Carrie's pack life was going perfectly. Chosen mate to the alpha, acting luna to her pack, and in love with her fiancé, she had nothing to complain about. Until the alpha found his mate and everything Carrie loved and worked for quickly unravels before her eyes. Banished from her pack, she works to build a life as a rogue among the humans until the unexpected happens.
Carrie
It was evening, just after the sun had sank beyond the horizon. Birds sang in the trees, hidden in the deepening dusk, while insects and nocturnal creatures began to stir adding their own sounds to the mix.
Stretching my legs as I walked through the forest on steady paws, I shook my brown fur and inhaled the sweet scent of nature hanging in the air around me, a medly of earth, plants, and prey. Gone were the synthetics of the shopping center where I worked most days, the clamoring chatter of my coworkers and customers, the small apartment where I had confined myself, the miserable disaster I had made of my past, the judgment, the regrets. Everything slipped away as I allowed my wolf this chance to be wild like she was meant to be.
Running under the full moon had become my monthly therapy, and my refuge away from the stress of hiding my nature amongst humans. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally reveal secrets and have the hunters coming after me. Now that I was packless, I was more vulnerable to their particular brand of brutal justice.
My wolf was mostly pleased that we were finally free while she analyzed the stimulus all around me. Even after months of human living, she still wasn't used to being cooped up for long periods of time and was much more agreeable when I had a chance to let her out, and this night was the most important of the month.
The full moon did not force us to shift like in many legends, but it did aggravate our wolves in a way that was hard to control and even harder to ignore. The best solution to that agitation was running with the pack, but running alone would do in a pinch.
A pinch, like being a former acting luna banished to life as a rogue lone wolf. Not a glamorous life, but definitely better than my final days under the power of my former chosen mate and alpha, Asshole Dane with his precious little mate Heidi flouncing around. What a shit show that ending had been.
But now wasn't the time for regretting the past. I shook off those bitter memories as I loped through the forest, smelling the trace scents of animals all around me, but the trails were all too cold to be worth following. I was managing to feed myself well enough from my job, but my wolf wanted the satisfaction of taking down prey and gorging herself on it.
On and on we went, slipping through the gaps between trees in the thickest parts of the forest. The urge to howl was strong within me, but like all of my night time runs, I held it back since I did not want to draw attention to myself, alone and vulnerable as I was. I scented a moose and my wolf wanted to follow it, but I rejected that instinct. I was far stronger than a natural wolf, but such large prey was difficult to take on my own. Instead, I continued on until I found the fresh scent trail of a hare and allowed my wolf to follow it through the forest.
The hare didn't have a chance, because my wolf was faster. She killed the animal and ate it quickly, never one to play around with her food, and then an unfortunate mouse that served as another quick snack. Afterwards, she was content to simply lay about for a while in the gathering darkness, revelling in the feeling of having a stomach full of prey and not being confined in a human dwelling.
The bright moon rose higher in the sky as if it beckoned me, and my wolf wanted to move again. Between that light and my excellent low light vision, the forest looked almost as clear as day in black and white, even through the darkness.
The rush put me in high spirits in spite of the loneliness of my solitary run.
Until I encountered a scent trail that made my wolf pause and take a nervous second sniff.
It smelled of predator, of wolf and human. The unmistakeably distinct scent of a werewolf.
Although my wolf missed others of our kind, it was her pack-our former pack-she wanted, not some unknown werewolf who was as likely as not a danger to us. During my relatively short time as a packless rogue, I'd learned just how horrible pack wolves could be to those less fortunate. And a rogue wasn't any better. Certainly there were peaceful rogues like me, but a lot of other rogues were criminals or had lost their humanity and gone feral, leaving them insane and more unpredictable than an animal.
I didn't like my odds that these other werewolves might be harmless. Hopefully the scent was older than it smelled and I had nothing to worry about.
Then, a sound rang out that crushed my hope and chilled my blood, a powerful, eerie howl, echoing through the deepening night. Several more joined it until there was a chorus of canine voices ringing through the air, beautiful, haunting, and not nearly as far away as I would prefer.
I whirled around and ran back the way I had come. For once my wolf was in complete agreement that we should get ourselves back to our stifling but safe apartment. She was satisfied enough with our run and she had no desire to push our luck. I'd run here many times before so I knew the forest wasn't pack territory, which meant these wolves were most likely a group of rogues. I'd stand no chance against them.
As I ran, I kept my senses sharp to the sounds and smells around me. I discounted the formerly interesting scents of the forest to sweep for the musk of predator. I was almost to where I had parked my old beater when I picked up the scent of werewolves again. Troubled, I slowed my approach, searching for the source, as I got back to my sheltered parking spot.
Two wolves were waiting by my car. My heart pounded at the sight of the threat blocking my escape.
Unfortunately, they noticed me before I could slip away. A large light-furred wolf howled, while the other rushed towards me, braying loudly. I ran in a different direction through the forest, this time in the direction of the human city and my home. I would have to continue until I was exhausted, and it would take me hours to get there, but they would not dare to pursue and attack me amongst humans, would they? It was a loss to give up my car, but it could be replaced, unlike my throat.
I might have made it, but the single wolf on my tail was joined by another, and another, and finally, another pair managed to cut me off. I growled warningly as I was forced to stop, hackles raised. I couldn't beat five wolves, four of them male, but I was confident I could at least get in some damage before they took me down. If I had to die, I was going to go down swinging. I swivelled my head around to keep an eye on the many threats surrounding me.
They didn't move forward, content to keep me penned in. One of them shifted into a human with black hair and striking light coloured eyes that stood out against his medium complexion. He looked at me. "Our alpha wants to see you, trespasser."
Trespasser? This was not a pack territory. I had encountered no other wolves on any of my previous visits, and there had been no border of scent trail or any other signs to warn me off this night. How dare they suggest I had been trespassing? I growled again.
"Your best bet is to come quietly," he said. His voice was level and calm, and for one insane moment I almost thought I could trust him.
Instead of allowing him to lull me, I leveled my gaze at him rebelliously and bared my teeth. Although it was my best bet, I had no interest in cooperating. But for now I could play along since I could not take them all on. I just had to wait for my chance to dash away when their guards were down.
That chance did not come. Instead, I was herded forward, surrounded by these rogues playing pack, until we reached a clearing with a number of trailers and outbuildings situated around the skeletal frame of a building. It was obvious that the wide open space was a recent addition to the area, because the ground was still dug up in spots with treads of huge tires and spots where trees had been removed.
The scents of dozens of wolves met my nose, wild like rogues, but not as unpleasant as my past experience with packless wolves. Maybe it was because I now had the same scent, or maybe it was because these rogues were behaving like a pack. My wolf was still on edge, but her fear had lessened to be replaced with watchful curiosity, and some unfamiliar energy I couldn't identify.
A spark of curiosity hit me underneath my fear. Was I witnessing the beginning of a new pack? Most packs were generations old and wolves seldom had the desire to start anew, but the original packs had to have come from somewhere, right? This was likely dangerous and risky, but it was also intriguing.
A woman in worn clothing came towards me, holding out a grey blanket. "Shift," she said, in a no nonsense tone.
I felt exposed in front of these strangers, but I did what she said, wrapping the cloth around myself, leaving only my face, curly black hair, and feet exposed. It would have been nice to be in my own clothing or even given something proper to wear, but this was better than nothing by far.
"Come on," she said and I did, still flanked by several wolves.
My wolf was getting increasingly excited. I tried to calm her. I knew that she missed being around other wolves because I felt it keenly as well, but this was not like being around my old pack. These people were unknown and unpredictable.
She did not care about my caution.
A man walked up to us, clearly visible in the moonlight. He was all muscle, a bit wiry, but more than adequate, with a strong jaw and dark hair. The ink of a tattoo wound up his bicep and under his t-shirt and I couldn't help but trace it with my eyes and wonder how far it went.
Then, I met his nearly black eyes and the reason for my wolf's excitement became crystal clear. She was overjoyed and the feeling affected me on some level, but so did my memories of the last alpha I had dared to trust. I had given him everything I could, and I'd been rewarded for my loyalty to him by being pushed too far until I broke and lost everything.
Still, this man was like no one I had ever seen before. His appearance was like a dream I couldn't remember come to life, and now that he was before me, it was like I had always known and wanted him.
Maybe it was worth trying to trust again...
He had been gaping at me exactly as I had been gaping at him, and then he swore under his breath. The scowl marring his forehead, confirmed the wisdom of my original misgivings. Alphas were all arrogant assholes who couldn't be trusted and this one could be no different.
His expression seemed to be of disgust or some equally negative emotion and it reminded me of the way Asshole Dane had looked at me at the end. My heart sunk and I tried to control my shaking.
"I don't need a mate," he muttered.
« It's you and me. Together, » he says, his voice soft yet unwavering. « Us against the world. » In that moment, I want to believe him. I want to believe that someone like him - untouchable, adored, the golden boy of our school - could really mean those words. That the universe could be kind enough to let someone like me hold on to someone like him. But life isn't a fairy tale. I know that better than anyone. Growing up, I learned to fear men. To distrust their words, their smiles, and their promises. My stepfather was my first lesson - a cruel man who used his fists and his words to break my mother and me into pieces too small to repair. I watched her endure him, and I told myself I'd never give anyone that power over me. I would never let anyone get close enough to hurt me. And then came that morning. The day Jake Spencer - star quarterback, school heartthrob, a boy who lives in a world so far from mine it might as well be another galaxy - saw me. Not just looked at me, but *saw* me. It was the day he saved me. Maybe he didn't realize what he was doing, but it didn't matter. That small act of kindness cracked something open inside me, like sunlight slipping through the shutters of a locked room. But Jake Spencer doesn't remember that day. How could he ? To him, it was nothing - a fleeting moment in a life full of glory and victories. But to me, it was everything. It was a lifeline, a flicker of hope in a world I thought would always be dark. It doesn't matter. I tell myself that every day. He's the golden boy. I'm the invisible girl. We belong in two different stories, and I'm better off blending into the background. It's safer there. For both of us. But fate has never cared about what I want. When it brings us together again, it isn't gentle. It strikes like lightning - sudden, fierce, and utterly unstoppable. He crashes into my life, turning everything I thought I knew into chaos. He tears down my walls, breaks through my defenses, and leaves me exposed in ways I never thought possible. He destroys me. And just like the first time, I'm the only one who remembers. But what I don't realize is that this time, he's breaking too.
Declan Stone was the very definition of certainty. Known for his devastating charm and his ability to make anyone fall for his smile with a single blink, he had always believed himself to be the master of the game. Emotions were for others. He preferred simple pleasures, easy conquests, and above all, no attachments. His life, perfectly controlled, ran on tracks he had laid out with precision. Until Kai Coachman entered the scene. Kai was no mere pawn to be moved. He was a storm, unpredictable and captivating, sweeping everything in his path. His voice carried a sharp humor, and his gaze-piercing, bold-seemed to see beyond the carefully constructed facades of Declan. Kai expected nothing from him, and that was what made the irresistible Declan Stone completely crazy. From their first encounter, Declan had felt something, a shiver, a faint alarm ringing that warned him. Kai was not like the others. He wasn't someone you could seduce and forget. Yet, Declan had always been clear with himself : he only played games he knew he could win. But with Kai, it wasn't a game. It was a growing obsession, a need he couldn't control. He wanted him-not for a night or a week, but for everything. Kai had awakened something within him he hadn't known existed : a burning, unshakable desire, something deep, dangerous. Kai, however, was not one to be captured. The closer Declan got, the more he seemed to slip away, leaving behind a trail of sly smiles and sharp remarks. It was frustrating, exhilarating, terrifying. But Declan Stone never gave up on what he wanted. And what he wanted was Kai Coachman.
Killian King is cold, distant, dominant, and possessive of what's his. He is the undisputed top dog at school, the one everyone fears and admires, known as the bad boy. His piercing gaze and unwavering attitude guarantee him a place at the top among his peers. But everything changes the day Finnick Green, a shy, socially awkward, and reserved boy, accidentally stumbles into his life. A simple misstep, a chance encounter, and suddenly Killian's perfect world begins to tremble. Finnick, unknowingly, causes an uproar, an unexpected chaos. The bad boy, who has never shown weakness, finds himself in a situation he can't control. Because what he feels for this uncertain boy is far more disturbing than he could have ever imagined. An alpha trembling in the face of a fragile soul... What will happen when Killian realizes he might be the most vulnerable in front of the one he considers an intruder ?
Niklaus Wade is a quiet, shy, and mute young man, carrying with him a dark and painful past that haunts him every moment, preventing him from uttering a single word. Every silence he keeps is an invisible scar, a mark of everything he has lived through and lost. His world is one of isolation and introspection, where words escape his lips and emotions hide behind a facade of calmness. On the other side is Gnashton Wade, a violent, reckless man dominated by raw instincts. His anger management issues and distorted view of life make him an uncontrollable man, an enraged alpha, often willing to do anything to satisfy his desires. His explosive temper makes those who cross his path tremble, but everything changes the day Niklaus enters his life. Gnashton cannot take his eyes off this fragile boy, this living silence that intrigues him and pushes him to cross boundaries. More than just an attraction, an obsession is born within him. He has decided that Niklaus will be his, that he will do anything to subdue him, to have him under his control. He knows the mute young man is frightened, and that fear only excites his dominant urges further. Through his violence, Gnashton believes he can transform Niklaus, make him his own and his only. But beneath this facade of authority, will Gnashton realize that love and possession can blur together? And that behind Niklaus's silence, there may be answers he never imagined?
Nathaniel lives a life marked by bad luck, a series of never-ending events. Working as a library assistant for a minimum wage, he doesn't have much reason to hope for anything better. His parents have been dead for years, and since then, he's just been getting by. No love, no wealth, not even an appearance that might catch anyone's eye. He's invisible to the world. Society leaves him in the shadows, an ordinary man with nothing remarkable. Nathaniel's daily life is a long string of monotonous days, a sequence of small disappointments and big struggles. But life, even in its cruelty, does not give him a break. No, it has other plans for him. One night, while he's on his night shift at the library, something unexpected happens. Nathaniel, sticking to his routine, slips between the dusty shelves, solitary and lost in his thoughts. But little does he know that the night will take a turn that will change his life forever. Unknowingly, he's stepped into a much more dangerous place than the quiet aisles of the library. He's crossed paths with the most feared of all mafias, a man who can break anyone with just a glance, a man whose icy eyes can make the toughest of people tremble like puppies. This mafia boss, with his crushing aura of power, has no intention of letting Nathaniel go so easily. And here's the kicker: Nathaniel starts feeling strangely drawn to this man, to this force that dominates him. The invisible boy with no future now finds himself chained to a reality he doesn't understand, and he's about to discover just how intoxicating bad luck can sometimes be.
She is running for her life from her abusive brother when she finally finds a house deep in the woods. Without thinking, she opens the door to see more than 20 men watching a football game. They turn to look at her, amused and alarmed. “Please help.” Stella is an 18-year-old teenager who was abused for about eight years by her brother. He would hit her whenever he felt like it. She was lucky if he was in a good mood because he would only punch her in the stomach. He claims to have a reason for his abuse. Julian Woods is the soon-to-be alpha of the Graymod pack. He’s 20 years old and has been looking for his mate for about two years now. What will he do when he sees his abused mate in his house?
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
After a painful breakup with her boyfriend of two years who coldly told her to her face that he couldn't keep dating her because she was too uptight--In a moment of anger and defiance, Anna decided to throw caution to the wind for one reckless night. She headed to the wildest club in Texas, determined to lose herself in the chaos. But fate had other plans. To her shock, she ran into her ex-boyfriend at the club. Desperate to save face, she made a split-second decision and approached a stranger, pretending he was her new boyfriend. What she never anticipated was the magnetic pull she would feel towards him or the fact that she'd end up going home with this mystery man. Soon enough, the real surprise hit her--this stranger wasn't just anyone; he was her new boss. What begins as a night of rebellion spirals into a whirlwind of forbidden attraction, societal pressure and hidden affairs. And now there are so many things at stake. Find out how this story unfolds.
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?"
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."