Imagine living in a city where mistresses are the most important thing and where arranged marriages are a deeply rooted tradition. In this context, the Alpha of the pack must find an impeccable woman, without scandals to tarnish his reputation. When he is asked to marry a pure and innocent young woman, he accepts without hesitation. However, his heart is broken by the betrayal of his former fiancée, who left him for another man. It was then that Katherine was chosen to become his wife. But can she give hope to this hardened Alpha? Will she be able to awaken feelings in him that he thought were lost forever? In this arranged marriage, can love really blossom despite the traditions and wounds of the past?
Night had fallen over the city, shrouding the mountains and forests in dense darkness. Adrian Valmont, the Alpha of the Silver Claw pack, stood in his office, shoulders tense, staring at the flickering flames of the huge fireplace. The council meeting had ended, but his words still echoed in his mind.
"You need to find a wife, Adrian. The pack needs a stable authority figure. With everything that has happened, a married Alpha is a symbol of stability. »
Stability. The word rolled bitterly off his tongue. Since the day Livia, his fiancée, abandoned him, stability seemed a distant, almost ironic concept to him. He had never wanted to rule alone, but the idea of an arranged union, imposed by his council, revolted him. Love, passion, these emotions now belonged to a past that he preferred to forget, hidden behind a shell of coldness.
But the stern eyes of his advisors were unwavering. "The shadow of betrayal still looms," one of them said seriously. "If you don't present a strong image, other packs will think we are vulnerable. » He had tried to explain to them that he did not want to be pushed into the arms of a stranger, but in vain. They didn't see it that way, and Adrian knew that his people's loyalty was precious, but fragile. So he resigned himself.
A light scratching at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Mira, his younger sister, entered silently, her gaze gentle but inquisitive.
" How are you ? » she asked softly, closing the door behind her.
"It would be better if the council would let me breathe," he replied, a hint of bitterness in his voice.
Mira walked over and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "They want what's best for the pack, Adrian. »
"What they want is to see me tied up in a marriage of convenience. As if that would solve all our problems. »
Mira looked at him gently, then took a deep breath. "Maybe...maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing." »
He turned around abruptly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Are you siding with them now too? »
She raised her hands in a sign of peace. "No, I just want you to consider the idea. After all, I know how much this breakup with Livia hurt you. But... who knows? Maybe a new presence could bring you a little... healing. »
He gave a bitter sneer. " Healing ? Do you seriously think an arranged marriage will cure me? It's not a miracle cure, Mira. »
She shook her head gently. "I'm not talking about a miracle, Adrian. I'm talking about a possibility. And then, the woman the council proposed..."
"Katherine, right? » He pronounced the name as if he were tasting an unknown fruit, wary.
Mira nodded. "Yes, Katherine. I have already met her once or twice, during meetings with other allied families. She is... discreet, reserved. Maybe a little too calm for a future Alpha wife, but... there's something... pure, authentic about her. »
"Pure," Adrian repeated, the word sounding strangely in his mouth. "And you think I could get along with her? »
Mira shrugged, a teasing smile on her lips. "I think you should talk to him first to judge. »
Adrian sighed. The idea of meeting this young woman seemed both futile and inevitable to him. He would have preferred the council to focus on the real challenges facing the pack, but he also knew that refusing would be seen as weakness. Finally, he nodded, resigned.
The next day, the meeting was organized in the reception room of the main house. Adrian hadn't bothered to get ready, preferring to present himself as he was, as a silent reminder that he was here not by choice, but by duty. Katherine entered discreetly, her frail and almost shy figure appearing tiny in the middle of the imposing room. She wore a simple dress, her dark hair falling in light waves over her shoulders.
Adrian stared at her for a moment, studying every detail. She was not the flamboyant beauty who attracted attention with her brilliance, but there was something calm, almost soothing in her expression.
Katherine, visibly nervous, hesitated before bowing respectfully. "Hello, Alpha Valmont," she whispered, her soft voice barely audible.
"Adrian," he corrected firmly. "If we are to... consider this union, we might as well avoid unnecessary formalities. »
She nodded, keeping her eyes downcast, visibly uncomfortable. A heavy silence settled, and Adrian felt a slight irritation rising within him. Was she always this self-effacing? Or was it the pressure of the situation that made her that way?
"So, Katherine," he continued, trying to break the silence. "What do you think about all this? I mean... about this proposal. »
She raised her eyes shyly, meeting his gaze with a sincerity that surprised him. "To be honest...it seems strange to me," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "I never imagined that... my life could take such a direction. »
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Have you never thought about getting married? »
A slight smile appeared on his lips. "Yes, of course. But not... like this. »
There was something disarming in his eyes. No judgment, no pretense, just simple, straightforward honesty. He felt some of his initial wariness erode, replaced by an unexpected curiosity.
"So why did you agree to come? » he asked, a little more gently.
She took a breath before answering. "Because my family thinks it's the best. And I... I want to make them proud. » Her gaze dropped again, and she added in a low voice, almost to herself, "And maybe... that's what I need too." »
Adrian remained silent, absorbing his words. He had anticipated a stiff, mechanical encounter, but this moment proved strangely different. Katherine, despite her apparent reserve, seemed to carry within her an unexpected courage, a silent determination which disarmed him.
He finally broke the silence, his voice softening. "I'm not going to lie to you, Katherine. This marriage, for me, has nothing attractive. My heart... has been betrayed, and it seems impossible to trust again. »
She looked up, looking into his gaze, and whispered in an almost inaudible voice, "I understand." We are both here for reasons that are not love. But maybe... maybe we could at least try to get to know each other. »
He nodded, surprised to feel almost relieved by her words. He had worried that she was expecting a fairy tale, but Katherine seemed as realistic as he was. This observation, against all expectations, brought him a strange form of comfort.
A thin smile appeared on his lips. " Alright. Let's get to know each other then. But, I warn you... I'm not easy to live with. »
She returned a shy smile, the first of the evening, and Adrian felt his heart tighten slightly. Perhaps, he thought, this union, as improbable as it was, was not entirely doomed to failure.
They spent the rest of the evening making small talk, learning little things about each other. Katherine told him about her love of books, the walks she liked to take at sunrise, her passion for medicinal plants. He discovered in her a delicate but resolute woman, and for the first time in a long time, Adrian felt his heart lighten, if only a little.
When she left the room, he remained alone for a moment, meditating on this encounter. An imperceptible smile touched his lips. Perhaps this imposed union would not be as meaningless as he had imagined.
**Kaden**, a relentless Alpha werewolf, who rules his pack with an iron fist. His power is threatened, not only by a growing rebellion within his own pack, but also by the emergence of **the Moon Hunters**, ruthless humans who hunt down supernatural creatures. Kaden, at the height of his strength, must face a changing world, where tradition and domination by fear are no longer enough to maintain order. **Darian**, a young wolf, questions his leadership, demanding a change in strategy, while **Elira**, a wise wolf, suggests that the Alpha must evolve to maintain the loyalty of his pack. Kaden faces a dilemma: adapt and redefine his authority or remain stuck in his brutal methods. This book immerses you in a universe where **evolution** and **survival** are at the heart of the story. Through internal battles and external confrontations, **The Alpha of Blood and Shadows** invites you to discover how far Kaden is willing to go to maintain his power and protect those he loves. Will the Alpha be able to evolve, or will it sink into the shadows of its past?
Irina is almost eighteen years old. She comes from a modest family and works as a waitress to support her sick mother. Finding love or dreaming of big things has never been a priority for her: her family comes first. But what will happen when she discovers that she is now linked to the most powerful and ruthless billionaire in the world, a man whose influence extends far beyond borders? Xander. The name alone is enough to send chills through the business world. Beautifully attractive, but renowned for his legendary cruelty, Xander does not believe in the concept of love or destiny. For him, everything is a game of power and control. When their worlds intersect, he is convinced that this meeting is a kind of bad joke orchestrated by life. But as soon as he sees her, he decides that Irina will be his, whether she likes it or not. "Aren't you happy? I asked shyly, as he looked out over the city from the window of his huge office. The reflection of the city lights danced on his face, making him even more inhumanly beautiful. But something in his dark eyes chilled me. " Happy ? » He laughed dryly, without the slightest trace of humor. He seemed almost mocking. "Happiness doesn't exist for me. And that will never change. » Those words broke me, but something about him attracted me despite myself. Will I give in to this dangerous game, or end up losing more than my heart?
> "I'm not even that special. I saw you at the window and I thought my family would have informed you. I...I'm sorry." I say as my chest starts to hurt and I can barely breathe. > > "You are still an exceptional person. It's in your personality. My instinct is sure of it." > > "I'm not, though. There's nothing extraordinary about me. I'm not strong, I don't have that confidence. If something happens to me, I can't save myself. I will just be a huge burden." > "No," he cuts me off, and I can see a glint of anger in his eyes. "YOU ARE NOT a burden. You are my partner. Destiny brought you to me." > > "Fate didn't create me for anyone, Nathan. No one wants me." I say as my voice begins to shake. It's not going the way I thought it would. I never imagined having to convince my partner that I'm not good enough. But this man continues to surprise me as he grabs me and pulls me onto his lap. > "There are people who want YOU, Clara. I want you. Your parents adopted you, they wanted you. Your brother always wanted to be by your side. He never stopped talking about you .You are unique, Clara, but that doesn't mean you're not enough or unwanted." He then said to me, holding me against him on his knees, "I want you."
The day we got a new Alpha, my family was forced to become Omega. Because our new Alpha, Alpha Jaxon, was a violent and cruel man who didn't trust any of the pack's former warriors. I refused to accept him as my Alpha, he's a bad guy, and rumor had it that the Moon Goddess didn't even give him a mate. But ironically, as soon as I saw him, I felt a warmth for him. How could this have happened? And he had already found a contract partner! I tried my best to avoid him, but he always noticed me, with his charming and sexy look... The worst part was that in order to accomplish my family's revenge, I had to get close to Alpha Jaxon, seduce him and make him fall completely in love with me... --- "I'm not sure this is the way to welcome your Alpha," he said, inches from my lips. I stopped for a second to try to calm down, the adrenaline flowing, as my wolf and I savored the comfort of being so close to him again. "Hmm, maybe that's true, except you're not my Alpha yet," I replied in a seductive and natural tone. Our faces were so close that the heat of our breaths collided, I wanted so much for him to give in and close the distance between us. "You feel it, don't you? Your wolf is howling inside you for me to mark you... right... here...", Jaxon nipped my neck ever so lightly. I felt like my legs were going to give out from under me at any moment. He moved his hand just under my sweater, to my back. He pulled me closer to his hardness as his gaze held a silent promise.
When I entered school, why was everyone looking at me? I was heading for my locker when I felt the sweetest smell there is. What was it? ** Hugo **! Go get the friends, shouted ** Lucas **. But why did he cry? Looking around me, my eyes fell on the person I absolutely didn't want to see. Why should he be there, to set me? ** Nathan Blackwell. ** His eyes pierced mine, and I could feel Lucas howl of joy in me. But why was I unable to move? What happened to me? And why was he advancing in my direction? Without thinking, I did the only thing that seemed logical to me. I ran. When I arrived in the parking lot, I was heading for my car, but ... why did hot arms suddenly surround me? Who was it? Nathan made me turn so that I am in front of him and groaned: "To me." "No, no, no, why me? Not to you !!" I said, incredulous. His grip has tightened around my waist, and he murmured insistently: "You are mine. You don't belong to anyone else. You will not understand? You will not touch another man, you will not speak to Another man. Then he buried his face in the hollow of my neck, deeply inspired. But ... how was I supposed to react to this? And why did I have the impression that my heart was racing in spite of myself?
The woman he had worked so hard to save had disappeared after a romantic night – how could she have escaped? When they met again, she had surprisingly transformed into a successful woman. Despite the warmth she showed toward everyone else, she was icy toward him, asserting, "Alpha, we don't know each other!" » He responded by hugging her and whispering, "I remember every inch of you, and I wouldn't mind getting to know you better." » He treated her like a treasure, giving her boundless affection: "Don't run away again. Marry me, and I will make those who betrayed you regret it! » With a seductive smile, she said, "Okay. » She knew he really cared about her. Alpha, both dominant and tender, he had made her forget about running away.
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.
After a passionate night, Verena left some money and wanted to leave, but was held by her companion. "Isn't it your turn to make me happy?" Verena, always disguising herself as ugly, slept with her fiance's uncle, Darren, in order to escape her engagement with her unfaithful fiance. Darren had respect and admiration. Word of his romantic escapades circulated, some saying they saw him kissing a lady against a wall and others calling it gossip. Who could ever tame Darren's heart? Then, shockingly, Darren was caught bending down to help Verena with her shoes, all to score a kiss from her!
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.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
Marrying her best friend was a dream come true for Kelly, but everything truly has a limitation. Pierce is Kelly’s first love, but as his best friend, she knew well there was always another woman deep in his heart. Lexi Gilbert. The woman Pierce could never forget even if he had already been arranged to marry Kelly. *** Kelly finally realized their happy marriage of the last three years was just a beautiful dream when Pierce asked for a divorce just because Lexi returned. She could only be his best friend even if she was carrying his baby. *** Since their friendship had become a cage, Kelly chose to set him free, as well as the miserable herself. But why then, it was Pierce who became the one who refused to move on? To make matters worse, her devil stepbrother also domineeringly stepped in at the same time, asking her to be his. *** Her Prince Charming vs. Her Devil Stepbrother? How could Kelly save her heart in this battle of love and hate?