WARNING This story will contain. Strong sexual content, strong language, dark scenes about human trafficking. Everything was shaking all around me as if I was in the back of a moving car. An unpleasant smell that could have woken me from even my darkest dreams filled the air and convinced me that I was wide awake. Fear instantly overcame my senses. Where was I? What was I doing here? Who took me? "Help..." I tried to shout. My torn throat wouldn't allow it. In my mind, images flashed of barbaric shifters standing outside that door. Big, tall and rough creatures that knew no manners and only wanted to claim things. I'd heard stories since I was old enough to understand that they favored pretty human girls and plucked them off the roads as if they were all free for the taking. Patara tried to move back away from the handsome young man, but he held her firm. Squeezing her chin a little harder to keep her in place. His blue-grey, beautiful eyes looked over her every feature as if he wanted to burn the image in his mind. "Would you like me to take you away?" He asked in a husky voice. His words made her skin litter in goosebumps. She couldn't speak, only nod desperately. "And what do you offer me in exchange for your rescue? Would you like to follow me?" Slowly, she nodded her head and put her hand in his. "Remember your promises," he said against her ear. She held her breath. "The last person who betrayed me got to see what his insides looked like before I slit his throat."
Patara
For as long as I could remember, my mother always wanted to fit in with the upper class society despite both of my parents being born into middle class families. Luckily for them, they amassed a fortune by running a catering business that really took off after I was born-but she never wanted my sister, my brother or I to have the smell of food on our clothes because of it.
My mother made sure we were treated just as all the rest of the rich kids were, no matter the cost of it. My brother was spoiled and my sister was married off young to a family that was even more rich. I was meant to be the golden child to them-the one that never talked back and always did as they asked. My father had always been the quiet type, and I think I took after him when it came down to it. I knew I was nothing like my mother.
With our world still at war with uncivilized dragons and shifters alike, we had to hold our chins high and make sure everyone knew we belonged with the rich. Our clothes always had to be set right with not a hair out of place. I think they truly loved us in their own strict way, but it was hard to keep myself above water with all of their expectations and demands.
"Stand up straight." My mother hissed as we waited backstage at one of my piano competitions. "And-fix your hair! They'll mistake you for one of those savage shifters if you go out there like this!"
She pawed at my long dark hair and my lovely pink dress until I was once again perfect in her eyes. I smiled at her and everyone around us. Only when the high class strangers smiled back at me, did my mother do so as well.
-
I went to an aristocratic girls' high school that my mother pulled a lot of strings for me to get into. Classes were easy to keep up with and the distraction of love was off the table when there were no boys around. It was early knowledge to my siblings that love was forbidden until she chose who we ended up with.
My older sister Nina married the second son of Leon, a real estate tycoon, by our mother's arrangement. Nothing pleased her more than seeing her eldest daughter walk down the aisle to wed the man she had hand picked. If I was honest, it made me a bit nervous to even think about having my husband chosen for me one day. I don't know how my sister ever had the courage do it. But we all knew that my mother always got the final word.
After school, I hurried down the stone steps but stopped short when I realized my driver wasn't in his usual space today. Other students hurried past me to their own cars and I waited until the lot was almost cleared before I pulled out my phone and dialed my mother's number.
"Mom-"
"Pat, I completely forgot to tell you." My mother interrupted. "Your father and I have to attend an impromptu charity gala tonight and we needed the driver. Please take a taxi home, dear. I put leftovers in the fridge to be heated for dinner."
"Oh. Okay, mom."
"Remember to practice your piano after homework, there's another competition this weekend that I signed you up for." I could hear the slight shift in her tone. My mother always loved to show the world my talent-even more than I did. For a moment, I wondered what would happen if I told her no. The thought alone scared me enough to erase it from my mind.
"This weekend?" I closed my eyes tightly. "Great. Okay. Have fun with dad, bye mom."
I quickly hung up before my mother could question my enthusiasm. I only wished she would let me have a moment to breathe. I shoved my phone deep in my school bag and hurried down the road towards the underground tunnels.
The path took longer to get home, but I ached for the chance to be alone. I hadn't been down through the tunnels since I was a kid and my feet still knew the way as if no time had passed at all. It was only after I had already entered that I noticed how different it was. Darker, quieter. I tried to side step the puddles of rotten water and garbage so I didn't ruin my new shoes. I knew mother would never forgive me if I did.
An unease set in my stomach. Perhaps I should have taken the taxi. I knew what my mother would say if she found out I was down here-she would remind me of all the young girls my age that had been taken from walking home alone like this. Taken and sold to shifters who used girls for their own fun and throw them away when they were finished. Girls just like me.
War markings were spray painted across the walls in favor of the human side. Images of shifters were crossed out in thick black paint while the humans looked victorious. I had never seen a shifter up close, but even a cheap drawing of one with wings made my stomach turn, I had to look away.
I knew who the poor drawings was of-everyone knew when they saw that dark hair. His name was Dylan and he was rumored to be on the path to lead the shifters one day, which made him one of the biggest threats of all. He was the very face that haunted many nightmares in this world.
The war between shifters and hunters had been going on for decades. Our worlds were connected, but neither side could see eye to eye. They were banned from this land. If just one made the mistake to wander into the human world, they would be killed instantly. No trail, no question. Our armies and police had special weapons just for them to take them out in one hit.
If a human had crossed into the shifter realm... they took their time with how they tortured humans. Especially if they happened to be a woman. It was widely known that shifters favored human girls as if they were toys.
The thoughts always terrified me. Sometimes they even kept me up at night to know that shifters could sneak into our land and try to fool us.
I focused on the sound of my own steps echoing against the tunnel walls and let my mind clear out all the fog. I almost didn't notice the man kneeling over a lump on the path in front of me.
"Oh thank god!" He stood and neared me. His fingers were crusted with dirt and his clothes were torn as if he had just survived a fight. Was that-blood on his shirt?
My feet immediately started to back away from him, but then I saw that the lump was a dog-and it didn't look like it was breathing. "You have to help me. My dog, he's very hurt."
When I woke up, my mom's body was cold. The color was drained from her half-opened eyes, and I could see no signs of life. My father told me that she purposely drank poison to kill herself. But that was a lie. My mother would never kill herself; she would never leave me. That night imprisoned me. “It wasn’t a mistake,” “What are you talking about, Jonathan?” I asked him. “Arina, you are my mate. You were born to be my luna,” he said. His face showed no signs of humor. “I wasn’t born to be anybody’s luna,” I shot back. “Arina, I love you…” he spoke softly, still staring into my eyes. I could feel the wolf in me stirring; something that I had never felt before. She was awakening; the fire that burned so deep inside of me was beginning to flare. “Love?” I heard myself saying. “There’s no such thing as love…” After everything I knew about “love”, what my mother went through when she married my father, love didn’t exist. “Give me a chance to prove you wrong. Marry me.” WARNING This story will contain: Strong Sexual Content, Strong Language and Domestic Violence Scenes that may be triggering. Adult viewers only.
He embraces Mary, something about their embrace so random, so intense and passionate, that I stumble back, threatening to fall. This can’t be happening. Row catches me, my butcher friend already reeked with the smell of rotten meat but it doesn’t faze me, it doesn’t affect me like seeing Luke take another woman into his arms. They kiss, Row having to turn me around and hold to his chest as I hold back sobs. Luke has found his mate and it isn’t me. “Oh no,” Ann sighs, her hand patting my back. “Well, I guess that is settled,” Paul murmurs. “Let’s get out of here, Aurora. We should let Luke be with his new mate.” I sniffle a cry into Row’s shirt, feeling him embrace me tighter at the mention of Luke’s mate. It’s real. It can’t be. It wasn’t supposed to be like this and yet it’s happening. Pulling myself together, I refuse to look back at my best friend, the man I thought I would be with forever, the only man I pictured having as my mate, while he embraces another woman.
On my 18th Birthday, My twin sister married my mate, Alpha Jacob, in my name. I was Alisa Clark, the she-wolf with the purest blood. The Alphas must feed on my blood. They were blessed with great power while they were cursed. The greater their abilities, the shorter their lives. My blood protected them from their curse Yet, my twin Jennifer took away my glory and had me tortured for 6 years! Worse still, My mate allowed it "You've been like a pig for us. He can smell you down here. He's known this whole time." She took out a mirror and held it up to my face. " You think he would ever accept such an ugly mate like this pig." I hadn't seen myself since I was twelve, vibrant and healthy. I was a child then, and now I looked like a ghost. My face was hollow and pale like a sick person. I saw the scar on my face, it burned and had inflamed my cheek so that it was swollen. My eyes were red from the tears. My hair was dull and limp over my skull. My purple eyes were the only piece of me that still held some semblance of life. I could see scars even on my neck, and I knew that my body was even more scarred, and even more pathetic... "How dare you be so stupid." Jennifer said. "How dare you think the Alpha wants you for more than your blood. Imagine him mating with you, when he could have me."
3 years ago, I faked a pregnancy to steal half a million dollars from my mate. I felt as if I didn’t have any other choice as I had to pay my brother’s ransom or let him die. Now, I would rather die than spend another day being treated with icy, bitter resentment. My name is Rachel Flores and I rejected my alpha mate because I’m ready to live, not just survive! "Who are you?" I came awake with a jerk, disoriented and aching all over. A heavy male body lay beside me---we were both naked except for the sheet covering our bodies. I searched my memories of the night before, trying to figure out how I had gotten here while attempting to wrap the sheet around my body. I stopped when I realized I'd leave my bed partner totally nude. I remembered myself saying over and over, "I'm your mate!" I eased myself off the bed to look for clothes. I tried to be as quiet as I could so I didn't wake up the stranger. His scent was all over me, all over everything really. Rich and masculine...
I'm a witch. I saw the future. Alpha Xavier will rule the kingdom and kill my whole family. He's taking revenge on us since my grandfather chose to align with his enemy. I can't just sit back and let that happen. So I decided to propose to him and get him killed before our fate's set. Yet, the moon goddess says otherwise... “Will you marry me, Alpha Xavier?” I asked and bowed slightly. Lord Xavier is currently the Alpha of the Leonard family. Apparently, he’s been hailed as one of the strongest men on the continent—and the most handsome. Not like that matters to me but I guess it’s a plus. “Excuse me?” The man stared at me in disbelief. “If have to repeat myself, will you marry me?” I looked up at Xavier who hadn’t moved a muscle nor taken his eyes off of me. He just needs to accept my proposal already! This silence and waiting is unbearable! I’m offering you money and power. What more could you possibly— “I accept your marriage proposal.” Xavier interrupted my thoughts and released his hold on me. I’ve succeeded! Another step closer to your death, my Lord… I accepted the witch girl’s proposal and walked out of the parlor without looking back at her. How could I? My heart raced inside of my chest, though I knew that these beats weren’t my own. Throughout the entire ordeal, something itched in the back of my mind. I knew what it was. “Lyon!” I commanded through thought. “What was that all about? What happened?” A howl echoed through my mind. “She’s our mate!” Lyon exclaimed. Mate?! The daughter of the Wisdom family was supposed to be my Luna? I couldn’t believe that the Moon Goddess was capable of such jokes and trickery.
*Warning* Explicit Content Included. Adults only. My fated mate is the son of the murder who smashed my family and life. I was sold to a brothel and my body was turned into a commodity. And my sister, she's still being raped by those pedophiles, over and over, over and over. I need to revenge. - “Showtime, ladies!” I rolled my shoulder and walked to the back of the line. There were ten of us. Each of us dressed in a sparkling evening gown, ready to introduce ourselves to the crowd. I barely listened to the women ahead of me. Then, it was my turn. I took a deep breath and lifted my head as the woman ahead of me stepped aside. The stage light was so bright my eyes burned, but I kept my eyes open, scanning the VIP room windows for the man in question. There, sitting in the front row of the VIP room just to the right of the stage, was Matt Wallber, surrounded by various women. His collar was undone and he wore what looked to be a deconstructed tuxedo. His hair was raked and a bit windswept as if he had been running his hand through it. “We’ll open the bidding now!” A few breaths passed before the screen lit up. Round 1 Bidding Open. I watched my headshot shoot ahead of the other nine and over the blue line that signified my requested starting bid. Someone had bid on me in the first round well over my opening bid. My heart leaped. Had he taken the bait so soon?
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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.
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."