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The wild queen of the cursed king Zafira Lazzaro is the daughter of the sponsor of the Noctis Nero cartel, one of the country's most dreaded criminal families. But Zafira refuses to be a simple submissive heiress. She despises arranged marriages, loves illegal races and prefers weapons to worldly balls. But when she reached her eighteen years, she is forced to choose a fiancé to seal an alliance. She selects one ... and three years later, he betrays her, leaving her alone and pregnant with an illegitimate heir. Now, Zafira is summoned to the gala of dynasties, where she will discover the identity of her true blood partner. Rafael de Santis is the new king of crime, a ruthless mafia marked by a curse that eats away at his empire. He must find his queen before the next blood eclipse, otherwise his organization collapsed. But when his soul is linked to Zafira, an unmanageable rebel with the explosive past, he refuses to believe it. It is a traveling danger, a storm impossible to tame ... And yet it is the only one capable of breaking the curse that weighs on it. But an unforgivable error threatens to destroy them before they can even unite. Betrayals, vendettas, assassinations and coup d'etat stand on their way. Can the king of crime and the rebel queen love each other without reducing their empire in ashes?
Chapter 1
The roar of the engines resonated during the night, vibrating against the concrete walls of the abandoned warehouses of the port. The smell of burnt gasoline and rubber filled the air, electrifying the senses. Zafira Lazzaro inspired deeply, his fingers tight around the steering wheel of his car, a black Lamborghini with sharp lines. His heart was beating to the rhythm of the rising excitement, this intoxicating mixture of adrenaline and freedom.
Around her, the crowd animated, cries, bets exchanged in a low voice, hands that took place in Défiolades de Défi. This world, that of illegal races, was his kingdom. Here, she was not just the daughter of the powerful Lorenzo Lazzaro, chief of the Cartel noctis nero. She was a legend.
A shirtless man, tattooed to his neck, advanced on the starting line, waving a red scarf. Zafira glance at his opponents. Three men, all of them, arrogant, convinced that a woman had nothing to do here. She sketched a sly smile.
- Ready to lose? she launched, raising an eyebrow.
The largest of the three, a certain Diego, sneered by spitting on the ground.
- Don't worry, princess, I'll be there to console your defeat.
Zafira replied with a carnivorous smile.
- Always dream.
The scarf fell, and in a fraction of a second, it cried the accelerator. The Lamborghini leaps forward, its roaring engine like a hungry animal. The wind rushed into her hair, and everything else disappeared. No more responsibilities, more arranged marriage, more betrayals. Just the road, speed, and danger.
The lights paraded at full speed. Behind her, Diego was trying to catch her, but he had no chance. She knew this course by heart, each turn, each straight line where she could push her car to the maximum. She doesn't even slow down a tight turning point, her tires shouting on asphalt.
The other pilots had approached each other too much. An error. A glance in the rear view mirror allowed him to see Diego losing control of his vehicle and getting stressed in a security barrier.
- Damn, she sighed with a satisfied smile.
She crossed the finish line first, braking abruptly, letting the car stop in a deafening crime. The crowd exploded, acclaiming its name. She descended, a victorious smile on his lips, while the tickets were exchanged in all directions between the disappointed bettors and the lucky ones.
But barely she had time to savor her victory than a massive silhouette advanced towards her. His father.
Lorenzo Lazzaro was a man that no one dared to challenge. He released a contained threat aura, his severe features marked by years of settling of accounts and absolute power.
- Zafira .
His voice slammed like a whip. Silence instantly fell around them.
- Dad, she replied with a cheeky smile. Have you come to admire my talent?
His black eyes darkened.
- In the car. NOW.
She hesitated for a second, then sighed before obeying her. He said nothing throughout the journey to their immense villa, but the tension in the air was palpable.
As soon as they were in Lorenzo's office, he closed the door and looked at it for a long time.
- Do you think it's a game?
Zafira crossed his arms, leam nonchalantly to the office.
- Everything is a game, dad. Just know how to win it.
Lorenzo approached, putting his hands on the solid wood from the office.
- It's not a game. It's our family, our power. You are my only daughter. And it's time for you to assume your role.
She gave her teeth. She knew where he wanted to come.
- I assume my role in my own way.
- No. You run away.
Zafira looked away.
- It's not a leak.
- So why do you refuse to choose a fiancé?
She felt a thrill of frustration traveling her back.
- Because I don't want to be a trophy to marry the most offering!
Lorenzo sighed deeply, passing a tired hand over her face.
- It's not a matter of envy, zafira . It's a necessity.
She clenched her fists. She knew it was true. In their world, alliances were sealed by blood and marriages. But the idea of being locked in a golden cage stifled him.
Lorenzo continued, more gently this time.
- I have held rival families as long as possible. But the pressure rises. They want insurance. A marriage between you and an heir to another cartel would prevent a war.
She bit the inside of her cheek.
- Who ?
He looked at her for a moment before answering.
- Massimo Ricci.
She felt her stomach twist.
Massimo Ricci was the son of one of the most powerful sponsors in Italy. A charming man in appearance, but cruel in the shadows. She had already met him several times. He wanted it. And he was ready to do anything.
- No.
Lorenzo put his hands on his shoulders.
- Zafira ...
- No, dad! This man is a snake! He wants to own me like a trophy, not like a wife!
Lorenzo fixed it for a long time before letting go, his voice heavy with gravity:
- And do you prefer an open war? Do you want to see our Empire collapse because you refuse to make a sacrifice?
Zafira trembled slightly, but she did not look away.
- There must be another solution.
Lorenzo shook his head.
- Not this time.
Silence settled together.
She could have flee. She could have refused and watch their empire burn around them. But it wasn't her. She was a Lazzaro. She had grown up in this world, and she knew what duty meant.
She inspired deeply, feeling her heart hug her chest.
- Alright.
Lorenzo looked up.
- Alright ?
She clenched her fists.
- I will accept.
A light of relief passed through her father's eyes, but she felt as if she had just signed her own death warrant.
She may not have a choice.
But Massimo Ricci did not yet know that he had not just obtained a submissive wife.
He had just engaged with a storm.
Isabelle, marked by an ancient prophecy that announces the destruction of her Sister Sister, was hidden and isolated from the world. But when she meets Damien, a powerful alpha, the link between them becomes irresistible, despite the curse that weighs on their union. They will have to fight against fate, enemies and prophecy, but can they overcome such an old and powerful force?
Alpha chained Just before her marriage, Alina discovers the unimaginable: her fiancé betrays her with her own cousin. Devastated and humiliated, she flees her pack, leaving her past and hopes behind a peaceful life behind. While she wanders aimlessly, she crosses the path of Kael Blackthorn, the most dreaded Alpha in the region, known for its cruelty and unlimited ambition. In a moment of panic and confusion, Alina accidentally concluded a pact with Kael, just believing a temporary refuge. But she discovered too late that in exchange for her protection, she literally "sold" herself, becoming her partner before the ancestral laws of the wolves. Kael, intrigued by this wolf who dares to challenge conventions, decides to play the game. But Alina ignores that she has a secret that could upset the balance of all the packs: a mysterious birth mark which, according to a forgotten prophecy, designates her carrier as the key to an old power. Brutal attacks on the borders, disturbing visions of a past that it does not recognize, and an inexplicable link which is woven between her and Kael ... Alina must sail in a world where she is both a target and a weapon. Is Kael really his ally, or does he use their link to establish his domination? While it strives to break the pact, a heartbreaking dilemma arises: fleeing this ruthless alpha or accepting the role that fate seems to impose on it ... at the risk of condemning or saving all the packs.
The leak of the Luna of the Alpha For three years, Elena suffered from the brutality and cold indifference of her companion, the Alpha dominating Kieran, as well as the cruel manipulations of his pack. Their union, imposed by the revered matriarch of the clans, Sylvia Nightshade, aimed to strengthen an ancestral alliance. Sylvia, recognized for her relentless wisdom and her power of discernment, had chosen Elena for her heir, affirming that only a woman with an exceptional inner force could channel the uncontrolled ferocity of Kieran. But the night when Elena discovers the betrayal of Kieran, the spark that maintained her hope goes out. In tears but determined, it escapes under the cover of darkness, breaking the sacred link and defying the laws of the pact. Why did Kieran, yet intended to protect her, abandoned her? And why did Sylvia, so a visionary, choose a union devoted to failure? Three years later, Kieran, haunted by his guilt, travels the land to understand why Elena fled. Until the day she reappears, transformed. The shy young Luna he had known is now a daring and mysterious woman, attracting the attention of Alphas Rivaux, including the charismatic but dangerous Callum Draven. What happened so that Elena acquires such power? And above all, has she returned to take revenge, or to claim what belongs to her? Is Kieran ready to face the buried truths of his past, or will he be destroyed by the secrets that Elena now hides behind her piercing gaze?
My Contract with the Alpha Eleanor "Ellie" Wainwright, a young woman from a cruel and manipulative family, is forced to marry a feared and lonely Alpha, Victor Hartfang. Born without a wolf, she is considered an anomaly in her pack, a dead weight for her family and an object of contempt for the other members. Victor, Alpha of the powerful pack of the Dark Shadows, agrees to this marriage for mysterious reasons. Aloof, icy and dominant, he treats her like an outsider. However, behind his impenetrable facade, he hides a dark secret: his past is marked by betrayals and heartbreaking choices, and his own wolf is chained by a strange evil. Plunged into a new pack where tensions and challenges multiply, Ellie must navigate a world of domination, jealousies and political intrigue. Why did Victor really agree to this union? What did he hope to get from her? And why does her wolf seem to react so violently to her presence, oscillating between rejection and an almost unbearable attraction? As their unlikely bond begins to strengthen, a greater threat emerges. A rival pack, ancient enemies, and a forgotten prophecy threaten to upset their fragile balance. Can Ellie, devoid of lupine powers, prove she is more than a weak human? Will Victor dare to reveal her secrets before they destroy them both? And most importantly, what will happen when Victor discovers that Ellie may not be as "human" as she thinks?
Married to the Alpha of the Mafia Sienna Moretti, an ordinary young woman from a former fallen family of werewolves, sees her life turned upside down when she is forced to sign a marriage contract with Dominic "Alpha" Valenti, an enigmatic billionaire, leader of a powerful pack... and ruthless head of an underground mafia network. Dominic is not a man to be refused. Known for his intimidating aura, his colossal fortune and his absolute control over his affairs (human and supernatural), he is as feared as he is admired. But behind his air of unwavering sovereign, Dominic is haunted by a curse that eats away at his wolf, making him uncontrollable and dangerous. Sienna, rejected by her own family for the absence of her wolf, is sold as a pawn in this arranged alliance between her clan and the Valenti pack. But why did Dominic choose her? Is it really for her rare blood, or is there a darker reason behind it? As she enters a world of luxury, danger, and secrets, Sienna discovers that this marriage is not only about power, but also a war of influence where mobsters, wolves, and billionaires clash. Dominic, despite his apparent control, hides a dark past and a growing obsession with Sienna that he seems unable to contain. When Dominic's enemies target Sienna, she must discover: who is the man behind the Alpha? And how far will she go to protect a man she doesn't know whether to hate or love?
In Love with a Billionaire Irina, 18, is a young prodigy from the BloodMoon Foundation, known for training the most influential leaders in the world. Determined, she devotes her life to her studies and her ambitions, relegating romantic relationships to the background. Finding love is not a priority for her, especially when she is ready to do anything to honor her family's legacy. But what happens when she discovers that she is contractually engaged to the most ruthless billionaire on the planet, a man from a faraway land whose reputation frightens even the most powerful? **Xander Draymore**. This name alone makes investors and tycoons around the world tremble. Dangerously seductive but of legendary cruelty, he built his empire on ruins and sacrifices. Convinced that fate is playing a trick on him, he refuses to accept this arranged marriage which he considers a punishment. But why, from the first glance he exchanges with Irina, does he suddenly feel that she is different from the others? Is she a threat to his power or a key to his own secret ambitions? "Aren't you happy?" Irina dared to ask, as he stared out the window of his penthouse at the illuminated city, his face lit by the neon lights that made him almost vulnerable, a stark contrast to his reputation as a business predator. "Happy?" he replied with a cold smile, a hint of irony in his voice. "It's a concept I've never understood... and never will." Those words broke something inside her. But why does Xander seem to refuse all emotion? What wounds does he hide behind this facade of icy perfection? Will Irina be able to pierce her armor before losing her own heart in this game of ambitions and betrayals? And most importantly, what secret about their common bond could turn everything upside down?
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
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.
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."
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”