Three years ago, Tiana thought divorcing Sebastian Wolfe would free her from the pain of his lies and the shadows that haunted their marriage. But when tragedy strikes her family and she returns to her hometown, she's forced to confront the man who once shattered her heart-and who still lingers in her soul. Sebastian isn't the same cold, unreadable billionaire she left. He's darker, more haunted-and about to discover a secret that will change everything: the existence of their daughter.
Ridgehaven, Three Years Later
Tiana Wolfe pulled into the narrow driveway of her childhood home, the past loomed just beneath the surface- quiet, waiting.
The cottage looked exactly the same. Faded white paint clung stubbornly to the wood, and ivy curled up the sides like it belonged there. The rosebushes her mother once tended with pride now drooped under their own weight. Time had paused here, even if her own life had been in constant motion. In the back seat, a small figure shifted beneath a pink blanket.
Ivy.
Her daughter's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, her tiny lips parted in sleep. She was five now, curious and bright, and full of questions Tiana never had the strength-or the permission-to answer. Especially about him.
Sebastian Wolfe.
Even in her thoughts, his name carried weight. The man she had once loved. The man she had once feared. The man who, until now, had no idea he had a daughter.
Tiana opened the car door, bracing herself against the late autumn wind. It stung her cheeks and pulled at the hem of her coat as if trying to tug her back to where she came from. But she couldn't run this time. Not with her mother in the hospital, not with Ivy asking about family, not with fate clearly deciding it was time for the past to resurface.
The front door opened before she could knock.
Eli stood in the entryway, arms crossed, the worry on his face doing nothing to hide the fatigue in his eyes.
"She's resting," he said quietly, referring to their mother. "But... we have a problem."
Tiana stilled. "What kind of problem?"
Eli hesitated, then stepped aside to let her in. The silence between them stretched like a thread pulled taut.
"Sebastian's in town," he said at last.
The name hit her like a blow to the chest.
"He knows you're back."
Tiana stood frozen in the doorway, her heart pounding in her chest. The name Sebastian felt like a distant thunderclap, one she had managed to ignore for three years. But now it was here, rattling her bones, forcing her to face everything she thought she'd buried.
"Sebastian..." she whispered the name to herself, barely able to keep it from escaping in a breathless exhale.
Eli watched her carefully, his jaw clenched. He knew she wasn't ready to hear it, but there was no avoiding it. "He showed up this morning. Said he's been trying to find you. I don't know how he knew you'd be here, but..." He trailed off, his voice low, like he didn't quite believe the words either.
Tiana's stomach dropped. "How is he involved in this?" She felt like she was suffocating. The thought of seeing him again, after everything they'd been through, felt impossible. And yet, here she was, standing on the precipice of it all.
Eli stepped aside, ushering her into the small house. The soft scent of lavender and chamomile lingered in the air, memories of her mother's soothing touch. But the warmth of the house didn't chase away the chill settling into her bones. The room felt too familiar. Too full of ghosts.
She glanced at Ivy, still peacefully asleep in the back seat. What would she think of him? she wondered. Tiana had never told her about her father. The hurt was too fresh, too real. How could she explain a man who was everything to her once but now a stranger?
"I don't want to see him," Tiana said quietly, more to herself than to Eli. She turned away, feeling the weight of everything she had worked to forget pressing in on her.
Eli's voice stopped her. "He's here for more than just you, Tiana."
Tiana froze, her back to him. More than just me?
She turned slowly, meeting his gaze. "What do you mean?"
"He's asking about Ivy."
The room seemed to tilt on its axis. Tiana's knees felt weak. Ivy? He couldn't be serious. "What for?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Eli looked uncomfortable, as though the conversation itself was something he wasn't supposed to have. "I don't know. But he's demanding to see her. Says he has a right. Something about a claim he's been ignoring all these years."
Tiana's breath caught. "A claim? What kind of claim?" Her mind raced as she pieced together what little she knew. Sebastian had never once reached out. Never once seemed to care about anything that came after their marriage, and yet now... now, he was making demands.
"He wants to acknowledge her. He wants to see her. As if it matters now," Eli said, his frustration clear. "But it's not just about that. It's about something deeper. Something we're missing. You're the only one who can find out what it is."
Tiana closed her eyes, her mind reeling. She hadn't asked for this. Hadn't asked for any of it. She had built a life without him, free from his control, his silent judgment, his presence. But what if he's right? What if Ivy deserves to know her father?
And yet, she couldn't shake the memory of their last night together-the final argument that ended with words too sharp to heal, with promises broken beyond repair. She had left not just because of the affair, but because of the coldness between them. Sebastian had pulled away before, but that night had been the breaking point.
"I can't do this." The words left her lips before she even realized what she was saying.
"You don't have a choice," Eli said gently, his tone more sympathetic now. "It's already happening, Tiana. And if you don't face it, it's just going to haunt you even more."
Tiana glanced back toward the window, toward the world beyond. The world that had kept her running all this time. Could she face him again? Could she bear the storm of emotions that would inevitably follow?
She took a deep breath, bracing herself for the inevitable. "Where is he?" she asked, her voice a little steadier now.
"In the living room," Eli said. "He's been here for over an hour. I don't know how he found out, but he's not leaving without answers."
Tiana nodded, her mind already processing the confrontation. The pieces of her life, carefully put back together, now felt like a fragile house of cards, ready to tumble the moment she stepped into that room.
With a final glance at Ivy, who stirred in her sleep, Tiana walked past Eli and into the heart of the house. The air felt thick, and every step she took made the distance between her and her past shorter.
Sebastian.
It had been three years.
Three long years since she'd walked away, since she'd slammed the door behind her, telling herself she would never, never be the same woman again.
But what if she was wrong? What if the man standing in her living room still had the power to destroy everything?
Chloe Evans is a small-town girl with big dreams-dreams of launching her own fashion line and escaping the limitations of her humble beginnings. When she gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase her designs at an exclusive gala, Chloe is determined to make her mark. But there's one problem: the event is hosted by none other than the notorious billionaire entrepreneur, Dani Potter. Dani is a man who's built an empire from nothing, a ruthless businessman with no time for anything but his career. He's never been interested in love, preferring instead to remain emotionally detached from everyone around him. But when he meets Chloe, he's intrigued by her ambition and the spark in her eyes. For the first time in years, he finds himself wanting something more than just success. Chloe and Dani's worlds collide, and the attraction between them becomes undeniable. But the more Chloe gets to know the man behind the corporate titan, the more she realizes that Dani is hiding a painful past-one that could jeopardize everything they're building together. Chloe must decide if she can trust him with her heart, or if she's simply chasing a billionaire's dream that will only end in heartbreak.
Leila Stone's world shattered when she was rejected by her mate, **Alpha Carley Nightpaw**, the night their pack was attacked. Fleeing with a broken heart and a shattered soul, she vowed to never return to the pack that had once been her home-until a blood moon rises, and fate forces her back. Carley, now the Alpha of the Nightpaw pack, is burdened with guilt and regret. The night he rejected Leila, he was driven by fear and duty, unwilling to show weakness in front of his pack. But time has taught him the painful consequences of that decision. When a new threat emerges, one that endangers their entire world, Carley realizes that Leila is the only one capable of helping him defeat it. But winning her trust back may be his greatest challenge yet.
Adele Williams has spent her life hiding among humans, unaware of the destiny woven into her blood. But when the ruthless and enigmatic Lycan King, Frank Robinson, discovers her existence, her carefully crafted life is torn apart. Frank, haunted by a prophecy that speaks of a mate who will either save or destroy him, is drawn to Adele with an irresistible force. Yet she wants nothing to do with the dominant and dangerous king who claims she belongs to him. Forced into his world, Adele must navigate the deadly politics of the Lycan court, where enemies lurk in the shadows and betrayal is a breath away.
Celeste Bennett has spent years in the shadow of New York's elite, working as a private chef for the city's wealthiest families. When she's hired for an exclusive event at the lavish estate of billionaire Jayden McGregor, she expects nothing more than a routine job. But from the moment their eyes meet, the cold, untouchable billionaire makes it clear-he wants her. Jayden is a man used to getting everything he desires. Powerful, enigmatic, and haunted by his past, he has sworn off love. But something about Celeste draws him in-a fire he can't resist, a temptation that threatens to unravel his carefully controlled world. She knows better than to fall for a man like him. He's out of her league, and their worlds are too different. But when fate keeps pulling them together, resisting becomes impossible. As secrets come to light and passion ignites, Celeste and Jayden must decide: will they risk everything for a love that was never meant to be?
In the kingdom of Eldoria, Lady Evelina is bound by duty to marry a prince she does not love, her heart already belonging to a forbidden figure - Sir Alden, a mysterious knight whose loyalty to the crown is unwavering. When a powerful curse threatens to destroy the kingdom, Evelina finds herself drawn into a perilous quest with Sir Alden, seeking the ancient relic that could save them all. As they journey through treacherous lands, their bond grows deeper, but so do the dangers that threaten to tear them apart. With the weight of the kingdom's fate on their shoulders, they must navigate the perils of both magic and their own hearts. Can a knight and a lady destined for separate paths find a way to unite - or will duty and destiny keep them apart forever?
Emery James has spent years building her dream café in a quiet coastal town, far from the chaos of big-city life-and even further from the heartbreak she left behind. But when her landlord sells the building to none other than Desmond Proctor, her former best friend and the man who once broke her heart, her peaceful life is suddenly turned upside down. Desmond, now a successful real estate investor, never expected to return to his hometown-or to face the woman he's never truly forgotten. Tasked with redeveloping the property, he offers Emery a deal: work with him to save the café, and he'll reconsider the sale. Old wounds, unspoken feelings, and undeniable tension bubble to the surface as they're forced to spend time together. But as they rediscover the connection they once had, Emery has to decide-can she trust Desmond with her heart again, or is she setting herself up for another heartbreak?
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
"I stood at the edge of my heart and watched him choose her. In the end, I was not the one he needed. I was simply the one he settled for." - Noelle ~~~~~~~ I thought I was the one he loved. But a few days before our wedding, I saw him in a way I never had before. His eyes softened as he spoke to her. His first love, and the very woman who had left him in pieces. Heartbreak was something I knew too well. And as I watched the love he still held for her in his eyes, I realized what I had to do. I couldn't marry a man who wasn't truly mine. With no means to cancel the wedding and lacking the courage to confront him, I made a desperate choice to leave. I painfully gave his first love my treasured engagement ring thinking it was for the best and the only way to free myself. But when he saw that ring on her finger, the fragile world I had tried to escape began to shatter. His obsession to find me and bring me back ignited a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
Rejected by her mate, who had been her long-time crush, Jasmine felt utterly humiliated. Seeking solace, she headed to a party to drown her sorrows. But things took a turn for the worse when her friends issued a cruel dare: kiss a stranger or beg her mate for forgiveness. With no other choice, Jasmine approached a stranger and kissed him, thinking that would be the end of it. However, the stranger unexpectedly wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "You're mine!" He growled, his words sending shivers down her spine. And then, he offered her a solution that would change everything...
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
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."