Sheika Naya, a middle eastern princess who lives in isolation, seeks for freedom. Escaping from her father's strict ruling, she finds herself living a normal and yet risky life in the bustling city of New York. Still being trapped in lies about her true identity, Naya crosses paths with Finnigan Langston- an Omega from the Nightshade Howlers of the Eastern Coast. Both are escaping the lies that are continuously trapping them, they find strength in each other's presence as they search for answers in their respective dilemmas.. Will love be enough to defy what nature dictates? A story that rewrites the mythology of wolves, creating a more relatable world where love stands against the betrayal of time, culture, and lies.
"Sheika Naya, Sheik Harun and his family have arrived," Cora, her daya, told her.
Naya looked down, as if trying to protest against what that day held for her. "Daya Cora," she muttered, almost on the verge of breaking down. "I don't want this," she uttered, voice cracking along with the trembling of lips.
Cora served as her daya or nanny, she had been with her ever since she was three. Cora watched her grow, she knew all her heartbreak, hopes, and dilemmas.
She moved closer to Naya, took her hands and pulled it closer to her heart. "I could only wish I had the power to change the course of your life, Naya," she sighed, while fixing Naya's burqa.
"Harun is just like my father, even if he is taking me away from the corners of this palace, I am sure that he is just going to give me the same world- probably even worse."
"This has been happening in your culture even before you were born. Even up to now, women are only expected to do what men would ask them to," she explained, tears flowing from her eyes, as she softly caressed the sheika's face.
"Help me," Naya begged while keeping a strong grip on her daya's wrist.
"How?" she quickly replied, wondering about the strange possibility that she can do for the princess.
"Help me escape, Daya Cora, please."
"How can we do that?" Cora curiously and worriedly asked her, feeling sure that no escape plan could ever outsmart the strict ruling of Sheik Rashid-- Naya's father and the ruler of Kingdom of Azhamir.
Naya frowned, allowing her tears to start falling from the outer corners of her eyes.
"Death," she hissed, turning her head towards the direction of the window. "If it is the only way to get myself freed from all of these."
"No!" Cora growled, and then covered her mouth with her hand as she started to tone down her voice. "I am not letting you do that," she added.
"What kind of life is this? I don't have freedom, and I can't even make my own choices." She sneered, moving her gaze around her room that was luxuriously designed with real gold and everything royal.
Her duvet was soft, filled with fine feathers that went very well with her cushion. Her sheets were a mixture of satin, silk, and velvet. The whole area is filled with the sweet woody fragrance of uod that was exclusively created for her.
"Sheika, please...."
"Stop calling me sheika or princess!" She demanded, allowing all the heavy emotions to take over her mind. "My life is far from being one! This is slavery!"
Cora moved to hug her, calming her as she had broken down already. "You know that I spent my entire life serving and loving you, and I am willing to do everything for you to see the world that you truly deserved."
In their tradition, a woman would wear a burqa during engagement. It's a garment worn by the Azhamirn Women that covers the entire body with only a thin sheet of mesh to cover the eyes.
"Take it off," she ordered Naya as she was taking off hers too.
"What?" she wondered, but quickly did as her daya said. "They will kill you!" she exclaimed,, realizing that her daya would switch Burqa with her and pretend to be her.
"If it is death that will set you free, then be it!"
"N-No, Daya!" she snarled, stopping her daya from pushing through with such a quick and careless plan.
"It is now or never," she replied.
Cora grabbed a kohl eyeliner from Naya's pile of makeup products, and then she started lining her upper and lower water line with it. She quickly dabbed the makeup brush from a black shimmery eyeshadow and applied it to her eyelids.
"I am sorry, Daya!" She cried, already regretting her actions that made her nanny risk her own life for her.
"I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life watching you suffer, Sheika Naya," she narrated. "One day, your freedom will set everyone else free!"
"I will return and I will get you, that's a promise!"
"Run!" she whispered in Naya's ear as she kissed her for one last time before they went out of the room.
Naya had prepared for the day that she would escape, although that was not how she thought it would be. Putting her nanny's life at risk was something she never thought about. She had imagined herself running away, escaping the palace on a dark winter night was how she imagined it to be.
Sheik Rashid had a very strict way of treating her as compared to her siblings. Yes, she was able to attend school but she was heavily guarded, and her classmates were not allowed to speak to her and must keep at least a 2-feet distance.
Luckily for her, she had made a good relationship with her professor who was originally from New York. Naya remembered one time during her exam, she was shocked to see a note on the test paper that her professor handed her.
Let me know if this is the kind of life that you want.
Naya answered that, she wrote down about her situation in her family and asked her professor to help her escape. Three months later, Naya was handed an American Passport with her photo on but with names and details different from hers.
This is the farthest that I can go, just do everything to leave the kingdom.
Naya had been keeping that note along with the passport for over a year now, and it was her inspiration to escape the life that she thought she did not vouch for.
Engagements in their culture were different, men would only present the gifts that he had for his fiance. Jewelries, money, gold bars, and a promise of a brilliant future-- the usual engagement offerings-- without talking to the woman and without seeing her face.
Women were not allowed to speak, and must not be seen with their face uncovered. She was confident that her Daya Cora would not be discovered easily, and she prayed that Cora could go back to her room undiscovered. At least, if that would successfully go as she imagined it, Cora would not be punished for her escape, and her nanny could only pretend to be doing something else while she was escaping.
Later that afternoon, before the sun kissed the dunes of the Azhamirn Deserts, Naya had successfully left the palace unnoticed. She went to a mall near the airport, bought herself some ordinary clothes, suitcases, and everything that she could need.
She was smart enough to think of putting on some jewelry that she would eventually pawn or sell once she reached her destination. She also withdrew some cash, and decided to transfer some amount of money to a certain bank account that her professor gave her.
She knew that it would be easy for her father to trace all the transactions, but her professor made sure that the bank account was somehow fraudulent.
Naya took her makeup off, realizing that the absence of her perfectly winged eyeliner would actually make her look softer and more ordinary. She was wearing ordinary clothes, no hijab, no fancy purses, and no luxurious shoes.
Her siblings had more middle eastern features than her, her naturally fair skin and hazel eyes were proof enough for her to know that she was different from them-- probably the same reason why she was treated differently by her father.
"Welcome to the United States of America, Ms. Noelle Norris," the immigration officers greeted her as her passport was being pushed back to her.
Naya could only smile, the freest one she had made in her life. "Thank you," she graciously replied.
Blythe Sanchez has had enough. After years of enduring her boyfriend's endless infidelity, her patience has run dry, and her heart is shattered. One impulsive night changes everything when she crosses paths with Larkin Callahan, a mysterious and irresistibly handsome stranger. Larkin's allure pulls her in, but behind his charming smile lie secrets that could either bring them together or tear them apart. What begins as a moment of passion quickly spirals into a whirlwind romance, forcing Blythe to confront not only her past but also the dangerous mysteries surrounding Larkin. Can she risk trusting her heart again, or will his secrets be the final betrayal?
Theana must pretend as Alethea (her twin sister) and get to know her sister’s future husband, Taddeo Locatelli, until Alethea is ready to face her groom. However, things change its course when she finds herself being preyed upon by Taddeo's younger brother, Arcel. It was intrigue that lured Arcel to her. His unexpected interest blooms into possession that fuels the monster within him. Nothing could stop him from claiming her for himself, even his own brother. Will there be ‘Happy Ending’ between Arcel and Theana if their love for each other were entangled with lies, revenge…and murder?
Bella stood before a large mirror in a grand room, brushing her hair. She was preparing herself for what would happen on the first night of her marriage. As Bella was brushing her hair, the door to the room opened, and she saw in the mirror her husband approaching her. Bella put down her hairbrush and turned to face Leandro, who was standing with pride and honor behind her. "You can refuse if you don't want me to do this," Leandro said, his tone cold and formal. Bella lowered her head. She didn't want this. She didn't want to be touched by a man she didn't love. She didn't want anything to happen between her and a man she barely knew, except for their wedding day. But what could she do? She had to fulfill her husband's needs. If he wanted something to happen between them, she couldn't refuse. That's what her father had drilled into her mind. Leandro sighed, and Bella raised her gaze to meet his. Her eyes widened when she saw Leandro undressing. "If you're not going to say anything to stop me, I will take it as permission to have sex with you," Leandro stated. Bella firmly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She stood up and slowly removed her nightdress. Leandro's lips parted in surprise at his wife's actions. Nevertheless, the desires of his flesh overpowered his other emotions. He quickly pulled his wife into a deep kiss, catching Bella off guard, leaving her with no time to close her eyes. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the bed with Leandro on top of her. Leandro's movements were swift. He removed Bella's underwear and looked at her one last time before speaking again. "You can still stop me," Leandro said in a hoarse voice. Bella took a deep breath and shook her head. "This is my obligation as your wife. You don't have to ask me again. Do it." Leandro retrieved a condom, put it on, and then positioned himself before slowly entering Bella. She screamed in pain and discomfort as she accepted her husband's entirety. Bella involuntarily pulled Leandro's hair as he continued to penetrate her slowly. Tears streamed down Bella's face as she felt Leandro's fullness inside her. She gradually began to feel Leandro's movements. That night, Bella experienced a mix of desire and bitterness. She surrendered to her husband's actions, but she cried and felt bitter because she was unsure if this was the life she truly desired. They shared a passionate night, and Bella barely remembered the details due to exhaustion. She woke up the next morning to find her husband no longer by her side. She later discovered that he had left the country early that morning, leaving her alone.
When I entered our room, I immediately saw Marcus on our balcony smoking. He was wearing a white tank top and pajama bottoms. When I closed the door, he faced me, and I immediately saw the sharp look in his eyes. "M-Marcus, you came home early from work," I said to him with some nervousness. Already sensing what’s on his mind. I met Tristan earlier, and I didn't want Marcus to know. Even if my husband doesn't love me, he gets angry when other men approach me, and he doesn't want me near Tristan either. He put out the cigarette he was holding and threw it away. Slowly, he approached with a sharp gaze. I swallowed my saliva, feeling the strong beating of my heart. "M-Marcus!" I exclaimed. He grabbed me by the waist and pressed our bodies together. He brought his face close to my ear and licked and bit it. I clung to his shoulder and let out a soft moan. I also closed my eyes because I couldn't bear to look at him. "Where have you been, Evelyn Grace Halloway?" he whispered close to my ear. I swallowed my saliva, struggling to answer in our current position. I felt Marcus's touch on my thigh, making me even more restless. "Someone saw you earlier with Tristan Anderson. Can I ask if that's true, Mrs. Halloway?" Marcus asked me with his sweet voice. Instead of feeling delighted by how he said it, I became even more scared because I knew what would happen next. "Look at me!" I jumped in surprise at his shout and quickly opened my eyes, looking at him. My whole body trembled in fear of what he would do next. I saw his intimidating expression as he stared at me. He held my chin and brought my face close to his. I shivered as he licked the side of my lips and whispered to me again. "What did I tell you before, wife?" My lips trembled as I answered his question. "N-No meeting other... other men," I stammered. "Hmmm." He caressed my waist and kissed my cheek. "Can you explain what happened earlier?" "W-We're just friends, Marcus. I-I didn't do anything wrong—" "Liar!" he shouted. I couldn't hold back my tears. I screamed as Marcus lifted me and laid me on our bed. My eyes widened as he hovered over me. "No one else can come near you, claim you, and touch you because you're mine, Evelyn Grace Halloway! You can't escape from me because I won't allow you to be happy!" he shouted and laughed devilishly. I am Evelyn Grace Wilson-Halloway, and I married the Devil Billionaire named Lucien Marcus Halloway.
Monique soared to the heavens when Joshua made her his bride. Her love for him brimmed over, so much so that not even the absence of his best man could stop the ceremony. And she even fell in love more with her now husband after the union. What initially appeared to be the prologue of their happily ever after soon changed into a captivating illusion, woven with deceit and falsehood, shattering her once-rosy reality. Now faced with the daunting truth, Monique must grapple with the revelation that the husband she adored is not the man she believed him to be but instead his twin brother…Jacob. What if the lie that she had been living with was the fairytale that she had been wanting all her life? Is love enough to overshadow the web of deception entwining them?
Amelie Pearce, born into one of the prominent crime families in Chicago, is a princess of the mafia renowned for her physical attractiveness. However, what many perceive as a blessing becomes her downfall when she is compelled to marry Gio Merante, in order to establish peace between two mafia dynasties. Gio is the prospective head of the Merante Cartel within the New York Famiglia, a man infamous for his brutal nature and for strangling his cousin with his bare hands. Millie is filled with terror at the prospect of marrying such a monster. Despite being one of the most desirable bachelors in New York due to his good looks, wealth, and charismatic but predatory demeanor, Millie understands that Gio's bad boy persona is more than just an act. Behind Gio's captivating gray eyes and arrogant smile lie bloodshed and death. In her world, an attractive exterior often conceals a hidden monster—one capable of both killing and kissing with equal ease. However, escaping from the arranged union, let alone a man like Gio, is impossible. He would pursue her to the ends of the earth. Millie's only hope of survival in a marriage with Gio is to win his affection and gradually find her way into his heart—despite rumors that suggest Gio possesses no heart at all. A beautiful mafia princess given to a monstrous man. Even monsters harbor a heart. She fully intends to find her place within it.
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”