Bitter Criticism Crossword Clue

They say fate chooses your mate. But what if fate is cruel? Aiden has always been a nobody—abandoned, cursed, forgotten. Raised by Jake, the stoic professor who saved him once. Aiden vanished at sixteen after confessing the one truth that shattered everything: “he loves him.” Now twenty-five and hiding a deadly secret—a feral lycan curse counting down the days—Jake walks into Aiden’s college classroom as his student. Aiden was older, obviously. But, he was bitter and still hurting. Jake left his pack, his title, and his past behind for a quiet life of just books and lectures. But nothing prepared him for Aiden’s return—or the soul-deep pull that threatened to destroy the walls he had built. As the time for curse creeps closer, only one thing can save Aiden- his true mate. Jake’s not just the professor. He’s the one thing Aiden can’t have… and the only one who can save him.

"You let another man touch what belongs to me?" Lucian’s hand, a possessive vice, encircled her throat. "How dare you? You're mine. The next man who lays a finger on you will beg for death." Lyra’s bitter laugh filled the silence. "Since when do you care? Wasn't I your 'land whale'? Your 'disgusting she-hippopotamus'?" CRACK. His fist splintered the plaster beside her head. "I. FUCKING. CARED. You were always MINE." "I counted every breath you took in his arms," Lucian whispered, his lips grazing the scar he’d given her. "Now he'll count his as I carve them out." Lyra stood unyielding. "You discarded me like trash. He picked up the pieces." The mirror shattered as he hurled her against it. "I WAS SAVING YOU." From what? The forced marriage? The dehumanizing weight loss clinics? The night she miscarried, utterly alone? Lucian’s "care" came too late. Lyra never wanted this marriage—a gilded cage to a billionaire who systematically broke her. But with her mother’s life hanging by a thread, she sold herself to the monster who devoured her soul. Lucian crushed her, made her beg for scraps of dignity. Then, his best friend offered everything Lucian withheld—gentle hands, tender words, a love that didn't wound. Lucian returned. Now, he's a shadow, everywhere: watching her with hungry eyes, touching her with possessive hands, swearing this time will be different. He pleaded, on his knees, for her heart. But Lyra knows better. She’s uncovered three explosive truths: Lucian's first wife wasn't just gone; she was murdered. Her sister didn't disappeared. And the most dangerous lie of all? She's been sleeping with it. Game over? Or game just beginning? As Lucian's obsession escalates and the past claws its way back, Lyra will choose between revenge, accept or reject.

“I’m not a slut!” I shot back, clearly irritated. He let out a dry laugh, taking a step closer to me. “You are right, you are not a slut.” He curled his index finger under my chin, his eyes locked with mine. “You are my slut.” **** When a mysterious monster virus breaks out in a once peaceful pack and every clue points at an elite high school, Noah Wolfclaw, an Alpha Prince is sent by his father to Danville High, undercover. The plan was to not draw attention to himself until he had figured out what the school had to do with the Virus but his plan becomes difficult when he becomes tangled with Astrid Moon, a timid, wolfless omega who has been bullied her entire life. What happens when Noah discovers his mate behind the walls of a school that held many secrets? What happens when Danville’s secrets are finally out in the open and he eventually has to choose between love and duty?

“Unfortunately, you must die, Luna Lyara,” Alpha Kaelen whispered. It wasn't enough that I had to endure the curse to replace him, and his decision to turn his face away from me for another woman, he still betrayed me until the end. He stabbed me with his own hands and pushed me off the cliff. When I thought everything was over, time spun back and brought me back to the past, exactly three weeks after I was cursed.  This time, I won’t be the victim. I’ll free myself from the curse, reverse fate, and protect the people I love. I won’t be dragged along by the predetermined path set by that scoundrel Kaelen. I’m determined to write my own destiny with my own hands! *** “…Lyara.”  I didn’t know what he was saying. I could only catch one word, my name, which he whispered softly.  Ah, there’s still someone who cares about me like this. With trembling hands, I tried to reach his face. The sticky sensation flooding his cheeks, I knew it. He was crying. Was he crying because of me? “Don’t… cry…” I said, my words breaking off.   The pain and tingling in my throat brought back the painful cough. My right hand fell onto his chest. Unintentionally, my fingers touched the pendant necklace around his neck. A unique and beautiful sun-shaped pendant.  “Thank you,” I said with a bitter smile.

"How dare you,” Alpha Loeka sneered, putting his foot over my hand. Blood trickled down her cheek. My skin was splintered, but I was done talking. His nostrils flared. “You will do as commanded!” he growled. His alpha's tone was commanding and powerful, clearly drawing the line between those who gave the orders and who followed. “Wha…t about the academy?” I stammered. The words felt fragile in my mouth, as if they would shatter if I let them out again. “I will let the council know you're no longer interested in the admission,” Father answered, his voice laced with disdain. My brow rose in surprise—and, well, surprise. “Father…!” I protested. My heart shattered. This was betrayal. I brushed off a tear that had slipped free. There was no use crying. Father didn't deserve it. But the pain I felt was numbing; it was slowly killing me. “You've always wanted to do something great for the pack, right?” he said, grinning slyly. He was using my words against me. If cruelty were a person, it would be my father. **** Camille Loeka, hunter and daughter of Alpha Loeka, had lost her father's interest—or whatever love he had once shown her—after the night of her disgraceful shifting What had begun as a bitter disappointment from Alpha Loeka had transformed into an outright disdain for her very existence. Determined to build her life beyond the hatred that surrounded her, Camille had just gained admission to Aston-Lakenheath Academy—a golden opportunity to rebuild her future and perhaps, earn her father's trust. But that hope was shattered when the contract marriage offer was signed, forever altering the course of her life. What fate awaits Camille as she learns not only that the cursed son is her destined mate but also the truth about her biological parent.

Van and Demani's story began like any other typical love story you read in books or watch in movies. They met, fell in love, got married, and planned a future together. They seemed perfect for each other, and their family even called them "the perfect couple." But like any regular married couple, Van and Demani went through a series of arguments and misunderstandings. They had their ups and downs, too. But because they loved each other so much, they tried to get through it all, hand in hand. Until Demani had a miscarriage... and Van cheated on their marriage. From there, everything began to unravel. They couldn’t fix their problems, and eventually, they separated. They went through a bitter breakup, and Demani thought she would never hear from her husband again. Until two years later, Demani received a letter from Van’s lawyer. Van had been involved in an accident and needed surgery in the United States. One of the requirements for him to leave was to have a family member accompany him. And who else could it be but Demani? They were technically still married because Van had never filed for annulment. Despite her doubts, Demani agreed to help. But there was one condition: They would legally separate after the surgery. But Van had other plans...

Lyra Jenkins’ heart is shattered, devoid of hope and her world in tatters with the guilt of everyone perceiving her as the murderer of her beloved father. However, she finds solace in the arms of an unexpected lover, Caleb Sawyer. But her respite is short-lived, as he callously chooses another woman over her, leaving her reeling in a deep dilemma of despair. Then the bitter ashes of betrayal and rejection settle in, and she resolves to reveal her true identity, driven by a thirst for revenge. In this bleak world, can Lyra find redemption? Can she break free from this toxic cycle, or will the shadows of her past forever define her future? Will she give him a second chance if he seeks forgiveness? Hell no! Second chances are not meant for scumbags like him.

“He said he was just helping me rehearse... So why was I moaning his name backstage with his hand under my skirt?” Harriet Avery is the school’s invisible girl: brilliant, overweight, and bitter from years of bullying. But when her name appears as the lead in the school play—thanks to a cruel prank everything changes. Nick Marsh, the cocky captain of the hockey team, unexpectedly offers to help her. Their rehearsals are supposed to be harmless. But heat builds under stage lights. Chemistry simmers behind closed doors. And soon, Harriet is glowing—inside and out. She’s falling. Hard. But the cruelest twist comes after the curtain falls: the entire thing was a dare. Now with her heart broken, Harriet has two choices: fade into the background like she always has… or finally step into her own spotlight and set fire to everything that tried to break her.

Eden Briar never imagined her needlework would entangle her in a war. An orphan with a gift for sewing, Eden finds purpose as an apprentice in the city’s finest tailor shop. When she’s invited to the palace to help prepare for King Cassian’s engagement to the cold and captivating Seraphine, she’s filled with awe—until a single mistake changes everything. Drawn into the palace’s web of secrets, Eden discovers her estranged brother Erec—missing since their parents’ mysterious deaths—is alive and working for Cade, the infamous rebel king. Cade is more than just a criminal. He’s Cassian’s brother—his equal in power, his opposite in rule—and their bitter rivalry has torn the kingdom apart. Cassian offers Eden a chance: infiltrate Cade’s world, earn Erec’s trust, and help end the rebellion once and for all. But nothing is as it seems. As Eden falls deeper into Cade’s shadowed world, the line between enemy and ally blurs. Torn between two brothers and two visions of the future, Eden must decide where her heart—and her loyalty—truly lie. In a kingdom stitched with betrayal, love could be her greatest undoing.

Eden’s life has been nothing short of a nightmare. Branded an abomination, she’s endured endless cruelty from her pack, faced rejection from her destined mates, and suffered deeply. When her bitter enemy, Alpha King Lev, is mysteriously murdered, she’s blamed for his death—a fatal accusation that leads to her own tragic end. But fate has other plans. Eden finds herself transported back in time, forced into an uneasy alliance with the very man she despises: Alpha King Lev. She must work alongside him to survive, all while concealing a hidden agenda that could change everything. Will Eden manage to carry out her secret plan, or will she and Lev discover an unexpected refuge in one another’s arms?