Fifteen-year-old Jaden Carter has never felt wanted. Born to teenage parents who see him as a mistake, he spends most of his days alone in their North Carolina home, abandoned and forgotten. But when he stumbles upon a hidden door in his basement, his world is forever changed. The door pulls him into Aje'ra, an ancient, hidden village deep in the heart of Nigeria-a place untouched by time, where the people bow before him in worship. They call him their lost god, the reincarnation of a powerful deity who once ruled over them. At first, Jaden is skeptical, but the village priestess sees the truth in his soul. Under her guidance, he learns the forgotten arts of black magic-powerful, dark sorcery that allows him to reshape reality itself. With every lesson, he feels himself growing stronger, more in control. For the first time in his life, he is more than just an unwanted boy. He is a god. But power comes with a price. As Jaden uncovers the secrets of his past life, he realizes that his return was foretold not as a blessing-but as a warning. Something dark stirs beneath Aje'ra, a force that only he can face. Torn between the family that never wanted him and a destiny that could consume him, Jaden must decide: Will he embrace the darkness within, or will he fight to rewrite his fate?
Chapter One:
Jaden had always known he was unwanted. His parents, barely out of high school when he was born, treated him more like a burden than a son. They left him alone in their crumbling North Carolina home for hours, sometimes days, without a second thought. He learned to cook for himself at eight, to lock the doors at night at ten, and to stop expecting love long before that.
It was on one of those lonely nights-when the house felt too empty, and the wind whispered things he didn't want to hear-that he discovered the basement door.
He had never noticed it before.
The old house had its fair share of creaky floors and hidden spaces, but this door was different. It was small, nearly blending into the shadows at the bottom of the basement stairs. The handle was rusted, the wood old yet strangely sturdy. Something about it called to him, sent a shiver down his spine that was equal parts fear and curiosity.
Jaden hesitated only for a moment before twisting the knob.
The door swung open without a sound, revealing a narrow tunnel carved from red earth. A heavy scent of damp soil and something older-something ancient-filled the air. He stepped forward, drawn in as if the tunnel itself was waiting for him.
And then, he fell.
Not in a clumsy, accidental way, but as if something had grabbed him, pulling him downward through darkness that had no end. His stomach lurched. His scream was swallowed by the void.
Then, light.
Blinding, golden sunlight burned into his eyes as he landed, not on a basement floor, but in the middle of a vast, open village.
Dozens of people in flowing, traditional robes surrounded him. Their dark eyes widened in awe, and within seconds, they dropped to their knees.
"He has returned!" one of them cried, voice trembling with devotion.
A woman stepped forward, draped in intricate beads and a headdress that shimmered under the sun. Her skin was deep brown, her gaze sharp yet filled with reverence.
"You are the one we have waited for," she whispered.
Jaden swallowed hard, his pulse pounding in his ears.
"What...what is this place?" he managed to ask.
The woman smiled, placing a hand over her heart.
"This is Aje'ra, the sacred village of the Forgotten Ones."
She knelt before him, bowing her head low.
"And you, my lord, are our lost god."
She thought she was the love of his life, and he became the love of her life that fateful day she had seen him at the pack's party. Selene Grace was only a replica of Alpha Leo's real mate, and when he spotted her, Leo immediately claimed her as his Luna in order to suppress the rumors of him being mateless. Being unable to conceive turns Selene's marriage into a nightmare, and as if that wasn't enough, Alpha Leo finally reunites with his long time lover and mate, rejecting a pregnant Selene as a result. 5 years later, Selene, a now successful doctor, receives an invitation to the moon shadow pack in order to rid the pack of a deadly disease which has struck it. Will Selene return back to the pack which had caused her so much pain, and what would she do when she realizes that she is mated to the Alpha who had betrayed her in the past?
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
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!”
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."
"I heard you're going to marry Marcelo. Is this perhaps your revenge against me? It's very laughable, Renee. That man can barely function." Her foster family, her cheating ex, everyone thought Renee was going to live in pure hell after getting married to a disabled and cruel man. She didn't know if anything good would ever come out of it after all, she had always thought it would be hard for anyone to love her but this cruel man with dark secrets is never going to grant her a divorce because she makes him forget how to breathe.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.