Duchess Rowena

Faustina, once a rogue orphan, found solace in the arms of her mate, Alucard Forest de Carteret, a lycan prince and the crown prince of their kingdom. Their passionate encounters resulted in an unexpected pregnancy. But when Faustina was about to muster the courage to reveal the news, Alucard coldly rejected her, insisting he never loved her and was only a pawn for his carnal desire while he was in his engagement to another. Years passed, and their paths crossed once more. Faustina, a wealthy jeweler and esteemed aristocrat, stood tall and independent as the sole heiress of the late Grand Duke and Duchess Bellwood. Little did Alucard know, they had not one, but three beautiful children. Determined to protect their secret, Faustina adamantly denied his claim as their father, despite his persistent efforts to make amends. Can Faustina find forgiveness in her heart and allow Alucard to be a part of their children's lives? Or will she also shun him away the way he had done to her and make him suffer?

Lady Vania, yang masih berusia 22 tahun, harus merelakan mimpinya untuk menjadi peneliti di Akademi Kiloa setelah saudara laki-laki dan kakak iparnya meninggal dalam kecelakaan kereta. Sebagai satu-satunya anggota keluarga tersisa, Vania mendadak harus menjadi wali bagi dua keponakannya yang masih berusia 6 dan 4 tahun. Tak hanya itu, dia juga terpaksa menerima gelar Duchess di Daerah Ansel sesuai surat wasiat sang kakak. Vania tentu awalnya menolak. Dia terlahir tanpa mana--sebuah energi--yang harus dimiliki oleh orang-orang Kerajaan Merden yang menjunjung tinggi dunia sihir. Namun, demi keponakannya, Vania rela melepaskan hidup tenangnya. Ketika satu per satu masalah teratasi, Vania mendapati masalah baru! Dua ponakannya tiba-tiba mencarikan jodoh untuk Vania agar dia dapat mempertahankan Duchess. Bagaimana kisah Vania dan dua keponakannya? Lalu, apakah ketiganya dapat hidup tenang dan bahagia sesuai surat wasiat sang duke?

It begun after an edict of the Emperor marrying Duchess Vanhi, who was unable to turn down his offer. Lixien, who's father revolted against the former reign of the current Emperor, was faced with crisis. Vailan, the Emperor, appointed her to keep an eye on her. It was wholly to prevent another revolt against the Emperor. But with the blossoming romance entanglements, with each passing day, can they really resolve the affairs of their hearts? ** She looked at his eyes containing his supposed secret desire for her. Surprised, she was momentarily in a daze. "Let's cross this line, Lixien. I want you." "I... want you too." The peak of romance that tied their hearts into one, along with their bodies, they were inseparable. But does love stays like that? Would this passionate, and sweet romance prevail the distress and pressure? With her head high and tears trickling down her eyes, she casted her letter one last look and mumbled, "I dare not love you, Vailan. We're supposed not to fall in love in the first place..." What will Vailan do to his wife who left him with a mere letter?

At three in the morning, I stare at the unknown transaction record on my phone screen, my fingertips turning cold. The record is for a payment of 2980 dollars, made for an executive suite at the Wisteria. The time of payment was 8:00 pm last night. My husband, Tristan Griffin, is a detective. He was on the night shift last night. I clutch my phone, my knuckles turning white as I text Tristan, "I just saw your credit card bill for a hotel stay last night. What's up with that?" His reply is instant. "Our team had to work overtime at the last minute, so they put us up at the hotel. I forgot to tell you about it." I scan the text and sputter. The Wisteria is located in the western region of the city, which is on the other end from where his squad is stationed. I don't press him for more details and click on the bank app on my phone. Having found the vendor's address through the payment record, I sent it to my best friend, Rowena Sheffield, who works as a private detective. She replies instantly with an "OK" emoji and follows up with, "Give me a second. I'll find out everything you want in a jiffy!"

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?

Born into the Mafia Alcina saw their brutal violence from a very young age, her beloved Papa was shot dead in front of her eyes when she was only five years old. Ricardo was also born into the Mafia, the pampered spoilt youngest son of a powerful Don a stunning beautiful little boy who is as clever as he is gorgeous. They grow up in very different environments, Alcina is taken back to her mother's family by her staid, much older than her mother's sister Lady Annabella. To be brought up as an English Lady ready to inherit her mother's title of Duchess when she is eighteen. Ricci grows up trained in his father's ways so he can take over the powerful Mafia Family instead of his two older brothers. As they grow up life throws them together and the attraction is instant but they have many battles to fight before they can be together. Can Alcina forgive Ricardo for being the son of the Monster who had forced her to watch her father die? More importantly, can Ricardo forgive himself?

After my 99th failed confession of love to Jim, my parents grounded me for two weeks. "You've embarrassed yourself enough over that illegitimate son from the Larson family," they snapped. "Has he ever even spared you a proper glance?" "Stay home and reflect. We've already arranged your marriage to the Shaw family. The wedding will be in two weeks." However, I didn’t give up. I was so determined to see Jim, no matter what. Only to walk in on him locked in a deep kiss with his precious first love in a private room. "Jim, you really know how to play," one of his friends laughed. "If the Cunningham family's heiress catches you like this, she'll probably lose her mind again." "Seriously, you've turned Ella down so many times, and now that she's grounded, you haven't even sent her a message. Aren't you afraid she'll finally give up on you?" Jim just scoffed with disdain and said calmly, "What's there to be afraid of? Everyone in the capital knows Ella is obsessed with me. Who else would want her but me?" "If I hadn't needed her to get back into the Larson family, I never would've postponed my engagement to Rowena in the first place."

"Brother, please spare my life!" Sera cried out. She kneeled and bowed down to show sincerity but her brother's eyes did not show any emotion. "There is no mercy for traitors, Sera. That's the family motto, remember?" Xander's voice was stern and filled with contempt. "I didn't do it! I don't even know what the Duchess looked like!" She was desperate but none of her family members even tried to listen to her. "We shouldn't have accepted you. The prophecy was true when it said that you will only bring tragedy to this family!" Her father's voice was filled with rage. All her life, all she asked was to be acknowledged. All she wanted was to feel the warmth of a family. Was it too much to ask for? "I wish I was never born," she mumbled. "Prepare to die, Seraphina. This is the punishment for taking my mother's life." Xander lifted his sword and drops of blood splattered when the blade cut through Sera's head. "Sera!" Seraphina jolted when she heard her mother's voice. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the familiar small room and she immediately touched her neck to confirm that her head was not severed. What happened? Why am I back to my ten-year-old self?

During the full-moon raid carried out by the Bloodmoon Pack, my squad accidentally strayed into a swamp thick with deadly silver mist. I had prepared for this. I always carried a moonstone that could protect against silver poisoning. But when I opened my leather pouch, all my fingers touched was a wishing doll woven from dried grass. I was about to reach out to the Elder Council through the mind link. That was when my Alpha mate, Jack Fraley, suddenly grabbed my wrist. "Easy, sweetheart. Don't be impulsive. I gave your moonstone to Lily. She's a fragile Omega. She needs protection more than you do." I clenched the straw doll, fury burning so hot that it nearly scorched away my reason. "Are you kidding me? Wearing this junk is no different from standing naked in the silver mist!" He frowned, completely unashamed. "Rowena North, you're my Luna. Protecting Omegas is your responsibility. Stop throwing a tantrum." I let out a cold laugh. "I'm a Luna, not a saint with no boundaries. And that moonstone was my mother's keepsake." After that, I didn't argue with him anymore. I severed our mind link without hesitation. Then, I turned to the Beta beside me and gave a clear order. "Contact the Elder Council immediately. I formally invoke mate bond severance. Effective now, every pack territory and alliance bound to my name is frozen."

When Selovia's soldiers seized me, I sent Leon ninety-nine letters, each one begging for rescue. He tore them apart. "I sent Aya back to her duchy after she struck Mira—but I gave her my finest escort. Selovia could not have touched her." A sharp breath. "I allowed Mira the ceremonial gown, nothing more. And now Aya makes a spectacle to win back my favor. It shames her." He paced once, restless. "Mira's brother died protecting me. He was my Captain of the Royal Guard. I swore to guard her in his place. Tell Aya this—no matter how she rages, I will not cast Mira aside. If she keeps making a spectacle, I will delay the wedding." Three days later, he rode into Valecrest with the marriage contract in hand, ready to wed me. That same hour, Selovia's envoys delivered an ornate gift box. Leon glanced at it and exhaled. "So the dowry is prepared. All this noise was Aya stirring unrest." The lid opened. Inside— My head. From the tower, mourning bells began to toll. Slow. Heavy. Final. The chapel doors parted. The officiant stepped out, robes dark, face set in solemn lines. "Her Grace, Aya Valecrest, Duchess of Valecrest, has been returned to us. The burial rites begin at once."