In New Haven, emotions aren't just felt-they're controlled and sold. Kira, one of the city's top emotion engineers, makes her living by creating emotions for others, but her own heart feels empty. Everything changes when she crosses paths with Aether, a rebel who's determined to destroy the system that took everything from him.At first, their connection is full of hate. Kira sees Aether as a threat, and Aether blames people like Kira for turning emotions into a tool for control. But as they're forced to work together, their hatred starts to turn into something much deeper.However, in a world where feelings are manipulated, love is a dangerous thing. Kira's rival, Selene, will do anything to keep them apart, while the mysterious Puppet Master-the one pulling the strings behind New Haven's emotion trade-won't let anyone disrupt his control.Now, Kira and Aether must decide if their love can survive in a world where every emotion has a price, or if it will be shattered by the very forces they're fighting against.
Chapter 1: Aether's Last Stand
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and the distant echoes of explosions. Aether crouched low behind the crumbling remains of a stone wall, his hands gripping his rifle tightly. His eyes scanned the battlefield before him, but it wasn't a battlefield in the traditional sense. No, this was an emotional war. The soldiers weren't armed with guns-they carried bottles, glowing with emotions that were sold on the black market.
His heart pounded, but there was no fear left. No adrenaline. No rage. He should feel something, anything, but those emotions had long since been drained from him, sold off for scraps of survival. The only thing left was an empty determination, the kind that came when you knew you had nothing more to lose.
"This is it," he muttered under his breath. The final raid, the last strike. He knew they wouldn't survive, but that was fine. He didn't need to survive, just to make sure the others did. He glanced over his shoulder. Milo and the rest of the team were waiting for the signal, their faces tense but focused. Milo's hand trembled as he clutched his sidearm, but his gaze was unwavering, locked on Aether.
Aether gave him a nod. "We take out the supply route, we cut them off from controlling everything." His voice was steady, even as the sky above roared with artificial lightning, a storm created by the elites to keep the rebellion at bay.
He should be afraid, but he couldn't feel it. The war had taken everything from him, including his emotions. He remembered the day the last drop of anger had left him, sold to some elite's child in exchange for a few days of rations. Since then, he had become a hollow shell, a soldier without fear, without joy, without sorrow.
The sky darkened further, and he stood up, rifle slung across his back. His boots sank into the muddy ground as he moved forward, each step calculated, precise. He had trained for this moment, for the end.
Suddenly, a flash of light from the enemy's tower caught his attention. They were moving faster than expected. He raised his hand to signal Milo and the others to stay back, but it was too late. A deafening explosion erupted to his left. The ground shook, and the world around him blurred in an instant.
Aether was thrown to the ground, his head slamming into the earth. Pain shot through his body, but he didn't scream. He couldn't scream. The emotions that made pain unbearable were gone. He rolled over onto his back, blood trickling down his face, vision hazy. His hand reached for his gun, but before he could pull himself up, he saw the enemy troops marching through the smoke.
The elite enforcers, dressed in their clean, unblemished uniforms, moved with cold efficiency. Each one carried a vial of bottled emotions strapped to their chests like trophies. Aether watched them as they passed, unable to feel the hatred that should have burned in his chest. They were the reason his world had fallen apart, but in this moment, he was numb to it all.
One of them stepped forward, a commanding figure with silver hair slicked back and cold eyes scanning the battlefield. It was him-the Puppet Master. The man who had orchestrated the downfall of the Underbelly, who had turned Aether's family into commodities to be bought and sold like cattle.
"Aether Blackstone," the Puppet Master's voice was calm, almost amused. "I've been waiting for this moment."
Aether tried to stand, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. His vision darkened at the edges.
The Puppet Master crouched beside him, a smug grin on his face. "You thought you could win this war? That you could challenge me with your pitiful rebellion?" He reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial, glowing softly in the dim light. "This is all that's left of you. Your last real emotion." He twisted the vial in his hand, watching the light inside shift.
Aether's chest tightened, but still, no anger came. No rage. No fear. Only the heavy weight of finality settled in his bones. He had failed.
With a flick of his wrist, the Puppet Master shattered the vial against the ground, the last remnants of Aether's humanity spilling into the dirt.
"Goodbye, Aether," the Puppet Master said, rising to his feet.
Darkness rushed in, and in that moment, Aether knew it was over. He had nothing left. His body fell limp, his heart slowing until all that remained was the void.
He died there, in the mud, surrounded by the empty shells of what had once been his comrades. His fight, his rebellion, ended in silence. The Puppet Master walked away, victory etched into his every step.
But Aether wasn't gone.
He wasn't finished.
The darkness that had consumed him shifted, swirled, pulled him in. His mind twisted in the black, and for what felt like an eternity, he floated in the void, weightless and numb. Until the pull became a push, a violent shove that yanked him from the abyss.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, and Aether gasped for air. But the battlefield was gone. The mud, the smoke, the ruins-all replaced by a new sky, clear and bright. He was no longer in the Underbelly, no longer fighting a war he couldn't win.
He was somewhere else.
And for the first time in years, Aether felt something stir inside him. A warmth, faint but real.
•BLURB• My sole intention was to sabotage my arranged marriage by sparking a scandal. I slept with someone to make this work, expecting no consequences. However, fate had other plans.. I realized I was pregnant after we already parted ways. Years later, just when I resigned myself to solo parenthood, my paths crossed with his again but this time, he had no memories of me nor that night.. The twist? He's the lover my ruthless female boss has always been talking about. What's this crack in my heart?.. These butterflies in my belly whenever we meet?.. I have his baby, but he's getting married soon! Can love's complexity surpass this?..
Claire Fanie believed she and Jona Harrow were soulmates, destined to be together as the Luna and alpha of their pack. They represented hope and unity, meant to lead people towards strength and harmony. Everything changes in a moment. Then Jona rejects her love and breaks her forever, destroying Claire's world to pieces. Claire has been betrayed by the one she loved, and her best friend, Laura Jossie, and now finds herself in the wild, where she must battle her greatest fears alone. Free from her identity, by night and day she must wrestle with the darkness that threatens to swallow her spirit; she'll survive the brutal elements for eleven days. Wild beasts and the haunting echoes of her past test her resilience every day. The girl who had once so desperately wanted to be accepted becomes a fierce survivor. When she returns to the village, Claire isn't who she used to be, not just in appearance, but in the way she acts. She's been hardened by the trials in the wild and hardened her - scars visible and hidden. The home she returns to, however, is no longer welcoming. People hear whispers about her and rumors, and they poison the minds of those who used to be her family. Claire thinks she might get away, but it soon begins to unravel the truth and there are lies and betrayal at the core of it all. As she confronts the reality of her shattered relationships, she faces a pivotal question: will the weight of her past devour her completely, or will she regain her fate and the love she once believed to be set in her past? This is the story of Claire in a kingdom besieged by doubt, lies, and love across these lines. The lines between friend and foe are blurred, and she must learn how to truly become a Luna again. To do so, she must embrace the strength inside her first and face the darkness that lies ahead. Claire's story is all about her fascinating journey of self-discovery, love, and redemption, and every choice she makes could be for salvation or destruction.
The world of Kae Thompson shattered when Lucas Ross, who was supposed to be her true mate and future Alpha, rejected her on her 21st birthday. Kae was devastated, making decisions to leave the pack and build a new life in the city. Five years later, Kae thrives as a freelance journalist, but her werewolf nature remains dormant. Lucas, the alpha of the BloodMoon pack, appears with a revealing shocking truth. Lucas's rejection was forced by his father's dying wish, protecting her from an ancient prophecy: "The Alpha's Mate" will bring destruction or salvation". As Kae and Lucas navigate their growing feelings for each other they must confront the true meaning of the prophecy. Will Kae forgive Luca's past rejections and accept her destiny? And what secrets lie hidden in the prophecy? Will Kae's werewolf nature be her salvation or downfall? And what were the Alpha's mistakes?
JUST ONE RECORDED NIGHTSTAND WITH A STRANGER.. was all Adeline intended in using as a scandal for her arranged wedding to be called off.. However, fate had other plans.. She ended up getting pregnant for the stranger whom she already parted ways with.. Years later,Just when she resigned herself to solo parenthood, she meets her baby's father who now has no memories of her nor the nightstand.. But that's not the worst of it.. He turned out to be the lover her ruthless female boss was always talking about.. Passion re-ignites.. Secrets explode.. Rivalry intensifies.. Hatred darkens and Adeline's tangled emotions mirror the chaos.. Can love's complexity surpass this?..
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
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?"
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?