Beneath the dazzling lights of Celestia, a city brimming with power and intrigue, Liliana Lennox lives in the shadows of her dark past. Her marriage to Ethan Darnell, the Alpha heir to a business dynasty, which was supposed to save her family, has turned into a nightmare. In her fight for survival, Liliana faces betrayal, hatred, and secrets that slowly come to light. Meanwhile, Ethan, blinded by anger and feelings of betrayal, finds himself caught in an unexpected emotional turmoil when Liliana reappears in his life after three years of absence. Her return reignites a conflict he had long tried to bury, pulling them both into a vortex of revenge, love, and sacrifice. Amid external threats and their own internal struggles, can Liliana and Ethan find their way to the truth? Or will their relationship remain buried under an unforgivable past?
View MoreLILIANA LENNOX
I slowly opened my eyes, though the morning felt far from welcoming. My body was heavy, but my mind refused to stay in the haze of sleep. I was still in shock, utterly drained after a long and tormenting night—a night that shattered my illusions of how foolish I’d been all along. The faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, mixing with the masculine, overpowering aroma of Ethan’s cologne, making me shudder.
Fully awake, I slid out from under the blanket and grabbed my nightgown scattered on the floor. Careful not to make a sound, I walked to the ceiling-to-floor window, pulling back the curtains to reveal the glittering city lights below.
“Celestia,” I whispered to myself. “The city that never sleeps. Soon, the sun will rise. Maybe it’ll finally erase me in its light…”
Solaris Heights, the exclusive enclave of Celestia’s elite, had been my gilded cage for the past month. Hidden behind its towering iron gates, it held secrets the outside world could never penetrate.
“There’s nothing I can do, is there?” I muttered again, sighing heavily. “No point in hoping anymore. They’ve already decided to throw me away here.”
Though Celestia was the dazzling capital that fueled the world’s economy, I felt as if I’d been thrust into the deepest, coldest abyss.
A month ago, my parents—Alpha and Luna Lennox—offered me as collateral to the Darnell family, the leaders of the Blackland pack. It was all because of my brother Raymond, who, either deliberately or accidentally, had killed one of their betas—a crime that could never be forgiven.
I had hoped Raymond would own up to his mistake and take responsibility. I didn’t care if it meant a duel, his life, or even a war between packs. But that spineless, cursed brother of mine had run away, leaving me to pay for his sins. And now, here I was, condemned by my own parents.
“Damn you, Raymond!” I clenched my fists so hard my knuckles turned white.
Somehow, my conniving stepmother, Alina Lennox, had managed to suppress the Blackland pack’s fury and strike a deal with the Darnells. But the deal they reached wasn’t justice—it was betrayal. Instead of Raymond, I was sent to the Darnells as restitution for the beta’s death.
Now, the Lennox family and Blackland pack were bound by marriage—an unholy alliance. I was forced to marry Ethan Darnell, their infamous Alpha. The man was rumored to be cruel, disfigured, crippled, and old—an angry, bitter relic of a man who had lost his wolf. Yet, despite his disabilities, he retained his grip on power with legendary ruthlessness and unimaginable wealth.
These horrifying whispers about Ethan had circulated everywhere, painting a vivid picture of a tyrant ruling with fear. But no one had actually seen him—not even me until last night.
My stepmother’s words echoed in my head: “Lili, you have to do this. It’s the only way to save us. One day, Raymond will repay your sacrifice.”
This marriage wasn’t my choice. It was a sacrifice forced upon me to save my family and my pack.
Behind me, the heavy rustle of blankets pulled me out of my thoughts. Ethan, my so-called husband, rose from the bed. Though we had been married for a month, I had only seen him for the first time last night. And I still trembled at the memory.
The image of an old, grumbling Alpha shattered the moment I met him. Instead, I was confronted with a man who exuded cold, brutal authority.
Cruel? Absolutely. My body bore the evidence of his cruelty after what he did to me last night.
Crippled? Yes, that part was true. He couldn’t walk unaided and relied on a wheelchair. His eyesight was nearly gone. But old and bitter? That was the biggest lie.
I knew there had been a grand celebration yesterday, but I didn’t expect Ethan to come to the villa—or worse, to find me trying to escape. I’d had enough of this unfair marriage and wanted to return home to demand my parents annul it. But just as I was about to leave, someone stood in the doorway.
Ethan entered the villa, pushed in his wheelchair by one of his betas. The dim lighting barely revealed his face. I took a step back, hoping to find another exit, but someone grabbed me from behind.
“You’re too late to run,” a gruff voice whispered, a blade pressed against my waist. I glanced back and realized it was a gamma from the Blackland pack.
“I-I just want to go home. Please…” I pleaded.
“Go back to your room and fulfill your duty!” the gamma snapped. “Your family sold you to our Alpha. There’s nowhere for you to return to. Do you understand?”
Helpless, I returned to the room. For an entire month, I had been locked in this villa with no way out.
“The Alpha is drunk enough. That should make things easier for you tonight. Give him what he wants—a heir!” the gamma barked before shoving me into the dimly lit bedroom.
“What am I supposed to do?” I whispered, trembling.
“Anything the Alpha wants!” he hissed before slamming the door behind me.
In the dimly lit room, I felt suffocated as I saw Ethan lying in the massive bed.
“Come here and take off my clothes,” he ordered in a voice that dripped with authority and intimidation.
I hesitated, my steps faltering in the darkness. I could barely make out his face, but the tension in the room was suffocating. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand, yanking me forward until I fell onto his chest.
“What’s wrong? Are you disgusted by a crippled man?” he sneered, his voice tinged with bitterness.
“N-no, Alpha. I’ll serve you!” I stammered, my words spilling out before I could stop them.
I was grateful for the dim lighting, shielding my face from revealing the turmoil within. With trembling hands, I stripped Ethan Darnell. He lay immobile on the bed, but his hands were anything but weak. He moved quickly, stripping me and pulling me onto his body. The sudden contact made my skin flush.
“Do it quickly,” he ordered.
Ethan’s heavy breaths filled the air as he gripped my small waist tightly, rendering me completely helpless. He pressed my body against his, and at that moment, I realized something terrifying—Ethan Darnell was nothing like the weak old man everyone had described.
My face flushed slightly as the madness of last night replayed in my mind. Oh, God… after a month of mystery, I finally knew. A body carved with muscle, raw masculinity that could make me faint, and an unbridled hunger. He was... rough, and at the same time, intoxicatingly addictive!
LILIANAI don’t even know how long I sat curled up on that hard bed, my body stiff and aching. The rough ropes tying my wrists and ankles just got more painful every time I tried to move. The cold air inside this wooden cabin cut right to the bone, making the hopelessness gnawing at my heart even worse.I was beyond bored—but mostly, I was furious.Earlier this afternoon, some big guy had brought me food. He also offered to help me go to the bathroom, all stiff and formal like a damn robot. I refused both. I wasn’t about to depend on anyone here, especially not to show weakness.He ignored all my begging and threats. His face didn’t even change when I tried. After I tried to escape last night—stealing one of their horses, no less—they were definitely being way more careful.I let out a slow breath, trying to keep the frustration inside.When night fell and it got darker outside, I heard heavy footsteps coming toward the cabin. I immediately sat up straighter, alert. Maybe this was ano
LILIANAHe threw me down on the sturdy, pretty decent-sized bed in this cabin. Honestly, this bed was way better than the one they stuck me with last night. But it wasn’t the bed I cared about. I wanted answers.Ryder couldn’t just walk away after what he said. I should’ve known from the start that something felt off. I struggled to sit up and was ready to sprint after him to stop him from leaving.I glared at Ryder’s back, my whole body burning with rage. But he didn’t even flinch. Like my anger didn’t mean a damn thing to him. Without even glancing back, he walked toward the rickety wooden door. This cabin didn’t even have windows—obviously built to keep people locked in. People like me.“Wait!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the stuffy room. “Don’t you dare leave me without answering, Ryder! Don’t you freaking ignore me!”I could feel my pulse pounding under my skin. My anger boiled over, burning away every last bit of logic I had. I seriously felt like I could do anything ri
LILIANAI didn’t have much of a choice but to ride with him. Ryder yanked me up onto his horse without warning, making our bodies press together. I could feel his heavy breathing right by my ear, one hand on the reins and the other wrapped tightly around my waist.I felt sick. Not having a wolf made me feel like dead weight. Ryder didn’t even bother carrying me on his back—he’d rather use a horse to drag us both around."Sit still and stop moving," he hissed. "If you try to jump off, I’m not responsible if you get hurt."I bit my lip, holding back the rage boiling inside me. I knew Ryder wasn’t someone you could reason with—especially not in moments like this. His horse galloped down a rocky road, far from the nearest village. I felt trapped, like a bird with no wings."So... whose baby is it?" His cold voice cut through my thoughts.I tensed. My heart started pounding faster. He knew. But how?"Does Ethan Darnell know you have a kid? Or is it someone else’s?"I closed my eyes, trying
LILIANAI've made up my mind. All day and night, I kept thinking about my plan to escape. I spent time walking around the village, studying my escape routes and figuring out what vehicle I could use.There were a few camper vans and trucks parked in the village square, usually used for campfires at night. But there were too many people around. No way I could steal one without getting caught.So, what else? A horse? Suddenly, I remembered the one Ryder used when he brought me here. But no—that horse was left behind in the previous village, and we came here by truck.Not giving up, I snuck out again after bathing in the river. I kept searching, and sure enough, I found a few horses in the stables—three or four of them. Looks like they use them for hunting.I've thought everything through. Tonight, just before dawn, when everyone is deep asleep after dinner, I'll take one of the horses and get out of here. Where to? I have no idea. But escaping comes first. I'll figure things out later.
LILIANAWith a lot of effort, I finally managed to break free from him and move away. I grabbed the blanket I was sitting on, wrapped myself up, and rolled under a tree. If he wouldn’t let me go back to the cabin, then fine—I’d sleep out here. I didn’t care.The night breeze blew softly, making my skin feel even colder. I pulled the blanket tighter around me, trying to calm myself down. But that peace didn’t last long.Out of nowhere, Ryder grabbed me, lifting me up along with the blanket wrapped around me. I was trapped! I struggled with all my might, but it was useless."What are you doing?!" I yelled."Taking you away," he said flatly.I kept squirming, trying to get loose, but Ryder walked confidently as if I weighed nothing. Desperate, I bit his arm, hoping he’d let me go."Aww!" He cursed under his breath but didn’t stop walking. "Damn, you’re really wild."I didn’t care. I kept fighting, but he only tightened his grip. I could feel his warmth seeping through the blanket."Stay
LILIANAI bit my lower lip, realizing I'd just stepped into dangerous territory. “I was just asking,” I finally said, trying to defend myself.Ryder let out a quiet sigh, then stood up. He pulled me behind the big rock where he had been leaning earlier. We were hidden from everyone. Strangely, I didn’t resist. Instead, I stayed still, even though every part of me wanted to step back.“Serina means nothing to me,” he said, standing right in front of me. His arms were pressed against the rock, trapping me between them. “And I don’t let anyone decide my life for me.”I swallowed hard. Something about the way he spoke made me feel like he was trying to make a point.“Then,” I whispered, refusing to be intimidated, “why is she so mad at me?”Ryder narrowed his eyes. “You ask too many questions.”I scoffed, trying to hide my nervousness. “I’m a hostage here. What else am I supposed to do besides ask questions?”He didn’t respond right away. Then, out of nowhere, he leaned in closer. His bre
LILIANABefore I could respond, one of the guards moved fast, his big hand grabbing my arm and yanking me roughly. I struggled, screamed, and fought back with all my strength. "No!" I cried out, my voice breaking. I tried to pull away from the guard's tight grip, but it was useless. His strong hand was unyielding, dragging me mercilessly.I felt my body being lifted off the ground, completely powerless to fight back. Without hesitation, they hauled me out of the meeting hall, dragging me back to the cabin. I knew what was coming next. I'd be locked up there, alone. They wouldn’t let me out until they were sure I wouldn’t try to escape or do anything that could be a threat to them.With each step they took, I felt myself being pulled further away from whatever was left of my freedom. It felt like a giant wall was blocking my way, and I had no idea how to get past it. I felt trapped, like a mouse caught in its own snare.Inside the cabin, I just sat in the corner. That day, I felt even
LILIANA“And what if I refuse?” I still tried to resist, even though I knew I was on the edge.Ryder stepped closer, leaning down so our faces were level. “You know the answer, Liliana. Don’t make a mistake,” he warned, his voice rough and full of threat. “You have less than a minute to talk to your husband!”I stared at the chair, not knowing what to do. Follow Ryder’s orders or fight back? But when I saw the knife and remembered the video of the kids at the orphanage, I knew the answer. I had to do it. I had to act the way they wanted, or I’d never get out of here alive.With trembling hands, I sat in the chair Ryder had pointed to. I could feel the cold air in the room, like everything had stopped just to focus on me. The tension grew heavier, and every second felt like an eternity.As I sat, I realized why the room was so dark. There was nothing here that could give away my location. Just me, them, and the camera in front of me. I knew this wasn’t just about me and Ethan Darnell.
LILIANAWithout thinking twice, I stepped into the big cabin. It was the largest one I’d seen so far. Maybe they served breakfast here. I was starving after a long night of tension. My stomach growled as I walked in, hoping to find something to eat.But the moment I stepped inside, I froze.The room was silent—so still it felt like time had stopped. The dim lighting made the space look even bigger, even more intimidating. The strong, masculine scent in the air sent a shiver down my spine. My eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness, and when I finally saw what was in front of me, my heart nearly stopped.A large table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by men. They sat calmly, as if waiting for something, but their sharp eyes were locked onto me, watching my every move. No doubt about it—these were the wolves who kidnapped me!Rage bubbled inside me. What were they planning?All of them were staring, their eyes filled with calculated suspicion. I felt like a lamb surrounded by
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