Background Lucu Kartun

In New York’s Upper East Side, there were two heirs. One was a speed-obsessed daredevil dominating the racetracks, the other was a brilliant actuary who controlled the flow of capital. Born into powerful families and polar opposites in temperament, yet they grew up side by side as each other’s only best friend. They had fought over girls and bickered endlessly over racing bets. However, at fifteen, there was one thing they did in perfect unison. They each put on the same roughly carved bronze badge. They were trinkets Mia had idly made during a craft class, marked only by a faint “M” scratched on the back. Back then, Mia was seated in the last row of the classroom. Her background was a complete mystery to everyone. Yet they wore that badge for ten whole years. Whether standing on the F1 podium or locking in billion-dollar trades at the exchange, the cheap little badge on their chests never changed. Until Ella showed up. She was the cherished daughter of a rising conglomerate family. She hand-stitched two gold-thread fabric patches and gifted them to them. The patches looked so ordinary they looked like the kind of trinket you would find three for a dollar at a flea market. And yet, they both replaced their bronze badges with her plain patches. Mia did not say anything. She simply folded away an old newspaper clipping with a photo of the three of them smiling together. That night, she called her father in Sicily. Her voice was emotionless. “Papa, I accept the marriage arrangement.”

My husband was the leader of the rescue team. As I was trapped in a cave and surrounded by a pack of wolves, I desperately called him over and over. Yet, he hung up on me every single time. When the fire nearly burnt out and the wolves got closer, he finally called me and angrily accused me, "Can you stop wasting public resources? I'm the rescue team leader first, and then your husband." In the background, I heard a soft, feminine voice saying, "Howard, my arm has a cut. Can you take me to the hospital?" I was familiar with that voice. It was my husband's first love. Ever since her husband died, she clung to him. And my husband... He didn't just tolerate it; rather, he seemed to enjoy it. A wave of despair washed over me as I ended the call. My hands were trembling, and I tried to call the police, but before I could, the leader of the wolves pounced on me. I fell hard to the ground, and the rest of the pack, sensing the signal, ran toward me at an extraordinary speed. I didn't stand a chance to fight back, and in mere moments, I was ripped into pieces. Before my consciousness slipped away, I struggled to glance down at my lower abdomen one last time, and my lips quivered. "My baby, I'm sorry I failed you…"

Detective Adrian Cross built his reputation on one principle: criminals don't escape justice. Especially not the ghost from his past—Damien Salvatore, the mafia kingpin who shattered his heart ten years ago and now runs the most dangerous criminal empire in Los Angeles. Their love story began in high school hallways and ended with silence when Damien's family ripped them apart, because Adrian's orphan background is not worthy of their dynasty. Adrian promised himself he would never be vulnerable again. So he became untouchable and brilliant. The LAPD's rising star. Until Damien's face appears on his assignment briefing, and every carefully constructed wall crumbles. To Adrian, this isn't just another case, it's personal. Adrian will stop at nothing to put his first love behind bars, but what happens when their cat-and-mouse game reignites a connection that defies logic and law? Every arrest Adrian makes, every operation he leads, only draws Damien closer to a devastating truth: the detective hunting him is the only person he's ever loved. As bodies pile up and betrayals multiply, Damien makes an impossible choice that will force Adrian to answer one question: Is justice worth losing everything twice? In a city where loyalty is currency and love is leverage, two men will discover that some evidence can't be buried, and some hearts refuse to be captured.

Would you bet your life finding about the truth? Xyrica Dela Vega grew up in the arms of her loving grandparents but she knew little to nothing about her parents. How they died, when they died, or why they died. Everything was simple and peaceful but it all changed after her grandmother was on the brink of death when she shed a little truth about Xyrica’s life. That Xyrica is not their biological granddaughter. A man, her grandmother didn’t want to say the name, left her in their care without an explanation. The man promised her grandparents that when the right time comes he will take Xyrica with him. But when is the right time... her grandparents didn’t know. Years after years, the man didn’t came back and the couple decided to take the matters in their own hand.The old couple hired an investigator to find out about Xyrica’s background and that’s when they found out Xyrica is the rightful owner of Gangster Academy. How her biological parents died is still unknown and it’s up to her to find the truth on who is behind of everything. She thinks the answer lies at Gangster Academy so she will do everything just to be accepted. She will risk her life fighting a battle without knowing who the real enemy is... Will she be able to find out about the truth or will she end up dead like her parents?

Jace is a wanted criminal. Out of sheer luck or fate, as most people would say, he landed a job as a household manager—a position that didn't require a background check, which felt like a miracle. However, he soon finds himself drawn to the quadruplet bosses he serves. Damon, Peter, Jacob, and Garrett were the first quadruplets in the Bloodlust Pack to survive. Before their birth, quadruplets were seen as abominations and were to be killed immediately after birth. It was only because their mother, the Luna, and their father, the Alpha, had tried for years to have a child but to no avail that they were allowed to live. This brought about mixed feelings among the members of the pack, especially the elders. The quadruplets lived their lives trying to prove to everyone that they weren't abominations. For every good deed other members of the pack accomplished, they had to do ten times more to gain acceptance. What happens when they discover that they have a mate, and not just any mate, but a human male mate?! Will they accept him? Remember, they are already hanging by a thread in their quest for full acceptance into their pack. Will being gay jeopardize all their years of hard work? What about Jace? He is a victim of abuse but somehow was convicted of murder. Is he in the right mental state to fall in love? Let’s say he eventually does fall for the quadruplets—will he accept them, knowing they are werewolves? Even if he does accept the fact that they are werewolves, who will he choose to mate with? If the quadruplets accept Jace, what comes next? Can they fight against their pack for his sake?

Tyra is an orphaned pup, adopted by a good family after her father, a brutal Alpha was killed. She's obsessed with escaping her blood oath, made at just ten years old, requiring her to marry an Alpha's son. Tyra dyes her hair, gets tattoos and piercings, anything to change her body and show her arranged mate that she alone is in control of her body. She's waited patiently for her wolf to claim her, but she knows that when it happens, Alpha Zachary is coming for her, to make her his Luna. Tyra's entire world is turned upside down when she meets Zachary, only to feel the mate bond. She is livid to discover that she wants him, and can't control her body around him. What's worse is, he is actually a nice guy. Alpha Ridge is a 26 year old who has waited a very long time for his mate, and is just about to give up when he meets Tyra on the very night she gets her wolf. How are their fates intertwined? Did the Goddess make a mistake and give Tyra two mates? Find out on this whirlwind story that will keep you guessing! *This is a spin off of my Shadow Warrior series. This book follows Alpha Ridge and Tyra, and provides more background on the Blood Claw pack. It can be read as a stand alone book. This book contains strong sexual content and violence.*

On Christmas night, I've roasted a whole turkey and paired it with the finest red wine. Then, I quietly wait for my boyfriend, Don Carlo Carlione from the Carlione family, to come home to me. When Carlo steps through the front door, he doesn't even spare me a glance. Instead, he throws his blood-stained coat onto the couch and starts undoing his cufflinks. "Something important is going on at the family HQ tonight, so I can't celebrate Christmas with you tonight." He sounds very casual, as though he's talking about the weather. I don't respond to him at all. Instead, I just slice my turkey quietly. Later on at 1:00 am, Carlo's ex-girlfriend, Lucia Caruso, uploads a social media post right on time. In the photo, she can be seen resting her head against Carlo's shoulder. The background shows a night sky filled with fireworks overcasting a grand bridge. The caption reads, "He told me he can always keep me company as long as I say the word." I don't hurl my phone in a fit of anger, nor do I call Carlo to demand for answers hysterically. Instead, I just leave a like on the post. 30 seconds later, Carlo calls me. For once, his voice is tinged with a hint of alarm. "This is just a misunderstanding! I'll definitely celebrate next Christmas with you!" I just shake my head with a soft sigh. "It's a shame that there's no next Christmas for us ever again."

I had just returned from the world's largest tech summit when my mentor called. She has always been like a mother to me. She told me she had arranged a marriage for me, with the daughter of a close friend of hers, Tania Jones. She was a rising talent in the capital's business scene, and a number of my patents were licensed to her company, forming the core technology behind their latest products. After working late in the lab, I changed into a carefully chosen suit and went to the engagement ceremony. However, I was stopped at the entrance by Elias Yates, Tania's personal assistant. He was wearing a perfectly tailored designer suit, every detail immaculate. He looked more like the groom than I did. "If you know what's good for you, walk away," he said with an icy smirk. "An orphan with no background should know his place. You are not worthy of Ms. Jones." I frowned and replied, "Does Tania know you are speaking on her behalf like this?" Elias let out a mocking laugh. "A kept man living off his mentor's reputation could never understand how important I am to Ms. Jones." There was obsession and pride shining in his eyes. I looked at him for a moment, then dialed Tania. "If this is your idea of welcoming your fiancé," I said evenly, "then perhaps my patents should only be shown to you on paper, right before I sell them to your rival instead."

At the farewell banquet hosted for my wife, Lorraine Ford, who will be getting assigned into a military unit soon, Lieutenant Chester Johnson speaks up in a sarcastic manner. "You really are generous, Hunter. Commander Ford has already given away your transfer slot in the military to her stepbrother, and yet you're still throwing this banquet for her." I find his words ridiculous, to say the least. "That's impossible! My wife hates pulling strings to make things easier! In the past, she didn't even give me the youth transfer slot even though she had one!" Chester sounds more enthusiastic now. "I've personally read the approval report. Commander Ford has already listed Rowan Langley under the family column! Don't you know that she has already taken him in as her younger stepbrother?" I feel as though lightning has struck me on the spot. Then, I turn to look at my parents and Lorraine, who look quite guilty. My parents quickly grab me by the hand. "Rowan comes from a poor background, not to mention he's a widower, too. If he continues staying in this village, he'll be the subject of everyone's gossip for the rest of his life. "Hunter, you're Lorraine's actual husband, so you must be more gracious toward him." At that moment, I feel sharp pain coming from my heart. Fine. I'll be gracious, as per their request. This time, I'll personally give Lorraine away to her beloved Rowan.

Kaiya is an orphan found on the doorstep of the packhouse of The Red Shadow Pack, she was brought in as an Omega and made to clean up after the often cold and almost always arrogant Twin Alpha Heirs, Ace and Dylan. I have decided to break this story into parts…there are four connecting stories with an overarching story that threads them together.  We start with Chasing Their Unloved Luna Part 1: Finding The True Alpha Next is Chasing Their Unloved Luna Part 2: Guarding The Faithful Beta. After that will be Chasing Their Unloved Luna Part 3: Seducing The Noble Priestess This book will conclude with Chasing Their Unloved Luna Part 4: Hunting The Storm Bringer We have seen lots of twists and turns and tons of unexpected happenings, and there are lots of loose ends at the close of Part One so please stick with us as we continue our Journey. In Part 2, the focus shifts. We will see Kaiya and the boys in the background and may even get a surprise POV when something big happens involving them, but  now we will see Amina’s and her sisters stories and how they meet their mates. Not all chapters I post have a trigger warning, but many contain violence, sexual violence and other devious acts. If it is particularly triggering I try to include a warning. Your mental health is important, so if you read the warning and can't handle what happens, skip to the following chapter, or only read the start of the next chapter then skip to the next Thank you and please comment and reach out if you have comments/questions.