In a world where family ties bind with unbreakable chains, Zara and Damon are caught in a web of loyalty, blood feuds, and forbidden love. The moment their eyes meet, sparks ignite, but their families have been enemies for generations. Zara, the daughter of a powerful crime lord, is promised to a man she does not love, while Damon is the heir to the rival family who killed her brother. As their paths intertwine, the heat of their passion becomes the ultimate betrayal, and every stolen moment could cost them everything. In a world of vengeance and sacrifice, can love survive the storm?
Zara's world had always been one of shadows and silence. Beneath the opulence of her family's estate lay a foundation built on whispered deals, veiled threats, and blood-stained promises. The night air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine from the garden, yet the weight of her father's expectations pressed down on her chest like a stone. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration-a party to mark her upcoming engagement to Matteo, the son of one of the most influential crime families in the city. The union would solidify her family's position as untouchable, untarnishable.
But Zara could not silence the gnawing feeling in her gut that the price of this alliance was too steep, and the cost would be her freedom.
Her father, Lorenzo Moretti, was seated in the grand hall, surrounded by guests whose names she could never remember, only their titles. All the faces blurred into one-wealthy, powerful, eager to do whatever it took to curry favor with the Moretti family. The silverware gleamed under the low chandelier lights, but Zara couldn't shake the growing sense of suffocation. She wandered the marble halls of the estate, avoiding her guests' pitying stares. Her marriage to Matteo had been arranged when she was just a child, a decision that, even now, was beyond her control. Yet, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself of the benefits, the sacrifice weighed heavily on her.
The glass doors leading out to the garden creaked as Zara pushed them open. The cool breeze immediately washed over her, and she drew in a sharp breath. A moment of peace. But even here, there was no escaping the suffocating weight of her reality.
Her gaze fell on the empty stone bench beneath the looming oak tree. It was her haven when the world became too much. The place where she went to remember who she was before her father's empire had consumed every ounce of her freedom.
Footsteps echoed behind her, soft but unmistakable.
"Zara," a familiar voice called, and she stiffened.
Turning, she saw Matteo approaching, his sharp features framed by the flickering light from the mansion. His dark hair, neatly combed, and the tailored suit he wore only accentuated the cold, calculating nature that had always been there. He was handsome in a way that could never be called charming, his expressions often too stiff, too rehearsed. She had learned to tolerate him, to put on the smile she knew he expected, but that was the extent of their relationship-an arrangement, nothing more.
"You've been avoiding me." Matteo's tone was almost too light, as if he didn't truly care but was simply stating a fact. His eyes, though, were sharp, always watching, always probing. Zara resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"I'm not avoiding you," she replied, her voice steady. "I'm simply enjoying the night in peace."
He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. The smell of his cologne, expensive and overpowering, lingered between them. "The night will end soon, Zara. Don't waste it." His lips curled into a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You're mine now. You've always been mine."
A chill ran through her.
"I'm no one's," Zara retorted, her eyes flashing with sudden defiance.
Matteo's gaze hardened, but he masked it quickly, his smile still intact, albeit less genuine. "You'll come to understand," he said, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "Everything we do is for the family. You'll see that soon enough."
She didn't respond, only turned her gaze back to the garden, her thoughts swirling like the leaves caught in the wind. It was the same rhetoric every time. The same excuse for every sacrifice they'd forced upon her. *The family* was always the answer. Her father, Matteo, even her own mother-everyone had the same unwavering devotion to it, as though she were born only to serve it. And she had no choice but to play her part.
Yet, beneath the weight of her duty, Zara couldn't ignore the feeling of something more. She wasn't meant for this life. She wasn't meant to be another pawn in their ruthless game. But breaking free... that would come at a cost. One she was unwilling to pay, not yet.
Matteo's voice cut through her thoughts. "There's someone I want you to meet, Zara. Someone who might help you understand." He didn't give her a chance to reply before taking her arm and guiding her back toward the grand hall.
Reluctantly, Zara allowed him to lead her. The night was far from over, and her father's plans were moving forward. But the sense of unease that had settled in her chest only grew heavier.
Inside the grand hall, the music had changed to something more lively, and the chatter had risen to a murmur of excitement. Guests sipped wine from crystal glasses, their laughter echoing off the marble floors. But amidst the swirling sounds, Zara felt the quiet pull of something-or someone-out of place. Her eyes scanned the crowd, her instincts kicking in.
It was then that she saw him.
He stood near the far corner of the room, his posture relaxed, yet his presence commanding. Damon King. The son of her family's greatest enemy. Zara's heart stuttered, though she couldn't explain why.
Damon was everything she had been taught to despise. His family had been responsible for her brother's death. His name was synonymous with betrayal, violence, and the loss of those she loved. Yet, there was something about him that drew her in-something dark and dangerous, yet undeniably magnetic.
Their eyes met across the room, and for a brief moment, the entire world seemed to fall away. The people around them, the music, the laughter-they all disappeared, leaving only the weight of that gaze. She quickly looked away, but the image of him lingered in her mind.
"Zara," Matteo said again, his grip tightening on her arm. "You're distracted. Focus."
She blinked, forcing herself to return to the present. Matteo, however, hadn't missed her reaction. His gaze narrowed as he followed her line of sight.
"King," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Stay away from him. He's trouble. And you're mine, Zara."
His words should have reassured her, but they only deepened the sense of unease. Damon King was trouble, but for reasons she couldn't explain, he was the kind of trouble she might not be able to resist.
Matteo led her through the crowd, but her steps slowed as they neared Damon. She could feel his gaze burning into her back, but when she finally dared to glance over, Damon was no longer looking at her. His focus had shifted to something else, something behind her, though she couldn't figure out what.
The feeling of being watched never quite left her. It was as if Damon knew more about her than anyone else, knew things even she hadn't yet acknowledged.
Damon didn't belong in the world she was part of. And yet, something about him was impossible to ignore.
Matteo steered her toward a different corner of the room, away from Damon's presence, but Zara couldn't help the feeling that the night was only just beginning. That something far more dangerous was about to unfold... Something that would change everything.
Isla has spent her entire life waiting for the moment she would find her mate, believing in the fairy tales of fate and eternal love. But when her mate, Alpha Asher Nightshade, rejects her on the night of their fated union, Isla's world shatters. Deemed too "ordinary" for the powerful and ambitious Alpha, she is cast out of the Shadowfang Pack. Fate, however, has other plans. Years later, Isla has rebuilt herself, finding strength and purpose among a rogue pack that values her for who she is. But when Asher's pack is threatened by an ancient curse, he seeks her out, desperate for her unique gift to commune with the spirits of the forest. Thrown back into each other's lives, Isla and Asher must confront the wounds of the past while facing a dangerous future. Will Asher prove he is worthy of a second chance, or will Isla find a love even greater than the bond that once broke her?
In a world shattered by a catastrophic disaster, Jillian and Tom are among the last survivors, bound together by a shared will to survive and the budding, undeniable bond between them. As they traverse the wreckage of civilization, scavenging for supplies and navigating the horrors of a world stripped of life, they find comfort in each other's presence. But as the days slip by, they must confront the question: Can love bloom in the midst of darkness and death? Amidst campfires, fleeting moments of joy, and the harsh reality of their new world, Jillian and Tom face not only the danger of the outside world but also the fear of losing each other. Will their connection be enough to overcome the shadows that threaten to consume them?
When billionaire Cameron Reed needs a wife to secure his family's business empire, he turns to beautiful lawyer Aurora "Rory" Wellesley. Their contract marriage promises a hefty payout, but as they navigate the complexities of their agreement, they must confront their growing feelings and the secrets threatening to tear them apart. Will their love be worth the risk, or will their bargain destroy everything?
Emerson Grant, a successful event planner, returns to her hometown after a painful divorce. She butts heads with her new neighbor, former NFL star Caleb Mitchell, who's hiding a secret. As they work together to restore the town's iconic lighthouse, their initial animosity turns into a fiery attraction. But will their pasts and fears extinguish the flames of love or will they find their forever?
Wealthy businessman Ryder Thompson inherits a struggling vineyard in Tuscany, he sees an opportunity to turn his life around. But what he doesn't expect is to fall for the vineyard's beautiful and fiercely independent manager, Sophia De Luca. As they work together to restore the vineyard to its former glory, Ryder and Sophia must navigate their own complicated pasts and confront the secrets that threaten to tear them apart. Will their love be enough to overcome the challenges that lie ahead?
Struggling musician Avery Wells meets enigmatic billionaire Elijah Stone, their worlds collide in a whirlwind romance. But as their love deepens, dark secrets from Elijah's past threaten to tear them apart. Can Avery's music heal Elijah's heart, or will their love song fade into silence?
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!"
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."
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.
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
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.