BLURB: I believed that I had moved on from my past. I resolved to keep my children safe at all means after spending a careless night with a stranger wearing a mask five years ago. I established a peaceful life in a new city, raising my triplets and their younger sister. However, my world starts to fall apart when my sons come back from the bathroom talking about a guy who has a tattoo of a wolf-the same tattoo I will always remember. The next day, destiny puts me face to face with him: the vicious CEO who doesn't know who I am but seems to be strangely attracted to my kids. I lie and deny everything out of a desperate attempt to protect my family. However, secrets tend to sneak through gaps, and his intense stare makes me question if he's already piecing things together. I'm stuck now, working for him, battling my emotions, and avoiding adversaries who seem out to bring me down. But nothing scares me more than the reality: what will he do if he finds out the children I vowed to safeguard are really his?
Chapter 1: The Encounter with the CEO
Olivia POV
"Who are they?"
Even though I knew there shouldn't be anybody in the room, I couldn't help but murmur to myself. I tightened my hold on the chair's arms as I looked up at the three people standing just inside the conference room. For such a straightforward meeting, the tension in the air was far higher than it should have been. However, nothing about this was easy.
To put it mildly, they were... weird. Their slick black clothes and jet-black hair make them look tall, poised, and almost flawless. However, I wasn't unnerved by it. It has to do with their movements. Or rather, the way they imitated everything I did.
I leaned back a little in my chair and moved the papers in front of me away. The triplets leaning back in perfect harmony almost instantly followed suit. A shiver went through my body.
I folded my arms and saw their uncanny accuracy in mirroring me. Not even my closest coworkers had the gall to do anything like this in front of me. I should have been angry, but I couldn't help but be curious. What were they trying to do?
I replied in a quiet voice, attempting to keep everything under control, "Tell me why you're here."
The lady on the left, who was closest to me, looked up and met my eyes. A little twitch of her mouth. A knowing smirk, subtle. I wasn't comfortable with it.
"Mr. Westbrook, we were invited," she said in a cold, collected tone. "You summoned us."
I furrowed my brow and squinted my eyes. I can't recall ever requesting a meeting of this kind. Sarah, my assistant, had only planned routine internal tasks for the day, and my calendar was clean. The idea was definitely not to meet up with three strangers who looked like they were doing a synchronized performance.
With a firmer tone, I said, "You're mistaken." "I didn't give anyone a call."
They remained still as they stood there. That same eerie silence in their manner. Then, as if in a choreography, they reached for their files one by one, each moving with the same purposeful slowness. I opened a folder in front of me and flipped through the documents while I looked at them. It was just not feasible. Without skipping a beat, they began imitating my movements once again.
I stopped, lingering on the pages with my fingertips. They seemed to be observing me, anticipating my next move. The air seemed thicker and heavier as the moment dragged on.
Unable to resist the impulse to shatter the stillness, I leaned forward. "Why the games?" I was becoming frustrated and my voice was tight. "What is this?"
"Games?" The person on the right, who had not yet spoken, cocked her head and her eyes glistened with something other than amusement. A darker one. "We are merely here to watch."
"Look?" I sneered. "What am I observing?"
Their eyes never wavered in unison. The middle lady, the one who had been silent up until now, moved slightly. It was just a little movement, but the way they all shifted in reaction made me feel even more uneasy.
"Your reactions," she whispered softly, her voice piercing the room's dense tension. "How you react to unforeseen circumstances."
My muscles tensed as I straightened up as her words echoed in my ears. Unexpected circumstances? This was much more than a mere surprise, in my opinion. What on earth were they doing here?
I steadied myself reflexively by adjusting my cufflinks without thinking. They mimicked me once again, each triplet raising their wrists and readjusting their handcuffs precisely at the same moment.
This was no haphazard remark. No, this was intentional. Whoever these ladies were, they were manipulating me in some way. They also understood just how to get me angry.
I took a deep breath, attempting to remain calm. "My time is being wasted by you."
The grin from the lady on the left wasn't a warm one. Knowing, it was calculated. Like she knew just what would make me angry. "Quite the opposite, Mr. Westbrook," she responded, her voice full of composed assurance. "We are here to assist you."
I became cold. Assistance?
I stared at her and then at the others, my mind racing with incredulity. "Aid?" I said it again. "I don't need assistance. I have no idea who you are.
The lady in the center said quietly, "We know you." "More than you may imagine."
A bolt of something icy ran through my veins as the words hit me hard. Sarah was still standing close to the entrance, her eyes wide with bewilderment, when I glanced at her. We hadn't planned this encounter, but she remained silent and watched from the sidelines, her jaw clenched.
Slowly and deliberately, the lady on the right stepped forward. Her voice was no more than a whisper now, but the weight of her words made my skin tingle. "You're out of your depth, Jacob," she murmured. "You are unaware of the magnitude of the forces at work."
A beat skipped in my chest. The room's atmosphere became heavier, and for a split second, I started to doubt everything. The triplets. Their behaviors. Their odd, coordinated actions. It wasn't only a complex ploy. Beneath the surface lay something deeper, something far more threatening. And I could see now that their presence wasn't accidental.
With the pieces of the jigsaw beginning to fall together in my mind, I remarked, "You're not just here to observe." "You have a plan."
With her eyes fixed on me, the lady in the center gave a little nod. "You're correct," she stated plainly. "We do."
Abruptly, I got up and stepped back, my chair scuffing the floor. This was incorrect. I needed to take charge of this. However, I wasn't ready for what happened next.
Two unfamiliar people entered the meeting room as the door sprang open. They weren't simply strangers, however. They had a strange, unnatural quality about them. My heartbeat accelerated, and I naturally retreated a step as my gaze strayed to the triplets. However, they seemed completely unsurprised.
Indeed, they seemed almost... gratified.
The towering guy in front of the others, who may have been the commander, seemed even more formidable in his black suit. He exuded a confidence that only someone used to being in charge could have. I felt my throat constrict as his gaze met mine.
"Mr. Westbrook," he began in a quiet but firm voice. "I believe it's time for us to talk."
I started to say something, but nothing came out. I turned to look at the triplets, who were now motionless and had unreadable faces. I had a deep realization that everything was going to change because of the oppressive atmosphere in the room.
But I didn't know what they wanted from me.
The room darkened before I could speak again. After flickering once and again, the lights vanished entirely. The sound of footfall reached my ears, but they were no longer human. It was the kind of noise that made my skin crawl.
The shadows held their breath.
Then I heard it, that distinct roar.
Just now, something changed.
BLURB: I believed that I had moved on from my past. I resolved to keep my children safe at all means after spending a careless night with a stranger wearing a mask five years ago. I established a peaceful life in a new city, raising my triplets and their younger sister. However, my world starts to fall apart when my sons come back from the bathroom talking about a guy who has a tattoo of a wolf-the same tattoo I will always remember. The next day, destiny puts me face to face with him: the vicious CEO who doesn't know who I am but seems to be strangely attracted to my kids. I lie and deny everything out of a desperate attempt to protect my family. However, secrets tend to sneak through gaps, and his intense stare makes me question if he's already piecing things together. I'm stuck now, working for him, battling my emotions, and avoiding adversaries who seem out to bring me down. But nothing scares me more than the reality: what will he do if he finds out the children I vowed to safeguard are really his?
BLURB:I came to Moonshadow chasing folklore and found a mystery far greater than I bargained for. One night with Ethan Blackwood-a man as dangerous as he is alluring-was supposed to be a fleeting indulgence. But when he turned his back on me, cold and distant, I vowed to forget him. I failed. Now, I'm back in Moonshadow with secrets of my own-two growing lives tied to the man who rejected me. But something sinister stalks the shadows of this town, and my investigation is drawing me into a world I never believed existed. Ethan is hiding something, and no matter how hard he tries to keep me away, fate keeps pulling us closer. His icy facade cracks when the danger circles too near, and I discover his truth-a truth that explains everything. Ethan Blackwood isn't just a man. He's a beast bound by laws older than the moon. And now, those laws threaten to destroy us both. When the rogue wolf finally reveals its true target, I'll have to decide: can I trust Ethan to save me and the children he doesn't even know he's fighting for? Or has he already doomed us all?
BLURB: I was not interested in marrying a billionaire. Last but not least is Adrian Blackwood, the sly, cold man who came into my life with a contract instead of a proposal. For a year, I would pretend to be his perfect wife in exchange for his paying off my debilitating debt. Simple, isn't it? No, it wasn't. Adrian's smoldering gaze, his rare acts of charity, and the way he held me when no one else was looking made it impossible to keep my heart out of the equation. I knew there would be no forever, no love, and no commitment. But there are rules that are designed to be disregarded. Then I found out I was having a baby. I was scared of his reaction, so I left without telling him. For three years, away from the shadow of his wealth and buildings, I made a quiet life for myself and my daughter. But secrets are never really hidden. When Adrian enters my gallery carrying a painting that I could have done alone, my time is finished. His penetrating eyes scream for answers, and his presence shakes the foundation of the life I've created. He says in a voice as menacing as the storm in his eyes, "I think we need to talk." Then, in a flash, everything collapses. Because Adrian Blackwood is not content with answers; he wants everything. How can I protect my heart when the man who could destroy us both is the father of my child?
BLURB:I had hate in my heart when I died. The Moon Goddess herself linked me to a guy who was meant to adore me, but he betrayed me. I was alive and complete five years ago when I opened my eyes once again. I vowed that this time would be different. My so-called fated mate, Darius Blackthorn, would never be allowed to come near me close enough to ruin me once again. Before he could attack, I would forge my own route, guard my heart, and discover the truth about his treachery. However, it seems that destiny is difficult to change. Killian Draven comes in. Perilous, enraged, and all too alluring, he makes me an offer: if I act like his mate, he would shield me from Darius. I shouldn't play that game since it would only lead to heartache. But the longer I'm in Killian's embrace, the more I question if my fate isn't bound to him. Darius then comes after me and says I've been duped and that the betrayal I believed I saw wasn't what it seemed to be. He is battling not just for me but also for our pack's future. And I am really shaken by the facts he exposes. Because if Darius wasn't the one who betrayed me, then who was it? And why does it seem like I could lose more than my heart in this second chance?
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
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?
Three years ago, Cecilia was left battered and alone by the man she loved most, Alston, yet she bravely completed the wedding ceremony while pregnant. Three years later, although they were married, they grew apart over time. Cecilia focused on her career, no longer foolishly believing in love. But her transformation instantly threw Alston into a panic... And what is the secret from 11 years ago that Cecilia has always been reluctant to reveal? *** "She went to a law firm, met with a lawyer..." A lawyer? Is Cecilia suing someone? Who? Is there any recent litigation against the company? Alston suddenly chuckled coldly, "Who could she sue? I'm the CEO of this company. How come such a matter doesn't come to me first?" The assistant swallowed nervously, speaking softly, "Sir, there's no litigation against the company. She met with... a divorce lawyer."
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?
Sara Mae Xavier is living every Omega's dream--she is the Alpha King's mate! That's until he betrays and rejects her. He also accuses her falsely, and she is sentenced to two years at the notorious North Academy, a campus made specifically for delinquent werewolves. She has no idea how she'll survive, being a weak Omega, but she soon realises that's the least of her problems. Her roommates are three Alphas, each with a notorious reputation of his own. But that's not the worst part...why on earth does she have a mate bond to all of them?
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."