Hannibal Rising

It was never part of my plan to get attached. I was just a freelance model, newly signed under a rising modeling agency in town. Everything was supposed to be simple; work, exposure, growth. Then came Dr. Aria Williams — dermatologist, surgeon, and the woman who was supposed to fix me. Chaos started the moment I met her. The way she talked, the way she looked at me felt like she was studying every inch of who I was. Every word I said, every silence I made, she read me like I was her favorite patient. It made me uncomfortably hot, and yet... I kept coming back. I told myself it was part of the therapy, the strange pull I felt toward her was part of it. But the way she looked at me; cold, curious, almost hungry, said otherwise. I hated her for it. I felt it every time her voice softened, every time her fingers lingered on my skin longer than they should. She called it treatment. I called it control. What started as therapy turned into something dark and deeper. I wanted to be beautiful, to be ready for the public, but what we craved became something private, something only between us. And the more sessions I had with her, the stronger the connection grew. Until one day, her eyes focused on someone else. And every time their eyes met, it burned through me. When she saw it, she offered something that challenged me. To be her slave and she'll be mine— alone. Soon, I found myself following her every order, fulfilling her desires without question. Along the way, I realized her obsession had become mine too. And before I could stop, the hate I once felt for her turned into something else.

What happens when the past comes back to haunt you... but prettier? --- Eleven years ago, Anastasia Hayes ran from Pack Eviscera with blood on her hands and guilt burning in her throat, swearing she'd bury the past beneath ambition and cold distance. Now a rising lawyer with power in her stride and secrets buried underneath a cold exterior, Ana thinks she's untouchable. Until her heat hits, wrong place, worst time, in a hotel room far from home. Desperate and delirious, she does the unthinkable. She marks a Dominant Alpha. A stranger. In a world where Omegas are silenced, sold, and shamed, claiming an Alpha could get her killed or worse… claimed back. But what she doesn't know is: The Alpha isn’t a stranger. He’s the one person she was never meant to touch. The boy she left behind, now a man; and not just any man, but the Bratva’s king. What could possibly go wrong? Right? *** “Tit for tat peaches.” he murmured, dragging his thumb over my bottom lips, “You let me do what I want, where I want it, how I want it, and I'll do what you ask.” My breath hitched, “What are you talking about? You know I can't…” Hermes sighed and began to turn away, “Deals off then.” “Wait!” I grabbed his hand before he could make another step. “Hermes…let's bargain okay…?” He grinned, leaned in so the heat of his breath brushed my ear, “No can't do, Peaches…” his fingers slipped under my waistband. I whimpered. “Now I get to ruin you back.”

“How long has this been going on?” Fatima’s voice is steady, almost too steady. Her husband of six years stands there without a hint of shame. “Does it matter, Fatima? Yes, Leslie is pregnant with my child, but nothing is going to change,” he says, annoyed that she dares question him. Her calmness makes him shift, though he refuses to show it. “How. Long?” She repeats slowly, keeping her voice low so she won’t wake their sleeping children. “Three years.” Fatima blinks. “You’ve been cheating on me for half our marriage… with your business partner?” “Lower your voice. Don’t make it sound bad. I’m a man – these things happen.” He even chuckles. “Leslie will be taken care of. You’ll stay the wife, and Leslie and I–” “Will get married,” she cuts in. He stares, thrown off, until she adds, “Top drawer in your office. Divorce papers. Sign them first thing tomorrow.” No tears. No raised voice. No trembling. Just calm finality, and that unsettles him more than anger ever could. “I’m not letting that happen. You’re my wife.” “Ex-wife,” she corrects softly. Before he can react, Fatima pushes her chair back and stands. She doesn’t storm off or slam anything. She simply picks up a magazine from the table and walks out with quiet, controlled steps, far too composed for a woman ending a six-year marriage. And that hits him harder than any shouting would have. No tears. No pleading. No hesitation. Nothing. It wounds his pride. He deserves tears. “Hold on,” he snaps, rising quickly from his seat.

EXCERPT "Madeline, you are still pregnant, aren't you?" I stared at her, she was still—unresponsive. "Madeline, the baby is still in there, inside your god-damned womb, isn't he, my voice rising several decibels." Still, no response. "Madeline!!!," I growled. I demand an answer. You are still with my child, right?" This time, she looked up at me, fear flickering in her eyes, and I could see the defiance there too. She responded with a negative shake of her head. I just laughed, a cold humorless laughter. I was mad. "I-i am so sorry alpha Konan," she stammered, her voice nearly a whisper. "I didn't mean for this to happen." I scoffed. Did she just say sorry? "Madeline, O Madeline!!!" "Sorry doesn't bring back my baby. it doesn't make up for your incompetence." "You did too much wrong things at once Madeline. You breached the contract Madeline, you lost my baby and took the ability for me to sire a heir because of your carelessness.... **** Because of an unintended one night stand sex with Alpha Konan, the newly installed cruel alpha of Oceanwolf pack, Madeline a servant girl lost her virginity and got pregnant for his child. Alpha Konan got to know about it and since a pregnancy was needed to establish his power in the pack, he decided to contract her to be his mate, and she got no say in it. The pregnancy they both depended on was lost and everything took a turn for the worse. Will Madeline be able to survive the punishment meted out on her? In this story, a web of love, loyalty and adventure is formed. Will the poor servant girl and the cruel Alpha be able to pull through, each answering the call of eternal unbroken love amidst all difficulties?

Jerome Lin, only child of beauty mogul Miranda Lin, has lived his life beneath the weight of legacy. As managing director of Linéa Cosmetics, he has everything,wealth, power, and a love he thought would last forever. Until he discovers that his girlfriend is secretly involved with Akihiko Tanaka, the man his mother is determined to marry for influence. His trust shattered, Jerome confronts Miranda, only to be dismissed as collateral damage. She marries the man anyway. When Akihiko’s enigmatic son Collins returns to Japan to inherit the Tanaka empire, the two men meet and instantly clash. Their parents expect them to cooperate. Instead, they glare, argue, clash, and burn with a tension neither can explain. But beneath that friction lies something magnetic. Something dangerous. Forced to attend dinners, business meetings, and social events together, hatred turns into curiosity… then slow, forbidden attraction. Their first intimate moment is discovered, and their parents explode into rage, threatening to disown them both. Jerome and Collins choose each other anyway, leading to the bitter collapse of their parents’ marriage. Finally free to be together, they begin planning a future,until Collins’s ex arrives claiming she has his child. Jerome breaks apart, terrified of losing everything again. A DNA test reveals the truth: the child is not Collins’s. His ex fabricated everything to claw her way back into his life. With the truth unveiled, Jerome and Collins reunite stronger than before. Their parents move on…Miranda marrying a rising politician, and Akihiko marrying Jerome’s ex. Meanwhile, Jerome and Collins build an empire of their own, built on love, forgiveness, and the fire that first brought them together. A love story born from hate. A romance they were never meant to have. A destiny they chose anyway.

Monica Banks had it all—beauty, fame, and a rising career as one of the industry's top lingerie models. Her distinctive curves and magnetic presence made her a favorite on every runway and billboard. But at the peak of her success, she gave it all up. Not for herself, but for her father—agreeing to marry Liam McKenzie, a cold and calculating business tycoon, in exchange for a crucial deal that would save her family’s company. The McKenzie family loathed her profession. To them, modeling lingerie was shameful. They gave her a choice: her career or the marriage. Monica chose Liam, foolishly hoping her sacrifice would earn his love. She terminated her contract—despite her agency’s desperate pleas—and stepped away from everything she had built. For three long years, she played the role of the perfect wife and obedient daughter-in-law. And when Liam finally touched her like a husband should, she believed—naively—that she had finally won a place in his heart. That illusion shattered when she returned home early and found him in their bed with another woman. Her sister. Brie Banks. Liam didn’t deny it. He didn’t even apologize. Instead, he coldly revealed that their marriage was nothing more than a favor to his mother. Broken. Betrayed. Humiliated. But Monica had enough . When Spencer McKenzie—Liam’s estranged half-brother, the black sheep of the family blamed for a fire that killed their grandfather—returned to the country, he made her an offer. One that promised revenge. A scandalous one, She accepted. --- “Are you insane, Spencer? You’re stirring up a scandal with my wife!” Liam’s voice thundered through the room, his eyes blazing. His lips twitch"No you stay away from her, she's mine now."

"What the fuck—” I started. He looked up at me. His lips were wet, swollen. He licked them slowly, like he was savoring the taste. “Keep your hands where I left them,” he said. My jaw clenched. My knuckles went white against the bedsheets. I didn’t speak. I just watched him. He lowered his mouth again, slower this time. His tongue circled the tip, then slid down the side. I felt every second of it. Every inch. He paused halfway down and looked up at me again. “You like this too much.” My throat tightened. I didn’t answer. “Bet you’ve never let anyone make you beg.” *** Callum Kesington isn’t just a billionaire CEO. He doesn’t believe in love. He believes in control and power.But when his estranged brother resurfaces through a cryptic call, dragging him into a trail of files, threats, and old betrayals, everything he's built starts to crack. Remy Beckett, a rising star in the culinary world, is no strang to love but one man has him unraveled. A single dinner at Remy’s restaurant ignites an attraction that shakes Callum’s carefully guarded world. He’s never wanted a man before. Never craved the scrape of stubble against his skin or the heat of rough hands pinning him down. But Remy? He’s all Callum can think about. A shadowy attack leaves Remy bleeding in Callum’s arms, and suddenly, this isn’t about desire. It's about survival. Someone wants Remy dead, and Callum’s brother is at the center of it. Now, Callum must confront the ruthless empire he built, the family who betrayed him, and the truth he’s been denying.

I'm Isa Borgia, the daughter of the most powerful Don in Corvina. My father worries I'll marry the wrong man on a whim, so he arranges for me to be engaged to Luca, the rising heir of the Marino family. It's an arranged marriage, but that doesn't mean I've lost all my say. The very least I can do is choose a ring I genuinely like. So, I go to the mafia auction. When the diamond ring appears as the final jewel of the night, I lift my paddle. Just before the gavel falls, an arrogant voice comes from behind me. "A country bumpkin like you thinks you can compete with me? Do yourself a favor and leave." The auction hall goes quiet for a few seconds. The only sound comes from the camera shutters clicking around the hall. I turn and see a woman in a gold couture gown. Her mouth curves in a casual smile, as if she owns the place. Before I can say a word, the auctioneer rushes to close the bid.
"Sold! Congratulations to Ms. Sofia Lopez for winning the final lot, the Eternal Star!" My brows pull tight, and a hot spike of anger rises in my chest. "You ended the bidding early! Do you even follow the rules here?" Sofia turns around and gives me a once-over, her gaze sharp as a blade. 
"Rules?" She lets out a cold laugh. "Come on. I'm Luca Marino's favorite godsister. Around here, I make the rules!" I can't help but laugh. What a coincidence. So, she's my fiance's godsister. I pull out my phone and call him. "Luca, your godsister just snatched the engagement ring I picked out. How are you going to handle this?"

Aurora Morrison- a 23 yr old kind-hearted, independent, and from a middle-class family. She always had a clear vision of what she wanted in life but her dreams broke when her parents pushed her to marry. Owen Skylar- 29 yr old and the eldest of the four brothers. His character is distinguished by a strong sense of duty and steadfast dedication to the family legacy. And this duty and affection for his family prompted him to marry a girl against his will. Ryan Skylar- 27 yr old man whose ambition has no limits. Through his hard work, he established a million-dollar company from the ground up. However, despite his lavish residences and rising enterprise, he has always struggled with relationships. Among these interpersonal troubles, he is obliged to make a commitment to a girl. Asher Skylar- 26 yr old, a well-known actor and global sensation. Despite his fame, he is troubled by the thought that he has never been genuinely seen for who he is, but rather for the persona he has crafted for the public eye. He has yet to find someone who genuinely understands him despite his onscreen identity. Perhaps he found the one when he was forced to marry a girl. Ian Skylar- 24 yr old and the youngest of four brothers. He is a free-spirited, athletic college student who is still figuring out where his future is going, but one thing is certain, he's enthusiastic about football. He prefers to enjoy life's simple joys rather than becoming weighed down by the intricacies of adult responsibilities, which come on his shoulders when he is compelled to marry a girl. Will forced marriage change the fate of five people for the better or worse, with different twists and turns at each stage, making their relationship dynamics challenging?

Adelina, having just completed her shift for the first time, is summoned to Aspen after mysterious documents prove she is the fated mate of Daxon Reyes, the powerful Alpha billionaire. Though terrified and unprepared, she travels to Colorado. When their eyes meet during a pack gathering, the mate bond snaps into place. Electricity, heat, possession but also terror. Dax seems distant. He vanishes shortly after. A week later, she’s summoned again only to be rejected in front of the pack council, humiliated by the very wolf meant to protect her. Her world crumbles. RISING ACTION 1. Adelina’s Escape Broken and alone, Adelina flees Aspen with the help of Caleb, Dax’s Beta, who believes Dax was coerced. She hides in the Appalachian Mountains, where her late mother once lived. There, she discovers she is pregnant. 2. The Bloodline Truth An ancient Seer from a rogue Appalachian pack reveals the truth: Adelina is the last living descendant of the Moon Matron line ancient, powerful female wolves who were once equal in power to Alphas. Her child may carry an evolved form of werewolf power. 3. Back in Aspen Dax, haunted by visions and physical pain (side effects of rejecting a true mate), begins to question everything. He investigates Adelina’s past and discovers documents that Sylvia manipulated Adelina’s lineage was true. The Council had lied to maintain their power. 4. The Child Threat Sylvia learns of Adelina’s pregnancy and sees the child as a threat to her legacy. She sends hunters after Adelina to ensure the child never sees the moonlight. 5. Adelina Builds a New Pack Isolated but not defeated, Adelina begins forming bonds with rogues, lone wolves, and rejected females. Her strength grows. She becomes an Alpha in her own right, a Luna by force of will.