Eight Hundred Grapes

Nalina (Lina) Romirez wasn't your typical nineteen year old. She had a secret that only those closest to her knew about. For her parents, they knew things would be different when their only daughter was born with a missing hand. By the time she was eight she had already mastered the art of operating a mechanical hand. It was so well built that no one could ever tell that it was fake, not even the wolves that went to her school. They were ferocious creatures that no one ever dared to mess with. Their pack (BitterFang Pack) lived deep in the woods and setting foot on their territory was an instant death sentence. Lina has never seen the higher members of the pack nor the Alpha. She didn't care much for them as her only goal was finishing her academic studies and moving out of the town. She wanted a life of her own and she was set on achieving just that. But as they say, destiny brings people together and crossing paths with the reigning Alpha wasn't something Lina had planned for. Not only was he the depiction of strength and dominance, but he also had striking features that couldn't go unnoticed. He knew she was his other half. But Lina wasn't planning on entering their territory again nor crossing paths with the Alpha for a second time. Well, that's what she thought.

Eight years into our bond, I spotted a child at the kindergarten who looked uncannily like Malcolm—my mate. Malcolm had told me he was away on a business trip. However then he was holding that child in his arms, gently coaxing him. "Be good, sweetheart. In a few days, I'll bring you and your mom home. You're my only child. I'll never abandon you." The child smiled, content and trusting. I stood hidden around the corner, unable to breathe from the pain gripping my chest. Eight years ago, I had taken a silver blade to the stomach to save Malcolm. I lost my wolf that day—and with it, the ability to ever carry a pup. Back then, Malcolm had sat beside my hospital bed and made a promise: "You are the only mate I will ever choose. Whether or not we have a pup doesn't change that." However, what I saw now felt like a brutal slap—a reality too sharp to ignore. What value would Luna have if she'd lost her wolf and could no longer bear heirs? How could I possibly compare to someone who could give him a child, and the pack, a future? Choking back the pain swelling in my chest, I picked up the phone and called my father. "Dad… would you still want a daughter who's lost her wolf?" His voice came through, steady and sure. "Of course. No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you."

Introduction A year ago, I had my eyes on the winning prize in the arena - a rare red gemstone, and wanted to win it back as the mating ring with my Alpha mate Damien. Just as I was about to claim victory and take the prize, Damien's secretary Celia stepped forward to challenge me. Damien laughed helplessly. "Young girls love these shiny things. As the Luna of our pack, you should be generous and let her have them, okay?" I refused outright and defeated her. That day, Celia ran off the platform crying. I proudly showed Damien my prize. He kissed my forehead helplessly. "My stubborn little wildcat." After our mating ceremony, he claimed me night after night for a whole year, in every way imaginable, never giving me a moment's rest. But one year later, I received an invitation to a private combat arena. Videos and photos of me beneath Damien, my eyes hazy with desire, were brazenly displayed as the victor's prize. Damien had his arm around Celia's waist. "Don't you love fighting? There are over a hundred people here. I'll have them challenge you one by one. Whoever wins gets a sex tape of you and me. A whole year's worth."

All it takes for me to be locked inside a sauna for eight hours is an accidental splash of hot water on Wayne Miller's secretary's hand. Right before I lose consciousness, he finally orders someone to let me out. He hisses, "Consider this a warning. If I ever see you lay a hand on Naomi again, I won't let you off so easily." I lie on a stretcher and answer with quiet composure, "Understood."

"The story of wedding proposals and unexpected rejections from each other influenced by their family members", is the one line narration of Persuasion, a romantic novel by Jane Austen. Frederick Wentworth, a Naval officer proposed to wed Annie, when she was 19 years old. Anne's family members felt that Frederick is not the right match for her as Frederick is poor and does not have a family back round. Influenced by her family members including father, sister and brother-in-law, Anne later decided not to marry Frederick. Russel, acting in place of her mother, breaks the engagement. Eight years later Frederick becomes wealthy and he is now a captain. Anne still unmarried now and meets Frederick who has not forgiven Anne's rejection. Being an eligible bachelor now, he publicly declares he would accept proposal from any one except Anne.

My stepson pushes me down from the second floor, all because I accidentally break a bowl. He stands over me, looking down with a cold, emotionless gaze. "You're just a stand-in my grandfather forced on us. Don't even think about replacing my mother!" I stare up at the boy I've raised for eight years, and his indifference cuts deeper than any wound. Blood slowly trickles down from my forehead. Fighting through the pain, I dial a number. "Whatever debt I owed has been paid. It's time for me to leave." Coincidentally, I already have the divorce agreement that his father has signed.

Charlotte, The daughter of Carter Shnapp, The most influential man in the city gives up everything she had ever known to be married to Brandon, her college sweetheart. Brandon is a serial cheat, Who does nothing but extort from her family and berates her. Charlotte gets maltreated by his family. She was forced to leave her job and family behind to become a housewife and be treated less than a maid. All these just to be betrayed by her sister and husband, She catches them in bed together. She is served divorce papers at the end and she is compensated with a hundred thousand dollars check and told to leave the city. She is left shattered and distraught, She meets a stranger at a bar and hooks up with him. Unknown to her he is her high school bully. How will Charlotte navigate her life?

I have a secret about my body. When I'm intimate with someone, my private part emits a fragrance. Despite being married to me for a decade, my live-in husband has never smelled it. One day, my family goes bankrupt, and I'm forced to become an escort. He looks at me imperiously as I kneel on the floor. He says coldly, "I'll pay you a hundred thousand dollars to let me smell you once."

A soft gasp escaped her lips when Tobias’ hand slipped into her gown and caught one breast. She tried her best to suppress her emotions but her eyes just involuntarily shut due to a pleasurable sensation brought by his warm touch. She blinked her eyes open when he detached his hand from her breast. Tobias distanced himself from her, however, the rage in his eyes was still there as he watched her. “I almost forgot. You told me a few years back, only I can touch you unless I pay you.” Minah's brows furrowed, her eyes fixed on him. Tobias pulled himself away from her, composing himself before he took his wallet out of his pocket. He then pulled out some paper bills and threw them on her. Her eyes darted to the money that he tossed right in front of her. Six violet-colored paper bills. Her mouth was left agape. Six hundred pesos! Minah could feel her blood rushing to her face as insult, rage, and humiliation stirred inside her. She lifted her face once again and threw daggers at Tobias. “I am no whore, you son of a bitch!” His expression grew ominous. “You are filthier than a whore, Damara,” he said firmly, his voice sounding displeased.

Just before our Luna Ceremony, my mate, Alpha Killian, rejected me—moments after we'd mated. "The pack needs a gentle Omega for a Luna, Mia. Not a Beta with blood on her hands like you." His face was a cold mask, his Alpha command washing over me, snuffing out the lingering scent of our passion. I swallowed the pain in my heart and watched him slam the door. A moment later, a notification hit the pack network. I was stripped of my position as Lead Beta. In my place, Killian appointed Mia as the new Head Warrior. The empire I'd spent eight years helping Killian build was gifted to her on a silver platter. With my heart shattered, I walked away. It wasn't until I became Luna to Alpha Damien of a rival pack that Killian started showing up at my new border, crying and begging me to come back.