A Bleach And Tone Tana

By a twist of fate, my husband, Morgan Lancaster, and I perish together in a sea of flames. When I open my eyes again, I find myself back on the very day we received our marriage certificate. In my previous life, we appeared to be a loving couple in the eyes of others, yet Morgan refused to share a bedroom with me the entire time we were married. It was only moments before our deaths that I discovered I was merely a substitute for his first love and that he had chosen to remain chaste for her for life. After getting another chance at life, neither of us mentions the past. Instead, by mutual understanding, we file for divorce that same day. From that point on, we go our separate ways. Eight years later, Morgan shows up arm in arm with his childhood sweetheart, Freya Springer, at a business summit. He is now a prominent and celebrated rising star in the business world. Seeing me dressed in a plain outfit, he approaches with a glass of champagne. His tone drips with mockery as he asks, "Ms. Smith, even if you still have feelings for me, there's no need to dress like a waitress just to get close to me. You aren't hoping for a reconciliation, are you?" I say nothing and simply smile as I wave at someone in the distance. My son, Theo Coltrane, toddles over and tugs at the hem of my shirt. "Mommy, Daddy says that he's tired from waiting so long. When are you coming home with us?" The smile on Morgan's face freezes instantly, and he nearly loses his grip on the glass in his hand.

Danielle Reyes-Callahan had one great love — and his name was Dante. From the moment he crossed a crowded fire to bring her a drink she hadn't asked for, she knew he was irreplaceable. They built a life together in the forests of the Pacific Northwest — a house, a future, dreams of children — until a violent November storm stole him in twenty minutes. He went out to protect their home and never came back. Fourteen months of grief nearly destroyed her. So she did the unthinkable. At an ancient forbidden ritual pool deep in the forest, Danielle performed the forging — pouring his wedding necklace, a strand of his hair, and every broken piece of her longing into the dark water. Something answered. What rose wore Dante's face perfectly. His voice. His smile. His memories. But it was not him. What she had forged was obsession wearing love's face — possessive, isolating, and darkening dangerously by the day. It threatened her family. It harmed the people she loved. And when it put its hands around Elena's wrist and looked at Danielle like she was something it owned rather than someone it loved — she finally faced the truth. She had not brought Dante home. She had built a monster. Now she must destroy it — surviving its attempt to kill her with her husband's own hands around her throat — and find the courage to finally let go. She kills it. And in the silence after, she begins — for the first time — to truly heal. Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance Setting: Contemporary Pacific Northwest — shifter pack community Tone: Twilight-inspired urban shifter world meets dark psychological romance Heat level: High — intense, possessive, emotionally charged

“Why are you being so selfish?” he sneered, his tone sharp enough to cut. “Have you forgotten your disorder?” His eyes raked over her, cold and disdainful. “You wanted me to marry you, fine. But don’t for a second think you’ll give me the kind of offspring I need. What am I supposed to do with an omega like you? The odds of you bearing an Alpha are slim. And even if you did, there’s a good chance you’d miscarry. I’m offering you the chance for an open marriage—you should be grateful.” Zara has always been seen as weak—her SSD a mark of shame in a world that values strength above all else. After enduring years of rejection and scorn, her heart dares to hope when she’s about to marry Leon, the Alpha who finally makes her feel special. But on their wedding day, his shocking demand for an "open marriage" shatters her dreams, plunging her back into a world of betrayal. When her twin sister, Lyra, agrees to play along with Leon’s cruel arrangement, Zara’s trust is broken, leaving her feeling more alone than ever. As her life spirals, Zara’s former mate, Calix, returns, sparking a second chance that brings even more chaos. With the revelation of a dangerous secret and a series of devastating betrayals, Zara must fight for her future—and for the love she truly deserves. As the war between packs escalates, Zara learns to stand strong, reclaiming her power and discovering that the most important battle is the one for her own heart. Will Zara finally find the love and acceptance she’s longed for, or will she be forever trapped in a world of lies and deceit?

I masterminded a half-billion-dollar art auction to wash money for Miles’s family. But at the celebration party, Miles gave all the credit to Rebecca. His childhood friend. The daughter of the family’s consigliere. I stormed into his study. “Miles, head curator was Rebecca? Are you sure about that?” He looked up from a cloud of smoke, pulling me into his arms. His voice was a low, soothing rumble. “Valerie, I know you want to prove yourself, but this was all Rebecca. Especially the Caravaggio. The real one, worth three hundred million. She’s the one who pulled it off.” His lips brushed my forehead, his breath hot. “I don’t love you because you can fix some old paintings. You’re my queen, always. My girl. You don’t have to worry about her.” I almost laughed. The anger was choking me. “She can’t tell the difference between oil and acrylic. How the hell would she know a real from a fake?” “Enough!” Miles cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I know what Rebecca can do. Don’t make a scene just because you’re jealous.” His hands tightened, trapping me in his smoky embrace. “Don’t disappoint me, Valerie.” But he already had. When I’d had enough of his favoritism and his blindness, I walked. And that's when he went crazy. Scoured the earth looking for me. Begging me to come back, saying he was blind, that he’d been wrong about everything.

Three years ago, on the day I married Luca Moretti, he personally handed me a marriage contract with a fixed term of three years. His tone was casual, indifferent, as if he were discussing an ordinary business deal. "This marriage exists solely to serve the alliance of interests between the Morettis and the Vitales. Sign this agreement. After three years, the marriage will automatically dissolve. When that time comes, you can go and pursue your true love." I barely hesitated before signing. Ten years earlier, at an inter-family business gala, when I was ten and Luca was sixteen, I had already fallen hopelessly in love with him. What looked like a strategic alliance was, in truth, the outcome of my decade-long unrequited love. During the three years of our marriage, Luca was attentive and gentle toward me. Over time, I began to believe I was loved. I sank into that illusion, unable to pull myself out, forgetting entirely about the agreement. That illusion was shattered completely on the night of our third wedding anniversary. That evening, Luca arrived with Elena, who had just returned to New York, and attended what was supposed to be our third anniversary celebration together. She stood beside him with ease and composure, smoothly engaging with business partners. People praised her, saying she looked more like the Donna of the Moretti family. In that moment, even though Luca never mentioned the agreement again, I understood clearly that it was time for me to step aside. After breaking free from his control, crossing an ocean to rebuild myself, and becoming a brilliant leader in my industry, I would no longer wait for his love.

Matt had been gifted something that had only been of legend. something so beautiful and dangerous. he knows what has to be done is his destiny but will he handle the chaos that will ensue with this blessing, or will it all go to shit? *snippet* “What the fuck Chloe,” he ground out, “I'm not leaving until I have answers, you can't expect me to just let it go when you're thin as hell and covered in bruises,” He shouted in her face. “No, fuck you, you can't just come into my life, turn into that... that creature and expect to know my life story,” Chloe said stubbornly, folding her arms in front of her chest and turning away. “Im not asking for that, I just need to know who did this to you,” “You,” She turned on her hill, poking Matt in the chest, “Don't need to know anything,” She glared, Matt snatching her wrist and pulling her to him. “Why do you have to be so difficult?” he asked, his features softening. “Why do you have to be a mythical creature that's not supposed to exist,” “Ouch,” Niki muttered behind Matt in a sarcastic tone, folding her arms. “What?” Chloe snapped at her, regretting it instantly. “You're not supposed to exist either,” She said calmly. “What's that supposed to mean?” she asked, getting frustrated, her anger at the situation boiling inside her. “Its a long story, Matt can tell you,” Niki said, turning and walking away. “Come on, I'll explain everything,” Matt gestured for Chloe to follow, which she reluctantly did.

“It’s not as simple as you think, Adolphus…. I am wolf-less…. This is the perfect reason that I can’t be your luna.” I tried to give Adolphus a reason why he should reject me, but my voice cracked. To be honest, belittling myself, and asking my second chance mate to reject me for the same reason that my first mate used stung badly. My heart was hurting badly, but I concealed my heartache and kept on looking at him with indifference. I saw his jaw clenching hard, and my body trembled, not in fear, but because of heartache. He was an alpha… Our future alpha…. He needs a strong she-wolf as his mate, not someone like me…. Who is wolf-less….. “So… you think th… that the Moon Goddess did a mistake by pairing us, huh?” he asked me, and I dug my nails deeper in my palms. I felt something hot seeping out of my fingers, but my eyes were still glued on him. “I don’t know about others, but there is no way that I will reject you, Madeline….. Both I and Onyx has no problem with you having no wolf because our goddess chose you for me…. So forget it about rejection, and you know me very well.” He announced his decision in a firm and cold tone, and before I could say a word, he stormed out of my room. I collapsed on the floor right after he left the room, and sobbed silently. I was relieved that I didn’t have to go through the pain of rejection this time, but I was sorry for Adolphus. I didn’t know why the Moon Goddess paired us, but I need to talk to his father, our present alpha.

Closing the door shut, I exhaled lowly and turned around to make a dash into the room when my eyes met with a pair of raging fireballs glaring into my soul. How come he is here? I made sure to lock the door. “And you think that a wooden door is strong enough to prevent me from meeting my mate?” He answered my unsaid question, his tone strident and laced with pure rage making me cower back. But still, I mustered up courage and shot him a defiant look. “And I made it clear to you that I don’t accept you as my mate,” I spoke confidently while looking straight into his eyes. My breath hitched when I noticed his eyes darkening. He was clearly pissed by my protest but I stood my ground. Taking a deep breath I continued, “Listen, I can’t be with you nor with anyone. What happened that night was just a mistake and I never accepted you so stop harassing me and just leave-“ Before I could complete it, my neck was grabbed in a vice grip as I was pinned against the door. I quickly shielded my belly with my arms dreading he would hurt my children. But irrespective of my fear-stricken face, he leaned dangerously closer to my face and flashed me a diabolical smirk that dripped with menace. “I think I made it clear to you last night Ms. Evans. I had never asked for your consent in the first place so you… don't really have a choice. ‘Cause once you enter Xavier’s maze, there is no going back, Grace.”

At my three-year anniversary dinner with Vincent Hartwell, his secretary deliberately poured red wine over my head. I finally reached my breaking point and slapped her in front of all the guests. That very night, the incident spread like wildfire through high society circles. When my mother saw the leaked bedroom photographs of the two of them, the shock triggered a heart attack. She collapsed and died on the spot. When I learned the news, I sank to the floor and cried all night. Meanwhile, Vincent stayed by his secretary's side, comforting her. When he came home, he brushed past my disheveled state without a glance, loosened his tie, and spoke in that careless tone of his. "I've already buried the story. Don't let it happen again. "I have a meeting tonight. Pull yourself together and get to the villa within thirty minutes. Madison needs you." As he walked toward the door, he added over his shoulder, "She's fragile right now because of the pregnancy. If you do anything to harm my only child, I won't forgive you." I listened without crying or arguing. However, after he left, I pulled the divorce agreement from my drawer that I had prepared weeks ago. Beneath it lay my own positive pregnancy test. 'Vincent, I'll leave to find my biological father in three days.' This time, I was really leaving. I would make sure my father paid for every grievance I had endured over the last few years.

On the anniversary of our Mating, my legs were wrapped around my Alpha, Adrian, as we shared a deep kiss. My fingertips brushed against the hidden pocket of my silk dress, my hand tightening around the pregnancy test I had concealed there. I felt the faint flutter of a new life inside me, planning to give him this surprise as the perfect end to our evening. Just then, Adrian's Beta, Ethan, spoke in a low, teasing tone, using the Old Tongue. "Alpha, that little sister-in-law of yours… the newly matured she-wolf, Zoe. How did she taste?" Adrian's low, suggestive chuckle reached my ears, quiet yet piercingly clear. He replied in the same ancient language. "You know a freshly ripened pepper? Hot, with a real kick." His palm was still caressing my waist, yet his gaze had drifted elsewhere. "Just keep it quiet. If my Luna finds out, it's all over." The other Betas let out knowing chuckles, raising their glasses in a silent promise to keep his secret. But a chill washed over me, and my inner wolf went still, as if it had died. He didn't know I had studied the Old Tongue for my research on werewolf trauma. I understood every word. I held back my tears, forcing myself to appear unfazed, maintaining the composure expected of a Luna. Instead of confronting him, I sent a magically shielded message to Elder Slone of the Werewolf Healers' Association, accepting the invitation she had extended to me. In three days, I would join a secure werewolf rehabilitation program as their new Lead Therapist and disappear from Adrian's world forever.