I had never envisaged that life could transform in the merest of moments. On that fateful day, I was bereft of all I held dear: my parents, my siblings, my friends, my home-everything was lost to me! My beauty became my curse, compelling me to flee and skulk like the most nefarious of felons. It was beyond my wildest musings that fate could be so merciless. My very existence had wrought destruction upon everything I cherished. Since that night, my attempts to evade capture have proved fruitless; they invariably locate me. Yet, one night, in the shrouded embrace of darkness, I was seized by prodigious claws and borne away to distant and foreign realms. With each pursuit, this entity delivers me from peril. His identity remains a mystery to me. Am I petrified? Indeed, profoundly so. Nevertheless, there is a part of me that anticipates his intervention with an eagerness that surprises even myself.
The door shuddered under the weight of frantic knocking in the dead of night. Dominico Cruz, with hastening steps, made for the entrance, his eldest son Lotha at his heels. Upon flinging open the door, they were met by the terror-stricken visage of his lifelong comrade, Aldus, who cried out in alarm:
"They're coming, they're coming!"
"Who is coming?" demanded Dominico, his pulse racing.
"Florian and his men! His desire for your daughter Esthela has turned to fixation. They are on their way to take her! We must flee; their numbers of men are too great!"
With a voice laced with trepidation, Dominico issued commands to his kin: "Lotha, find Esthela. Escort her to your grandparents' dwelling and ensure her safety!"
Dominico shouts, his voice filled with desperation."Esthela, run! Daughter, you must escape!" "Maurin, Dustin, help her! Anora, aid her!"
In a maelstrom of panic, the family is galvanised into action. Esthela's mother, Anora, swathes her in layers of shawls and ushers her into the courtyard where Lotha is waiting astride his horse. With eyes brimming with tears, Anora embraces Esthela fervently and hands her a satchel packed with hastily chosen essentials. With one final effort, she boosts Esthela onto the horse. The trio of horses bolts, thundering into the night, away from the looming peril.
"You can't stay here," Aldus declared, his voice imbued with determination. "We shall repair to my abode. We'll give them the impression you've departed on one of your customary trading journeys."
Dominico makes sure to place the family sign they employ whenever they set forth on those ventures, and they withdraw to conceal themselves amidst the shrubbery on the far side of their abode. They had barely ensconced themselves when they espied a contingent of knights arriving. These knights, with a heedless vigour, splintered the door as they issued their clamorous edicts.
Foremost among them was Florian, the scion of a knight whose name invoked dread throughout the shire. His eyes had once tarried on Esthela's comeliness during a church service, kindling an inexorable yearning to possess her.
"They must be nearby! They cannot have gone far!" Florian exclaimed, his ire palpable as he cast aside the sign that suggested their absence. "They haven't departed; I am certain! Seek them out! Esthela will be mine!"
"They are wont to do this, Florian," one of the knights tried to assure him. "They abscond for days seeking wares and are oft delayed in their return. Upon their homecoming, the maiden shall be yours."
"They have not left! We've been betrayed," Florian insisted, gesturing towards a servant roused by the tumult. "Where are your masters and Miss Esthela? Speak truthfully, lest you desire to be beheaded."
"They embarked on a journey, sir," the elderly servant responded, his understanding of the peril clear upon sight of the toppled sign.
"On a trip? When? I saw them at Mass not long ago; they cannot possibly have left!"
Florian was beside himself with fury, struggling to come to terms with the fact that Esthela's visage was unmarred, contrary to the disfigurement he had imagined for so many years. The old servant, fully cognisant of the grim fate that would befall Esthela should he disclose her location, steadfastly maintained his invented account.
"They departed this very night, as is their wont when embarking on their trading ventures. They attend Mass to beseech the Lord's safeguarding before setting forth."
"And whither are they bound?" Florian pressed.
"To the kingdom," the servant answered. "As for Esthela, whispers abound that she is to be betrothed to a duchess as a lady-in-waiting."
"A duchess? Which duchess?" The question erupted from Florian, his rage reaching a fever pitch. "No, this shall not pass! Esthela is mine by right! We must give chase; they will not have travelled far! Set everything ablaze!"
"Pray, sir, show mercy!" the servant implored, his plea falling on deaf ears as Florian summarily executed him with a swift, brutal arc of his sword.
Florian's men, having set Esthela's house ablaze, galloped away at breakneck speed. As Esthela's parents dashed outside in a futile attempt to salvage their possessions, they were seemingly slain by Florian's guards who were in fervent pursuit along the same route that Esthela and her siblings had taken. The clamour of their pursuers intensified.
"Lotha, we cannot leave her with our grandparents; they will find her. They have hounds," Maurin implored with urgency.
"They are drawing nearer; their steeds outpace ours," Dustin chimed in, his voice laden with fear as he spurred his mount onwards. "What shall we do, Lotha?"
Lotha, the eldest sibling, renowned for his gravity and sense of duty, was also blessed with exceptional acumen. He ruminated briefly before steering his horse down a trail leading to a secluded cabin.
"Lotha?" Maurin's voice rose in a plea for direction.
"It is our sole option. I am aware of an isolated cabin, ensconced deep within the wilderness. It is beyond discovery. We shall rotate in attending to her needs. Esthela, harbour no fear. I shall not permit Florian to apprehend you, that merciless enchanter. At the earliest opportunity, I vow to end him!"
The pursuers were drawing nearer, and though they were reluctant to enter the foreboding, narrow path shrouded in darkness and whispered fears, they pressed on into the virgin, dense forest. Few had the temerity to tread such grounds, deterred by harrowing tales of creatures that feasted on human flesh, but they chose that path nonetheless.
"Do not fear, brothers," Esthela's voice emerged clear and resolute. "I would confront those fabled beasts a thousandfold rather than succumb to Florian's clutches. I am convinced they are naught but legends."
With no trace of hesitation, even as their horses balked and recoiled from the forest's threshold, they urged their mounts forward with unwavering resolve. The hounds of their pursuers, keen and unrelenting, picked up their scent and narrowed the gap.
"We shall lead them astray, sister. Make your escape and follow this track until you reach a river. Proceed northwards, and you will find a cabin. It is a relic of a hunter long since passed. He was the one who introduced me to this place in my youth; hence my knowledge of it. Therein lies your sanctuary. Refrain from venturing out or roaming the woods until we can return for you, understood?"
"Let us not part ways!" Esthela implored. "Florian will not spare any of you, my brothers! He is a brute!"
"No, we cannot. Their steeds outmatch ours. We must endeavour to elude them whilst you seek refuge," her elder brother Lotha stated with unwavering resolve. "Flee, Esthela. Do not render our sacrifices futile. Go! Never allow Florian to ensnare you. You are well aware of his capabilities and the fate that awaits you at his hands!"
Without a moment's delay, he struck Esthela's horse, prompting it to bolt as they veered the pursuers onto a divergent trail, striving to shield their cherished sister from peril. Esthela pressed on, her grip tight on the saddle amidst the enveloping gloom, when suddenly, harrowing screams rent the air, as though a savage beast had launched an attack. Seized by dread, she cast a fleeting glance over her shoulder, her verdant eyes slicing through the night's veil, only to be met with the sinister gleam of crimson eyes.
Consumed by terror, she resisted the urge to investigate and persisted through the darkness, emerging unharmed at the hut come dawn. Situated atop a rise with a commanding view of a river below, she forded the stream and alighted from her steed, her gaze darting anxiously about to discern whether her brothers might yet appear.
The cabin, constructed from robust logs, comprised a solitary chamber. A grand fireplace held court in the centre, while a substantial bed claimed one corner. A shiver coursed down Esthela's spine as her gaze fell upon a pair of boots tucked away in another corner. Her fear was nigh on paralysing, yet she stemmed the tide of tears, realising with a sinking heart that her brothers were absent. What fate had befallen them? Were they ensnared by Florian's grasp? The village was rife with ominous whispers of his and his father's deeds. And her parents – had they eluded his fury, or had they succumbed?
These thoughts plagued Esthela as she lingered in the threshold of the cabin, when abruptly, a vast shadow, akin to an immense bird, flitted across the floor before her. She cast her eyes skyward but discerned nothing. What manner of creature could cast such a silhouette? Besieged by dread, she stepped within and fastened the door with a robust timber reserved for dire contingencies. Huddled in the corner nearest the hearth, she waited with bated breath, hoping against hope for her brothers' return.
Could the myriad tales and legends that abounded in the village hold a kernel of truth? They spoke of this realm as one inhabited by colossal dragons and sundry otherworldly entities that preyed upon humankind. What recourse would she have if such tales bore fruit, here in her solitary refuge?
In the shadows of an ordinary world, Gil stands apart with her ethereal white hair and piercing grey eyes. Her life is a ceaseless whirlwind of evasion and concealment. An unseen force with a crimson gaze haunts her steps, a harbinger of a hidden legacy and a fate grander than she could ever imagine. Born under a veil of prophecy, she is the key to mending a fractured world, hunted by those desperate to halt the tide of change she is destined to bring. Enter Aren, the enigmatic Alpha whose very existence is a legend woven through the centuries. Bound to his wolf spirit, Oto, he walks the line between beast and leader of the most formidable pack known to both man and creature. Revered and reviled in equal measure, Aren is ensnared by an ancient curse cast from the depths of darkness—a curse only his true Luna can dispel. Destined descendants of gods, Gil and Aren are the embodiment of ancient power, slumbering until the fateful hour of awakening. An eternal bond of love is their promised salvation, a beacon through battles for a bliss that has eluded their kind for eons. As celestial forces conspire, these solitary spirits are steered by the guiding light of Mother Moon towards one another. In their union lies the balance of love and war, salvation and destruction. But are they prepared for the monumental trials that loom before them? Can their nascent love endure the tempest of an age-old struggle clawing at their heels? Dive into an odyssey where myth meets destiny, and discover whether Gil and Aren can triumph over the darkness that seeks to smother their light.
After fleeing a forced marriage, Isabella embarks on an exhilarating and enigmatic journey, one fraught with unforeseen consequences. A peculiar gift from that tumultuous night compels her to question her very existence and to draw upon her inner reserves of strength. Resolute, the young woman seizes control of her destiny, determined to gain a fresh perspective. By an unexpected twist of fate, Isabella finds herself employed as an assistant to a charismatic CEO who is contending with amnesia after a serious accident. As they spend time together, their individual stories become inextricably linked, fostering a connection far deeper than either could have imagined. Set against a backdrop of suspense, burgeoning romance, and heart-stopping action, Isabela and the CEO embark on a voyage of discovery-not only of the secrets shrouding their pasts but also of the transformative power of true love. In this tale of personal growth and ardour, the protagonists face formidable challenges and make pivotal decisions that will indelibly change the course of their lives. Will Isabella claim the freedom she yearns for and forge her own path, or will external forces shape her fate? This enthralling narrative promises to keep readers captivated until the very last page.
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
To exact revenge on her treacherous fiancé, Yvonne enticed Clayton into a liaison that promised advantages for both. Yet, when Yvonne spotted a woman resembling her at Clayton’s side, she recognized she was nothing more than a substitute. Discovering Clayton’s upcoming wedding, she departed with a generous severance sum. “Clayton, this is truly the end,” she declared resolutely. On the very day Yvonne was set to marry someone else, Clayton showed up, desperation clear in his eyes as he dropped to his knees. “Yvonne, please, don’t go through with it. Don’t marry him.”
I wasn't sure I wanted to get involved with someone so powerful. The energy he exuded the last time he was around was frightening as well as fascinating. But my curiosity got the better of me. "Go ahead then. I'm all ears." Right when I believed he was going to go ahead and spill it out, he took an unexpected action. Something so obnoxious and with so much authority. He says in a shrill voice. "I'd like to meet you tomorrow by two at Kincaid. I have a deal for you." And hangs up immediately after saying that. Adriana is faced with a choice to accept the Lycan king's proposal and take revenge on her ex-mate and Alia, her home wrecker or live like a rogue for the rest of her life. Everything was taken away from Adriana. She was heartbroken and dejected, so she left. Circumstances bring her back and she meets Alpha King Ares. The most feared and revered Lycan. He was feared in both the human and Lycan world. He presents an offer before her but she feared for the result of getting involved with such a man. What happens when their path is deviated by fate and they realize that they can't do without each other? Will they succeed in defeating their enemies and conquering the challenges that life will throw their way?
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?
Married for four years, Emily remained childless. A hospital diagnosis plunged her life into hell. Unable to conceive? But her husband was rarely home during these four years, so how could she get pregnant? Emily and her billionaire husband were in a contractual marriage; she had hoped to win his love through effort. However, when her husband appeared with a pregnant woman, she despaired. After being kicked out, homeless Emily was taken in by a mysterious billionaire. Who was he? How did he know Emily? More importantly, Emily was pregnant.
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.