I stared at the hotel room door, my heart racing with a mix of anger and despair. One week. Just seven days until our wedding, and he had betrayed me in the most devastating way possible. My fiancé, Alex, lay naked in bed with my stepmother's daughter, Emma. She was younger than me, barely out of high school. The image seared into my mind like a branding iron. I spun around, fleeing the room without a word. Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled through the hotel corridors. How could he? Desperation drove me to the hotel bar, where I collapsed onto a stool. The bartender's concerned gaze met mine. "What can I get you?" he asked, his deep voice soothing. "Whiskey," I replied, my voice shaking. "Make it a double." As the liquor burned down my throat, I felt a reprieve from the agony. "Rough night?" the bartender asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I nodded, tears welling up again. "You want to talk about it?" His kindness undid me. I poured out my story, the words tumbling forth like a confessional. As the night wore on, the bartender listened attentively, his expression empathetic. "I'm Michael," he said when I finally exhausted my tale. "I'm Abigail," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. In my vulnerable state, Michael's calm demeanour drew me in. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through me. As the night blurred into the morning, my inhibitions disappeared. "Michael," I whispered, my voice husky. "I need to sleep with you." Michael's gaze locked onto mine, his expression unreadable. "Are you sure?" I nodded, my heart racing. The next morning, I woke up in Michael's arms, feeling ashamed and vulnerable. Without a word, I grabbed my clothes and fled. Back in my hotel room, I scribbled a check for $5,000 and left it on the nightstand. "Payment for services rendered," I wrote. As I fled the hotel, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd just made a terrible mistake. Little did I know, my encounter with Michael was only the beginning.
Laughter fell, and echoed down the hotel corridor, mingling with the low hum of music from the lobby. I leaned against the cool wall, clutching the crumpled invitation to my wedding like it was a lifeline, my heart racing in a mix of disbelief and rising dread. A week. Just seven days until I was supposed to walk down that aisle, yet the thought now twisted like a knife in my gut.
I took a deep breath, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me. Thick air almost choked me as I pushed the door open to our hotel room. The plush carpet silenced my footsteps, but nothing could silence the sound of betrayal that screamed in my head.
As the door opened wide, I was in for a freight train of shock. There, splayed across the white sheets, was Alex-my fiancé-all tangled in bed with no other than Emma, my stepmother's daughter.
My breath caught in my throat; a strangled gasp escaped while I tumbled back, my world tilting on its axis. They were so free, entering their little world, and I was the piece of grit they did not need there. Emma's childlike giggles filled the air, contrasted by the cold silence wrapping itself around me. I averted my face, my heart pounding against my ribcage, pulsating ache with every beat reminding me about my trusting nature with Alex.
"Abigail, wait!" The desperation in his voice was clear, but I didn't turn around. I couldn't. My feet moved on their own, carrying me out of the room and into the maze of the hotel.
Down the twisting corridors, I made my way, my eyes beginning to blur as the well of my tears threatened to spill. How could he? How could they? The feeling of control deserted me, a marionette whose strings are tangled, tugging this way and that in a hopeless effort to be free.
I found myself entering the hotel bar eventually. Dim lights wrapped around me like a warm blanket. Yet, the familiar comfort was lost on me. Dropping onto a stool, the bartender looked over with concern etched on his face.
"What can I get you?" he asked in a deep voice that sounded like a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.
Whiskey," I managed to reply, my voice shaking, almost foreign to my ears. "Make it a double.
As he was pouring the amber liquid, about a thousand weights leaned on my shoulders. I snatched the glass from him the minute he set it down, tossing it back in one swift motion. The burn was a welcome distraction, a flicker of heat that chased away the icy grip of betrayal.
Rough night?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as real warmth came from him.
I nodded, my tears spilling over, fighting to catch my breath. The dam broke, and I found myself pouring out the story of my engagement, the wedding plans, and the gut-wrenching discovery of Alex's affair.
He listened, really listened, his eyes steady as I spoke. "I thought I knew him," I said, my voice breaking. "I thought he loved me."
"I'm so sorry," he replied softly, his tone laced with empathy. "That sounds painful."
"I don't even know what to do now," I confessed, at a complete loss. "Everything I built is crumbling.
I'm Michael," he said, extending a hand across the bar with a soft, reassuring smile.
"Abigail," I replied my voice no more than a whisper.
Whiskey flowed, and words did, too. I found some comfort in Michael's company as he became, in many ways, my calm amidst this vortex of emotions, so oddly captivating. I could hardly explain what it was about him, but he drew me in like an anchor through the most violent sea.
Hours went by, yet it seemed as though the moment had ceased to exist altogether. I shared my hopes, my dreams, and the bitter sting of betrayal that clung to my heart. And then, with the whiskey emboldening me, I inched closer, my voice low as the air between us crackled with unspoken tension.
"Michael," I whispered, my breath catching in the back of my throat. "I need to sleep with you."
Surprise flashed across his face, but there was a flicker of something else-understanding, perhaps. "Are you sure?" he asked, caution and invitation mingling in his tone.
I nodded as the adrenaline coursed through me. "I need to get out of this. At least for tonight.
Michael's eyes, which had held mine, weighed my words. He nodded silent agreement passing between us. We left the bar together, and the world outside became a blur as we stepped into the elevator.
The ride-up felt electric, the tension crackling in the air. When the doors finally opened, I followed him into his room space dimly lit, a harsh contrast to the chaos in my heart.
The moment I crossed the threshold, a wave of doubt hit me square in the chest, but it was quickly overcome by the reckless urge to feel something other than that ache. I closed the door behind us, and before either of us knew what hit us, we tangled into each other-passion and desperation merged into something fierce and wild.
The night melted into a haze of stolen kisses and whispered confessions. In the arms of Michael, I found an unlikely refuge-one in which, for at least that moment, the weight of my broken heart was bearable.
But with a dawn that had crept through the window, reality came surging back in. I stirred into wakefulness to find the warmth of Michael's body alongside mine, and my chest seized up in panic. What had I done? My heart was racing as I scrambled out of bed, gathering my clothes in a frenzy. I couldn't face him; I couldn't bear the thought of what this meant.
I'd written a check for $5,000 and had left it on the nightstand. The words had been heavy in my heart as I wrote them out: "Payment for services rendered." It was cold. It was transactional. But it was the only way I knew to put distance between us. I needed some semblance of control back.
As I fled the room, a thousand remonstrances that perhaps I had done something very wrong would not be quieted. Outside, it was a bright, sun-shiny day, which was a cruel contrast to the storm which was sweeping across my soul. I went to my room, full of noise from pounding in my ears and walls closing in upon me as I played back everything that had occurred that night.
But beneath the shame and confusion, a little deeper down, something new flickered. I didn't know what it was then, could feel only the presence of a sense of possibility mixed in with what hurt.
Little did I know, my meeting with Michael was only just the beginning. Difficulties would line the way ahead, but it was also filled with possibilities of healing and unexpected love. Standing before my hotel room door, I knew I was beginning a journey that would change everything.
Eliza was once the perfect wife to billionaire Noah until ambition tore them apart. Now, divorced and reinventing herself, she's stronger than ever- building her empire and surrounded by men who appreciate her independence. But when Noah realizes what he's lost, he'll stop at nothing to get her back. However, Eliza has grown she's no longer the woman he knew. With three very different men vying for her heart, Eliza must decide who she is now and who she will become.
In a world where the Moon Goddess weaves the threads of fate, Lyra's life is shattered when the man she was destined for, the powerful Alpha of her pack, rejects her for a rival's daughter. Heartbroken and betrayed, she watches as her replacement, the beautiful and cruel Isabella, rises to power, treating her like a mere slave. With each day spent in servitude, Lyra's spirit grows darker, fuelling her desire for revenge. As she uncovers secrets that could tip the balance between the packs, she discovers a strength within herself she never knew existed. But as her quest for vengeance unfolds, will Lyra embrace her fate, or will the shadows of her past consume her?
I thought I knew betrayal. But nothing prepared me for the sting of poison from my own best friend. As Luna of the pack, I was supposed to be untouchable. But I was weak-unable to bear the Alpha's child, and that weakness made me a target. Minaj, my closest friend, used it against me. She seduced my husband, claiming she could give him what I couldn't. And then, with a poisoned drink, she ended my life. Or so she thought. The Moon Goddess had other plans. She gave me a second chance-a new body, a new life, and a fierce, unbreakable spirit. Now, I'm back in the pack, hidden in plain sight, with one goal: to reclaim what was stolen and uncover just how deep this betrayal runs. But as I get closer, secrets emerge, and I start to wonder... was it only Minaj who wanted me gone?
Ralph, a centuries-old vampire, has lost his thirst for life. That is, until he encounters Florence, a fiery werewolf with a secret: she's his mate. "I've walked this earth for over 500 years, but nothing compares to the burn I feel when I'm near you," Ralph whispers, his fangs grazing Florence's neck. "You're a monster," Florence growls, her heart racing. "Perhaps," Ralph replies, "but I'm your monster now." As the full moon rises, their forbidden love becomes the key to unlocking an ancient curse. Will their love be strong enough to overcome the darkness, or will it destroy them both? ("Eternal Moonlight" - Where love bites...hard.)
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
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?
Five years ago, Alessia La Rosa's life took a drastic turn when, suffering from memory loss, she wed to Dominic Carter under her grandfather's mysterious arrangement. But their marriage was a facade, bringing her only humiliation and heartache as Dominic showed no love, and she couldn't conceive. Upon discovering Dominic's infidelity, Alessia sought liberation through divorce. Yet, fate had more in store for her. Five years later, spurred by an anonymous email hinting at her lost child's whereabouts, she returns to the city with her twin babies in tow, determined to uncover the truth. As she navigates the tangled web of her past, a surprising twist awaits. Dominic, upon meeting her again, finds himself drawn to the woman she has become, unaware of her true identity as his former wife. Little does he know, the woman he's falling for is not only his ex-wife but also a powerful Doctor and Master Hacker.
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.