Astrid lives alone with her dad; she has no idea she is a werewolf or that they even exist! It turns out the man that helped raise Astrid isn't her father at all, he tells her that her mother wanted her to have a ""normal"" life until the day she turned eighteen when she would have no choice but to tell Astrid the truth about her identity. After a tragedy that killed her mother, her father turns abusive towards her over the years for her mother's death. Astrid remained completely unaware of her heritage, until a man named Ryker comes into her life claiming they are mates!
Tears roll down my cheeks as my father holds me against my bedroom wall by my hair. Striking my face, he splits my lip, and bruises my eye after striking me again. I fall to the floor crying.
'Please Dad! Stop this, stop hurting me!' I beg.
'YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU KILLED YOUR MOTHER!' He shouts.
'Please Dad! You know it was an accident. I didn't mean for her to die!' I plead. We stare at eachother with cold consternation. 'Please Dad! Please forgive me,' I beg.
He looks at me with hatred in his eyes, before his expression changes. He smirks.
'Oh Astrid, you're no daughter of mine! You never were: your mother told me your real father was killed when she was pregnant with you. I loved your mother so much I was willing to pretend to be your father!'
'No! That's not true! Mum would never keep something like that from me!' I yell while sobbing.
'Your mother didn't want you to find out the truth until you were eighteen. She wanted you to live a normal life. She says once you're eighteen you would find out your true identity. I didn't know what she really meant; I guess she was planning to tell you about your biological father then. You'll never find out who he is now!' He cackles before kicking me in the ribs. I yell out in pain and hold my side. Locking my bedroom door behind him, he leaves me in my bedroom alone.
Dragging my beaten figure across the cold, hard floor, I carefully lift myself up onto my quilted bed and lie on my side. With a sore right hand, I feel my broken ribs under my clothing and burst into tears. I don't know how long I lie there this way before crying myself to sleep. The next morning, I gingerly pull my work uniform on and quietly creep down the stairs. Dad is asleep; most likely passed out in a drunken stupor. I pull my hoodie over my head, walk out the front door, and head to work.
I was going to school until my teachers saw the bruises on my arms and called Dad into the principal's office to question him. I begged my teachers not to contact him. They didn't believe me when I told them I'm clumsy and just fell down the stairs. I haven't been allowed to return to school since; I was forced to find a job as a kitchenhand and a waitress at a diner about a thirty-minute walk from home.
On my way to work, a black Mercedes moves conspicuously behind me. I have noticed this same car following me for a few months now. The driver is always watching me. I usually veer off away from the road when it approaches, choosing the longer route to work, through the woods. I enjoy my job and my colleagues. My boss Jim is really lovely; he always knows something isn't right but he never makes me talk about it. His offer to help is always there, in an unspoken, supportive and noted manner.
I walk straight into the kitchen and wash my hands to prep the salads and other food. After feeling very hot I walk over to where I left my bag on a stool, discarding my hoodie onto it and unzipping my jumper to cool down. Twenty minutes pass when Jim comes in to cook the first food orders for the day. A growl erupts; he sounds strangely like a wild animal. I look up at Jim who isn't very happy.
'Astrid, you know you can come to me for help, don't you? You don't have to go back home if you're not safe. I have friends in a nearby town who could look after you,' he offers.
'Thank you, but I'm perfectly fine. I just fell down the stairs. I'll be fine,' I say, giving him a small smile.
'You said the same thing last time Astrid...' he says.
'What can I say? My house is old; the stairs are starting to rot,' I say, bursting into tears, and slamming my hands onto the prep table. Jim comes over to me, pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me while I cry.
'Let me help you, Astrid,' he says. I stand back and shake my head.
'You don't understand, I can't accept your help.'
'Why not?' he asks.
'Dad won't let me go easy. He would rather me dead and would kill anyone who tries to help me. Plus, I deserve it,' I say, wiping my tears from my face.
'No one deserves to be beaten and abused,' he says.
'I am the reason my mother is dead. It's my fault she died. And this is my punishment. If it's upsetting you seeing a couple of bruises, perhaps I should find a job elsewhere,' I yell, walking back to the prep table I pick up the knife and start slicing the lettuce.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I just don't like seeing humans treating our kind like this; even if you are a rogue,' he frowns.
Pausing, with a confused expression, I stare at him.
'Humans? A rogue? I don't know what planet you're from or what kind of human you think I am, but we're all just humans,' I say, and continue to chop some carrots on a blue chopping board.
Jim stands there in silence; I look at him and ask what his problem is now. He stands there looking very pale with his mouth open, completely frozen.
'Jim? Are you ok? What's wrong? Are you having a heart attack?' I ask, walking over to him, concerned.
He blinks and goes to put his hand on my shoulder, before I flinch and take a step back. I know Jim would never hurt me; I just don't like being touched by anyone. He frowns.
'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you,' he says.
'I know you wouldn't hurt me; I'm just not used to the gentleness,' I confess. Jim gives me a sad smile.
'Do you really not know what you are?' He asks, on the verge of telling me something I sense I should already know.
'What I am? I don't understand the question. I am what we all are. Human,' I say, giving him a weird look.
'Can't you even smell the difference?' He asks me. I laugh.
'The only thing I smell around here is the food burning in the frying pan,' I say with a chuckle.
'Shit!' He runs to the stove to turn it off and removes the smoking frying pan.
We remain silent in the kitchen for a while after that, and focus on prepping and cooking orders.
'For what it's worth, Astrid, whatever happened to your mother, I'm sure she wouldn't want you blaming yourself for her death. I'm sure she would not want your father hurting you all these years because of it either.'
'Stepfather,' I correct him.
'Your stepfather? I thought--' he says before I cut him off.
'Yes, I only found out myself, last night. My real father died when my mother was pregnant with me,' I explain.
'I'm so sorry.' He looks downcast.
'I was sorry at first too, but I don't know now. Maybe it might be a good thing he isn't my real father,' I say. Jim nods and smiles.
'Do you think you could work late tonight? I have important people coming from the next town for an important meeting. It would be great if I could join the meeting for a change, instead of serving the food and drinks,' he explains.
'I'll have to ring Dad, and ask, but if it means more booze money for him, I'm sure he will agree to it.'
My Dad says I can work the extra few hours. All my money from work always goes into his account anyway. I don't get to see any of it, but I'd still rather be at work if it means not being near him.
'It's fine. He says I can work the few extra hours,' I say. He gives me a wink and a smile.
'Good,' he exhales with relief.
A few hours later I'm prepping food for the customers coming to the diner for their meeting.
'Is there anything I need to know about this meeting?' I ask Jim.
'We're just having some, umm, problems in Shadow Crest,' he says.
'Oh, in Shadow Crest? I've never been there before; I've heard it's full of aggressive people who act like wild animals all the time.' Jim lets out a laugh.
'It's not that bad, and I live there. Am I aggressive? Do I run around like a wild animal?' He asks.
'Good point; you definitely aren't aggressive. And, no, you don't run around like a wild animal. Not that I know of anyway,' I giggle. Jim laughs.
'If only you knew, Astrid,' he says, laughing.
'They will be here any minute. Just take everyone's drink order, serve them and bring out the platter of food when you're ready.'
'Sure thing, boss,' I reply with a smile. 'Oh, and Jim, I hope you don't mind if I wear my hood up? I'd rather not be stared at or questioned about the umm, bruises...' Jim gives me a nod.
'Of course, that's fine.'
A short while later, I hear the engines of several cars approach and then park in unison; several car doors slam; the doorbell on the diner door clangs loudly every time someone comes in. I stand on my tippy toes to see over the kitchen ledge into the dining room. There must be about eighteen men littered about the place. Not ordinary-looking men either. These men are big, bulky, extremely masculine, and ripped; they're all wearing suits and are extremely handsome.
When one particular guy walks in, everyone else moves out of his way as though he is someone very important. He is incredibly handsome with dark hair, and the most gorgeous blue eyes. He is well-built in body, and his lips when he smiles - don't get me started on his lips - all I want to know is what they taste like.
The handsome man sniffs a waft of something in the air and scrunches his face.
'Jim, what is that smell?' He asks, looking in my direction. 'It smells like vanilla and cookies,' he says, still looking in my direction. I reflexively duck down and go back to finishing the platter for these handsome creatures.
'If you men want to make your way to the kitchen counter, Astrid will take your order. Please, no one freak out - especially you, Alpha Ryker, when I tell you, Astrid is a rogue; that's what the strange smell is,' Jim explains.
'WHAT?' Alpha Ryker shouts, slamming his fist on the table.
'Alpha Ryker. Settle down! She is just a young girl who needs a job. She has been under my employment for almost a year now and is one of my best workers. We're also not on your territory so she isn't trespassing. She hasn't done anything wrong. So, if you're wanting that vanilla milkshake with cookies, I suggest you sit down and behave!' Jim warns.
'Are you threatening me Jim?' Alpha Ryker asks.
'Of course not, Alpha. I'm just reminding you. As much as you and everyone else here hate rogues, she has done nothing wrong and is to be kept out of all this. Alpha Ryker growls.
Hidden by magic in a forest, her species and many others destroyed in the war until the Moon Goddess sets her free in a time where only humans and werewolves exist. A new war between the two Kingdoms begins, what if the Alpha King claims she is his mate? A story of war, betrayal, lust, love and magic.
Alpha Maximus of the Blood Moon pack is the last of his kind, mateless and shunned by the werewolf community and unable to control his Lycan making him a bigger threat to all around him. He is shunned and disliked even by most of his own pack until he is captured which leads to him finding his mate in dire circumstances. He frees his mate from slavery and abuse, escaping their deadly situation together. Due to his mate's magic ability, questions are raised and the werewolf community now fear them both and declare war against them. Hidden secrets about his mate's past are revealed, which leads to his mate fulfilling a deadly prophecy.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
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?"
Eliza Greer was abandoned by her mother, raised in an orphanage, and sold to the Burns family at 19. Even though she marries Mason Burns, the other people in the Burns family look down on her for her poor identity and want to try every way to bully her. Unexpectedly, they all failed. Eliza's hidden identities are gradually revealed in one incident after another, which astonishes everyone.
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?
Daisy is the illegitimate daughter of Mr. Hubert. His company went bankrupt, so he asked for help from Drkov's house. They agreed to help Mr. Hubert but with one condition. One of his two daughters must marry their nephew - Atlas Drkov. Atlas Drkov is a billionaire but he is disabled and uses a wheelchair. Yaretzi - daughter of Mr. Hubert's official wife - does not accept marrying a disabled man. She and her parents made a plan. They kidnapped Daisy's mother, threatened her, and forced her to marry Atlas. To save her mother, she accepted. However, after getting married, she fell in love with this man, and so did he. Difficulties start from here.
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...