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?
I stared at my desk's flickering candle, the little light quivering as if it felt the same uneasiness as me. My thoughts were interrupted by his calm but tense voice.
"Niki, I need you to talk to me," Cassian continued, his intense stare holding me firm.
"Speak with you? What is it about? With a forced grin that stopped short of my eyes, I asked. "There isn't anything incorrect."
"Yes, there is. I can tell because you don't look at me. His words pierced me even as his voice became softer. "Niki, you can't keep acting like that. We are both aware that a shadow now separates us.
The quiet between us became thicker, and I gasped. That growing gap, that silent but indisputable emptiness that none of us understood how to traverse, was something I could sense as well. Glancing down, I ran my fingertips down the edge of the desk as if the answers were hidden in the weathered wood.
"I... I don't know what you want me to say." I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes, so I hardly spoke. He would see the anger and embarrassment that tore at me day and night if I did.
He ran a hand over his jaw and groaned. "Niki, you're my Luna. My friend. We deal with everything collectively, or at least we should. However, you've felt... aloof during the last several months.
"How far away?" I repeated, letting out a sour chuckle before I could control it. "Cassian, I've been here every day. By your side, every evening. I'm not necessarily not here just because I'm silent.
"It's more than that," he said, his voice becoming less abrasive as he approached. "You refuse to allow me in, even when you're in pain. Niki, I feel your anguish as if it were my own. But day after day, you keep me out. Why?
I clenched my hands and stared at the candle, doing everything to escape his intense look. His enquiries weighed heavily on me, eroding the barriers I had up around my humiliation with each one.
"Is it because of..." His voice was no more than a whisper as he drifted off. "Is the child to blame?"
More powerful than any charge, the question lingered between us. A familiar aching began to blossom within me as my chest clenched. With the wordless response stuck in my throat, I closed my eyes.
I eventually managed to say, "Two years, Cassian," in a hoarse whisper. "I still haven't given you a child after two years."
"That's not-" said Niki.
"Don't say it's not important," I cut in, sounding harsher than I meant to. "You are the Alpha. It's an obligation, not simply a desire. The group as a whole anticipates it. They gaze at me as if I'm failing them.
Cassian's hand extended towards me as his gaze became softer. His fingers wrapped around mine, anchoring me in a manner that was both painful and reassuring. I could feel the warmth of his touch. But the sensation of inadequacy that had taken root so firmly inside of me was still eating at my gut.
With a steady warmth that permeated my armour's gaps, he replied, "You're not failing me, Niki." "My Luna is you. The only Luna I will ever need.
I wanted to believe him, to let his words ease the pain that had been ingrained in my body. However, how could I? How could I ignore the pack's silent judgement, the sidelong stares, and the whispers? I could see the question remaining in their eyes whenever they glanced at me, even if they didn't say it out loud. Worse, I sensed it. This inadequacy and emptiness tore at me from the inside out.
"You say that now," I said in a tremulous murmur. However, what would happen if it didn't, Cassian? What if I am unable to conceive for you?
He didn't respond right away. I could sense the battle raging behind his eyes, the strain emanating from him. Despite his strength, loyalty, and Alpha status, Cassian was unable to ignore the pressure that came with his position. An Alpha was supposed to guide, guard, and support the pack in every manner. And I was supposed to support him and carry out my job as his Luna. One that I was gradually starting to believe I would never fulfil.
"Niki," he said in a hushed, almost beseeching voice. "This has nothing to do with a kid. It concerns us. Regarding you. I just ask that you allow me in.
I could feel my defences eroding, the barriers I had erected to keep him out starting to give way under the pressure of his remarks. I knew that he meant good. However, I couldn't stand to face the reality myself, so how could I let him in?
I said, my voice just audible, "I'm trying." "Yes, I am. But Cassian, it's difficult. Each day I feel... less.
I withdrew my hand from his and around myself with my arms as if to protect myself from the pain inside. Cassian had a steady, unblinking stare, but I was unable to meet his gaze. Not while my humiliation was burning so intensely inside of me.
"Less?" he said, his tone tinged with incredulity. "You're my Luna, my partner, Niki. Nothing about you is less.
"So what gives the impression that there is?" I lost my temper and spoke before I could control myself. "What makes me feel inadequate? That I will never be sufficient?
I was forced to gaze at Cassian as his face softened and his hands reached out to cup my face. Although his touch was soft and soothing, it didn't completely relieve the pain that was screaming within me. The guilt simply became more because of the love and passionate protectiveness in his stare.
With a calm but unwavering firmness, he whispered firmly, "Niki, listen to me." "You are more than sufficient. You are everything. I don't give a damn about what other people or the pack think. Nothing can ever alter the fact that you are my mate.
Something within me was roused by his words, a sliver of hope piercing the darkness. However, it was insufficient to silence the voice that echoed at the back of my mind, reminding me of the judgement that pervaded every sidelong look and every hushed discussion.
"That's easy to say now," I said, my voice shaking. However, what happens if you begin to trust them? When do you begin to gaze at me like others do?
As he fought for control, his jaw tightened and his facial muscles tensed. I could see the hopelessness that reflected my own, the frustration in his eyes. However, he held me tightly and grounded me with his hands.
"I won't," he responded in a harsh, uncompromising voice. "Niki, I'll never see you like that. You were my choice. I choose you, for better or worse.
I was moved by the words, which served as a bittersweet reminder of our relationship. Even while his words eased the pain, I couldn't get rid of the worry that kept creeping into the back of my mind: that one day he would see in me what I saw in myself: a Luna who had let her pack, her mate, and herself down.
I said, my voice no more than a whisper, "I want to believe you." "I do. But it may be difficult at times.
He kept me close, his warmth a constant presence against the worries that tore at me, his embrace a wordless comfort. However, even as I lay in his arms, I was unable to ignore the persistent, low voice that reminded me of all the ways I had failed and spoke of my inadequacies.
While the light burned on the desk next to us, creating shadows on the walls, I could feel those shadows seeping into my heart and the doubts seeping beyond the walls I had put up to become a part of me.
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 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.
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.)
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Dear readers, this book has resumed daily updates. It took Sabrina three whole years to realize that her husband, Tyrone didn't have a heart. He was the coldest and most indifferent man she had ever met. He never smiled at her, let alone treated her like his wife. To make matters worse, the return of the woman he had eyes for brought Sabrina nothing but divorce papers. Sabrina's heart broke. Hoping that there was still a chance for them to work on their marriage, she asked, "Quick question,Tyrone. Would you still divorce me if I told you that I was pregnant?" "Absolutely!" he responded. Realizing that she didn't mean shit to him, Sabrina decided to let go. She signed the divorce agreement while lying on her sickbed with a broken heart. Surprisingly, that wasn't the end for the couple. It was as if scales fell off Tyrone's eyes after she signed the divorce agreement. The once so heartless man groveled at her bedside and pleaded, "Sabrina, I made a big mistake. Please don't divorce me. I promise to change." Sabrina smiled weakly, not knowing what to do...
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"