Familiarity Breeds Contempt

"Of all people, why you?" His words were like daggers, piercing through the depths of my soul, shredding my heart into pieces. He ran his fingers through his messy, sexy-looking hair, cursing under his breath a couple of times. Disappointment, anger, and disbelief radiated from his aura. "But why, Adrian?" I asked, my voice breaking. Was I too ugly or undesirable for him to show this level of contempt for having me as his mate? "Isn't it obvious? I don't want you. I need a strong Luna by my side, and your sister, being a shifter, is an obvious choice. I can't love a weak, regular-looking she-wolf like you. Don't you understand? This mateship is a mistake. I can't be mated with you. It's shameful. You will only embarrass me." ******************* Aria Williams was devastated when her mate, Adrian Patterson, rejected her in favor of her sister, Cassie. Heartbroken, she decided to live as a rogue. For two years, she had learned to put everything behind her and move on with her life. But one night changed everything, prompting her to look back and confront the one person she had been running away from. Is she ready to confront the ghosts of her past? More so, is she ready to claim the destiny that the Moon Goddess has bestowed upon her?

"Will you reject me?" I asked lowly, ignoring the huge lump that had formed in my throat. I could only fight back my tears as they burned my eyes. His green eyes were like orbs of ice, piercing into my soul. It was glazed and cold, yet seemed to have a lot of secrets hidden in it. "Reject you?...I am cursed. You won't survive being my mate. I advice you kill yourself before I do it myself." He muttered silently and walked away immediately. Ella was the alpha's daughter. She was the supposed heir and first female Alpha of the pack after her parents failed to bear another child, but her life went sour. She was abhorred, rejected, and termed a demon by her father and entire pack after she murdered her mother on the day of her supposed first shift. Her life became more hellish as her father got another woman as his second mate and also abducted the Beta's daughter. She believed her finding and meeting her mate would bring the end of her suffering, but when she was faced with her fated mate, the cursed Lycan prince who stared back at her with contempt, irritation and hatred, her last hope became bleak. Ella was thrown into his arms as another prey to be devoured and everyone believed it was a death sentence. She was his third mate and next to get killed by his beast just as his curse demands. But when no one expected it, the unimaginable happened.

“Who would have thought?” I scorned angering Carlos fast. “A mighty wolf like you getting a scum like me for a mate,” Carlos' eyes flashed gold. His Alpha wolf didn't like the challenge. “Is this the part where you reject me, or should I make things easier and do It instead?” I knew rejection was the only fate awaiting me, and I wasn't going to let him think that I am bothered by it. I should be used to the heartaches by now, I thought grimly. “Cam…” he groaned, pinching his nose. “And he knows my name.” I spat venomously. No one in the pack has ever accorded me or my sister the decency of referring to us with our names. We are either termed as half breeds, scums, slaves, or occasionally orphans. Carlos was tongue-tied for a second. He sighed a million times, looking at me helplessly. I didn't like the pity I saw in his eyes. “Go ahead, mighty Alpha, let's get it done with.” I provoked and apparently, it's all he needed. “I, Carlos Stanford, reject you, Cameron Walker, as my mate.” A softly spoken statement, which carried a lot of weight. Though I was only seventeen and couldn't feel the bond yet, I did feel my wolf retreating at the back of my head, howling in pain. Putting on a brave face, I muttered. “Good riddance!” I stepped past him to leave but stopped by the door when I realized I hadn't done what was expected of me. “I Cameron Walker, accept your rejection.” I smiled through the pain, giving a mock bow, and stormed out of the room like my ass was on fire.

Ophelia Lewis, a privileged young woman, had her world shattered when she lost her father in a tragic accident. With her stepmother and jealous stepsister, Samara, scheming against her, she is forced into an arranged marriage with Kent to secure her place as CEO of Lewis & Hale. However, betrayal strikes when she finds Kent and Samara in an intimate moment. Humiliated and cast out of her own company, Ophelia speeds away—only to fall victim to a rigged car accident orchestrated by Samara. She wakes up in a hospital, saved by strangers, only to discover she is pregnant. Determined to take back her life, Ophelia fakes her death, undergoes plastic surgery, and reinvents herself. Her plan? To infiltrate the business world, reclaim her company, and exact revenge. Her journey leads her to Aaron Donovan, a ruthless billionaire with a dark past. He hires Ophelia, unaware of her true identity. Their working relationship is a battlefield of clashing egos, yet undeniable chemistry ignites between them. As she rises in the corporate world, fate intervenes—Aaron’s company merges with Lewis & Hale, bringing Ophelia face-to-face with her enemies. As secrets unravel, Ophelia’s presence unsettles Samara, who senses familiarity but fails to uncover the truth—until she stumbles upon hospital records. A deadly game begins as Samara orchestrates the kidnapping of Ophelia’s son, Caleb. In a tense showdown, betrayal and bullets fly. Kent meets his end, and Ophelia finally puts an end to Samara’s reign of terror. Three months later, Aaron proposes, sealing their bond. As a final act of love, he gifts Ophelia ownership of Lewis & Hale—the company that was once stolen from her. With vengeance fulfilled and love found, Ophelia steps into a future she fought to reclaim.

Rima: Jacob Snow is a puzzle. I had initially mistaken him for a cold, uncaring, and arrogant CEO, but as we work together, I realize he's the exact opposite. He's warm, considerate, and humble, a far cry from the man I had painted in my mind. But acknowledging this doesn't mean I'm ready to let my guard down. My past is a dark, haunting shadow, and I refuse to let anyone get too close, afraid of the potential pain that could follow. It's been a while since I've felt this way about someone, and the familiarity of these feelings scares me. The last time it ended being the worst mistake of my life. I don't want to give in to these feelings, but I can't deny that Jacob is becoming more than just a boss to me. Jacob: Rima is enigmatic. She’s resilient, determined, and initially, she appears distant. But as we collaborate, I find myself drawn to her strength and determination. She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met, and the spark between us is undeniable. She’s built a fortress around herself, a wall that's impossible to penetrate, but I’m determined to break it down. I sense she’s hiding something, and I can’t shake off the protective instinct that emerges whenever I see her. As we confront the danger together, I find myself struggling to resist the growing feelings I have for her. As danger looms, Rima and Jacob find themselves struggling to resist the growing attraction between them. Their pasts threaten to tear them apart, but they can’t deny the feelings that are blossoming between them. Will they be able to overcome their fears and trust each other? Or will their pasts continue to haunt them and prevent them from finding love?

“What's done is done! Let's just forget it!” He said and acted nonchalantly, even though he was cowering in fear because something was telling him that the stranger in front of him didn't intend to let go. The man's frown increases and Hayden swears that the temperature in the room increases multiple times. After winning over his heart and stealing his first, this boy wanted to avoid responsibility, which made Zenos annoyed. “You want to run away from me?” He asked in annoyance, and suddenly Hayden found himself under the man without even knowing how. “I'm just…” Hayden wasn't able to finish his words before he was domineeringly kissed by the stranger. Zenos used his left hand to pin Hayden's hand on top of Hayden's head effortlessly. Hayden tried to struggle and blocked the stranger's tongue from dominating his mouth by pressing his lips against each other stubbornly, but the man unexpectedly bit Hayden's bottom lips, making Hayden yelp in pain. The man used that chance to clean all the taste of strawberries in Hayden's mouth, while his right hand continued to stroke Hayden's body wantonly. When Hayden was starting to go dizzy due to shortness of breath, he was released by the man's assault. He breathed in and out rapidly and thanked heaven for the chance to live again. “You can't run away from me… You are mine” Zenos growled into Hayden's neck possessively. Hayden felt a shiver run through his spine after hearing the stranger's words. His breath hitched as the man licked his earlobe and kissed his neck with extreme familiarity, domineeringly. “Mine,” the stranger proclaimed again. Cover isn't mine, found online

Aria was once a woman full of dreams. She didn’t know she was married to a nightmare. She wed Elliot—the struggling Alpha of the Crimson Claw, with no vows under the Moon Goddess or celebration. She brought a generous dowry and transformed their pack into the third-strongest in the Federation. But power breeds greed. And love… it was never truly hers. Discarded, framed, and betrayed by the very man she uplifted, Aria walks away from it all. She’s taking control, rewriting her story with every breath. This time, Aria isn’t just surviving. She’s reclaiming her destiny. Excerpt: “From the first moment I saw you, something inside me reacted," Mason muttered. He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “But you already have a mate—Elliot. That should’ve been the end of it." He stepped forward again. “I don’t know what’s happening to me… or to my wolf. But being near you—it feels like you’re my mate… even if you're not.” His voice cracked slightly. “It just keeps getting stronger every damn day. It’s driving me insane, Aria.” “Mason—” Aria whispered, unsure if she would stop him or beg to keep going. “Your scent is like a drug… your touch, it short-circuits everything. Logic. Control. My own damn rules,” he murmured, leaning his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry, Aria. But I can’t hold it back anymore. If you run, I’ll let you—but make no mistake, I will chase you. Because right now… I have to do this or I'll go crazy!” “I’m not running.” Mason froze, stunned by her answer. “Do you want this? Do you want me?” he asked. “You don’t have to ask for permission…” she whispered. “I want you… all of you.”

Heron's birthright is to become Alpha of FireBricks Pack. However, after being kidnapped at age16 and experimented on by a crazy scientist, he is left in a wheelchair. After meeting his fated mate, he feels reborn, but is later crushed. He goes into remission. His father, Alpha Hudson, suggests that he takes a Luna and produce an Alpha heir for the sake of the pack. Forced by the pressure of the council regarding the welfare of the pack, he chooses an Omega mate, Mikayla. Mikayla is an Omega who's been bullied by her former best friend and associates. But being one who carries out her duties well, Luna Phoebe recommends her to serve at her son's cottage for strictly household matters. At first, he treats her with contempt and Mikayla is convinced that he hates her. Therefore, when the young Alpha, in a heated argument with his father, announces that Mikayla will be his chosen Luna, she freaks out and is absolutely frantic. Was it some sick joke? Can love blossom out of an arranged union between the Alpha and his chosen Omega? Will the council accept his choice? Or will he discard his Omega and chase after his mate? ^~^~^~^~^ *^*^*^ "I can’t wait to be fucking you hard." Skin-to-skin, breathing down my neck, hands roaming my most sensitive areas. He won’t quit. “Stop denying it, Mikayla.” He raspily purrs, “I’ll be deep inside of you soon.” *~*~*~* ^~^~^ A sequel from The Unattainable Alpha Series and can be read as a stand-alone. You could, however, read "The Unattainable Alpha" for the greatest experience. ****TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains mature content. In the following chapters, you will find description of violence, abuse, rape, death and strong language. Please ensure that you are comfortable with the noted, before you proceed. Thanks:)

A gaming-obsessed recluse, mooching off his parents and on the verge of getting kicked out of the house? No, this was the night a stock market prodigy was born! A single phone call from his guild master changed everything. "Don't you dare quit the game! Starting tomorrow, you're working at my firm. You'll be on salary, free to slack off, and it won't interfere with your gaming time!" What the—?! His guild leader was actually a financial titan? The elite investors at the private equity firm scoffed. "A clueless rookie who doesn't even know how to read a candlestick chart? Let's see how long it takes for him to quit in disgrace!" But then— "A worthless penny stock? Watch me go all in." What followed was ten straight days of a parabolic rally. The entire trading floor was left in stunned silence. "Holy—?! This guy's a newbie? He's a freaking market whisperer!" From scorn and contempt to groveling at his feet, the elites clung to his leg as if it were their lifeline. From 'Dieselgate' to exploding smartphones, every corporate scandal became his personal feast to harvest the world's wealth. And when Wall Street bared its fangs, plotting to crush domestic companies, he raised the banner and rallied the nation's capital to his cause! Channeling his most familiar in-game strategy, he issued the command, "Bros, on me—let's go raid Wall Street's home server!" That day, Wall Street lost its mind. The global markets screamed in turmoil, and the chairman of the NASDAQ was begging for a truce by morning. Facing the press, Elon Shaw only shrugged. "Market whisperer? Hardly. I just opened 999 loot boxes and maxed out my luck stat, that's all..."

Raquel Renaud has spent her entire life overshadowed by the brilliance of her younger sister, Camille—the epitome of beauty and perfection. Raquel has long accepted her role as the family's overlooked daughter, enduring subtle humiliations and a constant sense of inadequacy. When her parents arrange her marriage to Alvaro Bernardi, a strikingly handsome and wildly ambitious businessman, Raquel dares to hope that this union might finally grant her a life of purpose and love. To Alvaro, Raquel is just a tool to fulfill his family's obligations. He hates her—her looks, her existence, even her audacity to love him. Alvaro’s contempt turns to betrayal when Raquel discovers the cruelest truth: Alvaro is having an affair with Camille, her younger sister. The betrayal shatters Raquel to her core. With her heart in ruins, she walks away from the wreckage of her marriage, keeping one devastating secret: she’s pregnant with twins. Five years later, Raquel returns—not as the woman once overlooked and discarded, but as a force to be reckoned with. Her beauty, strength, and newfound grace now turn heads, leaving everyone who once dismissed her in awe. Beneath her dazzling transformation, Raquel hides the wounds of a past that refuses to heal. When fate thrusts her back into the path of Alvaro—a man now consumed by the weight of his past mistakes—and Camille, who has woven herself deeply into Alvaro’s life, old secrets begin to unravel, threatening to tear everything apart. In a world where love is laced with regret and revenge, Raquel must fight her fiercest battle yet: to protect herself, her children, and the fragile happiness she’s painstakingly built. Will the ghosts of her past rise to destroy her, or will she finally take control and emerge victorious in the story of her own life?