Before We Drowned

I grew up calling him Uncle. My father’s best friend. The man who built an empire, a billionaire everyone feared in business… but who always softened around me. Now I’m no longer a little girl. And when I return home, his eyes linger too long, his voice dips too low, and his touch makes me burn in ways that should never happen. He promised my father he’d protect me. But the way he looks at me now? Protection is the last thing on his mind. I know he’s dangerous. Older. Forbidden. But every time we’re alone, the walls close in and the line we can’t cross begins to blur. If my father ever finds out, it will destroy everything. But what if I don’t care anymore? Because when a billionaire this powerful decides he wants you… How long can you resist before you’re his?

"What's in it for me?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "You become the Alpha of Alphas" she answered, crossing her arms over her chest, holding her stance despite her racing heart. The necklace around her neck glowing under her shirt, catching the Alpha's attention. "And what's in it for you?" He asked, growing a bit more interested in her offer. Eyeing the dim light under her black shirt. "I get my revenge. So, what do you say, Alpha? Do we call it a deal?" She asked, extending her hand to shake. He stared at her hand for a second, before extending his, shaking hers. "Deal, piccolo lupo" he said, tightening his grip "only we'll play this, MY way" ************************* Having lost her family in the hands of Lycans, Lia Elica finds herself seeking help from the one and only, cold, ruthless, and heartless Capo dei Capi, Alpha Ezra D'Caprio...

When I opened my eyes, I found myself supposedly transmigrated to some ancient era. Every morning, before light touched the sky, someone would yank me out of bed to haul trash, chop wood, and do whatever filthiest job needed doing. Somehow, I'd become the lowest-ranked servant in the entire estate. The estate lord's son would climb onto my back and ride me around the courtyard like some pet he was proud to show off. Anyone in the household could hit me, kick me, or shove me aside, and not a single soul would speak up. Five years passed like that, so awful that I almost lost my mind, as if I were living in hell. Then one day, a group of servants cornered me. They didn't bother hiding their intention. The moment I saw their faces, I knew I was in trouble. Fists flew, boots landed, and everything blurred. Just before I passed out, I heard them whispering, "We're going to kill him if we keep this up." "Come on. This place only looks like some old noble estate. It's not an actual one. If he dies here, we're the ones who'll get dragged to court!" "Relax. Ms. Shaw will handle it. The idiot pissed off her childhood sweetheart. Getting tricked into this place is exactly what he deserves." Fear swallowed everything, and the world went dark. When I woke again, the lady of the house had conveniently "returned from visiting her family." The lord threw a grand celebration with tables full of food, wine flowing, and musicians playing like nothing had happened. I carried dishes into the banquet hall and lifted my head. Her face was the same as my wife's, Melissa Shaw. I set the final dish down, stepped closer, and in a voice only she could hear, asked, "Ma'am… are you enjoying your little game?"

On the day of my bonding ceremony with Vincent Sawyer, the future Alpha, the moonstone ring meant for me, the future Luna, has mysteriously disappeared from the ringbox. In its place sits a can tab that has already gone black from oxidation. The guests' cheers die down immediately. They all turn to look at me after that. Amid the silence, Vincent's childhood sweetheart, Sharon Anderson, walks out from the crowd. She raises her left hand and waves, the moonstone ring perched on her ring finger. Then, she pulls out a matching ring before sliding it onto Vincent's finger. "You must be scared out of your wits, huh, Angelica? I'm actually wearing the ring right now. This can tab is no ordinary item, you know. Vincent had given it to me when we were still pups. It resembles everlasting love that will never fade away. Now, I'm giving it to you." Sharon's words strike me right in my heart. I tremble violently, feeling as if my heart is being cut into a million pieces. However, Vincent just chuckles. "Sharon always comes up with silly ideas. She's just joking around, Angelica. Don't take her actions to heart." "Oh, I won't." I toss the can tab into the bonfire, a dry chuckle escaping from my lips. "This bonding ceremony is canceled." Vincent grabs my hand before pulling me into his arms. "Stop messing around, Angelica! We found the ring, didn't we? This bonding alliance will affect the future of our packs! You're not the one calling the shots here!" I squirm out of Vincent's grasp, catching a trace of sickly sweet scent lingering around him—one that isn’t mine at all. "While it's true that the Moonlake pack is going to form a bonding alliance with the Brownstone pack, my future mate isn't necessarily you."

Uneece’s Ravene, also known as Jewel, was a girl who transmigrated to another world where mythical creatures exist. She was reborn as a human among the Lycans.She was young when she was abducted by a mad scientist and became his test subject for years. She became his greatest experimantal success. After putting an end to his life, two years later, she was captured once more and enslaved by the ruthless Lycan King, who gave her endless butterflies in her stomach and made her heart tremble regardless of how he had diabolically rejected her.After learning about the importance of soulmates, she asked herself, 'Did he feel the same for me?' This question lingered in her head for a while. Even after being treated harshly and drowned by jealousy, she kept her little hope up.But what happens when a human slave falls in love with her? Will she choose to stay as a slave forever or escape with the person who loves her?

Meet Emma Hart, 24, drowned in debt all her life, from bills to bills, and loans to pay off, the cycle never seems to end. Fresh out of college, she manages to get a few jobs, saving up to clear her debts, until her mother falls sick… lung cancer. Destitute and helpless, she must learn to shake the hand of Liam Caruso. Liam, 35, known for his cold demeanor and controlling act, he's a perfectionist, and, what he wants, he gets. Reluctantly, she shakes hands with the devil himself, after all, she needs to save her mom. Emma must learn to accept Liam's life, including his dark past and unwelcoming mother. With time, Liam must understand, that mutual connections do matter. Will she be able to break through Liam's icy heart? Or, will they be engulfed within their flames? Within the heat, they generate?

Don Fiorenzo Ricci saved me and brought me home, raising me for seven years. During the day, he was refined and restrained, treating me the way a true father would. At night, he was endlessly inventive, making me his and his alone. I drowned myself in this twisted love, naively believing I was the only one for Fiorenzo. Then he turned around and married another woman, made her the Madre of the mafia family, and forced me to watch them together. I was done being a piece in their twisted games. The first time I ran, he nearly killed the maid who helped me. The second time I ran, he shot the gardener dead on the spot. The third time, and the last, I jumped into the ocean right in front of him. I did it all for freedom, even if it was only the freedom of my soul after death.

The Alpha of Winterhaven is dead. He is now resting in the bosom of the moon goddess. We will commence the burial of the late Alpha; afterwards, a new Alpha will be chosen. I heard the pack Orator announce the death of my beloved husband. He was kind, patient, and a loving man. My aunt had volunteered me to the pack to become their omega as a gratitude for saving her life when she was attacked by rogues. He was an honest man who loved his pack dearly and must do anything to save us all. He married me after the late queen died and he needed a true companion. The little days I spent with him before prostate cancer took him away like a grain of sand from my hands. Man of war, as we fondly call him, has four quadruplet sons. When I was an omega, they ridiculed me a lot and bullied me every day and night, and killed me. But now, I'm back but not as a weak omega with no wolf, but reborn as a powerful Luna. My vengeance begins!

“Maverick, you never loved me all these years, did you?” “Be good. You're just a substitute.” ___  Never did Valencia expect that what her crush thought of her was a substitute for another woman.  And never did she expect that the asshole would break the news to her after she gave herself to him a night before their wedding.  Unable to take in the heartbreak, Valencia fled on her wedding day.  Fast-forward to five years later; Valencia is now the anonymous owner of a company and the diligent mother of smart-ass quadruplets who think mom is the best and shouldn't be stressed. And the most important thing: Mom needs a capable boyfriend.  Someone dared to attack their mommy? Mom will face-slap, and if Mom can't, Quadruplet will!   A certain shameless man: ‘Darling, relax; I'll properly beat them up for you. After the beating, what do you think we should have next—a triplet or a sextuplet?’ Valencia: “….” Smartass quadruplets: Didn't you consider Mom to be a substitute? Scram. We don't recognize you!

The day I died was Mommy’s birthday. For once, she left me an unusually large slice of cake. I hovered before it, greedy, leaning in to breathe in its sweetness. But the very next second, she handed the cake to my younger sister, Bella Tesla. “Have some, Bella. Better you than that ungrateful girl!” Then she turned to Daddy, who was filming nearby. “You recorded everything, right? When she returns, make her watch it. Don’t let her say again that we play favorites! “Of all things to learn, she learned how to run away from home! “We spoiled her! If she has any sense, let her never come back!” She sneered as she slammed the table and cursed at me, never noticing the panic on Bella’s face as she held the cake. She also failed to notice Bella’s disheveled hair. She noticed even less the dark stains of blood on her sleeve. Blood that belonged to me.