"You must understand something, little mate," Griffin said, and his face softened, "I have waited nine years for you. That's nearly a decade since I've felt this emptiness inside me. Part of me began to wonder if you didn't exist or you'd already died. And then I found you, right inside my own home." He used one of his hands to stroke my cheek and tingles erupted everywhere. "I've spent enough time without you and I will not let anything else keep us apart. Not other wolves, not my drunken father who's barely holding himself together the past twenty years, not your family – and not even you." Clark Bellevue has spent her entire life as the only human in the wolf pack - literally. Eighteen years ago, Clark was the accidental result of a brief affair between one of the most powerful Alphas in the world and a human woman. Despite living with her father and her werewolf half-siblings, Clark has never felt like she really belonged in the werewolf world. But right as Clark plans to leave the werewolf world behind for good, her life gets flipped upside down by her mate: the next Alpha King, Griffin Bardot. Griffin has been waiting years for the chance to meet his mate, and he's not about to let her go anytime soon. It doesn't matter how far Clark tries to run from her destiny or her mate - Griffin intends to keep her, no matter what he has to do or who stands in his way.
– Elizabeth Bowen
If you were to ask my parents to describe my older brother, they'd tell you he was a natural leader. Fearless and courageous, the kind of man born to lead armies.
And if you asked them to describe my sister, they'd gush about her sweet disposition and her selfless heart.
But me?
There's only one word my parents would use to describe me: human.
You might not think that "human" could be used as an insult, but somehow, I've spent my entire life wearing this word like a badge of shame. When I showed up on my Alpha father's doorstep at twelve, he told the rest of the pack that I was there because of my human mother's failure. I was thrust into the wolf pack – literally – but my status as the only human there made me an instant outcast. I couldn't run or wrestle or shift into wolves like the rest of the neighborhood kids. I'd never meet my mate or experience that instantaneous true love that mated pairs had.
I was still the Alpha's kid, and while that might've saved me from the bullies, it didn't mean I fit in. The werewolf world was drastically different from the human one, and to them, my humanity was a weakness.
My father never told me he was ashamed of me, but I could still feel his disappointment – it hung in the air every time he called me his human daughter or explained that I was the product of a short affair with a human woman eighteen-years-ago.
My stepmom, my father's true mate, did try to make me feel included. She was the epitome of the perfect Luna – gentle and good-natured – but I could still tell she was ashamed of me. If there was ever evidence that her family wasn't perfect, I was living proof of it. Every time she looked at me, she was reminded that her mate had cheated on her.
Try as they might, none of this made a good recipe for the perfect family. I'd spent six years living under my father's roof, in his pack, and in the werewolf world, but I'd already accepted that I'd never fit in there.
*Or so I thought. *
Despite making plans to go to college far, far away from the pack that had no room for me, my life was about to change completely. Something – technically, someone – was about to ensure that there was plenty of space in the werewolf world for this ordinary little human.
*Dear Clark Bellevue,
After carefully reviewing your application, it is with regret that we inform you that we are unable to offer you admission into the University of Florida at this time. We appreciate the time and effort put into your application, but unfortunately, this year's large pool of applicants has made our decision difficult and we have limited space for each admitted class.
We are confident you will go on to achieve great things in your studies, and we wish you the best in your academic journey!
*Best Regards,
Dean of Admissions
University of Florida*
I read the rejection email at least five different times, my eyes darting across the screen for something I might've missed. Unfortunately, there was no hidden message to be found – it was just another generic rejection email from another college that didn't want me. My senior year of high school was ending, and although I had applied to an endless list of colleges, I'd only received three rejections and one waitlist.
Most of the schools I applied for were state schools with decent academic records – but really, all I cared about was finding a college that was far away. Somewhere far enough where I'd have an excuse not to make it home on the weekends or for most holidays.
Given that I lived in cold, rainy Washington, Florida's sunny (and distant) climate would've been perfect – but it didn't look like that was going to happen.
"Clark!"
My pity party got cut short by the sound of my sister, Lily, yelling my name. I barely had time to exit out of my Gmail screen before Lily was bursting into my room without even a knock.
"Clark, I've been calling you for the past five minutes," she sighed, leaning against my door frame, "Were you watching another trashy reality show or just tuning out my voice?"
Although we were half-sisters, Lily and I hardly looked alike. She was tall, fair-skinned, with long, blonde locks that never seemed frizzy or out-of-control. Her and my brother both shared my father's bright, blue eyes. Her eyes were her best feature, and they constantly seemed like they were trying to poke beneath the surface.
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to tune you out, Lil," I said, "What's up?"
Her piercing blue eyes narrowed, but she seemed to accept my apology. "Dad wants to see us, there's a big meeting tonight at the pack house. A bunch of people are going to be there."
My eyebrows furrowed. Pack meetings weren't unusual for our pack, but I wasn't usually required to attend. As Blacktooth Pack's only resident human, I wasn't a huge part of pack business. I couldn't shift, which meant I couldn't participate in patrols or defend the pack.
"Why is dad asking for me?" I asked.
"Not sure," Lily shrugged, "He just told me to come get you. I'm sure it's for a good reason, dad wouldn't bring you around if it wasn't. Come on."
Lily didn't waste any more time waiting for me, and I watched her strut out of the room.
Not even the golden child knows why I'm being summoned, I thought, this must be important then.
I followed Lily out of my room, and we descended the stairs in silence. With high ceilings and hardwood floors, our family house was one of the largest in the pack – a perk that came with being part of the Alpha's family. Photos of Lily and my brother, Sebastian's, accomplishments hung on the walls like the trophies they were: Lily as a baby, Seb at his first football game, Lily at prom with her friends.
As I expected, Dad, Seb, and Grace were all waiting in the living room. Dad lounged in the recliner like it was his throne with Grace perched on his lap while Sebastian stood awkwardly by the mantel.
"Ah, girls, there you are," Dad said, and his booming voice echoed around the room, "We've got a pack meeting tonight and we'll need both of you there."
Even in his forties, my dad didn't look a day over thirty. He shared the same fair hair and blue eyes as Lily, and his strong jawline and intimidating frame made him look every bit like the Alpha wolf he was.
My older half-brother, Sebastian, was just as tall as my dad, but he got his chestnut brown hair from his mother, Grace. Grace – or Luna Grace if you weren't her step-daughter – was my dad's true mate and Seb and Lily's biological mom. She was the final piece to this picture-perfect family my dad had created.
"Why is Clark coming to the meeting tonight?" Sebastian asked, glancing over at me. He didn't mean it as an insult – like me, he knew I was rarely needed (or wanted) at pack meetings.
"We'll talk about it at the meeting," dad said, standing up with Grace, "Is everyone ready? It'll be starting soon, we should head over."
We all nodded.
"Oh, Clark, honey," Grace piped up from my dad's side, "Are you sure you don't want to change? That outfit might be a little casual for a pack meeting."
I glanced down at my jeans and plain black t-shirt – it wasn't exactly glamorous, but nobody else was dressed up either. Seb had on a t-shirt and shorts, and Lily rocked a jean skirt and some sort of ruffle top.
"If it's okay, I'll just wear this," I said. Grace nodded, but I could see her eyes do another sweep over my outfit.
It's not as if I'm going to be the center of attention here, I thought, the elders will be too busy with dad, the pack warriors are going to have their eyes glued to Lily's ass, and any unmated girls will be flirting with my brother.
If I was lucky, I'd blend into the background – and frankly, that was exactly where I wanted to be at these sorts of events.
"Enough hanging around, let's go," My dad grumbled, taking Grace's hand. He led the way out of the house, Seb, Lily, and I trailing behind him like puppies – no pun intended. We walked in silence, and I took a moment to appreciate the scenery.
Our pack lived in its own forested community, which meant that most places, like the pack house, were still within walking distance. Family houses lined one side of the street, but you'd eventually run into a pack-run grocery store and infirmary if you kept walking. Pack members were allowed to leave whenever they wanted, but the setup of our community meant that you rarely needed to.
And, if you did need to, you'd still have to answer to the guards that protected our borders. They wouldn't keep you in, but they did make it much harder to sneak out.
The little residential part of the community was just a small part of the pack, though – most of our territory was just wooded areas where wolves could run, play, and shift anytime they wanted to.
For werewolves, this was the ideal setup.
As a human who wouldn't label themselves as "outdoorsy," living an hour from the nearest town wasn't exactly a high point. I wasn't a prisoner by any means, but there were times when living in Blacktooth territory did make me feel trapped.
With guards running every inch of the property, it was hard to just come and go as I pleased. And since I wasn't a werewolf, I couldn't just shift and run through the woods on four legs like my siblings could whenever I wanted some fresh air.
Whether I wanted to be or not, I was a human living in the wolf's den.
She doesn't remember getting married. Why? Sophia went to Las Vegas only to drink her pain away. Little did she imagine, she would end up becoming someone's wife. But who’s the lucky guy? Who knows? Even she doesn't remember. She was fucking intoxicated! All she has is a marriage contract with an expiry date and a bank balance big enough to pop her eyes out. Contractual terms: 1. Do not marry anyone else unless I permit you. 2. Try not to whore around. Your mother-in-law wouldn't be happy. 3. If I request a live-in relationship. You have to comply. 4. Sex is optional. 5. Contract Termination? Sorry Honey... In my family, couples don’t divorce. PS: I was kidding. Let's catch-up after three years to end this shit and get more money. If there are rules against having sex while drunk, there should be rules against getting married while drunk too. Because THIS isn't fair!
Sophia Drake braced herself for the worst when she was forced to move across the country in the middle of her junior year. Desperate to escape her shattered home as soon as she turns eighteen, her plans are disrupted by the enigmatic and captivating Ashford twins. Sophia can't fathom the intense attraction she feels for the twins and tries to avoid them at every turn. As she's thrust into an unfamiliar world, her past demons resurface, making her question her true identity. Will Sophia flee from her past's secrets, or will she embrace her destiny and take control of her future?
My family was on the poverty line and had no way to support me in college. I had to work part-time every day just to make ends meet and afford to get into the university. That was when I met her—the pretty girl in my class that every boy dreamt of asking out. I was well aware she was out of my league. Nevertheless, I mustered all my courage and bravely told her that I had fallen for her. To my surprise, she agreed to be my girlfriend. With the sweetest smile I had ever seen, she told me that she wanted my first gift for her to be the latest and top-of-the-line iPhone. I worked like a dog and even did my classmates’ laundry to save up. My hard work eventually paid off after a month. I finally got to buy what she wanted. But as I was wrapping my gift, I saw her in the dressing room, making out with the captain of the basketball team. She then heartlessly made fun of my inadequacy and made a fool out of me. To make things worse, the guy whom she cheated on me with even punched me in the face. Desperation washed over me, but there was nothing I could do but lie on the floor as they trampled on my feelings. But then, my father called me out of the blue, and my life turned upside down. It turned out that I was a billionaire's son.
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.