What ties connect her past to her wedding night of a forced marriage with this stranger?
" You will be wed to the Earl of Valthems in a fortnight"
The announcement caused Blair's face to go pale. Horrified, she sat still, at loss for words. If it had been any other person, she would have accused him of jesting, but her father, the Earl of Winrook, never jested, talk more of such a matter. He would grin, yes, but those grins were even more frightening than his frowns, like a wolf flashing its teeth before and attack.
" The wedding will take place in the countryside", he went on. " I've asked..
" I don't want to", Blair said, finally finding her voice though still trembling.
Her father paused but then continued as if she hadn't uttered a word. " I've asked your Aunt, Lady Monique, and your sister, Beryl to see to the preparations. I'll be dropping by at..."
" Father, I don't want to be wed, I don't even know the Earl of Valthems", she spoke louder this time getting on her feet.
" Well you seemed to have enjoyed his company last night ", he pointed out stone faced. Blair frowned.
Indeed she had enjoyed dancing with the Earl last night at Lord Edward's ball. He was a good dancer after all and never stepped on her shoes, which was more than she could say about more than half of the young gentlemen in the county. He was a good listener too and even quite amusing.
Now, she no longer found him so. He probably acted wonderful on purpose to charm her, and what a fool she had turned out to be, falling for his charms . If only she had known then, that he was plotting to marry her, she wouldn't have dancer with him at all!
" You WILL marry the Earl of Valthems, what you wish is of no importance", her father said with a tone of finality.
" Do you not care for my happiness? I am your daughter!"
" Yes, you are my daughter and you will do as I say. Do you think this is the first time a woman is being wed to a man not of her choosing?"
She stared at him defiantly, her jaw clenched and her eyebrows narrowed. She had a lot of things to say, she wanted to scream but instead she just picked up the hems of her skirt and marched out of the room.
" I don't recall dismissing you, or do you want to be sent to bed without any supper?"
She ignored him.
" You should the grateful, the Earl of Valthems..."
The rest of the sentence remained in the study, behind the door which she pushed shut with such strength that the chandelier in the hall shook. She didn't care, as she made her way up to the staircase with a scowl on her face.
Grateful for what? For being given away like a pig to the butcher, with her opinion being of no significance? Her gowns were chosen for her. Her meals. Her books. Her friends. Must her husband be chosen for her too? She was aware of how rare love marriages were in the county. Still, she had hoped to choose her husband, or at least be consulted on the matter.She was twenty two after all and not some teenager. In fact she had begun to wonder if she was going to remain a spinster like her Aunt Marinette.
She never wanted to be a spinster. She thought they were all pretentious, pretending to be fortunate that they had not ended up marrying, pretending they were strong enough to have been able to resist a man's charms, when they actually secretly pined for a man's touch.
Yes, she had always dreamed of marrying and having kids and watching them play in the garden while she knitted or sipped tea. But not like this.
When Jennie gets invited to the wedding of the gorgeous, rich ,sexy and outrightly perfect high school frenemy, Latesha Bogart, she has to do everything to prove that her life isn't in fact as miserable as it already is. This includes a whole list of lies and a hired fiancé, will she be able to pull it off? Or will the thin string holding her facade together, rip right in the middle of everything?
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!
When Corynn mustered up the courage to tell Elliot about her pregnancy, she unexpectedly found him gallantly helping another woman from his car. Her heart sank as three years of effort to secure his love crumbled before her eyes, compelling her to leave him behind. Three years later, life had taken Corynn down a new path with someone else, while Elliot was left grappling with regret. Seizing a moment of vulnerability, he pleaded, "Corynn, let's get married." Shaking her head with a faint smile, Corynn gently replied, "Sorry, I'm already engaged."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"