A rogue's life becomes miserable when her community is attacked. She escapes off only to be enslaved by the ruthless Alpha of the Shadow pack whose hatred for her supersedes all things. Now bearing a new identity and name, Astrid turns out to be the only way the Alpha can break an unknown curse which leaves him in a disaster, making him re-live century after Century of pain with no possible escape. How do things even turn out differently, when he discovers she is his mate? What happens when the quest to reject her backfires on him? What more is there for him to find out about her as her life hangs on a loose thread? And what assurance does the Alpha have that he will live happily with his new found forbidden love after the curse is broken? What are the odds? Tag along on this intriguing adventure to the mystical Forest of Dark Sapphire to uncover the story of a once cursed Alpha.
•CENTURIES AGO•
¶ Dark Sapphire Forest ¶
×××
Ophelia's POV
×××
"Run Ophelia, run".
I whispered to myself clutching my baby closely to my chest, as I ran past the numerous trees lined up orderly in the forest.
I didn't know where I was headed but I just kept running.
I had to. For the safety of my baby.
The werewolf enforcers were after me and I looked behind to see how far away from me they were.
"Oww". I yelped coming to a halt immediately as I stared at my feet. Then I peered closely and looked under my foot at what had penetrated it.
I quickly pored behind me again. "We have to hurry, Magnolia".
I told my baby and closed my eyes reaching down to pull out the sharp object without hesitation and I threw it aside running again. But this time, limping as I did.
I dragged ahead trying my best to keep running as tears suddenly started spilling from my eyes. I looked at my poor baby, she was also crying and on the other hand, I was starving, I felt weak, I was injured, about to be caught and killed alongside her.
"They already killed Magnus".
I mumbled, his death replaying in my head.
ו••×
An agonizing scream erupted from my throat as Magnus fell lifelessly beside me. I clutched down with the baby in my arms.
"No, Magus please, come back to me". I cried. "You can't leave us like this".
I soon felt the tears cease and something stronger evolved.
"I will avenge your death, Magnus. I promise".
ו••×
I shook the memory out of my head and continued running. I needed to get to the coven and fast. I remember Magnus said I would see a hut if I ran towards this direction.
Eventually, a hut came into view and I stopped briefly to catch my breath, a smile lurking at the corners of my lips.
The enforcers had stopped chasing after my daughter and me.
I guessed they had given up.
"Ophelia".
I heard a lady call at the door and I walked towards the hut and went inside.
"Are you thirsty?". She asked immediately I stepped in and didn't wait for my reply before she turned to a younger girl. "Get her the drink".
I won't lie, I felt a certain way. What did she mean by the drink? But all that went straight out of my mind when the glass of liquid was presented to me.
I was thirsty. Maybe I just realized it.
"Get the baby, Kira".
"You...". I started, staring at the girl before my eyes fell on the lady.
"Lydia". She called her name with a small smile. "My name is Lydia and her name is Kira. Kira will take the baby and feed her, she must be hungry".
I smiled in return and gave my daughter to Kira who walked away with her, I then looked at the liquid inside the glass.
"Magnus said you would be teaching me about the basics of witchcraft, although he did teach me some things".
Calling his name while knowing I would never see him again hurt me badly.
"Drink up". Lydia urged ignoring what I had said.
As I lifted the glass to my lips, she took a step towards me.
"Just remember that as a witch, you gain your hidden powers by connecting with your inner spirit and believing anything will happen if you command it".
Then the liquid touched my tongue and I felt a burning sensation. It went down my throat and I immediately held onto my neck.
"Remember...". I overheard her say before my vision became blurry. I would have sworn I saw someone...maybe a male behind her before I slipped from the stool and collapsed to the floor with the glass of liquid shattering next to me.
I might have heard the sound of a sword slicing through something before Lydia came crashing onto the floor next to me. She fell onto the wooden floorboard with a painful thud.
I would've gasped if not for the pain I was going through myself. So the sound of a sword did slice something, and that something was Lydia's neck. I thought back to my baby, Magnolia, I panicked at the thought of leaving her alone.
"I'm sorry". I guess I heard Lydia whisper before I suddenly felt electricity jolt through my veins like velvet smoke then everything went pitch black.
I opened my eyes again and took in my surroundings. I blinked several times before my vision became clear. I was somewhere different. I was in...
"The shadow pack territory". I gasped covering a hand over my mouth. I tried to get up but slumped back to the ground. I still felt so weak. What had Lydia even given me?
"She seems to be awake, Alpha". A guard informed.
"Oh, I see". Alpha Zefiro said moving towards the wooden prison I was locked in. "The rogue has finally been captured".
"Please". I found myself saying. "I am still a pack member". I tried to sit up.
Alpha Zefiro suddenly cackled watching me as I struggled to sit up. But I knew that wasn't why he was laughing.
"Nonsense!". He yelled putting on the cold expression once more. "You rejected your pack when you decided to flee and get involved with those in the coven".
No one knew exactly why I ran away from the pack. If only they knew, if only they found out what it was...
I soon felt another surge in my body.
I don't know what it was about that wooden prison but I felt like energy was being drawn out of me. Was the prison made specifically with Witch Power Repellent or something?
I peered around again, happy that my baby wasn't with them. I hoped she was somewhere safe.
"I loved...no, I love Magnus". I managed to say. I didn't want to ask about my baby, I didn't want them to know about her.
"Love you say". Alpha Zefiro hissed in disgust. "Love with an enemy. I am sensing a betrayal from you".
"I would never..."
"You never know". He interrupted. "You would subsequently scheme against us with the witches".
"You make me feel like I made the right decision joining them". I found myself saying confidently.
Alpha Zefiro laughed again. I wonder what amused him so much.
"The coven of witches you say...the ones that led you straight into our claws".
I gasped thinking back to the drink Lydia gave to me.
That was why she said she was sorry when she fell beside me. Suddenly, I hoped my daughter was indeed safe, I hoped they hadn't got a hold of Kira since she had her. Or, would she give my baby away just like they did me?
Anger started to boil inside of me. Why would they do such a thing to me?
I was distracted and I didn't listen to any other thing the Alpha was saying. I closed my eyes feeling something strange surge through my body just like the electric jolt I felt after taking that drink...Whatever it was...
"You all cannot treat me like this". I found myself saying with my eyes still closed. I knew it was me but I still felt like a different person, like I was being possessed.
Suddenly, there was tension in the atmosphere and the wind grew fierce.
The prison collapsed to the ground and I started rising in the air.
"What is happening?". I heard a feminine voice and my eyes flattered open.
"You shouldn't be here, Luna Emberlynn".
I could sense worry in the Alpha's voice.
The corners of my mouth lifted in a smile as I took notice of the child beside the Luna. He had his face buried in Luna's dress as she rubbed his hair.
"Ah!". I exclaimed. My voice sounded like an echo. "Another forbidden romance I'm sensing".
"What are you talking about?". The Alpha asked in between gritted teeth.
"Guards! Attack!". He commanded.
At once, the guards charged towards me but with a wave of my hand, they all flew backwards, crashing to the ground.
"Listen, because you have committed an atrocity against a moon-blessed wolf". I said raising higher in the air with my hands stretched slightly beside me and my palms facing upwards. "Your child shall be cursed".
I liked the look of terror I deciphered from Alpha Zefiro and Luna Emberlynn's faces.
"He will suffer all his life". I concluded.
"Zefiro". I heard the Luna cry out. "Our baby boy, our little Alpha".
"Don't cry, Luna. The curse will not work". He said not even sounding sure of himself.
"Oh, it will". I said my voice becoming less of an echo. I slowly fell to the ground, with my body feeling immense pain.
"Your child...will be known as a once cursed Alpha...by everyone".
I whispered closing my eyes and answering the call of Hades.
Tallulah's life comes crashing down when she is given off to Mateo Hernando, a ruthless Spanish Mafia lord in an arranged marriage which would secure a loan for her father. She goes to live with Mateo and things get rocky especially when she starts falling in love with him. What then happens when his old flame, Annika reappears after several years of being away and is hell bent on separating them? And what lengths will Annika go to and which extreme measures will she take to get her lover back? How then does it end for both Mateo and Tallulah? Ride along on this intriguing rollercoaster to follow up on their love story.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
After a heated confrontation with her husband and mistress, Brianna was pushed down to stairs. She thought she would die but when she woke up again, she realized that she traveled back two years ago, when it was not late for her to correct her path. The first thing she needed to do when she was reborn was divorce that scum. She saved from the darkest time but he lied to her and murdered her in the end. This time, she would not repeat the same mistakes anymore. She would bring the glory of her family back and make those people who betrayed her pay the price! However, in the process of climbing up to the peak of her career, she met a very intimidating and handsome man who kept on messing with her head through his bold attitude. Brianna doesn't want to be involved with another man again, for she has proven to herself that they will just drag her down, but her constant incidents with him are slowly breaking the wall she built to protect her heart. Brianna will surely choose her career over a man this time, but it's possible to choose both, right? What if he hurt her too? No! She won't risk it but. "You have to run away from me, Bree. Coz I'm done running away, I'll chase you now."