"I want a Dad, can't you buy me one mom? We are rich aren't we?" Arin Altham, son of Arene Altham, has only one demand. A new father, from anywhere, would work for him. *** Arene Altham, the genius surgeon has only one death on her record throughout her career. A figure that is rather insignificant for most people in her profession, but ironically, it is the death of a person who has impacted her life most... her boyfriend and the love of her life. The only reason her guilt hasn't been able to drive her to her death, is the arrival of a new ray of hope in her life- her son, Arin. *** Rain Alance has found himself deserted at the outskirts of a forest after a sudden coup in his pack. Bruised and betrayed as he may be, he is still responsible for his people, as the born Alpha. Will Rain be able to reclaim his power and find his way back to what is rightfully his?
Chapter 1: Ice Cream
The garden was in full bloom this spring season. The roses, tulips and lilies were lending extra colours to the flurry of activity in the garden, as there were plenty of butlers running around to arrange everything. Anything and everything that could be needed for the party the next day, being held on behalf of the young master of Cotswold County.
He was going to turn four tomorrow, and would be a big boy after that- although according to him, he already was a very big boy! So he would be simply establishing his status on the official date, and no one could deny or argue with him at this point.
Because no matter how tiny, sweet and cheerful the young master was, his mother was not the owner of the same personality at all!
Arene Altham.
The name was enough to draw shivers down everyone's spine; the girl with five feet and ten inches height and flowing blonde hair, along with sea green eyes was indeed mesmerising.
But as beautiful as her outer appearance was, the rumours were rampant about her soul being possessed by just as much darkness!
For once, the devil might have a good day and on account of that, decide to show mercy on someone...but she? She wouldn't!
The rumours that were prevalent in the entire Cotswolds started with the gossip of how she didn't live with her family, and nobody knew for sure which family she actually belonged to. Though going by the same gossip, she surely belonged to a very rich and esteemed family that she had been disowned from, because of the heinous crimes she had committed. The list of said crimes started from killing her husband with her own hands, to having murdered his entire family in cold blood because of some kind of rage. But the snippets of reality behind the rumours were nowhere to be found and no testimonies were available, either.
No one knew whom she had married and where this husband of hers actually was, if she was divorced, or whether perhaps her husband had actually died at her own hands. But the longest standing news that had attained the status of a legend among the locals, was that she was one who had operated on her own husband after reaching Cotswold. Even though the County solely belonged to her, four years ago, there had been no fully functional hospitals and this was where she had arrived with her wounded husband and a day-old boy.
Many considered it impossible that the death of her husband had been an accident, as she didn't have so much as a spot of blood on her entire career record apart from this one instance; while some said that she might not have fully recovered at the time of performing the surgery as she also had a small baby in her hands. But nobody knew the undisputed truth, and all they used to feed their curiosity on was either pure gossip or white and grey lies.
However, the speciality associated with the rumours is that they might spread like a forest fire, but they always halt before reaching the person concerned with the rumours as no one wants their neck to be beheaded!
Thus, nobody had ever dared to speak anything in front of Arene or let her get any hints about it, and nor had she ever considered clarifying anything. There were only three people in the entire world who knew the truth, and she didn't trust anyone; anyone apart from them, enough to confide in them.
And hence, she had become the girl she never had been but the rumours had portrayed her as, and was living exactly upto the expectations of everyone by not even showing her smile in public. All that she had shown in front of the people was either anger or authority- nothing else was important for anyone to know from her!
Satisfied with the preparations, she got up from the chair she had been sitting on, to make her way to the main house.
As a reflection of her inner turmoil, thoughts were running wild in her brain.
"Sometimes, life makes us stand at the line where we are forced to think what will we do, if the person whom we love most in this entire world dies? And in front of us, with the worst in our hands?
Then I remind myself that sometimes, life makes us experience this situation first-hand...sometimes, second, and sometimes, nobody knows for how long those stories and experiences have been travelling...how many miles they have run, how many years they have counted.
I also have a story- a story of losing my wish, my will and my reason to live, the story of losing my love, and my life forever after.
Today, on March 12, four years ago- I lost the only reason for which I had been living. I am not living now, because I'm pretty sure that dragging your body and taking in breaths just to function can't be classified as living.
But I can't die as well, because the day I lost him was the day I found the most precious responsibility of my life- my son.
Arin! The reason for my survival, the child whom I had found just after exiting the operation theatre, after being completely responsible for the death of my soul, and him.
Yes, I am the culprit and yet the victim of this twisted situation, because I am Arene Altham! The famous surgeon of the city, who is known to have an entirely impeccable career, with only one death in the whole history of her career- the one death!"
She wanted to laugh! Laugh at her helplessness, when she heard a faint cry in the corridor.
Her heart started racing as if it could leave her body behind, and leap to him.
'My boy, my Arin...why is he crying?'
She rushed towards the lobby, and saw the flurry of butlers and maids circling him, and offering him whatever he could find interesting.
'But how can they forget that even though I haven't given birth to him, he is my child.'
This was when she realised that actually they were yet unaware of the reality, apart from uncle Shefford, her and...nevermind. The truth was that she had brought him up and because of this he was her son and her son only, so he definitely had to be as stubborn as her! But there was one thing, thankfully; that he was not as cold as her- or say, the new Arene.
She rushed downstairs after breaking her thought bubble herself and asked, bending and placing her hands on her knees.
"Arin, child, come here! Come to mumma, and tell me, what happened?"
Before she could have formed the whole scenario and linked the conclusions in her thoughts, she heard someone speaking, someone whose voice was a whole lot like hers, and beckoning to the crying child.
"Mum-mumma... mumma!"
With this cry, her attention was drawn towards her son coming towards her, and her heart melted at the sight of her poor kid racing towards her with his small legs wobbling due to the rush of emotion.
She bent down and picked him up and wiping the fat tears from his pink cheeks, she asked, "What happened to my brave and bold boy Arin? Why is he crying?"
"Mumma, I want a Dad!"
He dropped the bomb on her once again; it was the third day in a row that her poor kid had asked her for something that she couldn't give to him.
'What the hell is wrong with this society, that they have to teach children that a kid needs to have both parents in their life for the sake of normalcy?
And what was wrong with me that I accepted the proposal of sending my Arin to pre-school?!
That's it, it has only been three days and he has already internalised the structure of society! He won't be going back to the place where my child has to suffer the unintentional bullying of other innocent kids, who are just acting according to societal norms.
No! My child will not be following those rules that make him feel excluded. I will be arranging homeschool for him from tomorrow...but for now, I have to calm him down.'
She looked at Arin, who was trying to place his little head on her shoulder with the thumb of his left hand in his mouth, holding her back with the small palm of his right hand.
'Sometimes, I have a sudden realisation and get panicked at how I have raised this little creature to a big yet extremely small boy...how tiny and fragile his body is!'
"Arin, baby, who is mumma's favourite boy?" She asked the question I knew he always had the enthusiasm to answer.
But he kept silent, and her heart just missed a beat.
'Is he alright...?'
She quickly jerked his head backwards carefully, and held him in her outstretched arms. Spinning him around to check if he was fine or not, she shouted for the maids and butlers to bring water and milk- whatever they could, in a hurry.
Almost ten of them ran in different directions to get the required things, only leaving two maids and uncle Shefford there.
It took a few minutes to confirm that Arin didn't have a fever, but his eyes were swollen because of crying.
All this drill did was leave Arene susceptible to the criticising voice inside her head once again, making her pick apart every single act of hers that might have upset her child in such a manner and she lost herself in the thoughts.
'It was true that he has definitely never cried this much before, and I also left him today, for some time. Evidently, I can never be a good mother.'
Looking at uncle Shefford, she asked in a shaking and low voice, as he had been there with her after her mother had passed away. He and the maid, Maria had almost raised her up; if she left out certain people she didn't wish to mention..
"Uncle, what if something has happened-"
"Shh! Arene! Nothing will happen to him, he is just tired of crying, and a little drowsy. Just take him with you and feed him."
"Okay uncle. Maria, send the maids to my room."
Saying this, she gathered Arin in her embrace, holding him tightly to her chest as if somebody was ready to snatch him away.
She started to climb the stairs to her room, and as soon as she sat down on the bed and placed him on her lap, she heard the faint voice of her son again.
"I. I am mumma's favoulite boy."
The sound made her realise that her heart had started beating again.
Looking at him, she spoke with a miffed tone, "When you had heard the question, why didn't you reply earlier? Do you have any idea how badly you have scared your mumma?"
"Solly mumma, but I leally want a Dad! Can't you buy me one?"
No matter how tense or mad she might get, her son's cute mistake of interchanging 'R' and 'L' had always been able to make her happy. But today, this happiness came with a price tag named 'Dad'.
She asked him, without thinking about anything, "Arin...why do you want a dad? Don't you love mumma? Doesn't mumma love you back? Do you want a Dad because you think mumma loves you less?"
"No! My mumma loves me the most, I am hel favoulite boy. And this is why I want a dad, because my mumma only loves me, she doesn't love mumma. And if I have a dad, then he will love mumma."
'He will love mumma- these are the words of a four year old child, my child! How and why has he gotten this idea, and all this time, he wanted a dad because of me? And not because all his friends have one?'
Completely blindsided by this unexpected reason for his demand, the thoughts fully immersed in emotions started clouding her mind, and before she lost her track again she asked.
"Arin, baby you know what? Mumma doesn't want a Dad, all mumma wants is that Arin loves her the most! Okay?"
"Alin loves mumma the most...yes! Alin loves mumma, but Alin is a small boy. How can Alin protect his mumma?"
Arin became too happy for a moment, and the very next moment, he was lost in his deep thoughts like a philosopher straight out of ancient Greece.
"Hmm...let me think. By coming with mumma to buy an ice cream? What do you say?"
Arene heard her voice echoing back in her ears without her consent, for the second time that day.
"Yes! Yes!"
He started throwing his hands upwards, still crouching in her lap.
She stood up, holding him and taking the keys of the car. Before leaving, she made sure to let the maids know that there will be no need for preparing dinner for either of them, as she was going to spend her entire time with her son.
___________________________
He laughed and finally began, "You dumbass! How can you forget me? I am Arjun, duffer! Juno! Where have you been all these years?" But when he finally looked up to see Manya, she was standing weakly, holding her head with her hand and before anything could be explained, she fainted. *************** Arjun Chauhan has been searching for her from the past 12 years, but never could he imagine that their union would be so cruel… that she would remember nothing of him, or the bonds they once shared. Will he be able to make Manya remember everything? Or will he have to accept that the childhood memories he shared with Manya only exist for him now? *************** Manya Rahal, the prodigal designer from Milan has returned to a small city in India for a small collaboration project. She plans to leave after those three months and resume her life per usual, surrounded by her new friends and found family. But little does she know, that this visit will stir up painful memories of the past… memories that she herself doesn't remember, memories which will change the entire trajectory of her life! ***************
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
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?
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."