Bloomed Roots

When the mafia heir, Marco Gallante, barged into the family vault with his mistress, I was standing before the Virgin Mary statue, cross-checking bloodstained ledgers. Fiore Albero cowered behind him, pointing at the ledgers in my hands and shrieking, "Marco, I'm scared..." I did not even bother looking up, just flicked the ash off my cigar. However, Marco kicked the desk over with one swift boot. "Chiara Moltisanti, Fiore can't stand the sight of all this blood and violence. Sign the divorce papers, now!" I stared at the mess scattered across the floor, thinking back to the pregnancy report the family doctor had handed me just ten minutes ago. The Gallante bloodline was dying out in this generation. Ever since the eldest son, Luca Gallante, died in that accident, Marco became the sole heir. The Don, Carmine Gallante, dreamed of nothing more than a legitimate boy of pure blood to carry on the family name and glory. So, I smiled, bright and sharp, with unmistakable mockery. "Perfect. Since you want true love, then the Don's throne will never be yours." Besides, I never wanted Marco, that useless fool. What I wanted was the Gallante empire, a mafia dynasty spanning three continents with 100 years of roots, and the control that left him with nowhere to run and no legs to stand on. This time, I would cut him out completely, keep the bloodline, and sit at the head of the family.

My sister has awakened her mermaid bloodline, but it is incomplete. Her skin is her curse. A single touch, too hard, and it cracks. For her, everything hard in our house has been thrown away. I love to dance, but the hard tips of ballet shoes are forbidden. I love music, but the strings of a guitar or the keys of a piano are too dangerous. Every dream I've ever had has been strangled in its cradle because of my sister's condition. My brother, Liam, who raised us both, always looks at me with tired, pleading eyes. "Elara is fragile, Isla. You have to be understanding." But I was only eighteen the first time I truly understood. I came home from my high school graduation ceremony, the scent of sunshine and excitement still on my clothes. The moment I stepped inside, Elara's hand connected with my cheek. Hard. For no reason at all. Everyone rushed to her. Liam pointed a furious finger at me. "Look what you've done! You've hurt her hand! How could you be so careless?" He shoved me aside and rushed out with Elara to find a doctor. I fell back against the glass coffee table, the impact jarring. And then, a strange, cold pain bloomed across my back. I felt my skin... tear. It was then I remembered the doctor's words from my last check-up: "You carry the Siren's Gene, Isla. It could manifest at any time." As my vision blurred, my own blood pooling on the pristine white floor, I finally understood. The curse wasn't just my sister's. It was mine, too.

Raj is not just a handsome and intelligent businessman; he is the charismatic CEO of the prestigious Kapoor chain of hotels and industries. With a beautiful sister and a nurturing mother by his side, Raj seems to have it all. Deep down, however, he harbors a passion for music and dreams of becoming a celebrated singer—a dream put on hold after the tragic death of his father thrust him into the demanding world of business. In a twist of fate, Raj finds love in his charming secretary, Sujata. Their whirlwind romance culminates in a stunning wedding, but an unintentional tragedy casts a dark shadow over their union—Raj bears the weight of blame for Sujata's father's death. Just as life seems to be falling into place, tragedy strikes again as Raj dies mysteriously on the very night of their marriage. In the wake of his death, Sujata is consumed by vengeance, determined to take everything from Raj as a way of avenging her father's demise. Sadly, it is Raj's mother and sister who pay the ultimate price for his past mistakes. Yet, hope emerges in the form of Abhimanyu, the son Raj never got to know—a perfect reflection of his father with an equally enchanting voice and a passion for music. As destiny unfolds, Abhimanyu returns to his roots, where he encounters the captivating Pankhuri, leading him on a journey that awakens memories of his previous life as Raj. With love, music, and a quest for redemption at the heart of the story, the pieces of fate intertwine in unexpected ways, revealing how the past can shape the future in the most profound manner.

Years ago, the eldest son of an Alpha fell in love with a female werewolf of an enemy pack. They were each other’s mate and fell deeply in love with each other despite flaws and past pack conflicts. However, their packs weren't in support of their relationship as neither of the packs were ready to put their past behind. After many struggles and realization that their love would never be totally accepted, the couple fled their pack to live among humans as normal humans and swore to never return. Few years after fleeing and finally settling in the human world among normal humans, they give birth to a son. However, raising a son in the human world turned out to be harder than they thought as Ryan Kruger, their son had been and had gotten used to living a normal human life with his girlfriend who he had promised forever without knowing he's true roots. When Ryan finally shifts and finds out about his true roots, his life takes a dramatic turn which includes he and Yvonne's relationship suffering a wicked turn as shifting for the first time turns out to be even harder than he had ever imagined. The couple thus splits as Yvonne's family move out of town and Ryan's unexpectedly move back to their pack. However, unknown to both of them, fate had more in store for them than both just being the high school human and werewolf lovers.

The evening air was biting cold, sending shivers down Cole's spine. She was sure she'd turn into an icicle when, without warning, Vincent gently scooped her up. A soft gasp escaped her lips as he settled them both across the length of the bed, pulling her close as he draped an extra blanket over their entwined forms. A warm blush bloomed across Cole's cheeks as she became acutely aware of their intimate position. But Vincent, with his steady composure, seemed entirely unbothered, simply relaxing into the bed’s softness. "Get some sleep," he murmured, his voice a soothing rumble that resonated in her chest. Sensing her gaze, he added, "The power will be back on once the damage is repaired. So… just stay close to me until then." Cole took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to calm. Slowly, she let herself melt into his embrace, resting her head on his broad chest. The faint scent of spring blossoms and cypress swirled around her, a fragrance that felt both comforting and familiar. She nestled closer, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill as sleep began to tug at her eyelids. With each steady beat of his heart, Cole felt a sense of peace she hadn't known she needed. She smiled softly, the rhythm of his heartbeat the most beautiful melody, lulling her into the comfort of dreams. As survivors of a collapsed society, a group of doctors are the world's last hope for a cure. In order to protect each other and the future, they've worked in secret. Preserving resources which become scarcer year after year. Among these survivors, a pair of doctors endure challenges as a deadly contagion spreads. Against better judgment, an unexpected bond develops between them and their patient.

For seven years, Grace has been the dutiful "moon goddess" at the side of Alpha King Ethan Silver, enduring his indifference while desperately trying to strengthen the weakening MATE bond between them. On her birthday, she returns to the eastern territories only to find her home empty - her partner absent and her daughter, whom she brought up as a child, estranged. "I've got something going on here, tomorrow." Ethan's impatient voice came over the phone, but Grace caught another female voice in the background. Olivia Stone. Her half-sister. "Aunt Liv is so handsome, I love Aunt Liv so much, why is mommy so annoying." She heard her daughter Emma complain. The truth becomes irrelevant when Grace finds Ethan and Olivia in an intimate embrace in his office. The mate bond she tried so hard to defend meant nothing to him. "Who gave you permission to come in here!" Ethan's expression was justified, and Grace stood rigid, the coffee tray trembling in her hands. Determined to leave them and rebuild her work and her life, Grace ditches the Silver family and her position at pack medical to return to her roots as a therapist and reconnects with her former partner, Dominic Hayes. As Grace rebuilds her life and professional standing, Ethan begins to notice her absence. But is it too late? Grace has awakened to the fact that she doesn't want to be his Luna anymore. Can she truly sever the seven-year mate bond? And what happens when Ethan finally realizes what he's lost?

Ariana Cooper stood by Caleb Miller through his rise to success, enduring every hardship life could throw at them. With the wedding just around the corner, she was on the verge of becoming his wife—only to be discarded once she'd outlived her usefulness. To make matters worse, Caleb even handed over the wedding funds as "compensation" to his long-lost first love, who returned with a son in tow. Watching the picture-perfect family of three bask in their happiness, Ariana made a clean break. She returned to her wealthy roots and got engaged to the heir of a trillion-dollar empire in Horghen City. Then the story flips. Ariana reemerges on the global stage as a top-tier designer, dazzling at the world's most prestigious fashion shows—now with a trillion-dollar tycoon husband by her side, the envy of all. Caleb was convinced Ariana—an orphan, hopelessly devoted—was only throwing a tantrum and would come crawling back in time. But as days turned into months, he began to lose it. … Ethan Skye was infamous in elite circles for his icy detachment, a man rumored to harbor a secret love he could never reveal. Ariana understood the rules and never pushed her luck, falling seamlessly into their role as a flawless, if hollow, society couple. One lazy afternoon, Ariana found a sketchbook tucked away in Ethan's private study. She flipped it open—and her breath caught. Page after page was filled with drawings of her. Holding it up, she went to reason with him. "Ethan, and you call this 'not close'?" He bent down, effortlessly scooped her up, and carried her toward the bedroom. "It's not too late to get close now."

“I want you.” Aurora whimpered softly. “Tell me how much you want me, little wolf.” “I want you so bad.” She gasped when his lips grazed her ear, his breath making her shudder with need. Henry watched her with pleasure-laden eyes, his hand coiling round her waist possessively. “You belong to me, Aurora. You're mine.” … In the moonlit world of werewolves, Aurora Rose Thompson was a stunning young she-wolf with a fierce spirit and a beauty that rivaled the moon goddess. On her 18th birthday, the moon goddess paired her with the Alpha of her pack, Alpha Bishop Dawson, a union that seemed like a dream come true. But behind Bishop's chiseled facade and commanding presence lay a sinister plot: he didn't want a mate and he despised the mate bond. Two nights after they were mated, he cruelly rejected her and banished her from the pack. Enter Henry James Robert, the most powerful and ruthless Alpha King who had been mateless for more than a hundred years. He saved Aurora from Bishop's banishment and took her back with him to the lycan kingdom where he ruled. What he didn't expect was to fall desperately in love with her. A deep passion bloomed between them until everything shattered one day. Henry's dark secrets came to light, secrets he had managed to bury all these years. Hidden conspiracies arose, threatening to shatter the bond between him and Aurora. The truth about Aurora's identity is revealed, and when Bishop discovered that she was now Henry's mate, he suddenly wanted her back at all costs. Can their love survive the darkness of Henry's past and the treacherous forces that seek to destroy their bond? Or will the very thing that brought them together ultimately rip them apart?

Yara Ellis is a medical student, hiding in a human university while she studies to become a doctor. Unlike most, Yara is majoring in human medicine, veterinary medicine, and minoring in zoology. Since the packs are constantly at war, there are never enough doctors to help injured pack members. She’s been on her own for several years now, escaping from her previous pack and making her own way in the world, hoping to one day return to her roots and become the premier doctor of the packs. Warren Hill is an Alpha, caught up in the constant wars that abound between the packs and the battles that are never-ending. He’s a strong and powerful Alpha, but because of the constant fighting between the packs, he’s never been able to find his mate. One day when Yara is letting her wolf run, she comes across Alpha Warren, caught in a bear trap. She’s heard of this, packs leaving traps so that other pack’s members will get caught and either die a slow death or are easily killed. Warren is in his wolf form, unable to shift without ripping his leg off. Yara carefully springs the trap, releasing him from his metal capture. However, Warren recognizes her as his mate and when his pack arrives, he’s unwilling to leave her behind. Yara doesn’t want to return to Warren’s pack but is unable to fight against the Alpha and his warriors. When she hears that the one who desperately wants her, the one she ran to get away from, is now Alpha of his pack, she realizes that the safest place for her may be with Alpha Warren, even if he is her mate and even if he is unwilling to ever let her go.

Before the contract was even signed, the client's representative casually said he was craving pancakes with maple syrup. I didn't hesitate. I texted my fiancé, Nigel Cross, and asked him to stand in line and grab some. He came back with the box, all proud of himself. The client took one bite, and within seconds, his face went red. Hives bloomed across his neck. He shot to his feet, furious, and called the whole deal off on the spot. Then he turned around and handed the million-dollar order to Olivia Field, the intern who had rushed to grab him allergy meds. Three months of grinding work were gone just like that. I stood there, my throat tight, trying not to fall apart. Nigel squeezed my shoulder, his voice soft as he said, "It was just bad luck. Don't beat yourself up." I nodded weakly, drained of energy. But the second I stepped away, I heard him laughing in the break room with his friend. "That guy's seriously allergic to mango. Good thing I added mango syrup to the pancakes. Olivia's about to score a huge year-end bonus. Enough for a down payment on her new apartment." His friend hesitated. "Melissa hasn't slept in a month over that deal. She was working while she was sick. She needed that money for her mom's surgery—" Nigel waved him off, already annoyed. "She has me. Isn't that enough? Olivia earned this." My hands curled into fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. Bad luck? Yeah, right. Nigel had planned every second of it. And now, he thought he could smooth it over by marrying me someday, toss me a few cheap words, and I would just swallow it. I was done with that disgusting man.