They say there is a thin line between love and hate. Most agree that love can never be cheated. On the day the Twin Alphas of Frostone wolf pack declared that she was their fated mate, Audrey Holland swore never to love them. Never to afford them any other emotion apart from hatred and malice. She swore to pay them back tenfold for stealing her from her beloved finance. But she never anticipated the torment they'd put her through. Everything about them was like a nail striking the ice of her heart. How could they be so attractive and...powerful? Their scent was like an aphrodisiac fragrance that ignited vivid images of wanton desires, their voice of a timber that shattered all her walls and released a hidden hunger from her core. Alpha Deckard and Alpha Tristan, different sides of the same coin, working together to undo her, unravel her from the inside. How long would it take before she begins to crave their touch, their warm caress along her arms and the press of their lips against her skin? How much could she endure before her heart would ache for their presence, for everything they could offer her and more?
"She is beautiful...like an angel."
"That dress was made for her alone. So slim and elegant..."
"I wish I had subtle curves like that. Why does she have to be pretty, slender and smart at the same time? She got a degree from Cambridge at nineteen!"
"Shush...it's her wedding day. At least try to be happy for her. She's such a saintly girl. I hope my own daughter gets to snag a handsome specimen like she has."
Despite how much she was trying to suppress a smile, her lips still twitched from the happiness bubbling up inside her. Yes, it was her wedding day. She was getting married to the most handsome, kindest and esteemed man in the world. Her knight in shining armor. Her prince charming.
As she walked down the aisle, dragging each step to match the crescendo coming from the live orchestra of the church, she could feel the eyes of everyone on her. Some were happy. Some were envious. Some were shocked.
Audrey Holland did not care. Her eyes, green eyes covered by contacts instead of the huge glasses she normally wore, were fixed on her man. Nickolas looked breathtaking always, but in a smart black suit and his dark hair all curled up like that, he was heartstopping. He was staring at her too, as if she was the only person that existed in the world.
Finally, she reached the altar. Nick grinned down at her as he took her hand. He stood tall and welcoming before her, his face achingly entranced by whatever he was seeing.
The sound of music faded into the background, the cheers of the crowd a faint murmur in the distance, everything got pushed aside, as Audrey placed her head on his chest.
"You are lovely, Audrey." His deep voice resonated through her, causing her heart to explode with warmth.
She smiled too, despite the red blotches creeping over her cheeks. "Thank you, my love. As for the dress, all compliments belong to Marissa."
"I wasn't talking about any of that." Placing a finger under her delicate chin, he tilted her face up so that their eyes could lock on each other. "I mean you. Not the dress, though it's quite captivating. Not your hair, though for once you found some way to tame it a bit." They chuckled before he went on. "No, you are lovely."
The flutter in her heart travelled all over her body, threatening to lift her up in one powerful outburst of wings and wishes. How could a man like Nickolas be hers alone? If this was a dream, she hoped it would never end.
Hand in hand, they continued the rest of the way up the altar. The priest, a fatherly old man with a knowing grin spread over his face, glanced at both of them in turn.
"I thought you two would get to the 'kiss the bride' part even before we started."
Though her face flushed beet red, she smiled sheepishly, not missing the happiness on her groom's face too.
Nick, ever the gentleman, apologized to the priest. "I'm sorry for the brief delay, father Reynolds."
Father Reynolds waved it away. "Ah, it gives me joy to see a couple so attuned to each other climb the steps up the altar to say their vows. We don't get that often. Now, let's begin."
He said the last part loud enough for everyone in the chapel to hear, causing them to chuckle in their seats. Everyone who mattered, human and werewolf alike, in Frostone was here. This was thanks to Nick's status in the city as a capable lawyer who represented the werewolves in the human community.
As for Audrey, she had just her aunt Marissa as her relative present. The others were the friends she made at Cambridge university. Two of her best friends in the world, actually. Though most of the faces present at the wedding were not familiar to her, she was thankful to have all of them here.
Father Reynolds cleared his throat and continued. "We are gathered here today, before God, man and werewolf, to witness the union of love and destinies of Nickolas Lannister and Audrey Holland, a werewolf of the Frosting wolf pack and a young woman born and bred in Frostone city."
Audrey's eyes were fixed on Nick's, staring into the brown pupils ringed by gold, a gold that seemed to come to life when he transformed. He had been upfront and honest about his nature from the beginning.
His actual werewolf mate had died in an accident a decade ago when they'd been teenagers, and Audrey was the first woman who'd plucked the strings of his heart and turned the waters of his soul since then.
Love brought them together. Theirs was a union based on mutual comfort, companionship, care and understanding.
"Now, to fulfil all righteousness, I must pose a rhetorical question to our lovely audience." Father Reynolds glanced around the room, his face offering a radiant smile that no one could stop themselves from returning. "Whoever objects to this marriage should speak now or forever hold their peace."
Nick grinned, causing warmth to travel through Audrey's chest. He was so handsome, her first and only love, a perfect gentleman about everything. And she loved him beyond words.
She couldn't wait to finally give what remained of herself to him, to wake up in his arms everyday and sleep with him by her side at night. To be his closest friend and his anchor in times of peril. To bear his children and...
"I object."
No one seemed to hear the voice, the rich masculine voice that travelled over the silence of the room. Audrey was too caught up in happy thoughts to dwell on it. That was until a cold frown clouded Nickolas's face as he stared down at the audience.
Audrey, her heart pounding so hard that her body trembled, followed his gaze. And gasped.
Someone stood tall, poised and confident among the crowd of family, friends, acquaintances and relations. The man pushed gorgeousness to a whole new level, into something entirely dangerous and seductive.
Tall, lean muscled and absolutely attractive in a fitting black suit, long lashes framed dark eyes that seemed to burn with a fiery fire.
Father Reynolds recovered from his shock quickly but couldn't seem to understand what was going on.
"Alpha Tristan?"
"I object, as well." A second voice, this one deeper in timbre but equally as sonorous and velvety, declared among the audience before the owner stood up.
Audrey thought she was hallucinating. Surely this couldn't be real. Surely there wasn't two men, so alike in every way possible, on their feet now to show their opposition to her marriage.
Because, yes, the second man was a stark replica of the first. But where the face of the first bore a hint of humor and the sense of mischief, the second man's face was stone-cold, as if carved from hard marble by a highly skilled sculpture.
His shoulders were broader and his stance a lot more commanding thanks to stormy eyes, but there was no denying the fact that he was related to the first man by blood.
Two of them, standing there like that, caused a ripple of fear, confusion and shock to travel through the room, seemingly all combining to fill up Audrey's lower belly.
Father Reynolds shook his head. "Alpha Deckard?"
Fluidic and with a swagger that could intimidate even a king, they ambled towards the altar. Ignoring both the priest and Nickolas, both of whom had their heads down in reverence, they stopped in front of Audrey.
With those fiery pairs of eyes fixed on her, they made their intentions known.
"We object to this marriage because you belong to us, Audrey."
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
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."
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."
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.