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Elara has always believed that love would bring happiness, but when Connor Reece–her boyfriend, denies her pregnancy and betrays her by marrying his best friend, she is left with nothing but heartbreak. Pregnant and constantly ridiculed, Rowan Nightshade, her enigmatic and ruthless boss steps in. But Rowan's help comes with a price, and his intentions aren't as clear as they seem. Rowan is unsure if he hates Elara because of betraying his best friend, or because of her resilience when all odds are against her. Love and Loyalty are tested at every turn. Can Elara find the strength to claim the happiness she deserves while fighting for her children a d their future? Why is the cold hearted Rowan Nightshade suddenly helping her at every turn?
Chapter 1
Three Months Pregnant.
Elara Winterfell.
"How dare you?" His voice thundered across the large living room. "How dare you accuse me of being responsible for that thing that is inside you?" He spat out in fury.
Tears welled at the corners of my eyes as I clutched the scan results tighter in my hands. My hands were shaking in shock from his thunderous voice.
"But, Connor..." I was at a loss for words at what to say, a searing pain in my heart. I couldn't understand his behavior.
"But what, Lara? You pranced around like a virgin the whole time we were dating, and suddenly, you're pregnant with my child?" His voice bore that of disbelief. "If you are so desperate to marry into my family, there are many ways you could do that and not pin some pregnancy on me!"
"You're the only one who has ever touched me!" I cried out in pain in my current situation. My lips quivered and my voice shook. "You're the one who took my virginity. You're the one..."
"Don't you dare!" His eyes shone in anger as he roared at my small frame. "Don't you just dare to do that, Lara. Make that accusation one more time, and you will find yourself cooling your head in a jail cell!"
To say I was stunned by his reaction was an understatement, my heart threatened to tear out in pain from my rib cage. Wasn't he the one who spoke about having children with me? Didn't we talk about it every day? Why was he acting this way? Was he just as excited as I was?
"Connor, I know it's scary as a first-time dad. I understand that." My voice shook as the tears spilled out from my eyes, and I stood up to sink my knees in the ground, in a pleading manner. "But, I can give you more time to think about it and come to your senses! We talked about having children before, why are you acting this way? I wouldn't be able to raise a child alone, I need you with me. I need you for our child. I ..."
"You're pushing this too far, Lara!" He walked abruptly to where I knelt, startling me, and looked at me dead in the eye. "Yes, we talked about marriage. We talked about children. We talked about having children, Lara, but I sure as hell didn't talk about raising someone else's child with you!" His eyes bore hatred for me.
I searched his eyes to find the traces of the man who had always doted on me and taken good care of me, but that man was gone. The man in front of me had only eyes of disdain and disgust, which greatly bothered me. Where had all the love gone? All these because I was pregnant? My mind did not even register what he was going on about.
"What's going on here?" A soft voice filled the room and our heads snapped to the curvy figure that just entered the room.
"Isabel." I breathed out, both surprised and relieved at the presence of my best friend in my boyfriend's house. That latter didn't quite bother me as I began to explain things to her. "Isabel, Connor doesn't want to believe me." I quickly stood up and rushed to Isabel's side.
"What's the issue, Lara?" Isabel stared at me with softness in her eyes, her voice soft and calming. "What's wrong?"
"I'm pregnant." I managed to say, pulling my black hair behind my ears. Her eyes widened slightly and something I could not quite place shone in them, but I shoved it off and continued. "I'm pregnant for Connor, and he doesn't want to accept it."
"Is that true?" Isabel was surprised as she turned to stare at Connor who raked his hands through his blonde hair in frustration. "Why not? Why are you disregarding her? Why are you disregarding her feelings? She is your girlfriend! Why would you reject your child!"
"I'm a man of honor, Isabel. Don't think so lowly of me!" Connor furrowed his brows in a deep frown and spoke with gritted teeth. "I will never reject my child. Never! But I am certain that the thing in her stomach does not belong to me."
"How dare you?" Isabel suddenly blew up in anger, her gold bracelets and bangles jingling in sync with her anger. She was the hotheaded friend between us. "How dare you, Connor?" Isabel started by dropping the things she came with on the table.
Starting with her bag, shoes, bangles, wristwatch, and even earrings. She was prepared for a fight with Connor, and my eyes flew wide in surprise. No, she couldn't do this!
"Isabel!" I panicked when I saw her sudden reaction. I didn't want her picking a fight with Connor, she just had to talk to him and he would come around. "Isabel, you need to calm down. I just need to talk to him. He would understand. I just sprang it on him. It's normal to be skeptical at first." I tried to calm my friend, but Isabel was not having any of it.
"No, leave me, Lara! Why do you keep making excuses for his actions? He slept with you, took your virginity, now he is denying ever touching you? How dare him? Why is he talking like you cheated on him with another man? Leave me alone, let me teach him a lesson that he will never forget!" She tried advancing towards Connor who stood stock still, vibrating in anger, but I tried my best to hold her back by firmly grasping her waist.
This would only make things worse, and she was not getting it!
"Isabel, please, stop all this nonsense! Connor loves me! He is just in shock about the turn of events." I snapped angrily. I was very certain that Connor's reaction was because he was going to be a father for the first time in his life.
Many men got cold feet, and I was sure Connor was also experiencing the same thing. Connor would not leave me alone because he loves me so much.
"I. Did. Not. Sleep. With. Her." He said the words bitingly slowly and his jaw hardened, eyes darkening in anger. "Ask her who she sold herself out to get that thing inside her because it surely wasn't me." He paused. "You know what? Lara, I need you to get out of my house forever, and never dream of coming back inside here."
I was suddenly stunned as I paused at where I stood, not believing my ears. Had it gotten to this? I thought we were just talking to hear each other out. Wait, did he really believe that I cheated on him? Why would he even think that way? Why would it even cross his mind?
"Connor, you can't! What about our child?" My chest suddenly felt heavy and the pain that was already there washed over my entire self. "Why are you doing this, babe? No, babe. The child is yours. I didn't sell myself to anyone. You're the only one who has ever had access to my body. Only you..." I let the tears fall from my eyes in torrents as I ran to hold him, to plead with him to take me back.
But Connor gave me a dirty look, and without thinking, he kicked me away from him with a lot of force. I found my body flying towards the glass table. I fell on my back, with my head making a lot of contact with the table, and everything went black in my head.
The Predator stands alone, without a pack, territory, or any ties, and has the power to devastate several werewolf clans simultaneously. Even the Alphas tremble at the mention of this ruthless, heartless entity. A Predator is burdened with a curse-forever destined to be without a mate. Seconds before her pack is destroyed, Lilian learns that she is mated to the last living Predator, Daemon Pierre-the only man capable of igniting a storm of emotions within her. Lilian now faces a decisive choice: either embrace a mating with Darren and sacrifice the protection of her pack, leaving herself vulnerable to constant attacks from his enemies, or reject him and remain within the confines of pack safety, while hoping that the moon goddess will give her a second-chance mate. The power to choose her fate lies in her hands.
"Get a box of cookies and some juice packs to my office immediately," He said, not giving her time to respond before disconnecting the call. What did he take her for? His personal maid? Sure, she would get the box of cookies and juice for him, but he would regret it if he knew what was coming! Fueled by anger, Marie banged Ammon's door open, unaware of the current company with him. She assumed he was alone and was playing one of his stupid games. "Listen here, Ammon Delcano," She started, noting the look of shock on his face, "Next time you want something done, do it yourself!" She spat at him and proceeded to open the juice box and pour it all over him. ******* Fueled by anger and unaware of the press, Marie goes off on the young, handsome and enigmatic billionaire Ammon Delcano in his office. To save her face, or so she thinks, Ammon Delcano unexpectedly declared her as his wife and her life is thrown into chaos.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
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!"
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
Allison fell in love with Ethan Iversen, the soon-to-be Alpha of the Moonlight Crown pack. She always wanted him to notice her. Meanwhile, Ethan was an arrogant Alpha who thought a weak Omega could not be his companion. Ethan's cousin, Ryan Iversen, who came back from abroad and was the actual heir of the pack, never tried to get the position nor did he show any interest in it. He was a popular playboy Alpha but when he came back to the pack, one thing captured his eyes and that was Allison.
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!