Elara's life takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself caught in the web of Kieran, the ruthless Alpha of Blackridge. Cursed to never know love, Kieran's icy demeanor and dark past make him a dangerous man to get close to-but when Elara's world collides with his, she is irresistibly drawn to him. As their forbidden passion intensifies, Elara discovers that their connection is not just a spark of desire-it's a force that could break them both. The darkness in Kieran's soul mirrors her own struggles, and though he is cold and distant, Elara begins to see the man behind the Alpha, the scars of betrayal and the curse that keeps him from truly loving anyone. In a world where passion is forbidden, can Elara and Kieran defy fate, or will their love be their undoing?
Elara's POV
I stood by the window covered with frost, tracing my fingers over its glass. The cold seeped through to my skin, but I didn't pull away. Outside, the trees moved in the biting wind, their branches reaching toward the grey sky. They stood tall, unmoved by the chaos that swirled inside these walls. I envied them-their stillness, the quietness they maintained,I wished I could feel the same.
"Elara!" Magnus's voice thundered through the hallway, sharp and commanding. Even from behind the closed door, it made me shiver. His tone wasn't a request; it was an order, like always. My stomach twisted, the knot of anger I kept buried tightening. I took a breath, letting the icy air of my room fill my lungs. Whatever he wanted, I would face it the way I always had: head held high, no matter how much it cost me.
I pushed open the door and made my way toward the grand hall, my shoes making sounds against the wooden floor. The sound echoed in the empty corridor, each step a reminder of the silence that ruled this house unless Magnus chose to break it. The shadowy lights overhead flickered as I passed, casting faint shadows that seemed to shrink under his rule, just like everyone else.
When I entered the hall, I found him pacing in front of the massive fireplace. His presence filled the room, heavy and suffocating. He turned as I approached, his dark eyes looking onto me and I felt the weight of his gaze settle on me.
"You called for me?" I asked, keeping my voice steady. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing any fear in me.
Magnus stopped pacing and crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you know why you're here?"
"No," I replied, moving my head slightly. "But I'm sure you're about to tell me."
His jaw tightened at my tone, but I didn't care. Let him be angry.
"You're to be mated to Kieran Blackridge," he said, his voice as blunt as a hammer.
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. For a moment, I just looked at him, my mind struggling to process what he'd said. Kieran Blackridge. The name alone was enough to send a shiver down my spine. The infamous Alpha of the Blackridge pack, known for his ruthlessness, his unyielding power, and his cold, calculating nature. And now, according to Magnus, I was supposed to be bound to him.
"You're joking," I said finally, my voice low but sharp.
"This isn't a joke, Elara," Magnus shouted "The alliance with the Blackridge pack is necessary. Their resources and warriors are the only thing keeping Thornwood safe from rogue attacks. This is about survival."
"Survival?" I spat, my voice rising. "No, this is about you. About your pride, your ambition. You're not doing this for the pack-you're doing it for yourself. And you're using me to do it."
Magnus's expression darkened, and before I knew it , he was in front of me. His hand shot out, gripping my arm tightly. "Watch your tone," he growled. "You may not like it, but this isn't up for discussion. You will do what's required of you, Elara. That's final."
I yanked my arm free, my chest filled with rage. "You can force me to stand next to him, but you'll never make me submit," I said, my voice trembling with anger. "You'll regret this, Magnus."
Before he could respond, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the hall. My shoes struck the floor hard with every step, the sound echoing like the pounding of my heart. The air outside hit me like a slap when I stepped out, cold and sharp. I didn't stop walking until I reached the edge of the forest, where the snow was, a blanket of white beneath the tall, silent trees.
I Leaned against one of the trees, I closed my eyes and let the rough bark press into my back. The cold air stung my cheeks, and my breath came out in short, visible puffs. I tried to calm the storm raging inside me, but the anger refused to settle. Tears pricked my eyes, hot and unwelcome, but I blinked them away. Crying wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't undo Magnus's decree or the way he had stripped me of my choice.
"Elara?" A soft voice broke through the quiet.
I opened my eyes to see Lila, my younger sister, making her way toward me. Her dark hair framed her pale face, her eyes filled with worry. She wrapped her cloak tightly around her as she stepped carefully through the snow.
"I heard what happened," she said when she reached me. Her voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of her concern. "Are you okay?"
I shook my head, unable to find the words. Lila stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a warm, firm hug. Her embrace was steady, calming me in a way I hadn't realized I needed.
"You're stronger than this," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "Magnus thinks he can control you because that's all he knows how to do. But he doesn't understand you, Elara. Don't let him break you."
Her words lit a spark inside me, small but bright. I pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "I won't let him win," I said, my voice steadier now. "If Magnus thinks I'll just go along with this, he's wrong. And if Kieran Blackridge thinks I'm some weak little pawn, he's in for a surprise."
Lila smiled faintly and squeezed my shoulders. "Good. That's the Elara I know. Remember, you're not alone in this. No matter what happens, I've got your back."
She gave me one last hug before turning to head back to the house. I stayed where I was, staring into the forest, Magnus might think he held all the power, but he was wrong. I wasn't going to let him-or anyone else-decide my fate.
Gwen has always been a stranger in the White claw Pack, orphan without power or purpose. Her life changes when she learns her fated mate is Logan, the most feared Alpha of the pack. But when logan brutally rejects her, calling her feeble and unworthy, Gwen retreats into hiding. In isolation, Gwen discovers a secret power tied to a long-lost werewolf bloodline, one that could convey the balance of the werewolf world. As rival packs close in, Gwen must decide whether to embrace her destiny or let her hatred for logan consume her. As the menaces of a rival pack grows, logan is drawn back to Gwen, haunted by his past decisions. They may have to unite to survive, but can Gwen forgive Logan, and can logan redeem himself before he loses her forever?
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. "It's time to reveal your true identity, darling."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
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."
Billionaire Bennett Graham urgently needed a wife to close a business deal but his fiancée wasn't ready to tie the knots yet. So his grandmother picked the most unassuming maid for him. Everything was supposed to go incredibly well, and all he had to do was wait until he divorced her a year later. But after seeing Maliyah's ocean eyes.it wasn't looking simple anymore. *** Before I could get her up, it was as if she felt the light and an uncomfortable sound came out of her mouth. "Uh-huh..." She raised her hand to cover her eyes. But I didn't have time to wait for her to wake up, so I told her to "Get Up." My voice seemed to scare her, and her light-fearing eyes suddenly widened and she kept moving to the corner. The only voice in the quiet art room was her fear-filled voice, "No...please...go away...don't come close to me." She was afraid of me? I hadn't even spoken to her before, what was she afraid of? This was definitely not going to work, I couldn't talk to her if she couldn't calm down. Then I moved closer to her, my hand on her trembling shoulder, and I whispered soothingly "Calm down.I'm not going to hurt you.I'm not going to hurt you."I assured and then she moved her hair away from her face as if to stare at me properly. Our eyes met.It was that moment. It felt as if I was enchanted for a moment. Those ocean eyes were the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.