Make-believe Game

She walked away from her cold, loveless marriage... only to discover she carried the one thing they would stop at nothing to claim. Alina Hart never imagined her life would become bound to the Vaughn dynasty, Atheria’s most powerful family, where legacy mattered more than love. To the Vaughn's, she was simply the bride chosen for Sebastian, a match arranged for convenience. And to Sebastian Vaughn himself, she was a responsibility he accepted out of duty, not desire. Until one night changed everything. The only night he ever dropped his guard, and the only night she believed they had a future. By morning, he called it a mistake. By evening, a betrayal had a name: Natasha Fairfax, the socialite his mother loved, ready to take the place Alina never really had. Alina left, vanishing into the town of Marlowe. She soon learned she hadn't just left a husband; she was pregnant with the heir the Vaughn's would one day come for. Six years later, she returns. She is no longer the discarded wife, but a strong woman with her own power, her own name... and a secret that could destroy their empire. The Vaughn's want their legacy. Sebastian wants the truth. Natasha still wants her place. Alina wants only one thing: to protect what is hers. Their dynasty demanded an heir... she became their reckoning.

The doctors said it was over—stage four, nothing left to fight. I had three days, max. I signed the organ donor papers myself. If I was gonna die, at least someone else could get a second shot. Told my family I was sick. But my so-called sister—the doctor—shrugged it off like I was making it up. She convinced them I was losing it, not dying. My parents and fiancé fell for it. Handed me over like she was some hero. She wasn't. She pushed me closer to the end. And when I finally died, the same people who wouldn't listen cried like they hadn't let it happen.

Aia Hera isang 18 years old college student na papasok sa kakaibang company na marami pang iba't ibang klase ng trabaho.

Cassidy is a loving daughter, sinusunod niya parati ang utos sa kanya at ang gusto ng mga magulang niya. Pero paano kung ang pabor na hilingin sa kanya ay may kasamang panlilinlang? Especially the person she tasked to get close is to one fewest men she hate the most?

“Kau sudah tiba?” tanyanya. Perempuan itu adalah sosok Claretta yang sangat Altair rindukan. “Altair?” ucap Altair. Perempuan itu tertawa kecil dengan menutupi mulut dengan tangannya. “Terdengar aneh jika seseorang memanggilku dengan namaku sendiri,” ujar Claretta. “Mungkin banyak pertanyaan yang akan kamu lontarkan kepadaku,” ungkap Claretta, “tapi sebelum itu tolong Altair, terbiasalah dengan tubuhmu yang baru, aku sudah lelah dengan tuntutan sebagai penerus pengendali Mana, yang aku inginkan hanya bagaimana rasa memiliki seorang ibu.” sambung Claretta. Claretta menengadahkan wajahnya ke langit. “Kau pasti tahu banyak informasi tentang duniaku sekarang karena kau adalah orang yang cerdas dan tangguh,” ujar Claretta lagi melihat wajah Altair. Wajah mereka saling menatap Altair tidak bisa membalas perkataan Claretta Altair yang merasa tidak adil dengan pertukaran tubuh seenaknya yang dilakukan dewa kepada mereka berdua. Muncul perasaan iba di dalam benak mereka masing-masing seperti mengerti rasa sakit, penderitaan mereka dan kesedihan. Claretta mengambil kedua tangan Altair, air matanya tidak bisa dibendung. Dengan tersenyum Claretta berkata,”Mungkin karena aku sudah berada di tubuh seorang wanita jadi perasaanku menjadi lebih sedikit sensitif.” “Maukah kamu merelakan hidup kita yang sekarang?” tanya Claretta dengan harap. Altair menggenggam tangan wanita kecil itu, kini hati Altair menjadi goyah karena sebelum dirinya bertemu dengan pemilik asli tubuh Altair, dia berniat untuk memukul kepala orang tersebut yang dengan sesuka hati meminta kepada dewa untuk menukarkan tubuhnya tanpa izin. Angin sejuk berhembus, menerbangkan beberapa kelopak bunga di sekitar mereka mengibaskan rambut panjang milik Claretta. “Ternyata, aku sangat cantik.” batin Altair. Altair meletakkan tangannya di atas kepala Claretta dan membelai kepalanya seraya berkata, “tidak apa-apa.” ucap Altair dengan tenang. Akhirnya mereka saling mengikhlaskan satu sama lain dan memutuskan untuk menjalani kehidupan mereka sekarang masing-masing, mereka terpisah oleh sebuah cahaya. “Aku akan menjaga ibumu Altair sebagaimana ibuku sendiri karena aku sangat menyayanginya.” ujar Claretta yang hanya terdengar suara.

Liliana Adare wasn't expecting to fall in love with the enemy. After a chance encounter, Liliana's last year at "The Academy," a prestigious boarding prep school, turns into an unexpected romance with the biggest bully in school, the handsome and cruel Atticus Preston, she isn't sure she should believe her good luck. Practically overnight she goes from being one of the most bullied and reviled students on campus to being everyone's new darling. Little does she know it is all a game. The richest kids in school like to make other suffer for their amusement, and so they began "The Bully Games," a secret competition where the winner gets to position of "group leader" and the opportunity to shape the game for the year to follow. What Lily doesn't realize is that her new boyfriend is also this year's architect. And their relationship is anything but chance. Let the games begin! ___________________________________ I let my finger fall as the person's face slowly comes into focus and my brain realizes what I have done. Standing behind me is not a random stranger, it is a very particular person, one I've been trying to get out of my mind since yesterday. Atticus Preston, the most handsome, conniving, self-centered jerk on campus is staring down at me, his large hazel eyes full of amusement. "I'm sorry, were you trying to say something." “I ah…so…I…” I sputter, not quite able to catch my breath or find my words, lost in the golden glow of his eyes. “Atticus, I'm…” “Speechless, perfect,” his smile increases as he leans in close to whisper in my ear. “I feel that way when I see you sometimes too.” My heart rate increases and my breath quickens. Is he flirting with me? ...

"Althea." I still. I shiver. He says my name like it's sacred, like it's an oath he's swearing. He tilts his head to the side, eyes roaming over my face. "Tell me," he murmurs, "what do you want me to call you?" My eyes slowly meet his, confused by his question. "What do you want to call me?" "I want to call you mine.” *** Althea Gray is a bullied omega who has fought for survival at every turn of her entire life. When she discovers her boyfriend of three years has been cheating on her, heartbreak is the least of her problems. She's been chosen for the deadly Mate Games, a brutal competition where females from all parts of the kingdom, fight for the chance to win the favor and heart of the ruthless Alpha prince. Prince Asher Valebrook is as cold as his ice-blue stare, and he has no interest in love. Althea knows better than to want him, but a reckless one-night stand might seal her fate. Though she and Asher claim to hate each other, the line between love and hate is dangerously thin. With betrayals lurking in every shadow and survival far from guaranteed, Althea must play the game wisely. But in a palace built on blood and lies, winning Asher's heart might be the deadliest challenge of all.

"In the presence of the Moon Goddess and all members of the Pack, I, Damian, Alpha of Silvermoon Pack, officially reject Seraphina as my mate!” On the day of my Mating Ceremony when I was twenty, my childhood Alpha and Fated Mate, Damian, brought back an unfamiliar female werewolf, Vivian. He claimed that on the Night of Souls, the silhouette of the Fated Soul he had seen was hers, not mine. “Vivian has told me everything. You gave me a Hallucination Potion to make me believe my Fated Mate was you. Now, it’s time to correct that mistake!” The moment the words left his mouth, my heart felt like it was being torn apart. Pain ripped through my whole body. Our Mate Bond splintered, inch by inch. I dropped to my knees, blood trickling from the corner of my lips as I clutched my chest. My other childhood friend and also the pack’s Beta, Ethan, just watched coldly. “There was never a Mate Bond between you and Damian. Enough with your pitiful act! The more you do this, the more we’ll despise you.” The mate I loved most, and the friend I trusted the most, teamed up to rub my nose in the dirt in front of everyone. Their words were like knives, gutting me open bit by bit. Staggering, I turned and fled from the pack. Once, it was a place that held all my happiness. Now, there was only coldness and betrayal. None of them cared, convinced I was just throwing a tantrum and would come crawling back sooner or later. It wasn’t until weeks later that they learned I had begun the Healer’s closed-door training. All ties must be severed, and complete solitude was required. I wasn't allowed to return for ten years. That was the moment they finally fell apart.

"What are you trying to do? Get the hell out of my office!" He yelled at me but I ignored all his rant and approached him on his office seat, having unzipped my skimpy top a little, so that he gets a pleasurable view of my huge , bulging out of it. "If you resist me, I will make sure to leak all your secret doings to the public, so that all can see who you really are. Your name will be on the papers by Monday, and you will lose the respect of your employees. I'm sure you wouldn't want that to happen? Why not just relax and me here and now? These are craving your lustful touch". "Get behind me Satan! You slow poison! You wouldn't dare blackmail me." "Oh really? Remember I still have the tape with me. You just wait and see. Dare to resist me now and I will go straight to the press and media." As he was still pondering on whether to succumb to my demands or not, I got closer to him and forcefully crashed my lips against his, as my huge soft collapsed on his hard chest. Just then, the door was opened and my colleague was standing with a camera, recording our romantic scene.

**Hunger Games Meet Werewolves. One Mate. One Chance. No Mercy.** "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us for the Luna Games. I feel immense honor that you all would sacrifice your lives to have a chance to stand by my side. The White Crescent Pack is forever growing and progressing, and we're in dire need of a Luna and an heir. One of you will lead beside me, and we'll create a better tomorrow. May the Moon Goddess watch over you, and keep you safe." *** Alpha Noah Harvey—my godfather, my protector, the man who’s loved me in every way but the one I’ve always wanted. He’s fifty. I’m turning eighteen. And I’ve been keeping a secret for years… one that ignited the moment I learned the truth: He entered the Luna Games. Not as a spectator. As the grand prize. Centuries-old and brutal, the Games are a savage tradition where unmated she-wolves fight in deadly trials for the right to claim an Alpha. I should’ve run. I should’ve looked away. Instead, I signed up the night before my birthday, without my parents’ blessing and with only one goal: Survive. Win Him. Prove I belong beside him. When our eyes locked at the ceremony, everything stilled. One whispered word cracked through the silence: “Mate.” Now I’ll have to bleed and battle my best friends to earn what fate has already declared mine. Because love isn’t a choice anymore...it's war. Read The Luna Games now if you love forbidden desire, deadly trials, and a heart-stopping age gap romance that breaks all the rules. "The Luna Games" is the sequel to "The Accused Mate" but can be read as a standalone!