False Pretense

Rachel Mercer had been unwanted her whole life. After bouncing between sixteen foster families, with no real name or sense of home, all she had left was a quiet hope that turning eighteen would bring freedom from a system that detested her. But everything changed the night she was attacked. She was thrust into Astrae Lykaon Academy, a secret institution for werewolves, where students believed she was a girl who simply returned from winter break. They don't know the truth. Only the academy's inner circle is aware that the girl she's replacing vanished without a trace. But if pretending to be her keeps her safe, she's willing to play along. Until she meets them. Five fated mates, each powerful, unpredictable, and drawn to her in ways she doesn't understand. The bond is wild and dangerous, awakening something ancient in her blood. And at the centre of it all is him: the young professor who once saved her life and now watches her like he already knows the truth. She was hunted by something ancient that should not exist Her bloodline is rare Her enemies are older than legends And Rachel stayed at Astrae Lykaon Academy under a false identity, hoping to survive. But as secrets unraveled, bloodlines awakened, one terrifying thought began to take root; What if she was never meant to survive that night? And what if she's not the impostor after all?

On the day of my marking ceremony, my fated mate, Jason Potter, was caught having an affair with my younger sister, Vivian Tallow, on the altar. I became the laughingstock of the entire pack. My childhood friend, Alpha Dominic Carlton, decided to make a vow and mark me on the spot in order to preserve what little pride I have left. He spent the next four years taking good care of me and showering me with love. With great difficulty, I managed to get pregnant with his pup, thinking that I finally found a place I could call home. But one day, I overhear a conversation between Dominic and his Beta. "You're too cold-hearted, Alpha Dominic! Aurora has shown nothing but devotion toward you, and yet you decide to make her a breeding tool just so you can protect Vivian?" "Vivian is an Omega. She can't handle the pain of labor. But she needs a pup in order to cement her status in the Potter family. "As for Aurora, I'll tell her that her pup has died prematurely. When the time comes, I'll cast her out of the pack territory with the excuse of her miscarriage. Either that, or I'll make sure that she'll be silenced permanently." It turns out that Dominic has lulled me into a false sense of security just so he can ensure that I can become his breeding tool. I make a beeline for a secluded healing center immediately. "I'm not going to give birth to this filthy pup anymore." I'll be kissing this fake mate bond goodbye, too.

'Clothes wouldn't be necessary here, Milady' He should have known she was up to something when she suddenly started to act naive, when she was after all, an escort. 'W-what the hell are you doing in my room?' She had asked when he first entered But he let his third leg do the thinking and forgot to be rational. 'I usually find the hard-to-get game, silly and boring. But, I think this roleplaying stuff gets your juices flowing. How about you be my naughty student instead.' He gently tucked her hair behind her ears and stared at her lips 'I am an escort sir. Not. A. Prostitute. My job description is escort and not call girl. I'll appreciate it if you leave my room or I'll call security.' 'Is this some sort of twisted role play? I already told you to stop. I paid for the night. What the fuck is going on here?' *** It wasn't role play. The slut had a nasty game up her sleeves. Set up and then blackmail. Fucking sleazy reporters were already at his door. Louis knew how deadly the media was in pushing stories about people like him. A false story about him had previously ruined his life. His father had suffered for it as well. He decided to give the media a story that wouldn't ruin him. Who didn't prefer romance to anything else? He looked into the slut's face and threw the proposal in her face. 'You would have to marry me.'

My sister-in-law, Alicia, insisted that her son was a chosen fighter, blessed by God and immune to harm. The truth was far darker: every injury meant for him was being transferred onto my daughter. His congenital heart disease disappeared overnight. While most children his age were still carefully protected, he was already taking part in extreme sports and never suffered so much as a scratch. Meanwhile, my once-healthy daughter weakened day by day. She began to suffer unexplained fractures throughout her body. There was not a single place left uninjured. It was impossible not to see the connection. When I voiced my suspicions to my husband, Jeff Charlton, and my mother-in-law, Kelly Freeman, they dismissed me as delusional. They accused me of being jealous that Alicia had given birth to a prodigy, while I had nothing but a "worthless" daughter. Later, Alicia's son completed a trek across the Saharain Desert and became an overnight sensation, a child star adored by millions. At the same time, my daughter suddenly collapsed from heatstroke and died without warning. Alicia went live on her platform, accusing me of making false claims out of envy. Her followers believed every word. They hunted me down and ended my life. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back at the moment Alicia first proclaimed her son a miracle child. This time, I was no longer a powerless mother. As a specialist doctor, I calmly pulled on my gloves. "Alicia," I said with a smile, "Let me examine my nephew and see if he's truly cured."

"Well, it doesn't matter now. As you can see, they took away every ounce of dignity and honor from me. They left me with nothing, Kristoff. I'm just a mere servant now. Give up already and forget about me. I would only bring shame to your position.” Kristoff grabbed my arms, pulled me towards him, and embraced me gently. "This is not how love works, my mate. How could you ask me to forget our love if you already own every ounce of me? Leaving you won't take me anywhere. I would rather stay here and continue to love you." ******************************************************************************** Ari Rosenberg is born a half-rank, an offspring of a high-ranking Alpha father and a lowly Omega mother. Her father's love for her knows no bounds, but her wolfless nature and half-rank status earn her the unrelenting hatred of her stepmother, Seraphina. Despite the odds, Ari dreams of a happily-ever-after with her mate, Kristof Bjorn, the crown Alpha of the formidable Ironflame Pack. Their wedding day should be the start of her fairy tale, but a false accusation shatters her dreams. The ensuing tragedy claims her father's life and forces Ari and her people into the lowest rank as omegas. Determined to reclaim her destiny and driven by a burning desire for revenge, Ari embarks on a journey to right the wrongs that have befallen her. With unwavering resolve, she confronts her past and forges a new future where justice prevails, her lost love is found, and her true power emerges.

How would you feel if your long term boyfriend and love of your life chooose your maid over you? What stunts would you pull to tear them apart? If your heart has been broken thrice, would you still take a chance at love, for the fourth time? If you had a slave, would you let her go free, and take everything that was meant for the one person you love and protect- your kid sister? If you were an alpha king, dreadful, powerful, and wealthy, whom every lady drools for, would you accept a bond to an omega and a slave? ***** Melissa Owens is an omega in the Viperine Pack and a slave to Alpha Reuben and his sister, Lizzy. She had been rejected three times by different mates and she had already concluded that the moon goddess is tired of her. It came as a surprise when the 3-time rejected omega was bonded by the moon goddess once again, but this time to the alpha king himself, alpha Enzo. Alpha Enzo was the boyfriend to Lizzy, Melissa's slaver. Lizzy had so much wanted to be his mate and Luna, but on her eighteenth birthday party, alpha Enzo chose Melissa instead, and worst of all, he chose her right before Lizzy's watching eyes. Would Melissa survive the stunt Lizzy and alpha Reuben would pull? How would she forget her past experiences and move on with present reality? Will the alpha king accept or reject her? As some hidden truth is brought to light and false allegations are well crafted to resemble the truth, how would they find a way around?

The music made the speakers tremble, the floor vibrated with the rumble of the sound and the jumps of the crazy people. Each one in their own world, dancing together, dancing separately. Enjoying music, company and alcohol. I danced alone, with a drink in hand. Gliding, moving my hips to the rhythm of the music, not paying much attention to anything or anyone around me. Just enjoying that moment of inner peace that I was needing and he was giving it to me. It was a respite, a window that I opened myself in my own cage to let in air and I knew that as soon as I left the club the window would close and I would lock myself back in my world without fresh air. Therefore, he enjoyed everything he could. Alone. With eyes closed. Sweating the bad energy that others left me and breathing the good vibes that I had to give myself. They were approaching me. I drove them away. They invited me. I rejected them. they spoke to me I silenced them. I just wanted to dance and they were going to have to respect that. It was amazing how loud music could be my oxygen tank. It silenced my thoughts, freed me from tensions. There was nothing more relaxing in my life than dancing with my eyes closed and the volume turned up to a thousand. I twirled, I jumped, I wiggled, I hummed, and I sang. The brightly colored lights flickered making it difficult to see, but it was what I liked the most, going blind for an instant, forgetting that I had the ability to see the world, a false, disastrous and difficult world.

I was Claire Vitale, the lost daughter they forgot, the bride my lover betrayed—and the dying girl they failed to notice. For five long years, I lived like a stranger in my own home. The Vitale mansion was a beautiful prison, where every kind word hid a lie, every promise was false, and even Lawrence, the man I was supposed to marry, cared more for Vanessa than for me. None of them saw how my body weakened each day, how the pain grew sharper. They were too busy watching their precious Vanessa. Vanessa—the perfect adopted daughter, was the girl my parents loved more than me. She came into our family when I was lost, and when I returned, I found my place already taken—by her. Just as the illness was quietly taking my future. Now she was gone, and they all pointed fingers at me, convinced I was behind her disappearance. The machine they strapped to my head would pull memories straight from my mind. "Where is she?" my father roared. My mother sobbed in the corner. Lawrence, my fiancé, stood silent—his accusing eyes louder than any shout. But I knew the truth would shock them—how Vanessa hurt me, how she faked accidents, how she made sure no one ever believed me. The machine would show them everything. As the machine began its work, I trembled—from fear and exhaustion. After all these years of being unheard, would they finally see?

After the Ig publication S.H.I.T Journal goes viral, I search its website out of curiosity. The satirical journal bills itself as a home for all things academic garbage. The moment I open the site, the top trending article catches my attention. It reads, "A Research on How to Deceive a Gullible Foster Mother With Face Blindness and Trick Her into Raising Me as Her Biological Daughter for Twelve Years". "Keywords: deception, face blindness, self-delusion, false family bonds" I freeze and click into the full article with trembling fingers. The more I read, the more terrified I become. "1.1 Definition of face blindness and how to swap daughters to deceive the foster mother" "2.1 Practical uses and drawbacks of the foster mother" "3.1 How to profit by exploiting the foster mother through her face blindness" The content sends a chill through my entire body. The comment section is already in chaos. "Does this mean the author is actually the daughter of the mistress, and her father swapped her to be raised by his wife for twelve years?" "That's not all. Didn't you read 2.1? The wife had her own daughter, and the husband deliberately handed her over to traffickers!" "What the hell… In 3.1, it even says that because the wife has face blindness and can't tell people apart, the author makes deals with single fathers of classmates and sends the wife to…" At that point, my phone slips from my hand and crashes to the ground. The screen shatters instantly. I have severe face blindness, and I have a daughter who was kidnapped and only found again after three years.

Erica is the beloved favorite of the Moonlight pack. The Moon Goddess had created a remarkable wolf with her, the only daughter of the late Beta who was adopted by the Alpha family. With vibrant red hair and glistening silver eyes, she easily enchanted everyone around her. Like all werewolves, Erica longs for her true mate, the one crafted just for her by the Moon Goddess. Although Johnston, the Gamma’s son, adores her, Erica is reluctant to fully commit to him because she knows that every wolf has a destined mate. Determined to find hers, she sets off on a journey through eight neighboring packs in search of her other half. Meanwhile, Johnston grapples with anxiety over possibly losing her but remains steadfast in his belief that they are fated and their bond simply hasn't been revealed by the Moon Goddess yet. He discreetly shadows her throughout her journey, often in disguise. As Erica moves through each pack, she observes the intrigues and secrets among the high-ranking. Her quest is made even more challenging when she encounters males who are not bashful about using witchcraft to create a false mate bond with her, or using deceptive tactics to seduce her. And along the way she even came across an evil sister. By the end of her search, Erica had gained a wealth of experience and knowledge. Eventually, Johnston and Erica discover their origins and the Moon Goddess's plans work out well. But whether their love can withstand these changes in their rankings is a serious question...