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...
Selena's POV
"So, you're standing here now to be my bride, and where's your sister?"
I saw my husband, Charles, as he lifted my veil. His face was stone cold, with chiseled features, and thin lips. His green eyes seemed to be burning. Although his tone was low and calm, his angry eyes revealed an incredulous look. They stabbed me like a sword and sank my heart to the bottom.
The moment finally came.
"Can anyone here tell me what the hell is going on?" Charles pulled down my veil, and I could barely breathe under his alpha-strength. I staggered back, almost falling, and the priest, who had seen the accident, held me in surprise.
Some of the guests had noticed the strange atmosphere between Charles and me, and they began to whisper. The whole wedding is sliding out of control.
Everyone is talking. I was the one to blame. The dirty words flooded into my ears.
My father was standing under the stage, and I tried desperately to look him in the eye for help. I silently shouted in my heart: "Father, please, let this farce wedding stop! Let me go, or let my sister back!"
And he told me with his lips, with his Red Moon Pack Alpha status and long-held majesty: the wedding must go on.
I looked at my father. His hands clasped the ruby scepter, the symbol of the alpha. His face was as cold and hard as ever, without expression, as if he were trying to endure something, just as he had done at the ball that day...
I felt hopeless. I knew the wedding wouldn't stop. Because the purpose of this ceremony is not to bless the newlyweds, but to unite the two packs.
..............................
Three days ago.
On the full moon, the Red Moon Ball was held as scheduled. This is our pack's tradition. When the young werewolves were 18 years old, we would hold a ball on a beautiful night and invite the young people in the surrounding pack to join us. We chat, sing, dance, and look for our fated mates.
Not every werewolf is lucky enough to find a fated mate. Some werewolves, like Stella and Charles, are engaged to each other who aren't their mates for special reasons.
The Red Moon Ball was unprecedented after it was announced that my older sister Stella was getting married to the Black Valley Pack's Alpha. Many guests from far away have come to our pack. They must have wondered why Stella Taylor, the famous beauty of Newman, married the brutal Charles Mclean.
Charles was the Alpha in the Black Valley Pack, but couldn't find a fated mate when he turned 18. Rumors about him have been floating around the pack like an undercurrent from the sea. He is said to be a bloodthirsty demon who once slaughtered a pack in one night. He is a tough and determined alpha whose throne is heaped with bones. It is said that on every full moon night, countless souls would howl around him, and his hands would show oozing blood. He was destined to be a man of sin and wickedness, and everyone said his name in a low voice.
Unlike Charles, my sister had an excellent reputation in Newman. This is mostly due to her natural beauty, curvy figure, and charming, decent social skills. She was able to get everyone's attention, remember everyone's name, and make people feel good with warm words, which ultimately made a good impression on our pack.
Everyone praised Stella as a perfect Luna candidate. I guess Charles felt the same way, so it was both surprising and understandable when Charles asked our father for a contract marriage.
But Stella was afraid and sad. "Moon goddess! I'm being watched by a demon!" Stella cried, covering her face.
Even when she was crying, she was so beautiful and adorable. She has been in low spirits these days. Until today, before the ball, she had a complete breakdown.
Because Charles's gonna be there tonight.
I comforted Stella clumsily. "Maybe Charles isn't as scary as they say. He's the Alpha of the first pack..."
Stella screamed and shook my hand off before I could finish. "Leave me alone! You're not the one marrying the devil!"
I stood still and heard her sob, "If only I were as ordinary as you..."
"What's the matter with you?" My father came to us with a ruby scepter. "Stella, wipe that weepy look off your face. The dance is about to start. Do you want to embarrass yourself in front of all the pack?"
Stella hesitated. "But father, I don't want to marry that man... the rumors about him are terrible!"
Our father was clearly losing patience. "Stella, I repeat for the last time. Those rumors were fabricated by someone who wanted to destroy Charles. When you marry him, you'll be Luna of Newman's first pack, and our Red Moon Pack's ranking will go one step further. It's a win-win."
As I listened, I suddenly realized that this marriage was not a fairy tale of "beauty and the beast", but a naked exchange of interests.
Stella's lips twitched, and she wanted to say more.
Our father's personal servant came to him, whispered something in his ear, and then slipped away. Our father stood there for a moment, thinking for a long time, and then said to us, "The Black Valley Pack has been attacked by vampires. Charles is not coming to the dance today."
Stella was relieved, and I was happy for her.
Yet our father still had no intention of letting her go. "I will officially announce Charles's engagement to you tonight, as planned."
After our father left, Stella began pacing back and forth restlessly in the living room.
"What should I do? I'm going to cancel the ball!" The bad news rattled Stella.
She was wearing a strapless nightdress, her smooth arms bare. I held her and tried to calm her down. "Stella, relax. It's a terrible idea to cancel the dance. Dad wouldn't approve it, would he?"
Stella nodded. God, her helpless look would break any werewolf's heart! "I'll help you, Stella, don't worry," I said to my sister.
I'm familiar with the ball. I chose the music, the flowers and the cutlery because Stella liked them all.
I think Stella needs my support at a time like this. I gently pulled her off the sofa, put on a relaxed expression and went upstairs with her. "Cheer up, Stella. Since Charles isn't coming, the ball is your stage tonight. Enjoy it!"
Stella dried her tears. Her mood seemed to lift a little, and she turned to give me a silent hug.
Making-up and wearing a dress had always been one of Stella's most anticipated activities, but I was somewhat resistant to them. I took off my usual clothes and put on my dress for tonight. Nothing is special to me.
I opened the door just as Stella came out of her bedroom. I have to say, even though I spend every day with her, I was amazed by her appearance tonight.
She wore the expensive white dress our father had given her, and the pearl necklace around her neck made her face as beautiful as the moon in the sky.
Stella spun around happily in front of me, and I realized that the dress was backless, with a silvery-white chain that matched the lines of Stella's back.
I said from the bottom of my heart, "Stella, you look like a white rose in full bloom tonight."
......
At the ball.
When the first dance began, Stella walked slowly down the stairs. The ground floor lobby is filled with elite werewolves from packs all over Newman. They looked at the goddess Stella, and clapped enthusiastically.
Stella walked gracefully into the crowd, greeting everyone who passed by, and deftly responding to questions about her engagement to Charles and why he hadn't shown up tonight.
That's what I admire about Stella. Fame was as important to her as life, and she would never allow herself to lose her cool in public.
Some people complimented the ball, so Stella introduced me to them as usual. "This is my sister Selena. She prepared the ball."
This guest is just like the others. He was surprised. "Oh! Selena, the ball was great. You did great!" He looked at me for a second, then at Stella and never looked at me again.
I stood by without speaking. I'm used to being ignored. Even though I did a lot of the planning for the ball, people only noticed the charming and sociable Stella.
Many people were surprised that Stella and I were biological sisters from the same mother and father. Sometimes we would even think it was amazing.
Everyone loves Stella, but few people notice me next to her. Stella has a reputation for being Newman's first beauty. Her breasts are bountiful and her hips are curvy. What about me? Plain, thin, no curves. The only advantage may be that I am tall and thin.
In the middle of the ball, several young men asked Stella to dance with them. After taking turns dancing with them, I saw Stella's face sweat a little and look a little tired. She is walking towards my table. Maybe she wants to eat something and have a rest.
As she passed the gate, a late young man came in. He was tall, taller than many of the werewolves present. He looked cold, but handsome enough.
Stella also saw the young man, but then something strange happened.
In the distance, I saw my sister shaking her head slightly and sniffing left and right. Soon, she was able to determine the source of the scent. It came from the werewolf who had just arrived at the ball.
She pounced on the young man like a butterfly and shouted excitedly, "My mate!" The young man caught Stella and felt her breath in a daze. He quickly confirmed that Stella was his mate too.
They kissed in place.
The band came to a halt, and the crowd was silent for a moment, then clamoring again.
"Who is he?"
"Oh! Poor Charles, his Luna is going to be taken away!"
"Do you smell an Alpha?"
......
When the crowd quieted down again, my father appeared, leaning on a ruby scepter. He folded his hands on the scepter and stared at Stella and the young man without saying a word.
"Father... I'm sorry, I can't resist the attraction of my mate. It's the moon Goddess's arrangement..."
"Shut up!" our father shouted. His mouth was lined with anger. He wouldn't allow anyone to sabotage his alliance plans, but Stella found her fated mate before she got married.
......
Three days later, I put on the wedding dress that the tailor didn't have time to modify. Its hemline barely covered my shoes. The dress was too big on the chest and a little empty at the waist, which made me look like a clown. What makes me even more of a joke is that I'm going to marry Alpha Charles instead of Newman's first beauty, my sister Stella.
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......"
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.
Compelled by her dad's dilemma and the looming fate of their business, Irene agreed to become Braydon's lover. To outsiders, Braydon seemed invulnerable, yet only Irene was privy to the tempestuous passions he unleashed behind closed doors. Gradually, Irene found herself tangled in the intricate emotional snare Braydon had woven, her heart craving more, only to be shattered by the revelation of his engagement. Devastated, she left and soon encountered Braydon's archrival. It was then that the formidable Braydon confronted the esteemed surgeon Dr. Mitchell, all in a fierce struggle over Irene.
Everyone thought Lorenzo truly loved Gracie, until the day of their daughter’s heart surgery. To Gracie’s utter shock, Lorenzo gave the precious organ needed by their child to another woman. Devastated, Gracie opted for a divorce. Fueled by her need for revenge, Gracie joined hands with Lorenzo’s uncle, Waylon, and orchestrated Lorenzo’s downfall. In the end, Lorenzo was left with nothing and consumed by remorse. He pleaded for a reconciliation. Gracie thought she was free to move on with her life, but Waylon held her back in a death grip. “Did you think you can just walk out on me?”
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.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
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!"
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."