In a world torn apart by a centuries-old feud between vampires and wolves, two heirs of opposing clans-Adrian, the enigmatic vampire prince, and Ethan, the fiery wolf alpha-in-waiting-find their lives forever changed when they meet Elena, a human girl with the power to unite or destroy them. As love and rivalry ignite, Elena must navigate her feelings for both Adrian and Ethan while facing the dark secrets of their world. But when her mysterious bloodline is revealed, she becomes the target of both clans' leaders. With war looming and betrayal at every turn, can love truly conquer all?
Chapter 1
The scent of freshly cut grass and the distant hum of laughter filled the air as Adrian stepped out of his sleek black sports car, his dark sunglasses reflecting the glimmering university campus before him. With a sharp tug, he adjusted his tailored leather jacket, his presence commanding attention from passersby. His pale, flawless skin seemed almost luminescent under the sun-a detail he'd have to monitor carefully.
From the corner of the parking lot, another figure approached, his boots crunching against the gravel with deliberate slowness. Ethan, tall and broad-shouldered, carried an air of raw power, his piercing green eyes scanning the crowd with the intensity of a predator. His gray t-shirt and worn jeans made him seem approachable, but the air around him crackled with tension.
The two men locked eyes.
"Surprised you made it here without combusting, leech," Ethan growled, his voice low but sharp enough to cut.
Adrian smirked, lowering his sunglasses to reveal crimson eyes that seemed to burn. "Surprised they let mutts roam freely on campus. Should I alert animal control?"
Ethan took a step forward, his muscles tensing, fists clenching. The animosity between them was palpable, the weight of centuries of war threatening to erupt right there in the parking lot.
But before either could strike, a bell rang from across the quad, signaling the start of orientation.
Adrian adjusted his sunglasses and stepped past Ethan, whispering, "Try not to embarrass yourself, dog. This is supposed to be a civilized place."
Ethan snarled under his breath, his wolf clawing at the surface. He forced himself to turn away, his focus shifting to the task at hand: surviving among humans without drawing attention.
The university auditorium was packed with students, their excitement buzzing like static in the air. Adrian leaned against the back wall, observing the crowd with mild disinterest. His group of friends-fellow vampires-flanked him, their aloof demeanors masking their predatory instincts.
"Do we really have to stay for this?" asked Marcus, one of Adrian's oldest friends. His blue eyes scanned the humans with disdain. "This place reeks of sweat and cheap cologne."
Adrian chuckled. "Think of it as a test of our self-control, Marcus. Besides, blending in is part of the deal."
Meanwhile, across the room, Ethan sat with his pack. Unlike Adrian's group, the wolves exuded an air of barely contained aggression. Their energy was raw, primal, and distinctly out of place in the sterile university setting.
"We don't belong here," muttered Lucas, Ethan's right-hand man, his voice a low growl. "This is a human playground."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "We're here to prove a point. If vampires can play nice, so can we. Just... try not to eat anyone."
Lucas snorted but said nothing more.
The tension between the two groups simmered as the orientation dragged on, but it wasn't until the end of the session that the catalyst for chaos appeared.
"Excuse me," came a soft, melodic voice.
Adrian turned first, his heightened senses picking up on the sound before anyone else. She stood a few feet away, holding a crumpled piece of paper and looking adorably out of place.
Her dark, wavy hair framed a delicate face, her hazel eyes sparkling with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness. She wore a simple dress that hinted at elegance without trying too hard.
"I'm sorry, but can you help me find the literature building?" she asked, her gaze darting between Adrian and Ethan, who had also turned at the sound of her voice.
Adrian smiled, his signature charm slipping into place effortlessly. "Of course. The literature building is on the east side of campus. I'd be happy to walk you there."
Before Elena could respond, Ethan stepped forward, his presence instantly commanding. "Ignore him. There's a shortcut through the courtyard. I'll show you."
Elena blinked, caught off guard by the sudden competition between the two strikingly handsome men. "Oh... thank you. Both of you."
For a moment, the air crackled with unspoken animosity as Adrian and Ethan exchanged glares.
"Ladies first," Adrian said, gesturing grandly, though his eyes never left Ethan.
Ethan didn't respond. Instead, he led Elena out of the auditorium, leaving Adrian to follow at a distance, his jaw clenched in frustration.
That evening, Adrian stood on the balcony of his rented apartment, a glass of red wine in hand. The moonlight bathed him in silver, highlighting his sharp features and the faint glow of his eyes.
"She's different," he murmured to himself, swirling the wine absentmindedly.
Behind him, Marcus lounged on the couch, flipping through a textbook he had no intention of reading. "Who? The human girl from earlier?"
Adrian nodded.
Marcus scoffed. "She's human. Fragile. You'd break her if you so much as kissed her."
Adrian's lips curled into a smirk. "That's what makes her interesting. She's not like the others. There's... something about her."
Meanwhile, Ethan paced the forest edge, the cool night air doing little to calm his restless thoughts.
"Why are you so worked up?" Lucas asked, leaning against a tree.
Ethan didn't answer immediately. He stopped, staring up at the full moon.
"She's human," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "And yet... I can't stop thinking about her."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "You know that's dangerous, right? Humans don't belong in our world."
Ethan turned, his green eyes glowing faintly. "She's already in it."
Back at the campus library, Elena sat at a corner table, flipping through her class schedule. The day had been overwhelming, but two faces kept flashing in her mind-Adrian's smooth charm and Ethan's raw intensity.
"What's wrong with me?" she muttered, shaking her head.
Unbeknownst to her, both Adrian and Ethan watched from separate corners of the room, their supernatural senses attuned to her every move.
For the first time in years, their rivalry extended beyond clan politics.
This was personal.
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!
22-year-old Evelyn Carter is attempting to start over in California while avoiding her past. She will be embarking on a new career path as a private school teacher. She is smart, attractive, and doesn't put up with nonsense. Who wouldn't notice her? However, what happens when she attracts the attention of someone unwilling to let her go? Who wants her and nothing else after falling in love at first sight? A 25-year-old billionaire CEO and single father, Lucian Carrington. He takes what he wants and he is also a very dangerous man. All it needed was one look at a stunning woman to realize she was HIS, even though he doesn't believe in relationships because they always end. Preview: Miss Carter, you will be mine. I say firmly. "Release my arm, Mr. Carrington, before I force you to." She says, seeming to smile at me. I give her a sly smile. Squeezing my wrist with her other hand, she twists it uncomfortably. I gave a painful hiss. "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Carrington." "This is the only time I will allow you to walk away from me, Miss Carter." She glared at me as she turned. "Mr. Carrington, I am no possession of yours." I was left standing there when she opened the classroom door and left.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
"Is it considered betrayal to develop feelings for your best friend's boyfriend? What about when fate intervenes, and he turns out to be your destined mate? You might think it's luck and thank the moon goddess for such a twist of fate. That's what I believed until the love of my life uttered those dreaded words: 'I want a divorce!' As I stared at the pregnancy test in my hands, I realized it was better to keep my secret to myself. My name is Violet, and this is my story."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."