"Don't you dare take off the mask," my stepmother warned. I won't. Not when the man I've always loved believes I'm someone else. And I'm carrying his child. Elena Downs, the illegitimate Omega daughter of the Beta, has always been branded a bad omen. She was never meant to step foot in the Alpha's mansion, let alone marry him. But when her stepsister-Alpha Xavier's betrothe, vanishes on their wedding night, Elena is forced to take her place... behind a mask. Xavier loves Elena. He just doesn't know it's her. Her scent, masked by her sister's, pushes him away even as their bond pulls him closer. With every lie, every forbidden touch, and every heartbeat, Elena's secret grows, along with the life inside her. But when betrayal explodes into heartbreak and rejection, Elena disappears... Only to wake up in the arms of Alpha Logan, a rival leader with soft eyes, gentle hands, and no questions. But her past isn't done with her yet. Torn between two Alphas, hunted by secrets, and a love she never stopped feeling... Elena must decide: Will she return to the one that shattered her heart ?. Or choose the one who helped her heal?.
**Elena**
"How dare you try to seduce your sister's husband?!". She said as her palm landed hard on my cheeks. My face snapped to the side. I didn't flinch. I'd learned not to.
"I'm... sorry" I managed to say. 'I was only trying to look out for Helena". I continued.
"Oh, spare me that nonsense. You're nothing but a substitute, Elena, and you better get that straight into your head." She fired back at me.
This wasn't the first time I was hearing those words from my stepmother's lips. I had to pay the price for being bad luck and not protecting my sister enough that she had to run away.
"I promise, I'll not go near his room again"..I said, trying to hold back the tears.
For peace to reign and for my father's sake I had to put on this mask and hide the fact that I was in love with Xavier, my sister's betrothed husband and the father of my unborn pup.
"Now get dressed and spray this on your body, it has your sister's scent all over. And the Alpha wouldn't be able to tell the difference." She said her voice stern and cold.
"Yes, Mother".I responded..
I am Elena Downs, the most unlucky Omega and illegitimate daughter of our Pack's Beta.
One thing that kept me going was the striking resemblance to Helena Downs, My father's legitimate daughter- Or should I say, I was able to imitate every single expression, irritation as well as any body movement of hers.
Besides, it was the only way I could get my mother's attention which I'd always wanted.
Unfortunately, it only made the comparison even worse. I wore contact lenses to match Helena's brown eyes. Mine were hazel, Something my father once said made me prettier. But it got my stepmother even more angry.
And I don't know if that compliment made me feel good or not. But deep down I needed that assurance that I was still noticeable.
For some reason, I didn't mind being the side piece in the family as long as Xavier looked at me in ways that drove me crazy.
I'd never thought I'd want the very thing that was meant for Helena, but he loved me. He chose me over her and it fucking hurt me every single time they talked about the arranged marriage.
And thinking about it. I'm glad Helena vanished and I don't mind hiding behind this mask to be closer to him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!".. Mother screamed as she watched the glass bottle shatter.
"I'm sorry, Mother,." I said almost immediately, going on my knees to pick up the pieces.
"Liar". I whispered to myself trying to hide the smile that brimmed across my face
I had done it on purpose. I wasn't going to spray this goddamn lotion tonight; I want the whole room to be filled with my scent.
I wanted Xavier to breathe me in. Only me.
"You good for nothing, imbecile. Can't you ever get anything right?. You always look for ways to piss me off. She yelled, yanking my hair.
"Argh.." I winced. "I'm sorry, Mother, please, it hurts."
"You better shut the fuck up and not attract any attention". She grabbed a piece and made its direction to my neck.
"Don't you dare try to act smart with me, Elena; if not, you'll wish you were dead instead." She said, staring intently at me.
I could see the hatred in her eyes, but why she hated me so much was something that bothered me.
"Yes.. Yes, ma". I responded. "Please, can you let me go now? It's hurting".
"Now, use this carefully. You better not mess it up-it's the last bottle I have. Don't ruin it! I'll have someone prepare more for next week," she said as she pressed the bottle into my arms.
I kept my head low, hiding the smirk behind my lips. Tonight would be different. Tonight, he'd notice me."
A few minutes later, I stood at the gallery entrance, adjusting the designer purple slit dress, and pressed the mask against my face to keep my identity hidden as I made my way to the gallery for the ceremony.
Today was the day Alpha Xavier would declare me his Luna in front of the entire pack, specifically the council. Afterward, we would have the midnight mate mark ceremony.
He had disappeared for three months after our wedding day, only returning now to conclude the remaining rites.
"Oh, how much we've missed him, Elena," Lira said.
"Quiet down," I mumbled to my wolf, trying to hide my blush as I stared at him.
Xavier didn't even bother to look up at me as I walked in.
"Does he not even notice us? Go sit next to him," Lira whispered again.
"Nope. I'm not going to do that. The last warning I got was enough for me."
"Erm... You look stunning in that dress," he said from behind me.
I knew exactly who it was and I had been trying my best to avoid any conversation with him.
"Thank you," I managed to reply.
Helena... you've been avoiding me," Nick said, his voice low as he brushed against my arm. "I've texted. Called. Nothing. Is this really how it ends?"
"What are you doing, Nick?" I asked, surprised.
His brows furrowed. "You're not acting like yourself, Helena. Your voice... your eyes..."
My stomach twisted. Did he notice the lens? No..he couldn't.
"You've changed," he said, stepping closer.
Nick was a problem I had to deal with-my sister's lover and my best friend, who was now all over me. Well, I can't blame him; he's been deceived, too.
"We agreed we would talk to your mom, babe. Why go through with it if you're just going to hide your face? For crying out loud, Helena, why did you choose him over me?" he said as he pulled me into a corner.
"Nick, I'm sorry, but there was nothing I could do..or we could do. And you, of all people, know that. Please forget whatever we had. It was just a stupid fling and it's all in the past," I said as I tried to leave.
"A stupid fling?" he repeated, pulling me back.
"Yes," I responded. "And now can you please stop this? I'm married now."
"I'm sorry, Nick, but I have to behave this way to get you off my back," I mumbled to myself.
I yanked his arms away and made my way back.
Everyone's attention seemed to be focused on the podium, and I tilted my head to search for his face. My height wasn't helping much.
"Thank you all for coming," Xavier began, diving straight into business. It seemed he couldn't wait to get started..
"As we all know, we're here for the Luna coronation-my Luna coronation. I really don't want to stall anything." He said.
As he continued his speech, I made my way to stand on the podium as well, camera lights flickering around us.
My stepmother gestured for me to move even closer to him, and I felt my heart racing.
Alpha Xavier then turned his gaze towards my direction for the first time in a while.
"I do not accept this mate bond or the coronation," he said, glaring at me.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.