Faded Shadow

“Do you really have to play this dirty game to take revenge on me, Demi?" her ex-husband asked at last. And Demi grinned with such seductive power. “Oh no, It’s not a game, Jeff. It’s just giving you the same doze of your own medicine.” she replied with fiery glare in her eyes. by the look on Demi's face, she was determined to take her revenge just as Jeff, her ruthless ex-husband, has said earlier. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In her hope that real love would blossom free from the shadow of her wealthy and strong family background, Demi Perez had to subtly hide her own identity from her husband, Jeff Ortega. And for the past five years of marriage, all that she ever did was pour all that she has to offer into their marriage, only to be met with cold indifference—and divorce papers that would end things between them. With Demi’s beauty and brains along with her wealth, she had completely conquered the corporate world and made some great impressions everywhere she went, and that includes dominating the failing company of her ex-husband. And in just a year after her divorce, Demi came back powerful and famous. No longer was she the once naive ex-wife that Jeff left behind, because right now, Demi has once again reclaimed her status as the elite and powerful heiress of the Perez clan. But as their old flames rekindle, Jeff wasn’t sure if he still wanted retribution or if he wanted her back. While Demi, on the other hand, has to decide whether she would finish what she started, or risk her heart all over again.

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."

A virgin at thirty? A plus-size? Yes, that's Hera. After a painful heartbreak, she shuts herself off and chooses to focus on her career. Well, that's until She meets Mason aka Viper, the leader of Shadow riders motorcycle club on her way to her best friends wedding. He stakes his claim on her but life has a way of messing people up. Past traumas and bitter Ex's crawl on them. Hera has a secret, will Mason accept this side of her when he learns about it? *** He is ready to settle, she only wants to play around. He is Jepoy aka Zero. The deadly weapon of the club, yet she elopes his traps, avoiding his claim. She was not always like this, a traumatic marriage changed her. He saved her from him, but he can't save her from the hell she lives in everyday. Chloe knows she isn't ready to settle, Jepoy knows he must stake a claim on her. Two wounded souls, two different destination, is there a future for them? TRIGGER WARNING: The story contains sensitive information. Acts of violence and extremely mature content (+18) will be explored. Proceed with caution.

Mira has always lived in the shadow of pack politics, her heart tethered to Lucian, the powerful Alpha of Blackpine. When Lucian chooses duty over desire and claims another as his mate, Mira’s world shatters. Alone and carrying Lucian’s child—a secret that could ignite war—she flees into the wild, determined to protect her unborn pup from the harsh traditions that once bound her. Lost and vulnerable, Mira stumbles into the territory of Rowan, the enigmatic Alpha of Silverpine. Unlike Lucian, Rowan offers acceptance and a chance at a new life, vowing to protect Mira and claim her child as his own. As Mira’s bond with Rowan deepens, she finds herself torn between the pain of her past and the hope of a future she never dared imagine. But Lucian cannot let go. Driven by regret and an unyielding need to reclaim his child, he risks everything to breach Silverpine’s borders, threatening to ignite a conflict that could destroy both packs. As loyalties are tested and old wounds reopened, Mira must choose where her heart—and her child—truly belong.

So there I was, stuck in this dark Victorian mansion for a whole freaking century, thinking I'd never get out. Then, out of nowhere, these two gorgeous girls swoop in and rescue me! I couldn't believe it, and we instantly hit it off. They showed me a whole new world I'd only ever imagined, and I was all about living a normal human life.   But just when I thought things were looking up, this vampire named Vivaldi pops up out of thin air, grinning like a possessed Jack-o'-lantern. I mean, a name like Vivaldi is bound to give you the creeps, right? He claimed I had some ancient first blood running through my veins and demanded that I sign some crazy blood contract with him—the kind of deal that comes with some seriously freaky consequences.   Vivaldi was trying to sell me the idea that this blood contract was his only lifeline, the only way to save his skin from something worse than death. But I wasn't some clueless newborn vamp; I knew better than to just dive into something as serious as a blood contract. Those things come with some heavy consequences, and I wasn't about to sign up for that without a second thought.   The problem was, if I didn't go along with his messed-up plan, he promised to make my friends' lives a living hell—the very people I'd started to care about. I was trapped between a rock and a hard place. If I decided to team up with Vivaldi, I'd be keeping him around, which is far from ideal. But if I refused, my friends and the whole town of Shadowvale would be in serious danger.    It felt like I was caught in this impossible situation, like I was trying to choose between two rotten apples.

The Darkness is being manifested by an unknown enemy, and prophecies of a war start coming true. The Protectors of the throne have been preparing for war for over 1300 years, but everyone is still wondering if the prophesized royal will emerge in time to protect the Osvald Kingdom. Rolf, a Regent Prince, has been hiding the fact he is a member of the Protector Family so he can earn his rank in the Lycan Army without the privilege he was born into. His world is turned upside down when he meets his mate and must decide if she is worth the exposure. Thyra has one mission in life, to avenge the slaying of her pack that happened five years ago. She doesn't have time for the pull she feels toward another soldier in the Officer Leadership Academy. Will he understand that her oath has to come before the distraction he brings? Or will she have to submit to him just so she can keep looking into his amber eyes...

Luca Moretti is a name whispered in fear. The ruthless Italian mafia boss has spent years building his empire, crushing enemies without mercy. But his greatest rival, the powerful businessman Damian Laurent, has always remained untouchable—until now. When Luca discovers that Damian has a son, Adrien Laurent, he sees the perfect opportunity for revenge. Adrien, delicate yet defiant, has spent his life in the shadow of his father’s fortune, oblivious to the blood-soaked rivalries that shaped his world. That is, until Luca kidnaps him, dragging him into the dark underbelly of the mafia. But what starts as a move in a deadly game turns into something far more dangerous. Adrien is not the helpless pawn Luca expected—he fights, he resists, and worst of all, he tempts. The fire in Adrien’s eyes ignites something in Luca, something possessive, something obsessive. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Luca must face the one thing he never anticipated: the possibility that his greatest enemy’s son might just be the only thing he can’t let go of. He took him as leverage. Now, he’ll never let him go.

My Alpha mate, Dominic, rules the entire Stormfang Pack, but in our ten years together, he has never once given me a gift. Even our bonding tokens—a pair of rare healing crystals that cost me an entire year's savings—were taken by him without hesitation. He claimed that as Alpha he needed to appear frugal and understated, which is why he marked me in secret without hosting a proper mating ceremony. Because of this, most pack members don't even know I'm his mate. Yet when Sylvia, his childhood sweetheart, returned to Stormfang territory, he publicly announced their mating plans. He even dipped into the pack's long-term savings to throw her an extravagant celebration. When my mother was attacked by rogue wolves and left critically wounded, I begged Dominic to return my healing crystals—the only things that could save her life. Instead of helping, he denied knowing me in front of the entire pack and ordered his guards to drive me away with burning torches. Later, my mother died during the Blood Moon Festival. I lost my only family during what should have been our most sacred celebration. I renounced my Stormfang membership that same night and accepted the Northern Shadow Pack's Chief Healer position. While packing my belongings, Dominic returned from his honeymoon with Sylvia. He found me and assumed I was merely sulking. For the first time ever, he made a generous offer: "Come on, what could possibly happen to your mother? At worst, I'll give you that fancy mating ceremony you've always wanted. That should satisfy her desire to be an Alpha's mother-in-law." What he didn't realize was that from the moment my mother died, I had already sworn to the Moon Goddess that our mate bond would be broken forever.

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."

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.