CHAPTER 1 

288 Voucher 

CHAPTER 1 

“Scream.” 

Alexander Sterling gripped Charlotte Montgomery’s waist with brutal force. 

Charlotte struggled, trying to push him away, but he pinned her down relentlessly. 

She gripped the exquisitely crafted silk bedsheets tightly in silent protest 

Under the moonlight, Alexander stared at her, his gaze a mix of lust and chilling indifference. 

“Not enjoying it?” he bit the soft flesh behind her ear, his breath heavy. “If this doesn’t do it for you, then let me tell you-I’ve already sent Julian Montgomery to the High-security Private Asylum.” 

All the color instantly drained from Charlotte’s face. 

The High-security Private Asylum was a psychiatric hospital, but it was a black-market slaughterhouse. Under the guise of mental health care, they engaged in illicit organ harvesting-carving out hearts and swapping kidneys. 

Ignoring her disheveled state, she grabbed Alexander’s arm, her fingertips trembling slightly. 

“Why would you do that?” 

“Just wanted to give you a date to remember.” 

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He pulled away from her, grabbing his shirt and putting it on. 

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Last year, her father was thrown into prison, and her mother suffered a stroke after a car accident, remaining in a coma to this day. 

A few days later, her father committed suicide in prison. 

It rained heavily that day. 

She had called Alexander countless times, but he never answered. 

ག 

She went to the crematorium alone to send her father off, then brought his ashes back to the cemetery for burial. 

Even though all the evidence pointed to Alexander being responsible for her father’s death, she still chose not to believe it. 

And he had chosen this specific, tragic anniversary to rush back from abroad, just to sleep with her and humiliate her-she had endured all of that. 

But why did he have to send her disabled brother, Julian, to a psychiatric hospital? 

“Alexander, you’re a bastard! Do you really have to drive my family to absolute ruin?” 

Her eyes trembled, and her fingertips suddenly turned ice-cold. 

Her beating heart slowly decelerated, slowing down until she could barely feel it in her chest. 

Alexander’s hand paused abruptly as he buttoned his shirt. 

“Julian’s condition is poor. He needs proper treatment.” 

“It’s his legs that are crippled, not his mind,” Charlotte’s voice was filled 

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with sorrow. 

He chuckled, turning his head back, and reached out to hook his fingers around the back of her neck. 

“I’m doing it for his own good.” 

As he spoke, his mocking lips descended toward her forehead, but she turned her face away to dodge him. 

/ 

For two years of marriage, she had endured, coaxed, and catered to him just wanting to earn a kind look from Alexander and keep the Montgomerys safe. 

But he hated her. He hated that after she surrendered her status as the eldest daughter of the Smith family, she refused to surrender this marriage as well. 

In his eyes, she was nothing but a lowly leech clinging tightly to his thigh, terrified of being squeezed out of high society. 

She was vain, greedy for fame and fortune. 

She had stolen eighteen years of life from the one that got away, Chloe Smith, and even worse, she had stolen Chloe’s legs and her marriage. 

She deserved to die, and her whole family deserved to die. 

Charlotte’s heart turned to ashes. She pushed him away, bent over to pull open the nightstand drawer, took out a bottle of birth control pills, and unscrewed the cap. 

Alexander furrowed his brows tightly. 

Seeing Charlotte take a pill and bring it to her mouth, he raised his hand and slapped it away. 

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“Learned to take your pills on your own now?” 

Over their two years of marriage, Charlotte had wanted to have a child countless times; she had even done childish things like poking holes in condoms. 

But all she got in return was Alexander’s furious wrath and the suspension of her mother’s medical treatment. 

After that, she learned her lesson. Whenever he tossed her the pills, she would obediently swallow them. 

Alexander didn’t want children-not because he disliked them, but because he had never seen her as a wife fit to bear his children. 

Charlotte curled her lips in a self-deprecating smile. 

“Isn’t this what you wanted me to do?” 

A muscle twitched in Alexander’s jaw. He snatched the pill bottle from her hand and gripped her chin. 

“You like taking pills, do you? Fine, then swallow them all.” 

Alexander tipped the bottle, forcing the white pills into Charlotte’s mouth. 

She struggled, trying to pull away, but there was no escape. 

“If you want them so badly, have your fill all at once.” 

He reached for a glass of water on the nightstand and forced it down her throat. 

She choked, coughing violently. 

Out of a hundred pills, she had swallowed half the bottle whole. 

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“Gag…” 

“Charlotte, let me tell you, you’d better pray you never get pregnant.” 

Alexander roughly shoved Charlotte aside, grabbed his coat, and slammed the bedroom door behind him. 

Charlotte stumbled into the bathroom, desperately trying to induce vomiting. 

Ultimately, she was rushed to the hospital to have her stomach pumped. 

Despite the timely medical intervention, some of the drugs had already entered her bloodstream, causing varying degrees of damage to her heart, liver, and kidneys. 

The massive dose of progesterone overstimulated her ovaries, triggering premature ovarian failure. 

The doctor informed her that she would likely never have the chance to conceive again. 

After the tears faded, Charlotte felt a strange sense of relief. 

Drifting in and out of sleep, she heard the family housekeeper, Martha, on the phone with Alexander. 

“Mrs. Sterling’s condition isn’t looking good. Will you be coming to the hospital to see her?” 

“Is she dead?” The volume on the receiver was loud, projecting Alexander’s cold, callous voice with crystal clarity. 

“Not yet, but…” 

“I’m busy…” 

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A woman’s voice drifted through the receiver, “…Alexander, come here and help me with this zipper.” 

Immediately after, his impatient voice barked through the phone, “Don’t bother me unless it’s important.” 

The call disconnected. As Martha let out a heavy sigh, Charlotte opened her bloodshot eyes. 

That woman’s voice just now belonged to Chloe. 

On the rare nights Alexander actually came home, he would always be called away by that sweet, seductive voice. 

And all of her nightmares were filled with that very same voice. 

In Alexander’s heart, Chloe was thousands, if not millions, of times more important than her. 

She closed her eyes. 

She was exhausted. She just needed a good sleep. 

When she woke up again, Charlotte received a call from a nurse at her mother’s hospital. 

The message was simple: they needed her to come in and verify the medical bills. 

“My mother’s bills… wasn’t there an arrangement to keep a running tab?” 

The nurse on the other end sounded apologetic. “Ma’am, the hospital is currently auditing accounts. Your mother’s treatments haven’t been paid for in a full year. We need you to come in and settle the balance, otherwise, it might affect her ongoing care.” 

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The only reason she had been allowed to rack up such a tab was because the hospital was under the Sterling Group-it was Alexander’s property. 

It seemed he was no longer willing to cover it. 

Charlotte lowered her eyelashes, hiding her disappointment, and/replied, “Alright, I’ll be right there.” 

Ever since the car accident, her biological mother, Evelyn, had been in a 

coma. 

The doctors called it a cerebral infarction, but in reality, she was no different from a living corpse. 

If Charlotte chose to pull the plug, it was highly likely that no one would judge her for it. 

But she didn’t want to, nor could she bring herself to do it. 

Staring at the final total at the bottom of the lengthy bill, Charlotte furrowed her brows. 

“Is it over two hundred thousand?” 

“Yes, ma’am, it’s two hundred and thirty-five thousand, eight hundred and sixteen dollars.” 

Two hundred and thirty thousand. It didn’t sound so out of reach. 

But she couldn’t come up with it. 

Evangelina’s POV I am running around the forest looking for them. When I hear the cries I know I am close. I reach the spot where I see 4 rogues circling the girls. “Two pretty princesses. We have something special planned for you.” One of the rogues says. Before anything can happen I need the girls to run. “Girls. I need you to run as fast as you can when I give you the signal.” I say and I see the shock on the girls’ faces when I project my voice in their head. After that warning I “fall” out of the tree I was hiding in with a big umph. Whimpering as though I am in pain, the four rogues come to inspect me, leaving the girls alone a few feet away. “Now!” I yell towards the girls who quickly get up and start running. As soon as they turn their backs, I don’t risk it. I grab my dagger that I keep hidden and cut one of the rogue’s achilles. He falls immediately and as the other three turn to look at me I quickly stand up and slit one’s throat. The other two move quickly and start to attack me. We all get a few good hits in when I jump behind one, twisting their neck until I feel them go limp. I quickly doge the other and stab his thigh with my claws. He quickly falls and clutches his thigh. Before he can make a sound I push my hand through his chest and pull out his heart. I quickly ensure all four of the rogues are dead and head the same way the girls went. I see them hiding in a bush just inside of their territory. When they see me they run and hug me. “Thank you for saving us.” One says. “Yeah, thank you.” The other says. I smile sweetly down to them. Both have tears in their big gray eyes. “You are welcome girls. Now go on. I will watch you to make sure that you get back safely.” I say to them and they smile slightly and start running further into their lands. After about 50 yards I hear shouting and see 10 men running towards the girls. They reach the girls, but 9 of them keep running towards me. They must smell the blood on me. I turn and start running, but after 20 feet I run into another rogue. I don’t know what he is doing this far in the pack lands, but before I can comprehend what is going on he claws my chest. I quickly gather myself and claw his face then flip over and snap his neck. But the stop took too much time and I was surrounded by warriors. “STOP THERE ROGUE!” One warrior says. “DON’T MOVE OR WE WILL SHOOT!” Another says summoning fire in his hands, ready to fire away, literally. I stand there and kneel, putting my hands behind my head, startling them with my compliance. They move in closer and put silver handcuffs on me. I am cooperating but they are being rough. First, the gash to my chest from the rogue and now them putting the silver on does not help. They are dragging me towards where I saw the girls enter. When we hit the clearing I hear the sobs of the girls. “NO! What are you doing to her?! NO don’t hurt her!” One of the girls screams, while the other looks at me crying. “Girls stop. She is a rogue and will be handled as such!” I hear a man say. “But she sa..” Before the girl could finish I cut her off, mindlinking her and her sister. “I will be okay, girls. I promise. Don’t tell them about what happened in the forest. It is our secret okay?” I project to them and they both look at me and nod their heads. “Thank you.” I project again, as the guards drag me to a door just before the center of town. Once they opened the door they drag me down the stairs making my hip and bottom bruise. They take me to a room and chain me to the ceiling with more silver. My toes are barely touching the ground and my arms are hanging straight above my head. The gash on my chest is slowly healing, thanks to the fact that silver doesn’t completely inebriate my wolf, unlike others. “She is pretty. Maybe we can have some fun with her before Beta gets here.” I hear one guard say. “You are disgusting! Other packs may do that savage deed, but we do not. Best keep your hands to yourself and mouth shut!” The other spits. Interesting. After about an hour or so I hear the dungeon door open with four sets of feet coming towards me. I look up once I hear them get closer and see four more people have joined in with the two that were guarding me. The two main people in front are the Beta and Gamma, guessing by their aura. The Beta is taller with brown hair cut short on the sides, but longer and curly on the top. His eyes are light orange and they are throwing daggers at me. The Gamma has long dirty blond hair that is tied in a bun, with dull blue eyes. He held a look of surprise. “A female rogue? She tried to take the girls?” The Gamma asks in almost disbelief. Female rogues are rare, or so most people think. “Yes. They caught her standing over the top of her partner’s lifeless body, fleeing from our territory.” The Beta sneers. The Gamma just looks at me questioningly. You can tell he is questioning what the true story is. The door clanks open and they walk in along with two warriors, I would say head warriors. The Gamma and Beta stand in the corner watching as the two warriors circle me, trying to make me nervous. “She looks so tiny Jason, how long do you think it will take to break her?” The warrior asks. The other warrior hums while he looks me up and down. “She may be small, but don’t underestimate her. I give her an hour.” Jason says, looking toward the other warrior. “What do you think, Vick?” He asks. “An hour? No, I don’t think she will last that long. I give her half.” Vick says. Jason smiles. “Let’s see who wins this round.” He says while another guard wheels in a cart. I look and see multiple instruments. Torture instruments to be exact. I watch as Vick grabs a glove that has silver knucks attached and Jason grabs a metal bat with silver spikes. Vick walks to me and punches me in the shoulder, effectively dislocating my shoulder and stabbing me with the silver spikes at the same time. Jason came up behind me, whacking my thighs with the bat, successfully cutting my legs. I can tell that they have done this before. Each time I move I will be in horrible pain. I stay silent though. Gritting my teeth as pain radiates through me. “Why were you on our lands?” Jason asks me. I stay quiet. “You sent you?” Vick asks. Again I stay quiet. “What did you want with the princesses?” Jason asks. I say nothing. “Ahh. She thinks she can stay silent.” Vick says looking towards Jason. They strike me again and ask the same questions, still receiving nothing from me. This aggravates them and they switch to other tools. After two hours of torture the Beta leaves. After three hours everybody leaves. Leaving me hanging in the room with torn flesh and blood mixed with sweat dripping down. I smile to myself in satisfaction. They will not break me.

I Want A Divorce, He Regrets 

Chapter 1 I Want A Divorce 

65 voucher 

Late at night, Miranda Leach had merely wrapped up work on a major merger deal when her phone on the desk blared an urgent ring. 

“Ms. Leach, paparazzi snapped photos of Mr. Barrett and Ms. Holder at a hotel, and the pictures have spread everywhere. You need to see this.” The secretary spoke carefully, thick with anxiety, clearly wary of incurring Miranda’s foul mood. 

Miranda massaged her tight temples and murmured so quietly her words were barely audible. “This is exactly what the PR crew gets paid to deal with. Stick to protocol: push down all the trending topics, release a statement claiming their meeting as purely work-related.” 

She’d handled these exact messes well over a hundred times in three years for her husband, Dwayne Barrett. 

A beat of silence passed on the line, followed by a hushed response. “The problem is… Mr. Barrett has no intention of covering this up this time. Ms. Holder is officially back in the country.” 

The words landed like a sharp blow to Miranda’s chest, stinging fiercely. 

The name Paola Holder was an uncrossable taboo, the one lone exception within the Barrett family and in Dwayne’s heart. 

Before Miranda could collect herself, an incoming call popped up from her mother-in-law, Shannon Barrett. “Mira, have you seen the viral trending topic? Dwayne never changes. How dare he cause all this hassle right when things are so crucial?” 

Shannon heaved a sigh and issued a direct command. “Paola is back. She is totally different from all those casual women he was tied to. 

“You’re sharp and levelheaded. Hold your ground, and make sure Dwayne doesn’t spiral into reckless behavior. Go to the hotel at once and fix this problem.” 

Miranda let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. Her mind raced. ‘Hold my ground? For three years, I’ve clung desperately to nothing but a hollow marriage. 

Yet she answered, “I understand, Shannon. I’m leaving right now.” 

She stood, touching up her makeup lightly to mask the pallor on her face. 

Thirty minutes later, Miranda pulled up to the Sheltin Hotel. The hallway was hushed. The Barrett family bodyguards had long cordoned all reporters off down on the ground floor. 

She pushed open the presidential suite door, and a thick cloud of tobacco smoke washed over her. 

Dwayne sat on the sofa, the top two buttons of his shirt undone to expose his broad, muscular chest. 

He twisted a lighter between his fingers, its flame flickering on and off, casting fleeting light across his icy features. 

He did not glance up at the commotion, speaking in a frigid tone, “Miranda. You made it here fast. What a truly PR expert.” 

“I cannot allow Ms. Holder’s reputation to suffer damage, as it would send Barrett Group’s stock plummeting.” Miranda stepped forward and draped her coat over the sofa armrest. 

At that moment, the bedroom door swung open. Paola stepped out clad in a silk nightgown with long hair cascading down her shoulders. Her face bore no makeup, yet her features remained soft and exquisite. 

Miranda’s gaze locked on her. This silk nightgown was identical to one hanging inside Miranda’s own closet. 

I Want A Divorce, He Regrets 

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Paola froze the second she laid eyes on Miranda, then quickly put on a perfect smile. “Mira, you’ve had such a tough time today. 

‘Dwayne said reporters were swarming downstairs, so he insisted I come up to change. He worried paparazzi would snap pictures and leave us with no way to explain ourselves.” 

Her words sounded polite and reasonable, yet every single word stabbed sharply into Miranda’s heart. 

Miranda’s lips twitched slightly, yet she kept her tone steady. “You’re far too courteous, Ms. Holder. Now that you’ve changed clothes, we can head downstairs. I’ve already dealt with all the press outside.” 

Dwayne stood up right then. He strolled over to Paola naturally and rested a hand on her shoulder, his touch tender as f tending to his sweetheart. 

“Paola, head back first. I need a word with Miranda,” Dwayne instructed. 

Paola nodded compliantly. As she walked past Miranda, she patted the back of Miranda’s hand pointedly. “Mira, I’ll feat you to a meal sometime soon to make this up to you.” 

Once the door shut, only Miranda and Dwayne remained in the suite. 

Miranda refused to meet his eyes. She turned to tidy the ashtray on the coffee table and spoke with rigid formality. “The trending topics will be completely removed within an hour. 

“The company official account will release a regular group photo of you and Ms. Holder taken at a reception to explain your meeting as innocent downtime following business talks. 

“From now on, shoot me a heads-up early. That way I can get everything ready in advance.” 

Dwayne let out a sharp scoff and closed the distance between them with long strides. 

“Get ready? Miranda, have you grown fond of living this way?” Dwayne pinned her with a taunting stare. 

“Being Mrs. Barrett has won you status and fortune, and turned you into an expert mopping up my messy love affairs. Tell me. Should I hand you an employee-of-the-year trophy?” 

Miranda set down the items she held and met his gaze head-on. “Dwayne, if this marriage isn’t working for you anymore, speak to Melvin. I won’t stand in your way while you go after the love you long for.” 

“Speak to my grandpa?” Dwayne gripped her jaw harshly. “If you hadn’t pleaded with your grandfather to pressure my family and insisted on repaying the life-saving debt you owed me, do you honestly think I would have agreed to marry you? 

“Don’t play dumb, Miranda. Paola is home at last. The three-year charade we’ve acted out together should end here.” 

Miranda’s heart felt torn wide open, cold emptiness rushing into the wound. Her mind whirled. ‘The life-saving debt? 

‘You dragged me out of that fire at the risk of your own life. You used to call me Mira sweetly back then. Have you forgotten all of it? 

“You’re right.” Miranda brushed his hand off her face, her tone steady. “This farce ought to end.” 

She pulled a stack of printed papers out of her handbag and set them softly down on the marble countertop. “This divorce contract is ready, and I have signed it. 

If you find no issues with the content, schedule a time to finalize the paperwork.” 

Dwayne’s gaze locked onto the white documents, his features stiffening. It was as if she had told him an absurd joke. 

His voice turned ay “What game are you playing, Miranda? Trying to play hard to get? I’ve grown weary of these tricks after 

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I Want A Divorce, He Regrets 

two attempts max. Keep it up, and I’ll only grow repulsed.” 

& 

55 voucher 

Miranda offered no rebuttal, speaking plainly, “I want none of your assets. All my Barrett Group stocks will be returned. I’ll quit my company roles right away and move out of Barrett Manor in the next few days.” 

With that, she spun on her heel and walked out without waiting for Dwayne’s reply. 

Dwayne stared at the pile of agreements, a thought crossing his mind. ‘Has this woman lost her mind?’ 

Miranda stepped outside the hotel. A harsh wind whipped through the air, stinging her eyes. 

She retrieved her phone and dialed a number she had not called in ages. “Grandpa, my ID card is back at home. I need to swing by to collect it. I’ve made up my mind. I want a divorce.” 

น 

On the other end of the line, Neil Leach fell quiet for a long stretch before uttering a single word. “Alright.” 

Miranda ended the call, tears spilling free at last. 

For three years, she had clung to the hope that constant devotion might thaw his icy heart. It finally dawned on her that Dwayne’s heart would never belong to her. 

The moment Miranda arrived home, a WhatsApp notification from Selina Barrett, Dwayne’s younger sister, popped up. 

[Mira, I heard the scheming Paola is back in the country. Has Dwayne lost his mind again? Don’t let them get to you. If you’ve been treated unfairly, I won’t let him get away with it.] 

Miranda typed back. [Selina, I’m filing for divorce from your brother.] 

Three minutes later, her phone rang. Selina’s loud, urgent voice rang loud enough to make Miranda’s ears ring. “Miranda, you’ve finally woken up. Leave him. You have to. No one else could put up with Dwayne’s terrible temper for three whole 

years. 

“Where are you? I’ll come get you right now, and we’ll go out drinking to celebrate.” 

Miranda gave a bitter smile and shook her head, turning down Selina’s offer. 

She had no desire to drink tonight. All she craved was a peaceful spot to mend her shattered heart. 

& 

Barrett Manor was deathly quiet deep into the night, cold and empty as an ice cellar. 

Miranda entered the master bedroom and packed her small collection of skincare items and basic clothing into a suitcase. 

Dwayne had barely stepped foot inside this bedroom, his visits few enough to tally on the fingers of one hand. Even so, Miranda had personally selected and arranged every last decorative element filling the space. 

She was zipping her suitcase shut when the door flew open with a violent kick. 

Dwayne stormed inside, bringing a gust of frigid air with him. The second his eyes landed on the suitcase resting on the floor, his rage flared to life at once. “Miranda, are you truly set on playing this through? 

I’m telling you. Barrett Manor isn’t somewhere you can walk in and out however you feel like.” 

Miranda stood up straight and met his gaze steadily. “Mr. Barrett, have you signed the agreement?” 

1ike hell I have Dwayne snatched up her suitcase and hurled it hard against the floor. 

He threatened, “You are not leaving this house without my consent. If you dare run to my grandfather to badger him, do not 

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I Want A Divorce, He Regrets 

test me. I will not go easy on the Leach family.” 

55 vouchers 

The Leach bloodline has long faded away, Dwayne.” Miranda’s voice turned unnervingly steady. “I only have my grandpa. Stop-threatening me by bringing him into this.” 

Dwayne stiffened mid-motion. His hand clamped around her shoulder loosened involuntarily. 

He stared at her standing inches away. She was physically right there, yet he had the uncanny sense that she was slipping out of his grasp. 

“Fine. You want a divorce?” Dwayne bit out the words sharply. 

“I will put my signature on those papers the second my grandfather gives his approval. Until then, you remain Mrs. Barreu. Do you get it?” With that, he slammed the door shut and stormed off. ]

Chapter 1 Crossing the Stars 

B 

On Interstellar Year 5223, at 10:30 a.m., the butler knocked impatiently on the second-floor bedroom door of the White villa. “Ms. Sullivan, Mrs. White is waiting for you in the hall. Please come down quickly.. 

His face was full of contempt, gloating inside. Now that the true heiress of the White family is back, this useless waste with Class E mental power and zero fertility rating will finally be kicked out. 

Her very existence is a disgrace to the White family. 

Natalie was jolted awake by the violent knocking, her head spinning. She opened her eyes and stared at the unfamiliar room. Where am I? 

Just a second ago, she had been standing on a podium receiving a medal. As a max-level master of both wood power and psychic power, she had witnessed the end of the apocalypse and the dawn of a new era for humanity. 

But she had fainted from sheer excitement. 

She woke up right here. 

Where the hell did I land? 

Soon, her mind was flooded with memories that weren’t her own. 

She learned the original owner was named Natalie Sullivan, and today was her twentieth birthday. 

Yesterday, the true heiress, Ruby White, had shown up at the White Villa’s door, and the White family immediately ran a genetic match. 

The test proved that Ruby was the White family’s true heiress, while Natalie was merely a false heiress with no blood relation, a child who had been switched at birth. 

Upon learning the truth, the original Natalie had cried herself into unconsciousness. 

Now, she had taken over this body. 

Natalie closed her eyes again to think. 

L 

Isn’t this exactly the interstellar romance novel I was reading in my spare time? So I’ve been pulled into a book? cannon fodder supporting character who dies early? 

a 

In the book, Natalie refused to leave the White Villa even after finding out she was adopted. Then, o jealousy, she pulled all kinds of tricks to try to drive away the true heiress. In the end, her heart was out, and her body was thrown to the star beasts, no remains left. 

The book only glossed over her life in a few short sentences. 

And she, unluckily enough, had become that early-death supporting character. 

Today was the day she was to be expelled from the White family. 

Oh God. Here I was, a great apocalypse-era powerhouse who had struggled and fought for so long, finally about to enjoy 

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a comfortable retirement. And now I’ve become a cannon-fodder who dies young. 

No way. I don’t want to die yet. I haven’t even had a chance to enjoy life. 

The fierce knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts. 

Natalie refused to accept her fate. She closed her eyes, and then opened them again. Unfortunately, she was still here. She glared coldly at the door. Her entire demeanor had changed, now carrying a chilling, 

murderous air. 

She tried to summon the superpowers from her previous life, but nothing came. 

Where are my dual powers? No way. Am I really this unlucky? 

Don’t others usually come with special powers? 

Could I be so unlucky that I lost my special powers in the process? 

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She noticed the necklace around her neck. It was the Spatial Token from her previous life! 

It had come through with her. 

She remembered that in the apocalypse, she had first obtained the Spatial Token, drunk the spiritual spring water from it, and then awakened her psychic power and wood power. 

She thought for a moment, bit her finger, and let her blood seep into the token. Soon, the token recognized her as its master. 

“Ding.” 

The system activated and bound itself successfully. “Hello, Host. The Fortune Accumulation System is now online.” 

Natalie hadn’t anticipated awakening a system. “Fortune Accumulation System, hello. Why am I here? Can I go back?” 

L 

The system said, “Host, you died of sudden exhaustion in the apocalypse. You can’t go back. You can only try to survive in this world. Right now, you are inside a novel, and you have become a supporting character who dies young. To change your fate and survive, you need to accumulate enough Fortune Points.” 

Natalie asked, “How do I accumulate Fortune Points?” 

The system said, “Alert, low energy. Entering hibernation. Take care, Host. I’ll awaken when the time comes.” 

Natalie called. “System, wait…” 

What kind of useless system is this? So unreliable! 

Fortune Points? And it didn’t even tell me how to earn them? 

Right, I still have the Spatial Token. 

She chanted silently, and in an instant, she entered the space. 

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esting the Stars 

Sure enough, there was an endless space where time stood still. Her stockpiled supplies from her previous life were still there. Most importantly, the spiritual spring water was also here, the very water that had awakened her superpowers in the apocalypse. 

She walked to the edge of the spiritual spring and drank several cups of Spiritual Water using an old cup shef had left behind. All her fatigue vanished, and she immediately felt her body fill with power. 

Her body grew hot, as if about to explode. 

This feeling was familiar. Her superpowers were awakening. 

The awakening would normally take twelve hours, but inside the space, time was frozen. Į 

After both her psychic power and wood power had fully awakened, she tested them. Both were at beginner level. 

It seems that if I want to become as strong as I was in the apocalypse, I’ll need to keep leveling up. That will take time. 

Although I don’t know yet who will rip out my heart, if I want to survive. I have to leave the White Villa first. 

In this interstellar era, an age of fresh food shortages, the strong ruled, and the weak simply couldn’t 

survive. 

After leaving, she would have to find ways to level up her superpowers and grow stronger. 

Another knock came from outside the door. 

Natalie got out of bed, opened the door, and coldly warned the butler, “Wait. Knock again, and I’ll break your hands.” 

The butler felt that the useless Natalie seemed unusually different today. Just one sentence from her, and he obeyed instinctively. 

After speaking, Natalie closed the door again. 

L 

She dressed and got ready in record time. Then she glanced around the room. With a wave of her hand, she swept all the jewelry, clothes, bags, and anything valuable into her space. 

This was a habit she had developed during the apocalypse. She left nothing behind. 

When the room was completely empty, she finally curled her lips into a smile and left. 

Downstairs in the hall, Evelyn White sat on the sofa. Ruby White was snuggled up to her, holding her arm and chatting intimately. 

Meanwhile, her fiancé Leo River sat to Ruby’s left, gazing at her tenderly. 

It was such a harmonious scene until she appeared. 

Evelyn had been smiling, but the moment she saw Natalie, her face turned cold. “Natalie, here’s a card for you with fifty thousand credits. From today on, Ruby is my real daughter, and you no longer have any connection to the White family. Naturally, we have no obligation to support you anymore.” 

314 

19:33 Wed, Aug 19 AT. 

Natalie stood about ten feet away from them and replied calmly. “Fifty thousand credits? Are you trying to shoo away a beggar? That’s barely enough for five bottles of Intermediate Nutrient Solution. I’ve called you Mother for twenty years, and this is how you treat me?” 

It’s clear the White family had wanted to throw away this useless Natalie for a long time. Now they just have a legitimate excuse. 

Leo stood, handed her the card, and tried to reason. “Natalie, don’t be ungrateful. The White family raised you for all these years without asking you to repay them. You should be thankful. 

“Now that you’re not a White daughter, you have no right to stay here. Take the card and leave while you still can. Don’t make a scene. 

“Why are you silent? Don’t tell me you still want something you can never have? Even if you promised to marry only me. I would never marry you. 

“A waste like you with zero fertility rating and Class E mental power, how could you be worthy of me? Now that you’re no longer a daughter of the White family, our engagement is naturally void. 

“Only Ruby, with Class S mental power, a 60 fertility rating, and a Level 4 Planter, is my perfect match. So you, a waste, should be smart and get lost.” 

Chapter 1 

At the airport gate, I watch the scanner flash red when I try to board 

Mom turns around and glances at me 

Oh you When I was booking the tickets, I suddenly couldn’t remember your name, so I forgot to buy one for 

you Just get yourself another ticket.” 

I force myself to smile and nod. 

Ever since Esther was brought back six years ago, I, the adopted daughter who was mistakenly switched at birth, have become a transparent person in this family and pack, someone who is not even worthy of having 

a name 

Because Esther says my name originally belongs to her. Every time she hears it, she has a breakdown, gets 

sick, and threatens to end her life. 

From that day on, I no longer had a name to them. I was only “you,” “hey you,” or “oh, you.” 

I open the ticket app, but all flights to Orlando within the next three days are sold out. 

When I look up again, Mom, Dad, and Esther have already disappeared into the crowd. 

I send a message in the family group. 

[Mom, Dad, I can’t get a ticket. How am I supposed to meet up with you?] 

No one replies. 

An hour later, Esther posts a selfie in the group. 

Mom immediately responds: [Where did this celebrity come from?] 

Dad sends a flower emoji. 

My Alpha mate, Stephen, transfers thirty thousand dollars to her, with the note (Esther’s travel fund) 

No one replies to my message. No one cares whether I can make it to this Disney trip or not 

I close the ticket app and open my email. 

Inside are two offers. 

One is from the Warrior Program of the local Black Moon Pack The other is from the Royal Pack’s Warrior Program in the far north. 

I finally make up my mind and hit SEND. 

Chapter 1 

The windows and doors of the house are tightly shut, making the air inside feel thick and suffocating 

I drag my suitcase up to the attic of the pack house and grab the bottle of water on the table drinking several gulps 

The creaking electric fan blows a small wave of cool air toward me 

The tiny attic is less than five square meters. It is freezing in winter and unbearably hot in summer With a 

ceiling height of only one and a half meters, I can only move around while bending my back 

This is the only space in this house that belongs to me. 

The day Esther was brought back to the pack, she broke down in tears when she saw my room 

“I had to sleep in a tiny room with thirty other people at the rogue orphanage, but the room that was 

supposed to be mine is occupied by someone else.” 

Mom and Dad spent the entire afternoon comforting her. 

Then they asked me to give my room back to her and stay in the attic for a few days. They promised that 

once Esther accepted me, I could move back and share the room with her. 

I believed that as long as I was obedient enough and waited patiently, I would eventually become part of this 

family again 

But what I got in return was losing even my own name. 

The next morning, I take my identification documents and the bloodline records I secretly took from my parents’ room to the pack elders to apply for my departure from the pack 

If I am leaving, I want to leave completely. 

The process of obtaining the pack separation certificate takes one week, which happens to be the day they 

return from their trip 

I wake up early and go to the supermarket to pick out the freshest ingredients, preparing a proper farewell 

dinner for them 

After this, I probably will never see them again 

The sound of the front door opening echoes through the house 

At that moment, I walk out of the kitchen with the last dish 

Esther glances at the food on the table, covers her mouth, and rushes into the bathroom. 

The next second, the sound of her vomiting fills the room. 

Mom shakes her head at me, “Esther gets carsick and can’t eat such greasy food. Go make her some 

pumpkin soup.” 

Chapter 1 

091% 

Okay You and Dad can eat first 

We’re not eating either Esther can’t stand strong smells right now If you want to eat, take your food to the 

kitchen 

I look down at the blisters on my fingertips from being burned while cooking, but I say nothing 

Half an hour later, I bring the pumpkin soup I made into Esther’s room 

When I come out, Mom hands me a small gift bag, “We brought you a gift from Disney’ 

Inside is a crystal ball with a little mermaid figure. 

My eyes sting slightly. 

Because this is the first time in six years that Mom remembers me. 

As I walk past Esther’s room, I hear her talking on the phone with her friends 

Chapter 1 

The day my project bonus cleared, I rushed to the bank, planning to pay off our mortgage early 

After reviewing the account, the loan officer looked confused. 

“The deed and mortgage are in Brielle Bennett’s name. 

“You aren’t authorized to request an early payoff.” 

The property record on her screen clearly listed my younger sister as the owner. 

Full of questions, I hurried home. 

Laughter reached me before I opened the door. 

My parents and my best friend were gathered around the dining table. Brielle leaned against Gavin Mercer, 

and the cake in front of them read: 

[Happy Third Wedding Anniversary, Gavin and Brielle.] 

My mother saw me first, and her smile froze. “We should have told you sooner. 

“Brielle was too softhearted and made us keep it from you.” 

“She’s Gavin’s legal wife, yet all she received was a marriage certificate and a house. 

“She has already sacrificed so much, so what right do you have to feel wronged?” 

Sienna Ward frowned as she advised me, “As your best friend, I’m telling you to have some self-respect. Stop 

throwing yourself at a married man.” 

“Brielle kept her marriage secret for three years and suffered enough. Do the decent thing, give Gavin back, 

and let them live as a normal married couple.” 

Gavin never argued. He simply held Brielle’s hand and watched me calmly. 

The absurdity struck me all at once. 

After ten years together and a wedding ceremony five years earlier, I had no marriage certificate and no 

home in my name. 

Even the man who slept beside me had apparently been lent to me by Brielle. 

I had worked, paid bills, and built a life around promises everyone else knew had no legal foundation. 

They had watched me call him my husband while protecting his marriage to my sister. 

In that moment, the last of my attachment to them disappeared. 

When I said nothing, Brielle’s eyes reddened. She sank to the floor at my feet and began crying. 

Chapter 1 

10.00% 

“I’m sorry, Laurel Bennett I fell in love with Gavin the first time you brought him home five years ago’ 

I stood frozen. 

Five years earlier, I had taken Gavin home to meet my parents. 

He spent two weeks preparing gifts so he could make a good impression, then made them a solemn 

promise over dinner. 

“Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, I’ll take care of Laurel for the rest of my life.” 

Brielle sat across from us and quietly watched him. After dinner, she took my hand and asked, “What does it 

feel like to be loved that way?” 

I thought she was only envious, so I hugged her. “Once your health improves, you’ll meet someone who loves 

you just as much.” 

I never imagined the person she wanted was Gavin. 

Not long after that dinner, Brielle had chest pain in the middle of the night. I was away on business, so Gavin drove her to the hospital and stayed until morning. 

He accompanied her to every follow-up appointment after that. While I planned our wedding, he sat with her 

in waiting rooms. 

While I worked overtime to earn the down payment on our home, he drove Brielle across the state to see 

specialists. 

I believed he valued my family because he loved me. 

Only now did I understand that, with every act of care, Gavin had allowed his feelings for her to grow. 

When he saw tears covering my face, reluctance flickered in his eyes. “Brielle’s health is fragile. 

“Even a small shock can trigger an episode.” 

“She was always so happy to see me. Somewhere along the way, my feelings changed too.” 

Somewhere along the way. 

Four casual words erased ten years between us. 

I stared at him. “So you legally married her three years ago?” 

After a brief silence, Gavin nodded. 

“ 

Chapter 1 

I was still crouched on the ground, covered in bruises, when Julian ruffled my hair and laughed. 

“What’s wrong? Too happy to move?” 

“That was real progress. You actually made some sound that time.” 

I suppose it made sense they’d notice. I’d earned my spot at the conservatory on the strength of my voice 

alone, beating out hundreds of other applicants. 

So when I first lost my voice, the collapse of everything I’d worked for nearly destroyed me. 

I broke down. I hurt myself. More than once, I wanted to die. 

Everyone watched it happen. 

They quietly photographed my worst moments to send to Luna, to cheer her up. 

I forced myself to ignore the ache in my chest, braced a hand on the wall, and pushed myself up to gather the things that had scattered across the ground. 

Seeing me ignore him, Julian froze for a second, then scoffed. 

He probably thought I was just sulking again-certain that in a little while I’d calm myself down and drift back 

to their side, same as always. 

But this time, I picked up the last item, walked around them, and headed in the opposite direction from home. 

I’d only gone a few steps when I heard Margot burst out laughing behind me. 

“Oh my god. Look, her shirt’s basically torn to rags. That’s hilarious. Send it to Luna, she’ll die laughing.” 

“Shh, keep it down or she’ll hear. You know how petty she is. If she finds out and goes after Luna, that’ll be a 

whole thing.” 

I went rigid. 

Hilarious. Petty. 

So that was their final verdict on me-the two people who had spanned half my lifetime. 

I was the one who’d stepped in front of Margot when she was being bullied, who’d taken a knife to the lower 

back and still managed a goofy face to keep her from panicking. 

I was the one who, when Julian’s mother was gravely ill and the hospital kept stalling, gave up an important competition and spent days combing the whole city for evidence, calling every media contact I had, to drag 

her back from the edge. 

Yet now, they act as if my devotion had never existed at all. 

Chapter 1 

11 11% 

My phone buzzed again-another message from the family chat. 

Someone was taking bets on how many days I’d spend crying this time. 

Realizing it had gone to the wrong chat, the message vanished fast. 

But not before I saw Luna’s confident reply: [One day.] 

One day. 

The last time, Luna had thrown my dog off the sixth-floor balcony. 

I’d cradled its dying body, fumbling to dial the emergency vet line, my throat straining until it bled, and still no 

sound came out. 

I pounded on Mom’s door. I clawed desperately at Julian’s and Margot’s pant legs. 

In the middle of the chaos, Luna gave a small, deliberate cough. 

The Freeze-tag game began again. 

Everyone went instantly still, unmoved by my helplessness, my desperation. 

The dog convulsed in my arms and stopped breathing. 

That day, I crouched by the door, clutching its blood-soaked body, and wept for a full twenty-four hours until I finally collapsed. 

Remembering it now, I shuddered and quickened my pace, almost fleeing. 

But just as I reached the mouth of the alley, a bucket of ice water crashed down over my head without 

warning. 

Soaked to the skin, I stood frozen and ridiculous, drenched like a drowned cat. 

Chapter 1 

Alaria: 

96 

55 vouchers 

I walked inside the Estate, the Estate that I once called my home. An Estate that I was banished from five years 

ago. 

Flashback: 

“You could have fought against the divorce. You should have fought against what he wanted…” 

“I was not going to fight the man who clearly wanted nothing with me!” I said, stopping my mother. My father, who was watching the scene in silence, tapped his hand on the desk twice. Little did I know that this was the last time that I was going to see him. The last thing that I would have expected was to find myself alone in this. 

“You are his wife. Whether or not he wanted anything with you would not matter. The duty between the two of you was sacred and YOU should have fought for it to last. But no, Alaria has to get her way, she has to do everything that we do NOT want her to do.” Mother snapped at me. 

Luna Rebekah Venier, my father’s wife and Luna, was a woman who did not like things to take the path that she doesn’t want them to. And when they did, the anger that she showed was one that no man would want to find himself dealing with. 

“The man brought the divorce paper to me, what was I supposed to do? Tell him that I wanted to be with him? Despite all the insults, you expected me to still be willing to be with him?” I asked, taken aback by my mother’s bluntness. 

Her eyes were fixed on mine for a second too long before my father, who chose to interfere to defend his mate, stood up. 

“Your marriage was not of love nor was it of pleasure.” He said, not bothering to flinch for a second. “You had your duties, and neither one of them were fulfilled…” 

“I fulfilled my part of loyalty, respect, and love to him. If he refused to see it…” 

“A Luna is to give her Alpha a child.” He said, stopping me. I had to fight back looking at my stomach as my baby was the one thing that I could think of. I didn’t even know why I chose to keep it, but I knew, deep down. that I wouldn’t have been able to go for an abortion anyway. It wasn’t something that I would be doing. “You failed to do that, and you failed to hold your place as his Luna an the mother of his only heir.” 

I stayed quiet for a second, looking down at my feet as I felt like I was at a loss for words. I didn’t even know how I was supposed to react; I just knew that this was the last thing that I expected to hear from them. 

My eyes met Ezio’s, and though I knew that he wanted to speak, I shook my head, stopping him from interfering. The last thing that I wanted for him was to find himself stuck in a mess that had no end because of me. 

“You are to leave this pack, immediately.” My father, Alpha Mario Venier said, making my heart drop to my stomach. “As an Alpha’s order, I do not even want you to attend my funeral. What goes around outside my pack, I do not care about. What happens to you after my death, I do not care. But as long as I live and breathe, 

1/3 

17:53 Wed, Aug 19 

Alpha Enzo 

you are not to step foot inside the pack, do you fucking understand me?” 

End of Flashback. 

96 

55 vouchers 

“Mama, did you live here before?” My son, Ashton asked, breaking my train of thoughts. I looked at him, and despite the pain that I felt, nodded with a smile on my face. 

It felt good to be home. The idea of me coming here was absurd, but considering the fact that Ezio came to speak to me himself. I knew not to break his word. 

“Yes, baby. When mama was younger, she used to live here.” I said, and his eyes widened. 

“It’s very big.” He said, and I laughed, putting a hand on the back of his head. It was indeed a big Estate, being inherited from my grandfather, who got it from his own father, the Estate has been growing as our pack did. 

“Yes! The number of times that your mama got lost here are countless. But you get used to it after a while.” I said, and he pouted. 

“We are not going home again?” He asked, and my eyes softened. 

“It would depend on how things went from here, piccolo lupo. Regardless, we are going to be happy with whatever choice we make, yeah? And I promise you not to make it alone. The two of us are going to talk about it first and then we can see what would happen,” I said, my voice softening as I spoke, knowing that I was going to be sure to make him the strong wolf that I wanted him to be. 

“Yes, mama.” He said, and I smiled. I ran my fingers through his hair before the door opened, revealing Ezio, my one backbone, support, and best friend. No matter the struggle, and no matter how many times he was warned by my father; he always found a way to come and see me when I was away. 

“Uncle Ezio!” Ashton cried out excitedly. He ran toward him, and Ezio smiled, lifting him in his arms. He hugged him tightly and I smiled at the sight as I walked toward them. 

Ezio put my so down before wrapping his arms around me, pulling me in for a hug that I couldn’t help but miss. It was times when I was completely alone and tired that I found myself missing my family’s embrace. And the fact that despite his pain, he chose to call me, wanting me to be by his side after father’s funeral and during his ceremony meant a lot to me. 

“Welcome home, sorella.” Sister. He said, and I looked around the place where I grew older. 

“It feels good to be home, fratello,” brother. 

"She's boring and will never be as good as you."

Before the wedding, I listened to my fiancé confess his love to another young girl.

For years, I poured my soul into his company.

In return, he cheated on me.

No tears, I just exposed his affair on the massive screen at the wedding and walked away.

My ex assumed I would eventually crawl back.

But he was wrong…

A girl suddenly appeared in the upper-class circles of Los Angeles.

She was petite and delicate, came from a poor family, yet carried an unmistakable pride deep in her bones.

Like a wild kitten that had accidentally wandered into a glittering jungle, she possessed an untamed stubbornness and nervousness that stirred a powerful urge among the wealthy young heirs, who were accustomed to obedient girls, to tease and provoke her.

Among them was Elise White's fiancé, Landon Carter.

At a nightclub, the girl was being harassed by several rich young men and looked utterly miserable.

It was Landon who pushed through the crowd and took her away.

When Elise first heard about it, she did not think much of it. She even generously defended her fiancé:

"He did the right thing... He couldn't just stand by and do nothing... That's exactly what makes him so charming."

She thought it had merely been a simple act of kindness.

She never expected it would become the beginning of Landon's endless concern and attention toward that girl...

Elise knew Landon was currently at a private club with his friends.

So she brought the sample wedding photos and went to find him so they could choose a style together.

She passed through decorative screens and elegant pavilions shrouded in soft lighting and mist.

At the corner of the bar, she unexpectedly heard Landon's voice first.

"Why are you working another part-time job again?"

Elise stopped walking.

Only then did she notice two people standing beneath a landscaped pine tree not far away.

The man was tall, wearing a white T-shirt, with a dress shirt hanging from one hand.

His eyes were lowered as he looked at the girl.

The irritation hidden in the corners of his eyes was restrained yet sharp.

The girl was about five foot three, dressed in a fitted black employee uniform.

Her limbs were slender and fair.

Her lips were pale, her eyes moist as though she were holding back tears, yet she lifted her chin and met his gaze.

"What's wrong with earning my own money and supporting myself? Who are you to me, Mr. Carter? Don't you think you're overstepping?"

The girl turned to leave, but Landon grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Who am I to you? If you want to make money, come work at my company tomorrow. I'll pay you a hundred thousand a month."

"I don't need your pity."

"Don't forget you already have a fiancée. She's the perfect example of a refined young lady in Los Angeles. She loves you enough to risk her life for you."

"Joan Reed!"

Very few people dared to challenge Landon.

He was not a broad-minded, calm, or reserved man.

His emotions were written plainly across his face.

Anyone who irritated him could expect a brutal verbal lashing without warning.

Even Elise was no exception.

But at this moment, Elise clearly saw Landon looking at the girl, his expression softening.

For a moment, her thoughts came to a halt.

The calm mask on her face instantly cracked.

Joan?

Wasn't she the college student Landon had taken away from the nightclub last month?

They were still in contact?

"You always compare yourself to Elise. Why?"

"I don't. And I can't compare to her. She comes from a prestigious family, speaks four languages, handles your social engagements and business negotiations effortlessly, and she's so beautiful..."

Landon suddenly smiled and lightly flicked Joan's forehead.

"You silly girl. So you're feeling insecure?"

He paused before continuing.

"She's not that amazing. She's rational to the point of being boring. But when you're unreasonable, you're unbelievably adorable."

It felt as though the sky had collapsed over Elise's head.

She stared at the two of them in shock, a crushing sense of betrayal rising within her.

Just last month, while writing their wedding invitations, Landon had looked at her affectionately and said:

"Baby, you're so adorable I want to lock you away and have you smile only for me every day..."

It felt like something was lodged in her throat.

For the first time, Elise's faith in Landon's love was shaken to its core.

She tightened her grip on the wedding photo samples and walked toward them.

The moment Landon saw Elise, he froze.

Almost instinctively, he released Joan's wrist and frowned.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see you," Elise replied.

When Joan saw Elise, the smile vanished from her face.

Her fingernails dug deeply into her server's uniform.

She didn't recognize the brand of clothing Elise was wearing, but its understated elegance and luxurious texture spoke for themselves.

Elise's features were flawless.

There was a cool calmness on her beautiful face.

Her phoenix-shaped eyes rested on Joan without anger or embarrassment.

Standing before Elise's effortless grace and dignity, Joan felt like a clown in a circus.

Unable to bear the silent humiliation, Joan bit her lip.

After glancing at Landon, she turned and ran away.

Landon instinctively moved to chase after her, but Elise stopped him.

"Landon, can we talk somewhere?"

Landon turned back.

Dark clouds gathered across his handsome face.

"Couldn't you have called before coming?"

"Why didn't you walk away when you saw me talking to someone?"

"And then you deliberately walked over to Joan. Were you trying to embarrass her and show off your superiority as the daughter of the White family?"

The blood in Elise's veins seemed to freeze instantly.

She stared blankly at Landon, as if trying to determine whether those words had really come from him.

So in his eyes, she wasn't just boring.

She was that awful.

Elise found herself unable to ask another question.

Slowly, she turned around and walked out of the private club.

Two of Landon's friends had witnessed everything from the entrance.

They immediately tried to persuade him.

"Go after Elise. In this world, she loves you even more than your mother does."

Landon knew Elise loved him.

Everyone in their circle knew it.

Ever since Elise had been brought back by her biological parents at the age of ten, she had been raised according to the standards of his future wife.

And he had loved her too.

He had fallen in love with the passionate and resilient Elise when she risked her life to travel alone to find him in Iceland.

Later, they became engaged.

Elise grew even more obedient, rational, and perfect.

So perfect that she seemed lifeless.

And his love gradually became dull and stagnant.

Then Joan appeared.

She made his heart race again.

He knew what he was doing was wrong.

Yet hopelessly, he had fallen in love with Joan.

But he still intended to marry Elise.

To him, those two things did not conflict.

"Landon, Joan is just a temporary fascination. Elise is the perfect match for you. Don't lose sight of what's important."

"Exactly. The wedding invitations have already been sent out. Are you planning to replace the bride at the wedding?"

"Go bring Elise back. If you lose her, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

Landon stared in the direction Elise had left and said irritably,

"I'm not going after her."

"Everyone knows her parents raised her specifically to be my wife."

"She's something that belongs only to me."

"Why would I need to chase her?"

That night, Elise asked her best friend overseas over the phone,

"Do you think I'm boring?"

Chloe Bennett immediately denied it.

"Absolutely not, sweetheart. You've been raised under strict discipline by your parents all these years. Of course you wouldn't have some silly, childish personality."

Whenever Chloe thought about Elise's personality, she couldn't help cursing inwardly.

Did those two people from the White family even deserve to be called parents?

When Elise was born, the doctor mistakenly declared her stillborn.

She was taken out of the hospital and abandoned.

Then suddenly, at age ten, she was found and brought home, only to become Landon's custom-made future wife.

She had to be beautiful.

She had to be elegant and virtuous.

She had to remain emotionally stable.

She had to be broad-minded.

No matter how much injustice she suffered, she had to endure it.

Otherwise, she would be physically punished.

And even during punishment, she wasn't allowed to be left with scars.

Every time Chloe thought about Elise's parents, she wanted to beg the Grim Reaper for a favor.

Please take those two lunatics away as soon as possible.

After venting silently, Chloe comforted Elise again.

"Besides, Landon thinks you're adorable too. He said so at your engagement party."

Elise's hand gripping the phone turned cold.

Her voice trembled slightly, restrained yet gentle.

"That was four years ago..."

"Chloe, today I finally realized..."

"He changed."

Knock. Knock.

A knock sounded at the bedroom door.

The housekeeper spoke from outside.

"Miss White, Mr. Carter is here."

I Forgot I Loved You, Alpha 

Aurora Starling 

+15 Bahus 

Chapter 1 

Ellie’s POV 1 

“Did you hear the Alpha only married that rogue girl for her child? Because the child of a fated mate is supposed to be the strongest?” 

“Or why would he marry her, a spineless low-born… What’s her name, Ellie?” 

“It doesn’t matter.” The Alpha, my fated mate, Nolan, spoke too, “We’re about to divorce.” 

“Right. She’s useless.” People surrounded him, his friends, his subordinates, laughed, like hearing a joke. 

Hearing their words, the pregnancy test slipped from my hand to the floor. 

I was about tell him that I was finally pregnant. After three long years. 

A new life born of matebond. Of us. 

I thought this would make Nolan happy; he always wanted an heir. 

But when I eagerly rushed here from home, to his usual lounge, I found Nolan with a group of people laughing at me. They were calling me that rogue girl, a low-born, saying I was desperate and clinging to him. 

And a woman cuddled up next to him. 

His ex-girlfriend. 

Felicity. 

Through the lounge’s glass, Nolan sat in a private booth, his dark hair perfectly styled, the sharp line of his jaw catching the golden bar light. His suit clung to his broad frame, tailored to his strength, every inch of him composed and unreadable. 

One hand rested on the velvet seat behind him, the other around a glass he hadn’t sipped. He looked like a man carved from ice and control, distant, beautiful, and entirely out of my reach-like always. 

Felicity’s curvy body leaned into his, her breasts nearly spilling out of her red dress as her long, golden hair fell like silk over her shoulder. She laughed, tilting her head back as she traced a finger along his sleeve. He didn’t flinch away. Didn’t correct her. Just sat there, letting it happen, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond her shoulder. 

My jaw tightened. Felicity had left the pack years ago when Nolan and I had wed… She was who this party was for? 1 

This is an extravagant Lounge, one I rarely dared go to. Only today, I didn’t care all the whispers from polished, powerful people who never quite hid the way they looked down on me. 

I opened the door and peeked in, hesitating around the crowd of bodies on how or… if I should approach. Next to me, a few pack members watched with interest, laughing loudly, too loudly, like they wanted to be overheard. Felicity and Nolan, back together again. Honestly, they look perfect.” 

“Felicity is so much better than that rogue girl, she’s the daughter of a Beta, after all.” 

“Ellie begged Nolan to marry her. How pathetic. She won’t mind if Nolan strays. She should be grateful he even 

1/4 

+15 Bgnus 

touched her.” 

Their laughter was cruel, biting, and not a single person in that room bothered to lower their voice. He didn’t stop them. 1 

My breath caught in my throat, and I gripped the edge of the doorframe to steady myself. I waited for Nolan to deny it. To say something 

But all he did was offer a hollow shrug. 

“I simply found her forgettable,” he said, tone as indifferent as his expression. “There was no spark worth nurturing.” 

The world tilted. 

They saw me, eventually. Some glanced my way and looked away again, covering their mouths, amused. Others didn’t bother hiding their smirks. But Nolan’s eyes found mine last. And when they did, there was no flicker of regret. No apology. Just that same blank indifference. 

“Go away,” Someone yelled at me, as if trying to chase away a homeless. Someone drunk, threw a drink at me, laughing. “Go pick up trash! Isn’t that what you rogues do?” 

Hope shattered like fragile glass. I turned and fled. I wasn’t even sure where I was running, but my feet carried me in a clumsy mess. 

Someone called after me. A Beta, I think. “It’s dangerous outside…” 

“Let her go.” 

That was Nolan’s voice. 

“It’s time she sees her place.” 

I hadn’t even realized it had started raining until my consciousness snapped back into place. My head throbbed from crying, my vision was a blur, and I had no idea where I was- 

It’s not fair. 

I had given everything. Bent over backwards trying to make him see me, love me. I had begged silently for scraps of affection, clinging to the hope that he would soften, that someday he would reach for me like I always reached for him, despite my place in the pack. 

I burst out past the brick, my shoes spraying into a puddle. 

A car honked. 

Headlights flared. I turned too late. 

“Bang- 

The impact slam into me, and the intense pain exploded through my body. 

The light bloomed like fire, sharp and white-hot, before everything went dark as the faint howl of a wolf merged with the screech of tires. 

The smell of antiseptic and linen greeted me first. 

I blinked against the harsh white lights. 

2/4 

+15 Bonus 

A hospital room, only those lights can burn your eyes that badly. My limbs felt heavy, my head thick with fog. Beeping machines echoed somewhere nearby. 

“Ellie!” 

A familiar voice broke through the haze. I turned my head slowly. A woman with red hair leaned over my bed, her face pale, eyes wide and red-rimmed with worry. 

“Are you okay? Goddess, Ellie, you scared me. They said you just stepped onto the road without looking. What were you thinking?!” 

I tried to answer, but the words tangled on my tongue. What happened… I stepped onto the road? 

Why didn’t I have any memory? 

The door opened, and a nurse entered, followed by a man in a healer’s uniform. The healer murmured something to the nurse, then turned to me. 

“How are you feeling?” 

I stared at him blankly. 

“Ok,” The Healer clearly didn’t care my answer, he took out a pen, “your name is Ellie Ashwood, right?” 

I didn’t give any answers. The healer furrowed his brow and brought a tablet forward, flipping through some notes. “We contacted your mate. Alpha Nolan. He mindlinked you earlier, but…” 

I blinked again, slowly. 

My mate… 

What is mate? 

Do I have memory loss or…? 

Healer said, “Alpha Nolan said he thought you were just making up the accident for attention, causing trouble. Anyways, I’ll inform him you’re awake.” 

A sharp silence cut through the room, then an indifferent voice was nearly in my ears, in my head. 

“Ellie. Seriously?” A familiar man’s voice spoke in my thoughts. “…You just had to go and make a fuss out of nothing? 

Third-person’s POV 

Nolan was furious. 

He got a call from Healer, saying Ellie had a car accident. 

He thought this was another excuse she made. 

She caused all sorts of trouble these years. Throwing her tantrums, making a scene, all these drama-just to get his attention. He’s had enough. 

A car accident now, huh? 

She’s been gone for only half an hour! What are the odds? 

“I’m not doing your childish game.” His voice low, “How many times are you going to use excuses to get my 

attention? You need to stop, Ellie. I’ve got better things to do 

“Umm… what?” She sounded hesitated. “What home?” 1 

“Go home.” He ordered, “And stop bothering me.” 

Her voice totally confused, “I DON’T KNOW WHERE IS HOME… who the hell are you?” 

“He said, “What?!” 

“ki1l him!”

“Break his bones!”

“Show him who runs this place!”

Chaos erupted inside Tartarus, the most dangerous prison in Asheville. A concrete graveyard built to contain the worst monsters humanity had ever produced.

Today, a new one had arrived.

A hulking inmate stood in the center of the yard, veins bulging beneath tattooed skin. His prison uniform was already soaked in blood.

“RAAAH!” he roared, lifting a battered inmate above his head before hurling him across the corridor. The man crashed violently against the steel bars of Cell 001 and crumpled to the floor.

“I’m the new King of Tartarus!”

His name was Giovani Moretti.

Convicted of massacring over three hundred people. Sentenced to one thousand years without parole. He had arrived five hours ago.

Fourteen inmates were already in the infirmary.

The rest watched in silence.

Even in a prison filled with murderers, traffickers, war criminals, and psychopaths… Giovani was something else.

“Who else wants to challenge me?!” he bellowed, kicking over a metal bench. It skidded across the floor and slammed against Cell 001’s door.

The corridor fell quiet. Then…

The steel door of Cell 001 clicked. It opened slowly.

A young man stepped out.

Early twenties. Tall. Lean. Messy black hair falling over tired steel-blue eyes. He looked like someone who had just been dragged from a dream he wasn’t ready to leave.

He yawned.

This was Kade Hollow.

Inmate 001.

He stretched slightly, rolling his shoulders.

“Hey, bulldog,” Kade said calmly. “I’m trying to take a nap.”

The entire block froze.

Giovani’s smile vanished. “Kid… are you talking to me?”

Kade yawned and rubbed his eyes. “Who else has been barking? Keep it down before I pull out your throat.”

Several inmates instinctively stepped back.

Not because of Giovani.

Because of Kade.

Giovani’s jaw tightened. “You’ve got a death wish.”

He had crushed fourteen men without effort. No one had even looked him in the eye. And this brat dared insult him?

“I’ll grant it.”

He lunged.

The concrete cracked beneath his step as he drove a full-force punch toward Kade’s head.

Bam.

The punch stopped. Giovani blinked.

Kade had raised one hand.

One finger.

That single finger pressed against Giovani’s fist and halted it completely.

Giovani’s eyes widened. He pushed harder. The finger didn’t move.

“You could’ve behaved like a good dog,” Kade said lightly. “But you chose not to.”

He removed his finger from Giovani’s knuckles and casually pointed at his forehead.

“I’ll fix that. So you don’t go biting people around.”

He flicked his finger.

Boom.

A shockwave tore through the corridor. Giovani’s head detonated instantly, a violent burst of force ripping through the air. Blood mist and wind blasted outward, rattling the cell bars.

The body collapsed.

Silence swallowed Tartarus.

Kade glanced around, eyes half-closed again.

“Finally,” he muttered. “Now I can sleep.”

The inmates stood frozen.

Kade’s gaze sharpened slightly. He pointed at one of them. “You. Clean this up.”

Then he looked at the rest.

“Back to your cells. I’m taking a nap. I don’t want to hear a single sound.”

“Yes, Master Kade!” they all shouted in unison

Tartarus had been lawless long before Kade Hollow stepped inside its walls.

From the day it was built, it was nothing more than a cage for monsters too dangerous for ordinary prisons. Murderers. Cartel leaders. War criminals. Human traffickers. Men whose names had once dominated headlines before they vanished behind concrete and steel.

Even the police department had lost control over it years ago.

Guards didn’t patrol the inner blocks alone. Sirens and lockdown alarms were daily occurrences. Blood on the floor was routine.

Until Kade arrived.

He was only Sixteen when he entered Tartarus.

Within three years, the riots stopped.

Within five, gang leaders bowed.

Within eight… Tartarus had a king.

Kade didn’t rule with speeches or alliances. He ruled with overwhelming force and absolute precision. Men twice his size had tested him. Some left the infirmary. Others left in body bags.

But brute strength wasn’t the only reason the prison feared him.

Kade healed.

Broken ribs. Dislocated shoulders. Internal bleeding the prison doctors overlooked. He treated them all with techniques no one understood. His hands could cripple… and they could restore. He was nicknamed The Hand of God.

The inmates feared him. They respected him.

And strangely…

They trusted him.

Even the guards moved differently around Cell 001.

Even the Warden addressed him carefully.

Without Kade Hollow, Tartarus would have devoured itself years ago.

The steel corridor grew quiet as Kade stepped toward his cell.

He rolled his shoulder slightly, as if irritated the fight had interrupted his rest.

Just as he reached the door—

“Mr. Hollow.”

Kade stopped. He turned slowly.

Standing at the end of the corridor was a man in his early fifties, posture straight despite the exhaustion in his eyes. Two officers stood stiffly behind him.

Warden Jeffrey Sky.

The most powerful authority inside Tartarus.

“I need a minute with you,” Jeffrey said, voice unusually polite.

Kade frowned faintly.

“Whatever you have to say can wait,” he replied calmly. “I haven’t finished my nap.”

He pushed the cell door open.

Then…

A heavy sound echoed through the corridor.

Thud.

Kade paused. He turned back.

Jeffrey Sky was on his knees.

The two officers behind him froze in shock. Even some of the inmates couldn’t believe their eyes.

“Please…” the Warden said, lowering his head.

“My daughter has been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder. Seizures. Organ failure. No hospital in Asheville can figure out what’s wrong.”

His voice trembled, but he forced himself to continue.

“I know what they say about you. I’ve seen it myself. You’ve saved men who were already declared dead. If there’s anyone who can save her…”

He clenched his fists against the concrete.

“It’s you. The Hand of God”

The Alpha's Unwanted Bride

01 All My Friends Were Gone

Elsa

I sat alone in my room, feeling completely lost and overwhelmed. My mind was racing, and I didn't know what to do. The memories of the recent horrors were still so vivid, like fresh wounds that refused to heal.

I couldn't believe that our lives had come to this. The sight of blood, the screams, the chaos—it all played on a loop in my mind, tormenting me day and night. The loss of my friends weighed heavily on my heart, and I couldn’t shake the overwhelming grief that threatened to consume me.

My father was struggling too, more than I had ever seen him before. Our pack, once so strong and united, had been shattered.

The Alpha, Beta, and Gamma, the pillars of our community, were gone, brutally killed, along with their entire families.

It was a massacre, and the only reason we had been spared was because my father had surrendered.

Even now, I could see the pain and guilt etched into his face. Our pack was drowning in sorrow, and I couldn’t imagine how we would ever find the strength to move on.

I was only nineteen, too young to carry such a heavy burden, yet here I was, my world crumbling around me.

As I sat in my room, lost in my grief, my father quietly entered. I knew he had something important to say, but the words seemed to be caught in his throat.

He looked at me with a mixture of love and sadness, struggling to find the right moment to speak.

"Elsa, how have you been holding up?" he finally asked, his voice gentle but laced with worry. He settled on the couch in my room, his eyes searching mine for an answer.

I felt a lump form in my throat, and tears welled up in my eyes. "All my friends are gone, Daddy. I don’t have anyone left. I might never find my mate because our pack has been destroyed. This… this is a nightmare," I said, my voice breaking as I spoke.

The reality of it all crashed down on me, and I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. I started to cry, deep, wrenching sobs that shook my entire body.

My father moved to sit beside me at the foot of my bed, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting embrace.

I cried harder, clinging to him as if he were the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely. The memories of that horrible day flooded my mind, and the pain was unbearable.

"I know it’s hard, and I wish I could tell you it will get easier," he said softly, his voice full of sorrow. "But I can’t promise that, my child."

I cried even more, feeling the depth of his words. The pain, the loss, the uncertainty of our future—it all felt like too much to bear.

My father sighed deeply, and in that moment, I could feel the weight of his exhaustion. He was tired—so incredibly tired. I knew he had been ready to face death, to fight until his last breath, but he had surrendered because of me.

A part of me didn’t know whether I should be grateful for his decision or resentful. How could I ever reconcile the two?

Many in the pack were thankful to him; his decision to surrender had saved all our lives. The Eclipse pack had taken control, and though our lives were spared, nothing was the same.

I had heard stories about their Alpha—Adam, they called him. He was ruthless, never smiled, and ruled with an iron fist.

He was wealthy beyond imagination, owning vast territories, and our land was just another trophy to add to his collection.

I couldn’t imagine him seeing any value in us beyond what he could take. Would he even bother to treat us as more than slaves? I doubted it. My heart sank as I thought about the bleak future ahead.

My father’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "I hate to be the one to tell you this," he began, and the tone of his voice sent a chill down my spine.

I knew whatever he was about to say would be something I didn’t want to hear, but I listened intently, bracing myself for the blow.

"For Alpha Adam to fully absorb our pack, to ensure our surrender is seen as genuine, I have to marry you off to him," he said, his words landing like a punch to my gut. The shock hit me so hard that I pulled away from him and stood up, my heart racing.

"What?" I gasped, trying to make sense of what he had just said.

Marry me off to Alpha Adam? Was this some kind of nightmare? I was only nineteen. I was a virgin, I hadn’t even met my mate yet. I hadn’t lived long enough to experience life, to find love, or to even know who I was. And now, my life was being traded away like some kind of bargaining chip.

Panic surged through me, my breath quickening as the walls of my room seemed to close in around me.

"You need to calm down, Elsa," my father urged, his voice pleading but firm. "This is completely beyond my control. He was the one who demanded this. I know he did it to test my loyalty. If I had refused, it would have been a clear sign that we hadn’t truly surrendered to him." He tried to explain, but his words only made my fear and anger swell.

I shook my head, backing away as if I could escape the reality of the situation. How could he ask this of me? How could he expect me to accept such a fate? My entire world was crumbling, and I felt utterly powerless to stop it.

02 I Ran

Chapter 1

Lily

 

“Luna, you’re pregnant.”

 

“No,” I said, a little too quickly. “That’s not possible.”

 

Instead of arguing, the doctor turned the report toward me. “Your bloodwork is clear. I repeated the test this morning to be sure.”

 

Pregnancy.

 

The word had no existence whatsoever in my life. A few years ago, I had been told the opposite in this same room. I remembered sitting in that chair, hands locked together, trying not to fall apart while the doctor explained that I wouldn’t be able to conceive.

 

I still remember how Rowan squeezed my hand at that moment. He had said, “We don’t need children. I’ve got you. That’s enough.”

 

I had believed my husband and my Alpha. I had accepted it because I didn’t have a choice. The report I’m holding now is dispelling the shadows of the past. I should be happy, but... I’m terrified.

 

“I was told I couldn’t get pregnant,” I said quietly. “I thought it was just...fatigue. Owen, my stepson, has been impossible lately. I figured I was just tired from dealing with him and all the pack duties…” I waved my hand, and it seemed like I was trying to convince myself rather than her.

 

The doctor gave a small nod. “That was your diagnosis then. This is your condition now, and as I said, fatigue is a very common symptom of pregnancy. However, if you want to be certain, we can do an ultrasound.” 

 

I hesitated for a second, then nodded. I needed to be absolutely sure.

 

The examination room felt unusually cold today as I lay still on the bed, staring up at the ceiling while the doctor prepared the machine and then splattered some cold gel on my stomach. My thoughts kept circling the same point, refusing to settle.

 

This shouldn’t be happening.

 

After a few moments, she turned the screen toward me. I forced myself to look. At first, I didn’t understand what I was seeing. Just shadows and blurred dots. Then she adjusted something, and a small, faint form came into focus. It was way too tiny.

 

“There,” she said gently. A second later, a soft, steady sound filled the room.

 

“That’s the heartbeat.”

 

It was real. There was no mistake this time.

 

I'm pregnant.

 

I closed my eyes and tried to think clearly. I needed to tell Rowan. That much was obvious. But as soon as the thought came, something else followed—something that made my stomach turn.

 

I went over the past few months in my head, slowly…carefully, and my breath caught. Rowan hadn’t touched me in months. Not once. He barely sleeps beside me these days. I opened my eyes and stared straight ahead, the realization settling in piece by piece. There was no way around this anymore.

 

This child wasn’t his. 

 

And with that realization, the memory from that night came hurling before I could stop it.

 

“Are you hurt?”

 

“Let me take care of you, please.”

 

It had only been o*******t, just o*******t, when I was consumed by unknown desire and lost control, throwing myself into the arms of a stranger. But the moment I had woken up, I had decided it was a mistake, something I would forget and never speak of again. 

 

Little did I know the consequence of that one mistake could become so lasting…so permanent.

 

--

 

“Good afternoon, Luna,” pack members greeted me with smiles as I dragged myself towards the Alpha House. 

 

I forced a smile on my face and nodded back. Over the years, I had kind of honed the skill of pretending pretty nicely. 

 

The moment I headed inside, I ran into Alec, Rowan’s Beta. He was leaning against the stairs that led to the Alpha and Luna’s wing. 

 

“Luna…are you okay?” Alec asked, staring wide-eyed at me. He seemed somewhat…startled?

 

“Yeah, just tired,” I said and then frowned. “What are you doing here? Were you not with the Alpha at the meeting?” 

 

“I..uh…” Alec shifted from feet to feet, looking uncomfortable as hll. 

 

“Never mind,” I muttered, heading upstairs. 

 

“Luna wait…” Alec almost shouted at me and then quickly lowered his head and bowed as I turned around with a look. 

 

“Alec, what is it?” I demanded. “Do you want to say something?” He looked almost defeated as he shook his head. 

 

“I am sorry,” he whispered, not meeting my gaze before turning around and walking away. I stared at his retreating back and frowned. 

 

What was that? 

 

Shaking my head, the dread returning full force in the pit of my stomach, I headed upstairs, and with each step I took, I could feel my heartbeat picking up and sweat starting to bead on my forehead. 

 

By the time I reached our bedroom, my legs were about to give up. I was about to knock when a sound sliced through the silence.

 

“Ah…Rowan…goddess…you feel so good.” 

 

I froze, my knuckles h******g inches from the wood. 

 

The painfully familiar female voice again spilled through the crack in the door—m*****g and g******g as she chanted my husband’s name. I knew that voice. Because it belonged to Kara…my maid. 

 

And she was fking my husband in my bed.

 

Before I could head inside, if my legs allowed me to move, that is, she spoke again, and this time what she said made the ground beneath me shatter into a billion pieces. 

 

“Please… don’t push me away again, Rowan,” Kara g*****d. “Don’t make me hide… I am your mate, after all. And the mother of your son…”

 

“I’m not pushing you away… oh fk goddess, you know I can’t… You’re my mate. My fated mate,” Rowan’s voice came, thick with desire as he kept thrvsting. I could literally hear the bed springs protesting against his aggression. 

 

“Then why does she get everything?” Kara whimpered. “Why do I have to stay hidden? Why does she get to be Luna when I’m the one you love?” 

Chapter1

FAYE

I raised my stick just in time to block Sage’s next swing. I laughed at the look of frustration on her face.

“It’s not my fault you’re too slow, Sage. Stop dragging your feet,” I teased.

She rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed. “No, but it is your fault for always getting the better deal and leaving me with the scraps. We’re twins, Delta Faye, learn to share.”

“That’s not true,” I said, ducking under another swing. “We both have our strengths, Sage.”

We were fraternal twins, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at us. Sage had blonde hair and green eyes; I had black hair and grey eyes.

Despite our differences, we moved in sync. Years of training had turned us into a perfect balance of attack and defense. Sparring had always been calming to me, even if Sage’s words sometimes made me uncomfortable.

“So, your mating ceremony is tonight,” Sage said, breathing heavily as she leaned on her stick. Even though her tone was casual, something in it made me pause and stare.

“Our mating ceremony, Sage,” I corrected her. “You’re getting mated too, remember?”

I caught a look pass through her eyes before she nodded. “Yeah. To a stranger that I only know by name. Lucky me. How about you, Faye? Are you nervous?”

I shrugged, playing with my stick. “A little,” I admitted. “But it’s nothing compared to what we’ve been through as warriors, Sage. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

Sage nodded, but her laugh sounded empty.

As she lowered her stick, my eyes drifted past her, down the path from the training grounds to the pack house. I noticed two men walking together. But it was the taller one who held my attention. It wasn’t just his height or his good looks. It was how confident he looked—like someone who was used to being obeyed. I didn’t recognize his face. It made me wonder who he was.

“Faye? Are you even listening?” Sage’s voice snapped me back.

I turned to her. “Sorry, what?”

Sage shook her head. “You always zone out when something catches your attention.”

I smiled. “I just thought I saw someone unfamiliar,” I murmured, then gestured with my head toward where I was looking. “Do you have any idea who that is? The tall one?”

Her eyes followed my gaze, and she shook her head. “Doesn’t look familiar. They’re probably among the guests visiting for tonight’s ceremony.”

“I see,” I said, and Sage sighed, looking slightly annoyed. “I can’t believe you were busy lusting after a man while I was here baring my heart to you about tonight.”

I frowned at her words. “I wasn’t lusting after anyone, Sage. I was just curious. That’s all.”

She nodded. “Of course. But you know, Faye… you’ve always been lucky. So it probably doesn’t even bother you much.”

My brow knit in confusion. “What do you mean?”

She shifted slightly. “I mean, we trained side by side, Faye, and I’m the older twin—even if it’s just by some minutes. But when they chose the new leader for the warriors, they picked you, and I had to settle for second place.”

I tried to keep things light, smiling a little. “Sage, the elders had their reasons—”

“Sure,” she cut me off. When she looked at me, there was something bitter in her eyes—something that had always been there, even when I tried to ignore it.

“And now tonight,” she went on, “you’re about to be mated to the soon-to-be alpha. His father steps down tomorrow. Then you’ll be Luna. That’s quite a jump, Faye. Isn’t it? Delta to Luna.”

Her words hurt me more than they should. I felt guilty, even though I hadn’t asked for any of it.

“Sage…”

“You’re lucky, Faye,” she cut me off. This time her bitterness was obvious. “At least you got to choose.”

My heart sank. I dropped my stick and stepped closer to her. “I know it isn’t fair. You never got to pick. You were promised to someone you’ve never even met.”

Sage had been promised to Alpha Alexander of Blood Crescent a couple of years ago. We’d only ever heard his name, but we’d never met him.

Sage shrugged stiffly. “The pack needed it, or so they said. And Father agreed, as always. Always putting his job as beta before his own children.” Her voice cracked at the end. It made me feel worse.

I placed a hand on her arm. “Maybe it won’t be that bad. You’re strong, Sage. Maybe he’ll turn out good.”

She forced a small smile, but her eyes stayed distant. “Maybe,” she whispered. “Maybe I’ll learn to love him.”

We stood in silence for a moment. I wanted to say more, but nothing came. Then I heard footsteps approaching.

“Delta Faye,” a guard called, stopping near us. “Your father wants to see you in the alpha’s office.”

I glanced at Sage. “Will you be okay?”

“Of course,” she smiled. But her eyes kept drifting toward the woods. “Hey, Faye, have you seen Jason?” she asked. I shook my head. “No, not tonight. Why?” I asked, wondering why she was looking for him. Sage smiled and shook her head. “No reason. I was just wondering.”

I frowned in confusion, then nodded. “Alright, then. See you later.”

As I followed the guard, I noticed Sage walking toward the trees. For a moment, I thought of calling her back but stopped. Maybe she just needed space before tonight.

We reached the alpha’s office, and I stepped inside.

My father stood by the window, and Alpha Wells and a few elders were gathered around.

“Faye,” my father said, turning to me with a small smile. “Come in.”

I bowed slightly. “Alpha. Elders.”

“Delta Faye,” they greeted.

Alpha Wells’s expression softened. “How are you feeling, Faye?”

“Very well, thank you,” I replied politely.

My father studied me. “The ceremony is only hours away. Are you ready?”

I nodded. “Yes, Father. I am.”

I truly was. Jason and I had been together nearly two years. But Sage’s situation still bothered me.

My father’s gaze softened. “Tonight is about more than just you and Jason. It’s about uniting families for the good of the pack.”

“I know,” I nodded.

He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve made us proud as head warrior, Faye. I know you’ll do the same as Luna.”

His words should have comforted me, but Sage’s hurt expression kept flashing in my mind.

“Father,” I began, “about Sage—”

Before I could finish, he shook his head. “That isn’t your concern, Faye. The council decided what’s best for the pack.”

I lowered my gaze. “Yes, Father.”

Alpha Wells turned from the window, picking up a dagger with ancient runes and a black stone in the center.

“Take this to Jason,” he said, handing it to me. “Before the ceremony, you and Jason must each offer a drop of blood on this dagger. It seals your bond.”

I nodded, then hesitated when I remembered something. “But… I haven’t seen Jason tonight.”

Alpha Wells smiled. “He’s at the cabin in the woods. It’s tradition. That cabin has been used by my family for generations, and tonight it’s for you and Jason. He’s likely making sure everything is ready.”

Elder John chuckled. “Or maybe he’s just eager for tonight,” he teased.

Their laughter sounded far away, but I forced a smile. “When does the ritual begin?”

“In a few minutes,” Alpha Wells replied. “Go now, Faye. We’ll join you shortly.”

Chapter 1

ELENA

  I manage to hold the smile on my face as my son runs into the living room, jumping excitedly at the sight of his birthday cake. Seeing him so excited means everything to me.

  “Mom!” he yells, “I can’t believe it, you actually got the perfect birthday cake!”

I smile and glance across the room as Alpha Drake, my husband and Alpha of the Black Talon pack walks in. I could feel his aura miles away, causing goosebumps to litter my skin like confetti. He carries a brooding look on his face that breaks partly into a brief, emotionless smile as he picks up our son. 

He doesn’t even bother to look at me as he carries him to the table where the huge cake is placed.

  “You got what he wanted right this year,” Drake says, his thick black eyebrows furrowing as he glances at me.

Halo giggles as he grips the knife on the cake and Drake stabs a glare at me, a silent signal for me to join him behind Halo. My heart lurches and I rush to his side, but he doesn’t hold me, just a huge hand that he rests on Halo’s tiny shoulder. 

I gulp down the emptiness I feel and smile down at Halo.

“On three, Halo,” his deep voice rumbles. “Three, two-”

Suddenly, Drake’s phone rings and the cheerful air ceases as if life itself has been suked out of the room.

  “Dad! We were almost at one!” Halo whines.

“I'll be back,” Drake says flatly, walking toward the door.

I lean over Halo’s shoulders and whisper to him, “Come on, Halo. Cut your cake.”

“No!” Halo exclaims stubbornly and his voice sends a ripple through my heavy heart, “not without dad!”

I glance at Drake who is standing at the door. Clearly, he hears Halo’s cries but he doesn’t look back. I try to comfort Halo until Drake returns, but the latter only comes back with terrible news.

  “I have to leave,” he says coldly and my heart tumbles to my stomach, “something came up that I must attend to. Happy birthday, Halo.”

 “Dad!” Halo cries, “are you really going to leave on my birthday? I wanted to spend tonight with you and mom.”

Drake impatiently glances at the door, “Not tonight. Maybe some other time.”

I quickly catch up to him as he walks out of the door, “Drake, you can't leave our son now. He begged for this all week. Just the three of us tonight, that was his birthday wish.”

Halo also wants a special edition watch that Drake had promised him two weeks ago, but I won't dwell on that. Drake’s presence makes Halo more excited than anything else.

  “I know, but it is urgent, Elena. I have to leave,” he glances at his watch again. “I'm sure you can handle things here.” He says and walks out of the room briskly.

Halo sighs loudly and I turn around to see that he has already cut his cake. My heart aches badly as I rush to his side.

  “Here, Halo, let me cut a slice of it for you. It's just the two of us tonight, daddy's busy, okay?” I coo, holding a storm of tears back. 

  “I don’t want it, mum. I have school tomorrow, so I have to go to bed early.”

I stare at him in shock. I always have to force him to go to bed and I feel so terrible as I watch him stroll out of the living room. This is his dream night  and because of Drake, everything is completely ruined. 

I drop sluggishly on the couch, a defeated sigh escaping me. How long can I continue living with Drake like this?

  How stupid I was to have been excited when I found out that I would be the luna of the pack, Alpha Drake’s wife. It didn’t make sense to anyone, not even to me that a rogue slave turned out to be the mighty Alpha’s mate, more shockingly that he had married and made me his luna.

I don’t even have a wolf, no rogue slave does, the Black Talon pack makes sure of that. When I was younger, I had been captured by Drake’s father’s men and taken into the torture room where rogue slaves are de-wolfed.

I didn’t have my wolf when I was captured, which meant that they couldn’t extract my canines like they did to everyone else or tear out my claws, because I had none of that but after what they did to me, I stood no chance of ever having a wolf.

A drop of tears rolls down my cheek when I remember the excruciating pain I felt that dreadful night. They had coated a metal rod with liquid silver and heated it up and one of the men placed the hot silver-coated rod on my back, just above my spine to kill my wolf or my chances of ever having one. It was brutal and deadly, but it was effective.

My heart aches whenever I remember that I will never be able to shift into my wolf, but ever since getting married to Drake, I always try to focus on the future and what could be, but Drake…

I scoff bitterly and shake my head in regret.

He never treats me like a luna. Why should he? After all he only married me because the mate bond is sacred to him.

***

“Mom, you don’t have to drop me off in front of the school gate. Now, everyone will see that I’m still a mummy’s boy.” Halo whines as I switch off the ignition.

I beam at him and pinch his cheek softly, “Oh, but you still are, my dear Halo. Come on, let me give you a k**s.” I lean in and peck his forehead gently and he pushes me away giggling.

A classmate of Halo’s rushes toward us with a smile as we step on the pavement.

  “Happy birthday, Halo!” The cute little boy exclaims, “I saw it on my ipad, your birthday party was mad lit!”

Birthday party? I scrunch my brows in confusion just as another child, a girl, rushes to the scene, “Yeah! You also saw it? I’m quite disappointed you didn’t invite me, Halo. I had to watch everything on social media,” her frown spreads into a smile, “but I like you, so you are forgiven. Did you bring the bracelet?”

I am so confused that I can’t even utter a word. 

Halo frowns, “What bracelet?”

“Your birthday gift!” the girl stresses, “everyone saw it. Why didn’t you wear it?”

I swallow as I see the disappointment on Halo’s face. Halo never had a party, nor was any gift received.

  “Mom, what are they talking about?” Halo asks, his confused, depressed eyes staring up at me.

The girl’s eyes widen and she points behind us suddenly, “Look! There is the bracelet!”

I turn around to see the beautiful blonde walking into the school with her son and on her son’s left wrist is a beautiful, limited-edition diamond bracelet. 

I know who the woman is, and the sight of her sends a chill down my spine. Rosa Davenworth, Drake’s childhood lover who he never stops talking about. She had broken up with him for her mate five years ago and left the pack but they still kept in t***h.

When did she come back?

Seeing Rosa’s child with Halo’s dream bracelet could only mean that she was the one that had called Drake last night, she was what had been urgent! And instead of making Halo happy, Drake had decided to go to a child that wasn’t his, even giving him Halo’s birthday gift instead. 

Each pulse of my heartbeat sends a new wave of agony and disbelief into me, I can’t believe Drake can be so heartless to his own child.    “Luna, you’re here,” Rosa says excitedly, a spurious smile curled across her full, red l**s, “goddess, I didn’t think I’d meet you so soon and this charming young man of yours,” she waves at Halo who hides behind me and I cannot hide my displeasure at her presence.

“Why do you look so sad? I thought my presence would lighten your mood, especially since we’ll be seeing each other more often very soon,” she smirks at me.

  I frown at her, “Excuse me?”

Her perfectly trimmed brows furrow and she leans in and whispers, her voice carrying sarcasm, “Didn’t Drake tell you? I’m divorced now and I will be moving in with him,” she grins mischievously, “I can finally be with the love of my life.”

Chapter 1

Evangelina’s POV

I am running around the forest looking for them. When I hear the cries I know I am close. I reach the spot where I see 4 rogues circling the girls.

“Two pretty princesses. We have something special planned for you.” One of the rogues says. Before anything can happen I need the girls to run.

“Girls. I need you to run as fast as you can when I give you the signal.” I say and I see the shock on the girls’ faces when I project my voice in their head. After that warning I “fall” out of the tree I was hiding in with a big umph.

Whimpering as though I am in pain, the four rogues come to inspect me, leaving the girls alone a few feet away.

“Now!” I yell towards the girls who quickly get up and start running. As soon as they turn their backs, I don’t risk it. I grab my dagger that I keep hidden and cut one of the rogue's achilles. He falls immediately and as the other three turn to look at me I quickly stand up and slit one’s throat. The other two move quickly and start to attack me. We all get a few good hits in when I jump behind one, twisting their n**k until I feel them go limp. I quickly doge the other and stab his t***h with my claws. He quickly falls and clutches his t***h. Before he can make a sound I push my hand through his chest and pull out his heart. I quickly ensure all four of the rogues are dead and head the same way the girls went. I see them hiding in a bush just inside of their territory. When they see me they run and hug me.

“Thank you for saving us.” One says. “Yeah, thank you.” The other says. I smile sweetly down to them. Both have tears in their big gray eyes.

“You are welcome girls. Now go on. I will watch you to make sure that you get back safely.” I say to them and they smile slightly and start running further into their lands. After about 50 yards I hear shouting and see 10 men running towards the girls. They reach the girls, but 9 of them keep running towards me. They must smell the blood on me. I turn and start running, but after 20 feet I run into another rogue. I don’t know what he is doing this far in the pack lands, but before I can comprehend what is going on he claws my chest. I quickly gather myself and claw his face then flip over and snap his n**k. But the stop took too much time and I was surrounded by warriors.

“STOP THERE ROGUE!” One warrior says.

“DON’T MOVE OR WE WILL SHOOT!” Another says summoning fire in his hands, ready to fire away, literally. I stand there and kneel, putting my hands behind my head, startling them with my compliance. They move in closer and put silver handcuffs on me. I am cooperating but they are being rough. First, the gash to my chest from the rogue and now them putting the silver on does not help. They are dragging me towards where I saw the girls enter. When we hit the clearing I hear the sobs of the girls.

“NO! What are you doing to her?! NO don’t hurt her!” One of the girls screams, while the other looks at me crying.

“Girls stop. She is a rogue and will be handled as such!” I hear a man say.

“But she sa..” Before the girl could finish I cut her off, mindlinking her and her sister.

“I will be okay, girls. I promise. Don’t tell them about what happened in the forest. It is our secret okay?” I project to them and they both look at me and nod their heads. “Thank you.” I project again, as the guards drag me to a door just before the center of town. Once they opened the door they drag me down the stairs making my h*p and bottom bruise.

They take me to a room and chain me to the ceiling with more silver. My toes are barely touching the ground and my arms are hanging straight above my head. The gash on my chest is slowly healing, thanks to the fact that silver doesn’t completely inebriate my wolf, unlike others.

“She is pretty. Maybe we can have some fun with her before Beta gets here.” I hear one guard say.

“You are disgusting! Other packs may do that savage deed, but we do not. Best keep your hands to yourself and mouth shut!” The other spits. Interesting.

After about an hour or so I hear the dungeon door open with four sets of feet coming towards me. I look up once I hear them get closer and see four more people have joined in with the two that were guarding me. The two main people in front are the Beta and Gamma, guessing by their aura. The Beta is taller with brown hair cut short on the sides, but longer and curly on the top. His eyes are light orange and they are throwing daggers at me.

The Gamma has long dirty blond hair that is tied in a bun, with dull blue eyes. He held a look of surprise.

“A female rogue? She tried to take the girls?” The Gamma asks in almost disbelief. Female rogues are rare, or so most people think.

“Yes. They caught her standing over the top of her partner's lifeless body, fleeing from our territory.” The Beta sneers. The Gamma just looks at me questioningly. You can tell he is questioning what the true story is.

The door clanks open and they walk in along with two warriors, I would say head warriors. The Gamma and Beta stand in the corner watching as the two warriors circle me, trying to make me nervous.

“She looks so tiny Jason, how long do you think it will take to break her?” The warrior asks.

The other warrior hums while he looks me up and down.

“She may be small, but don’t underestimate her. I give her an hour.” Jason says, looking toward the other warrior. “What do you think, Vick?” He asks.

“An hour? No, I don't think she will last that long. I give her half.” Vick says.

Jason smiles. “Let’s see who wins this round.” He says while another guard wheels in a cart. I look and see multiple instruments. Torture instruments to be exact. I watch as Vick grabs a glove that has silver knucks attached and Jason grabs a metal bat with silver spikes.

Vick walks to me and punches me in the shoulder, effectively dislocating my shoulder and stabbing me with the silver spikes at the same time. Jason came up behind me, whacking my t****s with the bat, successfully cutting my legs. I can tell that they have done this before. Each time I move I will be in horrible pain.

I stay silent though. Gritting my teeth as pain radiates through me.

“Why were you on our lands?” Jason asks me. I stay quiet.

“You sent you?” Vick asks. Again I stay quiet.

“What did you want with the princesses?” Jason asks. I say nothing.

“Ahh. She thinks she can stay silent.” Vick says looking towards Jason. They strike me again and ask the same questions, still receiving nothing from me. This aggravates them and they switch to other tools. After two hours of torture the Beta leaves. After three hours everybody leaves. Leaving me hanging in the room with torn flesh and blood mixed with sweat dripping down. I smile to myself in satisfaction. They will not break me.

Chapter 1

Zena Pov

"Get your books off the kitchen table right now."

Aunt Cara sneered at me. She didn't even bother looking up from her glowing phone screen.

"I am studying for my final exams," I said softly. "I just need ten more minutes."

"Did I ask what you were doing?" Cara slammed her coffee mug down. The dark liquid splashed over the rim. 

"You turn eighteen today. That means the pack funds stop paying for your upkeep. You are practically a rogue to me now. Move your trash before I burn it."

I gathered my textbooks. I kept my head down. Just a few more months. Then I would get my acceptance letter to Chicago University and leave the Silver Moon Pack forever. I wouldn't have to be the invisible pack punching bag anymore.

The front door swung open. Greta walked in without knocking. She never knocked.

"Happy shifting day, birthday girl." Greta grinned widely. She held up a tiny black dress on a plastic hanger. "May the Moon Goddess bless your wolf, and may your destined mate be totally hot."

"I am not shifting," I muttered, shoving my books into my backpack. "And I am definitely not looking for a mate. I am going to Chicago."

"You are going to the Alpha Ascension bonfire tonight," Greta corrected me. 

"It is mandatory for all un-mated wolves. Plus, it is your eighteenth birthday. You have to go."

"Gret, I hate those parties. The elites just use the events to mock people like me. I want to stay home."

"Not tonight," Greta said. She threw the dress at me. 

"Put it on. We are leaving in twenty minutes."

We arrived at the pack house grounds an hour later. The bonfire was already raging high into the night sky. The smell of roasted meat and cheap beer filled the air. I pulled my jacket tighter around my shoulders. I felt completely ridiculous in the tiny black dress. It clung to me in all the wrong places.

"Look who decided to crawl out of the basement."

I froze in my tracks. Xavorick stepped directly into our path. He was holding a red plastic cup. His eyes were glazed over with alcohol and pure arrogance.

"Leave her alone, Xav," Greta snapped.

"I wasn't talking to you, sweetheart," Xavorick smirked. He took a step closer to Greta, invading her personal space. 

"Though you are looking extra edible tonight. How about you ditch the Omega and come howl at the moon with me in the woods?"

"I would rather eat silver," Greta said. She grabbed my hand tight. 

"Come on, Zena."

We pushed past him. My heart was already pounding against my ribs. I hated this place. I hated the brutal hierarchy of our world.

"Watch where you are walking, trash."

I stumbled as someone shoved my shoulder incredibly hard. I looked up.

Radarson. The future Beta female of the pack. And draped over her arm was Hamlet.

Hamlet Haarlem. The Alpha heir. The most ruthless, cold-hearted guy in our entire school. He had thick sleeves of dark ink tattoos running down both arms. His eyes were like chips of black ice. He was notorious for destroying anyone who crossed his path. He didn't just break the rules. He broke people.

"Sorry," I whispered. I immediately looked down at my worn shoes.

"You should be," Radarson sneered. She looked me up and down with absolute disgust. 

"Is that dress from the pack charity bin? You smell like dirt and cheap vanilla. It is offending my wolf."

I felt my cheeks burn hot. Dozens of people were watching us now. The music seemed to stop.

"Can we just go?" I whispered to Greta.

"Hold on," Radarson laughed cruelly. She lifted her drink high. 

"I think the little stray needs a bath first."

Before I could even process the threat, Radarson poured her entire cup of sticky red punch directly over my head. The ice cold liquid soaked into my blonde hair and ran down my face.

The surrounding crowd erupted into vicious laughter.

I squeezed my eyes shut. I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

"Radarson," a voice went through the laughter. It was deep. Rough. Completely void of any emotion.

Hamlet.

He finally looked at me. His gaze was absolutely terrifying. It felt like he was dissecting my soul with a scalpel. He didn't look sorry for me at all. He just looked annoyed.

"You are making a scene," Hamlet said coldly.

"She was in our way, baby," Radarson pouted. She rubbed her manicured hand over Hamlet's chest.

"Clean yourself up," Hamlet said. He was staring right at my face. 

"You are dripping on my boots."

He turned and walked away. Radarson giggled loudly and followed him toward the VIP fire pit.

I stood there dripping wet. My chest felt tight with a crushing humiliation.

"Come on," Gret said softly. "Let's get you to the bathroom."

"No," I said. My voice trembled. "I am not hiding tonight. I am tired of hiding."

I wiped the sticky punch off my face with the back of my hand. Something deep inside me snapped in that moment. Maybe it was my wolf finally waking up on my birthday. Maybe I was just exhausted from being invisible.

"Zena, what are you doing?" Gret asked in a panic.

I ignored her. I walked straight toward the VIP fire pit. The elites were sitting in a tight circle on plush outdoor sofas. 

They were playing Alpha's Command. It was a brutal wolf version of truth or dare. You either completed the dare, or you submitted to the Alpha's punishment.

I sat down on an empty tree stump right on the edge of their circle.

Hamlet was sitting directly across from me. He paused with his dark liquor halfway to his mouth. His sharp jaw tightened.

"What is the stray doing here?" Xavorick asked loudly from across the fire.

"I am playing," I said. I looked right into Hamlet's dark eyes. "Deal me in."

A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the entire group. No one ever challenged Hamlet's circle. Especially not an Omega like me.

Hamlet's eyes darkened until they were pitch black. A single muscle feathered in his jaw.

"Spin the bottle, Xav," Hamlet ordered. His voice was a low, vibrating growl.

Xavorick placed an empty glass bottle in the center of the wooden table. He spun it hard. The glass blurred in the firelight. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs.

The bottle began to slow down. It clicked to a final stop.

It was pointing right at me.

"Well, well," Xavorick laughed darkly. "Looks like the Moon Goddess has a twisted sense of humor tonight. Truth or Dare, Zena?"

"Dare," I said. I barely recognized my own voice.

Radarson leaned forward with a wicked, triumphant smile. 

"I dare you to leave the pack territory tonight and never come back."

"You do not make the rules here, Radarson," Hamlet interrupted sharply. He leaned forward, resting his tattooed forearms on his knees. He stared at me with an intensity that made it genuinely hard to breathe.

 "I give the dare."

Everyone went totally silent again.

"I dare you to kiss me," Hamlet said.

Radarson gasped loudly. "Hamlet, no. You cannot be serious."

"Shut up," he snapped at her without looking away from me. "Show us you aren't just a pathetic little coward, Zena. Kiss me. Or submit and scrub the pack house floors with a toothbrush for a month."

My hands shook. He was trying to humiliate me again. He wanted me to back down. He wanted to watch me run away crying like I always did.

I stood up. My legs felt like lead weights. I walked slowly around the raging fire pit. The heat from the flames licked at my bare skin, but it was absolutely nothing compared to the violent heat radiating from Hamlet.

I stopped right between his spread knees. He didn't stand up. He just looked up at me, his handsome face completely blank and cruel.

"Are you going to cry?" he mocked softly.

I grabbed the dark collar of his shirt. I pulled him forward and crashed my lips aggressively against his.

The exact moment our skin touched, a violent shockwave ripped through my entire body. It was like actual lightning striking my veins. Every single scent in the air vanished. The only thing I could smell was dark pine, rain, and bitter chocolate.

Mate.

My wolf screamed the sacred word in my head.

Hamlet froze completely. His entire massive body went rigid beneath my trembling hands. For one agonizing second, he didn't move. Then, with a deep feral growl, his large hands shot up and gripped my waist. He pulled me down hard into his lap, his mouth devouring mine. It wasn't a sweet or gentle kiss. It was bruising. Desperate. Furious.

He kissed me like he wanted to absolutely destroy me. And heaven help me, I kissed him back just as hard.

The chaotic world around us disappeared. There were no cheers from his friends. No angry gasps from Radarson. Just the crushing weight of his hands burning my skin and the terrifying realization of what this bond meant.

Hamlet abruptly broke the kiss. He was breathing heavily. His eyes were completely black now. The human part of him was completely gone.

He stood up so fast he nearly knocked the table over, dragging me up with him. He didn't say a single word to Radarson He didn't even look at Xavorick.

"Hamlet, what are you doing?" Radarson shrieked in absolute panic.

Hamlet ignored her completely. He wrapped his massive hand around my tiny wrist. His grip was like a steel vice.

"You are coming with me," he growled.

Before I could even open my mouth to protest, he started pulling me toward the dark, terrifying tree line, dragging me away from the party and straight toward his private cabin.

BOOK ONE: Chapter 0001

•CASSANDRA•

“Luna, you’ve done a wonderful job,” Kira swooned as she tasted my cake. “I’ve never tasted such a delicious cake as yours before. Now I believe you when you said your mother taught you everything in the kitchen.”

I chuckled softly, placing the kitchen gloves on the counter. It was Mason’s birthday, and I wanted it to be extra special with a homemade cake.

He’d always loved my home-cooked meals and baking. He said it was one of the things that made him happy to call me his Luna.

“Thank you, Kira. My mother made sure I knew how to cook and bake before I got married. Hopefully, the Alpha will love the cake.” I looked at it with pride and joy, hoping that Mason would love it.

“Alpha Mason will definitely love the cake,” she answered. “He’s the luckiest man in the world, and today he will see that.”

I rolled my eyes and chuckled as she helped me clean the kitchen. There was flour everywhere and dirty dishes.

When we were done, I went to check on the decor on the backyard porch and found out everything was in order. The only thing left was Mason.

“Your dress is ready, Luna,” Kira informed me while I was ensuring everything was in order.

I didn’t want any mix-ups or mistakes that would ruin Mason’s day. It was the only day I’d be able to show him how much I loved him and wanted things to be normal between us again.

“Oh, thank you, Kira. I’m also done with the decorations,” I answered, smiling. “Have our guests arrived?”

“The Elders and the Beta are already in the living room, and the Delta and Gamma are still on their way. The other pack members are outside the pack house.”

“That’s good. I’ll get ready.” I tapped her on the shoulder before I went to my room upstairs to get ready.

I looked at myself in the mirror, imagining how blown away by the dress Mason would be when he saw me.

But when I walked down to the living room, there was no one, even on the backyard porch.

My heart dropped as I wondered where everyone could be. But when I walked out the door, I saw everyone gathering at the pack’s courtyard, and someone was singing for Mason.

‘That voice—’ Lyra whispered in my mind. ‘It sounds familiar.’

“Happy birthday, Mason. I hope you loved the song,” the woman said at the end of her song, and people clapped their hands, cheering.

“My goodness, Nadia—” Mason finally said her name. “That was a lovely song. I don’t know anyone who sings as beautifully as you do. You are truly a gift.”

Nadia was the Beta’s daughter and his only child. It was just the two of them after his wife died a few years ago.

She was the one who had told me the story about how she became a medic. Her mother fell ill, and when they failed to get her healed, she became a medic, even though it meant she had to study it because she wasn’t born a healer.

Shortly after her mother’s death, she studied medicine and worked in the medical department.

I loved her and considered her a friend. I never thought that she would do something... No.

She wouldn’t do that to me, would she? I tried to convince myself when I looked at them, thinking she wouldn’t be the reason Mason was pulling away from me.

“Oh, you flatter me, Alpha,” she answered, standing beside him as if I weren’t there, as his Luna. “You are a gift to the pack, and we appreciate you for everything you’ve done for us. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for you.”

I watched as they shared an intimate look, as if they knew each other in ways I didn’t know. People murmured when they saw me, and I knew what they thought.

“The Alpha and Nadia have been close lately. I wonder how the Luna feels seeing them,” someone murmured in the crowd.

“I feel bad for her,” another answered.

“Poor Luna. She’s being replaced.”

Mason went down from the podium, and Nadia sang another song before an elder came and took the microphone from her to wish the Alpha a happy birthday.

When I saw that Mason was finally alone, I walked up to him and tucked my hand into his arm.

“Happy birthday, darling,” I whispered as I leaned toward him. “I’ve prepared a family lunch and your favorite dessert. Would you like to go with me after the meeting?”

Instead of a smile and appreciative words, he slid my hand away from his arm and frowned. “Can’t you see the pack is already doing something for me? Don’t you want me to spend it with them since they are family as well?”

My heart skipped a beat at his words. “Mason, we haven’t had dinner together as a family with our child for a long time. Why do you want to take this opportunity from us to reconnect?”

“This is not the time and place for this conversation, Sandra,” he answered, leaning back. “Besides, you know how demanding my job as the Alpha is. I live to protect our pack.”

“I—”

“Oh, Luna!” Nadia’s voice cut through our conversation as she leaned toward us. “Please forgive my manners for not acknowledging you. I didn’t see you,” she added, smiling as she looked at Mason and at me.

Mason’s hard face softened when he saw her. It was as if she had lifted something heavy off his shoulders.

“That’s okay, Nadia,” I answered, smiling. “That was a lovely song, by the way. You have a talent for singing.”

“You flatter me, Luna. Thank you,” she blushed, her eyes locking with Mason’s, and I felt my stomach drop.

It was as if I weren’t standing there, watching them exchange looks that told me more than I needed to know.

“The Luna has prepared a family lunch in the pack house. You should join us, Nadia, for saving our hunters from the rogue attack that occurred near the eastern border,” Mason stated, looking at her.

“Of course, I’d love that,” she answered, smiling as she looked at Mason and then at me.

People left the courtyard one after the other, including Mason and Nadia, muttering and laughing about something I couldn’t hear.

My heartbeat was loud in my ears as I stood in the courtyard alone, feeling as if my position in the pack and in Mason’s life was only a title.

Aroused And Exposed!

CASTIA

I am always horny.

And to make matters worse, I have an unhealthy sexual attraction towards one of my top clients who happens to be the popular captain of our school's hockey team.

"So," I drawled in an alluring voice. "Any special requests tonight, mystery player 79?" I asked as I stared at the screen through the hooded eyes of my sexy masquerade face mask in my dimly lit room.

"A strip tease, maybe." His voice was incredibly low and seductive. I have heard it a million times already but each time still feels like the first.

"Without your nudes to keep me company, I've missed seeing all the you." He groaned into the mic as he leaned in forward to show his face. I felt the goosebumps break out of my skin.

It was a paid private one on one session between us and even though I had requested that he wears a mask to hide his face, he had blatantly refused to do so.

Because I run an only fans account, I am obligated to keep his identity a secret since he was one of my top paying clients so I guess that's why he's so comfortable during our sessions.

"When are you going to show me your face, FitBootyVixen?" He asked in a voice that sounded painfully like a groan but I only swallowed to distract myself from the things that his words were doing to me.

"I want to see the face of the beautiful girl behind the mask." He was quick to add when I didn't say anything.

I really wanted to show him my face but I can't do that because I lived two different lives. The hot, sexy girl he sees on screen is different from the regular girl he sees in school everyday.

Kai Hayes. The He-devil, was not only popular but he was equally known as the bad boy and someone like him would never pay any attention to someone like me behind the mask.

He would never even glance in my direction. He was off limits to someone like me but that didn't stop me from having a crush on him the very first day we met.

I have always craved him so desperately but then again, I know deep down that he's one of those people that I can never have. He only exists on this account and will never be mine.

If he should know that the girl behind the mask was none other than the four-eyed nerdy Castia, then my life would officially be over.

Besides, he only exists here for my fantasy and viewing pleasure, nothing more. Here, I can be myself and fantasize about him as much as I want without being afraid of anything.

"You know my rules, Player 79. Don't cross the boundaries. Private stays private." I moaned seductively into the mic as I felt the tension thicken between us.

"Alright then, let's move on to our session." He answered with a low gruff. "Tell me what you'd do if I were there, in your room."

"If you were here," I whispered softly as I reached for the buttons on my top to undo them. "You wouldn't be asking."

Pulling the strap of my dress over my shoulders, I threw it across the room and reached to unclasp my bra, freeing my boobs from it's confinement.

I heard him suck in a deep breath but I couldn't figure out if I was the reason why he did so or if it was because of something else.

"I want to see all of you, Vixen." I could hear the raw, painful edginess in his voice. "Don't hold anything back from me tonight."

His voice was like a prayer waiting to be answered. I have never felt this way about any of my clients before. He makes me feel things that nobody has made me feel before.

"What do you want to see?"

"I want to see you touch yourself." He requested but it sounded more like a command. I love it when he does that. "I'll pay double to see you cum right there in front of me."

"I have never done that before." I said in a small, shy voice.

"I'll teach you."

Without much hesitation, I pulled off my panties and lifted it up for him to see, then I spread my legs wide apart on both sides of the table to show the outline of my privates.

"Close your eyes." I heard him instruct and I immediately did as I was told. "Now, think of something sexy, something horny. Something that sets you in the mood or an image of someone that you would like to touch you."

I tried to picture an image and to my utmost surprise, it was his face that came to mind. I tried to shake it off but it only came back more clearer than before.

Can you blame me? I've always had a crush on him and each time I think of him, I've always imagined all the sinful things that I've wanted him to do to me for a long time now.

"With that image in mind, go with the flow and do what your body tells you to do. Don't overthink, just do it." He went on and I reached for her nipples to squeeze them hard.

My fingers played with my swollen bud as I rotated them in circles in between my fingers.

Eyes closed, a small moan escaped my throat when I saw my made up image of Kai taking my nipple into his mouth to suck on them. I shivered and trailed my hands down to my pussy to play with my clit.

I rubbed my fingers on it in a circular motion as I the passion build up inside me and ruptured into a sweet ache.

"Oh fuck!" I moaned loudly and inserted my finger to pump myself in a bid to release. I continued the action until the ache built up inside me until—

"Castia!"

At that moment, I snapped when my I realized that my mother had returned. She was supposed to come back tomorrow morning after her date so why now?

In a bid to get up from my seat quickly, I accidentally knocked off my mask and my face came in contact with that of Kai through the screen. For a moment, none of us said anything to the other and before I knew it, the screen went dead.

He had logged out of our private session but that was not the issue right now. The main issue right now is that he had seen my FACE and that he recognized me.

Oh goodness! I'm doomed beyond words. Putting on my night clothes with my heart stuck in my throat, I went out to meet my mother who had sadly returned at the wrong time.

What will happen now? How will I face everyone now that my secret is out? What if Kai decides to tell everyone that I'm not the nerd girl they think I am and that I have a private only fans account?

Gosh! My life is screwed.

"There you are!" My mother chattered happily when she saw me come down the stairs, my shoulders plopped as though I was carrying the weight of the world on it.

"My fiancee is coming home for dinner tomorrow evening and I want you here." My mom giggled excitedly and I grumbled an awkward response.

I can't believe that she interrupted my peak orgasm and made me reveal my secret just to tell me that she's having dinner to introduce me to the man she wants to marry.

I couldn't bring myself to tell her how much I hated the fact that she was planning to start afresh with someone new barely after my dad died three years ago.

How could she move on so quickly while I was struggling to pick up the pieces of my broken life?

Everything is so messed up right now. I was distracted and it was obvious.

"I'll try to be there." I said after a deep sigh. She had been trying to get me to meet her new fiance but each time, I've managed to come up with a full proof plan to escape.

I guess I've ran out of ideas and after what happened tonight, I might as well just go through with it.

"Castia, I know that you're not too thrilled about this but I just want you to be happy for me. Dominic is a really good man and he's been dying to meet you ever since I told him that I have a daughter."

"I'm pretty sure that he is." I replied nonchalantly as I felt my heart slam hard against my ribcage.

She already knows that I have never approved of her new relationship and I don't even have it in me to be happy for her right now. I can't even pretend to.

"Don't you think that you're being a little too harsh on me? Don't I deserve a little bit of happiness?" I heard her voice crack and took a pause when she broke down in tears.

"Your father was a good man. We loved each other so much but life happened and I've spent every single moment of my life wallowing in pain and wishing that he was still here with us. I miss him just as much as you do." She confessed with a hiccup.

"This isn't easy for me but Dominic has been there for me every step of the way. He filled the void In my heart after your father's demise and made it more bearable for me. Even if it's only for a short while, I just want to be happy, Castia."

"Alright fine. I'll try my best to be accommodating. Just, stop crying please." I muttered into the phone and I could tell that she was feeling happy now.

"Thank you. Good night baby and have a good rest. Love you." She kissed my cheeks before heading towards her bedroom.

How can it be a good night when two bad things just happened to me? On one hand is Kai who just figured out my secret and on the other is my mother's fiancee who I don't like.

Just how on earth am I supposed to sleep peacefully knowing that my whole world is about to collapse? Oh my goodness! What am I going to do?

An Orphaned Omega

Nicole

It had been three days since I had eaten anything other than scraps, so I stared greedily at the food Alpha Czar Wolfe had offered me.

“Eat,” he commanded, his dark, intense eyes never leaving me.

I began stuffing myself with everything I could get my hands on—sausages, meatloaf, fried chicken, potato salad, crab cakes, and apple pie.

I was a cook in the Black Rock Pack, and I had prepared all these dishes myself. Yet, for the past three days, while Alpha Czar had been away patrolling the borders, I had been denied proper food.

The only thing the head cook, Lyla, allowed me to have was morning tea, which tasted like sand, and one biscuit. After that, I survived on leftovers. If someone left the corners of a pizza, I ate them. If someone threw a half-eaten burger in the trash, I took it out and ate it. I couldn’t help it. I was curvy, slightly plump, and constantly hungry.

I was also considered the most ridiculous she-wolf in the pack because most of the other girls were thin, with curves in all the right places. They were also far more beautiful than me.

Me?

My breasts were heavy, and my ass was pretty wide before tapering into thick thighs. Everything I wore was always tight. Then again, everything I owned was two second-hand jeans and three tight uniforms. Where could an orphan who was barely surviving in the packhouse get the money to afford luxury to buy new clothes?

Moreover, I was considered a freak because not only was my hair sun-kissed light blonde, but my eyes were also different colors. One was blue, and the other was green. Under the sunlight, they sometimes looked golden.

People thought I had mixed witch blood. I wished I did. At least then, I might have been able to cast a spell and run away.

Once I had eaten my fill, I looked at Czar, who was still watching me with his dark eyes like I were going to be his next meal.

Except now, he had slowly started taking off his clothes.

Alpha Czar was terrifyingly beautiful. His entire body was covered in tattoos that extended all the way to his knuckles. He had ripped muscles sitting over even more muscles. His thighs were so thick that they could probably snap an ordinary wolf’s neck if he wrapped them around it.

His dark hair framed his perfect forehead. He had a dimple on his left cheek, but it rarely appeared because of the permanent dark expression on his face.

My cheeks heated. I wanted to look away, but instead, I wiped my mouth and fingers, drank some water, and remained seated on the couch, watching his perfect body.

A body that always took my breath away.

Every day, I thought of countless ways to escape this wretched pack, but every night, when I was with him, all those thoughts simply disappeared.

Once he was naked, he came over and sat beside me before pulling me onto his lap. He gave me a potion to drink that prevented pregnancy. As I drank it, he removed my shirt first, and I willingly allowed him to undo the buttons. My breasts spilled out, hanging low because of their weight.

His large hands engulfed them, squeezing them roughly until I began to whimper and my nipples hardened beneath his attention. He latched onto one of them, sucking so hard that my eyes rolled back in my head.

“Goddess,” he breathed, his dark eyes filled with pure lust and carnal need. His cock was already jutting out, demanding attention.

And, goddess, that cock was criminally thick and long. It deserved to have its own category of prize.

His fingers found the button of my skirt. He undid it quickly and pushed it over my hips and down my legs.

Sitting in his lap wearing only my panties, which were already soaked, I became aware of the unrelenting ache I had suffered during the three days he had been away.

When his eyes locked with mine, the rest of the world faded.

Before I knew it, he grabbed my ass, lifted me effortlessly, and impaled me on his cock.

“Ah!” I moaned.

“I’m going to fucking destroy you tonight,” he said in a strained voice. “I’m going to fuck you senseless, Nic. Look how much you’re dripping for me.”

I was.

Shamelessly.

“I want to bury my face so deep between your legs that I’m deprived of oxygen.”

Oh, Goddess. He had a way with dirty words. My stomach coiled even more.

“I know you can take all of me, Nic. Let go.”

I relaxed, allowing him to fill me to the hilt.

He began pounding into me, lifting me up and down his cock with abandon. Suddenly, he pulled out of me, and I whimpered in frustration. “Go to the bed,” he commanded.

I got up and walked toward his enormous bed, which was large enough for five people to sleep in comfortably. As soon as I reached it, he stroked himself while watching me with eyes that had turned golden around the edges.

“Turn over.”

I got on all fours, and he slapped my ass sharply. A shameless moan escaped me as I spread my knees wider for him.

“So perfect,” he said as he climbed onto the bed behind me.

He settled on his knees and pushed two fingers inside me. My head dropped between my shoulders, and my mouth went slack as he began moving them. My moans filled the entire room as I rolled my hips, desperate to take more of him.

“What a greedy little slut you are,” he almost snarled. “And you're all mine!”

Removing his fingers, he gripped my hips and slid his length back inside me, pushing into me roughly. “Yes, she takes me fully.”

He began thrusting with more force and fierceness than I had ever experienced from him before. My ass bounced every time he slammed into me. I matched his pace, and for a long time, the room was filled with the sound of skin slapping against skin.

“Come for me, Nic!” he rasped urgently.

As though my body obeyed only him, I came, clenching around him and milking his cock.

He grabbed my chin, tilted my face up, and pressed his mouth against mine as he came inside me, swallowing my cry of his name so no one in the packhouse would hear us.

As soon as we were done, he slid out of me. He wrapped an arm around me and collapsed onto the bed, pulling me against him. Both of us were breathless.

Behind me, I felt his body slowly relax against mine. He kissed my dimple in my left cheek, buried his face in my hair, inhaled my scent, and fell asleep.

So did I. Soundlessly. Wrapped in his pine and fir smell.

After three long days without him.

Without my mate.

Yes, I, Nicole Lozano, an orphaned omega, was Alpha Czar’s mate.