"Without obsession, life is nothing" -John Waters. She agreed to be someone else's bride for a quick payday. She never expected her fake husband to return early and he refused to let her go. He knows the truth-she was simply an imposter in a life she hadn't chosen. NB: Book undergoing editing & rewriting (lost my old draft, which prevented me from updating….it still follows the same storyline, but just changed alot of few things, hope you like it guys…)
Lihat lebih banyakRaven
"What!!!
My hands trembled as I caught sight of the scene before me, my eyes stung with unshed tears.
This must be a nightmare that I need to wake up from. Matt was saying the wedding vows with another woman. The man who once gazed at me with love now stood before another, his eyes shining with adoration.
At that moment, I wanted to scream, to run away, but my legs had turned jelly, making my feet rooted to the spot.
Matt was the Alpha of a neighbouring pack. We had been lovers since we were teenagers, and we'd officially dated for 5 years, but just last month, he announced that he would be marrying me. I couldn't help but smile when he proposed because Matt was the true definition of a good man, he was caring and very loving. What more could I want?
I was happy that I was finally getting married to the man that I had loved for years, there was no better joy than that.
He would marry me and make me his Luna and mate, or so I thought.
I opened my eyes, hoping to wake from this horror, just in time to see them lock lips after the Priest had pronounced them husband and wife.
My mind reeled in utter shock; my eyes scanned the scene, searching for a hidden camera, anything to explain this nightmare.
The elegant decorations and smiling faces seemed to mock me, their soft murmurs of congratulations a cruel reminder of my despair.
My emotions consumed me and I suddenly rushed towards them.
Ma..tt? Is that...you? I stammered, my voice trembling and tears welling up my eyes.
I just wanted to hear whatever explanation he has for this betrayal.
But a smirk twisted his face, heartless and cruel.
"Are you blind?" he asked, his voice full of malice.
I lunged at him, my fists clenched as I grasped his collar.
"No. No. This can't be happening; today is supposed to be our wedding day, Matt; tell me this is a prank, please." I begged, desperation settling in.
My wolf's sorrowful yip echoed within me and I gave way to tears.
Matt's new wife pushed me angrily from his chest. 'And who the hell are you?' She barked, her voice echoing like a slap.
I dropped weakly to the ground, the chatter of the wedding reception fading into chaos.
My mother's scream pierced the air as she rushed towards me to help me get up, her arms enveloping me like a shield.
I had thought my parents would be against the fact that I couldn't wait to find my fated mate before getting married but they had surprised me.
They were happy with my decision to finally get married without having to find my fated mate. Some wolves get to meet their mate, luckily for them, but we who didn't get to meet ours on time were left with no choice but to take up a chosen mate.
Now, Matt has ruined my only chance of being happy
Exhaustion weighed on me as I cried out, "Matt? Why? Today is our wedding day." tears pooled down my face.
"What wedding? Do you think that an Alpha like me would get married to a weak Omega like you?" He spat out, hugging his new wife. I stared at him in disbelief.
"What in the world are you saying, Matt"?
"I have been with you right from the start, and you chose to call me a weakling?"
"Does this sound like kind of a mistake?" I asked, moving towards him again.
"Hey, stay right there. Take one more step and I'll have the guards throw you out of my wedding." His wife spat at me, causing me to freeze.
Matt remained silent, he stood there, his lips locked on hers.
"Matt, please say something. What about us? We've been together for a long time and you can't end us like this." I screamed, collapsing to the floor.
The betrayal sliced through me like a knife, agony engulfed me, leaving an open wound.
He had ruined my one chance of being happy in life or so I thought.
My mum sat beside me on the floor, weeping, "It's okay, Raven. You'll be fine." She tried to console me but even that could not mend my shattered heart.
I looked up to see Matt still locking lips with his shameless wife and my heart broke in a thousand pieces.
I needed to be alone, I peeled off my heels and rose, my feet shaking like leaves.
"May you never know peace for the pains you've caused me. I wish you two good luck as you rot in hell." I spat, my voice venomous
I was overwhelmed with pain and anger, that I wasn't thinking straight. It was as though my emotions were wrestling for dominance, leaving me in a toxic, breathless mode.
Every muscle in me vibrated with rage as if my very foundation was crumbling, my heart racing. "What was happening to me?"
I could feel severe pain and wrath running through me, something was wrong.
Ara, my wolf stirred, her powers unfolding like a volcano.
"I think she's shifting." I heard someone say.
What? My wolf was ready to come out after all these years of being trapped within me.
I could hear the cracks of my bones, my body reshaping itself, and my senses reeled as my wolf took full dominance.
I dashed out of the hall as her wild power coursed through me.
Fuck!!!
Out in the woods, lonely and scared.
My heart raced as fear crept in, making my bones chill. We'd been running for hours, Ara was finally calm. But as dusk fell, I realized I was lost.
My mind link wasn't working, it was as if my access was blocked out.
"Where was I?" I muttered. Ara, who was never so quiet, was still, the silence deafening with each passing second.
I sat confused on the forest ground and tried to call out to her to take us back the same way she brought us here, but she remained still, hurting from the betrayal.
Suddenly, a tantalizing scent wrapped my nostrils like a warm embrace. I breathed in deeply, longing to hold that intoxicating scent in my lungs forever.
Ara jumped up, yipping happily. I followed the direction of the scent as though pulled by an invisible force. An unseen pull, impossible to resist.
"Could it be?" She snarled excitedly in my head.
"Calm down, girl,' I shot back as I hastened my steps towards the scent.
After a few more steps, I got to the lake, and the scent was now stronger, driving me crazy. Every cell in my body reached out, seeking connection from whoever the scent belonged to.
Just then, under the moonlight, my eyes landed on a masculine figure. Instantly, the scent overwhelmed me.
"Mates." Ara's joyful howl ignited a spark within me.
My mind reeled, and I struggled to comprehend what was happening
As I drew closer to see who it was, I noticed something and my excitement faded away.
"He was not alone."
"Not just one but three, three mates."
I shifted into my human form as the three men approached. Our eyes met, and it was instantly filled with a deep connection.
"Was it true?" I wondered. "Fated to be with three men?" "What would happen now?”
My heart raced as they approached me together at the same time and pace.
One of them spoke, his voice husky and low "We've been searching for you."
As they surrounded me, their combined essence enveloped me, intoxicating and irres
istible.
“How can I trust them after what Matt did to me?” I feel a connection, but is it just my imagination? My heart was racing.
CHAPTER 29: VULNERABLE The master bedroom felt different in daylight…less intimidating, more intimate.He set her down gently beside the bed, his hands framing her face. "Are you sure?"The question surprised her. She had expected demands, authority, and the controlling man she had grown used to. Instead, she saw delay, a defenselessness that made her heart race for entirely different reasons.“Are you?” she asked His smile was a fragile thing, both sad and beautiful, like the last ray of sunlight before nightfall. “I haven’t been sure of anything since the day you walked into my life.”His hands slid down to her shoulders, his fingers brushing the silk of her pajama top. With a tenderness that made her chest ache, he peeled it away, his lips following the path of his hands. His mouth pressed softly against her collarbone, his breath warm against her skin. “So beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion, as if the words were torn from the depths of his soul.She shivered,
CHAPTER 28: BREAKING POINTMorning light screened through sheer curtains, painting golden lines across the bedroom floor. Lyra woke to the sound of waves and the absence of Ryker's presence. The sofa by the window was empty, blankets neatly folded.She touched the pendant at her throat, wondering when it had become natural to sleep wearing it.Coffee and the scent of fresh pastries drew her downstairs. She found Ryker on the terrace, fully dressed in dark jeans and a white button-down, phone pressed to his ear. His voice carried the sharp edge it took on during business calls."I don't care what Kane's lawyers are claiming. The patent is ironclad." He paused, listening. "Then file the request. Today."When he noticed her, his face softened slightly. He ended the call and gave a sign to the breakfast spread Harrison had prepared."Sleep well?" he asked, pouring her coffee without being asked. He'd learned she took it black with one sugar."Better than expected." She sat across from h
CHAPTER 27: HAMPTON RETREAT The screen lit up with Tessa's response: ‘WTF Lyra? Are you serious? Should I call the police?’Ryker's expression hardened as he read the message. "Making plans to leave so soon?""Give me my phone." She reached for it, but he held it away."You texted your friend that you're being held against your will." His voice was dangerously quiet. "An interesting interpretation of our arrangement.""It's not an interpretation. It's the truth." She backed away, anger replacing fear. "You threaten me. Control me. Track my every move. What would you call it?""Protection." He pocketed her phone. "From Kane. From Jane. From your own poor decisions.""I don't need your protection!""Evidence suggests otherwise." He gestured around them. "You're here because Kane has people watching you. Because Jane betrayed you. Because you made a choice to impersonate someone for money without considering the consequences.""And how long will you hold that over me?" Her voice cracked
CHAPTER 26: ESCAPE ATTEMPTThe helicopter sliced through cloud cover, revealing the sprawling coastline below. Lyra gripped the armrest as they came down, the turquoise waters of the Atlantic stretching endlessly before them. She'd never been in a helicopter before today—another first in her life since becoming entangled with Ryker Blackwood."First time flying?" Ryker asked, his voice clear through the headset.She nodded, not trusting her voice. The mansion below grew larger….a modern glass and stone structure perched on a cliff overlooking a private beach. Isolated. Remote. Perfect for keeping someone hidden away.Or perfect for escaping.The thought had crystallized during the drive to the helipad. While Ryker was occupied with security briefings, she'd made her decision. The Hamptons trip wasn't another prison sentence, it was an opportunity. New location meant new possibilities, and new routines to exploit. Mrs. Hargrave had mentioned staff she didn't know, and security deta
CHAPTER 25: THE INVITATIONMorning light filtered through the curtains as Lyra stared at her laptop screen. Words failed her. The cursor blinked mockingly on the page of her manuscript—a silent accusation of her writer's block. Three days at the lake house, and her novel hadn't progressed a single paragraph.Three days of avoiding Ryker. Three days of remembering that kiss.She closed her laptop and moved to the window. The lake shimmered under the spring sunshine, peaceful and serene. So different from the turmoil inside her.A knock at the door made her jump."Breakfast is ready, Mrs. Blackwood," called the housekeeper who had arrived yesterday—an older woman named Martha who spoke little and observed much."Thank you. I'll be down shortly." The Mrs. Blackwood title still felt like someone else's identity—a costume she couldn't take off.Downstairs, the dining room table was set for two. Fresh fruit, pastries, and coffee waited under silver domes. Ryker sat reading something on his
CHAPTER 24: AWAKENING DESIREThe car sped through Manhattan, rain pelting the tinted windows. Lyra stared at the blurry lights, painfully aware of Ryker beside her. His fingers drummed against his knee…the only sign of his tension."Where exactly are we going?" she asked, breaking the silence."Connecticut. My lake house.""For how long?""As long as necessary." He didn't look at her. "Until I'm certain Kane can't reach you."She shifted in her seat. "I can take care of myself.""Clearly." His voice dripped sarcasm. "That's why Jane waltzed right into our home.""*Your* home," she corrected. "And she was my friend.""Was?" Now he turned, eyes narrowing. "Past tense?"Lyra looked away. "She's not who I thought she was.""Finally seeing the truth." He nodded. "Good.""Don't act smug. It doesn't suit you.""What did she say to you?" When Lyra didn't answer, he pressed, "Lyra. What did Jane want?""Money. Updates." She sighed. "To know why I wasn't making you miserable enough."His laugh
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