Cathryn, an orphan with no family ties to Grayson, regarded him only as family. He, however, valued her as a precious jewel. From their very first encounter, Cathryn's destiny was intertwined with his. Once lonely and desiring affection, she was ensnared by his love, unable to break free. Eventually, she managed to escape his emotional clutches. Shockingly, she had fallen for someone else. Grayson confronted her sharply. "How could you feel for another?" Unable to meet his eyes, she whispered, "You're family. I can't..." Looking down, he pressed further. "You can't, or you wouldn't dare?"
The dim alleyway was shrouded in shadows, lit only by the weak, intermittent flicker of a streetlamp.
Cathryn Marsh had just reached the edge of the alley when a hand grabbed her arm, yanking her into a dark, suffocating corner.
Two drunkards, their stench thick with the acrid bite of alcohol, leaned unsteadily against the wall. The moment they spotted Cathryn, predatory grins spread across their faces, and they lunged at her, clawing at her clothes.
The overpowering stench and their violent grip sent waves of terror through her, and she twisted and thrashed against them with all her might.
"Help! Someone, help!" she screamed, her voice raw with desperation.
The plea earned her a sharp slap, the sound cracking through the air like a whip.
"Shut up, bitch!" one of the men snarled, his tone dripping with malice. "You dared to cross the wrong person, and now you're gonna pay for it."
The other man leered, his voice cold and taunting. "No one's coming to save you tonight, sweetheart. Scream all you want; you're ours now. Be good, and I might even make it worth your while."
......
Suddenly, the low hum of a car engine echoed through the alley. A sleek black Maybach pulled up, its polished exterior gleaming even in the dim light. A window rolled down slowly, revealing a pair of piercing, icy eyes that surveyed the scene with chilling indifference.
The driver leaned forward, his voice calm but questioning. "Should we intervene, Mr. Wheeler?"
The man known as Mr. Wheeler didn't even blink, his expression impassive. "No. Drive on."
Inside the alley, Cathryn's panic swelled. Her torn clothes hung limply from her frame, and the sight of the car spurred her into an even more frantic struggle.
"Help! Please help me!" she cried out, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face.
One of the drunkards scowled, furious at her defiance, and struck her face hard. His grip tightened, tugging at the fabric of her dress.
Just as Cathryn felt the last thread of hope slipping away, the car that had begun to drive off screeched to a halt.
The doors opened, and two tall men stepped out with purposeful strides.
The man in the lead had a lean, elegant frame, his plain white shirt crisp and unadorned by any logos, a stark contrast to his commanding presence.
His cold, noble aura cut through the darkness like a blade, his sharp gaze fixed on the shadowy corner where Cathryn struggled.
Though he couldn't make out her face, he heard the sound of her soft sobs and desperate cries for help.
That voice-it tugged at something buried in his memory.
A flicker of recognition broke through the detached veneer of his eyes as he squinted. "Rylan, grab anything nearby. Make sure they regret this!"
Without hesitation, the man and his assistant, rushed into the corner, their sudden appearance startling the drunkards.
Hearing the sound of heavy footsteps, the drunken men froze, turning to face the intruders.
"Who the hell do you think you are, ruining my fun?" one of them sneered, his bravado tinged with drunken arrogance. "Do you even know who you're dealing with?"
Cathryn, her head pounding from the slaps, forced her eyes to focus-and then froze in shock.
Before her, it was Grayson Wheeler, who was now related to her in a way.
Grayson's usually impassive eyes now burned with a cold, simmering fury, his gaze locking onto her with the intensity of a predator honing in on prey.
The weight of his stare sent a wave of deeper terror washing over Cathryn, leaving her mind blank for a moment.
Freed from the drunkards' grasp, she snatched her purse off the ground and bolted, her heart hammering as she fled deeper into the alley.
Behind her, the sharp sounds of fists meeting flesh and the pained screams of the drunkards filled the air. She didn't dare look back.
She ran as though her life depended on it, her feet carrying her through the maze of the dark alleyway. Finally, she stumbled into a bustling street, the glow of lights and the savory aroma of street food pulling her back to reality.
Leaning against a wall, she gasped for breath, her mind racing with a single thought.
Was Grayson back? He once said he'd be gone for five years. So why was he back after only three?
Did he catch a glimpse of her face just now? It was dark, and she had been hidden in the shadows. Surely, he couldn't have recognized her, right?
But why would someone as cold and detached as him bother to stop and save her?
In her memories, even if someone collapsed in front of him, he wouldn't spare them a second glance. So why, of all people, would he be the one to intervene?
Cathryn shook her head, pushing the thought aside. No, she had already been humble enough in front of him once. She couldn't allow him to see her like this-broken and pitiful.
Straightening her posture, she adjusted her disheveled clothes and forced herself forward, her steps faltering but determined.
Her phone's sharp ring suddenly broke the silence.
"Cathryn, come back home for lunch tomorrow," came her aunt Jenna Wheeler's clipped tone. "Grayson's returned from Asosall, and everyone is expected to attend."
Cathryn stumbled, gripping her phone tightly as she replied softly, "I have classes tomorrow. I'm afraid I won't be able to make it."
Jenna's displeased voice hardened. "Grayson is back to take over the Gale Enterprises. With just one word, he can determine your future. He can set you up with a golden bachelor in no time. What classes are more important than marrying a rich and powerful man?"
Jenna's relentless ambition to climb the social ladder had been clear from the moment she married Andres Wheeler, Grayson's elder brother. Barely in her twenties, she had stepped into the role of stepmother to two teenagers, sparing no effort in molding Cathryn to break into the elite world Jenna so coveted.
Cathryn's frown deepened as she answered firmly, "Aunt Jenna, I really can't go back tomorrow."
Her aunt's voice turned icy. "Cathryn, I'm telling you now-if you don't return tomorrow, I'll go visit your mother's grave and tell her your folly the day after. It's your choice."
The line went dead before Cathryn could respond.
She sighed heavily, continuing her walk with the weight of the conversation pressing on her.
When she finally returned to her rented apartment, she noticed her phone had been on silent. Three missed calls from an unknown number stared back at her.
Hesitating for a moment, she tapped to call back.
"Hello, may I ask who this is?" she inquired cautiously, her voice steady despite her unease.
There was a brief silence before a cold, familiar voice broke through. "So, my number is unfamiliar to you now?"
It was Grayson.
Cathryn froze, her breath hitching. How did he have her number? She had changed it three years ago.
Swallowing her unease, she forced her voice to remain steady. "Sir, I believe you've dialed the wrong number."
Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call, her hand trembling slightly as she placed the phone down.
That night, her sleep was restless, plagued by haunting memories of three years ago. In her dreams, Grayson's piercing, blood-red eyes loomed over her like a predator's, cold and unyielding. No matter how far she tried to run, she couldn't escape.
When morning came, Cathryn woke with dark circles beneath her eyes, the remnants of her nightmares weighing heavily on her.
Her phone buzzed with a string of messages from Jenna, all urging her to dress well and arrive early.
Cathryn sighed, slipping into a light blue dress and brushing on a touch of makeup to mask her exhaustion.
Standing before the mirror, she scrutinized her reflection. Her heart eased slightly when she saw that, aside from the bruises on her legs, there were no other visible injuries.
By the time she reached the Wheeler Mansion, the sun was high in the sky, and it was already eleven.
Pausing at the gates near the security room, she adjusted her dress, her cheeks flushed from the crowded bus ride.
Sweat clung to her, making her hair stick uncomfortably to her forehead. She felt damp, disheveled, and utterly out of place.
Having forgotten to bring tissues, she waved her hands in front of her face, desperately trying to cool down.
As she stood there, a sleek black Maybach rolled smoothly to a stop in front of her.
The tinted window lowered with deliberate slowness, revealing a single hand extended toward her.
Its fingers were long and elegant, the kind that seemed sculpted for precision. A silver ring adorned the index finger, catching the light with a cold, muted gleam.
Between those fingertips was a travel-sized pack of tissues, held out silently toward her.
The gesture exuded a noble elegance that carried an undercurrent of condescending pity.
Cathryn's breath hitched, panic flickering in her chest as her gaze followed the hand upward, locking onto a pair of deep eyes as cold as ice.
It was Grayson.
Her heart pounded violently, its rhythm betraying her composure.
Under the piercing weight of his gaze, an unbearable helplessness surged within her, as though his eyes left no corner for her to retreat or hide. Her trembling hand reached for the tissues, and she quickly lowered her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."
Grayson inclined his head with a cool, detached nod, though his gaze lingered a moment too long on her lips-soft, inviting, and unintentionally captivating. A fleeting flicker of desire crossed his otherwise indifferent eyes, an echo of something buried deep within.
For a brief moment, it felt as though time had reversed, pulling them both back to three years ago.
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."
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
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?"
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.