Anna Harriet, the only daughter of Shaun Bordman Harriet, had been struggling to fend for herself since the deaths of her father and grandmother. They had been her world, her foundation, and now, without them, she felt untethered. "I'm not doing that. Never," Anna said firmly, lying on her bed. She had recently moved in with her mother, Sussan, and her mother's new husband in New York. It was a drastic change, and not one she had ever wanted. Growing up, Anna had always wished her mother had stayed. Sussan had left when Anna was still in elementary school, leaving her to be raised by her dad and grandmother. The memories of her mother from those early years were precious to her, small moments she clung to for comfort. But now, living with Sussan and her husband felt like stepping into a nightmare. Their home wasn't warm or welcoming-it was cold and filled with tension. "Go out with that guy, or you'll have to start feeding yourself!" Sussan yelled from another room, her words cutting through the air like a blade. Anna sat up, her chest tightening. This wasn't the mother she had dreamed of reconnecting with. This was a stranger-harsh, impatient, and far from the loving figure she had longed for during her childhood. The walls of their New York apartment seemed to close in around her as she tried to imagine a way out of this impossible situation.
Anna emerged from the cemetery with tears brimming in her eyes, her steps faltering under the weight of her grief. She had just laid her father to rest-the man who had been her rock, her guide, her entire world. Now, without him, she felt unmoored, as though the ground beneath her feet was no longer solid.
As she passed through the cemetery gates, the reality of his absence settled in her chest like a stone. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground, her sobs silent at first, then growing louder as they erupted from a place deep within her. "Where do I even start?" she whispered through trembling lips, her voice breaking under the strain of her sorrow.
Yet, just hours ago, the day had been so full of light. She had left home that morning in her dad's car, humming softly to herself, a rare spark of excitement in her heart. The errand was simple: pick up a letter from the post office. But for Anna, it was an extraordinary moment. It was the first letter she had ever received from the post office-a small but personal milestone.
When she walked out with the envelope in her hands, a radiant smile spread across her face. She had clutched it tightly, savoring the moment as though it were a precious treasure. Sitting in the car, she ran her fingers along the edge of the envelope, anticipation building as she prepared to open it.
Then her phone rang.
The sound jolted her, breaking the joyful stillness. She glanced at the screen and saw Quinn Ledger's name-the name of her childhood friend, the only friend she truly had. But the moment she answered, the lightness in her heart began to fade.
"Anna..." Quinn's voice cracked, thick with emotion. "What are you going to do?"
The urgency in her friend's tone sent a shiver of dread racing through Anna's body. Her smile vanished.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling, fear creeping into her chest like a shadow.
"Your dad..." Quinn's voice broke into sobs. "He had an asthma attack. It was too late when I got there."
The words struck Anna like a physical blow, knocking the air from her lungs. Her hand trembled, and the phone slipped from her grip, hitting the floor of the car with a hollow thud. The joy she had felt just moments ago disintegrated, replaced by a suffocating wave of despair.
Her vision blurred, her hands shook uncontrollably, and a cold numbness spread through her body. She tried to cry, but no tears came, as though her grief had frozen inside her. It was as if time itself had stopped, leaving her suspended in a void of pain and disbelief.
She stumbled out of the car, her legs like jelly, and waved down a passing cab. She didn't even remember giving the driver her address; her mind was a haze, her thoughts tangled in the chaos of what she'd just heard. The ride home felt endless, the city outside the cab window a blur of muted colors and noise.
When she arrived, the sight of her father's siblings standing somberly at the door made her heart sink further. Their expressions-heavy with loss-confirmed the unthinkable. She pushed past them, her chest tight, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.
She burst into her father's room, hoping against hope that it wasn't true, that somehow Quinn had been mistaken. But there he was, lying motionless on the bed. The man who had hugged her goodbye that very morning, whose smile had been her safe haven, was now still and lifeless.
"No," she whispered, her voice quivering, as if saying the word might undo the terrible truth before her.
The room spun, her legs gave out beneath her, and she crumpled to the floor. The world seemed to tilt, and darkness rushed in, swallowing her whole. For a moment, there was nothing but the void, her grief too vast, too consuming to bear.
Exiled from her pack for her mother's sins, Astra finds herself alone and vulnerable in a treacherous forest. But the forest holds more than just danger. Ancient secrets and a sinister darkness threaten to consume everything, and Astra, guided by whispers from the past, must uncover the truth before it's too late. As she delves deeper into the heart of the forest, she faces terrifying creatures, encounters a mysterious guardian, and discovers a hidden power within herself. Can Astra overcome her past and fulfill her destiny to save the forest, or will she succumb to the encroaching darkness?
Born as the "traitor's daughter," Astra's life has been one of relentless scorn and rejection. Her pack sees her as a stain on their pride, a constant reminder of her father's betrayal. Cast into servitude and treated as a pariah, Astra endures the weight of their hatred with quiet resilience, hoping for a sliver of acceptance that never comes. When she is falsely accused of dishonoring the pack, the punishment is exile-a death sentence for any wolf cast into the wilderness alone. Stripped of her home and any semblance of safety, Astra faces the raw brutality of the wild. But what her pack intended as her end becomes her beginning. In the wilderness, Astra meets Kael, a lone wolf whose guarded demeanor hides a painful past. Reluctantly, he teaches her how to survive and fight. As Astra learns to hunt, defend herself, and trust her instincts, she discovers something unexpected: her own strength. Kael's mentorship and their growing bond challenge Astra's perception of herself, planting the seeds of self-worth and independence. Driven by an unshakable resolve, Astra begins to reclaim her identity. The wilderness transforms her from a timid outcast into a fearless wolf. But the pull of her past is strong, and when she feels the stirrings of a mysterious mate bond, Astra knows her journey isn't over. When Astra returns to confront her pack, she is no longer the broken girl they cast out. Her strength and confidence threaten the pack's Alpha, who fears the change she represents. As tensions rise and loyalties are tested, Astra must decide: will she fight for justice and claim her rightful place, or will the scars of rejection hold her back?
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.
When they were kids, Derek saved Norah's life. Years later, after Derek ended up in a vegetative state from a car crash, Norah married him without a second thought and even used her medical knowledge to heal him. For two years, Norah was devoted, seeking his affection and looking to settle her life-saving debt. But when Derek's first love returned, Norah, faced with divorce, didn't hesitate to sign. Despite being labeled as forsaken, few knew of her true talents. She was a race car driver, a famed designer, a genius hacker, and a renowned doctor. Regretting his decision, Derek begged for her forgiveness. Just then, a charming CEO intervened, embracing Norah and declaring, "Back off! She's my wife!" Taken aback, Norah blurted out, "What did you say?"
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!"
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
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."