Her life was turned upside down, and she struggled to grasp onto anything as everything around her changed in an instant. One moment, she was drowning in heartbreak, and the next, she was abducted by a man she didn't even know. Clara Matthews, a young assistant, had just uncovered the truth about her boyfriend's infidelity-caught in the act with her childhood best friend. While the betrayal of her boyfriend hurt deeply, seeing her best friend in his arms was a pain she couldn't bear. Devastated and unable to pull herself together, Clara thought nothing could be worse than the betrayal she had just endured. But that was before she met him. Damien "The Wolf" Russo, a heartless and calculating Mafia leader, was known for his ruthlessness. With a reputation that struck fear into the hearts of those who crossed him, he had no room for love or softness. Having witnessed the cruelty of his mother toward his father, he had sworn off trust and affection. He wasn't interested in a wife- only a woman who would fulfill an agreement. But fate had other plans when he crossed paths with Clara, the one woman who would make him question everything he believed about love.
Clara's POV
Heartbreak didn't come with a warning. One moment, everything was fine, the next, my world was shattered. I stood frozen, my mind replaying the scene I had just witnessed-Ben, the man I thought I would marry, tangled in the sheets with my childhood best friend, Lily. Both of them looked up at me in shock as if I wasn't the one who had just been blindsided.
Ben's words swirled in the air like poison, "Clara, please, let me explain." But I couldn't hear him. Not anymore.
It had been years since I had given my heart to him, years since I had trusted him with every part of me. And yet, here I was, standing at the threshold of the apartment we had shared, watching the two people I loved betray me. Lily had always been my closest friend. I thought nothing could come between us. I was wrong.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought them back. Crying wouldn't change anything. I turned away from them and fled the apartment, slamming the door behind me. The cold evening air hit my face like a slap, but it did nothing to numb the pain gnawing at my insides.
I didn't know where I was going. My legs carried me aimlessly down the street, past the crowded cafés and stores, the world moving around me as if everything was normal. But I wasn't normal anymore. The world as I had known it had crumbled in the span of seconds.
The stinging ache in my chest refused to go away. The betrayal had sunk deep into my bones. Ben's face flickered in my mind, his expression shifting from guilt to indifference. Lily's apologetic gaze had stung more than his, as if her betrayal was the most painful of them all.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. I didn't need to look at it to know who it was. Ben had called three times already. I ignored it, stuffing the phone back into my bag. There was nothing he could say now.
My mind raced with a thousand questions. How long had this been going on? Had I been so blind to everything around me?
The bitter taste of anger burned my throat.
I didn't want to go back to the apartment, not with Ben there. Not with Lily there. It wasn't just the apartment that I couldn't bear. It was everything that had been built between us-those false promises of forever. Everything I had believed in was a lie.
---
#### **Damien's POV**
I had been watching her for the last thirty minutes. She didn't know it yet, but Clara Matthews was about to become a part of my world.
The woman was beautiful, despite the veil of sadness that clung to her. I had seen her pass by the café a few times over the last week. She was often lost in thought, her eyes distant and heavy. Something about her intrigued me-her vulnerability, perhaps, or the quiet strength beneath it.
I had learned to read people's emotions quickly, a skill that came with the territory of my work. Clara's pain was written all over her face today, as she walked with a dazed, broken expression that made her stand out from the crowd.
I didn't care about her pain. What I cared about was her potential.
The door to my black sedan opened, and one of my men, Marco, slid into the driver's seat. "Boss, it's time," he muttered. I nodded, signaling for him to pull out. My eyes never left Clara.
This wasn't supposed to be personal. It was a business arrangement. I had no intention of getting involved emotionally with anyone, let alone a woman like her. But fate had a way of throwing unexpected obstacles in my path.
I didn't want her. Not in the way men usually wanted women. I had seen too much to believe in love. My mother's betrayal had made sure of that. But I needed a woman, and Clara Matthews was the perfect candidate for my plans.
The click of my phone brought me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw the name of one of my associates. "I'll deal with it later," I muttered under my breath, pressing the button to decline the call.
Clara turned a corner and stepped into an alleyway. I didn't wait for another second.
"Marco, follow her," I commanded.
---
Clara's POV
I didn't know how long I had been walking when the feeling hit me. That cold, unsettling sensation that crawled up my spine. It wasn't the usual anxiety I felt when I was walking alone at night. No, this was something else-a presence I couldn't shake.
My eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the source of the discomfort. The streets were relatively empty, but the shadow that moved just behind me made my heart race. I quickened my pace, my breath quickening with every step.
The alley up ahead seemed like the only option for escape. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks, but something told me to keep moving. I ducked into the narrow passageway, hoping to lose whoever was following me.
Before I could make it to the end of the alley, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking my path.
I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
"Where do you think you're going?" The voice was low, commanding. A chill ran through me as I looked up to meet the eyes of the man who had appeared out of nowhere.
His presence was overpowering, dangerous even. His dark eyes studied me with cold indifference, yet there was something about him that made my pulse race. His tailored suit and expensive shoes spoke of wealth, power, and a life I had never known.
I took a step back, instinctively wanting to flee, but he was too fast. He grabbed my arm in a firm grip, pulling me closer.
"Let me go!" I hissed, struggling in his hold.
His grip tightened slightly, his expression unfazed. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said, his voice almost soothing. "But you're coming with me."
---
Damien's POV
Her resistance was stronger than I expected, but it didn't matter. She was mine now.
I had been watching her, and this had to happen. The deal was already in motion, and no one crossed me. Not even Clara Matthews, who had no idea what was happening.
I didn't care that she was scared. She wasn't the first woman to be terrified of me. And she certainly wouldn't be the last.
Her eyes were wide with panic, but I could see something else there. A spark of defiance, maybe. It would make her interesting.
"Who are you?" she demanded, voice trembling.
I didn't answer right away, not because I didn't know what to say, but because I didn't need to. The question was irrelevant. She was mine now, and that was all that mattered.
The tightness in my chest, a strange feeling I hadn't recognized until now, wasn't something I was used to. But I brushed it off. Emotions had no place in this world.
The woman might be scared now, but she would understand. Eventually, she would understand that I had everything under control.
"Damien Russo," I finally said, the name carrying all the weight it was meant to. "And you're coming with me."
Sophia Morelli has lived a life of luxury, but it's a luxury tainted by the shadow of her family's mafia connections. Trapped in a gilded cage, she yearns for freedom from the violence and deceit that surround her. But when her father, the head of the Morelli crime family, arranges her engagement to a man she despises, her life takes a dark turn. Dante Rossi, the ruthless and calculating head of a rival mafia family, is a man who commands respect and fear. He's spent years building his empire and erasing any weakness, but everything changes when he's ordered to protect Sophia from the escalating threats to her life. What starts as a reluctant duty soon turns into a dangerous game of passion and power.
Born under the Blood Moon, Sarah Law has always felt the curse in her veins- a mark of ancient magic, feared by her pack and hunted by those who know the prophecy. When her pack betrays her on her eighteenth birthday, offering her as a sacrifice to the wild Lycans, Sarah expects death. What she finds instead is him. Damien Knights, the exiled Lycan King, scarred by war and bound by vengeance, saves her for reasons even he doesn't understand. She's the key to lifting the curse that plagues his people... but also the one who could destroy him. As enemies close in, secrets unravel, and the full extent of Sarah's power awakens, a bond forms between the cursed girl and the broken king- one forged by blood, fate, and a darkness neither of them can escape.
When Tony Anderson returns to the estate he once called home, it's not to reclaim the billion-dollar family legacy- it's to destroy the man who stole everything from him: his own father. But with his inheritance comes more than cold marble halls and corporate dominance. It comes with Sandy Taylor- the woman he once loved, now engaged to his half-brother. As Tony uncovers the secrets buried deep in the Anderson dynasty, one truth becomes clear: he wasn't meant to be the heir... but he's the only one ruthless enough to carry the name.
Lena Matthews never expected her life to turn upside down when her mother remarried, bringing along her new stepbrother, Jace Sullivan. Jace, with his smoldering good looks and rebellious attitude, is everything Lena never wanted in a step-sibling. The tension between them is palpable, but Lena keeps her distance, determined to ignore the undeniable chemistry that grows between them. However, when a shared family secret emerges, everything changes. Lena is thrust into a whirlwind of emotions, betrayal, and temptation as the truth unravels. Jace, who has always been the bad boy with a troubled past, becomes her unexpected protector. As they navigate their newfound connection, Lena must decide whether to risk it all for a forbidden love that threatens to tear their family apart or walk away before it's too late.
Violet Kensington is a woman on a mission. After years of working her way up in the corporate world, she's finally earned a coveted position at the prestigious Westbrook Industries-a company led by the enigmatic and infuriatingly handsome billionaire, Liam Westbrook. With his cold demeanor and reputation for ruthless decision-making, Liam is nothing like the man she expected to meet. But there's more to Liam than meets the eye, and Violet soon finds herself tangled in a forbidden affair that threatens to derail her career. Liam Westbrook, the elusive CEO of Westbrook Industries, has long since sworn off love. His life is built on control, and he's not about to let a fiery intern like Violet disrupt his carefully constructed world. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for him to ignore the undeniable chemistry between them. As passion flares and boundaries blur, secrets from Liam's past begin to surface-secrets that could destroy everything, including the fragile relationship they've built.
For centuries, the Ashbane and Nightclaw packs have been locked in a brutal feud soaked in blood and vengeance. Elle Davenport, daughter of the Ashbane Beta, was raised to hate the Nightclaws-especially their ruthless Alpha, Brandon Osgood. So when she's taken hostage during a border ambush, she expects death... not the glowing mark of the mate bond binding her to her sworn enemy. Brandon doesn't want a mate-especially not her. But the bond is unbreakable, and something darker than war is stirring in the woods. Rogue packs are rising, alliances are shifting, and an ancient prophecy foretells a union that could either save or doom them all. Now, bound by fate and hunted by forces that want them dead, Elle and Brandon must choose: destroy each other... or fight side by side. Love was never part of the war. But the moon has other plans.
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."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."