The Prize By Julie Garwood

Upon living for 5000 years, he had witnessed the great battle between Alexander and Moros, Asclepius sampling all herbs, and Cassander harnessing nature to prevent floods. He had witnessed the rise and fall of numerous grand empires. Through the ages past, he persisted—just like a traveler, outside looking in.Once again returned to the present, he remained the discriminated son-in-law.The mother-in-law and sister-in-law despised him, while the stunning wife only gave him the cold shoulder. With his return, his destiny will never be the same as before.Possessing 5000 years of heritage, he was the man with unparalleled knowledge, perfect mastery of all arts, and unsurpassable by another human by any standards.

Their naked bodies were shipping against each other. Her sapphire glossy orbs were staring at his brown eyes. "I love you, Cia. I love you to the extent that I will end and taint that life which would even think about taking you away from me," The firmness of his words were evident in his darkened eyes. "Even if it's your life," he rasped against her mouth. They both knew his love was irrational, an obsession for her. They loved each other enough, especially for her to let his love taint her existence. "I love you, Zale," And her words were enough to make him lose everything in her. She beautifully moaned his name as soon his warmth engulfed her deepest depth which made both of them close their eyes in pleasure, but they had never in their worst ever thought that their eyes would have to witness that thing which their future had stored for them. His deep brown orbs were staring at her who was clad in a beautiful white gown. Her sapphire orbs were downcast as she was standing at the altar but the irony was she was not his bride but his brother's. "Do you, Mr Blake Alcazar, take Miss Celia Reyes as your lawfully wedded wife?" The priest's voice echoed, causing him to fist his palm and her heart to turn numb. "I do," A tear slipped from her eyes, hearing that person's answer who was standing in front of her and feeling those brown eyes penetrating her soul. "Do you, Miss Celia Reyes, take Mr Blake Alcazar as your lawfully wedded husband?" Those deep brown eyes turned predacious and her answer turned them voraciously vicious. "I do," she answered. An answer which sealed two destinies, which shattered two hearts and TAINTED two souls.

"Who are you-" "Shut up and kiss me." * Elora, a creative director at an advertising company, Dreamcatcher, underwent a big change in her life after meeting Caspian, a model and owner of the largest winery in Queenstown, New Zealand. An incident at one night reunites them and makes Elora find out that she is a werewolf ... and also a mate that Hëna, the moon goddess, destined for Caspian. Caspian himself is preoccupied with investigating the culprit behind Cooper's death, a friend and former Beta in Sacred Storm, the pack led by Caspian. It was fate that brought Elora and Caspian together, and fate also separated them, as Cooper's death case was revealed and also the facts about who Elora really is. "Wild, spontaneous, brave ... I love it," whispered Caspian in Elora's ear. " But too bad I swore I wouldn't do anything to you ... until you say so. So just wait, I'll make you mine in no time." "Don't you even dare to dream about it." *

Alina believed that Alpha Caleb was her true mate, but as secrets unravel and the truth comes to light, she discovers that she is merely a pawn in a game of deceit and manipulation. Her dreams shatter when she learns that she was never meant to be Caleb's mate but merely a substitute for his deceased wife. Betrayed by the one she trusted the most, Alina attempts to escape the pack and seek freedom. But as she runs away, Alina's path collides with Prince Alaric, her true mate. Haunted by past betrayals, she struggles to trust him, even if they are fated to be together. Alaric, a royal werewolf prince, had tirelessly searched for his mate, but to no avail. Attending a banquet at Caleb's pack, he unexpectedly finds her, but she is hurt and broken. Despite the odds, Alaric vows to heal her wounds and win her trust, determined to show her the love and devotion she deserves. Will Alina open her heart to the one who has been searching for her all along?

"Help!" she screamed, despite knowing it was hopeless. "Please save me!" "There will be no help for you, Sylvia Browne." His black eyes were filled with hatred as he looked down at her. "You're mine." "What do you intend to do with me?" She asked, quivering with fright. Xavier smiled menacingly at her. “Everything. Everything I've wanted to do to you. In Private." ************************* The perfect wedding. The perfect husband. The perfect dress. Everything was going according to Sylvia's plan. She was finally having her dream wedding with Arnold, a powerful billionaire in the country. But she did not plan to meet her husband's arch-enemy and rival. She surely did not intend to be abducted on her wedding day. Xavier was angry when he discovered that the man who had destroyed his happiness was getting married. Filled with the desire for revenge, he abducted the bride, Sylvia. He had only two intentions: ruin the wedding and take the girl for his revenge plot. But when he looked into her eyes, he felt different. He wasn't supposed to desire her. He wasn't supposed to want her in his bed. But he did. And Xavier got anything he desired.

WARNING; This story contains mature contents not suitable for readers under 18 and may be triggering to others. Dark themes like BDSM, dub con, drug abuse and human trafficking and others are mentioned. It has a happy ending, but the journey will not be a pretty fairytale that's why it's dark romance. If you choose to read further, please don't complain and I hope you enjoy my story. Thank youuu!!! * All she wants is a better life, but she keeps going from frying pan to fire. From an abusive father, to a human trafficking syndicate just to find her lost sister. A man whose name was whispered in fear among the most feared becomes her saviour. Their only history was a night of no holds barred pleasure after she was rescued by him in a dirty alley on a cold November night. He says he’s not a hero, and everyone calls him dangerous. But he was the only safety she had ever known. ~ "I want you on my bed at all times, always ready for pleasure. I want you to only think about how good I make you feel, and I want you to scream my name so loudly you’ll lose your voice. That’s what makes me a villain. I want everyone to hear and know that you’re mine, only mine. I am not a hero, and you don’t need a hero. A hero would sacrifice you for the greater good, I would burn the world for you. All you need to do is ask.”

At the full moon gathering, I learned that my mate Carrick was forced to bond with the Omega daughter of our rival pack. He rushed to complete a mating ritual with her regardless of the consequences. They fled to the Northern Territories that very night. Their childhood bond story went viral among the packs, but I became the shameful third wheel who interfered with their "true pairing" and was shunned so severely that I couldn't even leave my den. Unexpectedly, Alex, the blind Alpha of the Silver Crest Pack—Carrick's sworn enemy—appeared at my door. "I've always been a vengeful wolf. Carrick stole my intended mate through deception, so I will claim his rightful Luna." His unseeing eyes somehow found mine with uncanny precision. "Alliances require balance, Jenna. Are you willing to complete the mating bond with me?" I looked at the image of their moonlight ceremony being shared through pack links, and without hesitation, I handed him my wrist, exposing my scent gland for the claiming bite.

“ There's no way we're going to accept you as our mate! You're too weak and you don't fit to be the future Luna of Mystic pack! This pack deserves someone better! Someone who is stronger than you.” “ A mate is a gift from the moon goddess…” Amelia believed the narrative that was passed from generation to generation. Until it was her turn to receive the gift. ____ Amelia’s world turned upside down when she found out that she was mated to the alpha twins. They rejected her right away, claiming she was too weak. She accepted the rejection since she had no choice, watching the twins’ as they chose whom they wanted to be mated to, Sarah and Lola. However, during the marking ceremony, the pack was attacked and  something unusual happened. Amelia screamed when her mother was about to be taken away as a slave. The clear sky turned dark and thunder struck. A luminous light surrounded her and everyone was shocked. Desperate to save her mother, she used the energy surrounding her to attack the  warriors who were holding her mother captive. The attackers were afraid, watching in horror as the butchered bodies dropped dead. They retrieved, afraid for their lives. “ THE CHOSEN!” A prophetess said… What will the alpha twins do? Will they continue with the marking ceremony?

Luca Castillo is a name that strikes fear across every pack. Ruthless, powerful, and cold-blooded, he rules with an iron fist, never hesitating to eliminate threats. Mates are a weakness, and love is a luxury he can’t afford. His only loyalty is to his pack—until the night he hunts down a rogue and everything changes. Raven was never meant to exist. Marked by a forbidden prophecy and hunted since birth, she’s spent her life running, hiding the dangerous secret buried in her blood. When she crosses into Luca’s territory, she knows she won’t leave alive. But she doesn’t expect him to hesitate. She doesn’t expect him to claim her. The bond between them is instant, raw, and impossible to ignore. But Luca refuses to be ruled by fate, and Raven refuses to be owned. As enemies rise and secrets unravel, they’ll be forced to choose -betray their hearts, or destroy everything they’ve ever known. Because some bonds aren’t just made by the moon. Some are forged in blood, fire, and destiny.

“You don’t know just how long I’ve been waiting to have you…” My breathing accelerated. “What do you mean?” William moved so fast I could barely register it until he backed me up against a wall. His face was so close to mine that it was making my head spin. His hand found the hem of my dress and he started to pull it up. “Why don’t I just show you instead?” When Eliana Brown walks into her boyfriend of five years cheating on her, she doesn’t know whether to feel sad or relieved because she will finally be breaking up with the man who was living off of her. She encounters a series of bad events that result in her breaking down in front of the cold, unfeeling billionaire, Will Caddel. William Caddel has watched Eliana for longer than she knows. When he sees her relationship falling apart, he uses it as the perfect opportunity to reel her into his life and keep her there for as long as possible. She’s too young for him but he has never been the kind of man to care about the rules.