Dignity Symbolism

In the three years since I became Zander's mate, I've tried to kill myself ninety-nine times. Kidnapped by a rival pack in my youth, years of torture nearly destroyed me. I clawed my way back to the Crescent Moon Pack, only to find my place had been taken by an adopted daughter, Vivian. My Beta parents doted on her, and my fated mate—the Alpha himself—had eyes only for her. I begged them, told them my kidnapping and my suicide attempts weren't accidents, but all I ever heard was: "Ember, you're delusional. You just wandered off and got lost." "You tried to drown yourself in the river." The people closest to me, and not one of them believed me. Until the ninety-ninth time. Another "suicide." When I woke up three days later, I rubbed my aching head. My eyes were vacant, my own gaze foreign to me. I had forgotten who I was, forgotten the humiliation I'd endured, forgotten the desperate girl who had thrown away her dignity for a scrap of her Alpha's affection. At the pack ceremony, while everyone waited for me to fawn pathetically over Zander, a single tear slid down my cheek for reasons I couldn't comprehend. I wiped it away and, under the shocked stares of the entire pack, announced calmly: "Zander," my voice was steady. "I don't love you anymore. So I, Ember of the Crescent Moon Pack, hereby reject you as my mate." "This little act again?" Zander sneered, his eyes glinting with the same casual contempt they always held for me. But he didn't know. This time, I was leaving him for good. It wasn't until I vanished completely that the ones who'd never believed me were the ones who truly went mad.

"Stop it, Ethan! Stop doing this to me!" I wished I could utter those words, but my body betrayed me. His touch alone made me lose all connection with my senses. Internally, I screamed for freedom as his seductive kisses rendered me tongue-tied. I was tired of being treated like a mere sex toy by this man, yet my body continually danced to the rhythm of his waist. I let him have his way, gasping softly, my lips defying all moral sanity. After a few rounds of pleasure, he pushed himself off me, put on his pants, and walked out the door as if I meant nothing. The realization hit me hard: I shouldn't have let this happen. I should have stood my ground this time and not succumbed to his wishes. I picked up my clothes, the last pieces of dignity left in me. "Ethan!" I yelled, chasing after him. "Please wait!" "What is it, woman?" he halted, looking disgusted by my presence. "We're married, for crying out loud! You can't keep treating me like trash. Tell me what I did wrong. Tell me if there's anything I should change about myself. I'm willing to do anything, please, Ethan. To make this marriage work, I'm willing to do whatever you want. Just don't pick her over me again!" I sobbed, halfway on my knees, begging with my hands clenched to his trousers. --- Elizabeth Douglas, a young heiress, finds herself falling for her father's driver, Ethan Haynes. But there's a twist - Ethan is already engaged to Stella. Just when Lizzy decides to walk away, she uncovers a shocking betrayal that changes everything. Get ready for a story of untold secrets, broken ties, new alliances, romance, revenge, and a love that refuses to be forgotten.

A year ago, a witch planted a curse on me. Afflicted with the Silver Moon disease, my life hung by a thread. At the risk of his life, Sebastian Garland, the Alpha and my boyfriend at the time, ventured into the deadly Dark Woods. He suffered for 99 days, braving countless dangers, just to bring back the antidote that could save my life. From that moment onward, I swore that no matter what kind of mistake he made, I would forgive him 99 times. Soon after my vow takes effect, Sebastian betrays me. He starts bringing back countless lovers to our home. "This is the reality of being a Luna. You should get used to it," he says to me. On the anniversary of our relationship, he brings back another lover. "Cassandra, Isabella doesn't have a gown she can wear to the party. Give her the one you wore on your wedding day," Sebastian heartlessly orders me. Despite believing that I've grown numb, when I hear those words, my heart still feels like it has been ripped apart. My voice trembles with rage as I cry out, "You can't keep hurting me however you like just because you think I'll bear with it! I won't put up with this forever. I'll break my bond with you!" All of the werewolves in the pack laugh hysterically, as if they have just been told the most ridiculous joke in the world. Sebastian's repeated humiliation of me has left me without a shred of dignity as his Luna. No one believes me. While eyeing me derisively, Sebastian says, "I'm sick of hearing that. It's even more nauseating than the moans you make in bed!" I close my eyes, allowing my tears to fall. This is the 96th time. Once he uses up all of his chances, it'll be the day I'll finally be free.

At the Thorn Pack banquet, Jacob Mason carefully cut the steak on my plate. His gentlemanly demeanor and meticulous attention to detail drew envious glances from those around us. "Our Alpha is so good to our Luna," a voice murmured from across the table. "You won’t find a more devoted mate in all of Southspire." I glanced at Jacob, a sweet warmth unfurled in my chest. I silently tightened my grip around the Moonstone Ring—a ring my father had left me, the symbol of power in the Lotus Pack. I had planned to give it to Jacob when the banquet ended, when we were alone. But as the evening wore on, the noise and the clinking of glasses became too much to bear. I feigned a slight dizziness, excusing myself to return to our castle ahead of him. In truth, I needed the time to prepare a surprise—something special to commemorate this night. When everything was set, I silently slipped back into the banquet hall, ready to take Jacob by the hand and whisk him away. But as I arrived, I stopped dead in my tracks. There he was, holding Hazel Rhea tightly in his arms. "Chloe is so rigid," he said. "Always clinging to the dignity of being the Lotus Pack Alpha's daughter. How could she ever compare to Hazel's passion?" "Don't worry," he added, his tone light with mock reassurance. "Hazel and I are just friends. Chloe won't feel betrayed." He laughed softly. "But don't tell her, alright? She's so old-fashioned—if she found out, she'd leave me for sure. Honestly, the thought of spending the rest of my life with such a dull partner… It's exhausting." Just friends? Is that what he called the way his hand slid beneath her dress—being "just friends"? I didn't interrupt them. There was no need to disturb their lively conversation. Instead, I slid the Moonstone Ring onto my finger. Without a word, I turned and left. In the quiet of the night, Xavier Grey—who had been following me all along—waited. Together, we set off on the journey I should have taken long ago.

“Tila ginto ang bawat araw na kasama ka. At ang magagandang alaala nating dalawa, kailanman ay hindi mabubura sa puso ko. Patawad, masakit man, ngunit kailangan kong gawin ang bagay na ito. Sana, sa paghihiwalay nating ito’y matagpuan mo ang kasiyahan sa piling ng iba. Marahil, sadyang hindi ako ang babaeng nakalaan para sayo. Ang pagmamahal kong ito sayo ay babaunin hanggang sa huling hininga ko. Walang sinuman ang makakapalit ng lugar mo, dito sa puso ko…” Buong pagsuyo na pinagmasdan ang lalaking nakatayo sa bungad ng simbahan. Napakagwapo nito sa suot na mamahaling americana habang hinihintay ang pagdating ng kanyang bride. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni Vincent Anderson na tuluyan na siyang tinalikuran ng kanyang bride na si Tara Miles Parker. Tinahak nito ang landas tungo sa pagtupad ng mga pangarap ng kanyang ama. Para lang mapasaya ang natitirang sandali ng buhay nito sa mundo. Kinasuklaman ni Vincent ang kanyang nobya at tuluyan na niya itong binura sa kanyang buhay dahil sa matinding sakit na idinulot nito. Nagtagumpay si Tara, pero sa huli naiwan siyang malungkot at nag-iisa. Meanwhile, her ex-boyfriend Vincent has his own family now, happily raising his children.” Paano kung muling mag krus ang kanilang mga landas at mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang naudlot nilang relasyon? Kaya pa bang buhayin ni Tara ang puso ng ninong Vincent n’ya para sa kanya? Magawa pa kayang sumugal at magtiwala ni Vincent sa babaeng minsan na niyang minahal ngunit nang iwan sa kanya? O tuluyan ng matatapos ang libro ng kwentong pag-ibig ng isang Ninong sa kanyang inaanak? “A soldier willing to sacrifice her dignity just to restore and mend the heart of the one she loves.” “TO SERVE AND TO PROTECT YOUR HEART…”