Echoes Of Us

His voice was low as he remarked, "You’re kissing a stranger," yet his eyes were full of intrigue. When I barged into their engagement party, the hurt of my betrayal was still fresh because I had just been deceived by the two people I trusted the most, my best friend and my ex. Then, however, he appeared. The enigmatic billionaire CEO who has a reputation for avoiding relationships is Yemi Kings. I kissed him right then and there, while everything fell apart around me. It was reckless and hasty, yet it seemed genuine for the first time in weeks. Nevertheless, what started as a defiant act soon evolved into a tangled network of deceit, mysteries, and an undeniable chemistry that neither one of us could ignore. I was surprised that he wanted me. This was unexpected. However, we are compelled to play a game neither of us is ready for when Yemi's and my past intersect. The tension is tremendous, the stakes are enormous, and the distinction between passion and retaliation is blurred in ways I never would have thought possible. His main thought right now is to claim me as his own. But will I still be able to trust him when the truth is revealed? Or are we going to see our worlds fall apart forever? The phone rang just as I was starting to have faith in us. Everything was broken by the voice on the other end.

**This book is the second book in the Billionaire series. It can be read as a standalone novel, but it is highly suggested that you read The Billionaire’s First Glance prior to this novel.** I, Zander Cavanaugh, the all-American football quarterback, have done something that could get me killed. I fell in love with the brilliant, curvy mafia princess Isabella Aventini at first sight. Everything about Isabella called to me: her captivating blue eyes, her soft caramel skin, every dip and curve of her voluptuous body was just the start. Isabella was smart, kind, and funny. The kind of girl you can’t help but fall in love with. I know she felt the same way as I did. We were drawn together like magnets, but that’s not how the mafia works. Isabella is a commodity to be sold or brokered for the sake of alliances and has been promised to the ruthless and cutthroat DeMarco family since birth — a fate she neither wants nor needs. Isabella’s father, Mafia Don Salvatore Aventini, has managed to keep us apart by sending Isabella away to finish high school. However, when fates aligned, Isabella not only ended up attending the same university as me, but she’s also my college-assigned tutor. I know there is no chance for us, and still I fell in love with her, knowing it could mean my death.

My wife, Sarah, died unexpectedly. My in-laws made an absurd request. "Why not have Stella play both roles? After all, Luke can't be without a mother." My brother-in-law, Greg, yelled at me, calling me shameless, and stormed out in anger. I looked at my sister-in-law, Stella, who looked exactly like my late wife. I could hardly conceal my grief. I was about to urge them to abandon their ridiculous idea, when I accidentally overheard a conversation between her and her parents. "It was Stella who died, so why did you lie and claim it was you?" Sarah sighed. "I love Greg. I staged my death so I could be with him legitimately. As for asking me to play both roles, don't even bring it up again. As for Michael, I have already given him a child and a respectable marriage. I owe him nothing." Turning around, I saw Luke with reddened eyes, asking me softly, "Daddy, does that mean that Mommy no longer wants us?" I bent down and pulled him into my arms, forcing myself to soothe him. "Your Aunt Stella wants to protect the person that she loves. We shouldn't bother her. It's time for us to prepare a new life."

My wife's gym is celebrating its grand opening, and I drag my buddy along to check the place out with a 9.90-dollar trial class I bought through an e-commerce platform. For the entire time, I never once let it slip that I'm the owner. Right after we finish training, a male coach tosses a price sheet at us. His eyes sweep over us with contempt as he says, "You two look like freeloaders. Our private sessions cost a few hundred each, and we don't offer freebies to people like you." I let out a disbelieving laugh. "We paid for this trial class. How is that freeloading? Go get your manager." He rolls his eyes and makes it seem like he's enforcing a very important rule. "Don't bother looking for the manager. My girlfriend owns this place, and she hates broke losers who try to get free classes." He dials her number right in front of us. His voice sounds both arrogant and pitiful. "Babe, two guys showed up and tried to con us into giving them a free class. They even told me to call the manager. Come over here and show them what's what!"

I thought rejection was the worst pain a wolf could endure. I was wrong. The night Damon Calder left me marked but unclaimed, he shattered me. My body burned for him, my wolf howled for him—but he walked away without looking back. Now fate has decided to twist the knife deeper. My mother has married his father. Which makes the boy who broke me…the stepbrother who haunts me across the dinner table. The bond between us is half-finished, raw and vicious, clawing through my veins. Every brush of his hand, every stolen glance, every growled word drags me closer to the edge I swore I’d never cross again. But Damon isn’t just my ex-mate. He’s the outlaw Alpha’s son. Dangerous. Reckless. Marked by secrets that could burn us all alive. I should stay away. I should hate him for what he did. But when his storm-gray eyes lock on mine and his voice drops low enough for only me to hear— “Run to whoever you want, Lyric. Your wolf will crawl back to me.” I realize the truth. No matter how hard I fight it… I’m already his.

My husband falls for my cousin at first sight while still married to me. They conspire to make me fall from grace. I end up with a ruined reputation and family. I can't handle the devastation, so I decide to drag them to hell with me as we're on the way to get the divorce finalized. Unexpectedly, all three of us are reborn. As soon as we open our eyes, my husband asks me for a divorce so he can be with my cousin. They immediately get together and leave the country. Meanwhile, I remain and further my medical studies. I work diligently. Six years later, my ex-husband has turned into an internationally renowned artist, thanks to my cousin's help. Each of his paintings sells for astronomical prices, and he's lauded by many. On the other hand, I'm still working at the hospital and saving lives. A family gathering brings us three back together. It looks like life has treated him well as he holds my cousin close and mocks me contemptuously. However, he flies off the handle when he learns I'm about to marry someone else. "How can you get together with someone else when all I did was make a dumb mistake?"

"Can you handle f**king the five of us?" Abducted and forced to kill in a labyrinth of fifty women, Cataleia Reiss was one of the people that stood last and was accepted in a black Auction. She was bought by a mysterious stranger, claiming to be a Dominant Alpha; however, her master is suddenly assassinated. As the rights and will were read before his coffin, Cataleia witnessed the event that would change her life forever. “Cataleia Reiss won the Auction. And she is to be divided amongst the brothers.” _

But as much as I loved him, there were cracks in our perfect marriage. Damien didn’t want children. He’d been clear about it from the start, even though I had always dreamed of being a mother. He’d smile that charming smile of his and say, “Pups will tie us down, my love. You’re so beautiful and vibrant and pregnancy would change that. I want you to stay just as you are.”

We are soulmates. Weve loved each other for as long as we can remember, even though her father hates me with an undying passion. He never wanted us to be together and now that we are destined, he's totally flipped his lid. To make matters worse my father agree's with him. I never thought my own flesh and blood would forbade me from being with my one true love. What did we do to deserve any of this. The issues between my Father and hers had nothing to do with us, but apparently it has everything to do with it. I never thought id have to break her heart the way i did, the same day we found out we were mated. She will never forgive me, the pain in her eyes told me so. The hole in my heart will never heal,nor will the look on her face ever leave my mind. Now she's Promised to another, as am I. Can i really move on knowing she's on the otherside of the border. Can i really make another shewolf my Luna and ignore the deep seated need for my mate. Goddess please help me.

After I bought my new home outright, my relatives organized a housewarming party to celebrate. During dinner, my nephew Leo suddenly said, “You’re just a spinster living alone in a huge apartment. What do you need all that space for? I happen to be getting married soon. That’s a huge deal. You should transfer the place to me. I’ll even cover the transfer fee.” I was stunned. “Are you out of your mind?” His mother Linda said, “How can you be so ungrateful? Him using your place for his newlywed life is doing you a favor. It’ll bring you good luck! Other people would jump at the chance!” The son and mother were united against me. “Anyway, tomorrow’s a great day. Grab the property deed and come with us to transfer ownership!” I rejected them without hesitation and called them crazy. Who knew they would get so furious that they would storm into my brand-new apartment and go on a rampage, smashing everything in sight. They even said smugly, “We need to show you our family doesn’t get pushed around! Go ahead and call the police! What proof do you even have that it was us?” What they did not know was that I had installed surveillance cameras on the day I moved in.