The guy I vowed to love till the end deceived me, and I died once. The Moon Goddess, however, wasn't finished with me. She brought me back to life, reincarnating me as a rogue with no identity or memories, just the burning pain of a past I can't quite recall and a blood-thirsty need for revenge. Then I got to know him. Marcus John. The vicious Nightfang Pack's Alpha. Chilly. Without mercy. Dangerously addictive. I despise him. Nevertheless, my wolf awakens when he is close as if she has discovered something she has long since lost. His touch has a quality that seems to be both a blessing and a curse. I'm not sure whether I'm falling for him or if the connection that is bringing us together is what will break me. Because my recollections grow clearer the closer I go to him. And I'll have to choose between kissing him and killing him when I eventually realize who he is.
Chapter 1: The Stranger's Eyes
Grace's POV
"Are you lost?"
Before I even opened my eyes, I heard the voice-deep and harsh, like gravel rolling under heavy feet. I opened my eyes and blinked in the face of the intense sunshine that was piercing the trees.
The smell of pine and something metallic lingered in the air while I lay on the chilly ground, dirt sticking to my skin. I had the impression that my body wasn't mine.
With my hands rubbing against the hard ground, I forced myself to stand. I was overshadowed by a shadow.
A man.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Penetrating gray eyes that stared at me as if they were trying to strip me naked, a sharp jaw, and black stubble lining it. For a while, his eyes lingered where my frayed shirt dropped loosely from one shoulder, revealing too much flesh.
I stumbled a little as I clambered to my feet. "Remain back."
He remained still. Just stood with his arms folded and his eyes blazing at me. "Calm down. You would already be on the ground if I intended to harm you.
"Not assisting."
A slow, menacing sneer pulled at the corner of his lips. "I didn't intend to."
My heart pounded like a drum, racing in my chest. I looked around, but there were no recognizable trees or shadows. I was unsure about my location. Even worse, I had no idea who I was.
He stepped closer and said, "What's your name?"
My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I had no thoughts. Empty.
"I'm not sure,"
His eyes flickered with interest as his brow raised slightly. "Comfortable."
I balled my fists up. "Who are you?"
"John." He said his name as if it were a challenge.
With a dry throat, I swallowed hard. "Well, John, I don't require your assistance."
Like a predator assessing its prey, he approached slowly and deliberately. "Never made an offer."
As if the air itself knew something I didn't, the heat between us became heavy and dense. I smelled him-woodsy, musky, with a faint undertone of something sinister. It encircled me and tugged at something primordial and deep inside.
I slipped after taking a hesitant step back and my foot snagged on a root. Before I could touch the ground, his hand sprang out and grabbed my arm. My chest was jolted by his hard hold and the warmth of his flesh against mine.
He said, his face inches from my now, "Easy there."
Heat flooded my cheeks as I wrenched my arm free. "Avoid touching me."
His sneer reappeared, but this time it was accompanied by something else, something ravenous and sinister. "I didn't hear you grumbling."
I wanted to smack him. Or kiss him. I couldn't tell which.
I pushed him instead. Hard.
He didn't move much.
As he moved forward and pushed me back till my spine struck a tree's hard bark, his eyes darkened and his jaw tightened. His hand sprang out, palm down, next to my head, enclosing me.
My breath caught.
"Why do you smell like-" he paused, pressing his nose to my neck and taking a deep breath.
Heat gathered down in my belly as a chill went down my spine.
"Like what?" I hated how breathless I sounded as I whispered.
My ear's shell was ghosted by his lips. "Like trouble."
He didn't move when I pushed at his chest. He grabbed my wrist and held it over my head. Sparks flew through me as the other glided down, fingertips grazing the contour of my waist.
I shouted, "Let go," but my body betrayed me by bending into his touch.
"Why?" He spoke in a harsh, low voice. "I don't want to," you said.
He was correct, and I hated it.
Unexpectedly, his lips-hot, demanding, and full of something wild-came crashing into mine. He took advantage of my gasp by slipping his tongue into my lips and tasting and making claims.
Despite every part of me screaming to stop, my free hand got caught in his hair and pulled him closer.
I didn't stop, however.
His thigh moved between mine, gently separating them as his body crushed into mine, relentless and strong. All I could feel was him-his heat, his touch, his hunger-while the rough bark sank into my back.
He nipped at the delicate skin of my neck as his tongue moved down my jaw to break the kiss. A small gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it as I arched into him.
With both of us gasping for air, I pushed him back as his hold on my wrist relaxed.
"What on earth was that?" I yelled, attempting to calm my pounding heart.
John's chest rose and fell as he used the back of his hand to wipe his lips. "You tell me."
Still shaking from the residual heat, I scowled at him. "You believe you can simply-"
I was drawn back to him as his hand flew out once again, fingers tangled in my hair. Desperate, his lips smashed into me harder this time.
I didn't resist.
This is what I wanted. Desired him.
His hands wandered, rough fingers gliding across the soft flesh under the hem of my shirt. Every nerve ending in my body ached, begging for more.
Then, as abruptly as he drew back, his breath labored.
He no longer had gray eyes; instead, they shone dimly, like silver fire.
He looked into my eyes and murmured, "What are you?"
"I'm not sure."
The tension between us crackled as we just gazed at one another for a long time.
Then he took a step back, his face becoming serious.
"This isn't over," he remarked in a scratchy, low voice.
He then turned and vanished into the woods, leaving me standing there with my body hurting for an unknown reason and my heart still pounding.
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?
SYNOPSIS:I thought meeting my mate would be the start of my happily ever after. For a moment, it was. Jacob Jude, the powerful heir of the Golden Claw Pack, ignited a fire in me that I'd never known. Then, in one cruel twist, he shattered my world. With my sight newly restored, I opened my eyes to betrayal-false accusations, heartbreak, and the lifeless body of my twin sister. Losing them both on the same day nearly destroyed me. But someone pulled me back from the edge. Four years later, I'm no longer the fragile, blind girl who was cast aside. I've rebuilt myself, stronger and sharper than ever. Returning to the Golden Claw Pack wasn't in my plans, but fate has a cruel sense of humor. Because standing at the altar is the man who broke me... and the sister I buried. Now, I have one question-will love or vengeance claim me first?
BLURB:I never imagined that everything might change in a single night. However, I didn't anticipate that Alexander Stone, the mysterious millionaire with the wicked grin, would be the one to haunt both my life and my dreams. We intended for our night together to be a one-time event, a little getaway. I never would have thought that it would result in a secret that would haunt me for five years. My life now involves striking a cautious balance between parenting my daughter, Mia, by myself and apart from a guy who is unaware that he is a father. But I have to deal with him once again once his business purchases my art gallery. All of the memories from that evening flood back as our eyes contact, along with the unmistakable chemistry. I can feel him getting beyond my barriers as he gets closer, but I can't tell him the truth. Not right now. Not when everything I've fought so hard to achieve is in jeopardy. However, when Alexander gives me that resolute look, I understand that I may not be able to maintain my secret for very long. Then he asks me the one thing I'm afraid to respond to: Lena, what happened to you and me? If I told him the truth, would I lose him forever? Or is this my second-our second-chance at a love that can destroy all I've worked so hard to keep safe?
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 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?
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
"You were about to cum in me." I said and sat up. That's when I felt a stinging pain across my ear as my hand caressed my face, then the realization hit me- he had slapped me, Lee had just slapped me. #Sex. Lies. Money. Power. *** Jessie, after finding out her fiance had married another woman, decides to have a one-night stand with his uncle, only to find herself married to him. But despite being married to his uncle, she was still attracted to him, so she started secretly seeing him. Well, the uncle wasn't willing to give her up now, not after he vowed to always be by her side; now she had two men fighting for her. And the woman her ex-fiance married wasn't just going to give up on him. Will Jessie realize old flames can never be and live a peaceful life with her new billionaire husband, or will Jade succeed in winning her back?
Rumors claimed that Fernanda, newly back with her family, was nothing more than a violent country bumpkin. Fernanda just flashed a casual, dismissive grin in response. Another rumor suggested that the usually rational Cristian had lost all sense, madly in love with Fernanda. This frustrated her. She could tolerate gossip about herself, but slander against her beloved crossed the line! Gradually, as Fernanda's multiple identities as a celebrated designer, a savvy gamer, an acclaimed painter, and a successful business magnate came to light, everyone realized they were the ones who had been fooled.
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
Elin spent twenty years deeply loving her husband, finally marrying him just as she'd always dreamed. But reality shattered her illusions—he wasn't the man she believed. Instead, he callously destroyed her family, crushing her heart beyond repair. At her lowest point, Ruben, equally betrayed that night, approached her steadily. "Marry me, Elin. I'll help you take revenge." Yet, after their wedding, she quickly discovered he was dangerously unpredictable. "I made a mistake. Let's divorce..." Ruben slid his arm possessively around her waist, whispering a chilling promise, "Only in death."