Kasumi Azai is unwillingly thrust into a crucial negotiation between the Red Sun and Blazing Winter packs, pressured by her uncle to marry Severin de Rosa, the son of the Blazing Winter pack's Alpha. But her plans are disrupted when she discovers that her Alpha mate, Thaddeus de Rosa, is actually the Alpha of the Blazing Winter pack and secretly desires her. Complicating things further, Thaddeus's twin brother, Theodore de Rosa, also claims Kasumi as his mate, while their uncle, Cretheus de Rosa, sets his sights on her too. As desire and duty clash, Kasumi must navigate a dangerous path to maintain peace between the packs, where almost everyone, except for her Alpha mate's son, seems to be after her. Can she avoid conflict and prevent a full-blown war between the packs?
I was told that being in front of the Moon Goddess' altar with your mate was supposed to be the most joyous moment of your existence. It was said to elevate you to the highest summit of a mountain, impervious to any natural calamities that might occur.
"Lord Severin de Rosa, do you take Lady Kasumi Azai to be your wife, to share in all of life's joys and sorrows, to be your faithful and loving companion, now and forevermore?"
But how did I end up in a circumstance where I had to marry someone who wasn't my mate?
"I do, Your Eminence."
Gripping the flower bouquet too tight, I recoil from Severin's reply to Priest Paule's question, shattering my whole being. It was as intense as a hurricane that destroyed a whole town and as impenetrable as the brick wall.
"And to you, Lady Kasumi Azai..."
As my name was being called, my heart beat furiously in my chest as though it wanted to break free, or burst into pieces.
How did I end up being used as a pawn in a political marriage to bring an end to the cold war between my pack, the Red Sun, and the opposing Blazing Winter pack?
"Do you take Lord Severin de Rosa to be your husband, to share in all of life's joys and sorrows, to be your faithful and loving companion, now and forevermore?"
Why did I become the bridge leading me to a doom of misery and agony? Why couldn't I run from this responsibility?
How did I end up in this situation? Where did it all begin?
"I do, Your Eminence," I said, breathless.
I hid my emotions under my eyelids, thanks to the veil that helped me to shield this despair that would gradually poison me.
It was irrevocable, with no salvation to be given.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Severin lifted the veil with slight hastiness, piercing me with a gaze of spitefulness, silently indicating that he and I would never get along.
I almost scoffed at that sight. If he was disgusted with my presence, then so I was.
"Let's get this over with. Tsk."
It was a very low whisper from him, but I caught on to it with my sensitive hearing, one of the advantages of being a werewolf. I almost thwacked the bouquet to his arrogant, handsome face, but it took a lot of courage not to do so.
"Bastard..." I muttered.
When his face was slightly close to me, I heard a faint growl that staggered me. A slight growl came from the aisle.
It came from the audience as I felt a penetrating gaze from that direction while my wolf whispered a word that still startled me every time I heard it echoing.
I did not get a chance to look back when Severin pinched my chin using his forefinger and thumb, forcing me to look at him before his rosy lips plummeted to capture my lips. My eyes widened, clutching his wrist to pull his hand away from me.
I thought that he would compel me to deepen the kiss, but Severin, as fast as a lightning bolt, stepped back as if he was burned from me. And I was in disbelief when I caught him wiping his lips with the back of his hand.
"Congratulations to our newlyweds, Lord Severin and Lady Kasumi de Rosa!"
That distracted me when I almost confronted Severin by acting so disgusted at our kiss, and I should be the one who had done that.
Severin and I faced our guests, who were bestowing us a round of applause. On the right side of the aisle, my chest tightened and squeezed to the maximum when I met my uncle's gaze with a smirk plastering on his lips.
Meeting his gaze was enough for me to recall everything he did-killing my father, Hideyoshi Azai, who was the former Alpha of the Red Sun pack, taking over our pack with cruelty, stripping my rights as the heiress of the Azai Clan and as the next Alpha of our pack, and marrying off to the son of the hostile pack.
Him...
Hajime Azai...
He was the reason why I was being tormented like this.
My uncle... My blood relative... He betrayed my father's trust.
"Run, sugarplum..." Father's meek words harked back to my mind. "Run..."
I could still remember the hoarseness of his voice with a faint firmness, pushing me away while he was bathing with his blood. I remembered how useless I was, how my body was heavy, aching in every corner.
I only found myself being dragged away from his cadaver while pouring my hopelessness and regret. I did not do what he promised. I was... incompetent.
Father, please forgive me, for I did not heed your wishes. I was still hoping I could take back what truly belonged to me.
"Long live the newlyweds!"
I snapped back when the crowd cheered again for the wedding of Severin and me. With the tension in my stomach about to burst, I could feel a series of spine-chilling tingles as my wolf whispered a word.
'Mate.'
My eyes instantly looked for that person since my wolf kept resounding 'mate' in my head. I looked for my mate and met a pair of sapphire blue eyes belonging to a familiar man in his 30s sitting near the front aisle who had firm, intense eye contact with me.
My heart sank upon seeing that familiar sculpted, robust build and pursed rose-colored cupid lips scream power and dominance that I almost fell to my knees. It almost took my breath away just by seeing him.
It was him.
Thaddeus de Rosa, Severin's father.
He was not like any man I had ever encountered before. There was something about him that made my skin crawl. I tried to convince myself that he was just a nobody, but deep down, I knew that wasn't the case.
He was the Alpha of the Blazing Winter pack-the same pack that had terrorized our pack for years.
And then, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
Thaddeus was not only the father of my husband, but also my father-in-law.
But that wasn't the worst part.
It was a harsh realization that Thaddeus de Rosa was destined to be my mate, but I had already been promised to his son.
And this was the cruel twist of fate orchestrated by the Moon Goddess.
Dominixe Cantavalle, an Alpha slayer, is torn between her loyalty to her father and her love for her Alpha mate. In a desperate bid to gain her father's favor and become the heir of the powerful House of Cantavalle, she chooses to betray and slaughter her mate's pack members, a decision that leaves her in a state of misery and despair. As if that wasn't enough, Dominixe finds herself betrothed to an abhorrent man arranged by her father and is forced to sleep with him against her will. But her fate takes a dark turn when she is poisoned by one of her own sister. In her dying moments, the only one who tends to her is a rogue Alpha who has long admired her. However, when Dominixe wakes up, she finds that she cannot remember him. She can only recall her fated mate Valerian Leveaux, whom she betrayed in the past. Determined to seek revenge against those who have wronged her and protect those who care for her, Dominixe sets out on a perilous journey, with her new allies by her side, to right the wrongs of her past and change the course of her and her Alpha mate's destiny.
Seraphina Beryl, Luna of the Rising Diamond pack and Marchioness of Blackmont, caught her mate, Alpha of the Rising Diamond pack and Marquis of Blackmont, sleeping with a courtesan. Not only that, she caught that Desmond has been kissed by their Beta's sister. She is not a fool to stay with him anymore. She decides to abscond from their pack and abandons her Luna duties and her marriage with him. However, at that moment, she finds out that she is pregnant with his pup. After five years of being married to Desmond, she finally conceives a pup. How is she going to hide the next heir of the Rising Diamond pack from Desmond? Can she be able to escape from Desmond's grasp once he finds and reclaims her and their pup? What will Seraphina do if that happens? ---------- Please read my other stories here in MoboReader: •The Beguiled Bond (genre: werewolf) •Mr. Huntington's Secret (genre: billionaire)
Cejay Merryweather has resigned to be the marketing head of Huntington Inc. because of an incident that happened causing havoc in the internal auditing department. Sebastian Huntington, a charismatic, egocentric, and ruthless businessman has offered her to be his personal assistant. Little did she know, upon agreeing to his offer, her life would be in danger once she starts deciphering her boss's secret. A secret no one should know but Cejay, with her curiosity got the best of her, will be the first one to find out. That is why curiosity kills the cat. Would you still dare to know Mr. Huntington's Secret?
As the first female battle commander of the military from the Waevalon Kingdom, Rachelle Simon believes that she does not need a mate in her life until she knows who she really was or where she actually came from before she arrived at the Dark Soul pack. She is living in peace until an annoying mysterious brute named Claude Hackworth arrived at their pack to visit his sister who happened to be her Luna and claimed that Rachelle is Claude's mate. However, she determines that she is not going to utter the words that she is accepting him. What will happen if Rachelle gets to meet and see her mate again in an unexpected moment but he will not introduce himself as her mate but the newly crowned Alpha King of Waevalon Kingdom?
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”