Knife Drop

I ditched a shot at studying abroad to help my boyfriend, Gavin Censori, launch his startup. Stuck it out with him through seven brutal years. Then boom—success hit, and so did the ghosting. On Valentine's Day, he hit me with the classic "work's crazy" excuse. Instead of showing up, he had some random delivery dude drop off a box of cosmetic samples. Samples. Later that night, his secretary Rebecca popped up on my feed, flexing hard. Caption: [With a boss like this, why go home early?] Pic: A box of high-end makeup. Same brand. Hers weren't samples. I dropped a comment: [You're doing great at your sidechick job. Gold star.] Gavin called instantly, losing it. "What's your problem? She's just an employee! I bust my ass making money for you, and you're always jealous!" I laughed. Didn't even yell. Just dumped him. Seven years, and I'd never touched a dime of his. Joke's on him—his precious startup? Secretly bankrolled by me. Fast-forward three years. Business summit. He rolled in wearing a tailored suit. The second he spotted me with a bag of bottles, his smirk kicked in. "Didn't like those cosmetics I gave you, huh? Now look at you—reduced to bottle collecting?"

So this is how the mate bond feels. A rush of energy, a pull like gravity tightening around us, and an almost maddening awareness of the other person. I wasn’t about to let it sway me though. Sure, the man in front of me is ridiculously perfect, but I wasn’t some love-struck fool who’d drop everything at the first spark of fate. I had a life, plans, and a fiancé waiting for me upstairs. I raised an eyebrow, forcing myself to stay calm even as my heart raced. “Take a number and get in line, sweetheart,” I said coolly, flashing the engagement ring on my finger in front of his gray eyes. “I’m otherwise occupied right now.” …Five years later, when I pushed the door open, my mate remained motionless on a leather couch, his piercing gaze boring into me with a cold detachment that sent shivers down my spine. He leaned back, the casualness of the gesture at odds with the intensity in his eyes. His arms rested lazily on the backrest, but there was nothing relaxed about him. His body was coiled tight, like a predator ready to pounce, and the air between us crackled with tension. “Is my number finally up?” he asks, his tone laced with bitter amusement. “My dear mate.” The words sting, but I can’t deny the truth in them. He is my last chance.

Whitney Morris of the Crimson Moon Pack, I, Justin Strand, Alpha of the Crimson Moon Pack, reject you. I could feel the pain in my heart. I could hear Lance howling inside of me and sense his suffering. I could see the pain in her eyes as she was directly facing me, but she resisted showing it. Most wolves quake in pain and drop to their knees. I wanted to squat down and wriggle my chest. She didn't, though. She had her head up high as she stood there. She inhaled deeply before closing her stunning eyes. "I Whitney Morris of the Crimson Moon Pack, accept your rejection". ********************************************* When Whitney turns 18, she is shocked to learn that her mate is her pack's alpha. Her joy over having found her soulmate, however, was short-lived. Her mate left her in favor of a more powerful she-wolf. Whitney has to contend with more than just the she-wolf's hatred and desire to get rid of her. When Whitney learns that she is not a typical wolf and that some would like to use her, she is shocked. They pose a threat. To acquire what they desire, they will do anything. How will Whitney behave? Will her partner regret turning her down? Will her partner be able to protect her from others around them?

She was born as the legitimate daughter of Beta Henry's wife, enduring hardship for eight years before finally becoming the Luna of the Lycan King. However, fate was cruel as her husband fell in love with her elder sister and stripped her of her Luna position, forcing her son to die! In the cold and lonely prison, she gritted her teeth and drank the poisonous wine to the last drop! She vowed to the heavens that if there were a next life, she would never do good deeds to help others, never enter the palace, and never become a Luna! As the reincarnated daughter of the Prime Minister's residence, she returned as a wicked woman: An evil and malicious eldest sister? Schemes will send you to hell! A deceitful and treacherous elder sister? Cruel tear apart that beautiful facade! A scheming younger sister? Directly throw her into the abyss! Since they didn't let her live in peace, then no one should expect to live in peace! She had intended to distance herself from troubles; the farther, the better. But who would have expected the hearts of men, like a needle at the bottom of the sea, impossible to find or guess? The man who swore to leave her behind now wanted to live and die for her sake. Her lifelong enemy in her previous life secretly admired her for many years. And what was even more unfortunate was being entangled by the most handsome and unrivaled man in the world...

The wedding bells rang then came the gunshot. Amelia Stone thought she was marrying the love of her life, Miguel Favino. But before the vows were over, Miguel was shot in front of her, his last word was her name. Now she’s a widow, covered in blood and surrounded by lies. Everyone says it was an accident, but Amelia knows someone wanted her to suffer. Days later, Miguel’s younger brother, Alejandro the cold, tattooed heir shows up at the funeral with a contract. “It’s Favino family law,” he says. “When the eldest son dies, his wife belongs to the next heir. That means you’re mine now.” Amelia stares at him in disbelief. “You’re out of your mind if you think I’ll ever marry you.” Alejandro’s voice turns low and dangerous. “You don’t have a choice, querida. You’re part of this family now whether you like it or not.” But Amelia won’t be controlled. Someone killed her husband, and she’ll find out who. Even if it means trusting the one man she swore to hate. Will she follow her heart with the mysterious man at her side, or finish what she started and make every drop of blood on her wedding dress mean something? This time, the betrayed bride won’t forgive. She will fight. She will burn. And she will make them all pay.

I was reborn on the day my parents forced me to swear a blood oath before the Moon Goddess. They wanted me to swear I'd give up my mate, Damien — hand him over to my sister, Vivienne. The first time around, I'd refused. I'd cried and fought and begged. I tried everything to make Damien see the truth. I pleaded with my parents to tell him the real story, to stop letting Vivienne impersonate me. All I got in return was Damien's deepening hatred. I'd run from the territory in desperation, trying to find Damien and explain face to face. I was ambushed by rogue wolves on the way. Left bleeding out in the dirt. With my last shred of strength, I reached out through the pack mind-link, begging Damien for help. His voice cut through my mind, cold as ice. "Drop the act. I'm done with your little sympathy plays." "Don't interrupt my Mating Ceremony with Vivienne." Then he severed the link without a second thought. I died alone in the wilderness. The last thing I heard was the distant roar of celebration from the pack territory — Damien and Vivienne's Mating Ceremony. This time, I clenched my fists until my nails bit into my palms. This time, I would never beg again.

Nelly Robinson stood at a crossroads, burdened by her grandmother’s escalating hospital bills and the profound grief of losing her only support. The weight of the circumstances pressed down on her, leaving her with no choice but to take action. With determination in her heart, she made the difficult decision to drop out of college, a bold step fueled by the urgent need for financial stability and independence. As she began her new life as a waitress at a bustling restaurant, she quickly learned that the job was rife with challenges. The clatter of dishes and the cacophony of voices surrounded her as she navigated the often turbulent waters of demanding customers, each interaction testing her patience and resolve. Then, fate intervened in the form of Jason Wilson, a commanding presence who exuded confidence and charisma. His sharp suit and piercing gaze made it clear that he was a force to be reckoned with in the world of business. After a one night stand with her, he presented her with an unexpected yet compelling offer—a marriage contract—Nelly's heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension. At that moment, she understood that her life was on the brink of a breathtaking transformation, one that promised to shatter her current reality and open doors to new adventures filled with both challenges and opportunities. What awaits her as she marries the wealthy CEO, especially when she starts receiving death threats from his parents' favored bride, Diana? What will happen when she discovers that she is the missing heir to the Robinson’s Enterprise?

The year the Rossi famiglia falls, my personal Underboss, Lorenzo Santoro, rises to power—becoming the Don and seizing control of the underworld. Once, I was the untouchable Principessa. He was the Soldato, ready to die for me at a moment's notice. For something as trivial as a paper cut on my finger, he would drop to his knees with red-rimmed eyes, blowing on it for half an hour. Now, to earn a smile from his new flame, Elena Marino, he forces me to sign a contract and makes me his live target. He watches with indifference as I am battered and bloodied under a hail of bullets. During a blast-resistance test, shattered glass slices the corner of my eye, but Lorenzo merely looks on. "The once-delicate Principessa Rossi can't even handle a little pain?" During attack-dog training, I am bitten to the bone, yet he shields a trembling Elena instead. "Animals don't know any better. Why are you holding a grudge against a dog?" Then comes the real kidnapping. To save Elena, who is desperate to become Donna, he personally cuts off my escape. "This is just a drill, Isabella," he scoffs. "Stop acting like it's real." On the surveillance monitors, flames engulf me as I take my final breath. A bloodstained termination contract is delivered to him. "Don Santoro, I return the life I owe you." Only then does the man who believes he rules the world finally lose his mind.

On the day of the wedding, my best friend, Elena Hartman, can't bear to part with me, so she threads my wedding shoes with a string and ties them snugly around her slim waist. The groomsmen turn the whole place upside down, and we end up late for the ceremony. She eventually cracks up and tugs at her billowy bridesmaid dress, revealing the outline of the shoes at her waist. "I dare you to come take them. As long as I'm here, she's not getting married!" My fiancé, Miles Lawson, shakes his head and chuckles. "You just love tormenting us, don't you?" Miles exchanges a look with the groomsmen, and they charge at her at the same time. She squeals as she falls back onto the bed, squirming under her layers of tulle. "Don't be so rough! I'm ticklish…" The groomsmen flush bright red. Miles' ears turn scarlet as he feels around her waist. She giggles even louder. "How are you going to undo it through all these layers? Use your head!" Then, she gasped. "That tickles!" Her theatrics make my temper flare. I spring to my feet, lift her skirt, and rip the wedding shoes right off her. "If you're that ticklish, smack yourself with a slipper. Drop the act, or I'll yank out the nerves that make you ticklish!"

Alpha Kaelan, my fated mate, despised me. He blamed me for the death of his childhood sweetheart, Lila. He hated our fated bond. He hated my power. He hated that the Elders forced him to mark me. He hated that our mating drove Lila to her death. So for twenty years, we were trapped in a cage of hatred, each wishing the other would drop dead. Until the day I was poisoned and dying. The moment I felt the poison, I knew. Kaelan did this. My wolf howled, fighting to keep me alive until he came home. I killed him with a silver dagger. But then, as he lay dying, I heard him whisper to his second-in-command. "Don't you dare kill her. The antidote I got from the witch… give it to Selene. And she can never know it was from me..." "And... you have to find out... who's been poisoning her all this time." After he died, a searing pain tore through my chest. Tears streamed down my face. I refused the antidote. I wanted this whole mistake to end. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back before he marked me. I took a deal with the Supernatural Council and left the continent behind. This time, I rejected our bond. I would give him and his precious Lila the happy ending they deserved.