Belonged To

In my last life, I loved my brother’s best friend longer than I loved myself. I was the princess of the De Luca family, a New York political dynasty. A good girl, through and through. He was Orion Corvo. The king of Chicago's underworld. A ruthless, brutal man. No one thought we belonged together. I never dared to confess. Not until I was kidnapped. That cold-blooded, savage Don took a bullet for me. He shielded me with his body as I bled out. We died together. Only then, seeing the desperation in his eyes, did I understand. He loved me too. Now, I'm back. 18 again. I ditched my life in Europe to stay by his side. For five years, I was his most trusted art appraiser. In private, he’d lose himself inside me. He fucked me like he wanted to own my soul. I became his favorite fuck. His biggest secret. But now, he’s getting married. And the bride isn't me.

When I returned to the Costello family as the long-lost daughter, I was dressed in my adoptive sister's hand-me-downs, and the family driver came only for her. Still, they felt guilty toward the daughter they had raised in my absence. So when the government rolled out the Fairness System, they registered the whole family before I could blink. My father exhaled with relief. "With this system enforcing absolute equality, Brittany won't ever have to suffer again." My mother took my hand, her voice leaving no room for argument. "You came home and stole everything that belonged to her. That's not fair to Brittany." My brother didn't bother hiding his contempt. "I only acknowledge one sister. You already got more than you deserve. Don't push your luck." I ate leftovers while she had private chefs. I sweated in a closet while she slept in a custom-designed suite. I almost laughed. When the system went live, they were the ones who fell apart.

Finley James never asked for the spotlight—she just kept ending up in it. All she ever wanted was basketball. Nothing else mattered. She grew up with the best coaches she could’ve imagined: her brother and his best friend. They were her whole world, the ones who taught her everything she knew. But after she turned eighteen, one night of giving in to her feelings changed everything. And she paid the price. Colton Reed was already a rising star by his freshman year, but the attention never interested him. His heart belonged to the game—and to his best friend’s sister. He knew that was a line he couldn’t cross. He wouldn’t risk the friendships that meant everything to him. Until one night, he did. With the biggest regret of his life and the happiest day of his life all at the same time, he left. He didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t look his best friend in the eyes anymore. Years later they find themselves playing for the same league in the same city.

Daykan Greystone has always felt like an outcast because he was the product of a forbidden romance between a wolf slayer and a werewolf. He never really felt like he belonged anywhere and was mostly alone until he met the strongly opinionated and feisty vet; Naomi Peters. He never expected to fall in love with a human and just when it seems like everything is falling into place, a vicious form of evil threatens to take her away from him. Is he finally ready to accept both sides of his heritage so he can defeat this beast? Naomi Peters was looking for a new beginning when she moved to Carson. It felt too good to be true when hot gym owner; Daykan Greystone suddenly developed an unexplainable attachment to her. But nothing could have prepared her for his big secret and she is unexpectedly thrust into a world she knows nothing about when a Wraeken sets its sights on her. Is Naomi willing to trust Daykan with her life? Will she give her heart to him even though he comes along with more than his fair share of baggage?

Layla, a shy nobody, dared to dream of the Alpha's son, Magnus. Yet, he belonged to Mia, a gilded beauty from another powerful pack. Mia was everything Layla was not. But on Layla's 18th birthday, fate throws her a bone: she's Magnus's fated mate. Whisked away to train as Luna, Layla's future glitters under the moon. She and Magnus are perfect, destined to ascend as Alpha and Luna. But the night before their coronation, Layla stumbles upon a truth that shatters her world. Magnus and Mia, never truly parted, lie in bed in betrayal. Layla's heart bleeds as she faces rejection, then vanishes, hunted by shadows. The Moon Goddess, however, has other plans. Reborn as the Duchess of a rival pack, Layla finds herself bound to Duke Carlisle, her former pack's sworn enemy. Now, vengeance burns in her veins, fueled by the ghosts of her past. But a forbidden spark ignites with the Duke, threatening to rewrite her destiny. Will Layla ignite a war for the man who shattered her heart? Can love bloom from the ashes of betrayal, or will duty condemn them to a cruel fate?

At the Mercer family's annual dinner, I accidentally wore a couture gown that belonged to Lucian's late wife. The eight-year-old boy I had raised myself, in front of every key member of the Family, threw a glass of expensive red wine all over my pure white dress. He just stood there, his cold, condescending expression a mirror of his father's. "Don't think you can become the mistress of this house just by dressing like my Mamma." "I swear, when I'm old enough to take over the family business, I'll make you disappear for good!" The cold liquid soaked through the fabric, clinging to my skin. But I felt nothing. My heart had frozen solid the moment I signed my life away eight years ago. I looked at the child I had raised as my own for eight years. There was no anger. The faintest smile touched my lips. I leaned down and whispered in his ear, "You won't have to wait that long, my little lion. I'm leaving, and it will be very soon."

Luciano Everyone thought my wife was dead, but I never stopped searching for her. When I finally found her, the timid young woman I forced to marry me was all gone. In her place was a fiercely independent woman who hated my guts. I might have deserved it. But did it stop me from dragging her, her secret child and her best friend back to New York City with me? Absolutely not. My wife belonged with me and it was time I proved it to her. Grace Life on the run had some benefits. Your mobster husband could no longer use you. Nor could your rotten family who wanted you dead. Instead, I was living my best life ever in a tiny Sicilian village with my son and best friend. Until we were found. My husband dragged us all back, but this time I was determined to fight him. I wouldn’t fall for his charms and hot kisses again because I had so much more to lose this time around. If only my heart would get on board with my plans.

At the five-star hotel where the blind date was set, leftover takeout was complimentary. I liked their Australian lobster and Poule de Bresse en Vessie. I packed my own portion and even helped box up what my date hadn't finished. Just as I picked up the bags to leave, he grabbed me with a dark look and demanded, "Jennifer, we agreed to split the bill. What gives you the right to take all the food?" I explained that he wouldn't be able to finish it anyway, and if we didn't take it, it would just be thrown away. He let out a cold laugh. "I paid for that food. Even if I toss it, that's none of your concern. Looks to me like you've been waiting for a chance to take advantage. I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. "I'd rather feed these leftovers to a dog than give them to you! And don't bother contacting me again. That petty, small-minded behavior of yours is disgusting." I pressed my lips together, at a complete loss for words. After all… this five-star hotel belonged to my family.

For as long as Ivy Morrin can remember, her dreams have belonged to a stranger, a fiery and silver eyed Alpha whose voice calls to her under moonlight. She doesn’t know him, but her soul does. In a world where witches and werewolves must never rule, Ivy’s secret is deadly: she's a hybrid, born of both bloodlines. Hidden by her mother and bound by magic, Ivy’s mate bond has been suppressed for years, just to protect her from the fate of another hybrid who was cast out and destroyed. But fate doesn't like to be silenced. Ivy’s dreams are changing. A darker presence has entered, Jace Vale, an exiled hybrid Alpha with a hunger for revenge and a dangerous plan. He believes Ivy belongs to him. As Ivy’s power awakens, the truth unravels. One Alpha calls to her. One seeks to claim her. And the only way out… is to break the very law that could destroy her. Would Ivy risk her life to break the curse? What if the man in Ivy’s dreams was her true mate and the world was determined to keep her apart?

Falling in love with a Mafia Lord is one of the worst things a girl can do. More so, a good girl that has lived a protected life throughout her childhood. When Laura meets Arthur in college, their love bloomed into a heart-wrenching romance that was bound to last for only a while because unknowingly to Laura, Arthur was the son and future heir to the mafia underworld kingdom. Arthur belonged to the Salvatore family of NYC and when Laura finds out, she leaves despite Arthur's begging and negotiations. She thinks she can cut off everything from her past life, but fate has other plans because she is pregnant with Arthur's child. Determined not to go back on her word, she starts raising her child alone. Arthur becomes a heartless monster after Laura leaves. He ruthlessly rules the underworld and one of his enemies from a rival family gets the better of him by finding out that he has a son. Now, Laura and her child are both in danger. Will she run back to Arthur for protection or will she battle the storm on her own? Read this book to find out.