"Rate that one," Ethan whispered, sidling up to me as I tried to swallow my frustration. He gestured toward another girl walking by with her father-a tall man with a belly that strained his too-small suit jacket. "Girl's a solid six," Ethan murmured, barely holding back his grin. "Dad? Three. No, wait. Two-point-five. Those shoes are a crime." "Piss off," I hissed, though the corner of my mouth twitched. Teely joined him, holding two champagne flutes, one of which she offered to me. "You look like you need it." "Gee, thanks," I muttered, downing the drink in one go. It didn't help. Teely laughed softly. "Relax, Luca. You'll survive this. Probably." "Only because I haven't strangled anyone yet," I shot back, earning another chuckle from Ethan. "Seriously, though," Ethan said, dropping his voice. "You've gotta pick someone, or your dad's gonna lose his mind. And let's be honest, the guy doesn't have much sanity left to lose." I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not picking anyone. None of these people matter." "Your funeral," Ethan said with a shrug, though there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He knew. He always knew. The night dragged on, every interaction blurring into the next. Girls smiled politely, their fathers talked about alliances, and I nodded through all of it like I wasn't seconds away from bolting out the door. Then it hit me. A scent. Faint, but unmistakable. It was like rain on warm soil, mixed with something sweet and soft-something her. My chest tightened, my wolf snapping to attention like someone had just poured gasoline on a fire. I froze, the world around me dimming as I tried to track it. My head snapped to the left, then to the right. Where? Where was it coming from? "Luca?" Ethan's voice sounded far away, like it was coming from underwater. There. My eyes locked on the grand staircase at the far end of the hall. A girl was descending, her dress shimmering in the light like it was made of emeralds. Her movements were slow, almost deliberate, and I couldn't see her face yet. But I didn't need to. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat louder than the last. She was holding the arm of a man-tall, broad-shouldered, and irritatingly familiar. But I couldn't focus on him. Not when she finally turned her head, her face coming into view. Quinn. My legs nearly gave out. My breath caught, my wolf howling inside me. It was her. After everything, she was here. And she wasn't alone. ******************************************************************* Seventeen-year-old Quinn Wayne moves with her family from bustling New York City to a secluded, mist-shrouded town in Alaska, where her parents have purchased a dilapidated inn. Surrounded by dense forests and towering mountains, the picturesque town promises a fresh start-but Quinn quickly realizes it holds secrets far darker than she could have ever imagined. In this epic journey of love, sacrifice, and self-discovery, Quinn must rise as the Lunar Guardian, embracing her newfound powers and her identity as Luca's mate. The path ahead is uncertain, filled with loss, triumph, and transformation. But one thing is clear: the choices Quinn makes will forever alter the balance between humans and werewolves-and determine whether love can conquer even the darkest of curses.
The room smelled like blood and death, but that wasn't what burned my lungs. No, that was the grief - thick, suffocating, and raw. It clawed at my throat, threatening to break me apart.
The body in my arms was too still, and getting cold. Crimson stained my hands, warm against my trembling fingers as I stroked her hair. Tangled strands clung to her pale face, and I brushed them away gently, even though I knew it didn't matter anymore.
I wasn't sure when the sobs started - maybe when her pulse faded beneath my touch, or maybe when I realized I couldn't fix this. Either way, I didn't fight them. The world was already broken, so what was the point in holding back?
A flicker of movement caught my eye, and my gaze locked onto the most evil being to exist, Cale. He stood across from me, her blood splattered on his clothes, his expression hard and unreadable. His presence was a slap to the face - a brutal reminder of everything that had gone wrong.
And God, where had it gone wrong? Was it the day I moved to this city? If I'd never come here, none of this would've happened. Maybe I wouldn't have been thrown into this twisted world of packs and power struggles. Maybe she wouldn't be dead.
But then... I wouldn't have met him either.
The thought was bitter and beautiful all at once. The love of my life. The man who changed everything.
My chest tightened, and I blinked back the sting of tears. No, I couldn't think about him right now. Not here, not like this. But the memories pushed their way in anyway, relentless and vivid.
It had all started when I moved to this place, naive and hopeful. I hadn't known what waited for me in the shadows.
If I had... would I have stayed?
I looked down at my friend's lifeless face, her blood seeping into the ground beneath us.
Probably not.
But life doesn't give you do-overs, does it?
And that's where the story really began. Back when I thought moving here was the start of something new - a fresh chapter, full of promise and possibility.
I was wrong.
So wrong.
Chapter 1 – The Big Move
The city had always been my prison-a loud, crowded, polluted nightmare where fitting in was a constant battle I never cared to win. The schools were worse. If you weren't in the right clique or didn't know the latest fashion trend, you were practically asking to be bullied. So I perfected the art of blending in, skirting the edges just enough to go unnoticed. Invisible was safe. Invisible was freedom.
That's why, when my parents announced we were moving to a tiny town in Alaska-Juneau of all places-I didn't hesitate. Before they even finished talking, I was on my laptop, fingers flying over the keys as I Googled everything about the place. Small town? Check. Thirty-five thousand people? Even better. Surrounded by mountains and endless forests? Jackpot. It was as if the universe had finally decided to throw me a bone.
My parents were thrilled when I gave them my full support, and honestly, so was I. Leaving New York wasn't hard. I didn't have any real friends-just classmates I occasionally texted about homework or nodded at in the hallways. No tearful goodbyes or heartfelt promises to stay in touch. Just a clean break. On my last day at school, I casually mentioned I was moving. The reactions were exactly what I expected-perfunctory well-wishes and indifferent shrugs. Fine by me. As I walked out of those school doors for the last time, I didn't even glance back.
The next two weeks were a chaotic blur of packing and selling the house. My parents nailed a quick sale, and before I knew it, we were spending our last night in New York. I barely slept, buzzing with anticipation. The next morning, we boarded a flight to our new life-a nine-hour journey to freedom.
Exhaustion hit me hard as soon as we settled into our seats. I was out cold before the plane even left the runway. The next thing I knew, my mom was shaking me awake, her voice practically bursting with excitement.
"Wake up, honey! We're here!"
Groggy but wired with enthusiasm, I stumbled off the plane. Outside the airport, a man in his early twenties stood holding a placard with our names on it. He had slicked-back hair, sharp features, and an easy smile that radiated confidence.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wayne?" he greeted cheerfully. "I'm Ethan Diaz. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
He shook hands with my parents and reached for our bags. As I got a good look at him, a strange sense of déjà vu crept over me. There was something oddly familiar about him, even though I'd never set foot in Alaska before. Weird.
We piled into his SUV, and as we drove through the winding roads, I couldn't stop staring out the window. Towering mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks dusted with snow. Dense forests stretched as far as the eye could see, and the sky was a vast expanse of blue. It felt like stepping into a postcard.
"Everything okay back there?" Ethan's voice broke through my thoughts. He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Yeah, definitely!" I blurted, probably a little too enthusiastically. My parents exchanged amused glances.
Ethan grinned. "It sure is something. I've got a list of places you might like to check out while you're getting settled. Thought you'd be up for some exploring."
"Absolutely! Thanks, Ethan." I tried to sound cool, but my excitement was barely contained.
My parents had timed the move perfectly. I had a couple of weeks to settle in before starting my final year of school. Plenty of time to explore, unpack, and maybe even meet a few people. My eighteenth birthday was just around the corner, too. It felt like the universe was finally giving me a break.
I was in the middle of fantasizing about all the adventures waiting for me when the car jolted violently.
Bang!
The deafening sound of metal smashing against something echoed through the air. My stomach flipped, and my heart slammed against my ribs.
"What the-?" Ethan cursed, gripping the steering wheel as the car skidded to a stop.
The tires screeched against the asphalt, and for a moment, everything was a blur of chaos and panic. My mom let out a sharp gasp, and my dad braced himself against the dashboard.
When the car finally came to a shuddering halt, there was a heavy silence.
"Is everyone okay?" Ethan's voice was strained, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
"I think so," my dad said, his voice shaky. "What happened?"
Ethan didn't answer. His eyes were fixed on something ahead of us, his expression darkening.
I followed his gaze and felt the blood drain from my face.
"What the hell is that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "A wolf. Stay in the car."
Warren arrived at the hotel, his heart racing as he got to the roof. Panic seized him when he didn't immediately see Anastasia. As he moved closer to the ledge, he finally spotted her-lying dangerously close to the edge, her body slack and seemingly on the brink of slipping into unconsciousness. The sight of the empty bottle of pills and whiskey shattered something inside him. "Oh, Ana," he whispered, his voice thick with anguish as he approached her. But then, in a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, he saw her body begin to roll off the edge. The horror that gripped him turned his blood to ice. Without a second thought, Warren launched himself over the ledge after her, diving headfirst through the night air. The wind roared in his ears, but he moved with the precision of a bullet, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. When he finally caught her, relief surged through him. Cradling her tightly in his arms, he expanded his angelic wings, the pure white feathers cutting through the darkness as he propelled them upward, away from prying eyes. __________________________________________________________________________________________ After the loss of her mother and the abuse she receives from her stepfamily, Anastasia finds herself living in a world where grief and betrayal are commonplace. She turns to her childhood best friend and first love, Bastian, for consolation. But after a tragic accident leaves him in a coma Anastasia's world crumbles as he passes away from his injuries. Warren, a mysterious angel, enters her life just when it seems hope is lost. Because he is harboring secrets that may change everything, his presence is both comforting and unsettling. As Anastasia is drawn further into a world of angels, demons, and ancient abilities, she learns a shocking family secret and danger lerks around every corner. Anastasia is at the core of it all. Worse, she harbors her own secret even she doesn't fully understand, one known only by her late mother and a few others. As her connection to Warren deepens, Anastasia is forced to confront the reality of her family's past and the supernatural forces determined to destroy everything she loves. In a race against time, Anastasia must decide whether to embrace her hidden destiny and face a terrifying future or risk losing everything-including the love that might just save her. Secrets, danger, and a forbidden love that transcends time and reality collide in this heart-pounding journey of self-discovery and survival.
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
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."
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.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
A sudden twist of fate connected Helena to a prominent and influential person. To onlookers, she appeared as a naive bimbo. In truth, she was a top-tier specialist, shrouded in layers of hidden identities. Charlie declared, “She’s quite delicate and easily hurt. Cross her, and you’re crossing me.” The elite families, outwitted by Helena's prowess, kept these truths from him. Helena eventually broke free from Charlie, sending him on a frenzied worldwide hunt. To him, she was a bird with dazzling wings, and his goal was to help her reach new heights.
Charlee was left at the altar and became a laughingstock. She tried to keep her head high, but ultimately lost it when she received a sex tape of her fiance and her half-sister. Devastated, she ended up spending a wild night with a hot stranger. It was supposed to be one-time thing, but he kept popping up, helping her with projects and revenge, all while flirting with her constantly. Charlee soon realized that it was nice having him around, until her ex suddenly appeared at her door, begging for another chance. Her tycoon lover asked, “Who will you choose? Think carefully before you answer.”