Flames Draw

“Run. For when the moon rises so do the monsters.” Blood trickled down my legs as I managed to keep my foot in front of the other in an attempt to run. Who would imagine that running away from being engaged to an old Alpha would lead right into the clutches of my fated lycan king? And that right there would lead to my death or would it not?

In a world where werewolf packs rule, Arianna Nor's life is shattered when she discovers her mate, Logan Silverstone, cheating on her with her own cousin just days before their wedding. Defying pack tradition, Arianna boldly rejects Logan and exposes his infidelity to the entire pack. But her courage comes at a steep price. The Alpha's son and future leader, Logan, reveals his true feelings - he never wanted Arianna as his mate due to her weight . Humiliated and heartbroken, Arianna faces the wrath of the pack, suffering a brutal public whipping and banishment from the Red Oak Pack for four long years. Will Arianna find the strength to overcome her pain and reclaim her rightful place, or will the wounds of her past forever define her future?

Devastated by a brutal breakup, Emma's life spirals out of control. After a reckless night, she discovers she is pregnant by the infamous playboy, Ethan Blackwood. Ethan vehemently denies any connection to her, but when Emma's stepmother confronts him with the pregnancy news and threatens to ruin his reputation, he reluctantly agrees to marry Emma. "You're just a contractual wife to me. I can sleep with whoever I want, and you have no right to question me," he coldly declares. Will Ethan open his heart to love again? Will Emma keep the baby despite his rejection? And will she agree to the harsh terms of being Ethan's contract wife?

The Underboss, Gio Rocco, told me that during yesterday's hit by a rival clan, my husband, Don Domenico De Luca, and his secretary were caught together in a compromising situation. When our men broke in, the secretary had barely managed to put her clothes back on. I don't want to believe it, but when I enter the conference room and see the delicate, helpless woman in Domenico's arms, it suddenly seems laughable. Anger surges through me, and I storm up to Domenico. He instinctively steps in front of the woman, shielding her. I press my gun against his forehead. "Domenico, let's get a divorce," I say coldly.

I blinked behind my glasses, stunned and confused. "Did I...do something wrong? If so, I'm sorry..." "No need to apologize," Helen cut in, frost edging her cultured voice. "You've done nothing wrong, Tristan. Except be complacent." I frowned, feeling cold dread creeping through my veins. "What do you mean?" Vivian released a short, harsh sigh, as if disgusted by my ignorance. "Must we spell it out? This marriage clearly isn't working anymore. You lack ambition. I've simply outgrown you at this point. I'm doing what's necessary and best for myself by letting you go." Her icy words slammed into me like a physical attack. I stared at her lovely face I had once adored so much, now cold and remote, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Letting me go? Was she saying... Linda held out a crisp legal envelope to me. Hands shaking, I accepted it from her polished nails. The contents confirmed my worst fears - divorce papers, all drawn up and ready for my signature. My eyes scanned the conditions outlined within. The terms were heavily skewed in Vivian's favor. "This...says I would get nothing," I murmured in stunned disbelief. "No alimony, no remaining rights to shared assets or property..." "Naturally," Linda replied coolly, inspecting her manicure. "You contributed absolutely nothing of value to this marriage financially. Therefore, you should leave with what you brought to it - nothing."

Bile burned my throat as Jade let out a coquettish little laugh at something Nathan said. The sound cut through me like shattered glass. Last night I had lain naked in his arms, utterly his, believing the rest of our lives would be that perfect. And now...now I was nothing. With terrible comprehension, I finally found my voice. "Nathan, what is this? Who is she?" Though I already knew the horrible truth. Jade turned her doe eyes toward me. "Oh, you must be Terra," she said gently. "I know this is very sudden. But Nathan and I are mates." She looked back at Nathan meaningfully. "Bonded by the goddess." I stared at Nathan pleadingly. "Tell me this isn't true. Please." He met my gaze despairingly. "Terra...I'm so sorry." Jade pressed herself possessively against Nathan's side. He did not resist. "I know this may be difficult for you, Terra. But you must see now that you and Nathan were never truly meant to be." Brittany said with false sympathy.

BLURB He scarred me. Betrayed me. Took everything I had, the only thing I lived for. MY SON. I was his Luna, his mate, his wife and all for what? Because of an unplanned one night stand? Holding onto that, he tore my world apart. Divorcing me when his childhood sweetheart returned was something I could bear, but he crossed the line when he retracted the funds for our son’s treatment. Gave it to his mistress instead. My baby died because of him and he didn’t even care. They thought I’d break. They thought I’d disappear quietly. But I survived. Now, I’m back. Not as the fragile Luna he discarded, but as something far more dangerous. I’ve rebuilt myself, scar by scar. And I’ve come to collect every debt, starting with the blood of the man who destroyed me. He thinks I’m still the woman who wanted him to be there for our son. He’s about to meet the woman who’s here to end him and even worse, I'm now with a man. One willing to burn the world down for my sake. I was his Luna. Now, I’m his reckoning.

Pregnant. It wasn't possible. My mate was impotent, doomed to be the first Alpha in generations unable to produce heirs. Yet this cheap plastic stick I had bought on a whim seemed to suggest otherwise. I swiped at the beads of sweat gathering along my hairline, my breaths coming faster. "This can't be right," I muttered. But the crimson line remained, taunting me. My wolf stirred restlessly, a pleased rumble echoing through our bond. "A pup! Our Alpha's pup," she purred. I pressed a hand to my still-flat stomach, emotions churning wildly. Of course I was overjoyed - as Luna, providing heirs was my most sacred duty. After nine months sharing Adrian's bed with no success, I had accepted my fate.

As the flames engulfed my body in the underground warehouse, I used the last of my strength to call my brother, the new Don of the Moretti family. Just as I was about to draw my last breath, Lorenzo finally answered, his voice as cold as the Sicilian winter wind. "Isabella, what the hell are you up to now?" "Brother, save me…" My voice was barely a whisper, but he cut me off without a hint of mercy. "Can't you go one day without causing trouble?" "Liliana's debutante dinner is next week. If you don't show up, I'll drag you back here myself." He hung up without a second thought, completely oblivious to the desperation in my voice. Despair mingled with the searing agony that wracked my body as the flames danced higher, and I couldn't hold on any longer. As I closed my eyes, tears still trickled from their corners. You won't have to drag me back, my brother. I'm never coming back.

Every Christmas Eve, the heir of the Marco mafia family—Adrian Marco, must follow the family tradition: Draw a name to decide whether he’s allowed to marry me. Because I, Irene Cast, am not mafia-born. Unless he draws the slip with my name on it, he can’t take me as his wife. For four years, Adrian has drawn four times. And not once did he draw my name. I always thought he fought with his family because of me— that he was willing to risk losing his position as the Don, just to choose me. Every time he failed, he held me so tightly and whispered, “It’s okay. There’s always next year.” And I loved him so much it hurt. Hurt enough that I was willing to wait, year after year. This year, I told myself: If he still doesn’t draw my name… I’ll secretly switch the result. I sneaked to the door of Adrian’s study, and heard his younger brother ask: “Don… every year you do draw Irene's name. Why do you pretend you didn’t? Is it because you still can’t let Sera go?” But he simply said, in a flat voice, “Sera needs me for something urgent. Do what you always do: swap Irene’s name for a blank one.” He walked out without looking back. Instead of swapping, he tossed the blank slip into the trash, left the one with my name on the table, and hurried after Adrian. I went inside, picked up the blank slip from the trash, and replaced the one with my name. Watching my own name fall into the garbage. Adrian…I don’t want to wait and marry you anymore. I’ll grant you your choice.