"You are truly here," said the man softly, his eyes running over her as if trying to make sure she was who he thought she was. Erin couldn't hide her confusion. "Do I know you? I'm not sure we've met before." "Not in this lifetime, but you are mine," he replied confidently. "Excuse me?" Erin asked in utter confusion. Who was this guy, and why the heck was he saying this weird stuff to her? "I know you don't know me yet," the man continued."But you will, Edvana. You will know me because you are my mate." ************ When Erin agreed to take Devon up on his claim of being her destined mate, she did not expect to be transported back in time to a pre-civilization era during a werewolf civil war! How was she going to make it back to the future/present alive, when she was now caught in the middle of an apocalyptic battle?
The Full Moon Feast of werewolves was one of Erin's least favorite events to attend, but unfortunately for her, she has never had the best excuse to avoid going since she became eligible to participate seven years ago.
She couldn't for the life of her understand why the clan Chief and his ancestors made the event mandatory for all adult werewolves; why didn't they just restrict attendance to married werewolves only?
Or to werewolves who enjoyed boring speeches about who was doing great in their human lives and which werewolf had finally found a mate in the slim pickings available in the clan? Why did she have to be involved in all of that, especially the "networking" sessions?
"Erin! What are you doing up there? You're going to be late!" Her mother called out to her from downstairs.
"Ugh!" Erin groaned and quickly applied a dash of pale pink lipstick to her luscious lips before dropping it into her heavy handbag that contained her laptop, notepads, half a dozen pencils, a pen, and her mini toiletries bag.
When she finally made it downstairs, her parents were already at the dining table, eating breakfast. One look at her and her mother let out an involuntary gasp, while her father shook his head slowly, although Erin could see a small smile tugging at the side of his lips.
"Why on earth are you dressed like someone going to a rock music concert on a Monday morning?"
Bernice Brown asked her daughter. "It's your first day at work, so why not look professional instead?"
"Good morning to you too, Mom," said Erin dryly before lowering herself on a vacant chair at the dining table. "Hey, Daddy. Running late too?"
"Nope," replied her dad. "Jonathan should be at the trading post already. That's what I hired him for. Now I can enjoy a leisurely breakfast with you and your mother before I go there."
"Splendid," Erin grinned.
"Don't change the subject, Erin," her mother snapped. "Your dressing..."
"Mom, please. It's an art gallery, not a law firm. I don't have to show up at work in a designer pantsuit."
"Still – "
"Darling, please. Leave the girl alone," Andrew Brown suggested to his wife with a pleading look in his warm eyes.
Bernice pursed her lips and said nothing further. Her attempts to make her daughter more ladylike have been met with stiff resistance since Erin was a teenager. What Bernice had assumed to be teenage rebellion had morphed into a way of life for her daughter who still dressed like a crossbreed of a hippie and an emo artist.
It was no surprise that at twenty-five, none of the eligible werewolves in their clan have ever shown even a slight interest in her. How was she ever going to find a mate if she continued like this?
Aware that her mother was shooting daggers at her with flaming eyes from across the table, Erin chose to ignore her and instead buttered a piece of toast generously before taking a big bite. She heard her mother's low growl of disapproval and she stifled a giggle.
For some reason, Erin enjoyed annoying her mother, who by now has almost given up all hopes of ever making her the ideal daughter who would someday attract a worthy mate in the clan.
"Big day, huh?" Her dad said, trying to make conversation. "I bet you're excited about this new job."
Erin shrugged. "It's just an internship, but if I'm lucky and if the labor market gods smile on me, I might get a full-time position at the gallery. Although, I don't know if they'll need an additional art curator by then."
"Well, let's hope they do," her father smiled at her. "I wish you would get back to painting again. You never told us why you stopped."
Erin made a show of drinking her coffee to avoid responding to her father's last statement. She had never said it out loud before, but she had taken an extended break from painting six months ago after her 4-year relationship ended. It wasn't because she was in love with her ex, but it was mainly because she'd gotten so used to having Mike in her life and she had created a routine around her life with him, that when things finally ended, she hadn't known what to do with herself or how to continue with her life.
She'd met Mike during her sophomore year at the University of Chicago where she was studying to get a degree in Art History, while he majored in Creative Writing. They'd hit it off right away from the moment they bumped into each other at a mutual friend's birthday party.
They had been inseparable since then and had even moved in together after graduation. When Mike nailed his dream job at The New York Times, he'd asked her to move to the Big Apple with him but Erin had declined. It just hadn't felt right to her to pack up her things and follow him on his journey to live his dream, when all she really wanted to do was to return to Fairbanks to live with her family.
It still didn't make sense to her that she wanted to return home when all she had done since she was sixteen was to find an opportunity to get away from her hometown.
It was why she had chosen to go to college in Chicago instead of going to any of the universities in Alaska. It was as if some unseen force had been pulling her to return home.
"Ooh, look at the time! I better get going," she said and quickly got to her feet. "See you guys later."
She kissed her parents on the cheek and hurried out of the house before her mother could issue another word of protest against her manners. Erin dumped her heavy handbag in the back seat of her Honda before getting behind the wheels.
The art gallery was only about a mile away, but she was already running late mostly because that blasted alarm clock of hers had failed to go off at the right time. Never mind that she'd forgotten to replace the worn-out batteries, but yeah, her alarm clock was to blame for her tardiness on her first day at work.
Twenty minutes later, Erin parked her car in the only vacant spot in front of the gallery. Despite being late already, she couldn't help but take a moment to pause and admire the exquisite building that housed the art gallery. The structure was two floors high and it was a mix of brick, glass, and wood, with giant pots of ferns and Monstera flanking it on all sides.
Erin still couldn't believe her luck at getting the opportunity to work in the newest and swankiest place in Fairbanks, thanks to her big brother, Eric, who had mentioned the opening to her after his friend, Farida Burns, had told him about it.
Inside the gallery was even more divine than the exterior. The walls were painted in white and different shades of azure, making the place look like an underwater haven. There were paintings of different sizes on the walls downstairs, while the top floor was for sculptures and a variety of metal works.
"Hi Jade, I'm here to see Farida," said Erin to the friendly receptionist.
"Hi, Erin," Jade replied with a big smile. "Farida has been expecting you. She's at the back of the gallery."
"Thanks," Erin said with a grateful smile and began her journey to the back of the gallery.
The short walk gave her some time to admire the paintings hanging on the wall and the ones set on columns around the room. I should bring some of my watercolors here too, she thought to herself wistfully.
She finally reached her destination but there was no Farida to be found. Instead, she is greeted by a variety of tastefully done oil paintings that were probably waiting to be displayed in the front hall.
Erin knew she should call out to Farida, but she was so captivated by the sheer talent displayed here, that all she could do was just stand there and get an eyeful. One huge painting propped on an easel caught her attention, and Erin walked toward it to get a closer look.
Standing in front of the easel, her breath left her. The painting showed two giant werewolves standing on a hill at sunset, their eyes trained on a glowing white stone that appeared to float above their heads. What stunned her the most was that one of the werewolves in the painting was her in wolf form.
"You're here."
Erin turned around at the sound of the male voice behind her and she found herself face-to-face with a man she had never seen before. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and although he wasn't the most handsome man Erin had ever laid eyes on.
There was something powerfully alluring about his aura that made her want to run into his arms for safety. Right now, he was looking at her as if he'd just seen a ghost.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snoop. I was looking for Farida," Erin explained.
"You are truly here," said the man softly, his eyes running over her as if trying to make sure that she was who he thought she was.
Erin couldn't hide her confusion. "Do I know you? I'm not sure we've met before."
"Not in this lifetime, but you are mine," he replied confidently.
"Excuse me?" Erin asked in utter confusion. Who is this guy and why the heck was he saying weird stuff to her? And where on earth is Farida?
"I know you don't know me yet," the man continued. "But you will, Edvana. You will know me because you are my mate."
In a small town where reputations were everything, Kate, a pastor's daughter, faces scandal when her boyfriend abandons her while she's pregnant. To salvage her dignity and protect her family's good reputation, she marries Tony, a wealthy widowed stranger she met during an outreach program. Tony's relationship with Kate comes with some complications: his two adult children are unaware of his sudden marriage, and his affluent status stirs vicious gossip in his social circles. As Kate and Tony's marriage begins, romance blooms, but so do troubling rumors about Tony's past. With disturbing secrets emerging and threats looming, Kate must navigate the storm of scandal and deceit to find if the love she shares with Tony can ever survive or be destroyed beyond repair.
All Vivian wants is to go through college without the drama of dealing with debts and angry creditors. Desperate for a way out, she reaches out to her friend, Cynthia, for help. Overnight, Vivian is introduced to a world of pleasure and influence beyond her wildest imagination. Within months, she's debt-free and living her best life. Just when she thinks life can't be better, she meets Oscar, a reclusive billionaire who is hard to please but generous with money. What started as a business arrangement quickly transforms into a whirlwind romance. However, their fairy tale love story is suddenly cut short when Vivian is kidnapped and everything spirals downwards from there. Is this a ploy by Oscar's opponents to torment him? Or are the lovebirds dealing with a familiar enemy who is determined to keep them apart at all costs?
Love is not part of why billionaire CEO, Kane Beaumont marries his virgin bride, Emilia Taylor. It was purely a contract deal to him and nothing more. Saving her family's business from the claws of evil loan sharks is Emilia's motive for marrying a man she barely knew. However, she doesn't count on being hopelessly attracted to him even when he treats her like a worthless peasant. Their relationship is chaotic, thanks to Kane's lover who is determined to ruin any opportunity of their romance ever blooming. Even if it means putting Emilia's life in danger, setting her up and turning the world against her. When sparks begin to fly between Kane and Emilia after an unfortunate accident, their relationship goes through a tough test that destroys the tiny flames of love burning between them. Will love eventually find a way in the end or will this marriage continue to be a high-stakes business deal with dangerous rewards?
Rachel Lane is a part-time dance instructor and YouTube content creator. Derek Fraser is a successful businessman at the head of a billion-dollar tech empire who works hard and plays even harder. They meet in a club where he is hanging out alone after a busy day at work, while she is there with her friends to celebrate her birthday. They run into each other at the bar, sparks fly and they leave the club together and end up having a one-night stand at his place. Two months later, she shows up at his office, pregnant. Derek is shocked and denies being responsible for Rachel's pregnancy. Disappointed and heartbroken, she leaves his office, determined to raise her baby on her own. One year after, he comes across her YouTube channel and sees that the baby he had rejected is now an adorable toddler and he yearns to have the child in his life. Derek tracks down his baby mama, trying to mend bridges with her, but she would have none of it. Now, he has to find a way to woo her and convince her that he is a changed man and he is ready to build a family with her. On the other hand, Rachel cannot help but feel that he is only trying to buy her affection, even though she is beginning to get attracted to him and he is turning out to be a great dad to their child. Should she give him a second chance or would that turn out to be a mistake that she might regret forever?
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
For two years, Bryan only saw Eileen as an assistant. She needed money for her mother's treatment, and he thought she'd never leave because of it. To him, it seemed fair to offer her financial help in exchange for sex. However, Bryan didn't expect to fall for her. Eileen confronted him, "You love someone else, yet you always sleep with me? You're despicable!" The moment she slammed the divorce papers down, he realized she was the the mysterious wife he married six years ago. Determined to win her back, Bryan lavished her with affection. When others mocked her origins, he gave her all his wealth, happy to be the supportive husband. Now a celebrated CEO, Eileen had everything, but Bryan found himself lost in another whirlwind...
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father’s ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
To outsiders, Aileen was the adopted daughter of the Jefferson family, dismissed and scorned by all. Yet, in the underground racing world, she thrived as the dark rose, savoring the thrill and speed of night races. But her life took a new turn when Derek returned home, leading to a passionate night that diverted Aileen from the Jefferson family's path. Derek, the ruthless heir to the Jefferson legacy, tactfully steered the family's ambitions. Despite his control, he found himself captivated by Aileen-his adopted sister, business partner, and an exceptional racer-drawn to her enigmatic allure.
He has all the traits that you wished for your dream man to have. Power, money, perfection, handsomeness and a body like a Greek God. But he's inlove. He's inlove with her. For him, she was the completion of his dream, a perfect wife and a mother to be with his children. He would give her everything including his own life. He would sacrifice his world for her. But she left him. She betrayed him. She broke his heart into pieces. And he turned into a cold, heartless, rude and an arrogant billionaire, who would do everything to show her that she's no longer important into his life. Even though the truth is the opposite of what he is doing. His heart still aching for her. And that's when he met me. I applied as his Personal Assistant to fulfill my bucket list of dreams. To explore my life and experience everything. He offered me a deal. He asked me to marry him just to show his ex that he already moved on. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "She's pregnant." He blurted out and i almost stumbled on where i am standing. I just gripped the backrest of the couch to support my weight. The pain creeping in my heart is unbearable but i managed to stay calm. "Wow! Congratulations!" I said faking my excitement as i remembered him saying... -cheating would not be the reason to break our marriage- of course i couldn't accuse him of this as 'cheating' because she was the real reason why we are pretending as a couple. He still love her. He's still inlove with her. And that's when i made the biggest decision in my life. Taking all my strength and a piece of my heart that still hanging on a thin rope... I left him. Taking also my biggest secret in me... that i've already fallen inlove with him. And somehow i learned a lesson; 'Loving someone who doesn't love you back isn't as hard as loving someone who still inlove with his ex and who only uses you to get her back again into his life..'