"Please help me... I'll do anything. I just want my mother to live." I cried, tears streaming down my face in torrents, my body trembling in fear. Kael stared down at me, his glowering eyes devoid of any emotion and a chill ran down my spine. "Anything, you say?" He asked, pointing the edge of his sword against my neck and I stiffened, refusing to breathe. "Anything... " I whispered, my voice small yet resolute. A corner of his lips quirked up, not quite forming a smile. "How about my slave?l ***** "She was supposed to be his captive, not his salvation. When Aira sneaks into forbidden Lycan territory to save her mother, she is caught and thrown at the mercy of the ruthless Lycan King, Kael Drathlor. In a desperate bargain, she trades her freedom for her mother's life. But as she becomes the king's unwilling companion, Aira discovers a terrifying truth-Kael is cursed, unable to die, unable to feel the mate bond that should tie them together. As dark forces conspire against them and Kael spirals further into self-destruction, Aira must decide: escape and save herself, or risk everything for the beast who might never love her back. In a world where fate is both a gift and a curse, can she break the chains of destiny before it's too late?"
Striding back to my old rickety cottage I called home, I hummed a low tune to myself, gripping the basket of herbs I had foraged tightly to my body. My heart raced with a mix of fear and hope, but I forced myself to be positive.
My mother had been unwell for weeks nows and I've done everything I could in my power to try and nurse her back to good health to no avail. Calling a medicine man was out of the question because they were too expensive and I didn't have the money that they would demand. I reached the porch, and unlocking the door, pushed the door open and walked in.
The cold, damp air greeted me first. My eyes adjusted to the dim lighting and I found my mother lying at the far corner in the room, covered by a soft yet worn out blanket. She hadn't moved from the position I had left her in, her skin even paler, beads of sweat coating her forehead. My heart lurched at the sight and I let out a shaky breath, gently closing the door behind me.
Walking towards the chimney, I set up a pot over the coals and started to boil the water in the pot, hurriedly rinsing off the herbs and grinding a couple others which I added into the steaming water. A warm, earthy scent filled the room and that's when my mother stirred. I turned to her, a smile lighting up my face when her eyelids fluttered open.
"Mother!" I cried out, rushing to her side. She turned weakly towards me, managing a tiny smile as her eyelids drifted to a close.
"Aira... " She called out, her voice almost inaudible, reaching out to grab my hands. I held her hands, pressing a soft kiss against the back of her palm. "I just got back from the forest. I went to gather some herbs. Hopefully, they'll make you feel better." I said to her and she managed a small nod, unable to speak.
Blinking the away the tears that had gathered in my eyes, I leaned forward to give her a kiss on the forehead before standing to my feet. The water had come to a boil and I poured the steaming concoction into a bowl, blowing on it as I let it steep and cool. Pain twisted my insides and my hands trembled as I watched my mother groan in pain but I forced myself to focus on the present.
Once the concoction had cooled to a comfortable degree, I went to my mother, raising her head gently and prompting her to drink. I met with no resistance at all, as the dark, warm liquid flowed into her mouth till she emptied the bowl. A slight frown appeared on her face afterwards, but other than that, nothing. A few moments later, I realized she had fallen asleep. Her complexion was getting better now, her fever breaking and I finally let out the breath I was holding, my lips trembling.
"Please, mom... " I whispered, my voice breaking. "Please get better, you're the only I have left in this world. You have to get better." I muttered, my head falling as tears streamed down my cheeks. I stayed there, watching her sleep, occasionally cleaning off the sweat that had gathered on her body.
It was in the evening when the convulsions began. At first they were minor, almost unnoticeable tremors, which I dismissed because I thought it was her fever returning but they progressively worse till it seemed like my mother was being possessed like the very devil. I couldn't stop screaming, trying to hold her down but it wasn't enough. Torn on what to do, I ran out the cottage, calling for help on anyone who would hear me.
A few passerbys and onlookers watched as I cried, but neither offered an helping hand. Mostly because they were already aware of my mother's illness and thought it to be highly contagious. Eventually, I had to call on the healer who I had been avoiding to come and see my mother, to determine what was wrong with her.
He seemed reluctant at first, unwilling even but at my persistence, followed me. I couldn't stop crying on my way back, terrified that I would return home and meet her lifeless. Racing in front, I turned back multiple times to confirm if the healer was indeed following me before running back to the cottage.
Fortunately, she was still alive, but her convulsions had yet to subside. The healer walked in a moment later and seeing the state my mother was in, immediately set to work, alarmed. I watched on in horror as he administered every herb, potion and pills available to him, yet my mother's tremblings showed no signs of stopping. When all hope seemed lost, she finally stopped, falling into an exhausted sleep afterwards.
I collapsed to the floor in exasperation, tears pouring out of my eyes like rain, devastation tearing through me. "What's wrong with her?!" I asked in between hiccups, staring at the healer like he had an answer.
He pursed his lips, a confused look appearing on his face. "To be honest, I don't know. I've never seen anything quite like it before. How long as she been unwell?"
"I don't know, weeks? Months? She complained of body pain once and since then, I've done everything I could, she didn't get any better." I explained. He stared at my mother was who lying unmoving, a look of pity flashing in his eyes.
"To be honest... I don't think I would have any medicine your mother needs to get better. This looks like something out of my expertise." He explained solemnly and I froze.
"What do you mean? Are you saying she's not going to recover!?"
"I didn't say that. I just said, I just might not be able to be of help. If only... " He trailed off, a pained expression appearing on his face.
"If only what?" I asked, scrambling to my feet and grabbing his hands. "Please, healer Khamel. I need my mother to recover."
"The Lycans who rule the land might have medicines for such ailments like this. But not only are they incredibly expensive, they are also not available to us, humans. Their king made sure of that. It's his way of punishing us and controlling our population." Khamel explained, downcast.
An exasperated gasp escaped my lips. "But my mother is dying!" I screamed, pointing at her. "I can't let her die. Isn't there something I can do?"
"I'm afraid there isn't. We are banned from entering the Lycans abode, Aira. Doing that would mean instant death. And the medicine would be too expensive for you to be able to afford it. I'm afraid this is all I can do. You might have to prepare for the worst." He said and I whimpered, crumbling beside my mother as sobs racked me. This couldn't be happening.
I didn't realize when the healer left my house, but soon I was all alone with my mother, whose body seemed to be growing colder by the second. I couldn't do it. I can't lose her. In this world that was filled with cruelty and pain, she was my beacon of light. I had to get the medicine she needed, even of it meant I would go to extreme lengths.
With that resolve planted in my heart, I cleaned the last of my tears, and cleared up the place, tucking her in bed and ensuring she was still breathing when I left the house. Tonight, I would sneak into the the Lycans territory and steal the medicine if I have to. Humans lived in the outskirts and yes, there was a wall dividing us, but I had enough experience climbing it. Just never had the nerve to jump in. All that was going to change however.
Hang in there mother, I'll get you the medicine that you need.
"Look at me properly and try to remember." He implored her, his silvery eyes boring into hers. Maya raised her nervous eyes to meet his. Searching her head, she tried to remember where she may have met this man before. As she stared at him, a sense of familiarity began to settle. Those eyes... she'd seen them before. Where has she seen them? One by one, the images came. The pictures from a time she had forgotten. She had helped someone with eyes just like this. Still in his embrace, a daunting realisation began to set in. She'd met this man before. Long before he even dreamed of being a king... **************** A tyrant king conquers a kingdom so he can get married to her forgotten princess. People expect a marriage filled with strife and everything but none of that happens. Instead he treats her right, worships her and kisses the very ground she walks on. Why is that? People wonder. The reason is quite simple. Years ago, the same princess had saved his life from the bitter hands of death when he was betrayed by his half brother, the crown prince of Madonia.
"At this point, I'll be grateful for your pieces." ***** Jessica Franklin is at her wit ends, literally. With two sisters depending on her and a mountain of debts on her neck, she needs a way out before she breaks down. So when she sees an online post of a Billionaire requesting for a bride, she immediately takes it. Devon Reeves just wants to get rid of his clingy ex who's snuck her way back into his life and is disrupting it. Unwilling to go on dozens of blind dates, he puts up a post requesting for a bride and receives numerous responses. Out of the many proposals, Only one sticks out to him. Without thinking too much of it, he accepts it and goes on a date. One look is all it takes got Devon to decide that Jessica is his bride. A contract is signed and the two begin to live like husband and wife. There's just one problem, nobody is accepting of this new arrangement. Plus, the more he gets to know his wife, the more he realizes that she has secrets... Secrets she's running away from and will soon catch up to her.
"You," he growled, glaring at me with hatred in his eyes even as he pinned me to the wall, obstructing my airflow. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you." "I'd like to see you try, Alpha." I spat at him, my voice filled with defiance. He dropped me to the ground before lifting me up as if I weighed nothing and pinning me against his study table, pushing my legs apart. "Oh, you'll see. And by the time I'm done with you, you'll beg for death." He growled against my ears, filling me with fear of what is to come. ***** In a world of false accusations and vengeful rulers, Evelyn's life takes a harrowing turn. Framed for a crime she didn't commit, she faces the wrath of the alpha king. Instead of death, he condemns her to a fate worse than she could have imagined: becoming his personal slave and breeder. As fear grips her, Evelyn must summon her strength to challenge the tyrant's rule and reclaim her freedom. Will she find a way to defy her captor and seek justice, or will she be forever trapped in a life of darkness and despair? What happens when the moon goddess announces that she is his second chance mate? Will she still try to escape him or will she let their bond bloom? A gripping tale of resilience and defiance unfolds in this thrilling journey of survival, betrayal and love.
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."
Loraine was a dutiful wife to Marco since they got married three years ago. However, he treated her like trash. Nothing she did softened his heart. One day, Loraine got fed up with it all. She asked him for a divorce and left him to enjoy with his mistress. The elites looked at her like she was deranged. "Are you out of your mind? Why are you so willing to divorce him?" "It's because I need to return home to get a billion-dollar fortune. Besides, I don't love him anymore," Loraine replied with a smile. They all laughed at her. Some believed that the divorce affected her mentally. It wasn't until the next day that they realized she wasn't fibbing. A woman was suddenly declared the world's youngest female billionaire. It turned out to be Loraine! Marco was shocked to the bone. When he met his ex-wife again, she was a changed person. A group of handsome young men surrounded her. She was smiling at them all. The sight made Marco's heart ache severely. Putting his pride aside, he tried to win her back. "Hello, love. I see that you are a billionaire now. You shouldn't be with suckers who just want your money. How about you come back to me? I'm a billionaire too. Together, we can build a strong empire. What do you say?" Loraine squinted at her ex-husband with her lips curled in disgust.
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
We've been married for three years, but I've never truly had his love. When his childhood sweetheart returned, just as promised, all I was met with were the cold, glaring divorce papers. "If I were carrying our child, would you still choose to divorce?" I asked, holding onto the faintest glimmer of hope, making one last desperate plea. His response, as expected, was just as cold as ever. "Yes." I closed my eyes, choking back tears, and finally chose to let go-to honor his decision. Years later, my heart had turned to ash. Lying in a hospital bed, I trembled as I signed the divorce papers. "Alexander, from this moment on, we owe each other nothing..." What I never saw coming was the ruthless, decisive CEO kneeling at my bedside, his voice hoarse, almost broken, as he pleaded, "Vivienne, don't divorce me... please."
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!