The Boy Who Lived

Having stripped off the Luna position because of her husband's death, Ophelia is made a rogue by her late husband's half-brother after he takes over the Alpha throne. She's been struggling to make ends meet until one year later, someone shows up at the tavern where she works with the news, "Alpha Finlay isn't dead, my Luna." Mystified, Ophelia didn't know whether to be sated or frightened. She shifted into her wolf and ran to the council hall in fast gallops, only to see the man she mourned for one year because he wasn't completely hers. Finlay Dupree wasn't dead, he was the only survivor of the death trap set by the Barbarian pack members. He was interrogated by the elders because he was believed to be dead after his headless body was buried and funeral rites were performed. Ophelia reclaims her position as Luna over the Crimson Paw pack, however something doesn't seem right with the Alpha. Dislike was a mutual feeling and common between them, because Ophelia was married off to Finlay as a debt repayment owed by her father. Finlay had a mistress whom he loved. However, he's been a different person since his return. Showing interest in Ophelia and becoming more considerate than normal. Ophelia is still having doubts about him, but the redness in his eyes when he shifts into his wolf gives out that he's truly an Alpha. Truly, an Impostor wouldn't uphold such supremacy? Aside that, the man is hell-bent on making her fall in love with him. Now, is he truly Alpha Finlay who's changed after survival? Or an Impostor trying to make her believe his lie so he'd never get caught?

The scent of pine and damp earth clung to the air as the full moon created long shadows across the Ancient Clearing. Tonight, was supposed to be our marking ceremony, a sacred ritual binding Alpha Anderson and his chosen Luna before the eyes of the Frostmoon Pack. “My heart,” his gaze locked on Leah, who stood under the moonlight “has always belonged to another. My first love, the one whose spirit has been weakened by the venom of wolfsbane, is my Luna.” He drew Leah closer, his hand possessively circling her waist. Under the watchful gaze of the moon, he smiled. “Our traditions are clear,” he continued, “Only the woman who stands with me at this altar, witnessed by all, shall be my Luna. Though I had always thought that Irene was my mate which I mistakenly marked a time ago. But thanks to the goddess for making me see clearly before it was too late.” They exchanged vows beneath the trees, witnessed by the werewolves and the Moon Goddess. The silver crowns were placed, the ceremonial kiss sealed their bond. I stood hidden in the shadows of the surrounding forest. For twelve years, from the moment my wolf recognized his at eighteen until my thirtieth moon cycle, my love for Anderson had never changed. But his heart, it was clear, belonged to Leah. If that was the truth, then I would release him. He had never truly seen me, never truly cared. Yet, the act of my departure seemed to unravel him in ways I couldn’t understand.

“The night I signed my divorce papers, a stranger leaned close and whispered— ‘From now on, you belong to me.’” The night Elowen Corvella cast away the title of Mrs. Hale, she collided with the cold, enigmatic billionaire whose empire makes men bow and women tremble. Alexander Veyrek—His gaze pinned her like a claim, and he offers her a dangerous proposition—a marriage that promises both sanctuary and ruin, thrusting her into the world she didn't realise existed before.  But, behind his ice-edged charm lies a hidden agenda—a motive that could cost Elowen everything, even as it ignites a passion she can’t resist. In a world where loyalty is fragile, betrayal bleeds deep, and desire burns hotter than vengeance, Elowen must face the truth: can she trust a man who holds both her salvation and her destruction in his hands?

The day before my wedding, I was insulted by two men. In my defense, I ended up killing one and injuring the other. My fiancé at the time, Alexander, who was supposed to protect me, abandoned me during the trial. I was sentenced to two years in jail. When I was finally released two years later, I discovered that my ex-fiancé had already married my best friend, Isabella. And Isabella? She didn’t just ‘steal’ my fiancé—she took the doctor position that was supposed to be mine too. I had nowhere to go, and in my most desperate moment, Eric Graves appeared at my door. As the most powerful mafia leader in NYC, Eric used his influence to ensure no one would speak ill of my past. He also proposed to me, confessing that he'd always had feelings for me and wanted to marry me. I believed he was my knight in shining armor, my true love. The first four years of our marriage were perfect—at least, that’s what I thought, until the day I overheard a conversation between my husband, Eric, and his right-hand man, Adam. “Boss, you were so clever to let those scums harass Evelyn. If it weren't for that, Miss Isabella would never have had a chance with Alexander.” Eric’s teasing voice followed, “I just wanted to scare her for a bit. Never thought she’d kill one of them and end up behind bars.” Adam sounded confused. “But Miss Isabella is already married now. Why would you still keep that whore around after she got out of prison?” “Because,” Eric paused, “I have to make sure she doesn’t run back to Alexander or disturb Isabella.” The laughter that followed shattered my heart. All those memories of Eric saving me from humiliation? They were all a lie. He was the one who made my life fall apart, just to make sure Isabella could live happily ever after. Wiping away the lingering tears, I dialed Eric’s biggest rival in NYC, Caleb Nightshade. "Do you still want to wipe Eric out of New York?”

Upon my returning from the special ops mission I took on three years ago, I open the door to see my fiancee, Erica Lewis, pregnant and holding a child. "This is your son," she declares as she passes the kid to me. I freeze in shock. My parents chuckle and explain, "You were gone for so long. Erica had to carry on the family name without you, so your older brother decided to help you with it. Isn't that great?" Just like that, I'm forced to be the officiant at the wedding ceremony I spent the last three years eagerly anticipating. I'm expected to stand beside Erica and my brother, Alex Sherman, to watch them exchange wedding rings and to see them kiss each other passionately. They have lied to all our friends and family, claiming that I couldn't have children. They humiliate me in public. They've also spent all of my savings and moved into the villa I bought using the monetary reward I got from the army after completing a deadly mission. Erica and Alex even lie on the bed I'd picked out myself and take intimate photos of themselves to send to me. "Don't be so sensitive. We're just helping you carry on the family name. Our kids are going to call you dad anyway." I give up. "Don't bother. It's over between us, Erica." After that, I call the army on the phone.

I'm the best plastic surgeon in the industry. Hendrick Twain is a regular customer of mine who has gotten his manhood enlarged nine times via surgery. But after I performed the latest surgery on him, he decides to linger around in my clinic instead of leaving. He keeps showing off his brand-new luxury watch while gloating to me, "Isn't this watch pretty, Dr. Yard? Winona was the one who gifted it to me." Upon noticing my lack of reaction, Hendrick approaches with a smile on his face. Then, he lowers his voice. "What's the use of preserving your chastity, anyway? Winona prefers to be with a plastic hunk like me, who's gone through nine manhood enlargement procedures, than be with you, Mr. Au Naturale." As I stare at Hendrick's face, which has gone under the knife countless times for minor adjustments, I remember the excuses Winona Grahm made to my face every night to avoid going home. Just the memory makes my gut churn in disgust. All of my grievances and disgust turn into ice at that moment. Finally, I take the wedding ring off my ring finger and place it on the desk gently. Then, I grab my phone and dial the number, which I haven't called in the past three years. "Dad." I sound eerily calm on the phone. "Since Winona thinks marriage is nothing but a joke to her, then there's no need for the Grahm family to continue existing in this world."

What the council wants, the council gets. And what they can't get, they eliminate. When she is forced back to Oakblood and into Kingsbury College, Rain Riverton is well aware there are only two ways out. Survive or die. But survival isn't as simple as it seems, not when the council is watching her every move, not when the students at Kingsbury possess magic she could only dream of owning. And certainly not when she gains the attention of the one person she shouldn't. Kai Malek is as dangerous as the council she fears, or maybe more. Her tormentor and the reason she left Oakblood years ago. He swore to kill her, and there is nothing more sacred than a blood oath. Oakblood isn't what it used to be. Kingsbury isn't the safe haven everyone thinks it is, and Rain isn't the same girl she was when she crossed the wards into the cursed town. The council wants something with her and she is going to make sure they never get it, even if it costs her sanity, her life... or the enemy she has no business caring about.

I married him without love. I never knew he despised me… or that I would be blamed for a tragedy I didn’t cause. In a house full of secrets and lies, can I survive a husband who sees me as his enemy and maybe, just maybe, make him love me?

Love and hatred can't coexist ever, but love combined with generosity can leave a lasting impact, which are not easy to hide. My story, however, was a dark and unsavory tale that would make the world shun me even more than they already do. It's not a story suitable for innocent ears, a cautionary tale of how I dragged my princess charming into a toxic and bitter love. My love was genuine, yet I'm haunted by the guilt of my actions. When everything backfired, my Alpha introduced a new woman he claimed to love, and I was forced to accept it. But a life without love is a dumb, lifeless existence, a bleak and hopeless hues.

In my previous life, my husband had suddenly died of a brain hemorrhage, leaving behind a massive mountain of debt. For the sake of my son, who was still in high school, I sold the house my parents had left me, gritted my teeth, and worked three jobs to pay off the debt. Overworked and exhausted, my health deteriorated, and I eventually collapsed in the hospital. From my bed, I could hear my son, now a graduate from a prestigious university, smiling as he spoke on the phone. "Hello? Dad, it's me. Yeah, she's about to die. I bought insurance for her, so we should get close to one million. You and Aunt Rena should come back home right away." The "Aunt Rena" he spoke of was none other than my husband's childhood friend and neighbor who had known him for years. It turned out that the debts were all part of a massive money-laundering scheme between my husband and his childhood sweetheart. They had fabricated false accounts to hide their crime, and he had faked his death to escape the law. My son, eager to become the heir to wealth, had stood by and watched me work myself to death. When I next opened my eyes, I was back in the moment of my husband's feigned brain hemorrhage, the day it had all begun.