In the isolated village of Ravenspire, the Blood Moon looms, signaling the return of a terrifying curse. Elise Thorn, a fiercely independent blacksmith's apprentice, has always dismissed the tales of werewolves and ancient rivalries-until a vicious attack leaves her with a mark that binds her to the creatures she despises. As she navigates her transformation, Elise discovers she is part of a bloodline destined to stop a sinister force that awakens every Blood Moon. She must join forces with Kade, an enigmatic alpha hiding a dark secret, to uncover the truth behind their shared fate. But as alliances crumble and enemies close in, Elise learns that saving her people may require the ultimate sacrifice.
The forge blazed with furious light, its heat licking at Elise Thorn's skin as she hammered molten iron into the shape of a curved blade. Sweat dripped from her brow, but she refused to falter, each strike of her hammer precise and deliberate. The clang of metal against metal reverberated through the small, smoke-filled workshop, a sound that steadied her nerves.
"Focus on the curve, Elise. It's not a club," her mentor, Old Joren, barked from his seat by the hearth. His one good eye glinted with sharpness that belied his years.
"It'll cut just fine," Elise shot back, though her lips twitched into a smirk. She respected Joren's skill but wasn't about to let him get under her skin. Not tonight, of all nights.
Ravenspire was unusually quiet for the eve of the Blood Moon. Normally, villagers would be bustling about, preparing charms and barricading their homes. But this year, an eerie tension hung in the air, heavy and stifling. Elise tried not to think about it. Superstitions, she told herself. Nothing more.
A loud crash broke her concentration.
"Elise!" Her younger brother, Will, burst into the forge, his small frame trembling. His face was pale, his chest heaving from the sprint.
"What is it?" Elise demanded, setting down the hammer.
"It's-it's the wolves. They're close!"
Joren stiffened, his gnarled hands gripping his cane. "Close? How close?"
Will pointed toward the woods beyond the village. "I saw them near the old mill. They're bigger than normal wolves... and their eyes..." His voice trailed off, fear stealing his words.
Elise felt a prickle of unease but quickly pushed it aside. "Stay here with Joren. I'll check it out."
"Don't be foolish," Joren warned. "You've heard the stories. If it's them, you'll not survive alone."
"I can't just sit here and do nothing," Elise snapped, already grabbing her newly forged blade. It was crude, but it would suffice.
The air outside was sharp and biting, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Elise's boots crunched against the frost-covered ground as she moved toward the edge of the village. The trees loomed ahead, their dark silhouettes swaying gently under the silver glow of the rising moon.
Her pulse quickened. Will's description echoed in her mind-wolves with glowing eyes. The stories of Ravenspire were full of such creatures, but she had always dismissed them as tales to frighten children. Yet, the unnatural stillness of the forest made her doubt her skepticism.
A low growl broke the silence.
Elise froze, her grip tightening on the hilt of her blade. Her eyes darted through the shadows, searching for movement. The growl deepened, reverberating through the trees like a warning.
A pair of glowing amber eyes emerged from the darkness.
Instinct took over. Elise raised her blade, her heart pounding in her chest. The wolf stepped into the moonlight, its form massive and menacing. Its fur was a dark, mottled gray, and its fangs gleamed like polished ivory.
"Get back!" she shouted, hoping her voice would mask the tremor in her hands.
The wolf didn't retreat. Instead, it prowled closer, its movements deliberate and predatory. Elise swung her blade in a wide arc, but the creature dodged effortlessly, its speed blurring the edges of its form.
The next moment happened too fast.
The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping inches from her arm. Elise stumbled, barely managing to twist out of the way. Pain seared through her side as she hit the ground, her blade skittering out of reach.
"Elise!"
Will's voice jolted her back to the present. She turned her head just in time to see her brother racing toward her, a look of pure terror on his face.
"Stay back!" she screamed, but it was too late.
The wolf growled, turning its attention to Will. Desperation surged through Elise, drowning out the pain in her side. She scrambled to her feet, lunging for her blade. The wolf leapt toward her brother.
Time seemed to slow.
Elise didn't think-she acted. With a roar, she threw herself between the wolf and Will, raising the blade in a desperate arc. The steel met flesh with a sickening crunch.
The wolf yelped, its momentum sending both it and Elise crashing to the ground. Claws raked against her skin, and she felt the sharp sting of teeth sinking into her shoulder.
Then, everything went dark.
---
When Elise woke, the first thing she noticed was the cold. It seeped into her bones, making her limbs heavy and unresponsive. Her vision swam as she tried to sit up, but a firm hand pressed her back down.
"Stay still," a deep voice commanded.
Her senses sharpened. The scent of pine and damp earth was stronger now, mingled with something musky and unfamiliar. She blinked, focusing on the figure crouched beside her.
He was tall, with dark hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. His expression was grim, his jaw set in a hard line.
"Who-" Elise's voice cracked. She swallowed, trying again. "Who are you?"
"Kade," he said simply.
Her gaze flicked to the bandages wrapped around her shoulder. The memory of the wolf's bite came rushing back.
"The wolf..."
"You're lucky to be alive," Kade interrupted. "That was no ordinary wolf."
"I figured that out when it tried to eat me," Elise muttered, her voice edged with defiance despite her weakness.
Kade's lips twitched, though it wasn't quite a smile. "You've been marked."
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning Elise didn't yet understand.
"What does that mean?" she demanded, her stomach churning at the look in his eyes.
"It means your life is no longer your own," Kade said, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Blood Moon's curse is upon you now."
Her heart sank, but she refused to show fear. "I don't believe in curses."
"Then you're a fool," Kade said bluntly. He stood, his movements fluid and unnervingly graceful. "But whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. The mark is real. And if you want to survive, you'll listen to me."
Elise pushed herself upright despite the protests of her body. "Why should I trust you?"
Kade's gaze softened, just for a moment. "Because if you don't, the wolves won't just kill you. They'll turn you into something far worse."
The finality in his voice sent a chill down Elise's spine. For the first time, she realized she wasn't just fighting for her life-she was fighting for her soul.
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.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
Natalie used to think she could melt Connor’s icy heart, but she was sorely mistaken. When at last she decided to leave, she discovered that she was pregnant. Even so, she chose to quietly leave his world, prompting Connor to mobilize all of his resources and expand his business to a global scale—all in a bid to find her. But there was no trace of Natalie. Connor slowly spiraled into madness, turning the city upside down and leaving chaos in his wake. Natalie finally surfaced years later, with wealth and power of her own, only to find herself entangled with Connor once again.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."