A fallen heiress. A broken alpha. A plot for revenge.....and an unexpected twist of fate. When calamity strikes her pack, Valeria does everything within her power to save her people. Even if it means begging for help from the arrogant alpha of the rival pack. But fate has other plans in store for her and when things take an interesting turn, she's left with two choices. Sign her life away to her unexpected mate, or watch her people die. Beneath the icy demeanor and long sleeved clothes of Draaven Ventura lies a den of secrets....and a vengeful heart. When his feisty mate comes breezing through his door, seeking for help, he doesn't hesitate to use the situation to his advantage. His long assembled plan for vengeance is finally coming together, and he has the perfect pawn to use in his game.
The minute I walk through the door, I feel it, the toxic waves of hatred radiating from them. Perspiration dampens my underarms as I come to a stop in front of the room, my face a cold, ungiving mask. I might be here to beg for help but I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me weep.
"The alpha will be here in a few minutes". The gamma who had led me into the room whispers into my ear, leaning in as close as she can manage. So far, she's been the warmest of them all....and she's far from warm. If the pack members are like this, I can only imagine what the alpha is like. The thought is barely out when the announcer's voice blares through the room.
"The alpha arrives!!!!". She announces. All around me, the pack members quickly rise to their feet, heads bowed in respect. I do the same, my heart thudding in my chest nervously. And even though I can't see him, I feel it the moment he enters the room.
It starts out as a dull sense of awareness at first, and then in a split second, it's like a compelling pull towards him. I shut my eyes tighter as I will the feeling away but it's.....so beautiful. It's like everything beautiful I know and love, standing at the other end, beckoning onto me. It feels like torture to shut it out. So I give in. My eyes flit open slowly and at the head of the oval shaped table, I find myself staring at the most intimidating man I've ever set my eyes on. And he's staring right back at me.
He's seated, but even that is not enough to disguise his height. Unlike the rest of his pack who are on the paler side, he's tan. Even his hair is a darker blonde, a perfect honey shade with golden streaks that I've never seen before. He sports a trim stubble over a strong, square chin and I think his eyes are green at first till he blinks and they seem to shift color again. I'll conclude on hazel. He's dressed in a black dress shirt that's buttoned all the way up his chest. I've heard stories about Draaven Ventura the Valiant, 1st of his name and the great alpha of the Silver Glow pack. What I never heard was that he is the most beautiful man alive....and he is my mate.
My heart does a funny dance of excitement and fear as that realization dawns me. By the intense look in his eyes, I can tell he feels it too. This is not at all the way I imagined it'd be like. This setting....is far from magical. His face remains hard and impassive as he stares me down, giving away none of his emotions. I don't let my expression waver either as I stare right back.
"You may sit". He says to the room, his voice a low, deep timbre and his eyes never once leaving mine. They all comply instantly, settling into their respective seats at the round table. And just like that, I'm the only one left standing. Once again, all eyes in the room turn to fix on me, and the scrutiny is so intense it feels like I'm naked before them. The alpha leans forward to plant his elbows on the table, an eyebrow raised at me inquisitively.
"Well well well...who do we have here?". He asks, a mocking inflection to his tone. The whole room stares at me for an answer. Resisting a cold sweat, I straighten my spine and square my shoulders. I might be a near defeated heiress, but I'm a proud one.
"My name is Valeria Heroux, daughter of Lyon Heroux, Alpha of the Shadowflame Pack of the South". I hear a snicker from one of the seats and my blood nearly boils over in rage. Once upon a time, Lyon Heroux was a dreaded name and Shadowflame was the strongest pack in the south. Now, we are nothing but a fallen kingdom and a subject of mockery to our enemies. How quickly things fall apart.
"I didn't hear that". Draaven says, his eyes boring into mine coldly. A whip of indignation flashes through me. He damn well heard me right. He raises the eyebrow higher at me. "Are you not going to repeat yourself?".
I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm pretty sure this is not how mates are supposed to treat each other. My blood curdles in fury but I do repeat myself, a little louder this time.
"My name is Valeria Heroux, daughter of Lyon Heroux, alpha of the Shadowflame Pack of the South which currently stands a risk of crumbling under the feet of the Ironclaw Striders".
"Like we give a bloody hell if you lot go extinct". Someone else mutters not so quietly from the seats. A few giggles ensue after him, and the corners of my mouth tighten in rage. But I refuse to look at any of them, keeping my gaze fixated on the one person who actually matters. When he speaks, the whole room goes quiet immediately.
"So why have you come? Shouldn't you be fighting to protect your lands?". He just wants me to say it, to beg for it. My throat closes up with pride but I remind myself that this isn't about me. It's for my family, for the pack.
"I have come to ask for your help, alpha. The war has gone on for three consecutive days, our lands lay ruined, our houses burned, our men killed and our women molested. We underestimated the Striders. We are holding up but we will tire soon. Shadowflame has sent me to ask Silver Glow for help, on grounds of a favour long promised".
"And what favour do you speak about?".
"As you all know, my mother, Lilith Heroux is not of southern origin. She's one of you....".
"We don't consider her one of our own". A harsh voice cuts me short from the seats. The owner is an older man with the most piercing set of green eyes I've ever seen. They blaze at me in anger. "She forfeited all rights to her kinship when she chose to marry the southern barbarian that's your father!!!!".
"But she still bears the right to her promise!!!". I snap angrily. "Every member of the alpha family is bestowed a word of promise at birth, no? My mother might have been cast out, but she never got to use hers. Northern blood still runs in her veins and for as long as it does, she will always be entitled to her promise". I turn to face Draaven. "Am I wrong?".
He stares at me with an intensity so deep I'm pretty sure it's hatred. "Your mother might have only told you half of the story, kitten". He says. My nostrils flare in irration at the nickname but I reel myself in.
"What has she not told me?". I ask.
"It seems you were not told that a word of promise only carries weight if the alpha family is still in power". He cocks his head at me. "Your mother's family no longer sits on the throne and on legal grounds, I owe neither you nor your mother nothing". My heart drops to my stomach as his statement sinks in. Why wasn't I told that part? But...I can't just go back like this. This can't be the end for us. I need his help.
"Oh....I'm not aware of that". My voice is smaller. I hate that my nervousness is finally beginning to show. I think of what to say next but there's really only one thing I can do at this point. Beg. "I'd still like to request for your aid.....alpha. Shadowflame needs your help.... please".
He keeps staring at me emptily and I can just tell that he's not impressed. So I do the next best thing I can think of. Shoving down my pride, I get down on my knees. A little gasp ripples through the room and I'm glad they all understand how big of a deal this is. Members of the alpha family of a pack never kneel....and yet here I am. The tears prickle my eyes but I blink them away aggressively.
"I kneel before you today on behalf of all of Shadowflame. Please, help us. I beg of you.".
He stares at me intensely from his seat and with each passing second, I feel the tears sting my eyes harder. Finally, he speaks.
"We'll help under two conditions". Of course....of course there'll be conditions. I expected this much. "Shadowflame shall pledge allegiance to us, a pledge to willingly offer aid in the form of army, land and resources should we ever need it".
"Agreed". I say without hesitation.
"And the second condition....". He leans back into his seat, a smirk appearing on his lips. "....is that you, Valeria Heroux, shall become my bride".
A billionaire who hides his bleeding heart with a tough exterior and a soft, family oriented 24 year old woman. Who would have ever thought? Vanessa Higgins lives in constant reminder of how indebted she is to her aunt for taking she and her sister in when they lost their mum. But the ultimate favour was asked of her when she was asked to marry a man she barely knew to enable the family business. In an unexpected turn of events, she ends up marrying another man on that same day, a cold hearted billionaire who is willing to go to any length to have the debt he's owed paid back. Damien De Luca never imagined he'd be getting married when he woke up that morning. But after a look at Vanessa, he had to keep her around him, even if that meant entrapping her with her family's debt. He has married her alright, but not for the reason everyone thinks. What happens when his true reason dares to burst out, exposing the man in him whom he has spent so long trying to erase? A marriage based on a contract might not be so bad after all, but what of a marriage based on lies, warped truths and secrets?
Kimberly Powers is a 28 year old artist and gallery owner who is all too familiar with the dark alleys of life. But if that's what she has to go through to protect her younger sister, so be it. Finally living the life she has always wanted, she knows it's only best for her to stash her ugly past away into the dark cellars of her mind, away from the woman she has become and all that surrounds her. With her daily interactions, she's had to hide the dead part of her soul and the internal mess she is from the world. She's determined to keep her demons in her head but exactly how much can the expensive three piece suits and sleek haircuts hide? Especially when she meets a man whose honey coloured eyes seem to unravel her being and pierce right through her soul. Will she finally be able to embark on the journey of self love? And when the shadows of her past begin to creep up into the open, will she be able to face her fears and let love lead?
A traitorous history. A vengeful spirit. A heart caught somewhere between love and hate. A story that tells it all. Marissa Randall's 20th birthday and awakening takes a turn she never saw coming. The alpha of her pack turns out to be her mate and her wolf is the exact replica of a woman whose name no one mentions. When the sins of a mother come back to haunt a child, how far must she go to free herself from the bondage? Alpha Lazarus is beyond elated to meet his mate after so many years of waiting. But what happens when his destined partner is the daughter of the biggest traitor in the history of the pack, whose treason cost the lives of his parents and many more loved ones? Will it really be that easy to put the past behind? Or....will the powerful drive for vengeance mark the beginning of the end? Let's find out.
"You feel it don't you?". He whispered. She gulped nervously and remained silent, her gaze holding his firmly. "You do feel it. You are my mate, Ariella". And before she could get a word out, his lips came crashing down on hers. Ariella has lived all her life in hiding among humans as a werewolf who could be killed if discovered. While she hates that her mother had been cast out of her pack, she's mostly content with her quiet life among mortals. But everything comes crashing down one day when her family is arrested for owing taxes. Right as things seem to take a turn for the worse for her and her family, a stranger appears and saves her. He's Draaven, her mate whom she would be meeting for the first time and alpha of the Lycans, a pack which has had a lifelong feud with the Cecils, her mother's birth pack. Draaven manages to save only Ella and while he realizes she should know the truth, he refuses to tell her for fear of losing her. Will their love be able to triumph over secrets, rivalry and pack wars? Will Ariella finally be able to own her wolf identity and take her rightful place in the same pack that her mother had betrayed? Read on.
"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.]
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!