Muerte Familiar

"Don't hurt her!" Liliana screams, throwing herself over me ready to give up everything to protect me the same as I will do for her. I whimper at the taste of blood in my mouth making me feel sick knowing the source and what it likely means. "She didn't mean it, I promise she didn't," Liliana cries while looking up at the wolf not afraid for herself, but me, then I catch a glimpse of why. I whimper when my eyes find Benji on the ground with his throat ripped apart making me tear my eyes away to look up at the large familiar wolf. "Raven?" His link connects to mine and my eyes widen not sure why I can hear him knowing I should only be able to hear my pack members. "Beta Embry?" I cry recognizing his voice, looking around I try to figure out what happened as wolves began to show up growling in anger as a few howl. "What did I do? What happened? What did I do?" I almost scream while looking at my hands remembering what it felt like to hurt Benji, feeling his flesh between my teeth and his blood running down my throat.Raven born by a blood moon and Liliana her identical twin born by a hunter's moon. Raven's life feels like a waking dream as she struggles through shifting at an unusually young age, navigating her abilities, becoming an Alpha, and finding her mates. While Liliana struggles with her world crashing down around her, becoming the subject of bullying, abuse, and constantly being overlooked. Follow Raven's journey to protect Liliana above all else while finding herself, her mates, and her purpose in a world full of people who would control or destroy her. Continue book two: Raven's Agony of Desire

I knock on the door, heart pounding like it always does when I’m about to see him. “Come in,” Justin’s voice calls—cool, smooth, and frustratingly calm. I take a deep breath and walk in, holding the folder tightly. “Here’s the report you requested, sir.” He doesn’t even glance at me. Just keeps typing, his expression unreadable. “You’re late,” he says without missing a beat. I clench my jaw. “There was a delay at the printer—” “No excuses, Joanna. Just do better next time.” Ouch. Professional and cold. As always. I nod, ignoring the sting in my chest. “Yes, sir.” I turn to leave, gripping the doorknob—just one more second and I’ll be out of this weird tension-filled office— “Wait.” I freeze. I turn around slowly. “Yes?” Justin stands now, walking toward me. In his hand, a familiar brown paper bag. He holds it out. “You didn’t have lunch.” I blink. “I’m fine.” “You skipped breakfast too. Eat.” I hesitate. “What is it?” “Chicken pesto. No onions.” My breath catches. He still remembers? “Why are you doing this?” I ask quietly. He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “I just… remember things.” My fingers brush his as I take the bag. Warmth. Stupid warmth that shouldn’t still feel this familiar. Then, he looks at me—really looks at me. “You shouldn’t skip meals… wife.” Silence. My chest tightens. “Don’t call me that.” But my voice is too soft to sound convincing. I walk out before I say something I’ll regret. His words echo in my mind like a dangerous lullaby. Cold one second. Kilig the next. God… he’s still him. And that’s exactly the problem.

After I get abducted to an underground auction house belonging to a mafia family based in Aleroth, I become the most popular commodity ever in the live stream hosted on the dark web. As the live comments flood the screen and the viewers keep tipping the live stream, I feel my legs being forced open inch by inch. The electric chair beneath me keeps pulsing me with jolts of electricity, making me tremble uncontrollably. Men keep rearranging my limbs however they want in various positions. Then, they put me through all sorts of torture, as if I'm not a human being at all. Once everything is over, I can only curl into a small ball in a corner of the iron cage. My clothes are completely disheveled, and my gaze remains hollow and lifeless. That's when I hear someone speaking in Elythran, a language I'm familiar with. "Haha! That chick still thinks she can escape from this place!" "To think that the mafia princess of Elythra ends up getting lured to this place and reduced to a common whore for us to toy with! Those brothers really are ruthless!" "I heard the brothers did this just to appease their adopted younger sister, Emilia Ricci. That's why they ordered us to put up a show. Even the people tipping on the live stream are actors they've hired to make this show perfect." "This idiot is still waiting for her brothers to come rescue her! Last night, she kept crying out to them in her sleep, begging them to save her!" As the henchmen speak, they open the door to my room, only to be stunned by the blood-stained floor. Immediately, they dig out their phones and begin dialing numbers anxiously. The moment I make out one of the numbers, I feel my blood turn into ice. It appears that the so-called abduction is just a show that my brothers have put on just to appease Emilia… I can feel blood rising in my throat. As my vision goes blurry, I think I see another man's gentle expression. That's the memory that I've kept buried deep inside my heart—the memory of my actual older brother, Silvio Gallo.

Flora hancur. Ia pergi membawa luka dan sebuah rahasia besar—bahwa ia tengah mengandung anak Nathan yang kini berusia empat bulan dalam kandungannya. Tak ingin anaknya tumbuh dalam lingkungan penuh kebencian, Flora memilih untuk diam dan menghilang. Ia pindah ke sebuah desa terpencil bersama neneknya yang bernama Marlina, yang kini sudah rentan berusia 72 tahun, lalu melahirkan seorang bayi perempuan cantik dan manis yang ia beri nama Nayla, dia putih bermata khas seperti ayahnya. Flora Andini, seorang wanita yang kini berusia 24 tahun dan tubuh mungil itu harus membesarkan Nayla dengan penuh kasih sayang, menjalani kehidupan sederhana sebagai petani, meskipun hidup dalam keterbatasan, namun damai. Tiga tahun berlalu. Kehidupan Flora tampak tenang meski sering kali dihimpit kesulitan ekonomi. Nayla, putrinya, tumbuh menjadi gadis kecil yang cerdas dan manis. Namun, takdir kembali mempertemukannya dengan masa lalu. Perusahaan Marshall Group membuka sebuah proyek besar di dekat desa tempat Flora tinggal. Nathan turun langsung untuk meninjau proyek tersebut dan tanpa sengaja ia melihat Flora bersama Nayla. Seketika hatinya terusik—wajah Nayla terlalu mirip dengannya. Terlalu familiar untuknya. Didorong oleh rasa penasaran yang besar, Nathan meminta asistennya untuk melakukan penyelidikan. Hasil penyelidikan itu mengguncang hatinya: Nayla adalah anak kandungnya. "Nayla anakku, bukan anakmu! Ia bukan bagian dari keluarga Marshall!” seru Flora di malam itu, setelah Nathan mengembalikan Nayla yang sempat menghilang selama hampir 24 jam. Peristiwa itu membuat Flora dan neneknya panik bukan main. “Dia anakku, Flora! Kau tak bisa terus mengelak!” Nathan membalas dengan nada tinggi. “Bagaimanapun, darahku mengalir di tubuh Nayla. Ia adalah darah dagingku!”

Gumuho ang mundo ni Aldrick Laureus nang piliin ng babae na pinakamamahal niya ang kan'yang kapatid sa ina. Sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay iniwan siya na lugmok at luhaan ng prinsesa na inalayan niya ng buong mundo niya. Nagpasiya siya na tuluyan nang lumayo at kalimutan ang nakaraan nila ngunit dahil sa isang pakiusap ay mapipilitan siya na muling harapin ang pait ng kahapon na ayaw na sana niyang balikan pa. Isang misyon ang ipinakiusap sa kan'ya: hanapin ang prinsesa na naglayas upang takasan ang isang arranged marriage. Sounds familiar, right? Russia Mercado has been living a good life, but that is until she falls stupidly in love with the wrong person. In a blink of an eye, things have not been easy, especially when she decided to run away from home. Napasok siya sa isang magulong sitwasyon dahil lamang sa pagtalikod niya sa sariling pamilya niya at pagpili sa maling tao. She made the biggest mistake of her life, and now she is paying all the consequences of her actions. She needs to reclaim her life and her freedom, and for her to do that, she needs to complete one mission. Isang misyon na maglalapit sa kan'ya sa isang bagay na pilit na niya na tinatakasan: ang salitang pagmamahal. Pag-ibig ang sumira sa kan'ya, ngunit pag-ibig din kaya ang muling bubuo sa pagkatao niya? Can she frame the prince to be her baby daddy and still find love in the end? Love comes in the most unexpected way at the most uncertain times. Dalawang taong galit sa salitang pag-ibig at hindi na naniniwala sa salitang pagmamahal ang pagtatagpuin ng tadhana upang guluhin ang kanilang paninindigan. Pagmamahal na isinumpa o pagmamahalan na aabot hanggang sa sumpaan? Handa na nga ba sila na muli na sumugal sa magulong mundo ng pag-ibig?

La infancia de Adrián Rivas estuvo marcada por su primer amor. Pero cuando ella murió, él me odió durante diez largos años. Al día siguiente de nuestra boda, pidió ser enviado a una misión en la frontera. Durante una década le escribí incontables cartas, intentando acercarme una y otra vez… pero su respuesta siempre era la misma: —Si de verdad te sientes culpable… entonces muérete pronto. Hasta que un día fui secuestrada. Y él, solo y sin refuerzos, irrumpió en el escondite de los criminales para salvarme, recibiendo varias balas por mí. Antes de morir, con sus últimas fuerzas, me apartó bruscamente la mano y dijo: —Lo que más me arrepiento en esta vida… es haberte tomado por esposa. Si existiera otra vida… te ruego, no vuelvas a buscarme. En el funeral, la madre de Adrián lloraba de arrepentimiento. —Hijo mío, ha sido culpa mía… yo no debí obligarte. Su padre, lleno de odio, me gritó entre lágrimas: —Mataste a Clara, y ahora también a mi hijo. ¡Eres una desgraciada! ¿Porqué no te mueres tú también? Incluso el comandante, que insistió para que nos casáramos, bajó la cabeza con remordimiento. —Fue mi error, no debí separar a dos enamorados… Le fallé al camarada Adrián. Todos lamentaban la muerte de Adrián, incluyéndome a mí. Esa misma noche, fui expulsada del ejército y quedé sin ningún rumbo. En medio de la nada, en un campo solitario, bebí veneno y morí. Pero al abrir los ojos otra vez… regresé al día antes de nuestra boda. Esta vez, decidí cumplirles el deseo a todos.

Mi hermana, Lily, fue despedazada por renegados. Lloré desconsoladamente, suplicándole a mi compañero destinado, el Alfa Ethan, que encontrara a sus asesinos. Nunca lo hizo. Un año después, en el aniversario de su muerte. Fui a buscar a Ethan, lista para decirle que estaba embarazada. En su lugar, lo encontré sosteniendo a otra Omega, Bella, en sus brazos. —No te preocupes —la consolaba él—. Nadie se enterará de que quitaste el escudo mental de la manada y provocaste la muerte de Lily. Una vez que Harper renuncie a su título de Luna en la ceremonia, tú serás mi única y verdadera compañera. Mi corazón se hizo añicos. Así que era eso. Nunca me marcó, nunca me rechazó… quería que yo renunciara por mi cuenta. Estaba protegiendo a la asesina de mi hermana. Quería convertirla en Luna. Entré furiosa, gritando, pero de repente Bella tosió sangre y se desplomó. Envenenamiento por acónito, afirmó ella. —¡La envenenaron para salvarme! ¡Dame la sangre de tu corazón! ¡Es lo único que puede salvarla! Ethan me miró con más asco como si yo fuera basura. —¡Estoy embarazada! ¡Eso matará al cachorro! —supliqué. Pero su Comando de Alfa cayó sobre mí. Mi cuerpo ya no me pertenecía. Solo pude observar cómo la gruesa aguja perforaba mi pecho, justo encima de mi corazón. Sangre dorada fluyó. Un dolor agudo y desgarrador atravesó mi vientre… Había matado a mi cachorro. Mi loba se hizo pedazos dentro de mí. Cerré los ojos, buscando una conexión prohibida en el mundo de los hombres lobo. —Rey Licántropo Rogan. Mañana necesito que me ayudes a destruir todo en la manada Bosque Negro. Incluyendo al Alfa Ethan.

Le salvé la vida a Don Stefano Marino, de la familia Marino. En el momento en que una bala estaba a punto de alcanzarlo, fui yo quien lo protegió con mi cuerpo. Debido a la deuda de vida que tenía conmigo, Stefano decidió que sería yo quien se casara con él, en lugar de mi hermana mayor, Anna Costa, en la alianza matrimonial. Pero en nuestra noche de bodas, Stefano prefirió beber hasta quedar inconsciente en algún lugar de la ciudad antes que consumar nuestro matrimonio conmigo. Como una tonta ingenua, pensé que algún día sería capaz de derretir su corazón de hielo con mi amor. Pero no habían pasado ni cinco años cuando Stefano regresó con un niño que se parecía a él y a Anna. —Anna ha sufrido tremendamente durante su tiempo en el extranjero mientras intentaba criar a su hijo sola. Necesito compensárselo. Entonces, Stefano me entregó el acuerdo de divorcio. —Has acaparado el puesto de Donna durante muchos años. Es hora de que se lo devuelvas a ella. Solo entonces descubrí que, en realidad, Stefano había pasado esa noche con Anna, la misma noche de nuestra boda. Saqué el informe de embarazo con el que pensaba sorprender a Stefano, solo para que él lo rompiera en mil pedazos. —No necesito otro hijo. Una vez que esas frías palabras cayeron, me enviaron por la fuerza al quirófano, donde sufrí un sangrado intenso después, lo que resultó en mi muerte y la de mi bebé no nacido. Cuando desperté de nuevo, vi a Stefano, que estaba a punto de recibir un disparo. Esta vez, empujé a Anna en su dirección.

Today is the death anniversary of Jordan Willis, the Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack. He's also known as my dead mate. My name is Sasha Calhoun, a she-wolf who descends from a family with a weakened bloodline. I'm also the current Luna of the Moonshadow Pack. In a world where the bloodline purity determines the status quo of werewolf society, I seem to exist solely to enter a marriage alliance with Jordan, the Alpha who comes from the most elite family with a pureblooded heritage. This is a political trade meant to strengthen Jordan's position in his family as well as reassure the Elder Council. A year ago, Alpha Jordan sacrificed himself in a blazing inferno while on a mission. I become the most pitied she-wolf in the pack who has to keep the only light on in my empty home. At the same time, I need to protect the only flicker of hope in this pack. As I carry a bouquet of white lilies, which were Alpha Jordan's favorite flowers when he was still alive, I approach his grave. The pup in my womb seems to have picked up on my emotions, for it kicks me gently. I can feel the hum of a powerful and pure-blooded lifeform from the movement. It's the lifeblood of a pup destined to become the future powerful Alpha. Even though I'm still carrying the pup, I still feel reassured and proud. But the next thing I know, I spot a wolf sinking down to one knee far away on the horizon. He appears to be proposing to my younger sister, Winnie Calhoun. Even though there's more than 300 feet between us, I can still smell the Alpha's familiar scent, which seizes me by my heart. After all, I had once immersed myself in that particular scent for countless days and nights in the past. That Alpha… is actually Alpha Jordan, who supposedly died one year ago! I instinctively clutch my belly, my palm caressing the newly-developed heartbeat of my unborn pup. Then, I call the pack guards.

My pup Asher had been sick for six months. Every time I personally cared for him, he became even sicker. I finally believed the witch's prophecy: I was cursed. My very existence would harm my own pup. I went to the moon temple and prayed that the moon goddess would lift the curse and ensure my pup's safety. From then on, my Alpha mate Damon brought Asher up the mountain every day to see me. Hundreds of miles of mountain road. They made the trip over a thousand times. Our bond never faded with the distance. Until today. A group of rogues broke into the Sanctuary and pushed me down the stone steps. I called Damon all night. No one answered. Then I received an anonymous video. Damon knelt in front of a woman, kissing her swollen belly. Asher stood next to them, grinning ear to ear. "I'm gonna have a brother! Aunt Serena, your pregnancy must have been so tough. Me and Dad will be your knights forever." He turned to Damon, his young face bright with pride. "Dad, I faked being sick pretty well, right? Pretending to feel awful every day, tricking Mom into taking me to the Healer over and over. They never found anything wrong, and she really believed that curse stuff. Went up the mountain all on her own." "But what if Mom finds out? Won't she be mad?" Damon didn't seem worried. "Don't worry. I've got the whole mountain sealed off. She won't find out." Only then did I understand. Everything had been a lie, planned by my mate and my son. I turned around and knocked over the Hope Flame that I had lit for Asher without hesitation. This flame was lit at the cost of my wolf’s strength, offered to the Moon Goddess so that she might bless Asher with health. Through the flames, a familiar figure sprinted toward me.