BLURB:I had hate in my heart when I died. The Moon Goddess herself linked me to a guy who was meant to adore me, but he betrayed me. I was alive and complete five years ago when I opened my eyes once again. I vowed that this time would be different. My so-called fated mate, Darius Blackthorn, would never be allowed to come near me close enough to ruin me once again. Before he could attack, I would forge my own route, guard my heart, and discover the truth about his treachery. However, it seems that destiny is difficult to change. Killian Draven comes in. Perilous, enraged, and all too alluring, he makes me an offer: if I act like his mate, he would shield me from Darius. I shouldn't play that game since it would only lead to heartache. But the longer I'm in Killian's embrace, the more I question if my fate isn't bound to him. Darius then comes after me and says I've been duped and that the betrayal I believed I saw wasn't what it seemed to be. He is battling not just for me but also for our pack's future. And I am really shaken by the facts he exposes. Because if Darius wasn't the one who betrayed me, then who was it? And why does it seem like I could lose more than my heart in this second chance?
CHAPTER 1 : Death and Rebirth
ARIA POV
"You'll die before the next moonrise."
The words reverberated in my head, icy and definitive. His golden eyes, which had before been warm, pierced through the fog of anguish that obscured my vision and took on a ruthless, cutting look. The blood pooling under me while I lay on the chilly ground served as a sobering reminder of his treachery.
"Darius." I could hardly raise my head and croaked.
With no remorse in his voice, he replied, "You brought this on yourself, Aria." Under the faint moonlight, the sword in his palm shone, its edge still slippery from my blood.
Around me, the world became darker, and as my power diminished, I could see just the outlines of what was there. Even though I could feel death's cold grasp pulling at my spirit, I clung to my hatred and rage.
With my dying breath, I cursed him.
The Moon Goddess was cursed by me.
Then-nothing.
I gasped as oxygen flooded my lungs like fire as I opened my eyes again. Expecting to see the deadly wound, my hands sprang to my chest, but nothing was there. No blood. No discomfort.
Rather, I was in my former bedroom, surrounded by artifacts from a past life that I hadn't seen in a long time.
My heart thumping, I leaped to my feet. The room looked just as I remembered it, with old drapes that hardly blocked the moonlight and a broken mirror over the dresser. I dangled my legs over the edge, bare feet touching the old floors as my bed groaned under me.
"This isn't possible," I said, my voice shaking.
I needed to be sure I wasn't going crazy, so I looked in the mirror. Young and untouched by the atrocities I had experienced, my mirror gazed back at me. I recognized the face for the first time in years-smooth skin, sparkling eyes, untarnished by death or treachery.
Then I noticed it.
The mate mark on my neck, glowing faintly.
"No," I stammered back, choking. When Darius turned me down, that mark ought to have disappeared. It ought to have remained a bitter, faraway memory.
A bitter reminder of the relationship that had doomed me was there, however.
My breath came in short, irregular gasps as I held on to the edge of the dresser. The treachery, the sorrow, and the icy finality of his words brought back memories of my dying.
"How?" With my voice cracking, I whispered.
I was startled by a knock at the door.
"Aria? Are you ok in there?
The voice of Cassie. Her voice seemed younger, less weighed down by the catastrophes that were yet to come.
I forced myself to regulate my breathing and swallowed hard. Yes, I called back in a tremulous voice. "Just a nightmare."
Cassie entered as the door creaked open. She wore her favorite oversized sweater, the same one she wore every day as a teenager, and her brown hair was pulled back in a loose braid.
"You appear pale," she said, her eyes glimmering with worry. "Are you certain you're alright?"
I forced a grin as I nodded. "I'm all right. Give me a minute, please.
After a moment of hesitation and staring at me, Cassie nodded. "Don't be too slow. Alpha Marcus becomes irritated when individuals arrive late, and the pack meeting is about to begin.
The meeting of the pack. My stomach turned over. I had first met Darius's gaze there, and that was when it all began.
I dropped to the floor with my back to the wall as the door snapped shut behind Cassie. I was trying to piece together the inconceivable facts while my thoughts raced.
I wasn't only living. I had returned.
Five years ago, before my world collapsed and before I died, the Moon Goddess had transported me back in time.
However, why?
My gut churned with dread as I saw the mate mark's faint glimmer once again. Darius was here, too, if I was. I was suddenly seized with cold horror at the prospect of seeing him again and those golden eyes that had previously made my pulse beat.
I said, "No," and shook my head. "This time, no."
Grasping the edge of the dresser with quivering hands, I forced myself to stand. I looked back at my mirror, but this time I didn't see the girl who had put her blind faith in destiny. I saw a person who was resolute in their survival and had been hardened by betrayal.
To the girl in the mirror, I said, "This time, I'll destroy you before you destroy me."
However, a chill went down my spine even as I was speaking. Was I destined to make the same errors again, or could I alter my destiny?
My thoughts were again disturbed by a gentle tap.
Cassie cried out through the door, her voice muffled, "Aria." "The Moonshine Pack arrived just now."
My blood became icy.
The Moonshine Pack. Darius's pack.
My nails dug into my hands as I clinched my fists. Already, fate was at work, drawing me back to the guy who had broken me.
Not now.
I took a long breath to regain my composure before grabbing a coat off the back of the chair and throwing it on.
I inhaled deeply to steady myself before snatching a coat from the chair's back and putting it on.
As I stepped out of the room and into the hallway, I could hear the soft whispers of voices from the assembly beneath. Each step I took accelerated my heartbeat, yet I compelled myself to continue.
I wouldn't run. I wouldn't back down.
I would confront him.
I froze as I got to the top of the stairs. Wolves from the Moonshine and Golden Claw packs crowded the main hall. I looked around, fearing, scouring the crowd.
Then I caught sight of him.
Blackthorn, Darius.
His golden eyes scanned the throng as he stood in the middle of the room. As I recalled, his presence was authoritative and fascinating. However, a peculiar glimmer of recognition appeared on his face as we locked eyes.
A slow, piercing, and rapacious grin appeared on his lips.
"Aria," he continued, his voice low and tinged with an unidentified substance.
My heart stopped beating.
He recalled.
BLURB:I had hate in my heart when I died. The Moon Goddess herself linked me to a guy who was meant to adore me, but he betrayed me. I was alive and complete five years ago when I opened my eyes once again. I vowed that this time would be different. My so-called fated mate, Darius Blackthorn, would never be allowed to come near me close enough to ruin me once again. Before he could attack, I would forge my own route, guard my heart, and discover the truth about his treachery. However, it seems that destiny is difficult to change. Killian Draven comes in. Perilous, enraged, and all too alluring, he makes me an offer: if I act like his mate, he would shield me from Darius. I shouldn't play that game since it would only lead to heartache. But the longer I'm in Killian's embrace, the more I question if my fate isn't bound to him. Darius then comes after me and says I've been duped and that the betrayal I believed I saw wasn't what it seemed to be. He is battling not just for me but also for our pack's future. And I am really shaken by the facts he exposes. Because if Darius wasn't the one who betrayed me, then who was it? And why does it seem like I could lose more than my heart in this second chance?
The guy I vowed to love till the end deceived me, and I died once. The Moon Goddess, however, wasn't finished with me. She brought me back to life, reincarnating me as a rogue with no identity or memories, just the burning pain of a past I can't quite recall and a blood-thirsty need for revenge. Then I got to know him. Marcus John. The vicious Nightfang Pack's Alpha. Chilly. Without mercy. Dangerously addictive. I despise him. Nevertheless, my wolf awakens when he is close as if she has discovered something she has long since lost. His touch has a quality that seems to be both a blessing and a curse. I'm not sure whether I'm falling for him or if the connection that is bringing us together is what will break me. Because my recollections grow clearer the closer I go to him. And I'll have to choose between kissing him and killing him when I eventually realize who he is.
SYNOPSIS:I thought meeting my mate would be the start of my happily ever after. For a moment, it was. Jacob Jude, the powerful heir of the Golden Claw Pack, ignited a fire in me that I'd never known. Then, in one cruel twist, he shattered my world. With my sight newly restored, I opened my eyes to betrayal-false accusations, heartbreak, and the lifeless body of my twin sister. Losing them both on the same day nearly destroyed me. But someone pulled me back from the edge. Four years later, I'm no longer the fragile, blind girl who was cast aside. I've rebuilt myself, stronger and sharper than ever. Returning to the Golden Claw Pack wasn't in my plans, but fate has a cruel sense of humor. Because standing at the altar is the man who broke me... and the sister I buried. Now, I have one question-will love or vengeance claim me first?
BLURB:I never imagined that everything might change in a single night. However, I didn't anticipate that Alexander Stone, the mysterious millionaire with the wicked grin, would be the one to haunt both my life and my dreams. We intended for our night together to be a one-time event, a little getaway. I never would have thought that it would result in a secret that would haunt me for five years. My life now involves striking a cautious balance between parenting my daughter, Mia, by myself and apart from a guy who is unaware that he is a father. But I have to deal with him once again once his business purchases my art gallery. All of the memories from that evening flood back as our eyes contact, along with the unmistakable chemistry. I can feel him getting beyond my barriers as he gets closer, but I can't tell him the truth. Not right now. Not when everything I've fought so hard to achieve is in jeopardy. However, when Alexander gives me that resolute look, I understand that I may not be able to maintain my secret for very long. Then he asks me the one thing I'm afraid to respond to: Lena, what happened to you and me? If I told him the truth, would I lose him forever? Or is this my second-our second-chance at a love that can destroy all I've worked so hard to keep safe?
BLURB: I believed that I had moved on from my past. I resolved to keep my children safe at all means after spending a careless night with a stranger wearing a mask five years ago. I established a peaceful life in a new city, raising my triplets and their younger sister. However, my world starts to fall apart when my sons come back from the bathroom talking about a guy who has a tattoo of a wolf-the same tattoo I will always remember. The next day, destiny puts me face to face with him: the vicious CEO who doesn't know who I am but seems to be strangely attracted to my kids. I lie and deny everything out of a desperate attempt to protect my family. However, secrets tend to sneak through gaps, and his intense stare makes me question if he's already piecing things together. I'm stuck now, working for him, battling my emotions, and avoiding adversaries who seem out to bring me down. But nothing scares me more than the reality: what will he do if he finds out the children I vowed to safeguard are really his?
BLURB:I came to Moonshadow chasing folklore and found a mystery far greater than I bargained for. One night with Ethan Blackwood-a man as dangerous as he is alluring-was supposed to be a fleeting indulgence. But when he turned his back on me, cold and distant, I vowed to forget him. I failed. Now, I'm back in Moonshadow with secrets of my own-two growing lives tied to the man who rejected me. But something sinister stalks the shadows of this town, and my investigation is drawing me into a world I never believed existed. Ethan is hiding something, and no matter how hard he tries to keep me away, fate keeps pulling us closer. His icy facade cracks when the danger circles too near, and I discover his truth-a truth that explains everything. Ethan Blackwood isn't just a man. He's a beast bound by laws older than the moon. And now, those laws threaten to destroy us both. When the rogue wolf finally reveals its true target, I'll have to decide: can I trust Ethan to save me and the children he doesn't even know he's fighting for? Or has he already doomed us all?
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.
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
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!"
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Kara Martin was known as Miss Perfect. She was a beauty with good personality and successful career. Unfortunately, her life changed at one night. She was accused of adultery, losing her job, and abandoned by her fiance. The arrogant man who slept with her did not want to take responsibility. He even threatened to kill her if they met again. What's worse, Kara was pregnant with twins and she chose to give birth to them. Four and a half years later, Kara returned to work at a large company. As the secretary, she would frequently face their notorious CEO. Kara thought it wouldn't be a problem, but as it turned out ... the CEO was the father of the twins!