After
/1/118699/coverbig.jpg?v=1bf72c7e122ab2ea31302562a1751bd1)
His Defiant Mate: The Lycan King's Chosen Luna
I was waiting at the Registry Hall to formalize my mate bond with Gabe, my childhood sweetheart and the Alpha of our pack. He was thirty-two minutes late. When I finally found him in a private VIP lounge, his hands were buried in my cousin's hair, their lips locked together. Hailee was supposed to be my maid of honor. Instead of apologizing, Gabe looked me dead in the eye and used his Alpha authority to publicly reject me. The severing of our ten-year bond tore my soul apart, but the nightmare didn't stop there. My grandfather immediately called, demanding I clean up a mess Hailee had made. When I refused, he disowned me on the spot, froze every single one of my bank accounts, and stripped me of my family name. Within hours, my entire pack erased my existence, gleefully announcing Hailee as their new Luna. I had given my entire life to a family and a man who discarded me like worthless trash the second I became inconvenient. I was left broken, humiliated, and utterly penniless in the blink of an eye. But as I stumbled out of that sterile hall, a terrifyingly beautiful stranger stepped out of the shadows, radiating a primal power that made my knees weak. He was Caden Sinclair, the ruthless Lycan King, and he was dodging a forced political union of his own. "You need a shield. I need a wife. Marry me." Without hesitation, I signed the Eternal Vow.
Chapter 1
Audriana POV:
"I'm sorry, Ms. Sullivan, but Mr. Black's appointment was for half an hour ago."
The clerk's voice was polite, but his eyes held a pity I refused to acknowledge. I glanced at the sleek watch on my wrist. Thirty-two minutes. He was thirty-two minutes late.
"He's on his way," I said, my voice smoother than I felt. My stomach was a tight knot of cold dread.
I stepped away from the polished walnut desk, the scent of lemon cleaner and old paper filling my nose. The North American Inter-Pack Alliance Registry Hall was designed to be imposing, with its marble columns and vaulted ceilings, meant to impress upon werewolves the gravity of the contracts signed here. Today, it just felt cold.
The air conditioning ghosted across my bare arms, raising goosebumps. I unconsciously twisted the delicate silver chain bracelet on my wrist, a nervous habit I'd had since I was a child. The tiny links were cool against my skin.
My phone buzzed in my clutch. A message from my assistant, Maya.
'Apex Ventures deal is ready for your final review. They're getting antsy.'
I typed a quick reply, my fingers flying across the screen.
'Tell them to hold their breath. I'm handling something personal.'
Personal. That's what this was supposed to be. The final step. Gabe and I, registering our intent to bond, a formality before the ceremony that would tie our packs, our families, our futures together.
I closed my eyes for a second, focusing, trying to pull his scent from the air. It was a game we used to play as kids. I could always find him. That familiar, comforting scent of pine and damp earth.
But all I could smell now was a cacophony of strangers-stale coffee, cloying perfume, the metallic tang of anxiety from a dozen other wolves waiting in this sterile hall. A wave of nausea rolled through me. Something was wrong.
My phone buzzed again. Not a work message this time. An unknown number.
The message was short, brutal.
'VIP Lounge 3. He's waiting for you.'
My breath hitched. VIP Lounge 3. I knew the layout of this building. It was at the end of the private corridor, reserved for Alphas of significant standing. Gabe's father had used it last year to finalize a trade agreement.
My fingers tightened around my phone. It was a trap. A cruel joke. It had to be.
But the knot in my stomach pulled tighter, a cold, hard certainty.
I pushed open the heavy glass door that separated the main hall from the private corridors. The sound of the bustling hall was instantly muffled by the thick, plush carpet. My heels sank into the crimson pile with each step, silencing my approach.
As I moved down the hallway, a new scent cut through the sterile air.
Cherry blossom. Sickly sweet and artificial.
Hailee's scent.
My steps slowed. My heart, which had been hammering against my ribs, gave a painful lurch and then seemed to stop altogether. It couldn't be. She was my stepsister. She was supposed to be my maid of honor.
I reached the door. Room 3. It was heavy, dark redwood, and slightly ajar. Just a crack.
Through the gap, in the dim, intimate lighting of the lounge, I saw them. Two figures, tangled together on a leather sofa.
Gabe.
His hand was buried in her blonde hair, the same way he used to touch mine. Hailee's head was thrown back, her laughter a low, throaty sound that made my blood run cold.
The world narrowed to that sliver of a view. The sound of my own blood roaring in my ears drowned out everything else.
I didn't think. I acted.
My hand shot out and slammed the door open. It crashed against the interior wall with a sound like a gunshot.
They sprang apart, their faces a blur of shock and panic. Gabe scrambled to his feet, his shirt rumpled, his face flushed.
"Audriana! What the hell are you doing?"
Hailee, true to form, immediately dissolved into a picture of terrified innocence. She shrank behind Gabe, her eyes wide and already filling with tears. "Audri, it's not what it looks like."
A laugh escaped my lips, but it was a harsh, ugly sound. "Not what it looks like? You're half an hour late to our registration, and I find you with your tongue down my stepsister's throat. Please, Gabe. Enlighten me."
"You were following me?" he roared, his voice bouncing off the wood-paneled walls. He took a step forward, trying to use his Alpha presence to intimidate me, to make me shrink. It was a tactic that had stopped working years ago.
"Don't be stupid," I snapped, my voice like ice. "I can smell her on you. You reek of cheap perfume and betrayal."
Hailee let out a sob. "We couldn't help it! The bond... it's just so strong between us. We never meant to hurt you."
The bond. She dared to speak of the bond.
I ignored her, my eyes locked on Gabe. On the man I had loved since we were children. The man my wolf had recognized. The man who was supposed to be my future.
"Give me an answer, Gabe," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "A real one. Now."
He looked from my face to Hailee's tear-streaked one. She gave a little whimper and tugged on his arm, the perfect damsel in distress. And in that moment, I saw his decision. His jaw tightened. His eyes, which I once thought held the whole world, turned to stone.
"I, Gabe Black, Alpha of the Blackwater Pack," he began, his voice formal and loud, ringing with the ancient power of the rite.
The air in the room crackled. The words were a physical force, slamming into me.
"Reject you, Audriana Sullivan, as my mate."
Pain. It wasn't emotional. It was physical. A spear of white-hot agony that started in my chest and ripped through every nerve in my body. It felt like my soul was being torn in two. My breath was stolen from my lungs. My knees threatened to buckle.
I bit down on my lower lip, hard. The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. I would not scream. I would not cry. I would not give them the satisfaction.
My fingernails dug into the soft leather of my clutch, the leather groaning under the pressure.
For a flicker of a second, I saw something in Gabe's eyes. A flash of regret. Of pain. But it was quickly smothered by the cold, hard wall of his decision. Hailee's hand was on his arm, a triumphant possessiveness in her touch.
I forced myself to stand taller, to straighten my spine, even as the world tilted around me. I met his gaze, and I let him see the abyss that had just opened between us.
I cleared my throat, my voice a raw, broken thing. But it was steady.
"I, Audriana Sullivan," I rasped, each word costing me a piece of my shattered soul, "accept your rejection."
The bond snapped.
It was a sound no one else could hear, but for me, it was a cataclysm. A final, brutal severing. The pain intensified for a blinding moment, then settled into a deep, hollow ache that I knew would never truly leave.
Behind Gabe, Hailee's lips curved into a small, victorious smile.
I looked at them, and in that moment, the labels fell away-fiancé, stepsister, family-until all that remained were two strangers, standing on the ruins of my life. Two pieces of trash I had found on the side of the road.
Worthless.
Without another word, I turned my back on the wreckage of my life. I walked out of the room, my steps even and measured, down the long, silent corridor, and away from the man who had just ripped my heart out of my chest.
/0/36993/coverbig.jpg?v=9567a839e47ee06a6388cfe86fd1f2e0)
Irresistible To My Glamorous Ex-wife
Before the divorce, everyone thought that Belinda was just a housewife who was good at nothing. Even her then-husband, Russell, believed this. However, after the divorce, it was soon revealed that she was the eldest daughter of the Lindfield family. She was proficient in not only designing, but she was also a shrewd businesswoman who knew how to turn a profit. She had several brothers who doted on her. Various handsome men chased after her, determined to win her heart. When she crossed paths with Russell again, she lifted her chin proudly and asked, "Do you regret divorcing me?" Russell replied, "Yes. How about remarrying me?”
/0/24244/coverbig.jpg?v=b4285b13625ec9c3d34397a6727e60d5)
Bye, My Irresistible Love
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
/0/40025/coverbig.jpg?v=f6ca7f3c1fb521949838b99ddd9375c0)
Mistaken Marriage, Unexpected Love
It was a big day for Camilla. She looked forward to marrying her handsome groom. Unfortunately, he abandoned her at the altar. He never showed up throughout the wedding. She was made a laughingstock in front of all the guests. In a fit of rage, she went and slept with a strange man on her wedding night. It was supposed to be a one-night stand. To her dismay, the man refused to let her be. He pestered her like she had stolen his heart on that night. Camilla didn't know what to do. Should she give him a chance? Or just stay away from men?
/0/31424/coverbig.jpg?v=84b70260f885b902cffc9793e0c79b96)
Divorce Has Never Felt This Good
Becky endured three years of marriage to the cold-hearted Rory. In all that time, she naively reasoned that one day, he'd gradually come to like her. But the second he forced her to kneel down and humiliate herself, she knew she had been wrong about him. This man had no feelings for her at all. So why should she still love him? When Rory gave her the choice between kneeling down and divorcing, she didn't miss a beat and chose the latter. After all, why should she waste her youth on this scumbag? Wouldn't it be nicer for her to just have fun every day with her billion-dollar family fortune?
/0/19430/coverbig.jpg?v=438b156f8b309ba5a5e2ff7fa5a4f44d)
MY INDIAN WIFE
Never in her wildest dreams did Mishka imagine that her life would be turned upside down as soon as she stepped into London. "Marry my grandson!" Grandpa Leo's demand threw her off guard. Marriage was not part of her plans, yet she accepted the proposal to marry the most eligible bachelor in London, leaving her dreams behind. Christian had everything planned out in advance. He intended to propose to his girlfriend right after securing the position of CEO at the Knight Group, but a woman derailed all his plans. "If you want to become the CEO of Knight Group, you must marry the girl I have chosen for you!" Grandpa Leo's firm decision put Christian's future at risk, but he quickly devised a plan. "Sign these papers!" Christian demanded in a deep, authoritative tone, extending the file towards Mishka. "What is this?" She narrowed her eyes, taking the file. "Read and I'll explain everything," Christian answered. His cold eyes stared at her, and as soon as Mishka opened the file, her face lost all colour reading the bold letters. "CONTRACT MARRIAGE" Will she give into Christian's demand, or will her masterstroke change the dynamics of the trap he set for her? What will happen when Christian and Mishka's entirely different worlds crash? Will love find its way through the web of lies, deception and mysteries? Let's find out in the story! COPYRIGHT ©️ 2020 AUTHOR ANIKA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
/0/26220/coverbig.jpg?v=34f1937417d81ee04f94c915de4913d6)
Divorced Barren Mother Gives Birth To Six Babies
Amy didn't expect that her husband whom she had loved and trusted earnestly for many years would be cheating on her by having sex with his secretary. When she confronted him, he and his secretary mocked and ridiculed her, they called her barren to her face, afterall, she had not conceived for the past three years that she had been married to her husband, Callan. Terribly Heartbroken, she filed for divorce and left to the club, she picked a random gigolo, had a hot one night stand with him, paid him and dissapeared to a small city. She came back to the country six years later with three identical cute boys and three identical cute girls of the same age. She settled and got a job but soon find out that her CEO was the gigolo she had sex with six years back at the club. Will she be able to hide her six little cuties from her CEO, who happens to be the most powerful man in NorthHill and beleived to be infertile? Can Amy and the most powerful man in NorthHill get along considering the social gap between them.
/0/51654/coverbig.jpg?v=66b37eb8b1c7502e6e58caeab2c07925)
After
"TODAY is our fourth anniversary. Then... T-Then... Are you just playing with me? Tell me, Jai. Do you really love me?" I asked him while I was crying. It feels like my chest is being stabbed with a sharp blade and it seems non-stop, so I feel more pain in my heart. "I love you, Miamor. I love you
/0/66820/coverbig.jpg?v=a0f0d56cfb8b1cfe9117359aff1a57ac)
After Highschool
Ashley, a resilient girl from a humble background, catches the attention of Fred, the wealthy heartthrob of her high school, at a party where she is working as a waitress. Their unexpected connection sparks jealousy in Emily, the school's queen bee, who is determined to claim Fred for herself. As Em
/0/12073/coverbig.jpg?v=2d5ce9cb67230e0ed508f7b9bd836998)
After London
After some sudden and unspecified catastrophe has depopulated England, the countryside reverts to nature, and the few survivors to a quasi-medieval way of life. Beginning with a loving description of nature reclaiming England — fields becoming overrun by forest, domesticated animals running wi
/0/17880/coverbig.jpg?v=08f8659dde659cb9fa5de728cd254424)
After Grace
Grace has grown up relatively safe in her small farming community decades after the war which decimated the world. But when a mysterious man tells her he knows more about her past than she does, she follows him on a dangerous mission in hopes of figuring out why she has never felt like she belonged.
/0/21026/coverbig.jpg?v=5e2d11d462d09e02b61ef57a225ef528)
After Him
The love that I knew wasn't like the ones written in a book. It wasn't beautiful and magical. It doesn't bring butterflies in my stomach and it doesn't make me feel special. It doesn't feel like home, I do not feel secured. It does not make me feel safe and worthy. The love that I experience doesn
/1/114396/coverbig.jpg?v=fbca754f2abacde38e384fa11743ac51)
After Divorce
"Some loves are written in the stars. Others are carved in sin." Sophia Chen never met her stepfather; she was too busy living her dream abroad to attend her mother's wedding. Two years later she returns home exhausted and broken from a failed relationship, the man who opens the door isn't just her
/0/44439/coverbig.jpg?v=66b37eb8b1c7502e6e58caeab2c07925)
LOVE AFTER
LOVE AFTER describes the marriage life of Tasha and Jay after 9 years and also the love life of Lilian Brown, the return of an unexpected enemy. Before reading this, made sure you already read the season 1 "LOVE BEFORE"
/0/46870/coverbig.jpg?v=1818cf44f5e62ff2830a5c52e9cc098f)
Surviving After Dark
So? I'm a big girl. I'm not scared of the dark." My Aunt halts at my words. She's frozen, facing into the living room, and I'm glaring at her back so hard that I'm surprised she can't feel holes burning through her ribcage. Finally, ever so slowly, she spins to face me. Her green eyes are piercing,
/0/83772/coverbig.jpg?v=ef837975452b49568ba9e49e958fe591)
After He Cheated
I had an underground romance with my best friend's brother for a year. I originally planned to announce it to everyone on his birthday. The day before his birthday, I went to deliver food to him with my best friend. Looking at the boyfriend and the flower girl holding hands in front of me, I clenche
/1/119153/coverbig.jpg?v=8129e08c5be673a953fc32d0071ef17d)
After Midnight With Him
Warning: Mature Content "Tell me all your sexual fantasies, princess." "I want to be fucked, ruined, choked, and marked until I'm a moaning, crying mess, leaking all over your sheets, daddy." Sophia Bennett world shattered the night she found out her fiancé was gay. Drunk, devastated, and despera
/0/77687/coverbig.jpg?v=e1d76402d4f9ddec654eea463eafd746)
Whispers After Midnight
When guarded event planner Elena Moore meets brooding novelist Julian Hayes, sparks fly-but so do secrets. Hired to plan his book launch, Elena fights the pull of a man who seems to see right through her. As midnight whispers turn into heated nights, buried pasts threaten to ruin it all. Some heart
/0/76480/coverbig.jpg?v=e2280aed1e492b5f097cc84421ffa1cd)
Pampered after Divorce
Last night, my husband confessed his love for someone named Kitty during an intimate moment. I had trusted him with my assets after a scandal, only to discover his infidelity and betrayal. Now, he and my sister, Kiara (whom he calls Kitty), have taken everything from me. To make matters worse, I w
/0/68398/coverbig.jpg?v=20250110185113)
After His Last Will
Lily Anderson, who works as the secretary of the cold Alexandra Beaumont, is pulled into a web of power struggles when the head of the Beaumont family dies mysteriously and his last will is read. Vincent states in his will that his inheritance had been handed over to Lily and whosoever amongst his
/0/4379/coverbig.jpg?v=28cf7eba425e2d4b54e1cc09a82d528c)
Seekers after God
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preservin
/0/84886/coverbig.jpg?v=8f681b049102254374a97171b0c2b712)
Love After the Storm
My world collapsed with a single word: Glioblastoma. But before I could even process my own death sentence, I walked in on another: my estranged wife, Chloe, beaming on TV, pregnant with another man' s child. My five-year-old son, Liam, then threw my phone at the wall and declared my rival, Mark, h
/0/85346/coverbig.jpg?v=dfd98da37b1f0ebbfe54ffc036c4f2c1)
Love After the Betrayal
The scent of lilies and hairspray usually meant joy, but for me, Abigail Turner, on what was supposed to be my wedding day, it was a suffocating prelude to disaster. I stood in my bridal gown, gazing into an ornate mirror, my heart a storm. Then Brandon Hayes, my fiancé, walked in, his eyes col
/0/37589/coverbig.jpg?v=20250414010202)
Lusted After You
"Who did that to you?" His voice pressed, demanding. But I had to shut him down if I wanted to keep myself together. "If you get to keep things from me, then so do I." "If I find out who he is-if I find him..." "I hope you don't," I cut in. "Because I'd rather he was already dead." "I won't be
/0/39376/coverbig.jpg?v=efdcf1ad67a714be52bc6eb1aa61e5f8)
One day after tomorrow
A new time arises after humanity destroyed the planet with its ambitions. In the new age there is neither rich nor poor, but only groups of people trying to survive. Carolina, who in the past was a tolerant and arrogant woman, finds herself in need of being part of a group to survive, being rescued
/0/44407/coverbig.jpg?v=230a40af5504c9af72b6f8ef9f1ba198)
Marry Me: After Divorce
Kinar Dewi is just an ordinary writer who gets involved in the domestic drama of Anan Pradipta and Ivana Wijaya. This was unimaginable. At her first meeting with Anan, the CEO of the publishing house where her book would be published proposed to her. Not only that, Ivana became a supporter for Anan
