"Bria's destiny is closely connected to the Alpha, and the red mark on her hand is clear proof of their special bond. Her tough journey began when the human government took her away when she was young. They trained her to be a weapon against the wolves. She knows her job well, and she's eager to go undercover as a failed kidnapping attempt to learn the wolves' secrets and hurt the Alpha. But, she didn't expect to meet an Alpha who would change everything she thought she knew. This Alpha tells her a different story from what she was taught, and introduces her to a community that goes against everything she believed."
As I gaze at the food Mason is holding, my mouth starts to water, and the gnawing ache in my stomach intensifies. Starving myself has proven to be far more challenging than I initially imagined. Admittedly, I didn't set my expectations very high to begin with.
Mason had warned me that this hunger would be painful, but I didn't fully grasp how distinct it would be from the physical pain I've endured in the past, such as broken bones. With those injuries, I could tough it out without too much trouble, but this hunger has turned me almost wild.
Nevertheless, I remind myself that I'm our best hope to take down the Alpha, and I must present myself convincingly for him to buy into my story.
"Only a few more days," Mason reassures me, repeating the same promise he's been making for weeks. "The wolves have become more active since news of his marriage got out, and your arrival will stir up controversy. Our timing is absolutely crucial."
I nod, absentmindedly stroking the birthmark on the back of my hand. The colour has grown pronounced with age, starting from a fleshy tone when I was a child to its current deep red. I hate it, and I hate even more what it stands for.
My parents refused to tell me for most of my childhood, claiming the information would only get me killed. I only knew I needed to keep it hidden, but when I saw it on the news, I was ecstatic. The way the round mark branches up the backs of my fingers like small vines and cuts off entirely at my wrist is impossible to mistake, and the people on the television had an exact drawing of it.
I am the Alpha's fated mate, and the cursed marking on my hand is the proof.
The wolves were looking for me, searching for the female who had the mark matching their leader's, and reality had yet to overshadow my childhood fantasies. I thought having a fated mate was the most romantic thing in the world and was eager to find him.
Seven-year-olds really are stupid.
Mason hands me a piece of bread, the only thing I'll be allowed to eat for the next forty-eight hours. If I were stronger, I'd push it away, but my fingers are curling around the food and shovelling it into my mouth in the blink of an eye.
It's a miracle Paw Control found me before I made it into the wolves' territory, my childhood delusions of true love urging me to run away in search of my Alpha. They were in the middle of a mission, with the fresh recruits tasked with mapping the borders.
Most government funding is funnelled through them, ensuring our race is safe against the vicious predators that insist on taking over our world. They already have all of Canada and most of the Northwestern United States, and it's Paw Control's job to keep them at bay.
And I'm the key.
"Will you leave my ribs intact?" I ask, gulping down the glass of water Maso offers.
He grimaces; the action is enough.
I know the attack needs to look realistic, but I've broken my ribs too many times to avoid trying to get out of it. I've been training rigorously since being put into the Paw Control programme, but this is serving as the hardest challenge yet.
They've taught me how to fight and defend myself, but now I need to be weak.
The Alpha must think I'm a victim, captured and tortured by the human government because of my mark. He'll be inclined to believe me because I'm his mate, and once I've gathered all the necessary information regarding him and his pack, I'll drive a knife straight into his chest.
I'll kill him just as his people killed my parents, ripping them to shreds when they travelled deep into the forest looking for me.
Mason doesn't like when I say it, but I'm glad they're dead. They were sympathisers, and I fear they planned on taking me to the wolves themselves when I was older. There's no other reason they would keep my mark hidden, forcing patches and makeup over my hand, and live so close to the border.
My childhood home is now deep within their territory, with the filthy wolves stealing more land with every passing year. I'll be the reason we take it back, though.
"I got approval to have you sedated for the injuries. We're going to break your arm, three of your ribs, and your collarbone. The blood we've been collecting from you has been soaked into a tattered dress, and we'll mat the hair along the left side of your head," Mason explains, working his jaw side to side as he speaks to the extent of the injuries I'll sustain.
We've both been worried Paw Control leadership would insist I'm awake for it all, making my story that much more believable, but he's been fighting hard to change their minds. Mason's been my primary caretaker since I was brought to this facility, and I appreciate his care.
"You'll be alone in the cabin when you wake up, and you'll be tied to the bed so it looks like you can't leave. The wolves should be arriving that night, the pair sneaking into the cabin every month like clockwork, but we'll make sure to tie you so your mark is facing outward," he promises, his lip curling at the mention of my mark.
I'm disgusted by it, too.
"And I'll tell them I hid my mark in fear of the wolves, but somebody must have noticed it because one night my apartment was broken into and I was forced into the woods to be tortured and punished," I continue, explaining the rest of our plan. "I think it was the government because they kept asking about my involvement with the wolves."
We've been perfecting the story for years, and I have every detail memorised. I could say it forward and backward, and I can even pass a lie detector test. Mason insists it won't come to that; the wolves are foolish in their blind trust in mates, but I like to be prepared.
"I'm so proud of you, Bria," Mason admits, leaning against the door frame.
I hold back a smile, encouraged by his praise. This isn't easy and is undoubtedly not a fun life, but it's a small price to pay for the lives of millions of humans. The wolves are bigger and stronger than us on their worst days, and it's only a matter of time before they kill us all in their bloodlust.
It doesn't matter that they walk around with skin identical to humans most of the time. Their wolf side is, and always will be, nothing more than a dangerous predator.
"I just hope we aren't putting too much faith in the mate bond," I say, glancing at my hand.
They believe the Alpha will fall in love with me, the bond drawing us together in ways I can't even conceptualise. It's a cute idea, but I'm not sure how much I believe it.
"The mate bond is everything to them. He'll bend over backward for you, and I doubt it will be long before he's willingly and openly shared every bit of information we need to bring him down," Mason promises, his teeth on full display as he grins at me. "We'll have armed men at our meeting spot twenty-four-seven, but there is no rush. Wait until you have everything you need."
I nod, confirming what I've heard, as I move to sit on my bed. My head aches, probably from dehydration.
Mason offers me another glass of water, the only thing not currently being withheld from me, but I wave it away. The men who kidnapped me wouldn't have given me any.
This has to be perfect if it's to be believable, and I only have one opportunity to take the Alpha and his entire pack down.
I won't disappoint.
Warning: This book is really dark, filled with imaginations of darkness you can can think of. If you're below the age of 18. I advise you that you read with discretion. He stared at me with cold, dark eyes. Pushing me against the wall with his hand around my throat, he growled, "Do you know the ways I could fuck the answer out of you? The things I could do to you, can you imagine it? I'll ask you again, what did you see in my black bag?" His dark eyes were scary but the thought of fucking the truth out of me was entertaining, I replied confused and scared "No-, Nothing" Maximo, a scary-looking bulky guy and the leader of the most feared Mafia on earth fell victim to a prank which I do occasionally, especially to scary-looking people. It's like a test to know how much power I have as a woman but this time it went south as the man I decided to prank one rainy Friday night became a bone stuck in my throat for the rest of my days, I could not get him out. My lovely sharp bone. Aurora, a lovely girl, gentle on the outside but wild on the inside, plays men like cards but she can't to this man, Max Lucado. He was everything she wanted in a man
Juliet Avery's life took a drastic turn when she went from one confined existence to another. Forced into marriage with her father's business partner, Jamie Santos, she found herself bound to a man known for his immense wealth and striking good looks. However, beneath his charming exterior lurked a dark and sinister nature - Jamie was a ruthless Colombian Mafia Boss with a cruel streak and an unhealthy obsession with Juliet. Jamie's devotion to Juliet knew no bounds; he was willing to commit any atrocity, from mass killings to setting the world ablaze, at her mere request. But Juliet had no desire for this kind of life. His lavish lifestyle and the luxurious cage he provided were not what she had envisioned for her future. All Juliet yearned for was freedom, not to be shackled to a man consumed by insatiable desires. She found herself trapped in a gilded prison, longing for escape from the clutches of a beast whose affections she could never reciprocate.
"If I were to kick the bucket, would you make a pilgrimage to my grave?" I quipped, motioning to the open graveyard around us. His lips curled into a wicked smirk, revealing flawless, pearly whites—a sinister expression that, by all accounts, should have prompted me to bolt in the opposite direction. Yet, it didn't. "If you ever found yourself six feet under, Beverley," he said, pausing to let his eyes roam over me, "trust me, I'd be right there in the damn plot next to yours." Bev My life had been charted out before I drew my first breath. I was thrust into the seedy realm of organized crime and illicit trade. After enduring torment and being left for dead, I finally secured my escape. I ran. Freedom was mine. And then my brother messed it all up, dragging me back into this warped version of hell. And then there was Shady, the devil in the most tempting guise. Shady I held the throne in the Boka Civente, the epitome of violence and corruption. In my world, there was no concept of losing. Down in the underground, the rules remained the same. Always had, and when your life was at stake, debts were settled accordingly. Her brother owed me, and if that debt went unpaid, someone would meet their end. And she, she was simply a means to an end. Right?
Warning- This rated R, sexually explicit and gun and knife violence, reader's discretion is advised It all started when he was 19 and she was 17, teenagers in love who bared their souls without judgement from one another. Innocently, they thrived purely on love, but unknown to them, their families had other plans. Rather than letting them naturally thrive in true love, Danni had already arranged for Ghost at her tee that when she's older and a woman enough, she will become Ghost's wife. Giuseppe Giordano, popularly known as Ghost, was an heir had he had the time and has become ruthless and violent in approaching things that he doesn't trust, and Daniella Lopez is the innocent, beautiful woman who was betrayed by the Mafia boss. The Lopez and Giordano families had an agreement since their kids were young that they were going to give each other's children to one another once they came of age to strengthen the bond between both families. By the time she was of age, Ghost was invited to come and get his bride, despite the aggravations of her brothers, but it was to no avail. The union was rocky at first, as Ghost, who's been trained throughout his life to be cold-hearted and viscious, was to be married to the innocent and easy-going Daniella. Daniella didn't find Ghost any good for her, as he was never gentle with her and always treated women like commodities, but as time unravelled, she started to see him and see the Angel that was hiding behind the devil. This was the inception of a forever love story as Ghost, despite his shady and dark ways, became Daniella's knight in shining armour as she gradually shaped him to see the world and women differently.
"The King of Grita once found himself in a life-threatening situation, saved by a mysterious woman whose identity remained concealed, save for her enchanting deep green eyes. However, as quickly as she had appeared, she vanished overnight, leaving the King in a state of restlessness. On that fateful night, he owed his very life to her, and those captivating green eyes had stolen his heart. Years later, circumstances compelled the King to enter into a marriage arrangement with the daughter of a prominent general. To his astonishment, this young woman had the same bewitching green eyes that had haunted his memory since that life-altering night. The mysteries began to pile up. Two different women with the same mesmerising eyes—questions filled the King's mind. Who was that enigmatic woman who disappeared from his life years ago? Could it be possible that these two women were one and the same, and if so, why did they possess different appearances? As the King grappled with these unanswered questions, he embarked on a quest to unravel the secrets hidden behind those deep green eyes. Would he finally unveil the truth and solve the mystery that had haunted him for so long?"
"I'm Dimitri Kouris." This was the beginning of my demise. We were like a match made in heaven, I fell for his looks, he was everything i wanted in a man, from the moment he said hi, he stole my heart. I could go a second without thinking about Dimitri Kouris. The true definition of Handsomeness, strength and mystery . But contrary to the very many fairytales I've read and love at first sight tales I've heard, this was quite different. Started sweet, ended tragic, oh well!! thought it would but it continued and turned sweet again. A true tale of bittersweet. We were two heartbroken individuals happening to stumble into each others lives and our meeting completely changed our individual courses. Read to follow Cally and Dimitri's journey through these ups and downs as they fall in love but can't seem to escape their past lives. Calliope Bullock, the florist. Dimitri Kouris, the artist.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
"Then let's get a divorce!" With courage, Leora left her husband's house, after being accused of poisoning his mistress. Her in-laws and sister-in-law had planned various ways to kick her out of Peter's house and in the end Leora gave in. However, no one expected that things would turn 180 degrees after the divorce. When everyone who had hurt her was happy with each other's lies, Leora returned. This time, she was no longer the poor orphan girl from the orphanage. She has changed and not only that, she also carries a big secret that will make everyone turn to worship her feet.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.