Adopted Parents

My wife has long yearned for a child. One day, she finally becomes pregnant after spending the night with a college student. Overjoyed, she plans to keep it a secret until the baby is born. However, at the hospital, I catch her red-handed. Losing control, I demand to know why she would betray me, especially after all the billion-dollar deals I've secured for her. Without a flicker of remorse, she hands me the divorce papers. "You're infertile, and my desire to conceive has been a constant struggle. On the other hand, Ed is young, passionate, and protective. I'm going to marry him and start the family I've always wanted. Sign the papers. As long as we part on good terms, your place in the company is secure." My refusal only fuels her relentless revenge. She not only has me thrown in prison but also seizes every one of my assets. In the end, she even forces my parents, who suffered from heart disease, onto a drop tower ride. "Sign off on the divorce, and they'll be safe. Refuse, and you'll see them die on that ride."

I was the true-born Luna heir, mistakenly switched at birth, while another had been raised in my place. When I was thirteen, my birth pack found me, bringing me home after a lifetime of being misplaced. But instead of the happiness I deserved, I was met with nothing but betrayal. My birth parents favored their adopted daughter over me. My destined Alpha was stolen by my so-called sister. The Beta mate who saved me from despair turned out to be part of a carefully laid scheme. Unloved by my own parents. Provoked by my sister. Abandoned by my Alpha. Deceived by my Beta. Happiness was never meant for me—so why should any of you have it? Since I can't have it, I choose to leave;

I struggle with all my might, but Dad restrains me, and Mom breaks my limbs. Then, my sister seals me into the concrete. "Concrete is only brought to life with an actual person sealed inside. It looks so much more defined! It's not like you'll die after being sealed in there for a few days. How can you be so insensible?" The pain of having my limbs broken and my oxygen being cut off leads to me dying within that block of concrete. My body rots and festers inside, but my soul sticks around to watch how my parents dote on their adoptive child. They seem to be happy without me. Finally, I lose all hope in them. But when the liquid from my body seeps out of the concrete, they all lose their minds.

“And the night we met again,” I whisper, “my wolf recognized you.” Silence. “Recognized me how?” she asks carefully. My chest burns even as my pulse thunders in my ears. “As my mate.” The word falls between us like shattered glass. Avara laughs. “That’s not funny.” “I know.” “You’re my brother.” “I know.” I find myself inching closer… closer. “That’s impossible. This is sick.” “I know,” I say again, voice breaking now. “I fought it. Gods, I fought it. I tried to convince myself my instincts were wrong, that my wolf was broken, that I was losing my mind.” Her hands shake. “Stop.” “I can’t,” I say hoarsely. “Because every second I’m near you, it gets worse. Because my wolf wants to kneel at your feet and tear the world apart to protect you.” Avara stands abruptly, backing away until her spine hits the wall. “You’re lying.” “I wish I were.” …………………………… Fifteen years after vanishing from the Silvermoon pack, Kaeden Vane returns, older, lethal, and right on time at thirty-three, the age decreed by the Moon Goddess for succession, having spent years years amassing forbidden knowledge, mastering dangerous magic, and preparing to destroy his father, the man who murdered his mother in a bid for godhood. His return reunites him with Avara Vane, his seemingly fragile, human adopted sister that Silas, their father, adopted as an ‘act of mercy’. She is a Nyxarel, whose parents were slaughtered by the man she calls father and who has been conveniently placed and subdued by his father, until it is the right time to use her blood to attain immortality. And one touch is all it takes for Kaeden’s wolf to recognize her as his mate, an impossible, unforgivable bond…

I was from a rich family. But after I finally returned home, my parents made me sleep in the store room and eat leftover food. Yet, they still felt like they had wronged their foster daughter. When the government introduced the Children’s Fairness System, my parents immediately bound the entire family to it. My father breathed a sigh of relief and said, “With this perfectly fair system in place, Annie won’t be treated unfairly anymore.” My mother gently held my hand and said in an unyielding tone. “Ever since you came back, you’ve taken everything that was meant for Annie. This is unfair to her.” My elder brother never showed a hint of kindness toward me either. “I only acknowledge Annie as my sister. You’ve gotten way more than you deserved already, so don’t push your luck,” he said. I looked down at the cheap clothes I had worn for five years. Then, I glanced at Annie’s lavish bedroom and countless luxury items. I found it all utterly ridiculous. However, when the system took effect, they all ended up breaking down.

My name is Melanie Sutton. The moment I'm reborn, the first thing I do is scatter the "ashes" of my best friend, Helen Doyle. In my last life, she got pregnant before marriage and was abandoned by both her boyfriend and her family. She struggled alone all the way through childbirth, only to suffer massive bleeding in the delivery room. With her last breath, she begged me to adopt her son. I agreed out of pity. To raise the child, I fell behind in my studies and was forced to drop out of school. With no choice, I took my adopted son, Aidan Sutton, with me to work, enduring endless humiliation and cold stares. Finally, when he turned 18, a talent scout discovered him. One movie later, he became an overnight sensation and won Best Actor. At the awards ceremony, Helen, whom I watched die 18 years ago, entered arm in arm with my ex-boyfriend, Joe Shepherd. Stunned, I rushed forward to confront her. She only smiled at me. "Congratulations, you passed the test." I stood there in shock as Joe explained proudly, "Helen is the daughter of the richest man. Who knows if you got close to her for her money? "Since you've raised our son well, you can be her ordinary friend. If you raise him until he gets married and has kids, then you can become Helen's best friend." My mind exploded. As if I wanted to be her friend. That was 18 years of my life! Overwhelmed by fury and hurt, I lunged at the two of them with bloodshot eyes. But Aidan suddenly rushed down from the stage and shoved me hard. "Are you crazy? How dare you hurt my parents?" Anger rushed to my head, and I passed out right then and there. When I open my eyes again, I'm back to the day Helen goes into labor.

After the fire, my younger brother, Ethan Harper, and I have become comatose. Our own parents choose to deliver us to the rebirth trial. If we pass the trial, we'll regain consciousness and be granted a brand new life. The sensory caps are attached to our heads and soon connected to our brainwaves. Ethan chokes out, "Since Mom and Dad loves you so much, you'll definitely receive their votes, Emma." I turn to look at the judge instead. "After I'm reborn, can I request a new pair of parents? It's fine if the answer is no. My parents will still die, anyway."

Nagkagulo ang lahat nang malaman ni Cailyn ang pagtataksil ng kanyang nobyo at ng kaniyang sariling kapatid. Nalaman niya na hindi pala siya tunay na anak ng mga Avensa - ang pamilyang nagpalaki at nag-alaga sa kaniya. Sa kagustuhang makilala ang tunay na pamilya, maging ang tunay niyang pagkatao ay sinimulan niya ang pagkalat ng kaniyang impormasyo online. At hindi nagtagal ay natagpuan rin siya ng mga ito. Sa pagkaka-alam niya ay mahirap lamang ang kaniyang mga magulang at nanggaling sa lungsod na kung saan ang buhay ay mahirap, ngunit lingid sa kaniyang kaalaman na makapangyarihan at mayaman pala nag kaniyang tunay na pamilya. Kilala sa buong bansa bilang pinakamagaling pagdating sa negosyo. At lingid din sa kaniyang kaalaman na malapit sa puso ng mga ito ang kaniyang mapapangasawa - si Jace Veller Figueroa. Isang bilyonaryo at kinatatakutan ng lahat sa buong lungsod na kaniyang kinalakihan.

Today is the sixth time my girlfriend, Shirley Lake, is supposed to meet my parents. My parents and I wait at the restaurant for four whole hours. I call her over and over again, but she never picks up. Just as I'm about to try one last time, I see Shirley's childhood sweetheart, Joshua Solomon, post a picture on his Instagram, with the location tagged at a suburban hotel. The picture shows a woman's pale back, one shoulder bare, with a striking red spider lily tattoo visible on her skin. Underneath the picture was the caption, "We'll make it from 18 to 80." A mutual friend comments, "First-love couples are the sweetest!" I silently hit the like button, then comment, "Make sure to get buried together when you die. And don't come back to haunt anyone else."

Après que ma vingtième demande de lien mental ait été ignorée par mes parents, j'ai foncé vers le Conseil des affaires de la meute. Le rapport médical en main, j'ai lancé sans préambule : « Bonjour, je veux renoncer à mon identité au sein de la meute... et IMMÉDIATEMENT ! » Dix minutes plus tard, mes parents ont fait irruption dans la salle, traînant ma sœur adoptive Elsa. Tous les trois avaient l'air terrifié. Mon père, un Bêta, les crocs apparents et les griffes frémissantes, s'est avancé en hurlant : « Tu n'es qu'une enfant gâtée en quête d'attention ! Arrête ton numéro, tu me fais honte ! » Ma mère, médecin légiste de la meute, a arraché mon rapport, y a jeté un coup d'œil et a ricané : « Tu as falsifié ça juste pour qu'on s'intéresse à toi ? Tu as toujours été une menteuse pathologique. » Elsa, accrochée à leurs manches, sanglotait : « C'est de ma faute… Je devrais pas insister pour organiser cette cérémonie de transformation… Je suis désolée, mais Jennifer, arrête de mentir pour manipuler la culpabilité de papa et maman ! » Je me suis calmement essuyé le sang qui coulait de mon nez, me suis redressée et ai répété à la conseillère : « Je n'ai plus de famille depuis longtemps. Effacez toutes mes traces du registre de la meute. Mes funérailles sont dans trois jours, et je veux pas les retarder. »