"Let's begin," Amory gruntled begrudgingly. The utterance felt like I was pricked with a thousand sharp needles. He was obviously not enticed by the sight of my body and beauty even though I was clad in sexy lingerie. He watched me disdainfully, but I was determined not to back down after I recalled Samantha's words, "The first day I saw you...I knew you were the one made to tame his beast" I puffed out dauntlessly and sauntered seductively towards him. I did it exactly the way I had rehearsed, but his second statement made me halt my steps as my heart crumbled into tiny pieces. "I am only going to fuck you from the back. Not on the mattress, but on the divan. The reason why I am here with you is to just mark you as my mate. They need evidence that you are my mate. No other reason, woman! You are nothing but rejected after this night!" he spat. Who does that on their first night together? ************* Odeya was still hoping and praying to find her mate when her friends had all given birth. She altered from a lady who once adored the royalty lifestyle to someone who desperately desired her soulmate, even if he was the poorest pauper. The harsh treatment from the dwellers of Oceania wasn't helping either, but one evening, everything switched after she was coaxed by her long-time friend to participate in a duel that linked her to find her mate, who eventually turned out to be her prominent misery.
INTRODUCTION ~~~
Decor was supervised under the monarchy system of government. It was once a united and defeatless Nation until a furor struck after the Emperor's confidante betrayed him and attempted to snatch the crown. The wicked best friend, Cone vented sacred secrets, made a fuss about the Royal ancestry, and assembled armies whom he had been gathering.
Cone flooded the loyal militaries with lies about the Emperor, and worked in unison with them to commit a disheartening treason which was partially successful as seven-year-old Amory's pregnant elder sister who was a Princess was murdered. Amory, who was the young Crown Prince watched his favourite sibling get slaughtered mercilessly.
There was radical famine.
The old and young died during the three years of combat. Out of vulnerability, the Emperor begged his friend to let them separate since his patrons were too much. Still immersed in greediness, Cone agreed to the proposal but would take the Emperor's wife as a trade whom the Emperor handed over without hesitation.
An extreme tragedy for Amory, as he was traumatized for years to witness the betrayers tug his mother away.
The people of Great Decor detached, and the majority of the Parks joined Cone since there was nothing tangible left in their homeland.
Decor crumbled, and the people were separated by a forbidden forest that was cast with spiritual wolves by the most powerful witches of all time. The remaining citizens in Decor stayed, and united together as Genovians, while Cone named his new country Oceania. He made it forbidden for the Oceanians to mention their former country, and just like that, their history was erased, but of course history forgotten, is history wasted.
25 YEARS, LATER SOMEWHERE IN OCEANIA~~~~~~~
Odeya's POV
Oh! goodness, here we go again.
"The crown Prince of Oceania wants you to go through the mate contradiction process, young lady. He wants you to be his concubine," Mum snarled. She was irritated by my denial of the grand proposal.
"I thought I made it clear that I don't like him, mother. I understand that you are aggrieved about the fact that I couldn't find my mate, but he isn't the last option either," I responded calmly, my wolf forfeiting resilience.
My inner being constantly encourages me to fight back for myself, but I guess she was fed up too. It hasn't been easy, it has never been easy. Those judging eyes of people honed on my mother for being a barren destitute widow. I was her only daughter before she decided to get married as a second wife to a partially wealthy but vulgar man. Their buzzes and gossip about me being incompetent to find my mate.
In our custom, it's believed that the least age to find your soulmate is at the age of twenty. At that span, the body would have been calling for sexual cravings. Once it exceeds that period, you are regarded as a pariah, an outcast, the type that would be subjected to an extreme travesty.
It's not an immorality in my realm, but a supposed conviction tightly held onto by the people of Oceania. They weren't suspicious of me for two years at first, but as soon as every friend of mine left, all of them now married to their respective mates, the people in my neighborhood switched on to pointing fingers at my mother and me once again.
My mother couldn't handle the humiliation I brought upon her. She constantly nagged, and mauled me for the past few years, accusing me of bringing shame to her.
I was the type that wished to be mated with a strikingly handsome man. The one that has a build like that of a Greek God.
Well... who doesn't? But the worst thing is not to have anyone to call yours.
Then, my friends would always joke about how much I blowhard about my anonymous mate, and I would brag further by saying "He would come on his two knees begging me to be his eternal soulmate, and I would pretend to be in plunging meditation and then he would say with a sincere heart and sweet masculine voice "my love be mine, and I would be yours forever" then my eyes would become teary, but he would hug me instead. After entangling from the passionate hug, we would engage in an intense kiss"
My pals would all blush at my notional dialogue, while I would burst out in a soft laugh while rolling my eyes dreamily.
All those were fictional dreams. I knew it then, but I had never foreseen myself after many years without a man to claim as mine.
I was beautiful, no doubt the most attractive among my peers, which made it surprising that I would be the one with no life partner. Denying those men who were also denied by their mates was my biggest regret because I am deemed a cursed being since I am over twenty-five years old.
'I shouldn't exaggerate because some other people were not able to find their mates either' I severally used that phrase to motivate myself but deep down, I knew they still later got entangled as a second wife out of vulnerability, but I don't like sharing my man. I just want my mate. I don't care if he is a pauper or the ugliest man in the world. I don't want to dream about him being Royalty or a Greek God anymore.
It got to a stage where every time any of my childhood pals came visiting with their offspring and husband. I mostly got aware from my mother since she wouldn't stop oppressing me. I usually tell our domestic workers to tell those of them who managed to visit that I was not around. I was aware that their purpose of visiting was to either make jest of me or throw pity stares my way.
Although most of them quit being friends with me, I still have one who just won't give up on me. Delilah sees me as a companion, but I do flout her too. The beginning of my worst nightmare started when she visited last week Thursday.
Lyra was gifted with the rare and coveted power of invisibility by the Moon Goddess, a power that set her apart from even the mightiest of her pack's leaders. Her mother, wise and wary, warned Lyra before she died to keep this secret to herself, for power could be both a gift and a curse. When Ragnar, her beloved mate, was on the brink of death, Lyra broke her oath, using her power to save his life. Yet, her sacrifice was twisted into a justification for betrayal by the very ones she had risked everything to protect. With the determination to revenge on those who tried to kill her, She crawls back to her feet with her baby as the only reason to keep striving.
Adrienne Thomas is the forsaken daughter of a problematic family. Instead of aiming for revenge on those who had made her life a living hell, she cowardly settled for a low-key and peaceful life. Everything was going well until a disastrous tragedy befell her. Out of desperation for assistance, she got entangled with her ex's uncle, Gideon Magnus who curled her life into a situation she couldn't figure out as better or worse.
Raina was pressured by her father to make a difficult decision that would have negative consequences for her and her twin children. This decision involves breaking the heart of a powerful, wealthy, and young Jude Bellingham, who swears to seek vengeance on her no matter how long it takes. They once loved each other without reservation, but now they despise each other with a burning passion. However, fate has a way of working in mysterious ways, and it's not always easy to outsmart it. Will Raina and Jude be able to overcome the obstacles in their path, or is their fate already sealed?
Alpha Arnold of Greenland Park was betrothed from a youthful age to the Luna of the Tiger Park, Alicia in allegiance to maintain the interconnection between the two parks. They lived in bliss for five years until a sudden attack occurred. The majority of each park including Alicia were taken captive by the soldiers of the great Genovia. Several years later, Arnold turned out to be the crown prince of Genovia. Alicia thought it was the beginning of a new life after she was summoned to the palace by her childhood lover, but she got whacked by the realization that she was called upon by a totally different reason and that the one she had waited for years, was now the opposite of what he used to be. She quoted him as a "lowlife devil" How did Arnold become the Crown Prince? Why were they a victim of an unexpected attack by the Genovian soldiers, and will they still find a space in their hearts to forgive each other?
Allie's life transformed from grass to grace after Aaron's father saw her roaming about at night in the rain. She was offered basic amenities and loved by the Smiths except Aaron who made her life a living hell. He never admitted to being attracted to Allie for some egoistic and personal reasons. He tried his best to fight his feelings for her but it defied him since that was what his heart desires. Years passed and Aaron departed to continue his studies overseas. When he came back, he managed his father's once-abandoned fashion brand company and eventually expanded it by applying his fabulous skills in marketing strategy. He made it among the top chains across Europe. Aaron and Allie finally had to ignore their malice when caught in an unexpected condition with Aaron's enemy. Allie decided to make a secret investigation on why the two wouldn't mind spilling blood on themselves but upon that, she found traces of her heritage and Aaron's dark past was also unleashed. The two faced a heavy crisis to give their love a chance.
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Compelled by her dad's dilemma and the looming fate of their business, Irene agreed to become Braydon's lover. To outsiders, Braydon seemed invulnerable, yet only Irene was privy to the tempestuous passions he unleashed behind closed doors. Gradually, Irene found herself tangled in the intricate emotional snare Braydon had woven, her heart craving more, only to be shattered by the revelation of his engagement. Devastated, she left and soon encountered Braydon's archrival. It was then that the formidable Braydon confronted the esteemed surgeon Dr. Mitchell, all in a fierce struggle over Irene.
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"