Elena Raines has spent her life running from the past-haunted by the night her parents vanished in the wilderness of Coldmoor Ridge. When she returns to the eerie mountain town to settle their estate, she encounters Adrian Blackthorne, a mysterious stranger with piercing amber eyes and a warning she can't ignore: "You don't belong here after dark." Adrian is the Alpha of a pack cursed to hunt under every full moon, bound by an ancient pact with a powerful witch. Elena's return stirs memories he's tried to bury, and a forbidden connection neither can resist. As shadows from the past resurface and a ruthless hunter targets the pack, Elena must uncover the truth about her parents-and her own ties to the wolves of Coldmoor. Can love break the curse, or will the darkness claim her soul?
Elena Raines tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles whitening as the winding road led her deeper into the shadowy expanse of Coldmoor Ridge. The towering pines stretched toward the sky, their serrated edges slicing into the fading light of dusk. She glanced at the map on the passenger seat, though she didn't need it. Every turn, every jagged rock, was burned into her memory. She had vowed never to return to this place. Yet here she was, seventeen years after her parents vanished, driving into the heart of the very woods that had swallowed them whole.
The sound of gravel crunching beneath her tires filled the silence. Her rental car's headlights carved faint paths through the thickening fog, revealing a crumbling wooden sign: *Welcome to Coldmoor Ridge.* The letters were weathered and peeling, as though even they wanted to disappear.
Coldmoor Ridge hadn't changed much. The small town nestled at the base of the mountain remained cloaked in an air of mystery, its narrow streets and rustic buildings exuding a timelessness that felt both quaint and oppressive. She passed the gas station with its flickering neon sign, the diner she used to visit with her parents, and the general store with its sagging roof.
The estate lay on the outskirts, a sprawling Victorian house her parents had left behind. She hadn't set foot in it since their disappearance. In the years that followed, the house had been locked up, waiting for someone to claim it.
Elena parked at the foot of the driveway, the looming silhouette of the house rising before her. Its once-bright white paint had faded to a sickly gray, and ivy crawled up its sides like skeletal fingers. She stepped out of the car, pulling her coat tighter against the evening chill. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, mingled with something faintly metallic she couldn't place.
Her boots crunched over the gravel as she approached the front door. The lock clicked open with a push of the rusted key she'd found in the envelope the lawyer sent. The door groaned on its hinges, protesting her return. Inside, the scent of dust and neglect hit her, mingled with a faint trace of something floral-lavender, her mother's favorite.
The entryway was just as she remembered, though layered with decay. A grand staircase swept up to the second floor, its banister covered in cobwebs. She hesitated, memories threatening to overwhelm her. Her father's laughter, her mother's soft hums, the warmth of their presence-it all seemed to linger, ghostlike.
A soft creak echoed from the floor above. Her breath hitched. She froze, ears straining for another sound. The house settled with a groan, the noise brushing aside her suspicion. Still, unease prickled at her skin.
Her hand instinctively reached for her phone, though the lawyer had warned her cell reception was unreliable in these parts. She clicked on the flashlight app, its beam cutting through the gloom. Dust motes danced in the light as she ventured deeper into the house.
The study was her first stop, a room lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Her father had spent hours here, pouring over thick tomes about local legends and folklore. She scanned the shelves, her eyes falling on an old leather-bound journal tucked behind a row of books. Pulling it free, she flipped it open, revealing her father's neat handwriting.
*The Howlbound. A curse tied to the wolves of Coldmoor Ridge, bound to the witch who cursed them...*
The journal's contents were as cryptic as she remembered. Her father had been obsessed with the legend of the Howlbound, believing it to be the key to understanding the strange happenings in the woods. Elena had always dismissed it as his eccentricity, a way to cope with the town's mysteries.
A loud bang from the kitchen shattered her focus. The journal slipped from her hands, its pages fanning open on the floor. Heart pounding, she stepped into the hallway, her flashlight trembling as she moved toward the noise.
The kitchen door swung on its hinges, banging softly against the frame. The wind must have caught it. She stepped closer to latch it shut, her eyes scanning the darkened backyard beyond the broken glass pane.
A shadow moved at the edge of the tree line.
She froze, her breath catching in her throat. The shape was massive, too large to be a person. It stood perfectly still, its silhouette blending into the darkness. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished into the woods.
Elena stumbled back, her chest tightening. Coldmoor Ridge had always been known for its wolves. She told herself that's all it was-just a wolf, curious about the intruder on its territory.
The thought did little to calm her.
She bolted the kitchen door, her fingers fumbling with the lock. When she turned, a low growl reverberated through the house. The sound wasn't coming from outside-it was inside, a deep, guttural noise that raised the hair on her arms.
The growl echoed again, this time from the living room. Elena crept toward the sound, her pulse thundering in her ears.
The beam of her flashlight landed on a pair of glowing amber eyes.
A massive wolf stood in the center of the room, its fur black as midnight and its gaze locked on hers. It didn't move, didn't snarl or lunge. It simply stared, its presence radiating a strange, unnerving calm.
Elena's instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs wouldn't obey. She clutched the flashlight like a lifeline, the beam trembling as it illuminated the creature's powerful frame.
The wolf took a step forward, its paws silent on the hardwood floor.
"Stay back," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
The wolf stopped, its head tilting slightly as if it understood her words. For a moment, they were locked in a standoff, the air between them thick with tension. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the wolf turned and leaped through the broken window, disappearing into the night.
Elena sank to the floor, her legs giving out beneath her. She struggled to catch her breath, her mind racing to make sense of what she'd just seen.
It wasn't just the size of the wolf that unsettled her. It was the way it looked at her-intelligent, almost human.
Her father's words from his journal echoed in her mind- "The wolves of Coldmoor Ridge are not what they seem."
In the stillness that followed, the howl of a wolf pierced the night, long and mournful. It was joined by another, and another, until the forest was alive with their cries.
Elena wrapped her arms around herself, staring at the broken window. She had come here for answers, but now she wasn't sure she wanted them. Something was lurking in Coldmoor Ridge, something that had been waiting for her return, and it wasn't going to let her leave.
Jade's life is turned upside down when she's wrongfully convicted of drug trafficking. Upon her release, she discovers that her boyfriend, Luke, has been cheating on her and now has a child with her childhood best friend. Just as her world crumbles, fate steps in with an unexpected twist. Grayson Westbrook, a billionaire with a cold and distant demeanor, has sworn off marriage and children after a devastating event in his past. When his mother's pressure becomes unbearable, he proposes a deal to Jade: a marriage of convenience. But what starts as a business arrangement soon stirs deeper emotions. Grayson's words are dry, his affection seems absent, but there's something in his touch that stirs an undeniable passion in Jade. As they navigate their complex and troubled lives, secrets begin to unravel: Will Jade accept the proposal, despite the pain it brings? What truly led to Jade's wrongful conviction, and who betrayed her? What dark trauma haunts Grayson, making him swear off love and commitment?
Olivia Hayes, a renowned attorney, is drawn to the charismatic and enigmatic tech mogul, Luca Drake. His charm, humor, and innovative vision tick all the boxes for her, and their whirlwind romance sweeps her off her feet. Olivia is already deeply in love with Luca, but behind his thriving tech company lies a dark secret-he is the notorious drug lord of the city's underworld, a side of him he has carefully hidden. Olivia's world unravels when her latest high-profile case puts her directly in Luca's path, sparking suspicions and uncovering threads that lead to his shady dealings. As her feelings for Luca deepen and her case escalates, Olivia begins to uncover chilling clues that suggest Luca's involvement in the very crimes she's dedicated her life to fighting. Torn between her duty to uphold the law and her love for Luca, Olivia is forced to navigate the dangerous world of organized crime, deception, and betrayal.
Mira has always lived in the shadows of despair. With a life full of pain and little hope, she's learned to survive but never to dream. For Jaxon, the scars of his first love run deep. The hollow void left by that lost connection makes it impossible for him to commit, and he drifts from one fleeting relationship to the next. But everything changes when Mira enters his life. Their meeting is anything but fateful. Hatred fills the air as Jaxon rejects the bond that should unite them, forcing Mira to endure his indifference. Jaxon loves her even as he resists, while Mira bears the weight of his inner turmoil. Can they conquer the trials that threaten to tear them apart, or will the shattered pieces of their bond destroy them forever?
Born of a forbidden union, Ashen is haunted by the brutal murder of his mother. Seeking revenge, he infiltrates the powerful Obsidian Pack, determined to bring justice to those who shattered his world. Within the pack, he meets Penelope, the fierce and determined Alpha female destined to lead. Drawn to Ashen despite his outcast status, Penelope finds herself falling for the one man she's forbidden to love. Bound by unyielding tradition, her love for him threatens everything she's ever known. As Ashen's plan for vengeance unfolds, he must confront an impossible choice: sacrifice his growing love for Penelope or abandon his quest for justice. For Penelope, the stakes are just as high-will she risk breaking her pack's laws for a love that could destroy them all?
When billionaire heir Damon Knight is forced into an arranged marriage to secure a business merger, he expects a compliant, gold-digging bride. What he doesn't anticipate is his match, Elena Castellano-a fiercely independent artist who has no interest in his wealth or his world. Bound by duty but divided by pride, Damon and Elena embark on a marriage neither of them wants but can't escape. As their lives intertwine, passion ignites, revealing secrets that could shatter everything. In a world driven by power and betrayal, will their love grow strong enough to defy the odds, or will it crumble under the weight of their lies and pasts?
In the charming coastal town of Willow Haven, Grace Delaney is starting over. After a devastating breakup and the closure of her small bakery, she returns to her hometown to regroup and rediscover herself. Enter Lucas Hayes, a former big-city architect who has moved to Willow Haven to escape his own troubled past. When a community project brings Grace and Lucas together, their undeniable chemistry begins to spark. But Grace's guarded heart and Lucas's lingering guilt over a family tragedy threaten to tear them apart. As they navigate the challenges of trust, healing, and love, the autumn leaves falling around them remind them that letting go of the past may lead to a brighter future.
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." Darcy stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You're not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She stared at me in the mirror. "You can't even glance at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of gazing at that scar?" Heather Bailey got a surprise from her husband: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. She was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman. After signing the divorce papers, shockwaves caught her up. Her flower shop was burned to the ground. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers from influential families, she started her revenge on Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted, but that was just the beginning.
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.
Rachel used to think that her devotion would win Brian over one day, but she was proven wrong when his true love returned. Rachel had endured it all—from standing alone at the altar to dragging herself to the hospital for an emergency treatment. Everyone thought she was crazy to give up so much of herself for someone who didn’t return her feelings. But when Brian received news of Rachel’s terminal illness and realized she didn’t have long to live, he completely broke down. "I forbid you to die!" Rachel just smiled. She no longer needed him. "I will finally be free."
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."