to grab her bag. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
"She doesn't even smell like anything," someone whispered.
That stung more than it should have.
She didn't even smell like a wolf.
••••
Stone Ridge dorms were as fancy as a hotel, but Ava's room was tucked at the end of the East Wing, far from the noise. She was grateful.
Inside, she found a small desk, a bed with crisp sheets, and a large window overlooking the forest.
Her gaze lingered on the trees.
Shadowmoor.
That was what the locals called the forest behind the school. Legends said wolves disappeared there or came back different.
She didn't believe in ghost stories.
Not yet.
••••
The next morning was worse.
First class: Pack Politics and Ancient Bloodlines.
The students sat in a wide lecture hall, the air thick with perfume, ego, and testosterone. Every row was claimed by bloodline hierarchy. Ava sat at the top, far back, unnoticed.
Then the door opened, and silence fell.
Aiden Blackthorn had arrived.
He was tall, handsome, and his aura screamed danger. His presence made the air feel heavy. Girls straightened in their seats. Even the professor gave a nervous glance.
He walked in like he owned the place. And he did. His family ran the Bloodfang Pack, which is the most powerful werewolf bloodline on the continent.
His jet-black hair curled slightly at the ends, and his steel-blue eyes scanned the room lazily, stopping just for a second on Ava.
Her breath caught.
She didn't know why, but something burned beneath her skin the moment their eyes met. A strange tug deep in her chest. Her vision blurred, and her heart thudded like a drum in her ears.
He frowned. Then he looked away.
Just like that.
••••
Later that day, Ava sat under an old willow behind the library, sketching in her notebook. Drawing was her escape.
That's when she smelled it.
Pinewood. Smoke. Rain.
It hit her nose like a drug. She looked up, and there he was again.
Aiden.
But he wasn't alone.
Two girls flanked him, laughing and clinging to his arms. His expression was bored until his eyes locked on hers again.
His steps slowed. He stopped, staring at her like she was some puzzle he didn't know how to solve.
Then, without warning, he walked straight to her.
She froze.
He leaned in, his voice low and deadly. "Who are you?"
Her lips trembled. "Ava... Craine."
Something flickered in his eyes. Shock? No... confusion. Anger.
He stepped back, his eyes narrowing. "You can't be."
"What?"
"I don't care what the bond says," he hissed. "I reject you."
Then he turned and walked away like she was nothing.
Like he hadn't just shattered her whole world.
••••
Ava didn't know how she made it back to her room. Her chest burned. Her limbs felt heavy.
Rejected.
The word echoed over and over again in her head.
Aiden Blackthorn was her mate.
And he had rejected her.
But how? Her wolf had never even awakened. The bond shouldn't have formed.
Unless...
Unless she was more than what she thought.
That night, for the first time in her life, she had a dream.
A silver wolf stood in the middle of Shadowmoor, howling at the moon. Its eyes were glowing gold.
When Ava woke up, her body was slick with sweat.
And in the distance, deep in the forest, she could have sworn she heard a real howl.
"Please my lord! Lend me the money, I promise to pay you back! I just need to start up a business to take care of my family please!" The man cried out in front of the mafia boss sitting down like a king on the chair smoking dangerously. "So what if you don't pay back?" He asked in his cold scary voice. The man kept quiet for a while before speaking up. "I will give you my daughter." He finally said. "I don't remember you having a daughter." The boss said. "My wife gave birth yesterday, that's why I'm here for money...my lord." He said. "Okay...deal" The boss said and immediately the man fell flat on the floor. "Thank you so much my lord!" The mafia boss turned to his men. "Get him a bag and make him sign the contract" He ordered "Yes boss!" The man was taken away after that. Soon enough, the boss's seven years old son came in with the mobsters, sweating all over as he had been training all day as usual. "Why are you here? Your training time isn't over." The boss said "Dad I'm tired..." "Never say that word in front of me again you weak human!" His father yelled and the boy broke into tears. "No more tears! Mafias are strong men, tears and weakness are taboos!" He shouted. "I want to play with other kids..." "How many times have I told you that you're not like other kids?" The boss said and stood up angrily. "Take him away, add extra two hours to his training session" He ordered his men. "Yes boss!" And like that, they dragged the little boy out while he continued crying.
Skylar is a beautiful girl who loves fashion, adventures and the celebrity lifestyle. She has always dreamt to be a celebrity and was bent on fulfilling and following her dreams. Did Skylar fulfill her dreams? Read "The Life Of Skylar" to find out.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
"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!
"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.]
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."