............... "You're mine," Damien snarled, his voice low and strained, the wolf within him struggling for control. His body trembled with the fight, but his gaze remained fixed, possessive, and unwavering. "I'm not a property to be owned ," I shot back, fury rising in my chest. "If you won't treat me like your mate, maybe I'll find someone who will." Midnight struck-feral, wild-before I could breathe, leaving me in a blaze of painful, passionate heat. The bite slashed my skin, and while my wolf burned for it, but my human side was broken. Damien tried pleaded, but the harm was done.................. Zendaya's world spirals when her father forges an alliance with Damien, the hardened Alpha of the Raven Claw pack. Haunted by the loss of his first mate, Damien needs a partner, but neither is prepared for the bond fate forces upon them. As secrets about Zendaya's true nature unravel, danger looms, threatening her pack and her heart. Bound by duty and desire, they must fight side by side, their connection deepening with every battle. Yet, as their feelings ignite into something undeniable, one question lingers: will love triumph, or will destiny tear them apart? The answer lies in the shadows.
Zendaya's POV The day began with a bone-chilling shock. Annabel, my stepsister, dumped a bucket of icy water over me, jolting me from a sleep nightmare into a waking nightmare. "Wake up, weirdo," she sneered, her voice laced with malice. The satisfaction gleaming in her eyes was undeniable-she thrived on my misery. "Mum's going to kill you when she finds out you haven't made breakfast." Her triumphant smirk was the final insult before she strutted out, leaving me drenched and furious. Cassidy, my wolf, snarled within me, begging for retaliation.
Not yet, I told her, gripping the frayed edges of my self-control. Annabel loved to taunt me for my silver-blue hair and glowing eyes, traits I hid behind thick glasses. I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me snap. My bedside clock blinked blank. Annabel must've unplugged it, another petty trick to get me into trouble. The sun was already high; Luna Elena's wrath was inevitable. "This place is a hellhole," I muttered, yanking on dry clothes. I barely had time to braid my damp hair before heading downstairs. The dining room buzzed with the breakfast rush, but the tension in the air was suffocating. Luna Elena's sharp voice pierced through the noise. "Zendaya! Where's breakfast?" "Almost ready," I murmured, avoiding her gaze. "Useless, as always," she spat, her words sharp as a blade. Before I could flinch, her hand struck my cheek, the sting reverberating through me. "You're a burden," she hissed. "To teach you a lesson, I'm confiscating your art supplies until you learn respect." Her words left me hollow. My art was my refuge, the last piece of my mother I had left. Taking it away was like losing her all over again. I wanted to fight back, to scream at her cruelty, but I bit down on my tongue. "Yes, Luna," I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. Dad walked in moments later, his warm smile a brief reprieve from the storm. "How are you?" he asked. "I'm fine, Dad," I lied. He didn't notice the red mark on my cheek or the tremor in my voice. Annabel and Luna chatted cheerily as if the morning's chaos hadn't happened. Their laughter was a world I no longer belonged to. Cassidy nudged me mentally. Run, she urged. We need air. I slipped out, heading for my secret forest spot. Once there, I let Cassidy take over. Her silver-blue fur shimmered as she raced through the woods, each step a release from the chains of my reality. She howled the sound a mournful cry of anguish. Freedom. If only it could last. Eighteen. That was the age I'd meet my mate. A glimmer of hope. The thought was bittersweet. Would my mate save me from this life or turn out to be another form of torment? A sudden prickling sensation snapped me back. Cassidy stiffened. We're not alone. From the shadows emerged a rogue, his mangy fur reeking of decay. Cassidy growled."Get Ready to run. The rogue's teeth glinted in the dappled sunlight as he lunged. Run now! Cassidy barked. I bolted, weaving through trees as the rogue gave chase. My lungs burned, and fear clawed at my mind. Was this how I'd die? The rouge was close his footsteps echoing mine, My thoughts flashing to my mother. Just as panic took hold, a thunderous growl shook the forest. An Alpha's growl. The rogue skidded to a halt, knowing he was no match for an Alpha, as he turned tail and fled. I slowed, my heart racing, and turned to see a massive black wolf with piercing amber eyes step into the clearing. Our eyes locked. A pull-intense, electric, primal-shot through me. My wolf whimpered in recognition, but before I could process what was happening, I turned and fled, ignoring Cassidy's protests. Back at the packhouse, I shifted, dressed, and entered, my mind spinning. Annabel waited in the hallway, her smirk widening as I approached. "Out sulking in the woods again? Like the stray mutt you are?" Her words were the breaking point. Fury surged as I shoved her back, my voice trembling, my eye color switching from my human to my wolf. "I'm done with you, Annabel. You don't get to treat me like this anymore." She stumbled, her eyes widening in feigned shock. "Zendaya!" Dad's voice thundered behind me. I turned to see him storming toward us, his face dark with anger. "She pushed me," Annabel whimpered, clutching her arm as fake tears spilled down her cheeks. "She's lying!" I cried, but Dad's disappointment was a dagger to my chest. "Apologize to your sister," he demanded. "She's not my sister!" His gaze hardened. He didn't argue, didn't defend me. He just led Annabel away, leaving me standing alone in the dim hallway. Tears stung my eyes, but anger burned hotter. They don't see you, they never will, Cassidy growled. Storming upstairs, I slammed my door shut, leaning against it as I tried to calm the storm inside me. Then I smelled it. A dark, smoky scent lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. Cassidy stiffened. Someone's been here. I scanned the room, my heart racing. Nothing seemed out of place, yet the scent clung to the air, stirring something deep and primal within me. I moved to the window, peering out into the twilight. The forest stood still, shadows stretching long across the ground, but I could feel it-eyes watching me. Cassidy growled low in my mind. We're being hunted. The smoky scent grew stronger, wrapping around me like a ghost. My pulse quickened, and every instinct screamed at me to run, but I stood frozen, gripping the window frame as I stared into the dark. There was someone out there, waiting. Watching. Cassidy whispered, her voice trembling with fear. It's him.
............... "You're mine," Damien snarled, his voice low and strained, the wolf within him struggling for control. His body trembled with the fight, but his gaze remained fixed, possessive, and unwavering. "I'm not a property to be owned ," I shot back, fury rising in my chest. "If you won't treat me like your mate, maybe I'll find someone who will." Midnight struck-feral, wild-before I could breathe, leaving me in a blaze of painful, passionate heat. The bite slashed my skin, and while my wolf burned for it, but my human side was broken. Damien tried pleaded, but the harm was done.................. Zendaya's world spirals when her father forges an alliance with Damien, the hardened Alpha of the Raven Claw pack. Haunted by the loss of his first mate, Damien needs a partner, but neither is prepared for the bond fate forces upon them. As secrets about Zendaya's true nature unravel, danger looms, threatening her pack and her heart. Bound by duty and desire, they must fight side by side, their connection deepening with every battle. Yet, as their feelings ignite into something undeniable, one question lingers: will love triumph, or will destiny tear them apart? The answer lies in the shadows.
" Don't say anymore word than you already have, don't..." I stuck a finger out at him, sauntering away on my heels when a hand wrapped itself around my arm. Breathlessly he whispered, "You know that I do love you and...fine, what exactly was I supposed to do?" "Protect me and stand up for me. That is what you do for someone who you claim you love!" ************ Out to spite her ex-boyfriend after he had broken up with her on her birthday, Daphne slept with a stranger who turned out to be his uncle while trying to rebuff his words that she was unwanted by others. Was she ready for the wild chase that followed when he found out years later that she had been pregnant with his heirs and that she had been hiding the truth all this while? Faced with the ruthless CEO, known as the beast, who wasn't ready to back down, Daphne does everything possible to make sure her kids wouldn't be taken from her, but what happens when love gets in the mix of it all? Would she be able to conquer these weird feelings and give in her all amidst her scars? And with how deadly he turned out to be? And faced with her ex who still wants her back, what choice is she going to make?
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.”
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Everyone thought Lorenzo truly loved Gracie, until the day of their daughter’s heart surgery. To Gracie’s utter shock, Lorenzo gave the precious organ needed by their child to another woman. Devastated, Gracie opted for a divorce. Fueled by her need for revenge, Gracie joined hands with Lorenzo’s uncle, Waylon, and orchestrated Lorenzo’s downfall. In the end, Lorenzo was left with nothing and consumed by remorse. He pleaded for a reconciliation. Gracie thought she was free to move on with her life, but Waylon held her back in a death grip. “Did you think you can just walk out on me?”
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"