When I turned 18, my mother married my stepfather, a retired mafia kingpin, and I moved with her into a luxurious mansion. Just when I thought my life was heading toward happiness, my stepbrother, the new mafia boss, stormed into my life. He was like a devil, with delicate eyebrows, a high, sharp nose, and lips that were always tightly pressed together beneath a cold expression. Every time our eyes met, I felt a chill run through me, making it hard to breathe. I tried my best to avoid him, but he had no intention of letting me go. "My stepsister, from the moment I first saw you, I knew I couldn't let you go. You can't escape-you're destined to be mine." I stared into his possessive eyes as his body pressed down on mine. "No, you're my stepbrother, we can't......"
Harper's POV
"Hi, sweetie, happy new semester," I said, smiling at my reflection in the mirror.
I tied my soft, golden-brown hair into a high ponytail and wore a lemon-yellow knit sweater over a white shirt, paired with a white skirt. This outfit wasn't exactly glamorous, but it made me look youthful and cute-perfect for spring. Luckily, I had taken the time yesterday to iron my clothes; otherwise, I'd definitely be rushing around in a panic right now.
Oh, it's already 8:45. I need to leave for school soon. Matthew has a game today, and as his girlfriend, there's no way I'm missing it!
Grabbing my backpack and swiping a bit of lip gloss on my lips as I ran downstairs, I nearly tripped over myself on the way. These complicated stairs!
"Sweetie, have breakfast-"
"No time, Mom! I'm in a rush!"
With time running out, I couldn't sit down for breakfast with my family. Oh, I'm so excited about the new semester. I didn't fall asleep until late last night, and my alarm had to go off four or five times before I finally got up. If I don't hurry, I'm going to miss cheer practice!
Just then, a voice sounded behind me. "Harper, your mom woke up early to make breakfast for you. The sandwiches are delicious. Don't worry, I've already asked my driver to wait outside. He'll make sure you get to school safely. Take your breakfast and eat it in the car. You're already skinny enough; no need to skip meals."
The man speaking with such warmth was my stepfather. He had a strong build, and though he liked wearing loose clothing, you could still see the outline of his muscles beneath the fabric. As he spoke, he set down the newspaper and stood up, moving beside my mom. His tall figure made her look even more petite.
He looked at me with his dark eyes. He was always gentle with me, but I could never meet his gaze. Every time I did, I'd picture a younger face-one that resembled his. The thought of that face gave me chills.
"Okay, Dad." I grabbed the breakfast and ran over to kiss Mom's cheek before heading out the door and into the car my stepfather had arranged.
Leaning back in the leather seat, I tried to empty my thoughts. My stepfather was Italian. No one would guess that this always-smiling man was once a mafia boss.
When he was younger, he married, but his wife was killed by an enemy during a period of fierce conflict between the mafia families. They said he locked himself in a room for three days to grieve, holding an elaborate funeral for her. For over a decade, he never remarried, focusing instead on raising his son.
He became even more ruthless, leading his faction to become the largest mafia in Italy and eventually expanding their reach to America. In America, he met my mom. Maybe he got tired of the violent life or decided it was time for the younger generation to take over, but he chose to marry my mom, settle in the U.S., and enjoy a peaceful retirement. Honestly, though the occasional appearance of mafia men at our house scared me, he had always been good to me. He saved my mom and me from a life of despair and gave us a warm home.
Snapping out of my memories, I glanced at the driver. Ever since marrying my mom, my stepfather had been very protective of us, like today-insisting I be driven to school even if I was in a hurry.
Being cared for like this wasn't so bad, I thought.
Except for one person...
That young face came to my mind again.
A handsome yet intense face, with sharp features, dark eyes, and lips always set in a tight line. His gaze made me feel cold and breathless.
That face belonged to Marco, my stepbrother-my stepfather's successor, the next mafia boss. When I first arrived in New York with my mom a year ago, she told me my stepfather was easy to get along with. She didn't know much about her stepson Marco, only that he was reliable and would protect us.
At the time, I was too caught up in my fears about fitting into a new life to think much about my stepbrother. I was more worried about whether my stepfather would like me.
I remember the first day we moved into the mansion. My stepfather and mom helped set up my room-a luxurious princess-themed bedroom. It had a huge walk-in closet filled with designer clothes and jewelry. My favorite stuffed animals were arranged neatly on my bed.
"I prepared these things ahead of time. I hope you'll like it here," my stepfather said, rubbing his nose. Like a beast hiding its claws, I felt warmth from a father figure for the first time and quickly accepted this new family, forgetting about the stepbrother I hadn't yet met.
The next day, as I walked down the grand spiral staircase, I ran into a tall young man. I froze, unsure what to do, while he squinted at me, then pushed me into the corner of the staircase, wrapping his hand around my neck.
His fingers were long, with calluses-probably from training.
The feeling of suffocation was unforgettable, and those few seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity. I could see my pained expression clearly in his dark eyes.
"Don't think you can take what isn't yours. Remember who you are-this is not your home."
I was terrified, unable to understand what he meant. I only felt like I was about to die.
Just when I thought I was about to meet God, he let go. His eyes, like those of a hawk, studied me while his lips formed a tight line. I had no doubt that he could pull out a gun and shoot me at any moment. My legs gave out, and I leaned against the railing, my voice trembling, "Please."
He sneered, disdain filling his voice, then turned and walked away.
I didn't see him after that.
The next morning at breakfast, I overheard that my stepfather had sent him to Italy. I kept my head down, pretending to eat, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Apart from that unsettling incident, my life since then had been happy. With time, I slowly forgot the suffocating fear of that day. I started school in New York, made new friends, and eventually met my boyfriend, Matthew, the quarterback of the football team.
The car soon arrived at school, and after thanking the driver, I jogged into class just in time-the teacher hadn't arrived yet.
Matthew's game was after the second class, with cheer practice right after the first. As I settled into my seat, trying to catch my breath, I felt a poke on my back.
I turned to see Matthew beside me, taking my hand on the desk.
"Babe, you didn't reply to my messages this morning." He leaned his head against my neck like a big puppy, his warm breath tickling my skin.
"I overslept." I pushed him away, uncomfortable with all the eyes on us, especially those of my friend Lily. She was giving me a knowing look, barely suppressing a laugh.
Matthew knew I wasn't into public displays of affection. He chuckled. "I waited a long time, princess. Don't I deserve a little reward?"
Damn it, he knew how to play me. He always put on the puppy act, knowing I'd cave. Looking into his big brown eyes, I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Today's my 18th birthday, so if you win," I said, holding his hand, "I think the princess will give her loyal knight the best reward."
His eyes lit up, suddenly intense, almost scorching. "I'm counting on it."
After first period, Lily and I headed to the gym. On our way, we met the other cheerleaders. It was clear everyone was a little nervous.
We got to the changing room and put on our uniforms-bright red, representing our school colors. As we were changing, Lily gave me a playful nudge.
"Harper, you look amazing in red. You're definitely going to drive all those boys crazy."
Thank goodness for her humor to break the tension. Honestly, Lily was the more popular one with the guys, but we had a great friendship.
Matthew was always a little jealous of Lily, joking that if I liked girls, he wouldn't stand a chance-Lily'd steal me away in a heartbeat.
Dressed in our cheer uniforms, we walked onto the field for practice. We went through our routine, the familiar moves perfectly timed to the music. Everyone was giving it their all for today's game.
Time flew by, and soon we had to clear the field for the setup crew. Our seats were in the front row of the stands, ready for us after our performance.
The game was about to start.
As the announcer came on, I could feel my heart pounding faster and faster. My nerves were half for the cheer routine, half for Matthew's game.
Lily squeezed my hand. "Harper, don't worry, we're going to win. Matthew's probably in the locker room now, and he'll win for sure when he sees you cheering for him!"
Maybe it was Lily's encouragement, but my racing heart slowly steadied.
"You're right, Lily. We've got this."
Maybe today really was my lucky day-not only did our performance go smoothly, but Matthew and his teammates won the game at the last second. The crowd erupted as the referee blew the whistle to end the game.
Cheers echoed through the stands.
I don't know how I must've looked, but I was beyond happy, hugging Lily in excitement.
I watched Matthew on the field, his helmet off, his hair damp with sweat as he and his teammates were awarded their championship rings. Somehow, amid the crowd, he looked up and met my eyes.
He started walking toward me. My hands had nowhere to go as he approached. Before I knew it, he had lifted me up.
The spectators who hadn't yet left, his teammates, and my cheer squad-they all began cheering and whistling, their applause growing louder and louder.
He lifted me high, and then we kissed. It was my first kiss. Even though I seemed calm, I had no real experience with romance.
So when I felt his lips on mine, I was stunned.
It was a magical day. Golden confetti, the boy I loved, my first kiss on my eighteenth birthday.
These were the best days of my youth.
Even though a lot happened later, I will always be grateful for everything that happened back then.
Charles' breath quickened, and his movements became more urgent. "I'm close," he gasped in my ear, his voice breaking between moans. My own pleasure surged, and I couldn't hold back the scream that tore from my throat. A wave of electric tingles swept through me, my temples throbbed, and the world around me faded into white... Every pore on my body felt wide open, heat radiating from me in waves. It was surreal, as if I were in a dream, feeling everything but grasping none of it... I could hardly believe it-I had married this man, the infamous Alpha of the Black Valley Pack, Charles McLean, and I had just slept with him. But there was no love between us. We weren't fated mates. Since his first shift at eighteen, Charles McLean had never found his fated mate. And after one engagement after another, each of his fiancées had died under mysterious circumstances. Rumor had it that he wore a mask to conceal his hideous face and that he was a cruel, violent man who would kill without hesitation. People whispered that he had murdered his previous fiancées. His last fiancée-my sister-was terrified of him. Horrified by the stories, she had vehemently refused to marry him. And just before the wedding, she found her fated mate. So, without warning or preparation, I was forced to take her place, pushed into marrying Charles in her stead, to stand as his wife in name only and the unacknowledged Luna of the Black Valley Pack...
My life completely fell apart when I turned 18. My father's beta killed my family, took control of our pack, and replaced my father as the leader. "Survive, Emilia," were my mother's last words to me as I became his slave. To disgrace my family, the traitors made me serve guests at a banquet and shot at me. Just when I thought I was going to die, a man stood in front of me. He exuded the strongest ALPHA aura and looked at me with dangerous eyes, saying something that made me tremble: "I want this woman." Who was he? Why did he want me? Why were his eyes filled with desire and hatred when he looked at me? "Emilia, you must atone for your father's sins," he said as he tied me to the bed, pinning me down. I felt like this time, I wouldn't be able to escape.
Married for four years, Emily remained childless. A hospital diagnosis plunged her life into hell. Unable to conceive? But her husband was rarely home during these four years, so how could she get pregnant? Emily and her billionaire husband were in a contractual marriage; she had hoped to win his love through effort. However, when her husband appeared with a pregnant woman, she despaired. After being kicked out, homeless Emily was taken in by a mysterious billionaire. Who was he? How did he know Emily? More importantly, Emily was pregnant.
At a party, everyone sees Claire's joke. His fiance, chosen mate, walks past her with the ring and gets down on one knee in front of her stepsister. What the hell is going on here? "Joe and I are together now. Because we are each other's fated mates." Her stepsister said triumphantly. "We know you're hurting, but Cathy is your sister. You should bless them. Your sister will be the next luna, not you." Said her father coldly. In an instant, she changed from a happy girl to a poor person who had been abandoned and betrayed. "How dare you do this to me?" Desperate, she looked up and saw Prince Louis, who was also at the party. Although appealing directly to a member of the royal family would have been punishable, Claire had no choice. "Your Highness, I beg you to do justice and disinherit them. I claim my right." The crowd held their breath as they watched the murderous prince rumored to have killed his brother. He approached me with a dark look. I closed my eyes and waited for my punishment. But I felt big hands around my waist. He buried his head in my neck, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice. "You are a very smart and brave girl. I can help you, but I want something else in return." I ran into a hug, his scent all around me. I didn't know, until this moment, that I was in even bigger trouble.
Faye was an orphan who found her biological mother just before her 18th birthday. She will live in the same pack as her mother's two stepsons, Liam and Leander. Coincidentally, Leander turned out to be a fated mate for Faye. Attracted by mate bond, Leander sneaks into Faye's room at night after she goes to bed... "Come on, Leander." The man's hand paused. No, the man tonight is not Leander. Meanwhile, the other stepbrother, Liam, is getting weirder and weirder with Faye, and it looks like there's a mysterious pack behind his abnormality... Can Faye fix her problems with Liam? How would her relationship with her two stepbrothers develop? What other adventures await them?
1. Everyone knows that the most powerful alpha in the werewolf world is Harrison. There are many legends about him. One of the most mysterious things is that he never announced his Luna. For six years, he hadn't talked about his mate, and no woman could get near him. 2. Six years later, Kayla. returned to the city where she lived. In one encounter, Harrison, with red eyes and a hoarse voice, pressed her against the wall and said, “Do you think your tears still work for me?” Kayla looked down and did not speak. Suddenly a crisp child's voice sounded. “Mommy, what are you doing here?” Looking at the little girl, his pupils constricted. “Is this your daughter?” He asked. 3. “So you broke up with the father? He got you and dumped you and your daughter?” Harrison threw his cigar into the ashtray, the corners of his mouth twitching with anger. “Tell me who the father is and I'll make him pay.” Kayla looked at the man she had missed for six years. She didn't know how to tell her that he was the father.
6 years ago, Lydia suffered a brutal betrayal orchestrated by her own husband and step-sister, who drugged her and framed her. In a twist of fate, she ended up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Don't even remember what he looked like. Later, in the throes of death, she discovered the truth about her mother's death all those years ago. In the blink of an eye, she lost everything. 6 years later, Lydia returned with her genius son, vowing to exact revenge on all her enemies! Little did she know, she encountered an incredibly familiar man at the airport! *** The man was briskly pushing open the door to the restroom, heading to the urinal. Even with such a mundane action, he did it with unparalleled elegance and grace. Lydia, following him in a daze, saw his fierce lower body and suddenly snapped back to reality. She let out a high-pitched scream, instinctively covering her eyes with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and stood there stiffly, unsure of what to do. Lambert furrowed his brows slightly but remained calm as he continued to relieve himself. The sound of water hitting the urinal made Lydia's face even redder. She angrily shouted, "You pervert!" Little did Lydia know that Lambert, seeing her in this state, had a flicker of recognition in his eyes. Memories from many years ago flashed through his mind, and his heart couldn't help but stir. It was her!
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"