The Shadow He Left Ao3

Every person is unique. We might not have control over the things that distinguish us, DNA and all, but we are also formed by personal experience and the environment that grooms us. Lina, a girl who is extraordinary, meets Ashton who is astounding and they have a connection. Although there are some puzzles that have to be solved and obstacles they need to clear, they get together to fight all those and still come out on top. They manage to restore some things that were changed in the past, took down a stumbling block that proved to be a big obstacle in their interaction. Facing all these troubles brought them closer and formed a formidable bond that proved hard to break through difficult situations. A love that managed to withstand the differences between them.

Three years ago, Emily married Aaron out of gratitude. She truly believed he respected her, cared for her, maybe even loved her. It wasn’t until later that she realized—he had never really let go of his ex. And the craziest part? She looked just like her. Time and time again, he left her behind for that woman. And finally, Emily understood something. A thousand days and nights couldn’t warm a heart that was never hers to begin with. All along, he had only been looking through her… searching for someone else in her shadow. If he didn’t love her, then so be it. She was done trying. But after the divorce, he came back—saying she was the one he truly cared about all along. His eyes full of regret, chasing after what he lost— But Emily just laughed. She wasn’t that quiet, invisible wife from three years ago anymore.

Carmen was in one-sided love, and she didn't know that until she got married to Liam, her high school crush. After getting married to him, his attitude towards her changed. But Carmen stayed in the marriage and endured his inappropriate behavior towards her. However, everything changed when she met Dax and later found out that he was her husband's best friend. When Liam realized that there was more to Carmen and Dax's friendship, he knew for sure that he wanted Carmen all to himself. “Are you still mad at me?” Liam shouted. Carmen stopped in her tracks. Then she squeezed her eyes shut to get her emotions under control. “Yes I am,” Carmen replied without turning around to face Liam. “I am sorry for what I have put you through!” Liam honestly said. “You should be. But don't you think that it is too late to apologize?” Carmen sarcastically stated out loud.

Seren had always been told she was weak. An Omega, discarded and alone in a world that only saw her as a lesser wolf. After being betrayed by her pack and rejected by the one person she thought she could trust, she escaped into the wilderness, determined to survive on her own. But survival wasn’t enough. Now, with nothing but her wits and broken spirit, Seren has to rebuild her life from the ground up. For years, she’s lived as a lone wolf, trying to forget the scars of her past. But everything changes when she’s forced to confront the truth of her birthright—and the Alpha who’s never stopped searching for her. Kairos, a fierce and powerful leader with a dark past, is determined to claim what’s his. But Seren has a secret—one that could destroy them both if the truth ever comes to light. Kairos’s eyes burn with something more than desire when he sees her again, and though Seren’s heart fights against him, her body betrays her. He’s everything she swore she’d never need. Yet when the threat of war looms and the forces that destroyed her life are closing in, Seren must make a choice—remain alone and lose everything she’s ever fought for, or surrender to a bond that could either heal or destroy her. Her fate lies in the hands of the very man who betrayed her once, and now, he’s her only hope. But can she trust him again? One thing’s certain—Seren will never be the same.

The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart—divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance—not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life—one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is… Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?

The Vale family was the most powerful mafia syndicate in the New York City. And I—along with a few other carefully chosen girls—had been handpicked to join their ranks, trained from the ground up so that the next head of the family could choose his wife from among us. Wife. That was the kinder word for it. The truth was whoever got picked would become his shield, his weapon, his most loyal protector. Someone who would kill for him. Die for him. Years passed. One by one, the others fell away. In the end, only Elara Quinn and I remained. And then, Elara died—killed on a secret mission. After that, there were no more choices left. I became Adrian Vale’s wife by default. I had given everything to Adrian. And I loved him. I thought he loved me too until I took a bullet to the chest—meant for him. As I lay there, barely breathing, I heard Adrian talking to his assistant, “Don’t bury her in the Vale cemetery. My half is reserved for Elara.” That was it. Elara—who had never even lived long enough to marry him—still had a space carved beside him in death. I? I had taken the hit that should have ended him… and yet I wasn’t even good enough to be buried near him. I slowly closed my eyes. And when I opened them again, I was back on the day the Vale family formally announced Adrian as their new head. The day everything began.

After four years of marriage, her Alpha mate betrayed their vows. He obsessively pursued his long-lost love, desperate to make up for what he missed in his youth. Aurora loved him deeply and tried desperately to save their marriage. Yet her mate cruelly dismissed her while embracing his newfound love: "Aurora, you don't have an ounce of femininity! Looking at your cold face, I can't feel any desire as a man." Aurora's heart finally shattered. She stopped clinging to false hope and left with dignity. When they met again, Alexander didn't recognize his ex-mate. Countless powerful men pursued her relentlessly. Even the most powerful Alpha only ever smiled for his "dear Aurora." Alexander was driven mad! Every night he waited outside his ex-wife's door, offering territory and jewelry, willing to give everything he had.

He is a CEO who once had autism, and in a hollow world, only she can make him feel at ease. Because of her, overnight, he destroyed the city's largest nightclub; because of her, he took a series of stunningly beautiful photos that caused a sensation. He domineeringly keeps her by his side, destroying the things she likes, all because he wants to earn her favor. She feels unlucky and miserable, he is like a madman, obstinate and resolute. His crazy possessiveness frightens her. When she asked him to let her go, she never expected him to actually agree...

Reina Grimes is a quiet, nerdy fresher with a deep love for science and a hopeless crush on the campus heartthrob, Austin Reed. He's the golden boy who is popular, rich, arrogant, and the star quarterback. But he’s also her worst nightmare. For reasons she doesn't understand, Austin has always singled her out, mocking her clumsiness, her glasses, and how reserved she is. His teasing isn't just cruel, it's frustrating. Yet somehow, Reina still finds herself drawn to him. Everything shatters the day Reina hears that her mother, Angela, is getting married to Austin’s father, the powerful and ambitious politician, Brock Reed. At the engagement dinner, Austin shows up expecting a boring evening for old people, only to discover that his father’s fiancée is Reina’s mom. The realization hits both of them hard. They’re going to be step-siblings, and living under the same roof.

“I, Leila the wolfless, reject you, Alpha Tatum as my mate and I denounce you as my Alpha! You are free to be with her.” “Leila….I just thought—” “Don’t! Where were you when I got the news of our child? With her! Where were you when I was kidnapped? With her! And today? You took her to the hospital, leaving me to bleed out on the street, and now you ask me, why didn’t I tell you that when you left today, you were taking the life of our child?” All the years of sour jealousy, bitterness, pain and vain waiting burst out of Leila. In front of her is her Alpha, her husband, her first and only love, her saviour...and also the man who pushed her into hell with his own hands.