When the infamous mafia boss Vincenzo Moretti is assassinated on his wedding day, chaos descends upon the world he built. His young widow, Elena, and her daughter, Alessia, are left vulnerable and alone, thrust into the dangerous shadows of the criminal underworld. But protection comes from an unlikely source-**Luca Moretti**, the new mafia king and Vincenzo's cold, calculating son. Luca is a man hardened by loss, power, and the weight of his father's legacy. When he takes Elena and Alessia into his estate, it's not out of kindness-it's out of duty. Alessia, however, is no stranger to judgment. Luca sees her as nothing but a gold-digger, a parasite feeding off his late father's wealth. But Alessia refuses to cower under his sharp gaze, and their fiery clashes ignite a tension neither of them can ignore. As Luca hunts the enemies who killed his father, he finds himself distracted by the one woman he shouldn't want. Alessia is everything forbidden-his step-sister by marriage and a symbol of a past he resents. But the more he tries to push her away, the deeper he falls into her orbit. Alessia, meanwhile, is drawn into a world of betrayal, danger, and impossible choices. When a wealthy and charming suitor offers her a way out of the mafia's deadly grasp, she is torn between the promise of safety and the magnetic pull of Luca's dark, dangerous love. In a world where loyalty is everything and love is a liability, Luca and Alessia must face their deepest fears and darkest desires. But as enemies close in and secrets unravel, will their forbidden bond survive the firestorm-or destroy them both? Love. Power. Betrayal. In the end, nothing is off-limits when the heart is on the line.
The Castello D'Oro stood like a crown upon the cliffs, its golden walls catching the last rays of the setting sun. The sprawling estate wasn't simply a venue-it was a symbol of power, wealth, and dominance. Tonight, it hosted a celebration meant to unite two worlds: the marriage of Don Vincenzo Moretti, the infamous mafia king, and Elena, a woman who many whispered about but few truly knew.
The grand ballroom was a masterpiece of decadence. Chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling like frozen constellations, their crystal prisms scattering light across the polished marble floors. Gold and crimson drapes framed towering windows that overlooked the restless sea. Beneath the glow of the chandeliers, men in tailored suits and women in glittering gowns mingled, their laughter and chatter disguising the tension that always lingered in gatherings of the powerful and dangerous.
This was no ordinary wedding. It was a declaration. Vincenzo Moretti, a man whose name struck fear across continents, was celebrating his dominance with a lavish display. Every guest in the room knew they were here not just to witness a union but to pay homage to the man who ruled the shadows.
Alessia stood apart from the crowd, tightly gripping the stem of a champagne flute. The twenty-four-year-old adjusted the neckline of her simple satin dress, feeling uncomfortably out of place among the opulence. The air smelled of roses, expensive perfume, and power-a heady mixture that made her stomach churn.
Her mother, Elena, had insisted that Alessia attend. "This is our new life," Elena had said with a smile, her eyes shimmering with hope and determination. But Alessia wasn't so sure.
Her eyes scanned the room, lingering on the man at the center of everyone's attention. Don Vincenzo Moretti stood tall and imposing, his graying hair slicked back, his sharp features exuding authority. He wore a black suit that seemed to absorb the light, his crimson tie the only splash of color. Even on his wedding day, he looked like a man ready for battle.
Beside him stood Elena, radiant in her ivory lace gown. She looked beautiful, almost ethereal, but Alessia couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at her. Her mother's marriage to Vincenzo had been a whirlwind-quick, unexpected, and surrounded by whispers. Alessia had protested at first, even fought with her mother, but Elena had insisted that Vincenzo was a good man who would protect them.
Still, Alessia couldn't ignore the flicker of fear in her mother's eyes, the way her smile sometimes faltered when she thought no one was looking. Was this really love? Or was it survival?
Alessia's thoughts were interrupted when her gaze landed on another figure across the room-**Luca Moretti**, Vincenzo's only son. He stood near the bar, a glass of whiskey in his hand, watching the proceedings with an expression that was both detached and calculating.
Luca was nothing like Vincenzo in appearance. Where his father was all sharp edges and commanding presence, Luca was smooth and refined, his tailored suit fitting him like a second skin. He had jet-black hair, slicked back neatly, and dark eyes that seemed to see through people. But Alessia could feel the same intensity radiating from him, a quiet storm brewing beneath his calm exterior.
Their eyes met briefly, and Alessia's stomach tightened. Luca didn't bother to hide his disdain. She could see it in the slight curl of his lip, the way his gaze swept over her as though she were an annoyance. He hadn't said much to her in the few times they'd crossed paths, but his opinion of her was clear.
Gold digger. Opportunist. Parasite.
The words weren't spoken, but they hung heavy in the air between them. Alessia broke the eye contact first, turning her attention back to her champagne flute. She didn't care what Luca thought of her. His opinion didn't matter. This wasn't her world, and she had no intention of staying in it longer than she had to.
The music shifted, signaling the start of the ceremony. Guests began taking their seats, their conversations fading to murmurs. Vincenzo extended his arm to Elena, his expression softening just enough to show a glimmer of affection. Alessia watched as her mother placed her hand on his arm, her fingers trembling slightly.
"You'll be fine," Alessia whispered, squeezing her mother's free hand. "You've got this."
Elena smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you, cara mia. Stay close, okay?"
Alessia nodded, though she wasn't sure how much help she could be. She felt like a spectator in her own life, swept along by forces she couldn't control.
As the bridal march began to play, Alessia stepped back to let her mother and Vincenzo take center stage. They walked toward the altar near the grand staircase, their movements slow and deliberate. The guests rose to their feet, applause echoing through the ballroom.
But Alessia couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. There was a tension in the air, subtle but growing. She glanced around, her heart quickening. The guards stationed at the entrances seemed more alert than usual, their hands hovering near their weapons.
Then she saw him.
A man in a black suit, standing near the back of the room, his face partially obscured by the brim of his hat. Something about him set off alarms in Alessia's mind. He wasn't clapping. He wasn't even watching the ceremony. He was watching the guards.
Before Alessia could process what was happening, the first gunshot rang out.
The sound was deafening, shattering the fragile illusion of peace. Screams erupted as the guests scrambled to take cover, toppling chairs and tables in their panic. Alessia froze, her mind struggling to catch up with the chaos unfolding around her.
More shots followed in rapid succession, the sharp cracks of gunfire echoing through the ballroom. Men in black suits stormed into the room, their faces hidden by masks, their weapons raised. They moved with military precision, their target clear.
"Get down!" someone shouted, but Alessia couldn't move. She could only watch in horror as Vincenzo staggered, clutching his chest as blood blossomed across his suit.
"No!" Elena's scream cut through the chaos as she tried to reach him, but one of the attackers grabbed her, dragging her back.
Alessia's paralysis broke. She lunged forward, her instincts screaming to protect her mother, but a hand yanked her back.
"Stay down!" a deep, commanding voice growled in her ear.
It was Luca. He appeared out of nowhere, his expression as cold and unyielding as steel. His grip on her arm was like iron as he pulled her behind an overturned table.
"They're here to finish him," Luca muttered, peering over the edge of the table. "And they won't stop with him."
"My mother-" Alessia began, her voice shaking.
"She's alive. For now," Luca snapped, his tone sharp. "But if you don't shut up and stay down, you won't be."
Tears blurred Alessia's vision as she crouched behind the table, her heart pounding in her chest. The sounds of gunfire and screams filled the air, but it all seemed distant, like a nightmare she couldn't wake from.
Minutes felt like hours, but eventually, the gunfire stopped. The attackers retreated as quickly as they had arrived, leaving behind a scene of destruction. Broken glass and overturned tables littered the floor. The once-beautiful ballroom now looked like a battlefield.
Alessia slowly stood, her legs trembling. Her eyes searched the room until they landed on the motionless form of Vincenzo Moretti. He lay in a pool of blood, his lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling.
Elena was on her knees beside him, sobbing uncontrollably, her gown stained with crimson. Alessia's breath caught in her throat as she took a step toward her mother, but Luca's hand shot out, stopping her.
"Wait," he said, his voice low and urgent. "They might come back."
Alessia turned to him, her eyes blazing with anger and grief. "We can't just leave her like this!"
Luca's jaw tightened, his dark eyes flashing. "Do you think I don't want to help her? Do you think I don't care? But if you go out there now, you'll get yourself killed. And then what?"
Alessia bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. She hated him in that moment-hated his cold logic, his unshakable calm. But she knew he was right.
Luca stood slowly, his movements careful and deliberate. He surveyed the room, his expression unreadable. "They'll come for us next," he said quietly. "We need to move. Now."
Alessia hesitated, her heart torn between staying with her mother and following Luca. But the look in his eyes left no room for argument. He wasn't asking. He was commanding.
Taking a deep breath, Alessia nodded. "Lead the way."
As Luca guided her toward an exit, Alessia cast one last glance at her mother, silently promising herself that she would come back. But deep down, she knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
Amelia Hart's wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of her life. Dressed in a gown fit for a fairy tale and poised to marry Ethan Cole, the billionaire tech mogul every woman dreams of, she has everything she's ever been told she should want. But as she stares at her reflection-a stranger in a dazzling white cage-she can't ignore the truth clawing at her chest: she doesn't love him. With the weight of expectations, family pressure, and a room full of glittering guests waiting for her grand entrance, Amelia makes the decision to do the unthinkable-run.
Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of sexual violence, abuse, and manipulation that may be distressing to some readers. Carla never dreamed of becoming the Luna, but when the ruthless Alpha King claimed her as his mate, she was thrust into a life of power, pain, and impossible expectations. To secure her place as Queen, she must accomplish one task: conceive an heir within the next twelve months. Failure means a fate worse than death-being discarded as a slave, handed over to the warriors for their pleasure. But there's one devastating problem: the Alpha King is infertile. Desperate to survive, Carla turns to the Beta-the only man who shows her kindness-and seduces him into her bed. As their forbidden affair ignites, Carla concocts a bold and dangerous plan: if the Beta kills the Alpha, they can be together, and she can finally claim the freedom she craves. Yet in the tangled web of lies, lust, and betrayal, Carla begins to question her own heart. Does she truly love the Beta, or is he just a pawn in her carefully crafted scheme? And as the walls close in, will she sacrifice him, herself, or the kingdom for the chance to be with her true mate?
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.
She spent eighteen years in an orphanage, but it was time to get out. According to the orphanage rules, once a child reaches legal age, they must depend on themselves. Celine didn't know what to do; luckily, she met her savior that day. If only she had known what she was getting herself into, she would never have gone with him. Celine found herself caught in a life of addiction, living in his house, where he was ready to sell her organs to get his fix. To save her life, she had to help him sell drugs. Her innocence became a liability. Soon, she found herself targeted by the king's men-kidnapped, bound, and tortured for selling drugs without their permission. But sometimes, what we fear the most might turn out to be the best for us. Celine found herself trapped in the king's palace, drowning in his love and married to him by force.
"Please, let me go," she begged, her eyes brimming with tears and her voice shaking with fear. Struggling to breathe, she felt trapped in his overwhelming embrace. He ignored her pleas, seemingly unaware of the pain he was causing, driven by jealousy that clouded his judgment. With all her strength, she pushed against him, desperate for even a moment of freedom. But he held her down, his voice low and threatening as he said, "No, I want you now." In that moment, everything changed for her. She was his younger brother's fiancée, and this encounter marked the beginning of a dark path. In an instant, her innocence was shattered, but she would eventually seek justice.
Two strangers-one destined to be the Alpha of the Green Hell Pack and the other the future female Alpha of the Bloody Pack-find themselves trapped in an arranged mating meant to unite their packs. Originally intended for their younger siblings, circumstances leave them with no choice but to accept the bond to save face. Life seems perfect until Julia's ex-boyfriend, Alpha Mark, refuses to let go, resorting to drastic measures to sabotage their union, including kidnapping her. With a possessive mate like Alpha Xander, Julia initially feels compelled to submit. Yet, as time passes, she begins to see him as her true mate. Just as love blossoms, it fades when Xander disappears, leaving behind a harsh letter that shatters their bond, claiming it was because she couldn't conceive. But did the possessive Alpha truly abandon his mate for that reason, or was he forced to take desperate measures to win her back?
While Sienna reached the pinnacle of her success, Julian remained the forgotten son of his family, the one who had secretly stolen her first kiss in the shadows of the night. As Sienna hit her darkest moment, Julian returned home, leaving his life behind, only to witness her tears glistening in the moonlight as she reluctantly accepted another man's proposal. When Sienna needed Julian more than ever, he had risen to a position of power and had become her most steadfast pillar of support. "Please marry me." There was no one else in the world who could love Sienna as deeply as Julian did.
Katie was forced to marry Dillan, a notorious ruffian. Her younger sister mocked her, "You're just an adopted daughter. Count your blessings for marrying him!" The world anticipated Katie's tribulations, but her married life unfurled with unexpected serenity. She even snagged a lavish mansion in a raffle! Katie jumped into Dillan's arms, credited him as her lucky charm. "No, Katie, it's you who brings me all this luck," Dillan replied. Then, one fateful day, Dillan's childhood friend came to her. "You're not worthy of him. Take this 50 million and leave him!" Katie finally grasped Dillan's true stature—the wealthiest man on the planet. That night, trembling with trepidation, she broached the subject of divorce with Dillan. However, with a domineering embrace, he told her, "I'd give you everything I have. Divorce is off the table!"
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Belinda thought after divorce, they would part ways for good - he could live his life on his own terms, while she could indulge in the rest of hers. However, fate had other plans in store. "My darling, I was wrong. Would you please come back to me?" The man, whom she once loved deeply, lowered his once proud head humbly. "I beg you to return to me." Belinda coldly pushed away the bouquet of flowers he had offered her and coolly replied, "It's too late. The bridge has been burned, and the ashes have long since scattered to the wind!"
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."