When Zara Hart agrees to a marriage contract with the notoriously cold billionaire Damian Cole, she thinks she's secured her freedom from a debt-ridden life. Little does she know, Damian has his own agenda-a vengeance plan that requires an ideal "wife" to win his family's approval and take control of his legacy. As their lives intertwine in unexpected ways, Zara and Damian discover their fake marriage is becoming all too real. But with secrets and lies woven into their contract, will their growing love survive, or will it destroy them both?
The coffee shop was too warm, the air thick with the mingled aromas of burnt espresso and cinnamon pastries. Zara Hart brushed a stray curl behind her ear, her fingers trembling as she looked down at the crumpled paper in her hands. The debt total, with its string of zeroes, was seared into her mind, a relentless reminder of her parents' sudden passing and the financial disaster they'd left behind.
With a weary sigh, she slipped the paper back into her bag, grateful that the dim lighting obscured the dark circles beneath her eyes. The reality was that Zara, at twenty-seven, had hit a dead end. Her once-vibrant dreams of opening an art gallery seemed as distant as stardust. The thought made her sick-until the man across from her cleared his throat.
Damian Cole was as intimidating in person as his reputation promised. His sharp jawline, cold eyes, and meticulously tailored suit spoke of money, control, and a life untouched by mundane struggles. At thirty-two, he commanded not only a fortune but an entire empire. This meeting, however, wasn't about his empire-or so he claimed.
"Miss Hart," Damian's voice was calm, almost clinical. "I understand you're in a difficult position financially."
Zara stiffened, her defenses rising. "You could say that. But what exactly does that have to do with you?"
His lips twitched, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I have a proposition that might benefit both of us."
He reached into his leather briefcase and pulled out a sleek folder, sliding it across the table toward her. Zara eyed it warily, her fingers tingling with a mixture of curiosity and dread. She opened it, skimming the legal jargon that her exhausted brain could barely process.
"I want you to marry me," Damian said, his tone as if he'd just asked her to pass the sugar.
The words froze her, and her eyes snapped up to meet his, searching for a sign of humor, a hint that this was some cruel joke. But his gaze remained unwavering.
"Marry you?" she echoed, almost choking on the absurdity. "Are you out of your mind?"
"I assure you, I'm entirely sane." Damian's expression didn't shift. "This isn't a marriage in the traditional sense. It's a contract. Six months, nothing more. You fulfill the role of my wife, and in return, I'll clear your debts and provide a generous payout at the end."
Zara blinked, her mind scrambling to keep up. The words "clear your debts" reverberated through her, mingling with a sense of dread and impossible hope. "Why me? You could hire anyone to play this role. Why go to the trouble of a legal marriage?"
Damian's gaze hardened, a flicker of something-anger, maybe?-crossing his features. "Let's just say my family requires a convincing performance. My brother and the company board are waiting for an excuse to deem me unfit to lead. A stable marriage would put them at ease, and you"-he paused, glancing down at her worn blouse and tired expression-"don't have ties to anyone who could interfere with my plans."
Zara's chest tightened. He was right; she was alone in every sense. With her parents gone and her closest friend Riley as her only confidant, Zara had no one who would stand in Damian's way. The sense of isolation she'd felt since her parents' death flared anew, mixing with the unnerving reality of Damian's proposal.
"And what exactly would I have to do?" Her voice sounded small, but she couldn't stop herself from asking. "As your...wife."
"Attend functions with me. Convince my family we're madly in love. Play the part convincingly." His eyes gleamed with a rare hint of warmth, though she doubted it was genuine. "Nothing more than that."
"No...physical relationship?"
He gave a curt shake of his head. "Not unless you choose. This arrangement is purely professional."
Zara let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The idea of being bound to someone as guarded and intimidating as Damian-without the safety net of real affection-sent chills down her spine. But the truth was staring her in the face, merciless in its simplicity. She was out of options. Her debts were drowning her, and here, before her, was a lifeline-one tangled with strings, yes, but a lifeline nonetheless.
"What's in it for you?" she pressed, needing to understand more of the shadows behind his steely gaze.
A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. "My brother, Grant, is waiting for me to slip up. He wants the company, and the board believes I'm too volatile to lead. A 'respectable' marriage will change that perception. And when I meet the board's criteria, I'll have the leverage to make decisions without interference."
Zara nodded slowly, feeling her resolve harden. She'd always fought for her independence, but this...this might be her only way forward. "And you'd really pay off all my debts?"
"Every cent," Damian confirmed, leaning back in his chair. "And you'll be compensated handsomely for your time."
It was a proposition that seemed too good to be true, yet his expression held no room for doubt. Still, doubt gnawed at her. "If I agree...what happens after six months?"
Damian's gaze turned steely. "After six months, we part ways. No strings attached. You'll have what you need, and I'll have fulfilled my obligations. We go back to our own lives."
She considered his words, weighing the risks against the salvation he offered. Six months. That was all. Six months of pretending, of playing a role that could secure her future. But the fear of being entangled in Damian's web, of losing herself in a charade with a man who seemed to wield control over everything-she could feel it pricking her skin, whispering warnings.
Finally, she looked him square in the eye, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her. "Fine. I'll do it."
For the first time, Damian's lips curved into a faint smile, though it held no warmth. "Then we'll begin immediately. You'll be moving into my residence within the week. My attorney will finalize the contract by tomorrow."
The finality of his words settled like lead in her stomach. There was no turning back now. Zara had stepped into his world, a world of power and deception where the stakes were dangerously high. But if this was the price of freedom from her past, she was willing to pay it.
"Welcome to the family, Mrs. Cole," Damian murmured, his tone laced with a chilling satisfaction that left her questioning whether she'd just made a deal with the devil himself.
When Aria wakes up in an unfamiliar packhouse, disoriented and without any recollection of how she got there, she finds herself face-to-face with Lucas, the enigmatic and commanding Alpha who claims she is his fated mate. Confused and unable to recall their bond, Aria struggles to reconcile her lack of memory with the intense emotions Lucas stirs within her. As pieces of her past begin to return in fragmented flashes, she uncovers a painful truth: Lucas rejected her years ago, shattering their bond and setting her on a path of loneliness. But Lucas's pack is now cursed, their survival hanging by a thread, and Aria may hold the key to breaking the spell. Torn between the betrayal of the past and the undeniable pull of their fated bond, Aria must decide if she can forgive Lucas and if their love is strong enough to undo the darkness threatening them all. But as secrets unravel and a rogue witch's vendetta is revealed, Aria realizes her lost memories hide more than just heartbreak; they conceal a power that could save them or destroy them all.
Running from her past, Cassia, a runaway omega, has spent years hiding from the ruthless pack she escaped. But when she crosses paths with the feared Alpha Killian-a wolf known for his brutal reign-her world is turned upside down. Killian is her fated mate, a bond she can't deny. As she resists his attempts to claim her, dark secrets about her past begin to unravel, revealing the true reason she fled. With enemies closing in and her heart torn between fear and desire, Cassia must decide if she can trust Killian to protect her or if surrendering to him will lead to her destruction.
When celebrated chef Adrian Knight teams up with enigmatic sommelier Celeste Laurent for an exclusive culinary event, sparks fly faster than pans in a kitchen fire. Their shared passion for exquisite flavors becomes a tantalizing prelude to a deeper, carnal hunger neither can deny. But as secrets simmer beneath the surface, their indulgence threatens to burn everything they've worked for. In a world where precision and control reign supreme, can two fiery souls surrender to their desires without losing themselves-or each other?
Drayen Fael has spent his entire life training to exert revenge on the witch who destroyed his family. As one of the last dragon shifters, his fiery rage fuels his every step, sharpening his claws and stoking the flames that burn inside him. Finally, after decades of hunting, he tracks her to the ruins of a forgotten kingdom. But the witch, Keryth, isn't what he imagined. She isn't the heartless monster of his nightmares. She's broken, haunted by her own dark past, and struggling to control the very powers that caused Drayen's grief. As their fates intertwine, Drayen must confront a truth more terrifying than any firestorm: vengeance isn't the answer, and his destiny is tied to the one he swore to destroy. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that goes far beyond their vendetta, one that threatens to unleash a darkness capable of annihilating their world. Can love bloom in the ashes of betrayal? Or will the flames of their past consume them both?
Amara thought she had everything-a destined mate, a promising future as the Luna of the Silver Ridge Pack, and a love she believed unshakable. But when her mate, Alpha Kael, cruelly rejects her for another, her world crumbles. Stripped of her title and cast out, she ventures into the wilds, broken but determined to survive. Years later, Amara returns as a formidable warrior with secrets that could change the fate of the werewolf world. But fate has one last twist for her-a second chance mate, one she never expected: Adrian, the enigmatic and dangerous leader of the rogue wolves. Torn between a past she can't escape and a future she never anticipated, Amara must navigate treachery, forbidden love, and a deadly prophecy. As the moon rises, choices will be made, blood will be spilled, and destiny will unfold.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
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?"
"You're the moon wolf, Lola. You're the wolf with the power of the Moon goddess", Serena said and collective gasps were heard in the room. After being rejected by her mate in Moonlit pack, Lola escaped on a full moon only to enter the territory of the next Alpha King who also happened to be her second chance mate. Adrian is the next Alpha King but he hasn't been able to assume his role because he needed a Luna by his side. A rogue that trespassed on his territory, whom he ordered be killed turned out to be his mate leaving him in a dilemma. Will Adrian reject Lola because she came into his territory as a rogue? Will he overcome what happened to him in the past and give Lola a chance or reject her and go ahead with Fay as his chosen Luna? What will happen when everyone finds out just how much power Lola wields and how she's supposed to protect her kind in an oncoming war? Find out in Lola - The Moon Wolf!
**This book contains a trigger warning. Mention about rape and torture in this book. Please read with caution** "Our marriage is nothing but a deal," he said looking at the girl, her green eyes met his cold silver eye, and both of them glared at each other. "For any rules you break, I will claim any part of your body," his gaze grew dangerously darker at his word. Ashley Harlow was at the top of the world, living the perfect and luxurious lifestyle as the legitimate daughter of the well-known Daniel Harlow. But sadly, a one-night stand put an end to that and brought her life upside down and that of her family's name to the ground. To restore his family's reputation, she was forced into marrying Damien Albrecht, a young, ruthless, obnoxious, brutal billionaire and the head of a mafia gang in exchange for her father's company.
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.