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.
"I want a divorce!" Ryan demanded, despite the fact that he had cheated on her with his ex. ~ Serena is no longer the quiet, romantic lady Ryan Winters married and divorced five years ago. Now the CEO of Rocky's Designs, she is bright, unwavering, and unapologetic about her independence-a far cry from the woman Ryan remembers. When fate brings them back into one another's lives, Ryan is forced to confront the truth about their past, their newfound hot chemistry, and a surprising revelation; Serena has a daughter who may be his. But Ryan's girlfriend, Kate, isn't prepared to lose him again. She will do whatever it takes to keep Ryan in her grasp-even if it means destroying Serena's life and the corporate empire she has built. What happens when Serena's now peaceful life is being disrupted? Will Serena lose once again or will she seize this billionaire's heart?
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."
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?