Aria, a young omega of the Silver Moon pack, has always dreamed of being chosen as the mate of Liam, the pack's powerful alpha. But on the sacred night of the mating ceremony, Liam publicly rejects Aria, shattering her heart and dreams. Devastated, she flees into the forest, only to be saved from certain death by Ethan, the alluring alpha of the rival Golden River pack. As Aria takes refuge in the Golden River pack, she discovers that Ethan is her second chance mate, a gift from the moon goddess herself. Embracing her new path, Aria trains to become a formidable warrior and a true Luna. But as she navigates the complexities of her new life, a shocking betrayal threatens to destroy both packs, forcing Aria to confront her past and unlock the hidden strength within her. Can Aria rise above the pain of rejection and become the leader she was destined to be? Will her love for Ethan, her second chance mate, give her the courage to protect her new pack and forge a brighter future?
Aria's Point Of View
I never thought I'd find myself flat on my back in the training grounds, staring up at the clear blue sky. Again. The taste of dirt fills my mouth as I struggle to catch my breath, the laughter of my fellow pack members ringing in my ears.
"Need a hand?" a voice asks from above me. I squint against the sun to see Lily, my best friend, extending her arm with a sympathetic smile.
I grasp her hand and let her pull me to my feet, wincing as my bruised muscles protest. "Thanks," I mutter, dusting myself off.
"Aria, you can't keep letting them push you around like this," Lily says, her brow furrowed with concern.
I shrug, avoiding her gaze. "What else can I do? I'm just an omega. Weakness is in my blood."
Lily opens her mouth to argue, but a commotion near the edge of the training grounds catches our attention. A group of wolves, led by none other than Liam, our pack's alpha, is making their way towards us.
My heart leaps into my throat at the sight of him. Tall and broad-shouldered, with piercing blue eyes and a jawline that could cut glass, Liam is the embodiment of everything I've ever wanted in a mate. Too bad he barely knows I exist.
As they draw closer, I can hear the whispers starting up again.
"Look, it's Aria, the weakest omega in the pack."
"I bet she'll be the last to find a mate if she ever does."
"Poor thing, she's just not cut out for this life."
Each word feels like a knife twisting in my gut, but I force myself to stand tall, my chin lifted in defiance. I won't let them see how much it hurts.
Liam and his group reach us, and I find myself holding my breath, waiting for the inevitable mockery. But to my surprise, Liam's eyes meet mine, and there's no trace of disdain in his gaze.
"Aria, right?" he says, his voice deep and smooth.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
"I saw what happened. Are you all right?" he asks, and there's genuine concern in his tone.
I blink, taken aback by his kindness. "I'm fine," I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Liam studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You know, being an omega doesn't make you weak," he says finally. "It's not about physical strength. It's about the strength of your heart, your spirit. And from what I've seen, you have that in spades."
I stare at him, my mouth falling open in shock. Did Liam, the alpha of our pack, just compliment me?
Before I can respond, one of the other wolves in Liam's group lets out a derisive snort. "Please, Liam. She's a lost cause. Everyone knows that."
Liam's eyes flash with anger, and he rounds on the wolf, his voice low and dangerous. "I suggest you watch your tongue, Rafe. Aria is a member of this pack, just like you. She deserves your respect."
Rafe's face pales, and he takes a step back, mumbling an apology. Liam turns back to me, his expression softening.
"Don't listen to them, Aria. You have more potential than you know. I can see it, even if they can't."
With that, he gives me a small smile and walks away, his group trailing behind him. I stand there, my heart pounding in my chest, trying to process what just happened.
"Did you see that?" Lily squeals, grabbing my arm. "Liam stood up for you!"
I nod, still in a daze. "I can't believe it," I whisper.
Lily grins, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You know what this means, right? You have to talk to him at the mating ceremony!"
My stomach twists at the thought. The mating ceremony, where all the unmated wolves in the pack gather under the full moon to find their destined partners. It's a beautiful tradition, but the idea of putting myself out there, of risking rejection, fills me with dread.
"I don't know, Lily," I say, my voice trembling. "What if he doesn't want me? What if I make a fool of myself in front of the whole pack?"
Lily takes my hands in hers, her expression fierce. "Aria, listen to me. You are not a fool, and you are not weak. You are brave, and kind, and deserving of love. And if Liam can't see that, then he's the fool, not you."
I feel tears prickling at the corners of my eyes, and I blink them away, touched by Lily's words. "You think so?" I ask, my voice small.
"I know so," Lily says firmly. "Promise me you'll at least think about it?"
I hesitate, but the warmth of her friendship gives me strength. "Okay," I say, managing a shaky smile. "I'll think about it."
As we walk back to the village, my mind races with possibilities. What if Lily is right? What if I do have a chance with Liam? The thought is both terrifying and exhilarating.
Lost in my thoughts, I don't notice the figure stepping out of the shadows until it's too late. I collide with a solid chest and stumble back, my face flaming with embarrassment.
"I'm so sorry," I stammer, looking up at the person I've just crashed into. "I wasn't watching where I was going..."
My words die in my throat as I realize who it is. Rafe, the wolf who mocked me in front of Liam, stands before me, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Well, well, well," he sneers. "If it isn't the weakling omega. What's the matter, Aria? Too busy daydreaming about Liam to watch where you're going?"
I feel my cheeks burn with humiliation, but I force myself to meet his gaze. "Leave me alone, Rafe," I say, my voice trembling.
He takes a step closer, his breath hot on my face. "Or what? You'll run crying to Liam? Face it, Aria. You're nothing. You'll always be nothing."
Tears blur my vision, and I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, a voice cuts through the tension.
"Is there a problem here?"
I turn to see Liam standing a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression stormy.
Rafe blanches, taking a step back. "No, no problem at all," he says, his voice wavering. "Just having a friendly chat with Aria here."
Liam's eyes narrow. "It didn't look very friendly to me. I suggest you move along, Rafe. Now."
Rafe nods, casting me one last venomous glare before slinking away. I let out a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
"Are you all right?" Liam asks, his voice gentle.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. He takes a step closer, his eyes searching mine.
"Aria, I meant what I said earlier. You have more strength than you know. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
I feel something stirring in my chest, a flicker of hope, of possibility. "Thank you," I whisper.
He smiles, and it's like the sun breaking through the clouds. "I'll see you at the mating ceremony," he says, and with that, he turns and walks away.
I stand there, my heart pounding, my mind reeling. Did Liam just imply that he wants to see me at the mating ceremony? Could it be that he feels something for me, too?
As I make my way back to my den, I feel a new sense of determination taking root inside me. Maybe Lily is right. Maybe I do have a chance at love, at happiness. And maybe, just maybe, that chance lies with Liam.
But as I settle into my bed that night, a nagging doubt creeps into my mind. What if Rafe is right? What if I am nothing, and always will be? What if the mating ceremony ends in heartbreak and humiliation?
I close my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away. No, I won't let fear control me anymore. I am strong, and I am worthy of love. And no matter what happens at the mating ceremony, I will hold my head high and face it with courage.
But little do I know, my journey is only just beginning. And the path ahead is far more dangerous and twisted than I ever could have imagined.
Married young to a guy hand-picked by her father, Becky Petre is a model woman. She has two sons and has served sixteen years of selfless duty in a passionless marriage. Craving a man's loving touch yet committed to her marital vows, Becky is trying to woo her coldly distant husband. But she knows of just one man who can teach her the sexual mysteries of love. The illegitimate son of an English countess and an Arab sheik, Damien Devington was educated to enjoy both Western civilization and Eastern pleasure. Scorned by society and challenged by Prim Becky's request, he undertakes her education in the art of sensuous enjoyment. But as the teachings become a temptation neither can refuse, Becky is forced to choose between commitment and a daring, forbidden desire . . .
"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?"
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
After my family's sinister plots collapsed, they lashed out at me, taking their rage to a violent level. Cornered and desperate, I married Jaxton—the town's most sought-after bachelor—due to an unplanned pregnancy. Love had no part in this marriage; I assumed he married me purely out of responsibility, his heart belonging elsewhere. The moment I chose to let him go and turned to leave, he grabbed me and pinned me down hard. "Jaxton, you promised you'd never touch me!" I snapped, glaring fiercely. His eyes flashed arrogantly as he leaned closer. "You're the one who started this!"
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!