The Smile Has Left

You’re pregnant, President Jay. Jay looked at the doctor, blinked once, then laughed. “You must be joking, right?” But the doctor wasn’t joking. And neither was the second opinion. Or the third. Because somehow, impossibly, Jayden J. Hale America’s most powerful bachelor and the next in line to the Hale empire was carrying a baby. And not just any baby. The baby of a stranger he can’t forget… A man whose name he doesn’t even know… And the man who shows up at his surprise engagement party as his future brother-in-law.

My Alpha fiancé made me drink a witch's memory potion on our mating ceremony day so he could bond with my stepsister instead. "Serena is under a vicious curse. Only bonding with a powerful Alpha can break it." "Aria, you're the only one I love. I don't want to hurt you, so if you drink this memory potion, you'll temporarily forget the person you love most. Once I help Serena break her curse, you can take the antidote and recover your memories." "Then I'll break the bond with Serena and make you the most honored Luna of our pack." I didn't hesitate. I drank the entire vial in one gulp. But he didn't know the witch never created a corresponding antidote. In seven days, I would forget him forever.

Tina's world crumbled when her engagement to her CEO and true love, Alpha Derrick Ortega, was abruptly broken off. In a desperate attempt to save his life, she had donated a kidney to him. In return, the Alpha's parents had promised that she would be married to their son when he recovered. However, when Derrick was strong enough to marry, he was betrothed to Katherine Rodriguez, a rich heiress and daughter of the wealthiest Alpha, in order to increase the wealth and power of the pack. Tina's heart shattered into a million pieces. She was pregnant with the Alpha, but she was forced to flee in secret to save herself and her unborn children from harm after a failed attempt to assassinate her. Five years passed and Tina came back as a strong businesswoman and CEO, who was ready to enact revenge on the people that maltreated and defrauded her. But things don't always go as planned, especially when Alpha Derrick desperately wants Tina back into his life as his Luna and the mother of his triplet. Will Tina be able to let go of her thirst for revenge and embrace a future with Derrick, or will her pain and mistrust keep them apart forever?

"Let's end this. It can't go on any longer." Those words left my lips just as my heart caved in. Tears dropped from her eyes. She pleaded with me. But my mind was made up. More like 'I had no choice.' She might be my mate. But there are a lot of things keeping us from being together. First, she's an Omega. And I'm an Alpha. A union between an Alpha and an Omega was forbidden. My family will never accept her either. Second, she's from Blueberry Pack. And my pack has been at war with her pack for decades. It's like a vendetta. So I can never be with a girl from her pack. But I loved her so much that I was willing to give it a try. See as long as it goes. Too bad our love story was very short-lived. I rejected her on the spot and we never saw each other again. Four years later, our paths crossed. This time, she looks more radiant than ever and has a son. And I never got over my feelings for her. Being away from her put me through hell. I drowned in regrets and missed her terribly. Now I'm ready to risk it all for her, but how do I make her fall in love with me again? How do I convince her that I can be a great mate to her and a great father to our son and that I'm ready to fight for our love? How do I convince her not to fall in love with another? How do I stop her from falling for the CEO Alpha trying relentlessly to win her heart?

My Alpha mate, Dominic, rules the entire Stormfang Pack, but in our ten years together, he has never once given me a gift. Even our bonding tokens—a pair of rare healing crystals that cost me an entire year's savings—were taken by him without hesitation. He claimed that as Alpha he needed to appear frugal and understated, which is why he marked me in secret without hosting a proper mating ceremony. Because of this, most pack members don't even know I'm his mate. Yet when Sylvia, his childhood sweetheart, returned to Stormfang territory, he publicly announced their mating plans. He even dipped into the pack's long-term savings to throw her an extravagant celebration. When my mother was attacked by rogue wolves and left critically wounded, I begged Dominic to return my healing crystals—the only things that could save her life. Instead of helping, he denied knowing me in front of the entire pack and ordered his guards to drive me away with burning torches. Later, my mother died during the Blood Moon Festival. I lost my only family during what should have been our most sacred celebration. I renounced my Stormfang membership that same night and accepted the Northern Shadow Pack's Chief Healer position. While packing my belongings, Dominic returned from his honeymoon with Sylvia. He found me and assumed I was merely sulking. For the first time ever, he made a generous offer: "Come on, what could possibly happen to your mother? At worst, I'll give you that fancy mating ceremony you've always wanted. That should satisfy her desire to be an Alpha's mother-in-law." What he didn't realize was that from the moment my mother died, I had already sworn to the Moon Goddess that our mate bond would be broken forever.

For ten years, I spent by Damien Thorne's side, helping him transform from a servant's son into the powerful Alpha of Shadow Pack. I believed I would eventually see the day he'd claim me as his mate. Instead, he brought home Scarlett Rivers, his childhood sweetheart who had been living abroad, treating her like precious royalty while making her his Luna. To help his beloved Scarlett and free her parents from prison, Damien handed over my healing potion patents without hesitation. Even my own son was placed in Scarlett's care to secure her position as Shadow Pack's Luna. I became everything to Damien—his financial backer, his assistant, his healer, his bed partner—everything except what I truly wanted to be: his rightful mate. "Just wait a little longer," Damien always promised me. "Once I repay my debt to my childhood benefactor, you'll be my only mate." So, I kept waiting and waiting. But Damien seemed to forget his promises entirely. Even my own child began to despise me. Suddenly, exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave. Waiting felt pointless. I didn't want to do it anymore.

When Maya walks away from Alvarez, she thinks she’s freeing herself from a toxic love. But love doesn’t die easily. Alvarez refuses to let go, torn between rage and longing, while a new man steps into Maya’s life — calm, patient, everything Alvarez never was. Caught between memory and possibility, Maya must face the truth: can broken love be fixed, or is it better left behind?

I, Taylor Laurent, go to the hospital's emergency department because of severe abdominal pain. When I wake up, my mom, Jocelyn Nord, stares at me in terror and asks, "You are not my daughter. Who are you?" Helpless and regretful, Hank Gibson, the doctor, says to my mom, "She is your daughter, it's just… an accident." My mom can't accept it and jumps off the hospital building, killing herself instantly. Hank is suspended because of this incident and, under my questioning, chooses to kill himself by hitting a wall. When I finally find my life partner and take the premarital medical exam, the staff tells me something that chills me to my bones.

At the yacht party, everyone watches as Sophia Montgomery falls overboard by accident, whereas I dive in after her to save her. When I reach her, she clings to me, dragging us both under. Jack Harrison doesn't hesitate to jump in. He pushes me away before pulling her into his arms. Up on deck, the crowd erupts in cheers, applauding the hero for saving the damsel in distress. Camera flashes go off endlessly. Meanwhile, I struggle alone in the freezing ocean to reach the ladder. No one notices me. The next morning, still burning with fever, I place a document in front of him. "I want a divorce," I demand, my voice hoarse from swallowing seawater. Jack frowns. "Just because of last night? Sophia can't swim, and it was an emergency. Since you can, you could make it back yourself." A laugh escapes my lips. Of course. I can only rely on myself. I've been doing it for the past five years. He only has eyes for Sophia, so, of course, he doesn't care whether I live or die.

Rachel Larson was adamant about marrying me, and she spent ten years stealing my heart. On the night before our wedding, I overheard her conversation with her friend. "You're marrying Leonardo? What about your side piece?" A moment of silence later, Rachel answered, "That guy? He's just a cheap replacement. Leonardo's the real deal. Don't compare my side piece to him. If he stays put and keeps his mouth shut, I might let him stay around. Leonardo's a broad-minded man. He won't mind." The side piece did not stay put. In fact, he caused a scene at the wedding the next day. He shoved me off the stage, but the woman who was supposed to marry me darted over to his side instead. Why? He was holding a piece of broken glass against his throat. Gutturally, he roared, "Choose! Me or him?" Panicked, Rachel kicked me away despite my injuries, and she roared, "Get out of the way! I need to take him to the hospital! If anything happens to him, I'll kill you!" She didn't need to wait that long. My heart died right there and then. … That night, I bought a flight ticket that would take me abroad and left her.