Lily Trevor was an ordinary girl who knew how to stay out of people's way, and she had never really had any trouble, bit even when her mother married Alex Rodger's father, a millionaire who had a bank. Lily and her stepbrother hit it off quite well, being friends, even best friends, until Alex started to avoid her and she had no idea what she did. On her 18th birthday, she heard Alex growl the word "mate" and she wondered what it was, and when she did, everything was just so confusing to her human mind. Would she accept what the moon goddess had planned for her, or would she run the other direction to college and never look back?
Lily's POV
As I walked into Alex's room after knocking on the door, he suddenly grabbed me by the waist and pushed me out of his room so that I was now standing in front of it.
"I told you never to come into my room again, haven't I?" he asked me as he licked his lips. Those plump lips that I would like to lick myself...
What the hell was that? I asked myself as the thought randomly came in. Maybe it was because he looked so gorgeous, and those lips looked like a strawberry fruit.
"What the hell is your problem?" I asked as I stared at Alex, my eyes laced with tears I didn't want to drop. "You're just been an ass for no reason. I want to go with you and your friends to the lake, but you're acting like I'm a flu or something."
Alex stood there watching me, as he stood in front of his room without a T-shirt on, his chest out on display.
"You can't follow us, Lily. Just stay at home and try baking or something. You love that, right?" he asked and I grunted.
The tension in the hallway was thick enough to cut with a knife. My heart was pounding, and my confusion and hurt stirred into so many emotions I couldn't quite understand. "Why are you treating me like this, Alex? What did I ever do to you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alex's gaze flickered, and for a moment, I thought he saw a hint of regret flash across his face. "Lily, you've done nothing wrong. It's not you, okay? It's me. It's all me," he said, his voice low and strained.
Wasn't that something that was said in the movie when a man was lying to a woman just so he could break up with her? Alex and I were siblings, well, step-siblings, so there was no way he was using that stupid line on me.
I felt a lump form in her throat. "Then why can't I come with you to the lake? I don't see why I should miss out on all the fun just because you say so!" I said, suddenly angry that he was making my throat burn with tears, tears I didn't want to shed in front of him.
I watched him as he ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident, but I wasn't quite sure what he was frustrated about. I should be the frustrated one. "Look, last time we went, I saw how they were looking at you. My friends, they... they stared, and I hated it, Lily. I can't stand it. It's just..." He trailed off, his jaw set tight.
My eyes widened as she processed his words. It was almost touching, in a weird, overprotective way, but it didn't make me feel any better.
Why was that such a bother for him anyway? This wasn't such a big deal, I didn't even mind. It wasn't as if they were pervert or they were groping me.
I folded my arms across my chest and then I said. "So, what? You're my keeper now? I can take care of myself, you know," I retorted, my spirit unyielding.
He sighed, looking away. "I know you can. But I can't help it. It's just how I feel." There was a stance to him I don't quite understand, but I wasn't going to talk about that.
I was too furious to even point anything out about his stance. What I wanted to talk about was his silly reasons for acting this way to me.
I mean, don't get me wrong, Alex hadn't always been a jerk, at least, not until recently. I remembered how different things used to be.
After the tragedy that took my mother's family, she found love again with Alex's father. It had been a chance for a new beginning. We had all moved into a big house where Alex and I had plenty of space.
We had gotten along so well, bonding over video games and late-night snacks. I had been so grateful not to be alone, to have Alex as a friend, as a stepbrother. But lately, things have changed, and I didn't even know why.
"Alex, we used to be friends. What happened to us?" I asked, a single tear rolling down my cheek.
Damn, I hated this, and it was starting to suffocate me. Why was he acting like I was some flu he didn't want to catch? He was treating me like I had killed his dog and run it over, but I hadn't.
Maybe he suddenly stopped liking me and started to hate me. Maybe he just didn't want me near him or close to me as we used to be.
Alex's expression softened, and for a moment, he looked like the brother I used to know. "I don't know, Lil. There's nothing. It's just... things change, I guess, as we grew up. I'm sorry." He said.
Lily shook her head, wiping away the tear. "Maybe we shouldn't grow up. I don't want things to change, not like this."
"I know. I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice almost a whisper.
There was a long silence before I finally spoke up again. "I still want to go to the lake. I want to be included. Can't we just try to have a good time like we used to?"
Alex hesitated, then after what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly. "Okay, Lily. Okay. We'll try. Just... let me talk to them first, alright? I'll make sure they treat you with respect." He said and I managed a small smile, feeling a little bit better. "Thanks, Alex. That's all I'm asking for."
I went back into my room to have the fastest shower I have ever had, then I got dressed in a pair of blue jeans shorts and a white shirt, my blue one-piece swimsuit underneath. I grabbed my sandals and wore them, then I grabbed my phone and my bag.
As fast as my toned long legs could carry me, I ran as fast as I could downstairs, and out the front door, but by the time I got outside, my brother was already gone.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
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?
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."
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?"
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.