Quickly, my breath seized in my throat. I hadn't anticipated finding him in his room, let alone finding him like this– NAKED! "Maybe I'll come back later. I'm sorry," I said, tension strangling my voice. "No, please. Stay!" He said in a calm tone. I looked at him hysterically, and, like he had just recognised his own nudity, he smiled confidently. "I'll just put on something if you're uncomfortable." "Uncomfortable?" I scoffed, trying to sound assuring. "No, I'm not uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of naked boys." He shot a glance at me, sending a thrill running down my chest. "Boys?" He asked, closing the distance between us. He grabbed my left hand and placed it on his hard breast, his heart beating steady, a stark contrast to mine, which raced like an antelope running from a predator in a jungle. "Well... I've seen a lot of naked boys, but not a naked man..." I whispered softly, gazing and feeling lost in his starry eyes. ******************* Reina Grayson, the wolf-less Alpha's daughter, harbours a dangerous secret: she possesses a silver wolf. If her Pack discovers this, she'll be killed. When Alpha Van Killian, whom she was forced to marry, rejects her for her step-sister, Reina is poisoned and dies. Gifted a second chance by the Moon Goddess, she is reborn as Narah Smith. On her eighteenth birthday, she uncovers her true identity, but she had lost her wolf. She returns to her hometown, now living among her enemies as a common maid. As she navigates her past, she forms a bond with Alpha Van, who believes she's his second chance mate despite being married to her step-sister. But with a vengeful heart and a determination to uncover the mysteries of her death, Narah must choose: embrace her fated mate or accept Alpha Zander's proposal? Can she seek revenge on those who wronged her, or will she remain forever in the shadows?
REINA'S POV
Six years, I counted. Six long, agonizing years I held this secret from everyone. It was consuming me and now, I had made up my mind to tell.
As I approached my father's office, I saw Beta Daphne, a chubby looking woman with short blonde hair, storming out of his office, her face red with anger.
"Beta Daphne is my father in?" I asked firmly. She looked back at the door with a stern look and hesitated before responding.
Yes, he is," she murmured with her head low, avoiding my gaze before exiting the gloomy hallway.
It probably wasn't a good time to see him, but I couldn't care less. My gaze fell upon the door as my heart raced, contemplating if I should tell him my secret or not. My thoughts were waging a war against me.
"Reina, please don't, they'll hunt us if they know." My wolf, Minsi, begged as I sluggishly approached the door.
Through the years, I had learned to suppress my wolf, allowing me to maintain the charade: the wolf-less Alpha's daughter.
"My father is the Alpha, Minsi," I reminded her, "There's no way he'd let anyone hurt me."
She moaned quietly and grew silent. I strongly doubted my own words too. My father, Alfie Grayson of the Moonlight pack, would probably be the first in line to hang me.
Six years ago, when I first shifted, Minsi had told me to keep her a secret. I couldn't even dare to breathe a word about her to anyone.
Her silver fur that glistened under the moonlight and deep blue eyes that shined brightly in the dark sent my heart pounding out of my chest the first night I saw her reflection in the lake.
Silver wolves were a rare breed bound by an ancient prophecy. I read once in the worn out pages of a book, that they were cursed and brought damnation to their pack. This led to their execution.
How was I to tell my pack that I was a silver wolf? But today, I wagered my life in the name of love, just so I could be with Arthur.
I confidently pushed the creaky door open and the pungent smell of old books and furniture hit me.
My father was sitting quietly, going through his cellphone. He didn't even bother to look at me, just like he never bothered to renovate his office.
"I do not accept giving me away just for a truce," I confronted him, disrupting his quiet. "This isn't the old days. The old ways have been forgotten."
"Reina, you had been forgotten," he raised his head slightly, staring blankly into my eyes. He continued, "Until the truce was formed, you had been forgotten."
I felt a sudden bone-crushing realization hit me; my father didn't love me.
"And this marriage is the only way to unite our Packs?" My voice inquired, almost giving way to violent sobs.
"What better way than marriage?" I heard my father whisper beneath his breath. Suddenly, he dropped his phone and, with his head high, he walked towards me. "You should be grateful you're my daughter, my flesh and blood. Gina would have been a better choice."
Gina. My step sister, Gina. She was every wolf's dream mate, she wasn't my father's blood, but he sure as hell did treat her like one more than he ever treated me.
Most times, I didn't hold him responsible for this preference. Gina was everything I could only ever dreamed of being.
My head full of unremarkable long gray curls could never compare to her long dark mane that fell down to her waist like waterfalls.
Her piercing green eyes captured the hearts of everyone who gazed upon her.
At just sixteen, her red wolf, Ria, had already emerged, while everyone believed I was wolf-less.
"I have something to tell you," I sighed, with tears threatening to pour from my eyes. "I have...I also have a...," I stuttered.
Why couldn't I say it?
I looked up at my father who was now pacing the office agitatedly, waiting to hear what I had to say.
"Don't say it, Reina. It wouldn't change a thing," Minsi panted, and the wrong words spewed from my mouth.
"I am running away with Arthur."
Coward! Threatening my father with that wouldn't make him call off the wedding, but telling him about my wolf just might do the trick.
Arthur was my first love, my chosen mate, and I was willing to risk it all for him. I had given up searching for my fated mate. I believed Arthur was perfect for me.
I heard my father's laughter echo through the room, making my stomach churn and turn. And then he asked, "Arthur?"
I nodded and he frowned instantly.
"Reina, I know you're weak and blind for love, but I didn't know you were foolish as well."
I stood my ground, not wanting to know what he meant by that. If I had revealed my secret wolf, he wouldn't dare call me weak.
I watched as he walked back to his table and opened a drawer. My eyes followed the movements of his hand, trying to read the contents of the papers and the pictures he pulled out.
"There!" He sent the papers flying towards my direction, scattering as they touched the floor. My eyes scanning the pictures and words, I crouched to get a better view.
"No, it can't be right," I muttered and scanned through the rest.
"Arthur wouldn't," I proclaimed and turned to my father angrily. "You're only showing me this because you want me to marry Alpha Van of the Woodwick Pack."
You see, my pack and the Woodwick's have been sworn enemies for decades, with a deep-seated hatred that had been passed down through our generations like an inherited curse.
Growing up, I was constantly reminded of the rivalry between our packs. The very mention of Woodwick would send shivers down the spines of every member of my pack.
I was only seven when my mother died. Rumors had it, it was a rogue. Not just any rogue, but a stinking rogue from Woodwick's that had split my mother open.
Recently, our pack was facing a serious threat. The scouts reported that rogues from Woodwick were attacking our members at the border.
That's when Alpha Van Killian, the ruthless, offered a truce. A marriage for peace and unity of both packs. And my father chose me.
Tears streamed down my face. My father wouldn't lie to me about this. Actually, Minsi had already suspected Arthur's infidelity, and these papers served as crucial evidence.
"If you're going to think about running away with a man like Arthur, and abandoning your duty to your pack as the future Luna, you better think twice," he said bluntly, his voice void of emotion.
I picked myself up and wiped the tears from my eyes, halting the rest as they threatened to pour. My father's gaze fixated on me, he smirked, shaking his head. I knew he was disappointed, the look on his face wasn't pity.
"If Arthur confirms this to be true. Then I'll accept Alpha Van's proposal and end the feud," I offered with a calm tone.
"You say that like you have a choice. Well, knock yourself out."
I quickly left the office, driven by anger and a deep feeling of betrayal. I needed to see Arthur, he had some explaining to do.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
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."
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
The night before her engagement, Valerie was tricked by her boyfriend and stepsister into spending the night with a stranger. After the night together, the man vanished. Later, her boyfriend accused her of cheating, revealing his affair with her stepsister. Pressured by her father, Valerie married an unconscious man in place of her stepsister. Valerie exposed the scheme, sabotaged her father’s ambitions, and transformed herself. When her husband woke and chased her to the airport, she calmly refused him, saying, "It's over between us." He held her firmly. "You married me, so you must commit."
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!