But it wasn't just fear, she was irresistibly drawn to a stranger. She wanted him to touch her, to kiss her. Gillian's legs were giving way from an inexplicable desire. She had never experienced anything like this. She wouldn't say she loved him, but she still felt sympathy. And then one meeting, Asher Christian swallowed her up. Asher leaned over, and she pressed herself into the bark. In her zeal to keep their bodies from touching, she overdid it and scratched her back, and badly. She felt a burning sensation. "You need to be careful." The voice flowed like a pleasant wave. His fingers wandered over her bare skin and gave a short kiss to her lips. "Asher Christian! If you kiss me again, I will--" "What will you do? Bite me?" And then he pinned her to the wall.
1820. Salisbury Estate.
A warm May day. Today is my wife's birthday. Preparations for the celebration have been going on for a whole week. Guests will arrive even from London. Although we live in the small town of Rochdale, our family is known in the highest circles of England.
The wedding of Lord Salisbury and his beautiful bride Elizabeth Stanhope was a grand event, which was compared to the wedding of a king and queen. We are not lovers of luxury, but to divert suspicion from ourselves, we try to be in the thick of things.
Wolves usually prefer to live away from cities, villages, and various settlements, but I my true mate has chosen a different way of living, more human. This allows us to live our own lives. Hunters do not look for werewolves among the nobility.
I am a young alpha. Ten years have passed since the death of my father and mother, and since then I have become a leader by right of inheritance. Strangely, my wolf half did not manifest itself at the age of eighteen, like in others.
My parents were sure that nature had deprived their son of the blood of the beast, which meant that a werewolf would be born in the next generation. To be honest, I did not want to. But having witnessed the death of my relatives, the wolf broke out.
Pain, uncontrollable rage, and anger woke him up. No full moon, just turned. The only explanation is my unwillingness to accept my second nature, it did not give free rein to the beast, and he slept, waiting for his hour. So he turned for the first time at twenty-five.
The desire to live a normal life has not disappeared to this day. My wife and I want a full-fledged family. We want to grow old and see children grow up, and not like I had. I grew up in a family in which one day
the father and mother began to look younger than their son. We looked more like friends. It drove me crazy. I don't want this for my children.
Elizabeth was luckier. She grew up in a normal family and, knowing all the delights of parental attention and care, supported my desire to give up immortality. Our desire to be like people was not very well received in the pack, but I do not intend to change my decision. I will be the leader until I find a worthy replacement.
Ethan is my beta. He can take the place of the alpha, but according to wolf laws, first along the line of kinship. If we have a son or daughter who does not turn into wolves, then my friend will take my place.
My beautiful she-wolf has been diligently preparing for the celebration all these days. The number of guests arriving from the capital requires that the estate looks its best. The little lady of such a huge house brought comfort and warmth into the cold walls with her appearance.
The inexperienced and insecure alpha next to her matured and became stronger. Power no longer embarrasses, her but on the contrary, makes him more adult. The boy disappeared, and a young man came to replace him. Only in the presence of his beloved wife, does this man become gentle and caring. She is the meaning of my life.
Today is not only Elizabeth's birthday but also a full moon, a night that will disappear with the dawn and take our immortality with it. Soon we will be able to breathe deeply. We will be happy in our little family world.
I went downstairs to look around the house, to check if everything was ready. The huge living room would become a ballroom for one evening. Decorations of fresh flowers, which the servants and his wife had collected on our territory, create a spring mood.
The tables are covered with snow-white tablecloths, also with a floral pattern. The magnificent chandeliers are polished to a shine. I am inside, and it feels like I am in a clearing in the forest, the smells are extraordinary.
Elizabeth flew into the room. The lush dress does not prevent her from moving quickly and gracefully at the same time. The green color of the fabric emphasizes her fiery red hair. Her big eyes look reproachfully. It looks like I'm going to get it now. My heart started pounding like crazy, not from fear, but from the fact that she was approaching.
My senses instantly intensify in her presence. I feel full as if all positive emotions are simultaneously absorbing my heart. This lunar creature is my soul. We are one. Without her, there is no me, without me, there is no her.
That is why we made such a decision, there was no rush, but rumors appeared that hunters were scurrying around England in search of evil spirits. The grandeur of the holiday is a distraction. Too many packs have been exterminated in recent years precisely because of their desire to live in solitude.
Someone might think that he was a coward, but yesterday my wife told me about her pregnancy. I am immensely happy. I can't risk her and the child. If there were any doubts before, there are none now. The fact that we are accepting old age does not mean that we are leaving the pack. Until I hand over power, I will be with them. No one knows that my wife is pregnant. We will announce it today.
"Dear Lord Salisbury, where have you been all morning?" graceful white fingers touched my face.
"Lady Elizabeth, knowing your husband, you are well aware that I hate fuss. And it has reigned in the house for a whole week." He smiled guiltily.
She frowned, which made me want to laugh. Whenever I see her angry, I can't help it, my wife is so sweet. But she is only cute on the outside, and she is a real red beast. Not a single wolf from her stay couldn't overcome her, except Ethan. My friend looks younger than me, but in fact, he is much older. Everything I can do, he can do too. My right hand, my reflection.
Once, she broke into his life and pestered him so much that he had nowhere to escape, but she suddenly disappeared. Six years later, he went from being an associate professor in the music department to the president of a well-known domestic and foreign group and caught the runaway girl back to his side. "Ethan White! If you kiss me again, I will--" "What will you do? Bite me?" So, he was thrown to the bed by her mouth-to-mouth with a whine.
Asher Black is the future Alpha of the Black Shadow Pack, and Jolie is just a simple maid. Two stripes on the test. Pregnancy... Asher quickly got rid of them. But five years later, as if nothing had happened, he wanted to take her daughter away from her.
Beta Black had clarified that he would never take a mate, but following his beliefs was becoming increasingly difficult because Wolf could not resist their mutual attraction. Once he touched and tasted the beautiful Aileen, the wolf couldn't help but want her his mate. Can one night give two people what they so desperately want, or will the reality of who they are tear them apart?
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
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?
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."