Faded Shadow

Jacob Seo is the only son of Aromatized's CEO—the most famous perfume company in South Korea. As the heir and next CEO, being homosexual, is not easy to hide. But the only person who knows what he truly is, died. It made him create another persona to cope up with his traumatized brain and sacred heart. Two personas. Two different sexual reference. One body. The question is… What will the future of Jacob be? Will he be a shadow of his own mind? Or reclaim what is originally his to begin with?

Thalia Sinclair never thought her quiet admiration for Asher Vaughn Caldwell would lead to marriage. He was the golden boy of their youth, and she was a shadow in the crowd. Years later, an unexpected reunion, one night, and a life-changing twist brought them together in a marriage without love. She thought their story was over when she asked for a divorce—until the day she saw the storm in his eyes. Could it be that the man who seemed so distant had been hiding his true feelings all along?

Adira and Chloe grew up separated by their mother’s love. Chloe got the best of everything from her mother, while Adira was expected to fend for herself. Their Mother’s favoritism has fostered hate, competition and jealousy between the sisters. This caused Chloe to be a spoilt, entitled young woman that has no regard for other people’s feelings. And the one person that suffers the most because of this is Adira. Adira has learned to take care of herself because no one else will. She’s independent and self sufficient. But she still struggles with finding her own place in the world when her sister is at the center of everything. Adira has to carve her own way, find a way to come out from under her sister’s shadow and selfish nature. But Chloe is determined to make her sisters life a living hell.

Being born into the family of Richard Davison, the CEO of Davison Hotels, was no fairy tale life for Carly, as expected. From the moment she was born, she was forced to walk in the shadow of her elder sister, to the extent of pursuing the same course in college, all in an attempt to fit the mold her family had created for her. Carly was seen as the black sheep of the family, the imperfect daughter who deviated from their expectations. But her fate would take an unimaginable turn when, after a failed business deal, her father made a desperate decision. He sold her to Alessandro De Luca, the infamous mafia lord known for his ruthlessness. Alessandro was notorious for his cold heart and the expectation was that he would treat Carly poorly, as nothing more than a possession. Carly's world shattered as she found herself thrust into a dangerous realm she never asked for. However, fate had different plans, and everything took a new turn when Alessandro, a man known for his detachment and indifference, started falling in love with her. Against all odds, an unexpected bond formed between them. As their connection deepened, Carly discovered a side of Alessandro she never knew existed.

Damian, my destined partner, is the alpha that all wolf girls dream of. For him, I went alone to the North, his pack. But for three years after we signed the contract, he remained chaste, staying at least three feet away from me, refusing to mate with me. I thought he was just busy with the affairs of the wolf pack and had no time to care about me. Until I stumbled upon Damian pinning Lyra, his sister, against a rough tree trunk, his mouth savagely devouring her lips like a wild beast. "You know I long for you, Lyra!" he roared. "Why did you force that boring Selena on me?!" At last I understood. The only person he truly loved was Lyra. He hurt me again and again for Lyra, and even when we were trapped in the forest and almost swallowed by the shadow plague, he ran away with Lyra in his arms without looking back. "Whether Selena can escape or not has nothing to do with me. You are the most important person in my world!" I was heartbroken, but he wanted to complete the final mark with me because of guilt. He didn't know that I had already dripped my heart's blood on the moonstone the day I found out about his affair with Lyra. Our mate bond had been completely broken long ago.

Before our marking ceremony, my fiancé, Adrian Conner, insists on bringing his childhood sweetheart along on our trip—all because Flora Wooledge says she also wants to see the northern lights. He switches my first-class ticket to Flora's name. He says, "I'll fly first class with Flora. You can take connecting flights by land. The doctor said it's not good for a pregnant woman to stay at high altitude for too long." I don't cry or argue. Instead, I calmly push him toward Flora. He snorts. "You've finally learned to behave. You're not as clingy and troublesome as before." After he leaves, I quietly sign the abortion consent form at the hospital. Then, I book a ticket to the southern hemisphere. In my past life, I begged and clung to him, hoping to keep him with our pup. But on that trip, Flora was attacked by rogue wolves and torn apart in the snow. Adrian kept a calm facade. Yet on the night I was about to give birth, he dragged me back home and cut open my belly with his own hands. He stood there and listened as our pup's cries slowly faded away. He poured all his hatred onto me. He believed I caused Flora's death and that I ruined his chance to become the Conner family's heir. To him, I was nothing more than a sacrificial pawn. In this new life, when I step off the private jet, I see Adrian standing there with his eyes bloodshot. He stares at my belly and asks, "Where's the pup?" Before I can answer, his half-brother wraps an arm around my waist. "Adrian, show some respect to your sister-in-law."

The remnants of the pack gathering had barely faded when my whole world changed. My best friend, Hallie Richmond, vanished, snatched away by rogues. Only for her to reappear the next day, found bruised and bitten near the pack borders. My heart ached for her, so I went to her with her favourite apple pie. But the solace I intended to offer shattered into a million pieces the moment I heard the words of my boyfriend, Camilo White, our pack's beta. "...Hallie's family will destroy her if they learn of this. I have no choice but to mark her first.” "What about me, Camilo? I'm your girlfriend!" The words tumbled out. "You can be my secondary mate, Violet. It's just a small favor. Surely, if you truly loved me, you wouldn't hesitate to help?" Camilo's words ripped my heart out, breaking up with me and replacing me with Hallie for the marking ceremony we had both anticipated with such joy. From that moment forward, I became a shadow. The pack whispered words of how I was deflowered before my true mate could claim me. My family now regarded me with disappointment. My father's anger was a physical force, driving me to my knees beneath the icy waterfall. Then, the following day, a figure emerged from the mist. Alex Skye, the Alpha's son, pulled me from the water. He leaned close, his sky-blue eyes holding mine, and whispered the words that offered home: "I'm your true mate, Violet. Break up with that vile, idiotic boyfriend of yours. I believe you will be the perfect future Luna."

Lilian Jackson has the worst luck, between balancing multiple jobs, playing the role of both parents for her siblings, managing her alcoholic father and paying back her student loans, 24 hours is just not enough for her. As if that's not enough life throws her a curveball in the form of a life threatening heart disease. "I must be paying my debts from my past life for all this to be happening to me" There is Byron Bladell, heir to a multi-million chain of restaurants and CEO in his own right. He is tall, rich, handsome and seems to have it all with a loving family and a beautiful girlfriend. The world sees him as the most eligible bachelor in town but he is chasing a shadow from his past. Their lives intertwine as pictures of their chanced meeting sweeps the internet suggesting an intimate relationship. "It's just a rumor" Lilian attempts to convince everyone. "Why don't you just marry me" Bryon suggests. In what seems like the answer to both their problems, Lillian and Byron enter a contract marriage. The initial indifference towards each other fade as they stay under a roof and play the part of a loving couple to outside world. The lines between acting and reality start to blur as their emotions come to play. Without the pressure of providing for her family, Lilian regains her fierce and cheerful attitude which mirrors someone from Byron’s past. It's just a fake relationship but what was happening to her heart. "Is this a symptom of my heart disease or is my heart racing for him?" It is the journey of two hurting souls finally finding healing from their past and inner peace, after all it all started with a racing heart.

Lillias, the last living heir of the ancient Scottish wolf royalty, has spent her life under the shadow of duty and tradition. Her lineage carries not only power but also a curse: a prophecy that foretells her bloodline’s eventual downfall if she fails to fulfill her role. But her heart yearns for freedom, and her wolf spirit aches for a mate. When she crosses paths with Alpha Silas—an enigmatic, battle-scarred leader of a powerful rogue pack—their connection is instant and undeniable. But Silas carries his own burdens. His pack was cursed by the Sun God, leaving him haunted by guilt, loss, and a destiny he can’t escape. Bound together by the pull of the Moon Goddess’s will, Lillias and Silas soon realize their fates are interwoven far beyond the bond of mates. They must uncover the secrets of an ancient feud between the Moon Goddess and the Sun God, whose divine quarrels threaten to tear apart not only their union but the very fabric of their world. As old prophecies resurface and enemies emerge from the shadows, Lillias and Silas must decide: will they defy the gods for their love, or will they be pawns in a celestial game they can never hope to win?

In a world of werewolves and pack rivalries, Jasmine Wilson, Alpha of the Blue Crescent pack, has resigned herself to a life of loneliness after losing her mate in a rogue attack. But fate intervenes when the goddess grants her a second chance at love, only to pair her with Lucas Oswald, the fearsome and ruthless Alpha of the Crimson Shadow pack. Lucas is everything Jasmine never wanted in a mate; his reputation for being incapable of love precedes him. Determined to maintain control over her pack, Jasmine resists his advances and refuses to surrender her authority. The stage is set for a battle of wills as Lucas demands her submission and loyalty. As they navigate their turbulent relationship, a looming threat from their past emerges, leaving people missing and a mystery to unravel. Forced to work together, Jasmine and Lucas must set aside their differences and join forces to confront the enemy that threatens their existence. Caught between her duty as an Alpha and the possibility of a second chance at love, Jasmine finds herself faced with an impossible choice. Will she sacrifice her pack and the life she has built for herself, or will she risk everything for a shot at happiness with Lucas? In this gripping tale of power, love, and redemption, Jasmine and Lucas must find a way to unite their packs and solve the mystery before it tears them apart. The stakes are high, and the future of their packs hangs in the balance as they embark on a thrilling journey that will test their limits and challenge everything they once knew. Book 2 of the mated series. It can be read as a stand alone, but it is advisable you read the first part of the series, "The Alpha Luna" to better understand back story.