Left with no choice, I gave in to the enemy's demand. I agreed to dance with the alpha's daughter from Midwinter's pack on the night of my mating ceremony. I swayed with her. Spin her gracefully around the dance floor. The horrified eyes of my entire pack burn on me, demanding an explanation. I didn't just break the sacred rule we held on to for generations. I also ripped my mate's heart apart. Not giving her the honor of that last dance could mean one thing – it's over between us. .
"Alpha, the Midwinter warriors had installed the garnet rings last night."
My eyes dart wide at Beta Jess while my entire body stiffens. And it takes some time before my body relaxes, only to feel the fine tremors rocking every fiber in my system.
"The Spessartine Garnet Rings are facing on the north and south borders. The Pyrope Garnets on the east and south."
Damn it!
I know that no amount of ammunition or talisman can go against the power of these cursed garnet stones. Folklores have it that these garnet rings hold the moon goddess's anger that has accumulated over a millennium. Already flammable in its normal state, it is expected to dissolve an entire city of 355 square miles in its cursed nature.
I close my eyes, imagining the goddess spreading her right arms in the air. She then aims her hands towards the gigantic Spessartine, and Pyrope Garnet rings. Tendrils of golden light then emanate from the tips of her fingers, setting the gemstones into a blazing fire. But how do these destructive rings go into the hands of my greatest enemy?
"What are we going to do, Alpha?" My beta's scared look is never better than mine.
Before I can think of an answer, my head patroller mind links me. "Alpha, a messenger from Midwinter's pack requests to see you."
During the pack meetings, we agree to spare pack messengers. They carry out essential tasks, and that is mainly to negotiate or to announce.
"Let him in, Warrior Roman."
"He wants to hear your declaration, Alpha."
I pull out my phone, but it vibrates before entering the password. Warrior Roman's code then dances on the screen.
"Speak, Alpha," he says, and I bite my lower lip in defeat. They are already here indeed, about to announce their warning.
"I, Alpha Alex of the Pink Moon's Pack, swear before the moon goddess's name that I and my subordinates shall let the Midwinter Pack's messenger come and leave our territory unharmed."
I haven't even blinked twice yet, but the messenger in his wolf form has already sprung before us. He bows in respect before handing over a white envelope. The gesture catches my attention. How can someone from a rival pack do that?
I pull out the envelope from his hand while my eyes remain plastered on him. I am known for my massive wolf size, but this one before me threatens my superiority. My intuition told me I should be careful despite the interpack rule for messengers. All because there will always be traitors.
I tear the envelope and pull out the white sheet of paper. I don't understand, but my heartbeats instantly do rapid somersaults at the familiar handwriting. I stare at the neat and beautiful strokes, thinking about where I had seen them in the past. However, I can't figure it out.
Dear Alpha Alex,
I have been patient about your cruel attacks on my pack. But since you have my cup filled up to the brim, even taking my father down in his helpless state, I am sorry to tell you this. I can't let your cruelty harm any of my people anymore.
As you see, the garnet rings have enclosed your territory already. One signal from us, and it can burn your entire pack into ashes. You know that very well, don't you? However, I'm offering you the last chance at redemption – take it or leave it.
Before you hang my father in front of your entire pack tonight and proceed to your mating ceremony, grant me this request. Let me have the last dance with you.
Respectfully yours,
Sue, the Future Alpha of Midwinter Pack
Waves of shivers run up and down my spine. Cold drops of sweat start trickling down the sides of my face. The Midwinter Pack is finally making a move. They are here to avenge their alpha! My pack will never shy away from brutal fights, but we have nothing against the power of the garnet rings.
This request may save my entire pack from doom, but not my chosen mate. A few hours from now will be our mating ceremony, an event to present her formally to the pack. And there will be the last dance – entitled only to her, as the coming Luna of the pack. But I don't know what will happen after that. The enemy knows where to paralyze not only my people but my heart.
Perhaps reading my conflicted emotion, Beta Jess moves to my side. I hand him the letter, but my mind flies back to Sue. I feel my nerves tingle all over as my muscle flinch in anger. Now acting as the alpha of her pack, she leaves my people and me helpless against these garnet rings.
That's maybe why they have been silent on our surprise attacks on their packs. We may not be successful as there were no casualties, but we have captured the highest rank holder of their pack – their alpha, who stood undefeated before.
"Alpha, our Luna, and the entire pack will understand. I know you want to stand by your word and abide by the pack's rules, but this situation is already about our people's life and death."
I look into the distance and see the moon rising from the horizon. Her radiance fills the entire stretch of land and forest that my eyes can see. Her brightness should have been something to celebrate because this signals the big night, the end of my singleness. A few hours later, I will be mating with Vrianna through a ceremony that a hundred members of my pack will witness.
"Tell Sue that her wish is granted."
I walk away without looking at my beta's reaction. I didn't even watch how the messenger fled from my presence. My mind is now on Vrianna and how I will explain it to her. She believes that she will be my first choice whatever happens, even if it costs the safety of my entire pack.
Most of all, she believes that I can always find the solution to any problem that comes our way. That is how she and my people know me. Even the sound of my name on anybody's lips is their source of strength. Sadly, not anymore tonight. The most-feared alpha of the Pink Moon Pack will soon submit to the enemy's demand.
Racing to the pack's house in my tailored suit, I demand to see my chosen mate. The pack elders who attend to her attempt to refuse, but seeing the scowl on my face has them moving to the side.
"What's wrong, Alpha?"
"Not seeing her now also means the ceremony's cancellation! Our enemy already surrounds us, and they are ready to strike any moment from now."
"I have heard about the installation of the cursed Spessartine and Pyrope Garnet Rings," one of the elders echoes my fear, her lips quivering.
I nod sadly. Those gemstones are supposedly the source of healing and good vibes, but they are now more dangerous than atomic bombs in their cursed state.
"Alex, what shall we do?" I look up to the sweet sound of Vrianna's voice piercing into my ear.
"I will have the last dance with Midwinter Alpha's daughter."
My heart drops down in pity as I watch the color leave her face. She runs away, but I still hear her muffled cry. She knows that depriving her of that last dance can mean she's no longer my mate.
We're both heartbroken. Ella lost a fiancé, and I lost a wife. Our paths crossed when I was trying to move on, and she in her denial stage. I thought we could help each other heal our broken hearts, so I tried to remove the guards I had been trying to secure around myself. And before I knew who she really was, I found myself falling in love again. However, fate always slaps me with its irony. Because I found out that all along, she was the secret enemy that had set out to destroy me. All because I was the one who caused her heartaches — the one who killed her fiancé.
Yen found out that she had been into a traumatic incident five years ago that caused her to forget a huge part of her past. And that past included her marriage to Kim, the CEO of the company she was working for. She may not have recognized him right away, but there was something about Kim that drew her emotionally to him. But having already married Zed, an almost perfect husband to her except for his sexual flaw, Yen found it hard to let him go. She tried to convince her boss to move on and let her live in peace with Zed, but Kim wasn't the kind to concede. What would happen then? Who would win the fight? And who would she choose in the end?
Indebted to Jim who accepted and loved her unconditionally despite her dark past, Jia vowed to forever give her life to him. She had no reason not to; Jim loved her and her son like his own. She thought she was over with Anthon, the man who caused her so much pain. Yet one day, their paths crossed again, and her heart began beating for him again. Torn between the sense of indebtedness and her own heart's desire, choosing then became so complicated. As both men were fighting for her love, who would she choose? Would she listen to her heart's desire, or would she keep her gratitude?
I stepped out of the prison doors towards the road of freedom. I should be happy because I had been here for five wretched years. All the pieces of evidence that my fiancee's lover set up to drive me out of her life pointed to me as the murderer. Little did I know that behind those bars inside the cell, my heart remained trapped. I stopped and turned to take a final glimpse of the building that had been my home for a long time. My lips twisted into a bitter smile, mocking at life's irony. All because of the truth that I no longer wanted to be free.
After marrying Zed, Yen soon realized that her perfect life was not what she expected. Zed harbored a dark flaw, a disorder that impacted their lives, creating insecurities and emotional turmoil. Committed to her marriage, Yen set about trying to solve their issues but this was soon challenged when she found herself having recurring dreams about another man. This man in her dreams was her boss but to Yen, they seemed more like memories than actual dreams, causing her to question her life and her very marriage to Zed. Did Yen have a forgotten past with her boss? If she were to search for answers, could they cause conflict or could it lead to happiness?
I learned about his secret, and my revenge began. I didn't care anymore about the consequences of my decision; I was too blinded by all the lies. I thought I'd laugh hard to see him crawling on the ground, but to my surprise, I didn't. Perhaps because the truth prevailed that this stubborn heart of mine still loved this man that I now despised. I lied to myself, denying this feeling for him. All because of my stupid revenge. Just when I thought I couldn't fool myself anymore, I realized I was too late. And I just couldn't cry hard enough.
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.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
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?"
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?