Candles were lighted, beautiful scented flowers were well decorated in my house and even ribbons were tied at various places on that day. Soft music played in the stereo whilst people drank, ate and made merry. Sounds of laughter rang and everyone's faces were filled with smiles until tragedy struck like lightning that before I could realize what was happening, I became the youngest cursed teen werewolf in my pack accused of killing her mother. But then I hoped for my eighteenth birthday because it is only then that I would be free to live my life and have my mate but once again tragedy came knocking... And once again, Lily's life turned around... The rejected Alpha's mate....
LILY'S POV
"Lily!"
From my sleep I heard my name being screamed. It was really loud but I was so lost in my world of fantasy dreams that I refused to care about whatever was happening in the real world. Or no,.maybe I just don't want to come back to reality because my reality is painful! I just wanted to remain in my fantasy world where I feel happy and at least loved by the sun which has been smiling down at me without being harsh on me. The leaves are waving and I just feel they are really happy to have me, unlike in my real world where no one wants me, where I feel unloved and unwanted.
"Lily!"
I heard it again, this time I tried to force myself back to my reality but I was too late as my father's wife got to me first.
"Oh no!" I jumped up from the floor as I felt my entire body drenched with cold water.
"Oh you worthless thing! How long do I have to scream at the top of my voice before you can become free from your dumbness!" aunty Lena yelled at me at the very top of her voice.
I shivered. Not just from her yelling but from the cold I felt penetrating into my already opened skin pores.
"I'm sorry mother. I..." I tried to plead.
"Oh will you shut that thing you call a mouth! I have told you countless times, I am not and would never be your mother! Quit irritating me!"
I nodded fearfully as my body shivered in the cold. The half torn thing I wore as clothes did no good to my situation as it even helped the cold to penetrate even further and offered me little protection. I was dying to change into a dry one but I can't since aunty Lena is still standing before me obviously furious at me for a reason I don't know.
"Go fill up those drums!" she said and turned away.
Once she was gone, I fell on my knees as tears clouded my eyes.
"Dear God, fasten the days please," I sobbed as I sniffed back the mucus that was threatening to spill down from my nose.
I needed to go run aunty Lena's errands as fast as possible but I couldn't stop myself from thinking and reminiscing over the last year and more than a half months of my life.
It has been nothing but hell, a hell I prayed to escape every single day of my life.
I was just sixteen years old and born into a werewolf family and it happened to be my birthday on that very day. I still could remember the joy and happiness I felt on that day as my family prepared for my special day.
"Hi daddy, hi mommy," I greeted and hugged my parents as I received my birthday presents from them.
"Oh my! I love this!" I cried in happiness the moment I tore open the present my mother got me. It was a beautiful sharp dagger that not only shone brightly but reflected lights as well.
"My darling, I thought I should get it for you since you would be starting your fighting lessons soon. Keep it well," my mother said, pecking me on my forehead. I giggled happily and opened my father's present as well. I loved it too and was very happy. Since I didn't have any siblings, I only got gifts from my parents before the party started and would likely get more from the people and my friends that would come for my party. I couldn't wait! I was so excited.
Candles were lit, beautiful scented flowers were well decorated in my house and even ribbons were tied at various places on that day. Soft music played in the stereo whilst people drank, ate and made merry. Sounds of laughter rang and everyone's faces were filled with smiles until tragedy struck like lightning that before I could realize what was happening, I became the youngest cursed teen werewolf in my pack accused of killing her own mother.
The memories hurt me every day from that day to this moment and there wasn't a day that passed that I never thought about it and wished the hands of the clock could be turned back, just maybe I could have fought and saved my mother, even if I lost my life in the process. It is even better that I had died that day than the misfortune and pain I have felt since then.
"Lilyyyyyy! You killed your mother? No oo oo!"
I watched in horror as my father screamed in anger and pain. I had never seen him in that manner before and was afraid.
I was holding a sharp knife covered in blood and the lifeless body of my mother was lying in my arms that had become weak. I was too numb to speak, too scared, too terrified to utter any word. Who would believe my words over the obvious clear picture and scene they were seeing. I couldn't find my words as much as I tried to say something.
"I didn't do it..." I said which sounded more like a whisper as people looked at me with glare and clenched teeths, their eyes blazing the color of anger. My father scared me the most.
On that day, as my sixteenth birthday party was ongoing, I had started to feel strange and decided to step out to get some fresh air.
I started to head towards the woods, I didn't know why but I felt a weird force pushing me towards there and I couldn't stop myself from going further as I continued to move.
All of a sudden I heard the voice of my mother. It wasn't clear at first but I swore it was my mom and hurried towards the place I heard her voice.
I nearly peed on my panties as I saw two werewolves fighting. They already shifted shapes and were trying to tear themselves apart. I noticed one of them to be my mommy but couldn't recognize the other one.
"Yaaaak!" My mother growled at the other werewolf and charged at her.
I watched in hiding and prayed my mother wouldn't get hurt until another werewolf appeared from nowhere and joined hands with the other werewolf to fight my mother. Fear entered my body. It became one against two which means my mother was losing out on them. My mother is a powerful werewolf and can fight really well but still I couldn't help but fear for her life as the two other wolves were beginning to win her.
The other one scratched my mother's belly causing my mother to have a scratch. Visible tiny blood could be seen lurking. My mother snarled at them and charged angrily at them but she was hit and made to fall on the ground. The other werewolf charged at her while she was on the ground and pounced on her scratching and biting her.
"Stop! Don't hurt my mother!" I yelled as I jumped out of my hiding place, my eyes blazed in anger. I couldn't take it anymore, I couldn't watch anymore while they hurt my mother.
"Princess no... Run! Go! Mummy will be fine..." My mum forced herself to speak. She has changed back to her human form and lay naked on the floor. I wanted to rush to cover her with my scarf when the other werewolf snarled at me, making me stop in my tracks.
I wished they could shift back to humans so I could see their faces. I tried again to run to my mother's side but I was thrown away by the first werewol with his claws. I fell on the ground hitting my head slightly as I fell.
"Ouch! Sto...op...don't hurt my..." I winced in pain as I felt my vision become hazy.
I tried to help mom but I was too weak to get up. I watched as one of them changed shape into human and lay tired on the ground,.then she slowly came and stood before me,searching and collecting the dagger present mummy gave me.
"Uh...give that back...it's not yours..." I struggled to say. I couldn't see the woman's face clearly as I still couldn't see clearly.
She approached my mom and stabbed her with the knife. I heard my mom whimpering in pain, tears gushed out from my eyes. Using the last of the strength I had in me, I forced myself to crawl to my mother.
"Oh no no no...why...nooooooooooo," I howled with my werewolf's voice as I felt my mother's weak pulse. My hands were shaking.
"Mummy hold on, I will save you okay, don't die on me please mom!" I cried and picked up the dagger that was used to stab her. Blood covered it.
"No, it's okay my daughter...you will become the strongest werewolf ever...do...not be... afraid... I'm sorry...I wouldn't be... there...for you..."
"Mum! Please stop, let me help you help..." tears were pouring from my eyes as I watched my mother lose her breath slowly.
"No, don't move...just...hold me..."she stopped me from doing anything but holding her. I couldn't stop the tears from pouring down my face as I held my mother in her last moment.
I heard the footsteps of some people approaching. It happened to be my father with some people.
He rushed towards me and stood before me in shock. I thought he was in the same mood that I was but what he said next shocked me to my bone marrow.
"How could you do this Lily! You killed your own mother! Why! Why?"
I was beyond confused and wondered where that was coming from but my lips felt so dry to utter a word.
"Today, for doing such an imaginable thing and committing this atrocity, I curse you! Until in the next two years, you will be severely punished and you shall know only pain in your life! I curse you Lily!"
Yes, my father cursed me that day. My whole life changed too; from happy to sad, everyday, pain, pain and pain.
To make it worse my father married another woman, Lena to spite me. I became a slave in my father's house, hated by my family and everyone, except my best friend, Clara who tried her best to always console me.
"Lily are you done filling those drums?" Aunty Lena called from her room causing me to wake from my thoughts. I had no idea I had trailed off in thoughts and scrambled up to my feet to go run errands for aunty Lena because I know if she meets me there without me being done with it, she'd have my head. I lifted my tired and weak body up and off to work my arse off.
All I prayed for everyday of my life was for my eighteenth birthday to come, only then can I be free or so I thought.
His gaze held me. Fine dark eyes. Those eyes... where had I seen them... Then it hit me. The snob at the club. What was he doing in Mr Hendricks house and in the young Master's room? Wait... Was he an old servant I hadn't met or a new man servant? I scanned him. He looked nothing like a servant. The aura from him felt nothing like the one a servant could possess. His eyes pinched and he took a step towards me. "Did you not just hear me? What are you doing in my house?" His tone was icy. His house? There was only one person aside from Mr Hendricks that could say those words... Young master, Jay Adams! I looked at him again and hell the resemblance struck me. My jaw hung open and for a moment I felt my body go numb. *********** Jay Adams was a perfect man. More like a demigod that commanded both wealth and power. Women swooned over him and wanted a taste of him but he hated women. He does not believe in love. Beneath the tough exterior, beneath his million dollar tuxedo and his coldness were his flaws. And then there was Karen, a complete opposite of him. Poor with a sick father, a sister to cater for and saddled with debts. What will happen when these two cross paths?
Tiffany let out an exasperated breath. She was right. She had been right about him all along. He was nothing but a rich arrogant prat. Unfortunately she wasn't about to waste her energy on people like him. "How about we pretend we never met and just work?" She said to him, keeping her tone cold and eyes firm. Ronald made a face. "Wait, don't tell me you are thinking I came here for something other than work?" Tiffany's eyes widened. "What?" He approached her, closing up the distance between them. "Earlier on, you seem to have so much interest in my face," he said, lowering his lips to whisper the words into her ears. "Don't tell me you are already thinking of something else to do with me other than work...perhaps..." Tiffany gulped roughly and bit down on her lower lip. "..." ********* Ronald Ryker is the heir of a well-known conglomerate and was constantly surrounded by women. But none of them moved him. Not until he met Tiffany, a single mother and older woman who immediately captured his attention. But Tiffany had no interest in him. Not in his wealth and definitely not his hot look.
“People afraid of death are greedy for life.” That was the belief of Alessandro Angelo, the Italian mafia billionaire. The one who fears no one, not even death. He lived his life everyday as if it was his last. Trained only to obey orders and keep no emotions. But what happens when he comes across a cheerful, bubbly Isabella Marco, the girl whose charm could lit up even the darkest portion of the coldest heart. Slowly and unknowingly for Alessandro, he started to want more; getting greedy for life, gradually going against his life principle. One day an order came in: “kill her or you die” Will he allow his cold self be smitten by her infectious personality or end her life as he was ordered?
Two people with different agendas are forced into an arranged marriage. For Veronica Nicholas, it is to save her family's business that has been saddled with debt and on the verge of slipping into bankruptcy and for Lawrence Williams, it is to hold onto his inheritance as the only son and heir of a conglomerate family. Veronica could never leave her darling boyfriend for the infamous national playboy nor does Lawrence wish to leave her long time crush who finally accepted his feelings after many months of rejection for a stranger he barely knows. Together the two must sign a secret contract that lets them live their desired lives while being in their arranged marriage. But how long does the life they thought was best for them last? Stuck together, Veronica and Lawrence must find a way to work together to get past the struggles of their everyday lives from their never ending enemies. Hatred at first but being in the same place where they see all the good and bad sides of each other, how long would they go on before the wave of love hit them? Or would they find a reason to go their separate ways once their different agendas have been fulfilled?
Two people, different circumstances yet love found them! Losing his wife turned his heart dark, turned him an alien to love and he swore to never love again, remain celibate and only care about his two daughters the remaining days of his life. Getting pregnant for a man that loved other women but her rendered her almost never wanted by another man because of her child but no matter what, Tessa would never have anything to do with a man that wouldn't want her child. And when Eric finally came to accept only her child but not her, she thought she could venture into marriage for the sake of her son who always craved for a father figure but deep down she wanted more. She craved to be loved and she wanted to love but that is not the same with Eric. But when love came knocking in their hearts, not even aunty Stella, the one that disliked Tessa, not even Eric's past could stop their love. The flame became unquenchable! Though it had seemed impossible and in fact never considered, Tessa and Eric found love with each other again!
Chloe Miler, a naïve young woman, waits shyly to spend Valentine's Day with her boyfriend, but is betrayed on that day when she witnesses him entangled in bed with her own sister. Chloe's heart is broken when her heartfelt love for him is trampled on in an instant. *** Lionel Williams, the mysterious billionaire, the top of the pyramid, is handsome as hell. His eyes are set high, but he is drugged, has a one-night stand with a strange woman, and is humiliated by that unknowing woman with her money! His instincts tell him it's not that simple, and he's going to find her out!
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"