Bitter Criticism Crossword Clue

“I was never in love with you, Adonai. You were nothing but a means to an end. Therefore, I, Aria Blackwood, reject you, Adonai King as mate,” I said defiantly. Those seafoam eyes remained icy, his face betraying no form of pain. “Are you done?” The indifference in his voice startled me. “Get on the bed, little flower and spread those legs for me. I don't need a mate bond to completely own you.” Mated to a cursed Alpha, Aria believed that the only way to escape humiliation and torture she was constantly subjected to at the Moonbeam pack was to give her mate, Asher, a child and break the curse. But just as she broke the curse, Asher turned against her and had both Aria and her new born thrown into a furnace. The goddess grants her a second chance where she returns as Jasmine Green, a woman who committed on her wedding day. Inorder to execute her revenge, she must completely surrender herself to Adonai King, the ruthless Lycan King and make him fall head over heels for her. What happens when Jasmine's world is a lot more complicated than Aria? When she finds herself drowning in Adonai's darkness and seduction? With a secret lover, a bitter twin and scheming mistresses, will Aria be able to navigate through the web of conspiracies to win Adonai's heart and get her revenge or will she be caught in the crossfire and suffer a second death?

He raised one eyebrow and leaned down. "Is that a yes to my question or to my proposal?" His eyes were focused on my lips and I struggled to concentrate, but I nodded. "Yes." I looked into his eyes that were hazy with lust, and I nodded again. "It's a yes to the both of them." He tipped my face to him and pressed a hard kiss on my lips. "Good girl." He whispered. And as I shuddered at the praise, I had no idea I just sealed my fate with the devil. ~~~~~~ Kayla, twenty-two-years-old and a single mum, has only ever wanted to be loved, even though her parents never shared the same sentiments with her. But that changed when her boyfriend eloped, leaving her nineteen-year-old self with an unwanted pregnancy and nothing but a penny to her name. Years later, the word love left a bitter taste in her mouth. Until she meets Gabriel. Gabriel Marcello, a thirty-five-year-old cold-hearted billionaire, who is still reeling from his past, does not care about anyone but his daughter... until the night Kayla Warner ends up in his arms. It was only meant to be an innocent one-night stand. She was only meant to be his for the night. Until he wanted more. Until they both needed more. Will they be able to conquer all obstacles as many secrets unfold? Will they be willing to get over their past and love each other without bounds?

Selene, the Moon Goddess, has made a vow to one day bring the human race and werewolves together again after centuries of persecution. Selene loves her children, gifting them soul mates, so why does she put the destiny of their race in the hands of 2 teenagers? Predestined for one another, a high school alpha meets his mate for the second time. The problem is his Luna is human and doesn't believe in the supernatural. She’s a track star who knows she can only go off to college if she gets an athletic scholarship. After her father's untimely death, her mom and her are forced to move in with the odd, old, and lives like a hermit, aunt Ginny, that believes in all things paranormal. Max, the newest Alpha of then Red Moon Pack, has no patience left. He’s lost his father and Alpha well before it was his time, but takes on his Alpha duties, turns 18 years old, and has eagerly awaited his human mate. Selene starts sending messages to Tara in her dreams telling her who she really is and the importance of her mate; but will destiny be fulfilled especially since these 2 can't seem to get along? They aren't friends. They both have lost their fathers and are bitter about it. And Tara doesn't have time for something that she swears isn't even real.

When betrayal hits home, Brenda's world crumbles. Chased out by those she trusted, she's left with nothing but shattered dreams and a heart full of tears. But fate has a surprise in store for her. A long-lost father, presumed dead, reveals a shocking truth - she's the sole heir to his vast fortune, making her the richest heiress in the country. With her newfound power, Brenda returns home, ready to reclaim her rightful place. As she walks into the board meeting, all eyes lock onto her, mesmerized by her poise and beauty. But one gaze pierces through the crowd - her ex-husband's. Their past was complicated, and his presence stirred up a mix of emotions she thought she'd long buried. Later, he approached her with a proposition that made her heart skip a beat: "Brenda, Let's do this again." But this time, it wasn't just about rekindling only their romance - it was about power, control, and unfinished business when they learned the bitter truth about their separation which was caused by none other than the people they trusted the most. Brenda was torn but and still hasn’t yet healed from everything that happened in the past but would she fall back into the same patterns with her ex-husband, or would she rise above the heartache and forge a new path? One thing was certain - she wouldn't be held back by her past.

In the dark underworld of Cosa Nostra, a hidden mafia princess is suddenly thrust into a deadly feud between two powerful mafia families. Lucia, a young woman who had no idea about her true lineage, is living a peaceful life in a nun's convent until the day her father's enemies come calling. Her world is turned upside down when she discovers she's been groomed her entire life to be the perfect mafia wife, because she's been promised to an enemy since birth. Forced into an arranged marriage with Giovanni Vittori, the ruthless eldest son of the Vittori Capo dei Capi, Lucia finds herself caught in a twisted game of power and vengeance. When the blood feud between their families rages on in the aftermath of a disastrous wedding, the stakes get higher and the danger grows. Lucia must rely on her wits and cunning to survive in a world where everyone is a potential enemy. Giovanni is torn between his duty to his family and his growing obsession with his beautiful bride. But as they fight to overcome their families' bitter past, they find themselves surrounded by enemies on all sides. In a world of vendettas and retribution, can they find love amidst the chaos, or will they be crushed under the weight of vengeance and sacrifice? *** Giovanni is Book 1 of 4. The subsequent sequels will be released under this book. BOOK 1: GIOVANNI - COMPLETED BOOK 2: EMILIA COMPLETED BOOK 3: DOM (TBA) BOOK 4: FRANKIE (TBA)

School had just dismissed us for the exam-break when my roommate begged me not to leave her alone in the dorm. She said she was scared and wanted to come home with me. Out of kindness, I brought her back with me. I had no idea that the very first night, she would sneak into my brother's room, and by the next morning, she was screaming that he had assaulted her. Because of that, my brother missed the exam, and his reputation was ruined. When the school board found out, they expelled him. No other school would take him in. To keep me from getting involved in this mess at school, my parents had no choice but to let that roommate live with us. After that, she treated our home like her personal hotel: never lifting a finger, demanding that my parents wait on her every night, and even having them wash her feet. My brother dropped out and took up work at an illegal factory just to support her spending. Then one day, a machine crushed him at that factory. My parents, already exhausted and heartbroken, fell gravely ill and passed away soon after. I was consumed by hatred. In the end, I dragged the roommate who destroyed my family down into the flames with me. Even as I died, I still couldn't understand. What kind of bitter grudge did her family have against mine for her to ruin us like that? But when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day she asked to come home with me…

“I, Alpha Killian Strox, reject you, this filthy human as my fated mate at this very moment. May the bond be broken and may we be provided more suitable mates.” Alpha Killian spat with disgust clouding his feature and Erika smiled, a bitter one that didn’t mirror how much pain she was feeling. **** Erika grew up knowing she was the hate symbol, the girl nobody wanted to be associated with. Her own family didn’t want her and the church could only keep her for a few months before she was tossed unto the streets. Erika knew what it felt like to be hated by people who didn’t even know you. A quest for a better life and a life without all of these hate was what pushed Erika to find a better future. What she didn’t expect was stumbling upon a world with supernatural beings and what’s worse? Erika wasn’t allowed to leave for knowing the secrets of the realm. A chance for salvation comes when the pack is attacked by a stronger alpha. The nemesis of every other pack, Alpha Killian. Killian is the strongest alpha to have ever lived and one that other supernatural creatures fear and revere. With his life and several clans under his power, he would have never expected that a simple take over trip would lead him to his mate. He had always a mate but the goddess seemed to enjoy toying with him. What is even worse is finding out his mate is human. The moon goddess had him given a weak human mate?

A man once admired for his beauty and wealth, Adrian Lancaster, loses everything when he contracts a mysterious virus that alters his appearance. His ex-lover abandons him, his family shuns him, and the world treats him like a curse. Heartbroken and weary, Adrian vanishes from society, choosing isolation over the cruel judgment of those who once adored him. He wanders until he stumbles upon a small, remote village, where he hopes to disappear forever. However, the villagers, just like the rest of the world, treat him as an outcast—except for Elara Whitmore, a quiet yet strong-willed woman who lives alone on the village outskirts, caring for injured and abandoned animals. Elara sees something in Adrian that reminds her of her own painful past. She reaches out to help him, but he rejects her kindness again and again, too wounded by betrayal to believe in compassion. Yet Elara refuses to give up. Slowly, her warmth and persistence break through his defenses, and Adrian begins to trust her. As time passes, their connection deepens, and Adrian's condition begins to improve—not through medicine, but through Elara’s love and care. She becomes his light in the darkness, and he, in turn, finds himself drawn to her in ways he never expected. But the world is not done testing them. A cruel villager, bitter and envious, seeks to drive Adrian away, and just when he finds happiness, his ex-lover returns, desperate to reclaim him now that he is healing. Adrian must decide—does he return to the life he lost, or embrace the love that saved him?

Verena Ellington was the Alpha king's daughter but for her mate, Fred Clinton— An average Alpha, she turned down the throne, put her wolf to sleep, and dedicated 7 years of her life to help him rise as his human mate. She thought life was good. She thought she had the best husband and son. However, when she returned from the hospital after a supposed Panther attack on her, her heart bottomed out to see her husband and son living in their house with his mistress like a family! "Mommy, there's no need for you to overreact okay! Aunt Tory here was doing what you were supposed to do— Taking care of us. Stop throwing a tantrum and let us enjoy the movie." Those were her son's words when she yelled at them. "Vera, I can't deny my feelings for Tory. She pulls me in like a magnet. Many Alphas have women beside their Lunas. Why are you so bitter about it? Accept her or the doors are behind you. It's your choice." "You want that Vixen? Fine, I'll leave you to them. Enjoy your lives." Heartbroken and burning in the need for revenge, Verena left them. She revived her wolf and decided to pick up where she left 7 years ago— but now, her ex-husband and son want her back. Will Verena forget their betrayal and go to them? Or will she continue to relish the taste of freedom and wait for a second-chance mate?

Once known as Levy, a normal human being, her life was forever changed by an unexpected encounter with a dragon during a sudden attack by Jeffery, her cousin Alice’s vengeful ex-mate. This chance meeting with the dragon prompted a transformation not just of her name, but of her very existence. On the advice of the Dragon Shrine Priest, who received a divine message from the dragon goddess, Levy became Lavina, a name she carried even in the human realm, as a symbol of her new identity linked to the great healer dragon. As Lavina, she built a successful career as a film producer, juggling her human life with her new mystical reality. However, things took a bitter turn when she met her dragon mate, Keenan. Their relationship disintegrated due to Lavina’s inability to bear children, resulting in a heartbreaking severance of their mate bond with the help of a witch. Seeking solace, Lavina found herself drowning her sorrows in a local bar, and in a reckless moment, sought comfort in the arms of a stranger. Ironically, the stranger was Alpha Archer, a man she’d been consciously avoiding since he confessed his feelings for her before her involvement with Keenan. After a gap of five years, their unexpected reunion in the backdrop of an awkward night brought forth a new wave of complications, particularly as Archer was on the verge of marrying a She-wolf under a contractual agreement to make her his Luna. What does the future hold for Lavina and Archer? How will this chance encounter impact Archer’s impending marriage? The story of their intertwined destinies is yet to unfold.