"I reject you Marian Storm!" Those were the words she could never have dreamed to hear from the Alpha heir to her father's pack. And certainly not at the New Year's Moon celebration, in front of the whole pack. Leaving the pack compound that had been her prison for three years, Marian was heartbroken and determined never to return. But she knew she would, she must. After her rejection, the only desire left in her life was to kill the Alpha who had taken over her father's pack, failing that, she would leave the pack and become a rouge wolf. She returns home for Christmas to attend her fallen family's memorial service. On Christmas Eve, during the pack's mistletoe ceremony, she receives a gift she never expected, a gift no one wanted – Reyland, the biological son of the Alpha she has sworn to kill. Would this gift given to her by the moon goddess help Marian fulfill her desire to reclaim her pack, or would it stir up new passions within her broken heart and consume her instead?
It was that time of the year again. The time of the year Marian hated the most – Christmas.
Away from her pack for almost a year after her self-imposed exile, she had returned to fulfill her duties as the only surviving child and sibling of her late mother and brother.
Goddess, how I hate this place, she mused as she strode toward the pack hall, her hips swaying as she walked purposefully toward the hall in her gold dress and strappy gold heels, all five foot eleven inches of her, as a light breeze pulled on her waist length dark brown hair and silk gown.
Marian had the lean, athletic build of a warrior she-wolf and she moved like the alpha she-wolf that she was – long determine strides, her green eyes fixed on her destination, her back and head straight and upright.
"Why do I have to come back here?"
"All these people...! This place...! It's exactly the same," Marian said haughtily, speaking to her wolf, Dinka, in their mind space.
At the beginning of this very year, Marian had been rejected by the current pack Alpha's adopted son and chosen heir to the pack, Dorien, at the New Year Moon party, in full view of the whole pack.
She could still hear the words now as she headed toward the large pack house.
"I, Dorien Aldon, reject you, Marian Storm, as my mate!"
With those words from him, her heart had felt like it was going to explode and till today she did not know how she had managed it, but she had fled from the same pack hall she was now striding toward.
She straightened her shoulders at the thought, pushing the memory back where it belonged – down and out of her mind – as she continued her approach.
"You know why," Dinka replied steadily as she watched the other wolves around, sniffing at some and keeping her distance from others.
"Yeah," Marian replied lazily.
Marian had left the pack compound after the rejection and would have stayed away permanently, if not for the memorial service she needed to attend for her mother and brother.
She sniffed the air and her wolf, Dinka, purred.
Dinka had missed the pack life. Marian had not.
"Let's go to him!" Dinka urged in the mind space she shared with her human.
"Sure, D. Let's find him," Marina replied as she arrived at the hall where the pack's Christmas Eve ceremony, was in full swing.
This was a party held every year, on Christmas Eve, to usher the pack into Christmas Day; fondly referred to as the mistletoe drop party, by young wolves.
Christmas had always been a main celebration in her pack, and this had not changed after the war four years ago – the war in which she had lost her mother and younger brother.
The war in which she and her father, the erstwhile Alpha, had lost and were taken prisoner by the victor of the bloody battle – Dax Garrant, the current pack Alpha and a man Marcia had called uncle for most of her life, right up to that deadly fight.
The pack compound was a sight to behold.
Marian entered the hall and strolled around the grandly decorated room. Lights were everywhere, wonderful Christmas decorations adorned the ceiling and the walls, and there was more than enough food and drink going around.
Everyone was dressed in their finest wear.
Is that her?
Yeah!
Wow!
Don't look...
She seems...different...
Shh!
The words flitted through the air in the hall, and Marian knew they were talking or gossiping about her, but she did not care.
She was dressed in a gold gown her father had prepared for her. A dress that was both alluring and an official statement.
A statement that she was back and that she would not be cowered.
She did not notice the heads that turned or the eyes that stared. She was not here for them.
She glanced around the full hall, searching for her father.
To usher in the big day, this year's party was livelier than the last one. Various wolf clans had been invited, and even a few rouge wolves who dwelled around the perimeter of their pack lands were in attendance on this day.
There was chatting, laughing and some side games going on in the hall.
Marian waded deeper into the room. Some wolves nodded to her, others gawked and whispered, and still others looked away, pretending not to have noticed her.
But Marian did not care for any of them, some had been allies of her father's during the war, others had been on Dax's side.
After the battle, some had been part of the group who had abused her, used her as a punching bag during training, or treated her lower than a slave – when her father was not near – or had been part of the group who looked away when she was being mistreated.
It did not matter now. Not anymore. After the rejection, after she had been allowed to leave, she had freed herself of this place and these people in ways they would never understand.
She was not their prisoner anymore, not in her heart or in her mind. She was only back for one reason, and once her duty was fulfilled, she would leave.
"Where is he..." Marian said irritably to Dinka as she glanced around.
There were too many smells in the room, and something was also interfering with her nasal cavity.
"It's almost time, they must have started releasing the gas," Dinka said in a low growl.
"Yeah, it should be time soon," Marian confirmed.
"I can't wait to get out of here," she continued, complaining to her wolf.
Marian had returned to the pack to attend the memorial service that was held every year, for the past three years, to commemorate the war she and her father had lost and Dax had won.
The whole pack attended. It was a grave day for everyone. Almost everyone in the pack had lost someone on that day. It was not a service for only her lost loved ones, it was for the pack's lost loved ones.
"Use the link," Dinka urged.
Marian did not respond.
Her green eyes narrowed as she spun around and waded deeper into the hall.
She did not want to be here and, she was not wanted here; most especially by Alpha Dax.
They shared a deep hatred that could never be mended. Not only had he, with his own hands, killed her family, he had taken the only family she had left, away from her.
And kept him at his side like a prize on permanent display.
She hated him, and Dax could not care less about her.
Fate! Chance! A terrible accident changes the course of Karen's life. Thrown into the world of enigmatic billionaires Taylor Grey and his father Marshal Grey, she must find her way out of the cage presented to her by their family. Karen thought Taylor Grey was offering a helping hand after causing the accident that took away her livelihood, but she soon discovered that his father had other plans for her that she could never have imagined. Forced to play a role she never wanted, can she escape before it's too late for her to return to her own life? Torn between two very different men, who will she turn to for the freedom she desperately seeks? Will Karen find redemption or stay trapped by a family that will do anything to have their way?
Marcia and Jullian were inseparable in college; they were like two halves of one whole. Everyone thought they were a forever couple. On the day of their graduation, Jullian vanished without a trace, and Marcia's world came crashing down. Five years later, after rebuilding her life abroad, Marcia is back home, fully focused on her new company, the new love of her life. Just as things are falling into place, Jullian suddenly reappears, still as captivating as ever. His reason for coming back? To "help" Marcia and to "correct" his past mistakes. Jullian has a proposal – one that feels more like a challenge – sell your company to me and let me take care of you the way I should have years ago. What follows is a battle of wills. Will Marcia hold on to the independence she fought so hard to achieve, or will Jullian's return and his offer of security be too much to resist? It's a showdown between the woman who craves freedom and the one who once let her go.
After being kicked out of her home, Harlee learned she wasn't the biological daughter of her family. Rumors had it that her impoverished biological family favored sons and planned to profit from her return. Unexpectedly, her real father was a zillionaire, catapulting her into immense wealth and making her the most cherished member of the family. While they anticipated her disgrace, Harlee secretly held design patents worth billions. Celebrated for her brilliance, she was invited to mentor in a national astronomy group, drew interest from wealthy suitors, and caught the eye of a mysterious figure, ascending to legendary status.
Eliza Greer was abandoned by her mother, raised in an orphanage, and sold to the Burns family at 19. Even though she marries Mason Burns, the other people in the Burns family look down on her for her poor identity and want to try every way to bully her. Unexpectedly, they all failed. Eliza's hidden identities are gradually revealed in one incident after another, which astonishes everyone.
Mia's life is spiraling out of control. Abandoned by her mother, bullied mercilessly at school, and thrown into a household of four dangerously attractive stepbrothers, she's desperate to find her footing. "You look absolutely edible," Sean growled, his eyes devouring her. Mia felt a rush of heat between her thighs "Oh, you think so?" she purred, turning to face him. She reached out and traced her fingers along the ribbon that wrapped around his waist. "Well, I've been waiting for this all day. And I'm starving." Sean's smile grew into a predatory grin. "Then let us feast," he said, and in a flash, the ribbon fell away, exposing his rock-hard length. He stepped closer, and Mia felt the warmth of his breath on her face as he whispered, "You're going to take every inch of us tonight, aren't you?" With Rolex's teasing smirk and Sean's quiet, hot stares, Mia doesn't know where to turn-or who to trust. Every glance, every touch leaves her breathless, confused, and craving more than she should. Will Mia survive their games, or will she lose herself in a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and forbidden desire? One house. Four brothers. Endless temptation.
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
What happens when a hook-up gets complicated by a baby? Can she hide the secret from him? Or will he show her how possessive he can be when he learns she's carrying his child? "Seven years ago, I had a one-night stand with my brother's best friend, who also happened to be my lifelong crush. The next day, he vanished leaving me pregnant. Now, I am a single mom raising our son in the same small town. Recently, he returned to attend my brother's wedding and the truth about our son was finally revealed. As he reclaims his place in our lives, the sparks between us reignite. However, danger from his past threatens to shatter our newfound connection. I am torn between my love for him and my fear of getting hurt again, especially now that I have two hearts to protect - our son's and my own."