In a world where humans live in fear of the supernatural, hiding underground to avoid the twilight beasts, Ella has always been an outcast in her village. Unnoticed and overlooked, she blindly accepts the stories told to her-stories of monstrous beings who hunt humans without mercy. But everything changes when her village is attacked, and Ella's life is saved by Vuk, a twilight beast who appears more human than the terrifying creatures she's been warned about. Vuk isn't just any twilight beast; he's the Alpha of the Red Moon Pack, a powerful shifter who challenges everything Ella thought she knew. As he protects her and brings her into his world, Ella is forced to confront the lies her people have told her. The bond she feels with Vuk is undeniable and powerful, awakening emotions and instincts she can't explain. Conflicted, Ella begins to question whether the twilight beasts are truly the savage monsters her village has claimed. With each passing moment, she uncovers more about the twilight beasts' society and their complex relationship with humans. As Ella delves deeper into this new world, she realizes that her village may have been hiding dark secrets-secrets that could change everything she knows about herself, her people, and her destiny. Torn between loyalty to her village and her growing connection with Vuk, Ella must choose: live in the shadows of lies, or embrace the truth that could lead her to an extraordinary future.
Ella's Point of View.
"Humm," I gasped, letting out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. At seventeen, I had expected to be hunting like the rest of the villagers, not standing here cutting lettuce into tiny pieces.
Every day is the same-cooking, cleaning, gardening. My life feels like it's stuck in a loop, with no change in sight, no adventures beyond the forest's edge that hems in our small village, Small View Town. The excitement of the outside world feels like a distant dream, locked away from me by the rules of this place.
"That's not thin enough," Mrs. Beth's sharp voice cut through my thoughts. She's old, her gray hair pulled back in a tight bun, her face lined with the years she's spent as the head cook. Her voice, though, is what really gets me. It's always filled with sarcasm, dripping with the tone that says she doesn't expect much from me.
"You need to know that Mark likes them extra thin," she added, her lips curling into a smirk. "You're turning eighteen next week, and you still can't handle a knife. How on earth do you think you'll be able to hunt those beasts?"
I rolled my eyes as I began recutting the lettuce. I've heard this lecture so many times before. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Beth," I muttered, forcing the words out. Apologizing to her felt as routine as chopping vegetables.
"Good," she replied, not missing a beat. "You have an hour to get all this lettuce done, and we've only got two hours before the hunters return. They'll need a proper meal." She shrugged and turned away, leaving me and Princess alone to finish the work.
"She's a nightmare," Princess whispered, leaning closer. "I'm sure Mark doesn't care about the shape of the lettuce right now."
I couldn't help but scoff. "Yeah, who would believe I'm turning eighteen soon, and I'm still stuck here, cutting lettuce and cooking," I replied bitterly. The sting of it burned in my chest. Eighteen felt like the age when I should be doing more, not less.
Princess smiled softly, trying to lighten my mood. "It's not that bad, Ella."
"That's easy for you to say," I shot back, "since Mark took you hunting the moment you turned fifteen."
"Oh, Ella," she sighed, "you know Mark cares about you. He doesn't want you to get hurt."
"If that's his way of showing he cares, keeping me trapped behind the walls of this village, then it's a very funny way of doing it," I said, bitterness lacing every word. There was nothing Princess could say that would make me feel better. The frustration of being stuck in this endless cycle felt like a weight I couldn't shake.
"Come on, we've got work to do," I said, cutting off any more conversation as we carried the lettuce into the kitchen. Once the pot was filled, we headed outside to the garden, moving to our next chore-tending to the weeds that grew stubbornly against the wooden walls of the village.
The walls were old, built from wooden sticks and covered with creeping vines and flowers that had been there longer than I could remember. Pulling out the weeds was tedious work, but it gave me a chance to be outside, at least for a little while.
The village had strict rules about going beyond the walls. We were only allowed out during the day because the twilight beasts, the creatures we feared most, hated the sun. As long as the sun was up, we were safe, free to move around the village and tend to our chores. But when the sun began to set, everything changed. The beasts came out, and we retreated into the safety of our homes.
As Princess and I battled with the vines clinging to the walls, I looked out over the village I called home.As I scanned the familiar view, something unusual caught my eye. A group of people was approaching from the tree line, their figures blurry against the fading daylight.
I frowned and leaned forward, trying to get a better look. "Look at that," I said to Princess, who was still bent over, plowing the weeds beside me. She didn't glance up, too focused on her task.
"Look up," I urged, my voice sharper now.
Princess straightened, following my gaze. Mark was the first to emerge from the group, an antelope slung over his shoulder. It looked like a normal hunting party returning, but something felt off. Everyone in the village was gathering to welcome them back as usual, but I couldn't shake the strange feeling creeping up my spine.
"Why are they back early?" I asked Princess, who looked as confused as I felt.
"I'm sure it's nothing," she said, but her voice didn't sound convinced.
Mark waved to the villagers, his face hard to read. Mrs. Beth, always the first to greet the hunters, rushed forward. "Mr. Mark, you're back early. Hope all is well," she said, her voice curious but polite.
"Yes, all is well," Mark replied, his expression emotionless, which only made me more uneasy. He didn't meet Mrs. Beth's eyes. "I brought an antelope. Cook it well," he added before walking off without another word.
The night came quickly after that, as it always did in our village. Everyone gathered underground, as we did every evening when the sun set, hiding from the twilight beasts that roamed the night. We ate dinner together in the long tunnel that served as both our dining hall and shelter. Laughter filled the space, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Mark sat across from me, chewing his food in silence. "Very well cooked," he said after swallowing the last bite, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He raised a cup of water and drank deeply. "Thank you, ladies," he said, looking at Princess and me with a brief nod of appreciation.
I smiled faintly, but something about his tone felt strange, hollow.
Then his voice changed, becoming serious. "Ella, I need to speak with you," he said, his face unreadable.
I froze for a moment, exchanging a glance with Princess. Her face reflected the same confusion I felt. What is this about? I asked silently with my eyes, and she shrugged, equally clueless.
I stood up slowly and walked toward Mark, who gestured for me to sit in a chair next to him. I could feel everyone's eyes on us, but the room was too loud with chatter for anyone to overhear our conversation.
"What did you do today?" Mark asked me suddenly, his tone sharp.
I blinked in surprise. "What?"
He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What did you do today?"
"You... you said I never talk to you, and now I'm making conversation," he added when I didn't respond quickly enough. His words felt strange, like they were forced.
"I didn't do anything special," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady. "I did my usual-cooking, gardening."
Mark's face remained serious. "Okay. You can go now, Ella," he said, his voice curt, dismissive.
I hesitated, confused. "Okay..." I stood up, ready to walk away, but I couldn't help myself. I turned back to face him. "Why did you come back early from hunting today?"
Mark's expression darkened for a brief second. "It's nothing," he said, his voice clipped.
"But you never come back early," I countered, trying to press for more.
His jaw tightened. "It's nothing, Ella. Now go." He sounded harsh, and it made my stomach churn.
I hesitated again, frustration building inside me. "I'm turning eighteen in two days. It's only fair you tell me what's going on," I said, feeling braver than I had before.
Mark stood up abruptly, his face hardening into something I didn't recognize. He had never tried to intimidate me before, but I could feel the weight of his gaze now. I didn't flinch. I wouldn't start now.
"We finished early," he said, his voice cold. "Now go."
I nodded, swallowing my anger, and left. Princess was waiting for me outside, her face a mix of curiosity and concern.
"What was that about?" she asked.
"I don't know," I muttered, the unease still gnawing at me.
We walked in silence to our sleeping quarters, a network of small underground rooms where the villagers stayed safe at night. Each family had their own space, and since I didn't have one, I slept alone in a small room. The only person I could have called family was Mark, and he had made me leave his home when I turned ten.
I lay down, staring at the ceiling of my small, dark room, my mind replaying the events of the day. Something was wrong-Mark was hiding something. I could feel it in my bones. But what?
Bang.
The noise jolted me out of my thoughts. I sat up, my heart pounding. "Twilight beasts again," I muttered, rubbing my eyes. But something about this noise felt different, louder, more urgent.
Then I heard footsteps-quick, heavy footsteps-and the banging of doors echoing down the tunnel. My heart raced. I stood up and moved toward the door to see what was happening, but before I could open it, someone yanked it open for me.
"You're still here?" Mark's voice, filled with urgency, startled me.
"Yes, what's going on?" I asked, but before he could answer, a loud growl echoed through the tunnels.
"That... that wasn't normal," I said, my voice shaky.
Mark's face was tense, his eyes dark. "Don't leave this room, no matter what you hear, okay?" His voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument.
"Mark-" I began, but he cut me off.
"I said don't leave this room until I come for you!" he yelled, his voice booming in the small space.
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone with the sound of my own racing heart. My legs felt like they were made of lead as I backed away from the door, staring at it as though it would open at any second.
The night had broken into the underground.
And so had those that owned it.
Nova has spent her entire life as an omega, weak and overlooked by her pack. After her pack is raided, she is captured by the notorious Night Shade pack, led by the brutal Alpha VuK. Known for his merciless conquests and ruthless leadership, VuK seeks only to expand his territory, crushing any opposition in his path. He's feared by all, and Nova is nothing more than a pawn, marked for execution by his command. However, on the day Nova is set to die, everything changes. She catches the most intoxicating scent she's ever known, only to realize it's coming from none other than VuK himself-her fated mate. The bond fills her with dread, for being tied to such a ruthless Alpha seems worse than death. Yet, fate has other plans. As VuK continues his mission, his actions ignite a war among the supernatural factions, and Nova finds herself thrust into the heart of the conflict. Unbeknownst to both, Nova may hold the key to ending the war, but her bond with VuK complicates everything. As the world teeters on the edge of destruction, Nova must find her strength to either stand by the most dangerous Alpha or rise against him to save everything.
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
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?
June Rivera was divorced by her husband after three years of marriage because he wanted to be with her sister who was pregnant for him. Kicked to the curb with a divorce and rejected by her parents,she struggles to make ends meet and get a job until she saves Luis Ambrose from an accident - the only child of Rafael Ambrose, a widowed man and the CEO of Ambrose Corporation. When little Luis asks to have her as a nanny, and Rafael's mother pressures him to get married, they draw a contract. To be Luis's nanny and his fake wife for one year in exchange for 50 million dollars!
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."
Her fiance and her best friend worked together and set her up. She lost everything and died in the street. However, she was reborn. The moment she opened her eyes, her husband was trying to strangle her. Luckily, she survived that. She signed the divorce agreement without hesitation and was ready for her miserable life. To her surprise, her mother in this life left her a great deal of money. She turned the tables and avenged herself. Everything went well in her career and love when her ex-husband came to her.