Icarus Laughed

He didn't love her but she became his Mrs. Jack. She couldn't interfere with his personal behavior and couldn't tell others that she was his wife. When his ex-girlfriend returned as promised, she handed him the divorce agreement, saying, "She's back, and I'm returning your freedom." But he just laughed and said, "Mrs. Jack, you even have our child. Where else do you want to go?"

"It’s not just a deal. It’s an opportunity. I’m offering you a way out of all the bullshit—" "By tying myself to you forever?" I laughed bitterly, the absurdity of the situation hitting me. "No, thanks." Ethan’s jaw clenched, his calm demeanor faltering for the first time. "It’s not forever. It’s just... a few years. Until we both get what we need. Then we can go our separate ways. You’ll have power, money, and respect." I stared at him, incredulous. "You’re insane. You're offering me marriage just so I wouldn't expose you for being a vile and evil man" His voice dropped and his expression darkened, "How much do you want?." ------------ Madison Taylor never expected to see Ethan King again—the arrogant high school golden boy who made her life a living hell. But years later, fate throws them together when she takes a job at his billion-dollar company. Madison is no longer the shy, vulnerable girl she was in high-school, she had changed into a gorgeous confident young woman who was ready to make her mark in the world and Ethan is intrigued by this transformation. Now, Ethan is desperate to keep his past buried and offers Madison a $30 million contract to marry him and protect his spotless reputation. Madison agrees, but not for the reasons Ethan thinks. She’s ready to make him pay for every cruel word, every insult that scarred her. But as their contract marriage unfolds, so do feelings neither expected. Caught between revenge and undeniable attraction, Madison must decide: will she ruin the man who once broke her, or fall for him all over again?

If hurting me was her aim she surely succeeded. She laughed thrilling at my silent anger. She knows I can do nothing even if I want to. I don't have a wolf and she knows it as she showed me her vicious claws. "Stand up," she ordered. Abandoning my food I scrambled up to my feet. "Very unattractive, I wonder how Krist thinks you are suitable for this job." She eyed me with disdain. I watched her pull out a blood dagger and handed it to me. Bewildered I took it. My eyes shooting a million questions at her. "Participating in the Bride Selection is just a tip in the ice," Amanda laughs enjoying my distress. "What matters is that you must kill the Alpha King Damien as soon as he marks you as his bride." I let the blood dagger fall to the ground in shock. They are sending me to kill the Alpha King Damien. Her words and her laughter rang through my thoughts. "...Kill the Alpha King Damien."

I was scheduled to die in less than 24hrs from now. And the person who conspires to put me out of my miserable life is the one who put me through hell. His hell. My husband. I didn't mind dying. I was rather happy to finally get this thing over with. You know, get over life. But just when I was ready to rest in peace, I met her. Her beautiful blue eyes glittered with tears bringing light to this moonless night. The cold breeze brought a shiver to her fragile tiny body. She looked nothing less than a porcelain doll, delicate and clean. But she scared me when she looked at me with hope. Hope to save her. I laughed at this naive little girl. How was I to save her when I couldn't save myself? Nevertheless, I extended my hand for her to take, and with some hesitation, she wrapped her whole hand around my one finger. First time in my meaningless life I felt a spark. Spark of life enlightened in me with her one innocent touch. She made me want to live a little while longer with a small innocent promise, holding me tight to live with her, for her. Cover by @Aphroditelivid

Never had Victoria Parson believed she would be driven to seek the arms of a rogue by betrayal. When her mate turns his back on her, for her sister, she runs — right into the path of Kenzo, a lone wolf with nothing to give except his strength and his name. Desperate and reckless, she proposes that he be her mate, sealing a fated they both never expected. But Kenzo is not just any renegade. However, under his hardened exterior is a wolf who once belonged to something bigger than him — something dangerous. And when Victoria’s history collides with his buried secrets, she discovers mating him wasn’t an error… it was destiny. Now she must rise from the weak omega everyone laughed at to the Luna of a rogue king, caught between a war of power, betrayal, and blood. What woman can tame the beast she has chosen? Or will he consume her whole?

When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade…. Esme believed in this saying for as long as she could remember. These words gave her the strength and courage to live each day as it comes until she eventually became tired of making those lemonades and wished for something else. Something—different. But that only seemed wishful thinking. Born as a noble and made an orphan after a rogue attack, Esme became the unwanted pack member of NightCrawler Pack. The once daughter of an alpha became nothing but a slave who answers to the new alpha’s family’ every beck and call. The pack that had once adored her now ridiculed her and laughed at her mistreatment and misery. They seemed to have forgotten how her family had fought for the safety of the pack and the kingdom and even lost their lives for them. But in all this, Esme remained silent. Silently enduring and hoping that one day, her knight in shining armor would come and rescue her. That he will show up one day and take her away from the once happy place that has now become her hell. When that day eventually came, she was rejected without a second thought, and she watched as her world came crashing. Hard. Her heart caved in and lost all hope of ever finding happiness again. Or even leaving the pack. After all, what could a wolfless shifter do? Amidst her misery, a ray of light appeared. She was blessed with a second chance mate. One whose outstretched hand she was hesitant to take, especially after knowing who he was.

Aria's life was chillingly quiet until a True Mate came along in the form of Relaz. He was noisy, extremely talkative, and especially annoying. Once allowed, there was no end to his gabbling. But when Aria realizes that Relaz is more than he seems, much more than just a carefree, always smiling and talkative man, he is something much more ruthless, will their relationship be put in jeopardy or will they try to work together irrespective of their misunderstandings and solve a puzzle, when they realize that the people around them are planning their destruction? Teaser... " You aren't my Relaz. That's right. I should get lost? Then no problem. All this while, you've been seeing me as nothing more than baggage, an extra load, right?" "I-i" Relaz stuttered. But he still didn't end up saying anything nor did he turn to look back at her. Aria laughed mockingly, "You're right. I'm so stupid. How could I have blamed the mood goddess all this while when she had given me such a treasure like Relaz as my mate. Now that he is no longer here, nor can I see the ghost of him, I've realized, how much the moon goddess had loved me. But it's a pity, I'm so stupid. Stupid, stupid..." She raised her hands and started slapping her cheeks with each 'stupid' she said and backed away slowly with tears on her face, desperately hoping that she could see the trace of the mate who once held, and loved her like no other. It was a pity she left too early and didn't manage to capture the tear that had managed to escape his tightly closed eyes, nor did she see the cold expression he wore all along, cracking and revealing immense grief. For what is love? Pain. Sacrifice.

"You are mine, mine alone." He muttered, sending a rush of terror and excitement through her. Her face crumbled into a frown as she tried to process his words. "Yours?" She laughed nervously, trying to conceal her fear, "You don't mean it, right?" She questioned doubtfully, but the seriousness on the man's face said otherwise. She scoffed, trying to project , What's this? It's nothing. It's just a mistake night." The man's piercing gaze caused her heart to skip a beat. "I don't think it is." He replied, his voice firm and commanding. "I've marked you, so you are mine now." Her eyes widened in terror as she realised the meaning behind his words. "The bite...it's just a bite." She said, attempting to downplay it, but deep down she knew that the bite meant more than that. She was aware that once a girl was marked, she was chosen as a mate. Being betrayed by the one you loved and trusted is the most miserable thing. For Lily, being the daughter of a traitor in her pack meant a life of mistreatment and abuse. But nothing could have prepared her for the ultimate betrayal: her boyfriend, the new Alpha, bringing home another woman and declaring her his Luna, forcing Lily out of the pack.With her world shattered, Lily drowned her sorrows in a bar, leading to a chance encounter with the enigmatic and feared Alpha, Logan Knight. A ruthless leader with a dark past and a thirst for revenge, Logan has been searching for his mate for years, scouring packs far and wide. And then fate brings him Lily. Will Lily, scarred by her previous betrayal, be able to open her heart to Logan's charms? 

What is LOVE ? L O V E . . . . is magical that people can't be forced nor control it. When you FaLL for someone, you FaLL and it will take you to whatever it is but LOVE. . . . Sometimes, it can also be your worst nightmare.. Are you ready to handle joy ? Happiness ? and at the same time . . . Pain ? Love is really complicated in a good way ᥫ᭡ - What will happen to Ziara Kaimana Yale who falls for PAYNE SEPHER LAMBERT her younger brother's bestfriend and who happens to be the brother of Parker Icarus - her childhood friend. Payne who she happens to save during one of her mission being undercover agent and the person who operates me when I'm severely injured. Payne who's been looking for a mysterious girl with a tattoo on her back and a pair of gray eyes, wearing a mask - who saved him from a riot and promise himself to marry her at the hospital but become confused when he mets Ziara. His feelings become in turbulance. Will Ziara turn the tide for Payne to be able to see her as Ziara but not his savior ? Will she able to handle ? 'coz Pain is inevitable or will she give up easily ? When Payne realizes he fall harder but Ziara decided to give him up. How will he discover that her Savior and Ziara is the same person. Will he ever bring back those feelings ? Love really works in mysterious way 😉

“Here. Sign this and you can start immediately. If you have anything important at home, bring it here....I’ll provide you with everything. "Clothes, food, whatever you need,” he said, the smirk returning to his face. She reached for the file hesitantly, her eyes narrowing slightly. Something felt…off. Too quick. Too intense. Just as she was about to flip through the pages, her phone rang. Tring… Tring… She glanced at Liam. He nodded. “It’s okay.” She quickly signed the last page without reading. Inside, her instincts itched. Something didn’t sit right. But she brushed the feeling off. Maybe he was just one of those flirty, arrogant bosses. “You signed without reading it,” he said in a whisper only she could hear. “Bold.” “I trust Liam,” she replied. Vincenzo smiled, not the kind that made people feel safe. She handed the file back and turned to leave. Vincenzo stood silently, watching her go. The way her hair swayed. The curve of her waist. That innocent look in her eyes. As she disappeared around the corner, he exhaled sharply. “Such a girl,” he muttered under his breath. “I never expected someone like her in my life, that face, those lips. Those curves.” He laughed, low and full of wicked pleasure. “Oh, Vincenzo De Luca. You are one lucky bastard.” He reached for the contract she had just signed and tapped his fingers on the table, a smirk growing on his face. “Welcome to my kingdom, once again” he said. “You just sold yourself to the devil.” He ran a finger slowly across her photo again, his smirk spreading. “Such a fucking beauty,” he muttered under his breath. “And she walked right into my trap"