Princess A'Nae Smith was no stranger to chaos. Born and raised in Kinji, a ghetto and dangerous neighborhood where sirens were more common than lullabies, she learned early on how to survive. Tough, sharp-tongued, and never one to back down, Princess carried herself like royalty, even if the world around her tried to strip that crown away. High school was no different-it was just a battlefield with lockers. But this wasn't just any school. It was run by none other than Mafia King, 5. Ruthless, feared, and respected. His name alone could shut people up mid-sentence. And his son? Oh, he was a whole different problem. He was the definition of popularity: cocky smile, expensive shoes, and girls who followed him like he was made of gold. But Princess wasn't impressed. She didn't care about his last name, his status, or that smug look he always wore when their paths crossed. But what happens when Princess finds out he's been watching her more than she thought? That behind all that swagger, Mafia King 5's son had a secret-he was crushing hard. On her. Things in Kinji were about to get real messy.
Chapter 01
Hey y'all! My name is Princess A'Nae Smith. I live with my mom and my dad. I'm 4'9. Yeah, I know, I'm short, but I make up for it in attitude. I'm mixed with Puerto Rican and Black. How? Well, my mom is half Puerto Rican, and my pops is Black. The mix gives me that perfect combination-light brown skin, dark curly hair, and a whole lot of attitude.
Speaking of my hair, it's long and curly, all natural, and I love it. Thanks to my mom, who made sure I embraced my curls. She'd always say, "Your hair is your crown, baby girl." I wasn't too sure about that until I realized how much people complimented me on it.
I've got braces, but not because I need them-nah, I wanted them. They're red, too. I thought they'd look cool, and to be honest, they do. People always ask if I'm trying to be like a rapper or something with these red braces. I just laugh and shrug it off.
I drive a red 2014 Dodge Challenger that I got on my 16th birthday. Don't get me wrong, I didn't just get it. My pops doesn't play about that kind of stuff. He made sure I earned it, but it was worth it. It has "Princess A'Nae" carved in white on the side. You'd think it was too flashy, but I love the attention. It's my ride, and I'm the queen of it, okay?
My family and I live in a three-story house. Yeah, we got money, but it's not all about the money. It's about the hustle. My mom and dad both work hard, even if my dad is the boss. He owns the building where my mom works, and that's part of why she works part-time. Pops wants her to stay home and just chill, but my mom, she's independent. She likes having her own money, her own career. She says, "A woman's independence is her power."
But honestly? I'm not too fond of the neighborhood we live in. Kinji, the town we stay in, isn't the worst, but it's far from perfect. People always look at me weird when I say I'm not exactly in love with it. They say, "You live in a big house. You drive a cool car. What's the problem?" Well, let me tell you. There's this guy named 5. He's the one who practically runs Kinji. He doesn't even use his real name. Everyone calls him "5" like it's some big, mysterious thing. He and his goons-his workers-ride around in these black cars, like they own the whole town. And trust me, if you so much as think about driving one of those cars, you'll get shot up, no questions asked. It's not the kind of neighborhood where you can just blend in. You either follow the rules, or you become a target.
And if 5 wasn't enough, his son Ashton is just as bad. Ashton walks around like he owns the school, the streets, and everything in between. They call him the "Mafia Prince," which is beyond ridiculous. Just because his father is the so-called 'Mafia King' doesn't mean Ashton's running anything. But, you know how people are-put a title on someone, and they start thinking they have all this power. Ashton thinks he's the king of the world. But I see through all of it. I don't even care.
The school we go to is Waters High. Yeah, it's named after their last name. Go figure. But, honestly, the school's like any other high school, filled with drama, cliques, and the usual nonsense.
The one thing no one seems to know about 5 is his real name. I've heard rumors-some say it's Victor, others say it's Tony-but nobody knows for sure. Some people think he's a ghost, or like a shadow lurking in the background, controlling everything from behind the scenes. I guess that's what makes him dangerous.
But me? I'm not scared of him. I'm not afraid of anyone. Sure, I'm small, but I've got heart, and that counts for something.
Beep Beep Beep
Ughhhhhh! Another day at this ghetto-ass school. I rolled out of my queen-size bed and grabbed my phone to turn off the alarm. 7 AM. Same old, same old. I let out a dramatic groan, dragging my feet across the floor as I made my way to the bathroom.
I turned on the shower, letting the water warm up as I stood there in front of the mirror, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I'm tired, but I know I've got to get it together. After a minute, I stepped into the shower and let the hot water hit my skin. Honestly, there's nothing more relaxing than a hot shower to start the day. I took my time, just letting the water run over me, soaking up the calmness before I had to face the world.
Fifteen minutes later, I turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping a black towel around my body. I walked over to the sink, grabbed my toothbrush, and started brushing my teeth. My mind wandered as I stared at my reflection. I couldn't help but think about Ashton again. His face always popped up in my mind, even when I didn't want it to. He was so... intense. And then there was 5, his father. I didn't want to think about it too much, though. The last thing I needed was to be caught up in some mafia mess.
After finishing my morning routine, I walked back into my room and went straight to my walk-in closet. I loved this part of the day-picking out my outfit. Clothes are my thing. I decided to keep it casual but still cute. I grabbed a mint green shirt with "YMCMB" written in black across the front, black skinny jeans, and my all-black Jordan 1's. Perfect for school and for making a statement.
I walked over to the mirror on my dresser, running a comb through my hair. I gathered it up into a high ponytail, smoothing out the curls before adding my black headband. There. I looked in the mirror and smiled to myself. I wasn't just going to survive today-I was going to slay it.
I grabbed my phone, making sure I had everything I needed, and walked out of my room, ready to face whatever chaos awaited me at Waters High. I wasn't afraid of anyone. Not 5. Not Ashton. Not even my own thoughts. I was Princess A'Nae, and no one was going to change that.
Morgan Mayor had always known that her 17th birthday would mark a pivotal moment in her life. In the werewolf world, that was the age when your first shift happened, and with it, the discovery of your mate-the one person in the world who was meant for you. It was a tradition, a rite of passage, one that every wolf looked forward to. But nothing could have prepared Morgan for the overwhelming flood of emotions that came with it. The moment she shifted, the world around her seemed to slow down, her senses heightened as the bond between her and her mate pulsed through her, drawing her toward him. When their eyes met, she felt it, the instant recognition-the pull that drew her toward him like gravity. But instead of the warmth and comfort she had expected, the coldness in his eyes sent a shock through her body. "I don't want you," he had said, his voice flat, detached. The words hit her like a physical blow, and her heart shattered. He was supposed to be the one who made her feel whole, but instead, he rejected her without a second thought. Morgan's world crumbled in that moment. The weight of his rejection was unbearable, but there was something else, something even more devastating. A small, growing life inside her-an undeniable reminder of the bond between them. She was carrying the Alpha's daughter, and yet, she was alone. The Alpha's blood ran through her veins, but she had no claim on his heart. As she stood there, a deep ache filled her chest, and her wolf mourned, howling for the love that would never be. Everything she had hoped for, everything she had dreamed of, had been torn away in an instant.
Rae East had always cast herself off as a girl not worthy of a Mate. Her past was filled with self-doubt, and the weight of broken dreams had shaped her view of the future as nothing more than a bleak, hopeless stretch of time. She never thought she would meet someone who would make her believe otherwise, certainly not an Alpha-someone like the man her fate had so cruelly paired her with. When she first discovered that she was mated to an Alpha, it didn't feel like a blessing. The revelation left her numb, more of a curse than anything else. She didn't expect anything from the bond. She had no hope of ever truly being seen by him, much less loved. And yet, when he brought her to his pack, it was clear that she didn't belong. She wasn't a part of his world, nor did she think she would ever be. The Alpha barely acknowledged her, leaving her adrift and forgotten in a world that felt increasingly foreign. There was no purpose for her here, no place where she fit. Rae sank further into herself, each day passing like the last-empty, silent, and full of pain. Her mind was a storm of conflicting emotions: the bond that tugged at her heart, the ache of longing, and the cold, relentless truth that the Alpha, the one who was supposed to complete her, showed no interest in doing so. Every night, she curled up in her bed, trying to block out the pull, but it was always there, a presence she couldn't escape. Confusion swirled around her like a thick fog. Rae tried to find meaning in the pack's activities, in the faces of the others who seemed to have their own lives, but nothing felt real. The taste of the bond was intoxicating-so much that it became impossible to ignore, and harder still to move away from. She couldn't stop wanting him, even though it seemed that the Alpha would never feel the same. She wondered if she was destined to be a ghost in his life forever, a shadow clinging to something that would never be hers. And yet, despite it all, Rae could not let go. She couldn't walk away from the Alpha, not when he held her heart so firmly in his grasp. But how could she fight for a future with someone who didn't want her?
Ivory felt the cold air press against her face as she stormed through the door, her heart pounding in her chest. The deal was done. She had been forced into this. The years of rivalry between her family and Darius Quartz's had culminated in an arrangement neither of them had ever wanted. Yet here she was, bound by a long-remembered promise between two bitter enemies, the ink barely dry on the marriage contract that would seal her fate. Heartbroken, angry, and confused, she had said yes to the first thing she heard. She should have stopped, she knew. Should have taken a moment to think it through, but what choice had she really had? Darius Quartz had been a name she had known only in passing, a man whose cold demeanor had haunted her thoughts even before their forced union. Now, she was his wife. She had hoped for something resembling happiness, something that might give her a glimpse of peace, but what she found was an endless cycle of solitude. The house felt too big, the silence too overwhelming. The routine she had followed for the last six months, with her husband absent and uncommunicative, had become a cage. Darius, always distant, had left for his training shortly after their marriage, leaving her to carry on alone. But now, he was back. Ivory had hoped that with his return, things might change. Perhaps he would take notice of her, of their marriage, and perhaps there would be some semblance of warmth between them. Instead, nothing had shifted. He had returned, silent as ever, his cold eyes offering her little more than a fleeting glance before he immersed himself in his work. They were strangers, trapped in a contract neither of them had wanted but both were bound to. Then, just as she had begun to resign herself to her lonely fate, he arrived-the one man she never thought she'd see again. Her ex. The one who had broken her heart. The one whose betrayal still stung. His presence in her life now, with all the unresolved emotions he brought with him, threatened everything. Was she really going to allow him back into her life after all this time? Marriage. Love. Both seemed like distant dreams now, at least to Ivory. At twenty, she had been forced into this union, and in the years since, she had been adrift, unsure of where her life was heading. Would Darius ever change? Would they ever find any real connection? Or was she doomed to live out her days in this suffocating, quiet misery? And now, with her ex back in the picture, things were about to get much more complicated.
Lara had always known there was something extraordinary about the night of the party. The instant she locked eyes with him, the pull was undeniable-his scent, the way he made her pulse race. She had never felt anything like it before. But the heat of the moment led to something she wasn't prepared for-a steamy night with her mate, followed by an unexpected rejection the next day. The cold words he spoke haunted her, leaving her heart shattered. But as time passed, life moved on. Or so she thought. A month later, her world shifted. The discovery that she was pregnant left her reeling. The shock of it all made her decide to keep it a secret, fearing the consequences. It wasn't until four years later, when their paths crossed again, that she realized just how much had changed. Fate was a strange thing, and sometimes, it had a way of throwing you into unexpected moments. Lara had no idea that the secrets she'd been carrying for years would soon come crashing into her reality-forcing her to face not just her past, but the future she never saw coming. Vous avez dit : Traduit en français ChatGPT a dit : Chapitre 09 : Des chemins imprévisibles Lara avait toujours su qu'il y avait quelque chose d'extraordinaire dans cette nuit de fête. Dès qu'elle croisa son regard, l'attirance fut indéniable-son parfum, la façon dont son cœur s'emballait. Elle n'avait jamais ressenti cela auparavant. Mais la chaleur de l'instant les mena à quelque chose pour lequel elle n'était pas prête-une nuit torride avec son âme sœur, suivie par un rejet inattendu le lendemain. Les mots froids qu'il avait prononcés la hantaient, laissant son cœur brisé. Mais au fil du temps, la vie continua. Du moins, c'est ce qu'elle pensait. Un mois plus tard, son monde bascula. La découverte de sa grossesse la laissa abasourdie. Le choc de cette nouvelle la poussa à garder le secret, redoutant les conséquences. Ce n'est que quatre ans plus tard, lorsqu'ils se croisèrent à nouveau, qu'elle comprit à quel point les choses avaient changé. Le destin était une chose étrange, et parfois, il avait une façon bien à lui de vous projeter dans des moments inattendus. Lara n'avait aucune idée que les secrets qu'elle avait gardés pendant des années allaient bientôt s'écraser dans sa réalité-la forçant à affronter non seulement son passé, mais aussi un avenir qu'elle n'avait jamais imaginé.
Recently single, Jayden McCartney would have preferred to skip his sister's wedding. Not because he didn't love her-he did-but because he knew exactly what was waiting for him: a flood of pitying looks, thinly veiled comments about his single status... and worse, his grandmother's desperate attempts to set him up with someone "nice." A family tradition he dreaded almost as much as dinner with his ex. The problem? Jayden was in no state to date anyone new. Not after catching his ex in someone else's arms. The very idea of a relationship made his skin crawl. So, he did what any rational man would do in his situation: he hired someone. Alexandra. Alex, the shy geek from high school, now a woman as brilliant as she was irresistible. She was supposed to play the part of the perfect girlfriend, just for the weekend. Nothing more. At least, that's what he thought... Because watching her smile, feeling her slip her hand into his so naturally-it hit him. He had a new problem: he was falling for her. And what Jayden wants, Jayden gets.
When Nolan met Danielle, he wasn't expecting anything. Truly nothing. To him, it was just another night, one more moment in a perfectly organized life, dictated by a meticulously crafted five-year plan. He had everything mapped out: his studies, his internship, his first job, then marriage to a proper girl chosen from his narrow circle of acquaintances. But that night, everything changed. Because she was there. Danielle. Sultry. Sexy. Tattooed. She was everything Nolan was not. She burned with an intensity he had never known. While he calculated every step, she rushed in headfirst, guided by instinct. Nolan was a virgin, discreet, reserved. She was a sex goddess, a free spirit, confident, untamed. He was terrified of needles. She laughed at that, her arms adorned with tattoos that told stories he couldn't even imagine. Coming from a wealthy background, Nolan lived according to the strict expectations of his parents, following a carefully written script. He never strayed from the path laid out for him. Danielle, too, came from an affluent family, but she had rejected everything that came with it. The social events, the obligations, the appearances. She had cut ties with her overbearing, overly perfect mother. Danielle wanted to live without limits, without attachments, without rules. That was before she met Nolan. This shy, cute, awkward boy... He intrigued her. He made her laugh. He threw her off balance. Danielle, used to easy and predictable flings, couldn't understand why this boy-so different-captivated her so much. He changed the way she saw the world, the way she saw love. But will she... change his?
Maria took her sister’s place and was engaged to Anthony, a disabled man who had lost his status as the family heir. At first, they were just a nominal couple. However, things changed when things about Maria were gradually exposed. It turned out she was a professional hacker, a mysterious composer, and the sole successor to an international jade sculpting master… The more that was revealed about her, the less Anthony could rest easy. A famous singer, an award-winning actor, an heir of a rich family—so many excellent men were chasing after his fiancee, Maria. What should Anthony do?
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!”
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."
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.