In a world where shadows dance with secrets and the moon holds sway over the hearts of its inhabitants, Rickie's childhood promise to marry his guardian, Azriel, becomes a haunting memory buried beneath layers of bitterness and longing. When tragedy strikes, thrusting them into a turbulent reality, Azriel steps in as Rickie's protector, but their bond becomes a battleground of conflicting desires. Seeking escape from the weight of expectation, Rickie flees to East Africa as a volunteer doctor, desperate to forge his own path. Yet, even in the chaos of war and disease, the echoes of Azriel's love linger, a haunting melody that he can't forget. Hidden beneath the guise of the mysterious Jared, Azriel watches over him from the shadows, torn between duty and a love that transcends time. As fate pulls them together once more under the full moon's glow, explosive revelations threaten to shatter their carefully constructed worlds. With danger lurking at every turn and their hearts laid bare, will Rickie and Azriel find the courage to confront their tangled past and embrace a future written in the stars? Join them in **Fated to the Full Moon**, a spellbinding tale of love, sacrifice, and destiny, where the primal call of the moon ignites a passion that can either save them or consume them whole.
Under the vast blue skies of East Africa, I see not only endless stretches of arid deserts and lush tropical grasslands but also a complex tapestry of unrest, tribal conflicts, and epidemics that have plagued the region for over a century. This land, with its breathtaking beauty, hides deep scars of suffering that challenge my resilience as a medical professional.
My white coat, once pristine, is now stained with a disturbing mixture of blood and dirt. It no longer resembles the angelic garments that symbolize hope and healing; instead, it conveys a silent plea for help, a stark reminder of the grim reality facing those who seek care.
A significant outbreak of the virus, a frightening variant of the Ebola virus, is currently sweeping through East Africa. Dedicated teams from Doctors without Borders are valiantly battling the epidemic on this unforgiving terrain, but the situation remains dire. The saying goes that a clever woman can't cook without fire, and here, the lack of medical resources and supplies proves just as crippling. Essential medications are not just hard to find-they are prohibitively expensive. The local government, grappling with its own limitations, simply cannot afford the life-saving treatments. While MSF has managed to provide some medications, it remains but a drop in the ocean of need.
As a doctor, I face an unbearable reality: I must watch countless patients infected with the virus struggle on the precipice of life and death, their hopes extinguished by the absence of effective medicine. This profound sorrow weighs heavily on my conscience, a stark reminder of my limitations in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Leaning against a weathered wooden post, I gaze up at the stars twinkling above the East African night sky. Suddenly, a bittersweet smile spreads across my face as I turn to Edward, who stands quietly behind me. "You know what?" I say, my voice laced with a mixture of determination and despair. "This is the second time I've felt this level of helplessness, even as a doctor."
Edward immediately understands that I'm referencing the last time we faced such despair, recalling the man named Jared and the indescribable bond we shared. In that moment, all he can do is sigh deeply, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and giving it a reassuring shake.
I pat his shoulder in return, signalling that I'm okay, and continue, "We can't go on like this. Without the necessary medicine, we might as well be immortals standing idly by-unable to save anyone."
"Matthew has gone to coordinate with the organization. He should be able to secure some funding and local government subsidies. With a bit of luck, we might gather enough resources, but those specific drugs are truly exorbitant," Edward responds, his brow furrowed with concern.
At that moment, a frail old man approaches and waves to us, his movement's slow but determined. I hop off the railing and enter Matthew's modest tent, Edward following closely behind.
"It has been approved; the government funds should be allocated within a week. Rickie, you will leave tomorrow to purchase the much-needed medicines," Matthew announces, handing us the approval documents with a sense of urgency.
"I understand that most specific drugs are manufactured in Ascot Ridge, but their prices are shockingly high. Even if we place a large order, it's challenging to negotiate lower costs when demand is so critical," I express my concerns, my voice tinged with frustration. Matthew sighs, nodding in agreement.
"We'll head to Ascot Ridge first. The number of patients here is overwhelming, and without those specific drugs, we can't treat them effectively. While alternative medications might not provide immediate results, they can help manage the progression of the disease. If we encounter obstacles in Ascot Ridge, we may need to explore options back in Freedonia," the old professor, wise and weathered, suggests his tone firm yet compassionate.
Without wasting any time, I return to my tent, eager to prepare for the journey ahead. I start sorting through my belongings, realizing with a pang of sadness that I have little to take with me-just the portable inspection instrument I always carry and a single, worn pair of jeans. The conditions here are appalling, and in my effort to help the local residents, I have given away many of my possessions, leaving me with only a small backpack.
Determined to make the most of my resources, I purchase a plane ticket to Ascot Ridge, and send a message to William and a few friends before boarding the flight. "My plane will arrive tomorrow," I text, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
The response comes swiftly: "I finally know you're back! Come directly to me-John is here too." A smile spreads across my face at the mention of John, a friend I have missed dearly. I quickly send another message: "Let's meet for a drink."
After tucking my phone away, I prepare for the long flight ahead-more than ten hours in the air, each minute filled with thoughts of the work awaiting me. Upon landing, I head straight to an ATM, retrieve a card from my wallet, and check my balance, feeling a sense of satisfaction at the figure displayed. After graduation, I and a few colleagues established an offshore medical institution abroad, catering to the middle and upper classes. Although my income could not compete with that of larger companies, it was sufficient for my needs, and I planned to allocate most of it to purchase essential medicines.
As I put the card away, I notice another black gold card tucked in my wallet. I know that the funds in it are many times greater than those in my own card, but I hesitate to use it. That card represents the monthly financial support from Azriel, a friend who has always been there for me. With a deep breath, I dismiss the thought and secure my wallet, taking a taxi to William's villa.
Meanwhile, in an antique courtyard in Z country, a man wearing a dark gray sweater sits on a low couch by the floor-to-ceiling window. His handsome face appears gaunt, too thin from the burdens he carries. A blanket of the same colour covers his legs, providing some comfort as he gazes quietly at the snow falling outside. The tea simmering on the stove nearby emits a soothing sound, a small moment of peace in his otherwise troubled mind.
"Little guy, you've encountered difficulties," Azriel murmurs to himself, having just hung up the phone. The fine lines etched around his eyes and the frost in his hair reveal a life well-lived, yet heavy with responsibility. After a moment of reflection, he picks up the phone again and dials a familiar number. "Torry will you have time tomorrow to come to my place and catch up?" he asks, his voice tinged with anticipation.
He leisurely pours the brewed tea into a delicate porcelain cup, the warm aroma enveloping him.
"Azriel, if you invite me, I'll make time. I really miss your big red robe tea," a bright male voice replies from the other end, filling Azriel with a sense of nostalgia.
"I'm no longer Azriel," he responds with a soft laugh, a hint of playful banter. "Don't worry; big red robe tea is ready for you."
Rickie took a taxi to William's residence. When it came to living in Ascot Ridge, he was more familiar with it than William was. William had been living in Freedonia for two years and rarely returned to Ascot Ridge except for necessary matters. However, he often travelled to Ascot Ridge for work at the headquarters, so he simply stayed with Rickie during those times.
The usually quiet villa was lively with activity. John greeted him with a warm hug. In the room, aside from John and William, there were two others whom Rickie presumed were their boyfriends.
Thinking of "boyfriend" made Rickie's mind drift back to another man-a man he had cared for deeply. If it hadn't been for the changes that occurred four years ago, he would have already confessed his feelings to Jared.
Jared, Jared.
Unable to shake off the memories, Rickie took out the notebook he always carried. He opened his email app and sent out a message, addressing it to Jared. In the past, he had sent 307 emails, all lying unanswered in his inbox. But he wasn't discouraged. His fingers danced across the keyboard as he typed:
"Jared, I want you to know that I've arrived in Ascot Ridge, and tomorrow I'll be negotiating with the pharmaceutical companies here. If they refuse to lower their prices, I might have to return to Freedonia for a solution. Please pray for me and hope they offer a better deal."
In the background, a small figure folded his hands in prayer.
That evening, the five of them gathered in the yard for a barbecue. Rickie, dressed in worn jeans, held a skewer in one hand, his mouth smeared with oil, he looked like a weary migrant worker.
"I have to ask, why are you dressed like that? Did you go bankrupt?" John laughed when he saw Rickie's state.
"Not far off," Rickie replied with a grin. "I donated everything I earned over the past two years."
"What happened? What brings you back this time?" John inquired, surprised.
"The virus is rampant in East Africa. I'm here to purchase medicines. The specific drugs are far too expensive, so I came to negotiate directly with the suppliers in Ascot Ridge. You know the saying: the price is either exorbitant or unreachable. Maybe you should consider donating some funds?" Rickie said, a mischievous smile on his face. He knew well that negotiating prices in Ascot Ridge would be a challenge.
"The specific drugs here are likely to be quite expensive. Your demand is large and urgent, and I fear it will be tough for them to reduce prices," John replied, his expression serious. "Generic drugs have been doing well in Freedonia over the past two years. If you can't succeed here, maybe try back in Freedonia. I happen to know someone who is in charge of a pharmaceutical company. If you need help, I can contact him. Just give me the details, and I'll make a donation."
Rickie looked at John, who seemed both weak and beautiful, and took his hand. "Where did you find a rich person with such a generous heart?"
"Eloise Anthony, I Ainsley Williams the Alpha of the Litha Night Walker pack, reject you as my mate. From this moment onward I sever the moon goddess fate and bond between us. You are hereby denied the opportunity of being my mate." He paused and looked at her "A scheming and a murderer like you deserve nothing but death" She looked at him and the bitterness in her throat growing every second. "I, Eloise Anthony, the daughter of Golden Moon Pack Alpha refused your rejection Alpha Ainsley Williams" She's all yours now, do whatever you want with her." I curled up on the ground, listening as the man in front of me, Alex, the Beta of the Litha Night Walker Pack, gave his final orders to the Scamp. "You'll experience the same pain and humiliations my sister Aura experienced," he said, looking at me with a dark intensity, his tone tinged with a hint of bloodthirsty emotion. "Aura my little sister was a sweet girl. She's never been to a pub or entered the Scamp Forest alone. But now she was found raped and murdered there. Your mate, Alpha Ainsley, and I went through Aura's phone, and we found out that right before the accident, you called her. The last message on her phone was to you. Where were you, Eloise?" As Alex stared at me, his eyes were filled with hatred and killing intent.
This novel has mature content +16 "Brother, I'm pregnant with our child" "Get rid of it it would be too shameful for people to hear, how could you not know contraceptive? what a shame " The man said coldly as he stormed out of the room leaving behind the stunned Clarissa. In the blink of an eye its five days has passed. As Drew cruised through the gate of their villa, the meeting with his father was not the thing that occupied his thought but seeing that woman occupied his thought. He was still fuming over her, the therapist said there is nothing she can do to help, and that vexed him even more. And to make the matter worse she is now pregnant. He stopped his car outside the massive iron gate in front of the Walter villa, he angrily rolled down his window and jabbed at the intercom when the security did not open the gate on time, he was tapping his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently waiting, he has been jabbing on the intercom for over ten minutes before the gate was opened. He drove in angry into the villa; he clenched his hand into a tight fist in his pocket. However he did not forget the reason why his father forced him back, if he has not threatened to transfer all his properties to their unborn child he would not have come to take her out as his father said but he also has another purpose of coming here today which is to get their marriage certificate and starts torturing that woman that turned her into a complete mess. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath. When he opened his eyes he was back to the young master of the Walter. The four people in the huge sitting room didn’t utter a word to each other just staring at each other, Clarissa’s mind was conflicted she has never expected her rash decision of keeping the pregnancy will break the family apart, her mom is asking for divorce while Drew was just coming back home since his father asked them to get married five days ago, she honestly didn’t expect things to turn out like this. While leaning on the sofa lazily Drew decided to break the silence “I’m here to take Clarissa out”. Drew elegantly expressed his intentions as he crossed his long legs together. Everyone listened to him without uttering a word, but turned their head to glance at Clarissa to see her reaction but she lowered her head without saying a word. Clarissa who was already dressed did not know if she should be happy or sad, with the way things were playing out. The moment she got into the car, she heard him asking, “Did you bring your ID” “Yes” she replied
She was sent to another man's bed by her childhood sweetheart and in order to save the only family she had left she didn't hesitate to agree to marry the young master of the Anderson family who was rumoured to be crippled and disfigured. She had thought since the man was crippled she would live the life of a widow.. but who would have thought the man would be in her bed. "Rex Anderson, I thought you were crippled?" "In your dream" ...................... There was a resounding slap after slap. Ariel was slapped hard by her father. "You unfilial child, where have you been all night, knee" thud! She knelt on the cold tile. "To atone for your sin, you will have to marry Rex Anderson." Ariel's body shook violently when she heard her father saying she would have to marry Rex Anderson. "What? You mean I am going to marry that crippled and disfigured shit of a man? Dad, you must be kidding me, right? I won't marry that thing ever, not in this life." Pa! She got slapped again by the person she called her father.
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."
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
Traversing back to the ancient Prime Martial World from modern age, Austin finds himself in a younger body as he wakes up. Yet, the young man he possesses was a miserable dimwit, what a bummer! But it doesn’t matter as his mind is sound and clear. Possessing this younger and stronger body, he will fight his way to become the God of martial arts, and rule the whole Martial World!
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."
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"