Hope is a young wolf abandoned by her mother at the age of 5. To survive, she works two jobs to pay her rent and bills, struggling to maintain balance in her life. Until one evening, she meets Ryker, a powerful Alpha. He offers her a pact: she must marry him for a year and a half to help him consolidate his role as leader with his pack and his elders, in order to prove that he is ready to assume his inheritance and receive his father's blessing to permanently lead the pack. In exchange, at the end of the contract, she will receive a considerable sum as compensation. Will Hope be able to accept this bold proposal, knowing that she will have to live alongside an Alpha with imposing charisma, but whose intentions remain ambiguous?
Hope closed the door of the small cafe where she made a weary gesture, letting out a tired sigh. The day had been endless, with its share of demanding customers and never-ending accumulated orders. She felt the throbbing pain in her feet from hours spent on her feet, and her back hurt like hell. Like every evening, only one thought inhabited her: going home, collapsing on her bed and letting herself slip into a restful sleep, far from her worries, her bills and her monotonous daily life.
The streets were almost deserted, the street lamps dimly lit the sidewalk. Hope pulled her coat tighter around her, the cold night wind seeping into her clothes. She walks quickly, eager to find the warmth of her small apartment, but suddenly, a strange sensation makes her slow down. She felt like she was being recorded, like someone was following her. She stopped, glancing furtively behind her. The shadow of a man loomed a few meters away, and his heart raced for a moment.
He was tall, with an imposing appearance and hard features that the dim lights of the street lamps only accentuated. He wore a dark coat, which blended in perfectly with the darkness. She had never seen him, yet there was something familiar about his presence. And just as she decided to continue walking, he took a determined step forward in her direction. Hope felt adrenaline rush through her, mixed with an inexplicable curiosity. This stranger did not seem to have bad intentions, but an indecipherable aura emanated from him.
"Excuse me," he said in a deep voice that echoed in the cold air. "Are you okay Hope? »
She took a step back, her wary gaze catching that of the man. How would he know his name? She had never seen him, or at least that's what she thought.
"Yes... It's me," she whispered, unable to look away from him.
He tilts his head slightly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, although there is nothing warm about the smile. "My name is Ryker ," he continues calmly. "I'm sorry if I scared you, but I've wanted to talk to you for a while. »
Hope frowned, even more confused. " I don't understand. Why would someone like you want to... talk to me? » she asked, surprised to hear his voice so trembling.
Ryker looked at her, silent for a moment, as if he were weighing each word he was about to say. His piercing gaze seemed to probe every corner of her being, making her nervous under this weight.
"Because I have a proposition for you, Hope," he finally said, his voice softening slightly. "A proposal that could change your life. »
A proposal. Just that word made Hope laugh inside. She had nothing left to offer anyone, struggling every day to make ends meet, working two jobs to keep a roof over her head. She observes this man, handsome, elegant, who exuded a quiet strength and an intimidating confidence. Everything in her attitude made her stay on her guard.
"And what kind of proposal? » she demanded cautiously, a glint of challenge in her eyes.
He didn't blink, his gaze intently fixed on her, as if he sensed her doubts, her fears, all the emotions she was trying to hide. "A wedding," he replied simply.
Hope blinked, searching for a hint of joke in his dark eyes. A wedding? She must have misunderstood, it was absurd. It certainly wasn't a sincere marriage proposal. She let out an incredulous laugh, raising her eyebrows. "I don't know who you are or what you want, but I think you have the wrong person. »
"No, I'm not wrong," he replied calmly, a mysterious smile spreading across his face. "I know exactly who you are, Hope. And I know your circumstances... your work here, your little apartment, your difficulties..."
She stiffens, her fingers tighten on the strap of her bag. "What do you mean? » she whispered, her voice choked with growing anxiety.
"I know you fight every day to survive," he continued, his tone impassive. "And I can give you a number. A marriage contract, over a defined period. In exchange for this marriage, you will receive financial compensation which could... considerably alleviate your worries. »
The words seemed unreal, floating in the air, but Hope felt her heart speed up. Why would a man like him propose a marriage contract to a stranger? Nothing about this situation made sense. She took a step back, trying to understand what he hoped to achieve by making this proposition.
"I don't even know you," she finally replied, distrust seeping into her voice. "Why would I marry you? »
Ryker watched him carefully, and for a second she thought she saw something deeper in his eyes, a hidden vulnerability. But it was so brief that she couldn't tell if she had really seen it. "Because we both have reasons for wanting this marriage," he said, in a tone that brooked no argument. "You, to get you out of your current situation. Me, for... personal reasons, which you will understand when the time comes. »
Hope remained silent, forced to decipher this enigmatic man who spoke with accumulated coldness, as if he had already planned everything. She looked for answers in his eyes, but they were opaque, airtight.
"Would you offer me...financial compensation? » she whispered, hesitant.
" Yes. A significant amount, enough for you to get your life back on track, without worry. This marriage would last a year and a half. Then you will be free to go, without strings attached. »
Breathing short, Hope felt her reason wavering. She had never imagined finding herself faced with such an offer, and even less so from a stranger. Yet part of her clung to this crazy idea like a lifeline. After all, his current life offered him no respite, and this marriage, as strange as it seemed, seemed to be the promise of an escape.
"And what do you expect from me in return? » she asked, her voice tense.
"Simply for being my wife, in the eyes of the world and my pack," he replied, his gaze softening slightly. "There will be no personal obligations. Everything will remain purely... professional. »
Hope looked away, her thoughts swirling in her head. She would have to live with him, play the role of a devoted wife, without experiencing the feelings that such a commitment implied. But she would finally have the security she never had, and perhaps the chance to rebuild something new.
After a moment of silence, she regained courage and looked up at him. "Okay... If I accept, what guarantee will you keep your word? »
He holds out a hand to her, his eyes fixed on her intently. "You have my word, Hope. It may not be much to you, but in my world, it's worth more than a contract. »
She hesitated, her fingers brushing his outstretched hand. His instincts screamed at him to flee, but another voice, weaker but insistent, whispered to him to take this risk. This decision could turn his life upside down, one way or another.
She finally squeezed his hand, the contact of his skin warmly warmed his last reluctance. A strange feeling of security invaded him, as if, despite the apparent coldness of this man, he represented a stability that had always eluded him.
"Okay," she said finally, her voice shaky but resolute. "I accept your proposal. »
Ryker nodded, a flash of satisfaction crossing his eyes. "Very well, Hope. Welcome to my world. »
They remained silent for a moment, their hands still linked, each aware that this simple handshake had just sealed an agreement that would change their lives forever.
**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.
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
For the sake of their company, Atasha Rae was forced to marry the known heartless billionaire, Lorcan Amadeus. But it only took her a week as his wife because later on, he suddenly wants a divorce immediately. So as he wished, she signed the divorce paper even after admitting to herself that she was somehow starting to fall inlove with him. Heart badly wounded, she ran away from his life. Until she discovers that she's pregnant with his child and as a result, she ends up with no choice but to keep it a secret. Out of Lorcan's awareness, she's keeping a secret that would lead him to an overflowing regret. Because for a week of their fallen marriage beyond repair, she's carrying the billionaire's heir.
"Ms. Crawford, it’s time for you to divorce Mr. Larsen and come home. You're the only heiress the Master's waiting for.” ~•~ For the sake of love, Amara accepted the arranged marriage with Tobias William Larsen. She did everything to gain her husband’s heart but when his old love returned, she realized that all her effort was all for naught. Tobias demanded a divorce on the night of their wedding anniversary, even at the price of threatening her. Heartbroken, she finally dropped all her illusions about him and returned home to be the heiress. The next time she met Tobias, they were no longer couples but opponents. "Mr. Larsen, should I remind you again? We've divorced." "Amara, that's the stupidest mistake I've ever made. Please come back to me."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
This is a story about two damaged people who came together because of one's desire and the other's fear. Cassandra She was young, innocent, loving, and pretty with big eyes that showed her soul. She was stunningly beautiful but broken and alone, trapped in a world of monsters. Then he appeared. People say he is the worst monster of all, someone you pray never to meet. Will she escape him, or will he become her whole world? Dominic He was ruthless, aggressive, and merciless. Everyone feared him, and he was proud to be the king of his world. But he was also broken. Then she appeared. She was like a fragile doll, his doll. Will he take what he wants and move on, or will she become his life? "Let me go, please," she begged. He buried his face in her neck and tightened his grip around her arms. "Shhhh... breathe, love," he whispered. She cringed at his nickname for her, and he continued, "You are mine, and I am never letting you go. I will give you everything, my love, except your freedom from me."
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.