The Ritual

She gave him one month. He thought it was greed. He had no idea it was goodbye. Annabella Hills has been invisible her whole life—raised as a charity case, scorned by her mother-in-law, and forced into a loveless marriage with Alpha Antonio Greenwood to honor his late father's dying wish. For years, she's endured cold indifference from the husband who sees her as nothing more than an obligation, while the pack whispers that she's not worthy of the Luna title she's never been allowed to claim. When Antonio announces he's finally found his fated mate, Annabella knows her time is up. But instead of stepping aside quietly, she makes one final request: one month. One month where Antonio must treat her as his true wife, his true Luna, before they perform the rejection ritual at the Moon Rite. Antonio thinks she's desperately clinging to a title she never deserved. His mother thinks she's a shameless homewrecker standing between true mates. Even Christiana sees her as nothing more than an obstacle to be removed. None of them know the truth. Annabella isn't fighting for a marriage—she's fighting for a chance at the one thing she's never had. As the only surviving heir of the Ancient Wolf Clan, hunted since childhood and hidden in plain sight, she's spent her entire life unloved and alone. Now, with her heat approaching and time running out, she wants one precious thing before she disappears forever: a child to love, and to be loved by in return. But as the month unfolds and Antonio begins seeing his wife for the first time realizes he's been blind to the treasure he's had all along.

Nasci sem loba interior. Na academia, Arabella transformou minha vida em um inferno por causa disso. Quando finalmente me formei, minha loba despertou, concedendo-me um poderoso dom de cura. Achei que o pesadelo tivesse acabado. Então conheci meu companheiro destinado, o Alfa Tristan. Ele era poderoso, lindo e prometeu me dar o mundo. Mas no dia em que fui contar a Tristan que estava grávida, descobri uma verdade devastadora. Nunca foi Tristan quem esteve na minha cama. Era o irmão gêmeo dele, Ronan. O Alfa renegado que abandonou a alcateia anos atrás para viver entre humanos. Ele usou um imitador de cheiro para se infiltrar na minha cama e me engravidar. Tudo fazia parte de um plano doentio para me humilhar no meu grande dia. Eles queriam vingança por Arabella que mentiu dizendo que eu a havia intimidado. Queriam me destruir. Invadi o escritório para confrontá-los. Disse que exporia tudo e exigiria um pedido de desculpas. Em vez disso, me aprisionaram. Realizaram um ritual sombrio, drenando minha loba e transferindo-a para Arabella. Sugaram minha força vital e assassinaram meu filhote ainda não nascido. Morri em agonia. Então abri os olhos. Eu estava de volta ao dia em que descobri que estava grávida. Segurei minha barriga, uma única lágrima escorrendo pelo meu rosto. Aqueles desgraçados iam pagar caro por tudo o que fizeram.

Content Warning: Smut, Smut and Smut. “Whose cock made you cry the loudest tonight?” Lucien’s voice was a low snarl as he gripped my jaw, forcing my mouth open. “Yours,” I gasped, my voice wrecked from screaming. “Alpha, please—” Silas’s fingers dug into my hips as he slammed back inside me, rough and unrelenting. “Liar,” he growled against my spine. “She sobbed on mine.” “Should we make her prove it?” Claude said, his fangs grazing my throat. “Tie her up again. Let her beg with that pretty mouth until we decide she’s earned our knots.” I was trembling, dripping, used—and all I could do was moan, “Yes, please. Use me again.” And they did. Like they always do. Like they can’t help it. Like I belong to all three of them. --- Lilith used to believe in loyalty. In love. In her pack. But everything was torn away. Her father—the late Beta of Fangspire died. Her mother, heartbroken, drank wolfsbane and never woke up. And her boyfriend? He found his mate and left Lilith behind without a second glance. Wolfless and alone, with hospital debt piling high, Lilith enters the Rite—a ritual where women offer their bodies to the cursed Alphas in exchange for gold. Lucien. Silas. Claude. Three ruthless Alphas, cursed by the Moon Goddess. If they don’t mark their mate before twenty-six, their wolves will destroy them. Lilith was supposed to be a means to an end. But something changed the moment they touched her. Now they want her—marked, ruined, worshipped. And the more they take, the more they crave. Three Alphas. One wolfless girl. No fate. Just obsession. And the more they taste her, The harder she is to let go.

Por centésima vez, mi Alfa y compañero, Ryker, usó su voz de mando sobre mí, amenazando con rechazar nuestro vínculo si no me sacrificaba por mi hermana gemela, Ivy. No lloré ni protesté. Simplemente firmé los papeles de rechazo del vínculo de compañeros. Le entregué a mi hermana al Alfa que había amado durante diez años. Pocos días después, Ivy armó un escándalo en el Banquete de la Alianza de Manadas, humillando a la hija del Alfa de Silvermoon. Una vez más, di un paso al frente para ocupar su lugar, soportando el dolor de una marca de plata desfigurante. Más tarde, cuando exigieron que probara la seguridad del Ritual de Regeneración del Espíritu Lobo con mi propio cuerpo por el bien de mi hermana, acepté con una sonrisa. Mis padres, ambos Betas, me dijeron con los ojos enrojecidos, que finalmente estaba siendo la hermana mayor que se suponía que debía ser. Incluso Ryker, que siempre había sido tan distante conmigo, se detuvo ante la celda. Acarició suavemente mi mejilla por primera vez en mucho tiempo y dijo en voz baja: —Harper, no tengas miedo. Tan pronto como termine la prueba, te llevaré a ver las auroras al Lago de la Diosa de la Luna. Pero él no sabía que, independientemente del resultado de la prueba, no volvería a verme jamás. Mi espíritu de loba ya se estaba desvaneciendo. Nada podía salvarme. Esta vez, cuando cerrara los ojos, sería para siempre.

Wanita mana yang tidak senang jika dirinya terlihat cantik, menarik dan disukai banyak orang terutaman lawan jenis. Tapi bagaimana jika cantik, menarik dan disukai banyak orang itu terjadi secara mendadak. Tanpa melakukan perawatan khusus, tanpa operasi plastik dan tanpa melakukan ritual mistis sejenisnya. Firda mengalamaninya. Dia bahkan sama sekali tidak tahu dan tidak mengerti mengapa semua orang menganggapnya mendadak sangat cantik, menarik dan menggairahkan bagai bidadari yang terlempar dari khayangan. Namun Yudis, suami Firda yang sejak dulu tidak pernah mencintai istrinya, sama sekali tidak terpengaruh. Firda yang mendadak cantik mendapat banyak ujian dan godaan terutama dari para lelaki yang mulai tergila gila pada dirinya. Tak sedikit yang berbuat nekad hingga mengancam keselamatan jiwa raga Firda. Sebagai seorang wanita, Firda berusaha menghindari semua godaan dan ancaman yang datang silih berganti dari para lelaki hidung belang itu. Dia tetap setia pada Yudis yang ternyata masih belum bisa move on dari mantan istri pertamanya. Bagaimana Firda bisa bertahan dari segala godaan para lelaki yang sangat menggirurkan? Bagaimana pula dia bisa menghindar dari segala ancaman dan serangan yang datang bertubi-tubi? Benarkah ada lelaki misterius yang selalu melindunginya? Lalu siapa sebenarnya lelaki misterius DI BELAKANG SUAMI itu? Ini bukan cerita horor, tapi kisah romantis yang bisa membuat siapapun baper, berdebar dan penasaran berkepanjangan. Sesekali akan juga melewati lembah yang bisa membuat siapapun mendadak panas dingin. Jangan lupa berikan like, vote dan komentar dalam setiap chapter yang sudah dibacanya.

After a brutal breakup and one too many whiskies, Arielle Lawson makes the mistake she swore she’d never repeat—she calls her ex. She never saved his number; she memorized it. Heart memory. Muscle memory. Bad-decision memory. But the man who answers isn’t Daniel. He’s calm. Controlled. Amused by the drunken stranger ranting about betrayal, wasted years, and ruined wedding plans. Arielle hangs up, mortified, convinced the mistake ends there. It doesn’t. Because the number she dialed belongs to Kael Virelli, the elusive leader of a multi-million-dollar anti-government underground syndicate known as The Black Ledger—a man feared by politicians, hunted by intelligence agencies, and obeyed without question. Kael should forget the call. He should erase the number. Instead, he calls back. What begins as anonymous late-night conversations becomes a dangerous ritual neither of them can break. Arielle finds comfort in the mysterious stranger who listens without judgment and understands her in ways no one ever has. Kael becomes addicted to the only person who speaks to him like he’s human—not a weapon, not a myth. Then fate intervenes. When Arielle unknowingly witnesses a violent operation tied to The Black Ledger, the voice she trusts becomes the name everyone fears. Overnight, she transforms from a stranger into a liability—a loose end that Kael’s world would normally erase without hesitation. But Arielle isn’t just anyone. She’s the woman who called him at his most human… and made him answer. Now Kael must choose between protecting the empire he built in shadows or protecting the girl who accidentally dialed her way into his life. Because in a world of secrets, betrayal, and blood money, the most dangerous mistake he ever made wasn’t answering the call. It was falling for the girl who made it.

En mi vida anterior, el día que mi hermana Elsa y yo asistimos a la ceremonia de apareamiento, le salvé la vida a un príncipe de la Sangre que estaba en la ruina: Sebastián de Montoya. Para pagarme el favor, en cuanto regresó a su clan, Sebastián anunció frente a todos que yo sería su esposa. Un año después, traje al mundo a un heredero de sangre pura, el único capaz de reclamar todo el linaje. Ese día, loco de felicidad durante su coronación, selló un pacto de sangre conmigo. Me nombró su reina y su compañera eterna. Desde ese momento, todos los clanes tuvieron que arrodillarse ante mí. Elsa, en cambio, prefirió casarse con el Alfa de una manada de lobos y terminó siendo una más del montón, la amante más insignificante de todas. La envidia la volvió loca: durante un ritual de luna llena, me empujó al abismo, dejándome morir destrozada en la oscuridad. Cuando volví a abrir los ojos, me encontré de nuevo en el día del rito. Vi a Elsa correr desesperada hacia donde el príncipe estaba por caer, y ahí lo entendí todo: ella también había renacido. Pobre Elsa... no sabía en lo que se metió. Ser la prometida del príncipe es la parte fácil. El verdadero reto era ganarse su corazón... y sobrevivir para darle un hijo de su propia sangre.

Warning: This book contains very hot adult scenes (18+ ONLY). Please do not read if you are sensitive to intense intimate content. “Say you’re ours.” Nicholas’s hand tightened around my throat—not choking, just reminding me who owned every breath I took. His silver eyes burned into mine. “Say it, Lilith.” “I’m yours,” I whispered. “Louder.” Sebastian’s dark voice brushed my ear, his body pressed against my back. “We want to hear you say it.” Before I could answer, Lucian slammed inside me, and the overwhelming sensation of being completely claimed stole the words from my mouth. Too much. Too intense. “Breathe,” Nicholas murmured against my lips. “I’m yours!” The confession finally tore free as Lucian’s teeth grazed my neck, threatening to mark me. “Good girl,” they growled in unison. “Now prove it.” Lilith Thorne is drowning. Six months ago, her father—the Beta of Shadowmere Pack—was murdered. Her mother lies in a wolfsbane-induced coma. Her boyfriend found his true mate and discarded her like she meant nothing. Worst of all, Lilith is wolfless… unable to shift and considered worthless in wolf society. With eviction looming and hospital bills piling up, Lilith makes a desperate choice: enter the Rite, an ancient ritual where Alphas claim women for a single night in exchange for gold. But fate pairs her with the Blackwood Alpha Triplets—Lucian, Nicholas, and Sebastian—feared rulers cursed by the Moon Goddess to find their mate before they turn twenty-six… or lose themselves to their wolves forever. They have three months left. What begins as a transaction quickly becomes an obsession. Because Lilith isn’t just a desperate girl. She’s the last daughter of an ancient witch bloodline—and when her suppressed magic awakens, it will change everything. She might be their salvation. Or their destruction.

Pela centésima vez, meu companheiro Alfa, Ryker, usou sua autoridade contra mim, ameaçando rejeitar nosso vínculo se eu não me sacrificasse pela minha irmã gêmea, Ivy. Não chorei nem protestei. Apenas assinei os papéis que acabariam com nosso vínculo de companheiros. Me rendi, entreguei o Alfa que amei por dez anos à minha irmã. Alguns dias depois, Ivy causou uma cena no Banquete da Aliança da Alcateia, humilhando a filha do Alfa de Silvermoon. Mais uma vez, dei um passo à frente para tomar o lugar dela, suportando a dor de uma marca de prata desfigurante. Mais tarde, quando exigiram que eu testasse a segurança do Ritual de Regeneração do Espírito do Lobo com o meu próprio corpo para minha irmã, aceitei com um sorriso. Meus pais, Betas da alcateia, com os olhos vermelhos de tanto chorar, disseram que eu finalmente estava sendo a irmã mais velha que deveria ser. Até mesmo Ryker, que sempre foi tão distante comigo, ficou diante da adega. Ele acariciou suavemente minha bochecha pela primeira vez em muito tempo e disse em voz baixa: — Harper, não tenha medo. Assim que o teste terminar, vou te levar para ver as auroras no Lago da Deusa da Lua. Mas ele não sabia que, independentemente do resultado do teste, nunca mais me veria. Meu espírito de lobo já estava se apagando. Nada poderia me salvar. Desta vez, quando eu fechasse os olhos, seria para sempre.

On my eighteenth birthday, the High King summoned the heirs of the four great clans—the Vampires, the Werewolves, the High Serpent Clan, and the Merfolk. He laid their portraits before me and said, "Choose one to be your bondmate." I did not hesitate. I pointed to Damon—the werewolf with no noble bloodline, born in a forgotten corner of the realm. The entire court erupted in disbelief. Everyone knew who I used to love. Alpha Iris—the heir of the most powerful Lycan bloodline. For seven years, I chased him with blind devotion. No matter how harshly he treated me, I never gave up. I confessed to him over and over, sometimes right in the royal court. I even performed a blood-binding ritual—slitting my wrist—to earn the right to marry him. In my previous life, I got what I wanted—I married him and we performed the mate bonding ceremony. With that union, he inherited the High King's resources and rose to become the ruler of all four clans. However, what I did not expect was that after our wedding, he turned around and marked my adoptive sister. My parents were furious and sent her away. From that day on, Iris hated me with a vengeance. He surrounded himself with women who all looked eerily like her. One by one, they came—each more vicious than the last. With his silent approval, they tore me down, piece by piece, until I was nothing more than a joke—no longer the queen I once was. The suffering pushed me into severe depression. Only suppressants keep my wolf form from spiraling out of control. Until one day, my medication was replaced with a slow-acting poison. He was the one who did it. I died alone, locked away in the cold palace, a child still growing inside me. However, fate gave me another chance. In this life, I would not make the same mistake. When the High King once again asked me to choose a partner for the marriage alliance, I chose Damon—the one no one ever noticed—without even blinking. I thought I was finally free of the past. However, the moment the engagement was announced… Alpha Iris lost his mind.