When I turned eighteen, a disturbing revelation changed my life: my mate, destined by the goddess, was a girl of only ten years old. Shock and disgust overwhelmed me. I couldn't believe it was real, but at the same time, I couldn't suppress the protective instinct that the bond awakened in me. When I hurt a second child who had harmed little Emilly, I realized I needed to get away. I fled, plunging into a bloody war with no intention of returning. Seven and a half years passed, and duty called me back. Only three months remain until Emilly becomes a wolf, and I know I need to be there to guide her. However, upon my return, I discover she is dating someone else. Every second of the past years of battle becomes insignificant in the face of the pain this discovery causes me. Now, I face a devastating dilemma, torn between my duty, the love I never stopped feeling, and the quest for redemption. Destiny is uncertain when it comes to love. I never imagined I would reunite with my twin brother, taken from our mother's arms as a baby. Much less did I think I would have to share my mate's love with him. The rivalry between us now intensifies as we fight for acceptance, Emilly's love, and our own souls. Is it possible for a woman to love two men? And for a wolf to have two mates?
"Are you excited?" Lindsay asked, gripping my neck tightly and staring at me, her intense blue eyes blinking at me.
"Of course I am," I smiled, brushing her nose with mine.
"I'm so eager to reveal myself as your mate and finally become your Luna." Lindy grabbed the collar of my dress shirt, giving me a smile.
"If I were you two, I wouldn't get my hopes up too high," Gamma Paul said, tapping his glass on the coffee table. He chuckled and looked at his wife. "I swore another she-wolf was my mate, hated Lucia, and look at me now, I can't live without her."
"Oh, no, that certainly won't be our case," Lindy laughed. "Don't worry, Uncle Paul, the goddess will watch over us both."
"Well, I think young love is beautiful," Lucia said, gazing at us with shining eyes. "Look how adorable you two are,"
Lindsay blushed as she let go of me and sat next to her mother, the wife of our pack's beta. We grew up together, and it wasn't hard to fall in love with her. She's the sweetest and most delicate girl in the world, and she's very kind too.
Of course, sometimes I wonder what would happen if we weren't mates, but I try not to dwell on it. Deep down, I'm sure she's my mate. Period.
"Here," Kyle murmured, handing me a can of Pepsi, my favorite soda.
"Mommy!" Emily's high-pitched scream echoed through the room. Her footsteps in her fancy shoes sounded like trotting horses. Her face was red and angry.
I laughed when I saw her. Lucia had dressed her beautifully in a white dress with a big bow on the back, knee-high socks, and doll shoes. Her hair was tied in a ponytail decorated with another bow. Her furious expression didn't match her cute and delicate appearance at all.
"I'm going to kill him," she growled, glaring at her brother. "Kill him."
Kyle burst out laughing beside me, using me as a kind of human shield. "Emy, whatever he did, remember I had nothing to do with it," I said, raising my hands in surrender. "I'm being used as a shield. I'm a victim here."
"Oh, don't worry. Mom said I can't kill you," she huffed. "But him..." She glared at her brother. "I'll give you the same fate as Pitty."
"Pitty?" I frowned.
She growled, and I barely held back my laughter when she raised her arms, revealing a Barbie doll with nearly all its hair cut off and colored black, the body covered in tattoos-probably with a permanent marker-and some drawings on the face.
"She was my favorite doll, you mutt," she grumbled, throwing it on the floor.
"I can see the love you have for her, you didn't even have the courage to give her a proper funeral."
"Oh, certainly, the one who'll get a proper funeral will be you," she said, rushing towards us, but I held her back, keeping her in place and preventing her from advancing.
"Emily." Her father's voice echoed, making her freeze. "Is that any way for a young lady to behave?"
She stopped, with my arms still on her shoulders, her body trembling with a stifled sob. Then she ran to her father, pouting with tear-filled eyes. Hades watched her closely, and I frowned.
He hates children. I mean, he hates other people's children. He finds them annoying and as hell. But he doesn't usually complain about her. Not about Emily, and he's always nearby when he hears her cry. "Daddy, punish him. Make him pay," she sobbed, inconsolable. "He killed Pitty. That mutt."
"Emy," Lucia pulled her into her arms. "Come here," she hugged the little one, who now seemed even more inconsolable.
"If you keep coddling her, she'll keep crying like a spoiled baby," Kyle taunted.
"I'm not a baby," she screamed.
"Of course you are," he said, sticking his tongue out at her.
"No, I'm not," she stomped her shoes on the wooden floor.
"Kyle, that's enough," their father shouted. "Goodness, can't you two behave politely in front of our guests?"
Kyle stood still while Emy hid her face in her mother's neck. For a second, I felt Hades wanting to come out, and I was mad at Kyle, but it passed before I could question it.
"Kyle, go now and buy her a new doll," his father pointed.
"Dad..."
"I said now," the older man grumbled as he sat back down.
Kyle walked out, kicking the ground, and I watched him, unable to follow. I mean, he had crossed all limits, hadn't he?
The adults started a new conversation, something about children, but I stayed out of it, watching Lindsay talk. Emy jumped off her mother's lap and walked over to me with weak steps. My eyes were on her now.
"Uncle Ezra," she called.
"Yes, Em..."
"Do you think I'm a crybaby?" She blinked, her eyes swollen and her face marked by tears.
"No, I don't," I sighed, watching her sit next to me with a bit of a struggle due to her height. "Kyle's just an idiot, that's all."
"I know," she rolled her eyes. "He's a meddler. Are you sure you want him as your Gamma?"
"He's smart, you just need to see it in him," I chuckled softly.
"Well, he's dumb and gets low grades in writing," she scoffed. "And has mediocre grades in math. Good luck."
I watched her grab an unopened can of Pepsi behind me. I figured it was Lindsay's since I didn't see her holding one.
"Didn't anyone bring me a soda?" Lindy pouted.
I looked at Emy with a conspiratorial glance. "No, dear, sorry," I shrugged.
"I'll get one myself," she said.
Emy giggled softly as she opened the can and winked at me. "Shh," she whispered, putting her finger to her lips.
"Secret, little one," I said, nodding and laughing, as she jumped off the bench and ran outside, where Toby was waiting for her.
I could see him through the window. They hugged, and for the second time, I saw Hades completely focused on everything Emily was doing.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
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!"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
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."