After The Engagement
After Rebirth, I Refused the Cruel Alpha and Married the Dead Alpha King
"For the honor of the fallen Nelson Pack, I humbly ask for Lady Kelli's hand." Demonte's voice echoed through the grand banquet hall as he knelt before the Alpha King. The crystal chandeliers blinded me, but it was the phantom pain of jagged silver blades piercing my chest that made my breath catch. I looked down at my smooth, unscarred hands. I was back. Reborn on the exact night of my seventeenth year when my life was bartered away like worthless livestock. Demonte played the chivalrous Alpha, pretending to save a "useless, wolfless orphan" like me. Beside him, his secret lover Baylee shed theatrical tears, playing the selfless martyr willing to share her man. In my past life, I believed their sickening lies. I let them use a twisted marriage rite to steal my pack's million acres and ten thousand loyal warriors, only to be locked in a dark dungeon while they slaughtered my remaining kin. My heart hammered violently against my ribs, but my blood boiled with cold, unyielding fury. Why should this adopted hypocrite be allowed to steal my inheritance and erase the sacrifice of his own pureblood brother? I refused to take Demonte's outstretched hand. Instead, I sank to the cold marble floor before the throne and demanded to fulfill an ancient honor pact by marrying his deceased brother, the fallen hero Edward Wiley. Just as the royal court erupted in mockery over my vow to a dead man, the heavy iron doors crashed open, and a terrifying, blood-drenched warrior stepped out of the freezing northern gale.
Chapter 1
Kelli Nelson POV:
"Your Majesty, in the name of the fallen Nelson Pack, I humbly beg for your royal decree." The smooth voice of Demonte Wiley, a young Alpha lord of the Ironfang Pack, echoed through the grand ballroom. "I am willing to take Kelli Nelson as my mate, alongside Lady Baylee Snyder, so that our noble bloodlines may protect the Nelson territory together."
The sharp, stabbing phantom pain in my chest ripped me awake.
I gasped, my fingers flying to my sternum. There was no gaping wound. No freezing silver blade tearing through my heart. My hands were intact, the skin unblemished and warm under the brilliant glow of the crystal chandeliers hanging from the vaulted stone ceiling of the royal palace.
I was back.
I was seventeen again, standing in the Great Hall of the Silvermoon Kingdom during the sacred Blood Moon Banquet.
Just two paces in front of me, Demonte knelt on the polished marble floor. He wore his tailored midnight-blue noble tunic, his broad shoulders squared in what appeared to be a posture of supreme chivalry.
To his right stood Baylee, the gentle maiden of the Snyder house, his latest paramour and the beauty of the court. Her eyes were rimmed with delicate red, a silk handkerchief pressed lightly to her quivering lips, portraying the picture of a selfless noblewoman ready to share her future husband out of sheer charity.
High above us, seated upon the twin obsidian thrones beneath the royal banner of the silver wolf, sat Alpha King Adrain Navarro, the sovereign of the Silvermoon Kingdom. Beside him, his mother, the revered Dowager Luna Erla, watched the assembly with sharp, assessing eyes.
"Demonte," the Alpha King rumbled, his voice thick with royal dominance that made the lesser wolves in the hall bow their heads. "You show remarkable grace. The Nelson Pack's warriors died valorously defending our northern borders. To take their orphaned daughter under your protection honors our sacred traditions."
A wave of admiring murmurs rippled through the gathering nobles.
"What a noble Alpha!" a countess whispered behind her feather fan. "Taking a Wolfless girl who cannot even shift, just to preserve her family name."
"And Lady Baylee is so gracious to allow a second bride," another chimed in.
I stared at the back of Demonte's neck, my stomach turning with pure, unadulterated revulsion.
In my past life, I had believed this disgusting charade. I had wept tears of gratitude, accepted the humiliation of being a second-class mate, and handed over the Nelson ancestral lands and military seals—only to be poisoned with silver in a dark cellar once they squeezed every drop of power from my lineage.
Demonte turned his head toward me. He offered a practiced, tender smile and reached out his hand, expecting me to place my trembling fingers into his palm as I had done before.
"Come forward, Kelli," he coaxed softly, loud enough for the court to hear. "Do not be afraid. I will shield you from the harshness of this world."
As his manicured fingers came within inches of my skin, I took a deliberate, frightened step backward.
His hand froze in midair.
A flicker of irritation darkened Demonte's amber eyes before he quickly masked it with gentle concern.
"Kelli?" he murmured, a faint warning edge beneath his tone.
"Look at her," Princess Serena Navarro, the King's haughty niece, sneered from the front row. "She is so broken and useless she cannot even accept a blessing properly. A Wolfless orphan should be kissing the floor for such an honor."
I ignored Serena. I dug my fingernails deep into the meat of my palms, letting the sharp physical pain draw tears to my eyes. My breath hitched in my throat, sounding suitably pathetic and overwhelmed.
Then, I gathered my skirts, stepped around Demonte's outstretched arm, and dropped heavily to both knees before the royal dais.
The hall fell dead silent.
"Kelli," the Alpha King addressed me, his brow furrowing slightly. "Do you have objections to this union?"
I bowed my head until my forehead brushed the cold marble. When I rose, my vision was blurred with genuine tears, but my voice carried clearly to every corner of the vast hall.
"Your Majesty, Your Grace," I cried, my voice trembling with practiced despair. "I am only a weak, Wolfless orphan. I could never bear the weight of such profound generosity from Lord Demonte."
Demonte shifted on his knees, his jaw tightening. "Kelli, stop this nonsense. We spoke of this. It is for your pack's survival."
Baylee rushed forward, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Sister Kelli, please do not feel burdened. I am more than happy to welcome you as a co-mate. We only wish to honor your brave father."
I jerked my shoulder away as if burned by pure silver, retreating another inch.
"Lady Baylee," I wept openly, looking directly into her wide, innocent eyes. "How could I ever be so cruel as to tear apart two lovers who have already bound their hearts in secret? I cannot steal the man you adore."
The entire hall erupted into a frenzy of shocked gasps.
Irresistible To My Glamorous Ex-wife
Before the divorce, everyone thought that Belinda was just a housewife who was good at nothing. Even her then-husband, Russell, believed this. However, after the divorce, it was soon revealed that she was the eldest daughter of the Lindfield family. She was proficient in not only designing, but she was also a shrewd businesswoman who knew how to turn a profit. She had several brothers who doted on her. Various handsome men chased after her, determined to win her heart. When she crossed paths with Russell again, she lifted her chin proudly and asked, "Do you regret divorcing me?" Russell replied, "Yes. How about remarrying me?”
Bye, My Irresistible Love
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
Mistaken Marriage, Unexpected Love
It was a big day for Camilla. She looked forward to marrying her handsome groom. Unfortunately, he abandoned her at the altar. He never showed up throughout the wedding. She was made a laughingstock in front of all the guests. In a fit of rage, she went and slept with a strange man on her wedding night. It was supposed to be a one-night stand. To her dismay, the man refused to let her be. He pestered her like she had stolen his heart on that night. Camilla didn't know what to do. Should she give him a chance? Or just stay away from men?
The Billionaire Contract Engagement
He'd wanted her the moment he set his eyes on her and he was going to make her his. After he was betrayed by his ex fiancee he'd wanted nothing to do with any woman again. Not until he'd met her. Charming, beautiful Victoria Smith. Billionaire businessman Augustine James knew Victoria Smith was desp
The Engagement Chaos
"Vexen, you know that I love you and I want the best of you, right?" he said. Even though I wondered what he was doing, I nodded. "You're already twenty-five and not getting any younger. And I'm old too. So I want to see you get married before I die." I swallowed. I don't think I'll like what Papà
The Engagement Betrayal
The grand ballroom shimmered with a golden glow, filled with the hum of celebration. It was my engagement party, a day before the wedding, and for eight long years, I had believed I was marrying the man of my dreams. Then, a casual conversation shattered my world. My fiancé, Mark, and his friends r
The Engagement Party
HAVE you ever met with, seen or come across someone so talented, and grounded in almost everything in life??? Well here you meet one, best actress, fast rising actress, sweetheart of Nollywood, award winning Belinda Nzeike, most beautiful, most sophisticated… she's an all rounder in her field. And
She Dated a Powerful Figure after Cancelling her Engagement
Within the elite social circles of Bexwell, one topic never ceased to captivate everyone: the arranged marriage from childhood between Brad Simpson, the playful scion of the Simpson family, and Bella Shaw, the most well-mannered daughter of the Shaw family. Bella learned to play the piano from a
After His Engagement, I Deleted Ten Years of Secret Love
For ten years, I lived in my guardian Ethan Hayes's home, loving him in secret. He was the sun I revolved around. Then, he announced his engagement, introducing the woman he loved as my future female guardian, and spent an entire year showing me I meant nothing to him. The night he came home d
Engagement Party Nightmare
My engagement party at the Plaza Hotel was supposed to be my fairy tale. I was Emily White, soon to be Mrs. Jack Anderson, Wall Street’s golden boy, feeling like a princess in my dream gown. Then, the giant screen, meant for our loving slideshow, flickered. A grainy video played: me, years ago, utt
Broken Engagement, Berlin Escape
I flew to London with a custom engagement ring, ready to surprise my boyfriend for our anniversary. Instead, I found him wearing a matching "couple's bracelet" with his "anxious" female best friend, Britney. He even ditched our anniversary dinner because she had a "panic attack" over a chipped nai
A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT
Nina felt Julian's grip on her hand tighten and the cool metal slide over her finger, Nina regretted having agreed to come. She tried to look down, wondering what Julian had done to her finger, but he kept his hand over hers. Awkward didn’t begin to cover it. She felt as if she’d just entered a mine
Reborn Heiress: Breaking The Toxic Engagement
Candice Luna thought her marriage to Julius Hansen was a lifeline to save her father's struggling company. She didn't know it was a death sentence until Julius coldly slid divorce papers across his mahogany desk. His true love, Amina Rowe, was nestled in his arms with a triumphant, mocking smile.
Broken Engagement: The True Heiress Returns
Brought back from a humble life in Montana, Nora found out she was the true biological heiress of the ultra-wealthy Beaumont family. But her biological parents didn't love her; they loved the fake daughter, Olivia, much more. The moment she arrived, her father pushed an engagement termination agreem
His Rejection, Her Billionaire Engagement
My boyfriend of two years and I were a team. Both scholarship students, we pinched pennies and dreamed of a future we would build from nothing. I thought our love was real. Then I discovered he was cheating on me with my best friend. The truth was uglier: our entire relationship was just a cruel, t
Broken Engagement, Unleashed Heiress's Fury
My fiancé, Chadwick Steele, always treated me like a dirty secret-the nerdy brains behind his glamorous tech empire. He flaunted his affair with his mistress, Isa, while constantly reminding me I was an embarrassment he was forced to tolerate. That all came to a head in a crowded mall. In front of
Trapped in the billionaire's fake Engagement
When Lena Moore, a careful hotel housekeeper, unexpectedly encounters a dangerously composed billionaire residing in the penthouse, her tranquil existence is upended in a heartbeat. He presents her with a surprising offer-a staged engagement lasting ninety days, defined by a stark and meticulous con
The Fake Heiress Cancels Her Engagement
I woke up in a luxurious private medical room, only to be hit with a crushing realization. I had transmigrated into a novel as the fake heiress of the McConnell family, destined to be the ultimate villain. In the original plot, I viciously bullied the real daughter who grew up in a trailer park, a
After
"TODAY is our fourth anniversary. Then... T-Then... Are you just playing with me? Tell me, Jai. Do you really love me?" I asked him while I was crying. It feels like my chest is being stabbed with a sharp blade and it seems non-stop, so I feel more pain in my heart. "I love you, Miamor. I love you
Love After the Storm
My world collapsed with a single word: Glioblastoma. But before I could even process my own death sentence, I walked in on another: my estranged wife, Chloe, beaming on TV, pregnant with another man' s child. My five-year-old son, Liam, then threw my phone at the wall and declared my rival, Mark, h
Love After the Betrayal
The scent of lilies and hairspray usually meant joy, but for me, Abigail Turner, on what was supposed to be my wedding day, it was a suffocating prelude to disaster. I stood in my bridal gown, gazing into an ornate mirror, my heart a storm. Then Brandon Hayes, my fiancé, walked in, his eyes col
The chase After Betrayal
Cassidy West gave up her quiet life to marry the man she thought was her everything, Gabriel Shaw - a billionaire known for his charm and ruthlessness. For three years, she endured the cold stares of his family and his obsession with his late fiancée, Celeste. Cassidy thought she could win his heart
