Humiliated for almost all her life and then thrown out of the pack she had grown to call home, she didn't expect that fate could ever smile at her. Once a taunted girl, now an Alpha's stepdaughter. What more does fate have in stall for her? "Hey mate! Wanna play?"
I could not believe that the place I've known all my life. The place I called home was in few days no longer going to be mine. Ours. Mine and mother's. I sighed sadly and wondered why life was the way it was - cruel and crazy. My mother and I did not deserve to be treated this way. We should have a right here, in this pack. This was not just a home, it was my pride. As every werewolf out there prided themselves on their root. It was every werewolf's dream to be born in a pack, belonging to one, grow and make a life in one. Continuing the legacy of those before us.
Alas, that was not going to be the case for my mother and I, and it was somehow my fault. No, it was all my fault.
"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"
I smiled at the voice even before I saw the face.
"Yes, mother. It is."
I heard her sigh. The nostalgia that I heard from that exhalation of breath caused a deep pang of guilt in my chest. She was already missing this place even before we left.
"I'm sorry, mother."
"What are you sorry for?"
I turned to look at her. The silver gleam of the moon washed over her beautiful face. She smiled but even the smile had sadness she did not want me to see. I knew the smile was to make me believe everything was fine and she was not bothered, but I knew. I saw through her façade.
"Mother, I know you love here as much as any werewolf of this pack. And I know that every memory you have from when you were a pup to an adult wolfess means everything to you. I'm sorry I'm the reason you're losing it all."
I struggled to hold back tears, my voice became thick with emotion. I had to swallow the boulder that had lodged itself uncomfortably in my throat. I was the reason all this was happening, and I wished there was some way I could stop it. I wish there was some way I could turn back the hands of time and do things better. Or have them happen differently.
"Hey, don't berate yourself over it." She took my hands in hers and squeezed lovingly. "It's not your fault. No one can help what you're going through."
"It doesn't change the fact that it's all my fault. That our leaving here is because of me."
"No." She disagreed firmly, then the silver light beaming on her expression, she was displeased with my self-blame and self-condemnation. "Whatever happens is all on them. They chose to throw us out. It was their choice to pick on us. It was their choice to decide to make us the object of mockery amongst pack mates."
I sighed. "You're just trying to make me feel better."
She shook her head slowly. "No"
"No?"
"You don't need to feel better, because you already are better."
I took note of the emphasis on 'feel' and ''are'.
"I'm already better?"
I questioned, feeling a bit confused.
"Yes. You are better than them, things beyond our control happen to anybody. No one is got the right to judge anyone because of certain circumstances. Ignorant, mean people."
She uttered with some rush of anger.
"It's okay, mother."
"No, it is not. We are going to become rogues and you that fate is almost as awful as death. Two werewolves without packs, what are we without our packs? I'm just...just"
She trailed off and it was time for me to squeeze her hand right back. From the way her fingers held onto mine, I knew she needed the contact. I felt so bad for putting her through such. It was just me and her, my father was not in the picture. It had always been the both of us, looking out for each other. She had been the most supportive parent when she found out my problem. Never mocked nor made me feel bad about it, but others had. When they did, we'd kept them quiet until they no longer wanted us.
I sighed.
"Sit with me mother. Let's watch the moon and stars together while reminiscing on the good memories we created here."
I was sitting by my window and my window was wide enough to accommodate both of us. I pulled her to sit with me.
"Don't you think I'm too old to sit and watch the stars and daydream. Or night-dream in this case."
We both chuckled as she took her place beside me and released our hold on each other to drape an arm around my shoulders, I went into the comfort she was wordlessly offering and placed my head on her shoulder.
"What were your fond memories growing up here, mother?"
"I remember when I was six and would run naked from the house I stayed with my parents to the river and bathe there."
"You've never told me that one. Now, I want to hear."
"I always found the river a perfect place to bathe than an actual bathroom."
"That is crazy."
"Well, it drove my parents crazy. They never knew how or when I'd slip out of the house to the river and when I was done, I'd slip in back. But that was on rare occasions."
"What do you mean?"
"Sometimes I'd play all by myself, wear myself out and fall asleep at the bank."
"All by yourself? No clothes? You don't think of catching a cold?"
"At six?" She raised an amused brow at me. "At six, my greatest concern was thinking of the food my mother would have prepared for me after having a nap by the river."
"They never looked for you?"
"They did. Sometimes when I heard them coming and I knew I was not done having fun, I'd run and hide behind some bushes."
"They never found you?"
"Sometimes, they did. Though they weren't really worried about me getting lost because the river was quite close to our home but they were more worried of me getting sick."
"And let me guess, they'd drag you home if and when they caught you."
"Correct. I'd cry and kick, throw tantrums in general. Would sulk and reject meals."
"Quite an extreme tantrum for an activity you indulge in everyday."
"I know but I was six and grateful to the Moon Goddess for giving me such wonderful parents, I was never rebuked except on few occasions that I truly deserved it."
"Your childhood was fun."
"Yes, it was. And my wish was my legacy would continue here, you know. That I was going to give you the best life as I'd had." I'd never wanted you to end up a rogue.
She didn't have to say it but I heard it in the silence that followed after her words.
"I'm sorry, mother."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Katherina."
"Yes, I do."
"Stop it, you're going to annoy me."
"I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for?"
I knew she wanted to know what my last sorry was for. And I didn't know, honestly. Maybe I was still apologizing for putting us in this situation and a little for saying sorry even when she'd asked me not to.
"Nothing mother."
"Good, don't ever be sorry."
I nodded. I saw her surreptitiously wipe tears from her eyes and I was only more sorry for being the reason behind her pain. I was only more sorry for everything.
Excerpt: "I don't wish to be indebted to you in the near future, hence I'd like to repay you for saving me." The man's intense gaze fixed on Rina, his brows now drawn together in contemplation. "You don't owe me anything," he repeated, "but if you're truly set on repaying my kindness then, marry me." After being betrayed by her husband of seven years, and her best friend, Rina Powers is left with nothing. However, she decided to make a stunning comeback in the entertainment industry. She'd avenge all those responsible for her past misfortunes, and the family she sacrificed her past glory for. Then, she'd take back all that naturally belonged to her on her way back to the top. Many thought, "An ostracized former A-list actress? What can she possibly do?" but no one knew she was now the wife to the god of the Entertainment industry, and she had his backing. "Do whatever you want, wife, I solely support you."
When Veil Hart finds herself in an entangling twist with the play boy CEO 'Ander Rodriguez' she can only choose between saving her father's life, or letting him go.
She wished to escape from her father and the prison she called home, but she ended up in the hands of his enemy, the ruthless Mafia Don of K County. She proposes marriage to him in order to save herself.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
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.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
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."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."