Afterschool Duty

"You're getting married today! It is your duty to your family! You must!" Claire's mother said as she held on to her daughter's hand while a veil was being fixed on her head. "Married! You must be joking mum! I'd rather jump off a cliff!" "Everyone is waiting Claire! You have no choice!" Her mother snapped at her and Claire snatched her hand away from hers in annoyance. "Why must I be forced to suffer for Charlotte's mistakes?!" Charlotte and Claire Branson are identical twins but have lived separate lives ever since they were born. Charlotte, being the perfect daughter and the better sister, was betrothed to marry Henry Laurent, the son of their long time friend and business partner. On the day of the wedding, the Bransons arrive in Charlotte's room to meet a note, Charlotte has eloped with their chauffeur, leaving her parents distraught. Quickly, her family moves to save themselves from public embarrassment and get Claire to stand in line for her sister. Claire refuses at first, but has no choice as she is pushed into the waiting arms of Henry Laurent, an unwilling partner of the marriage who had thought he was getting married to the 'better' sister. Claire is determined to hate her new husband, but this doesn't turn out as planned.

After a fatal accident shatters her world, Octavia awakens in a realm ruled by savage werewolves only to discover she’s the fated mate of Alpha Xavier, the most ruthless and feared leader of all the packs. But fate is far from kind. Xavier is a beast cloaked in scars and shadows, still haunted by the brutal death of his first mate. His hatred for humans runs deep and Octavia’s very presence is a cruel reminder of everything he’s lost. Bound by ancient laws that demand he accept the bond or forfeit his throne, Xavier chooses duty over desire, even if it means tying himself to the one creature he despises most. Thrown into a world where she’s hunted, hated, and utterly alone, Octavia must fight to survive in a pack that would rather see her dead. But when whispers of betrayal echo through the trees and the truth about Xavier’s mate’s murder surfaces, Octavia uncovers a dark conspiracy rooted deep within the heart of the pack. As desire clashes with distrust and loyalty is tested, Octavia and Xavier are forced into a dangerous alliance. The bond that curses them may be their only hope but only if they can survive the secrets waiting to tear them apart. In a world where love is war and fate is a cruel master, will their connection destroy them or ignite a flame powerful enough to burn down the lies?

My Runaway Mate She was wolfless healer, weak and powerless. He was a ruthless Alpha, bound by duty and loyalty. Their fates collided on the battlefield, but the real war was only beginning.* Ignored and bullied for her lack of a wolf, Ignas Lucras was forced into the frontline as a healer, expected to do nothing more than patch up the wounded. But amidst the chaos of war, she met **Alpha Leo**—her destined mate. Days of building passion led to a night of undeniable connection… until she discovered the heartbreaking truth the next morning. Leo already had a fiancée. Shattered by betrayal, Ignas ran, leaving the battlefield behind—only to discover she carried more than just the memory of that night. She was pregnant with the Alpha’s child. Now, Alpha Leo is hunting her down, desperate to reclaim her and their unborn child, determined to make her his no matter the cost. But Ignas isn’t ready to be anyone’s second choice. Not even for the man who owns her heart. As the Alpha grows ruthless in his pursuit, threatening to take their child if she doesn’t return, Ignas must decide: will she fight for her independence and the life she’s built, or will she give in to the powerful pull of their bond? Can love triumph over betrayal, or will her heart be forever lost to the man who broke it?

Kasumi Azai finds herself at the center of a delicate negotiation to end the longstanding feud between the Red Sun and Blazing Winter packs. Against her wishes, her uncle pressures her into a marriage with Severin de Rosa, son of the Blazing Winter pack's Alpha. But Kasumi's plans are thrown into disarray when she discovers that her Alpha mate, Thaddeus de Rosa, is in fact the Alpha of the Blazing Winter pack and secretly desires her. To further complicate matters, Thaddeus's twin brother, Theodore de Rosa, also claims Kasumi as his mate. And just when she thought things couldn't get any more complicated, Kasumi finds herself attracting the attention of their uncle, Cretheus de Rosa, who could jeopardize her relationships with the twin brothers and her husband. Caught in a tangled web of desire and duty, Kasumi must navigate a precarious path to keep the peace between the packs. How can she avoid conflict when everyone but her Alpha mate's son has designs on her? And how can she prevent the Alpha mate's son from becoming the catalyst for an all-out war between their respective packs? ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵ Moon Goddess' Daughters series: Kiena, the Goddess of Gallant and Retribution

"Hidden Queen" is a romantic royal love and action novel that follows the journey of Princess Isabella, the youngest daughter of King Frederick and Queen Emilia, who possesses the gift of mind-reading. Isabella has spent her entire life hidden away from the public eye, but when a dark force threatens the kingdom of Ardenia, she realizes that she must use her gift to save her family and her people. As Isabella struggles to come to terms with her destiny, she meets Prince Alexander, the charming and charismatic heir to the throne of the neighboring kingdom. Despite their differences, they are drawn to each other, and a passionate love affair ensues. But their happiness is short-lived as Isabella discovers that the dark force threatening the kingdom is none other than Prince Alexander's own father, King Maximilian, who seeks to expand his empire by conquering Ardenia. Isabella and Alexander find themselves torn between their love for each other and their duty to their respective kingdoms. As the battle for Ardenia rages on, Isabella's gift becomes both a blessing and a curse, as she must navigate the intricate web of political alliances and the treacherous nature of court life. But with Alexander by her side, Isabella is determined to do whatever it takes to protect her people and claim her rightful place as the Hidden Queen of Ardenia. Filled with romance, intrigue, and pulse-pounding action, "Hidden Queen" is a thrilling tale of love, power, and destiny in a kingdom where nothing is as it seems.

Framed and betrayed by her mate, shamed by her Pack, and abused by her own family, Anora’s life takes a painful turn. She’s traded to replace another as the betrothed wife to the formidable Alpha King, Alpha Dane of Blackburn—a man with a dreadful reputation. Forced under a false identity, Anora is bound to a stranger every other Alpha fears. To be his bride, a bargaining chip in an arranged, loveless marriage, Anora is warned by Dane of the cold consequences of their union. Alpha Dane, inhumanely handsome yet cold-hearted, wants neither marriage nor affection. Yet, by duty, he’s bound as Alpha to a political marriage for power and an heir. He gives her a chance to call it off, but trapped in an impossible situation by her ex-mate, Alpha Liam’s blackmail (with her mother’s life hanging in the balance), Anora has no choice but to live the lie, even if it means sacrificing her happiness forever. But in the forced proximity between two opposite souls, what happens when a desperate beauty clashes with a heart of stone? When affection, a forbidden attribute, begins to burn? What happens when Alpha Dane finds the truth about his bride’s true identity and the lies she’s tricked him into believing? In the end, does Anora’s story explode in her face? Can love, a bond, be born out of deception, or is their destined bond doomed to crumble?

In the world of the Sandoval family, power and prowess reign supreme. Meet Kent Axel Sandoval—the epitome of ultimate. Born into a family where fighting is second nature and survival is most important, Kent is a force to be inferred with. A skilled marksman and fighter, he wields his expertise with precision, all while misrepresenting a career in law and medicine. But beneath the surface lies a heart torn between duty and desire. Searching for his childhood friend whom he dearly desire, Polaris. Little does he know, he's finally with the long-lost person he's been searching for, Saji. As Kent brawls with betrayal and longing, fate intervenes, revealing Saji's true intentions, would they stick to the right where nothing is left, or to the left where nothing is right? Deciding to move forward, Kent leaves the country, seeking solace and closure. But when fate brings them together once more, old wounds resume and new challenges arise. As Kent and Saji steer the experience of trust and love, they must engage their in-depth suspicion and insecurities to find their way back to each other. But with hindrance lurking at every turn, will their love stand the test of time, or will they be condemned to repeat the past? Join Kent and Saji on a journey of deliverance, strength, and the ultimate quest for love in 'Sandoval’s Desire.’ "To the left, where nothing is right. Or to the right, where nothing is left?"

Excerpt from the story He towered over her as she laid on a hospital bed, head wrapped up in gauze, struggling to keep her eyes open. "You ran me over, didn't you?" She exhaled shakily, her bright eyes pinned on him, tears threatening to fall. The man who was roughly 6'5 inches, had an ominous cheekbone which drew back into a taunting smile, his eyes gleamed with hatred as he said, "As your husband, it's your duty to be submissive to me. And the next time you ever think of running, I'll do much worse." He's a billionaire with a heart as cold as ice and a sadistic streak that sends shivers down the spine of anyone who crosses his path. His one and only desire? To torture Taylor Fairchild in every way possible. What's his reason for such cruelty? His deep seated hatred for Taylor's father, an event Taylor knew nothing of. What happens when he realizes he had fallen for her unconsciously and there's no longer any likeness for him in her heart? In fact, she'd rather die than be with him! In this steamy and suspenseful romance novel, you'll be left on the edge of your seat, wondering what fate has in store for Taylor Fairchild and Andrew Radford.

For Emma Montgomery, life as the pampered daughter of Manhattan's elite carried the weight of impossible expectations. Groomed from birth to lead her family's corporate dynasty, genuine love seemed an elusive dream amid the superficial trappings of wealth. That is, until a shocking proposal opened doors to an unexpected future. When her father arranges for Emma to enter a marriage contract with James Reynolds, the charismatic heir to a powerful political family, she sees it as an escape from her turbulent past. But neither Emma nor James could foresee the firestorm of passion and betrayal that would be sparked by their convenient union. As the one-year countdown on their sham marriage begins, Emma finds herself falling for James's unexpected depths and charm. But James has his own demons - bound by duty to fulfill his father's Machiavellian ambitions while his own heart belongs to another. As cordial pretenses melt into smoldering intimacy, their worlds collide in a maelstrom of corporate greed, political ambition, and star-crossed desire. In this sumptuous tale of love among New York's upper echelons, Emma and James become delicious pawns in a high-stakes game they never imagined playing. With every blistering secret revealed, every heart-wrenching choice posed, they must decide whether to surrender to the inescapable lure of power and privilege, or burn it all to the ground for a love too intoxicating to deny.

THE UNSEEN HUSBAND Complete Story Synopsis Genre Historical Romance / Family Drama / Political Intrigue Set in a fantasy Mediterranean-inspired kingdom (early 1900s technology level) PREMISE Alessia Castellani Russo (23) receives divorce papers from her husband Sebastian Russo (27) after five years of marriage. They spent only one night together—a traditional ceremony in darkness where neither saw the other clearly—before he left at dawn for military duty and never returned. The divorce papers reveal Sebastian believes there are no children and that Alessia has been unfaithful with a merchant. But Alessia has triplets (Dante, Marco, and Lucia, age 4) from that one night, and she's been faithful despite years of believing she was abandoned. Alessia discovers that Sebastian's mother Helena has been intercepting ALL correspondence between them for five years—keeping Alessia's letters telling Sebastian about the children, and keeping Sebastian's letters asking about Alessia and sending money to support her. Helena embezzled all of Sebastian's money for herself and her biological children (Tomasso, Giuliana, and Catarina) while Alessia and the triplets lived in poverty as servants in Helena's house. Alessia decides to travel to the capital to tell Sebastian the truth before signing the divorce papers—so he'll at least know his children exist.