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?
Chapter 1: Arrival
Leah's POV
"Are you sure you want to do this? Because once you step into Moonshadow, there's no turning back."
Rain hammered against the windshield as we crept along the winding road. The dim headlights barely pierced the swirling mist, and the forest on either side loomed like shadowy sentinels.
I hesitated, unsure how to respond. The air in the car was thick with the scent of damp leather and stale coffee, and something about his question felt unsettling, almost like a warning.
"Not really," I said finally, though my voice sounded uncertain even to me.
The driver chuckled, a sound that was more rasp than mirth. "Well, Moonshadow has a way of making believers out of skeptics."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, glancing at the GPS on my phone. No signal. The tiny dot that was supposed to represent me was frozen on the edge of nowhere. I clenched the device tighter, wishing it could offer some reassurance.
"How much longer?" I asked, hoping to steer the conversation to safer ground.
"Not far," he replied, his eyes never leaving the slick road. "But I'd keep your wits about you. The storm's only half the trouble out here."
I opened my mouth to ask what he meant, but he fell silent, his attention fixed on the road ahead.
The car lurched suddenly as a massive branch crashed down in front of us, its gnarled limbs clawing at the ground like fingers. I gasped, gripping the edge of my seat as the driver slammed on the brakes.
"Looks like this is where your ride ends," he said, his tone oddly calm as he threw the car into park.
"What do you mean? We can't stop here!" I protested, but he was already reaching for the door handle.
"You'll have to walk the rest of the way. Just follow the path." He nodded toward a barely visible trail that disappeared into the dark woods.
"Are you serious?" My voice wavered between disbelief and panic.
"Dead serious." He stepped out, grabbing my bags from the trunk and setting them on the muddy ground. "Moonshadow Manor's just up ahead. You can't miss it."
Before I could argue, he climbed back into the car, the door slamming shut with finality.
"Wait!" I called out, but the taillights were already fading into the distance, swallowed by the storm.
I stood there, the rain soaking through my coat, staring at the shadowy forest ahead. A shiver crept down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
With no other choice, I hoisted my bag over my shoulder and started down the trail. Each step squelched against the muddy ground, the sound unnervingly loud against the whisper of the wind and the steady drum of rain.
The trees seemed to press closer the further I went, their skeletal branches intertwining above me like a canopy of claws. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.
"Just nerves," I muttered to myself, though the words offered little comfort.
A distant howl sliced through the air, long and mournful. I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. Wolves. The thought sent my mind spiraling. I hurried my pace, nearly tripping over an exposed root as the trail twisted and turned.
Finally, the trees parted, and I stumbled into a clearing. There it was-Moonshadow Manor.
The house loomed like a dark monolith against the stormy sky, its towering spires reaching toward the heavens. Lightning flashed, illuminating the cracked stone façade and ivy-covered walls. The windows glimmered faintly, like eyes peering out into the night.
I swallowed hard and approached the front door, my hand trembling as I reached for the brass knocker shaped like a snarling wolf's head. Before I could grasp it, the door creaked open on its own, revealing a dimly lit foyer.
"Hello?" My voice echoed through the cavernous space, but no answer came.
I stepped inside, the door closing behind me with a soft thud. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and something faintly metallic, like rust-or blood.
The hallway stretched before me, lined with flickering sconces that cast dancing shadows on the walls. A grand staircase spiraled upward, its banister polished to a dark sheen.
"Is anyone here?" I called again, my voice trembling.
A low growl resonated from somewhere deep within the house, the sound vibrating through the floorboards.
I spun around, my eyes scanning the shadows for the source. Nothing moved, but the growl came again, closer this time.
"Miss Winters," a voice purred, smooth and deep.
I whipped around to find a man standing at the foot of the staircase. He was tall and lean, his dark hair slicked back, and his piercing eyes seemed to glow faintly in the dim light.
"You startled me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"My apologies." He stepped closer, his movements almost predatory. "I wasn't expecting you to arrive tonight, not in this storm."
"Neither was I," I replied, my nerves fraying further. "The driver-he said I had to walk the rest of the way."
His lips curved into a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You're here now. That's what matters."
Something about him unsettled me, though I couldn't quite place it. There was an intensity in his gaze, as if he were sizing me up.
"You must be exhausted," he said, gesturing toward the staircase. "Let me show you to your room."
I hesitated, every instinct screaming at me to refuse. But where else could I go? The storm was raging outside, and the manor, for all its eerie atmosphere, offered shelter.
"Thank you," I said, forcing a smile.
As I followed him up the staircase, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap.
We stopped at a heavy wooden door near the end of the hall. He pushed it open, revealing a spacious room with a canopy bed and a crackling fireplace.
"Get some rest," he said, lingering in the doorway. "Tomorrow, we'll talk about why you're really here."
Before I could respond, he turned and disappeared down the hall.
I closed the door and leaned against it, my heart racing. The fire cast flickering shadows on the walls, and for a moment, I thought I saw a figure moving in the corner of the room.
"Get a grip, Leah," I muttered, shaking my head.
But as I turned toward the bed, a voice whispered, so faint I almost missed it:
"You shouldn't have come."
My blood ran cold.
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 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 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?
She was hurt. She was bullied and made fun of. And the only hope that kept her going was finding her mate. She has always been weak. Weak to the world. Why? Because she was a lantern. She didn't have a wolf. That's what everyone thought about her. When she found her mate, he wanted her to be his slut and not a wife. She might be an omega, but it doesn't mean she will take disloyalty and betrayal lightly. So she did something that no one in history ever did. She rejected an Alpha. "I, Alexis Clark, reject Brandon Sterling, the alpha of Black mist pack, and consider myself a free soul until I decide so."; Were her last words before she left that torturous place and became a rogue. A rogue that everyone was fearing and finding. Why? Because she was the rogue that has become one of the biggest problems of almost all the packs in the country. She was Alexis Clark. A rogue that rejected an Alpha, stealth food, kill other rogues, and more than that was living with humans and studying with them. What will happen when her case is given to the world's most dangerous alpha, Sebastian Sinclair, who has taken it upon himself to punish this rogue. The one who hated rogues and omega to a level that was beyond understanding. Why? Because his mate was an omega, who betrayed him with a rogue before dying. How will Alexis tackle this alpha, in whose College she was studying and living under hiding for almost a year? What will Sebastian do when he finds out the new girl he had been talking to is none other than the rogue omega that he had decided to kill? "To love you with all my might was my only wish, but you were the only one who gave me endless suffering. So today, I promise myself to not fall for anyone."; A simple saying that both Alexis and Sebastian had vowed upon. Will they be able to find their love amidst all these problems?
Jane Roberts has been married to the love of her life for two years and just when she thinks they're going to start a family, he divorces her and kicks her to the curb. Hurt and broken, Jane discovers that Marcus had actually been cheating on her with her cousin, Abigail and she had only been his means to an end. Enraged, Jane is determined to get her revenge, but without money and connections, Marcus will never be taken down. Just as she is about to give up all hope, Caleb Lockwood reaches out to her and agrees to help her but she has to get married to him first and their marriage needs to be kept a secret. Jane agrees to it, but will she and Caleb be able to dispute the pools of sparks and passion that threatens to consume their printed marriage? And what will happen when Marcus discovers their marriage and will stop at nothing to destroy their union and win his love back?
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?
Lucille was one of the most skilled female assassins, and on the previous night, she embarked on a top-secret mission. However, the mission's details were leaked, leading to her untimely demise at the hands of a traitorous companion. She never discovered the identity of the person who betrayed her before her death. But by some miracle, she was granted a new life, and was reborn as a girl with the same name. Determined to uncover the truth and seek revenge for her family, Lucille seized her second chance at life. She planned to avenge her loved ones. However, her plans were complicated by Joseph, an apparently frail man who was actually skilled in martial arts. And he seemed to fall for her deeply, now this newfound knowledge only added to the complications of Lucille's revenge plan...
For seven years, Jillian pursued Bryan with unyielding passion, but he remained distant, his emotions tightly sealed. Disheartened, she left for overseas after graduating from college. Three years later, Jillian, now a successful attorney, sat provocatively on the lap of Bryan's competitor. She flashed Bryan a playful smile and taunted, "What's wrong, Bryan? Are you impotent?" Bryan's restraint shattered in an instant. In a swift motion, he scooped her up and tossed her onto the bed. The next morning, as Bryan woke up, Jillian flashed a mischievous smile. "Let's keep things casual, okay?"
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?