Ryder Kingston is a prince that was cursed before he was born. Coming into the world with a heavy burden on his shoulder. He was supposed to be new hope for his people but he became their worst nightmare. Betty, Ryder's mother, assembled her fellow witches with the hope to usurp her throne. To her, she would get back what was hers at all cost. They couldn't kill Ryder and so had to curse him. Ryder would become a beast with blood lust whenever he got angry. During this period, he wouldn't be aware of things around him and after he morphs back to himself, he would discover to his dismay the people he had killed with his hand. True love was what would set him free but the witches had his mother killed before he would be of age to reciprocate her love. On his way to seek destruction, he meets Elsie, the angel with hidden powers unknown to even her. She tries to help the prince notwithstanding the problems that may come her way. Would she be able to free the prince from the curse? Or will she die like the rest before her?
Chapter one
Ryder Kingston stares at the men longer than he should. The frown was suddenly appearing on his face.
The men all went down on one kneel in fear of what their prince would do to them.
"Your highness, it wasn't their fault," Lucas started but it was already late.
Ryder was already transforming, his head arch backward as the process begins slowly. His arms were the first to morph quickly, displaying sharp long claws. Within seconds, a brown coat covers his light-skinned hand.
Then, faster it went up to his legs. His legs came out big and he seems to have grown taller. The clothes ripped into halves now as he surrender to the rest of the transformation, not that he had a choice anyway.
Ryder's face switch slightly until tusks were coming out and hair was fast covering all his bare parts.
Lucas knew, he knew better than staying behind. Lucas took to his heel, out of the room. He picked the key before he could close the door. He locks the door, trapping the beasts inside.
It was the least he could do if he wanted to live. The moment the beast takes control over the prince, there wouldn't be many talk. It's either he kills or he gets killed.
Lucas waits for two hours in front of the door. He prevented anyone from moving closer whenever they heard the screams of the soldiers or the wailing of cries from inside.
Most soldiers already know what the kingdom is suffering from even though the king had warned Lucas to kill anyone that discover the truth about the prince's identity.
And he had killed so many all these years that he had gotten tired of killing more.
A soft sob started slowly. Lucas place his head against the door to hear clearly what was happening inside.
He glanced at his watch and discover it's approximately three hours.
He unturns the keys and open the door again.
There, laid in between lifeless bodies, ripped skins, broken arms laid the naked prince.
When Lucas walks nearer, he looks up and he could see the tears on his face.
He wasn't crying water, he was crying blood.
"Why!" He started, "Why is this happening to me!" He yells out and Lucas turns to run out again, "What are you doing?"
He made a silent turn and shrug, "You are about to get angry. I don't want to be on your death list," he says jokily and laughs.
Ryder watch him for a moment, fascinated by his choice of words and surprise he would be laughing with the situation at hand, "Are you trying to make me laugh?"
"I can't make you sad, your highness. If you get sad, you might get angry and more of this will happen," he takes a step towards him and picks his robe.
Ryder sigh, with much frustration, " So, I'm supposed to be happy about all this? I'm not supposed to even be said that I killed my men?" His voice has suddenly gotten louder and the fine lines on his face switch slightly.
Lucas went down on one knee, "Will you just kill me now then," he whispers, then look up at him, "I will rather die by your sword than be snap into halves by the beast," he tells him defiantly.
Ryder looks around him, at the bodies of his men. He swallow hard on the lump that had formed in his chest.
"Leave!" He says and turns away. He waited for Lucas to walk out before he walks to a room linking his meeting room to his chamber.
Clad in black trousers and a black t-shirt, Ryder took the space in the window and jump out. He took the secret door he created himself out of the place into the street.
It's very late in the night but to Medgerpines, the day has just begun.
This was what he needed, all that he could get after killing his men with his hands.
He doesn't want to think much about it because Lucas was right. The more he thinks about it, the more anger he would feel.
And it was very dangerous for him.
He took the busy road out, into the market. There seems to be a festival ongoing in the marketplace
Everyone gathers and lets out a lantern after wishing.
Ryder decides to join them. If there was a God that would grant his wish. Then, he would request for him to take away the curse on him.
He lights the lantern and lets it flow away, a wide smile on his face. For a reason, it felt like a God was hearing him and would definitely answer him.
"No! This is not a festival! This is mourning!" A woman screams behind him suddenly.
He turns back and sees that a group of people has suddenly gathered around.
The moon was high in the sky but the women of Medgerpines were not ready to call it a night. Each sat around an elderly woman.
Ryder walks closer.
"Why do you think so?" Another woman asked in return for what she had said earlier.
A woman wails softly, " The God is punishing us. He's punishing Medgerpines. Having a beast as a prince is a punishment."
" I heard he losses control whenever he's beast!" Another supported.
Ryder felt something rush through him. He felt awash with huge sadness. If there was something he didn't know, was that everyone knew what he was.
He thought it was a secret but now, the market women discuss it openly as if it didn't matter.
Why won't it? He was the prince and the only one.
"Is that true?" A soft voice was asking. Ryder stops moving and stares at the young girl.
"The land has been cursed! The only prince is a beast. A beast that can never be tampered with!"
"I heard the witches killed his mother so he wouldn't be able to be human again."
What? Ryder raises a brow. He had never heard it. No one has ever told him about the story behind his mother's death or the curse.
Even his father has refused to set eyes on him with fear that he might kill him.
Most times, he would think perhaps he was the one that killed his mother.
Can that really be true?
The young girl squeezes her face, "Why will they do that to the prince?"
Ryder felt the tears drop on his clothes. He had been battling with the curse since all his born days.
The feelings of anguish and grief that he had been passing through every time he killed people.
Every time he killed people and he couldn't stop himself.
Ryder felt another stab of something familiar.
His eyes shot out suddenly. His body shudders uncontrollably. Fuck! He's angry! He's already getting angry.
Ryder turn around to walk away, to do something so that the innocent wouldn't have to die at his hands. But he couldn't move.
Suddenly, he was switching between beast and his subconsciousness. He couldn't quite move his body as he wish.
It only seemed like he was watching a display.
No! Stop getting angry! Don't fucking get angry!
Ryder mentally screams back.
Joelle thought she could change Adrian's heart after three years of marriage, but she realized too late that it already belonged to another woman. "Give me a baby, and I'll set you free." The day Joelle went into labor, Adrian was traveling with his mistress on his private jet. "I don't care whom you love. My debt is paid. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other." Not long after Joelle left, Adrian found himself begging on his knees. "Please come back to me."
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
"Carroll Brown is dead! But you have to marry him in your sister's name." My mother said to me in a cold tone. My sister was engaged to the hottest billionaire. It should have been a perfect marriage. Unexpectedly, Carroll was dead in an accident. My sister didn't want to become a widow, so she forced me to marry her dead fiance. And I had no right to refuse her. Actually, I was the biological daughter of the Smith family. My sister was an adoptive one. My sister and I had been swapped at the hospital when we were just born. My parents had already had a deep relationship with her. So they chose to sacrifice me. On the wedding day, I was taken to the mourning hall. "Ma'am, please keep Master company and let him feel warm." The housekeeper said with a cold expression. I couldn't help but look up at the portrait above the coffin, and my heart skipped a beat at this glance. The man in the portrait was more handsome than the superstars in Hollywood. Carroll Brown? My dead husband? Wow, he was really handsome! I didn't know how long had passed when my stomach began to rebel. After one glance at the coffin, I swallowed my saliva and then begged with my fingers crossed. "Mr. Carroll, I'm starving! May I eat your pastries? You don't mind, do you?" "I do." "Ah!" Scared, I broke out in a cold sweat. My legs went limp, and I fell to the ground. I shouted, "Ghost!" Carroll curled his lips, leaned over, and touched the black coffin. "Mr. Carroll has risen from the dead. What do you think of this headline tomorrow?"
It took only a second for a person's world to come crashing down. This was what happened in Hannah's case. For four years, she gave her husband her all, but one day, he said emotionlessly, "Let's get divorced." Hannah's heart broke into a million pieces as she signed the divorce papers, marking the end of her role as a devoted wife. Within Hannah, a strong woman awakened, vowing never to be beholden to any man again. Embracing her new life, she embarked on a journey to find herself and command her own destiny. By the time she returned, she had experienced so much growth and was now completely different from the docile wife everyone once knew. "Is this your latest trick to get my attention?" Hannah's ever-so-arrogant husband asked. Before she could retort, a handsome and domineering CEO pulled her into his embrace. He smiled down at her and said boldly to her ex, "Just a little heads-up, mister. This is my beloved wife. Keep off!"
"Love is blind!" Lucinda abandoned her beautiful and comfortable life because of a man. She married him and slaved off for him for three long years. One day, the scales finally fell off her eyes. She realized that all her efforts were in vain. Her husband, Nathaniel still treated her like shit. All he cared about was his lover. "Enough is enough! I quit wasting my years with an ungrateful man!" Lucinda's heart was shattered into many pieces, but she summoned up the courage to ask for a divorce. The news caused a stir online! A filthy rich young woman recently got divorced? She was a good catch! Countless CEOs and handsome young men immediately swarmed to her like bees to honey! Nathaniel couldn't take it anymore. He held a press conference and begged with teary eyes, "I love you, Lucinda. I can't live without you. Please come back to me." Would Lucinda give him a second chance? Read to find out!
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."