The Ruins By Scott Smith

Elara never imagined her quiet life as a wolfless handmaid would end in public humiliation and banishment. Traded by fate and framed by the golden princess who stole her identity at age twelve, Elara is rejected by the ruthless Alpha King Darius Thornwood in front of the entire realm. When Darius secretly offers her the position of hidden mistress and she refuses, Liora Kane frames her for poisoning and forces a “merciful” banishment only to send rogues to finish the job. In the blood-soaked Shadow Wilds, the legendary Cursed Lycan King, a feral beast chained by a thousand-year curse slaughters the rogues and claims Elara as his second-chance mate. Her suppressed hybrid powers awaken, revealing her as the last White Witch-Werewolf, the only being capable of breaking his curse. Now living in the Lycan King’s forbidden palace, Elara must prove she is far from weak while two kings wage war for her heart: one who discarded her and now hunts her with obsessive regret, and one who fights his own beast to court the woman who calms his curse. As ancient blood-witch wars erupt and Liora’s deadly secret threatens to destroy everything, Elara must choose, destroy the Alpha who broke her, or rule eternity beside the cursed beast who was always meant to be hers. Banished by the Alpha King: Claimed by the Cursed Lycan Beast is a fast-paced, steamy paranormal romance of rejected mates, hidden identities, explosive power awakenings, and a love strong enough to shatter curses and kingdoms.

"Yes! I dare you to kiss me and claim me as yours, and let the world know what we are!" I declared boldly, with the pain seeking deep into my heart. As expected, he never said a word. His gaze was all I needed to understand the fact that I was once again being rejected by my second-chance mate, and this time it hurt more than I had imagined, since I had grown to love him. After being brutally abused and rejected by her first mate, the moon goddess decided to smile on her and pair her with her second chance, who was nothing but a cold-hearted Lycan king, known and feared by all. This time, he only wanted her to produce an heir, but she seemed to want more than he wanted, and now she was on the brink of being brutally rejected once again.

"I am your Alpha," Liard growled, his body pressing dangerously close to hers. "You will not run from me." Helena’s breath hitched, her fingers trembling as they gripped the edge of the infirmary table. "You made a vow," she whispered, voice laced with fury and longing. "No mates. No love. Or have you already forgotten?" His jaw clenched, but his hands found her waist, heat radiating between them. "I tried to forget. I tried to fight it. But every time I close my eyes, I see you. I feel you." His voice dropped lower, a rough, desperate plea. "Damn it, Helena. You were never supposed to be mine." Helena shoved against his chest, her own emotions warring within her. "And I was never supposed to love you, Liard. But fate is cruel." She turned away, biting down the pain in her voice. "Do you know what they’ll do to me if they find out? Do you know what Rhider will do?" Liard’s grip on her tightened. "I don’t care." His breath ghosted against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Let them try to take you from me. I will burn this world before I ever let you go." ********* For years, Alpha Liard Stormbane has ruled with a heart of ice, swearing never to take a mate, never to fall into the same weakness that destroyed his father. But when he is gravely injured and taken to the pack infirmary, fate shatters his control—his mate is none other than Helena, the pack’s healer…and his Beta’s mother.

At 11:00 pm, I've just locked my car and am about to walk away when rows of bright red comments appear right in front of my eyes. "Warning! Your husband, whom you're still in a 30-day cooling-off period with, wants to kidnap you! He'll take nudes of you while livestreaming the entire process before mutilating you into chunks and flushing you down the sewers!" "Well, this gold digger keeps swindling money from her husband while toying with his feelings relentlessly. Now, she even wants a portion of his assets by getting a divorce from him. Serves her right for being a target of revenge!" I'm left feeling shell-shocked. After all, I'm single as a Pringle. How the heck did I even have a husband, to begin with?

Aiden Veylor’s university life has always been quiet, predictable, and painfully ordinary. He is careful to stay out of the spotlight, keeping his head down and avoiding the attention of the university’s untouchable elites. That all changes when Silas Rennick, the mysterious and dangerously magnetic transfer student, sets his sights on him. With Silas’s striking presence and reputation as the hot new guy everyone whispers about, Aiden knows one wrong move could turn his life upside down.

Ava’s life was shattered in a single night. Her sister stole her fiancé, her family turned their backs, and heartbreak became her only companion. Just when she thinks she’s lost everything, Dominic enters her world, powerful, demanding, and impossible to resist. Forced into a contract marriage for reasons she doesn’t fully understand, Ava expects tension and control but what she never expects is desire. As enemies clash under one roof, sparks ignite, and hearts are tested. What begins as obligation turns into forbidden attraction, and Ava finds herself falling first, only to discover Dominic’s feelings run even deeper. Between lavish mansions, thrilling vacations, and intimate confessions, their love grows complicated by secrets, betrayal, and the shadow of Ava’s sister. But when truths are revealed, hearts are exposed, and emotions overflow, Ava and Dominic must decide if their love is strong enough to survive and if they can finally choose each other freely. From enemies to lovers, from a contract to a love that’s all consuming, Stolen By My Sister… Claimed By The Billionaire is a story of passion, forgiveness, and the courage to follow the heart. Will Ava and Dominic find their forever or will the past destroy their chance at happiness?

Raised as a scapegoat and treated like nothing, Arabella believes one thing will save her…. the mate bond promised to her by the future Alpha. But before the entire pack, he chooses her stepsister instead, stripping Arabella of her dignity and her last hope. Humiliated and desperate to forget, Arabella gives in to one reckless night with a stranger, believing it will mean nothing. She’s wrong. Because that single night ties her to a powerful forbidden man she was never supposed to belong to and once he claims her, there will be no escape from him.

“I’ll let my servants watch as I fuck your cunt right here. And when I’m done… I’ll wipe your blood with this tissue and send it as a present to your father,” Stefano sneered as he pushed me to the bed, his eyes dark in excitement. Gianna Bellini was born a mafia princess. She was spoiled… heavily protected and untouchable. She was supposed to marry her childhood love and unite two powerful families. Instead, war broke out. To stop bloodshed and to save her father from reliving the nightmare that once killed her mother, Gianna agrees to be traded to the most powerful Don in the city. But she is taken before the deal is complete. By Stefano De Caruso. The Don’s son. The man secretly at war with his own father. The only man dangerous enough to dismantle empires. Stefano didn’t want peace. He wanted leverage. And Gianna is his favorite weapon. Now trapped between rival families, father and son, loyalty and desire, Gianna must survive a game where love is weakness, trust is fatal, and possession is mistaken for protection. Because in this war… She isn’t the prize. She’s the battlefield.

"You're going to take it, aren't you, little lamb?" Dominic's voice is low, teasing, dark. A hand grips my throat, just enough to make me gasp, make my pulse hammer beneath his fingertips. I whimper as Dominic's fingers slide between my thighs, teasing, parting, finding me already soaked. "Fuck," he groans, rubbing slow, torturous circles over my clit. "She's dripping. You feel that, Ash?" My body trembles, caught between pleasure so intense it borders on pain. "Cum for us, little lamb," Dominic commands. **** Caught between two brothers... One my best friend, the other my deepest desire. Dominic was everything I dreamed of-hot, charming, and completely unattainable. Especially with a girl like Cassie already by his side. Then there was Ashton-my childhood best friend, my safe haven, the one who had always been there. But one reckless dare changed everything. The night I was dared to kiss the Alpha, marks the beginning of my ruin. And just when I thought things couldn't get more complicated, Ashton confessed his feelings for me. Now, I'm trapped between two brothers-one who's always been my heart, and one who might just break it. How do you choose between love and desire when both could destroy you?

On their first anniversary, Demi finds her boyfriend fucking her best friend after standing her up on their dinner date. Feeling betrayed, she decides to drink her sorrows where she meets a stranger who will change her life for good. Gavin Morgan, a public figure, and one of the youngest billionaires in New York, is caught by her beauty at first sight. He sees her in a vulnerable state but doesn't take advantage, despite his attraction towards her. When he learns that she's set for an interview with his company, Demi is guaranteed the job. Working together, they grow fond of each other and fall deeply in love. Gavin gives Demi a luxurious life more than she has ever dreamed of. Demi experiences a love she has never seen before from Gavin who treasures her more than anything. However, there are outside forces trying to break them apart. So many girls are obsessed with Gavin and jealous of what Demi has, including her former best friend. Seeing her glowing, her ex also wants her back. To add on that Gavin's family doesn't accept Demi since she doesn't come from a rich family. But Gavin is determined to protect his woman no matter what. Will the opposing forces win or will love conquer all?