I didn't know him. We haven't met before. I didn't imagine that an ordinary girl like me could attract the eyes of A killer! But... He loved me more than his own life.
Mila pov
It was my birthday on that day, and yeah, I was finally able to get out of the house and get rid of my abusive drunk father and horrible stepmother. I am completely clueless regarding the circumstances surrounding their wedding. I was aware that my mother had moved out of the house because she despised him and could no longer stand to be in the same place as him.
Therefore, it appears that she did not grant him the divorce!
On the other hand, I didn't really care all that much about this. The only thing I wanted more than anything was to get away from my miserable life and start over somewhere else. I wanted to start a new chapter in my life.
I had every intention of completing my senior year of high school with the goal of using the money that my mother had set aside for my college education, along with the support of my grandmother.
And thank God my dad was completely unaware of the existence of those funds! Before she left us a very long time ago, she came into my room and asked me to forgive her for abandoning me with my abusive father. She then departed.
And if I'm being completely honest, I couldn't say I blamed her one bit. Even though she was sick and didn't have much time left to live, he continued to beat the life out of her even though she was in a terminal stage of her illness. Throughout the relationship, he subjected her to mental, emotional, and physical abuse.
I was under the impression that I was significantly more powerful than she was and could keep my balance while facing him. On the other hand, I was only dreaming. As if the fact that my mother had left him was what prompted him to change his attitude toward me, which was negative. I was his prey, yes.
Despite this, my mother has abandoned me, but a part of me has always wished that we could be reunited someday in the future, provided that she hasn't passed away by then.
For me, it was just another day, but it was exciting because I was finally going to turn 18 and be able to do whatever I wanted. After some consideration, I chose to get an early start on the school day.
Going to school was indeed preferable to staying at home and toiling away as a slave; however, working as a maid in my home was incomparably worse than going to school. My stepmother was terrible, but she was still preferable to my biological father. This is the single most upsetting aspect of the situation.
Time spent in school. Although repeating the same classes year after year was tedious, I worked hard to achieve the highest possible grades to increase my chances of being accepted to a prestigious college or receiving a scholarship. In the end, most of my mother's financial legacy did not come in the form of a large inheritance. It's not even a million bucks! And I looked for a part-time job to help me rent a room elsewhere if I couldn't find a vacant room in the dorm later.
I had everything planned out, especially for the moment when my father began oddly touching me.
I was able to deal with beating, but I couldn't wait for my father to rape me because I couldn't stand the thought of it.
I scoured the area for Helen, my best friend, who was beautiful but had the name of an elderly woman.
When we were together, I would make fun of her that way. Yes, because I had so much freedom at school, I engaged in many extracurricular activities and behaved like a complete loon. As opposed to when I was at home, I was not restrained by handcuffs, and my mouth was not covered.
After wishing me a happy birthday and continuing to make the most of our day, she informed me that it was finally time for me to experience hell.
"Mila, happy birthday... So, tell me, what exactly do you have planned for that day of miracles?" She came up behind me and put her arms around my shoulders.
"run away." I gave her a wink, and although we laughed about it together, she was clearly worried about me. She was well aware of the fact that my father was not a morally upstanding individual, which meant that he posed a threat to my life. When I was younger, I frequently went to school with scrapes, bruises, broken bones, and sprained legs and arms. Nobody came to my rescue when I was in a lot of pain. NO ONE.
At home, my father constantly blamed me for almost everything, and the reason he blamed me the most was that my mother had left him, so getting punched in the face was something that happened on a daily basis and was completely normal.
Because it was my birthday, and I couldn't allow him to ruin the day for me, I did everything in my power to leave school and get home as quickly as possible.
As soon as I walked through the house's front door, I noticed my father standing by it, looking at me in a menacing manner as if he had been anticipating my arrival.
I paid him no attention and went to the kitchen, searching for something to eat. On the way, I looked around for my stepmother, but I couldn't find any sign of her. And when I realized that, I completely lost it.
He laughed loudly and exclaimed, "It's your fucking day, bitch!"
I rolled my eyes and asked my father with a groan, "Not today, please." I begged him.
But no way, he was already drunk like he always was by this time of the day. He pressed me against the wall and said, "Speak badly, and I will kill you." I was in danger because of his actions. And in response to the excruciating pain, I screamed.
"what could possibly go wrong?" I managed to stifle a breathless utterance while simultaneously attempting to keep myself composed and get to my feet.
He made a chilly statement while raising an eyebrow and saying, "When your mother left me, I almost spent every penny on drugs and alcohol, as well as red night with whores and this bitch upstairs. Therefore, to get back on the right track and stand firmly on my own two feet, I finally could purchase the nightclub of my dreams, but the money wasn't mine; rather, I had borrowed it from a wealthy businessman. After two years, it's finally time for him to collect his loan and the interest accrued on it." My father moved into a more intimate position next to me.
I took a shallow breath nervously, "I don't understand. Since you make a good living, you should give him the money he paid you back." I remarked in a non-confrontational manner.
My dad gave me a devilish grin and said, "yes, but why should I give him the money with interest if I have something else?!!"
I remained immobile while wracked my brain to make sense of what he was saying, but I could not draw any conclusions from his conundrum.
"Then you should give it to him!" I couldn't help but blurt it out.
He came at me with great haste, pinning me between his arms and his chest as he did so. "The answer is yes, and he agreed to it... So... from this point on, you belong to him."
"What the hell are you talking about?" I yelled and tried to shove my father away while he was holding onto me.
I tried everything I could think of to stop the tears from streaming down my cheeks, but I was helpless. He shouted in a completely disgraceful manner, "Do you believe that I was given the opportunity to choose? I care more about the money than I do about you, and he has indicated that he is interested in you."
"I despise you, and I despise you, I despise you... I HATE YOU. And thank god it's my birthday today, which means I'm finally eighteen and can leave your fucking house for good. I don't understand why you have such strong feelings of animosity toward me. I am your daughter, you fuckhead. Fuck you." I yelled at him while directing disgusted looks in his direction.
"You really ought to be thrilled about the fact that you are his... You are still unaware of the identity of that person at this time. And yes, I am more dedicated to my nightclub and the wealth it brings me than you. Because I didn't have much time, I wasn't able to fuck your ass as thoroughly as I used to fuck your mother's. This irritates me." As I was climbing the stairs, he hurled his foul and repulsive words at me, and with each word that came out of his mouth, I ran even faster to my room to pack my things and get out of the house.
After storming into my room, I quickly packed my belongings, used the key to lock the door, and then stormed out of the room, passing him on the way.
However, I was so dense that I didn't even notice that he didn't follow me or even try to stop me.
Because he knew what awaited me, he knew I had reached the age of eighteen. I was wrong about his intelligence; he wasn't as dim as I had imagined. Everything was according to his master plan.
I didn't give it a second thought that for financial gain, my father would ever consider selling me to another man. He didn't need any financial support. The problem is that he did it on purpose! I didn't give a rat's behind about whatever was going through his head because it was irrelevant to me. He was a crazy, filthy one who deserved to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Additionally, the birthday gift that he gave was well received.
I quickly grabbed my cell phone and dialed the number for a taxi as the strange black car continued to block our gate. I had no idea what was happening when I was dragged to that black car, but as I screamed and struggled against the men who had a firm grip on me, they splashed something on my face, and I immediately blacked out and lost consciousness.
When the infamous mafia boss Vincenzo Moretti is assassinated on his wedding day, chaos descends upon the world he built. His young widow, Elena, and her daughter, Alessia, are left vulnerable and alone, thrust into the dangerous shadows of the criminal underworld. But protection comes from an unlikely source-**Luca Moretti**, the new mafia king and Vincenzo's cold, calculating son. Luca is a man hardened by loss, power, and the weight of his father's legacy. When he takes Elena and Alessia into his estate, it's not out of kindness-it's out of duty. Alessia, however, is no stranger to judgment. Luca sees her as nothing but a gold-digger, a parasite feeding off his late father's wealth. But Alessia refuses to cower under his sharp gaze, and their fiery clashes ignite a tension neither of them can ignore. As Luca hunts the enemies who killed his father, he finds himself distracted by the one woman he shouldn't want. Alessia is everything forbidden-his step-sister by marriage and a symbol of a past he resents. But the more he tries to push her away, the deeper he falls into her orbit. Alessia, meanwhile, is drawn into a world of betrayal, danger, and impossible choices. When a wealthy and charming suitor offers her a way out of the mafia's deadly grasp, she is torn between the promise of safety and the magnetic pull of Luca's dark, dangerous love. In a world where loyalty is everything and love is a liability, Luca and Alessia must face their deepest fears and darkest desires. But as enemies close in and secrets unravel, will their forbidden bond survive the firestorm-or destroy them both? Love. Power. Betrayal. In the end, nothing is off-limits when the heart is on the line.
Amelia Hart's wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Dressed in a gown fit for a fairy tale and poised to marry Ethan Cole, the billionaire tech mogul every woman dreams of, she has everything she's ever been told she should want. But as she stares at her reflection-a stranger in a dazzling white cage-she can't ignore the truth clawing at her chest: she doesn't love him. With the weight of expectations, family pressure, and a room full of glittering guests waiting for her grand entrance, Amelia makes the decision to do the unthinkable-run.
Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of sexual violence, abuse, and manipulation that may be distressing to some readers. Carla never dreamed of becoming the Luna, but when the ruthless Alpha King claimed her as his mate, she was thrust into a life of power, pain, and impossible expectations. To secure her place as Queen, she must accomplish one task: conceive an heir within the next twelve months. Failure means a fate worse than death-being discarded as a slave, handed over to the warriors for their pleasure. But there's one devastating problem: the Alpha King is infertile. Desperate to survive, Carla turns to the Beta-the only man who shows her kindness-and seduces him into her bed. As their forbidden affair ignites, Carla concocts a bold and dangerous plan: if the Beta kills the Alpha, they can be together, and she can finally claim the freedom she craves. Yet in the tangled web of lies, lust, and betrayal, Carla begins to question her own heart. Does she truly love the Beta, or is he just a pawn in her carefully crafted scheme? And as the walls close in, will she sacrifice him, herself, or the kingdom for the chance to be with her true mate?
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.
She spent eighteen years in an orphanage, but it was time to get out. According to the orphanage rules, once a child reaches legal age, they must depend on themselves. Celine didn't know what to do; luckily, she met her savior that day. If only she had known what she was getting herself into, she would never have gone with him. Celine found herself caught in a life of addiction, living in his house, where he was ready to sell her organs to get his fix. To save her life, she had to help him sell drugs. Her innocence became a liability. Soon, she found herself targeted by the king's men-kidnapped, bound, and tortured for selling drugs without their permission. But sometimes, what we fear the most might turn out to be the best for us. Celine found herself trapped in the king's palace, drowning in his love and married to him by force.
"Please, let me go," she begged, her eyes brimming with tears and her voice shaking with fear. Struggling to breathe, she felt trapped in his overwhelming embrace. He ignored her pleas, seemingly unaware of the pain he was causing, driven by jealousy that clouded his judgment. With all her strength, she pushed against him, desperate for even a moment of freedom. But he held her down, his voice low and threatening as he said, "No, I want you now." In that moment, everything changed for her. She was his younger brother's fiancée, and this encounter marked the beginning of a dark path. In an instant, her innocence was shattered, but she would eventually seek justice.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
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." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are 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 in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. 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 who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
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!
"I, Riccardo Saviano, future Alpha of the Grey Shadow Moon Pack, reject you, Artemisia Guerrieri, Daughter of Alpha Franco of the Blood Moon Pack, as my mate and future Luna." One single sentence. One stupid single sentence was all it took to disintegrate my life. And the day of my birthday, on which this sentence was audaciously uttered to me, I lost the love of my life, my future mate, and my wolf, all at once. As I'm still assembling the pieces of my shattered heart years later, there they come. Like lightning out of a crystal blue sky. My Mates. But wait... If I am mated to triplets, how come I'm about to be mated to 5 gorgeous men? *** TW: explicit and foul language; spicy content; explicit sex scenes ***